I want to be clear about something: The Emmy process sucks. I'm not sure I can bear to tear it apart yet again; I've done so thoroughly and plentifully in past columns. But in case you missed those, I will just briefly reiterate that the idea of having casts pre-nominate themselves and their peers through anonymous voting (two per category) is ridiculous. The casts should not be voting on acting awards in any aspect. Ever. That's akin to members of congress electing a president without input from their constituents or anyone else. The Emmy process is so egregious; the possible solutions many. Rather than dissecting it all again, I will just state my position: The current process should be dumped completely. Any and all actors who feel they are deserving should have the right to put together an Emmy reel consisting of "x" amount of minutes of their best work from the year. The reels should be screened by a minimum of two separate judges from a panel of acting teachers/experts. Those deemed worthy of nomination (given a green light by at least one of two screening judges) should then have their reels shown to the entire body of judges, consisting of more acting experts, industry members (not active cast members), and the soap press. The five (or six or seven, depending on ties) with the most votes are the nominees; and the winner is the person with the most votes overall (with ties being possible). The voting would be kept top secret and overseen by a security service to prevent political voting and such. 

Or, the soap press can do all of the nominating, with a judging body doing the rest. 

In any case, the pre-nomination process is ridiculous but it's what we're stuck with. There are travesties every year, more so than before the pre-noms existed. The fact that someone like Trevor St. John has never been nominated is proof that something isn't right. Robin Strasser has been consistently one of the best in the business but hasn't won since the early 80's. Kristen Alderson was one of the strongest child performers for years and was continually snubbed. There have been nominees and winners in the past decade (not necessarily from OLTL) who were not even strong actors.  A lot of it has to do with which episodes the actors choose; and these days, a lot of it has to do with who gets into the pre-nominations. A travesty of gigantic proportions occurred last year when St. John was denied a pre-nomination in the Leading Actor category despite carrying the show on his back along with Susan Haskell. She won the Emmy, whereas St. John was not even pre-nominated (nor was he nominated the year he should have easily won the statue - for Todd's execution storyline). But this week I'm putting my skepticism and downright loathing of the pre-nomination process aside to advocate for who I think deserves them.  Until the system is changed, this is the best I can do.   

LEADING ACTOR:  I think of Trevor St. John as THE leading man of this show.  But 2009 wasn't necessarily an Emmy-level year for him. However, Todd's suicide attempt is enough to get St. John on the ballot. Plus, his cast mates unfairly snubbed him last year in favor of Bob Woods and Michael Easton - which frankly, was an atrocity (neither man had a remarkable storyline or performance and had zero chance of garnering a nomination). I'm not sure why that happened, but it's a great example of how the pre-nomination process doesn't work.  If the soap press were doing the nominating, St. John would have at least two Emmy nominations under his belt by now.  Maybe St. John's cast mates will see the light this year and try to make up for royally screwing him over last year. One can hope. Bob Woods should join St. John. Woods had some meaty, honest work this year dealing with Matthew's accident and subsequent rebellion. Jerry ver Dorn had a great year but it would be nearly impossible to justify putting him in the lead category over either Woods or St. John. 2010 may be his year. Easton, quite frankly, is not an Emmy-level actor in my opinion, and John nonchalantly sleepwalked through his storylines in 2009. OLTL has a real weakness in the leading man category - they would be wise to re-evaluate this and do something about it.

PRE-NOMINEES:  Trevor St. John, Bob Woods. 

HOT OFF THE PRESSES:  Trevor St. John is NOT submitting himself for an Emmy this year.  In fact, he implies he will probably never submit himself again. In a way, I completely understand. He is above it. So I guess Michael Easton gets to submit John crashing through a window to the Emmy judges this year!

STOP THE PRESSES:  Just before this article was to be turned in, Soaptown USA broke the word that Dan Gauthier has signed a contract to return full-time as Kevin Buchanan.  With no other real love interest on the canvas for Gina Tognoni, this is a very smart move by TPTB. And, if they're smart, TPTB will treat Kevin/Gauthier as a true leading man with the gritty storylines. We know Gauthier can deliver. They should work on getting St. John to submit next year.  St. John and Gauthier as the show's two leading men is a recipe for success.  Then there's Thorsten Kaye... still not sure how I feel about him coming back, but it's gonna happen. 

