The National Daytime Drama Association (NDDA) is presenting soap opera awards for the first time this year - which is pretty amazing, since the group has been in existence less than two months.
What began as a semi-organized, moderately angry rebuttal to the Daytime Emmy Awards has evolved into an association of reporters whose main interest is enjoying, covering and promoting daytime dramas. That the awards are being presented during Daytime Emmy week is no accident; the NDDA wanted to name its winners during the week the most attention is given to daytime TV."We're not rebutting the Emmys, by any means; if anything, we're complementing them," said TV Guide soap opera reporter Michael Logan. He admits the NDDA was started because of rampant dissatisfaction with the way the Daytime Emmy nominations take place, but says the awards have taken on a meaning of their own.
"In many cases, the Emmy nominations are decided by people who seldom - or never - watch daytime TV," Logan said. "The vast majority of the people voting (for the Emmys) are working on their own shows when the other shows are being aired, so the voting is left to people who are uninformed - or are partial to their own shows and won't vote for people on other shows, no matter how superior they may be."
As soap opera reporters from coast to coast began analyzing the Emmy selections, it became obvious many top-notch performers were overlooked simply because of glitches in the nominating/voting process. That's when the NDDA stepped in.
"We decided we writers are the ones who should be doing something to honor those people whose work is exceptional," Logan said. "We watch these shows, day in and day out. We compare, contrast, critique. We're the ones who are familiar with the actors and actresses, and can give a more critical evaluation. We have a sense of what's good - and what's not."
Most of the NDDA awards are for "best" performances, but, unlike the Emmys, some "worst" awards were given just to spice things up a bit. And in two cases, "Royal Pleasure" and "Royal Pain," they have listed the performers who are the best and worst to work with and interview.
This year's National Daytime Drama Association winners and nominees are:
Best Actor: A Martinez ("Santa Barbara"). Runners-up: Grant Aleksander ("Guiding Light"), Roscoe Born ("SB"), David Canary ("All My Children") and Stephen Schnetzer ("Another World").
Best Actress: Marcy Walker, ("SB"). Runners-up: Jeanne Cooper ("The Young and the Restless"), Susan Flannery ("The Bold and the Beautiful"), Nancy Grahn ("SB") and Kim Zimmer ("GL").
Best Featured Actor: Scott DeFrietas ("As the World Turns"). Runners-up: Matthew Ashford ("Days of Our Lives"), David Forsyth ("AW"), Andy Kavovit ("ATWT"), Michael Knight ("AMC"), Quinn Redeker ("Y&R"), Kristoff St. John ("Generations").
Best Featured Actress: Julia Barr ("AMC"). Runners-up: Lisa Brown ("ATWT"), Linda Dano ("AW"), Lynn Herring ("General Hospital") and Renee Props ("ATWT").
Worst Actor: Billy Hufsey ("Days") and Ronn Moss ("B&B"). Runner-up: Eric Braeden ("Y&R).
Worst Actress: Lauralee Bell ("Y&R"). Runners-up: Jeanne Cooper and Kate Linder ("Y&R")
Royal Pain: Stephen Nichols ("Days"). Runners-up: Tristan Rogers and Jack Wagner ("GH").
Royal Pleasure: A Martinez. Runners-up: Nancy Grahn ("SB") and Brad Maule ("GH").
Best Writing: "As the World Turns." Runners-up: "All My Children," "Guiding Light" and "Santa Barbara."
Best Show: "As The World Turns." Runners-Up: "All My Children," "Another World," "Guiding Light," "Santa Barbara" and "The Young and the Restless."
Worst Show: "The Bold and the Beautiful." Runners-up: "Days of Our Lives" and "Loving."