LEADING ACTRESS:   There is a lot of buzz for Robin Strasser and Florencia Lozano this year. While Lozano is an utter shoe-in (unless she's snubbed for some unknown political reason), Strasser I'm not so sure about. I think Robin Strasser could put together an amazing Emmy reel in any given year. She is stellar on a daily basis. At first glance for this Dorian fan, though, 2009 was a sad year. She dilly-dallied with David several times but nothing great came of it. She connected with Ray but then he unceremoniously left town. Her main storyline was the dud of a mayoral race and the controversial (in my opinion, lame) lesbian charade with Amelia. Strasser did not get the meaty storyline she deserved - but she will in 2010. Even so, after taking a closer look, Strasser does have a few stand-alone episodes that she could create an outstanding reel with. There was the public announcement that she had married David, who was, after all, the real Buchanan heir. There was the romantic guitar serenading by Ray. And at the end of the year, the jail scenes with Dorian and Mitch. Is it enough? Hard to say. It's not a banner Robin Strasser year, but it's still enough to compete - and, it would be nice to see her rewarded for staying with the show and always giving 100% of her passion and talent to the industry she loves. Lozano is a must in this category. She has any number of episodes with a consistency of meaty material and excellence in execution. If she found the right combination of showing Tea's warrior side (Tea attacking Rachel on the stand or one of her fights with Nora), and showing Tea's vulnerability (Tea and Todd's wedding, perhaps), then Lozano could score a nomination. 

The trick in this category is figuring out who is a lead and who is supporting for the year. Hillary Smith had an outstanding year. But is Nora lead or supporting?  As far as I can see, Nora was a lead character this year. She was front-burner all year, and Smith could put together an amazing reel, mixing her Clint/Bo storyline and the fallout from Matthew's accident. The episode in which Nora blamed Marty for Matthew's paralysis was so powerful that it actually stands out to me more than any one thing Lozano or Strasser did. Last year's winner for Best Actress, Susan Haskell, was underused in 2009 but did have the Todd suicide attempt... which in my opinion, painted a very unattractive light for Marty. The rest of the year, she twiddled her thumbs on the back burner. Kassie DePaivia didn't have anything good to do as Blair sunk to new lows in her perpetual addiction to Todd (although, DePaivia had one Emmy-worthy episode in which Blair and John agreed to divorce... that was powerful, thanks to DePaivia). Erika Slezak is another perennial favorite in this category, but I strongly feel that she embodied what a supporting actress does in 2009. Smith, however, is edged into the leading category, especially when you consider that Bob Woods will probably be in the leading actor slot. This is a tough call. I'm choosing Smith over Strasser, because Strasser is going to earn an Emmy in 2010 and her storylines in '09 were silly. But I'd still be happy for her if she ends up here! 

PRE-NOMINEES:   Florencia Lozano, Hillary Smith

SUPPORTING ACTOR:  This is always a toss-up because there are people like Tuc Watkins who are so good in every episode, even when they are only on the show for a few months and have no real storyline to mention. It's always tempting to give the nod here to Watkins for entertaining us so damn well. I'm not sure he deserves it this year, as personally I'm sick of his schedule influencing the storylines. However, he could get a pretty good reel put together with the revelation of his true paternity and subsequent bonding with Bo and Matthew.  There were some really good David moments in there.  But... Emmy worthy?  Eh, I'm not so sure. The one thing I am absolutely sure of is that Brian Kerwin will be in this category. Though he had little to do until the end of the year, the writers gave him some of the most amazing stuff imaginable with Jared's death and then his falling off the wagon. Kerwin's is the strongest OLTL male performance of the year, period. He should submit the episodes of Charlie talking to Jared's body in the hospital, followed by Charlie drinking in front of the AA meeting (or the Mitch jail scenes). Kerwin deserves the real nomination! But who should join him in the pre-nomination? Despite a lot of hype from the soap press, neither Scott Evans nor Brett Claywell is on an Emmy award level. John-Paul Lavoisier? I don't think so. Not a bad year, but most of it was spent making Rex and Gigi look like idiots.  Jerry ver Dorn?  Not a bad choice, though it wasn't until the very end of the year that he really had anything great to chew on. What about Peter Bartlett as Nigel/Neville? I think he absolutely deserves it, but I doubt the politicized nominating process will see him make the ballot, especially since he was hardly on for most of the year. Then, there's Roscoe Born. He was only on for November and December, but he had a few really great episodes with Robin Strasser and Brian Kerwin. But could Mitch be too cartoony for the judges to take seriously?  Born is certainly an Emmy-worthy actor... but is 2009 his year, or 2010? Another very difficult category. It's a toss up for me between Born, Watkins, Bartlett, and ver Dorn to join Kerwin. When I think of sitting down and watching their reels, I think Born's would be the most powerful. 

PRE-NOMINEES:  Brian Kerwin, Roscoe Born

SUPPORTING ACTRESS:  For me, this category is really easy this year. Ilene Kristen is always the consummate supporting actress who makes us laugh and occasionally, cry. Kathy Brier had great episodes when Marcie gave Hope back to Starr and also gave birth to her own child - and those two episodes form a great reel package (they tell a story from Point A to Point B). Melissa Archer had powerful episodes after Jared's death. But I don't have to hesitate with my choices in this category this year! One could argue that Bree Williamson is a leading actress. True, she was leading in her storyline - but that ended in May Sweeps and Jessica has been on the back burner ever since. Williamson would be wise to keep herself in the supporting category. Here, she has practically no competition. The culmination of the Bess/Chloe storyline provided the type of sob-inducing catharsis that soap fans live for and rarely receive. Williamson's performance was so wrenching that one worried for her well-being. And of course, one cannot underestimate the usefulness of playing dual or multiple roles in snagging nominations. Bess' coldness, Tess' internal desperation, and Jessica's devastation provide a complete Emmy-winning package. If chosen, Williamson could submit back-to-back episodes of Viki coaxing Jessica back out and making her remember that Chloe was dead and that Hope needed to be returned to Starr and Marcie. Which brings me to the actress who should join Williamson in this category. No stranger to the Emmy statue, Erika Slezak was the very definition of supporting actress in Bree Williamson's storyline. She had great scenes with Brian Kerwin and Melissa Archer later in the year, but Slezak could submit the exact same episodes as Bree Williamson and be just as deserving of a nomination. The way Viki pretended to be Jean Randolph, was figured out, then changed her tactic with Tess to direct honesty, was an opportunity for Slezak to show off at her subtlest and sincerest best. Those scenes were the highlight of the year for my money, and both ladies deserve to reap the rewards.

PRE-NOMINEES:  Bree Williamson, Erika Slezak

HOT OFF THE PRESSES:  Erika Slezak will be having back surgery at the end of the month, which will keep her off the show for awhile. Viki will take a trip to London. It doesn't sound very serious, but I still encourage OLTL fans to send positive, healing thoughts and prayers to Erika for a speedy recovery. OLTL isn't OLTL without her. We all love her. 

YOUNGER ACTOR:  I don't have much to say about the "younger" categories, because they're just... odd. I mean, seeing children go up against people in their 20's makes absolutely no sense. I think the Emmy's should expand their categories to Younger (children and teens), and Guest Star (short-arc actors or people like Peter Bartlett and Patricia Elliot). But I regress.  Eddie Alderson deserves this for Matthew's accident and subsequent rebellion against his parents. No doubt about it. I'm not sure he has a true "stand alone" episode where he blew me away, but he is consistently believable and real. That's more than I can say for Brandon Buddy - but Buddy did have a meaty storyline with causing Matthew's accident and later, infiltrating the drug ring. Is it enough to edge out young Carmen LoPorto, a true comedic prodigy? I'm torn. LoPorto's talent takes him way above the call of duty for a child actor. He's the type of kid who may seem too young competing against people twice his age, yet may actually deserve to be there. Buddy is inconsistent and Cole is a boring character. But based on the dramatic meat of the Cole/Matthew storyline and Cole's drug withdrawal in Starr's bedroom (not the undercover work), I'll give him the edge.

PRE-NOMINEES:  Eddie Alderson, Brandon Buddy

YOUNGER ACTRESS:  Well, I'm confused. Is Farah Fath a younger actress or an adult? She always seems to be in this category, and if she still qualifies, I imagine her peers will put her there again. But while I think she's improved immensely this past year, Gigi's storyline was so perversely unbelievable and ridiculous that I think an Emmy reel consisting of its highlights might render this an absurd choice.  So who is more deserving than Fath? I'm picking two actresses who generated a lot of mixed feelings for me this year. First, Kristen Alderson, who I believe was snubbed at least twice in the past when she deserved a nomination. But Starr has become so dull, so milquetoast, that Alderson's most dramatic moments have become somewhat unimpressive compared to the past (when Starr was a more complex, interesting, unpredictable character than she is now). Still, Alderson shined when Hope was given back to Starr, and when Starr helped Cole through his withdrawal. Not her strongest year, but still strong enough to be in this category. Then there's Shennel Edmonds. Though I think Edmonds is wildly inconsistent and the writing for Destiny ill-conceived and over the top, I have to be fair. A reel consists of one or two episodes. In that respect, Edmonds had a killer year. Particularly, the episodes surrounding Sean's coma. Edmonds made me cry, and that's not the easiest feat to accomplish. Edmonds has a stellar reel to show for herself despite Destiny annoying the crap out of me most of the time.  As a footnote, Kelley Missal is really good too, but I generally don't like to see newbies who haven't really proven themselves be given acting awards. She'll have next year to celebrate. 

PRE-NOMINEES:  Kristen Alderson, Shennel Edmonds

BEST SHOW/WRITING/DIRECTION:  OLTL will have a hard time choosing between the Bess/Jessica climax, Matthew's Accident and Paralysis, or Jared's funeral/Mitch's return. I think they should go with the Viki/Bess scenes in back to back episodes and they could win for Best Show and Best Writing. For Best Direction, they should submit Jared's death and the birth of Marcie's baby. 

Monday, 1/11

-  Apparently, there are no more episode titles! Not sure how I feel about this. I guess it's no big deal. Wonder who made that decision and why it was made.

-  I appreciated how Ross being alive wasn't treated as a big reveal. Soap fans know what it means when a body isn't found. 

-  I'm not a lawyer, but the multiple (clearly fake) confessions to Mitch's murder seemed a little convoluted in terms of why the police would go along with that.  But... it worked to get John out of jail so that he can resume his role as local vigilante.

-  The Stacy/Kim scenes are unbearable. I want Stacy's last air date, and I want it now - so that I can write it on my calendar and buy a bottle of champagne and start chilling it now.

-  Stacy, about Mitch: "There's nothing good about that man."  Me, upon hearing this: "Yes there is, Stacy - he's going to get YOU off of this show." 

-  The Todd-and-Blair-as-good-friends dynamic is spot-on, but it's two years too late and impossible to take seriously since Blair could, at any moment, decide she is still in love with Todd. If TPTB had stuck to their guns with Todd/Marty and Blair/John, Todd and Blair could have become best friends and could have even plotted together to keep Marty and John apart. That would have been fun to watch. But now seeing Todd and Blair as "friends," just makes me suspicious of Blair.

-  Dorian and Mitch have amazing chemistry, regardless of the storyline being about how much they hate one another. 

-  When Charlie asked Dorian how she would feel if her child died, it seemed to me the writers were preparing us for the Dead Cramer Woman to be either Langston, Adriana, and Cassie. Who would you rather see die of these three?  The current writers are only really invested in Langston as far as I can see, but she'd be my vote because she's not even a Cramer. I'd like to see Adriana back on the show eventually, and Cassie has too much history with the show. Killing Cassie off would have barely any impact because she hasn't been on in such a long time. Langston would have the most impact. You could springboard a Starr/Markko bond from there, and use it to bring Ray back and jumpstart a Ray/Dorian storyline (he would be very upset with her). 

-  John: "Bo and Nora came up with something on the down-low." Clint: "Well that's no surprise - that's their stock and trade." GREAT LINE!!!

-  I loved Cole snapping at Todd! The writers have really missed the boat by ignoring the Todd/Cole bitterness. 

-  Love Kim moving into the mansion. That storyline is so refreshingly paced (meaning, it's quickly paced!). As a matter of fact, the entire show is clipping along at a really great pace (except for the Stacy storyline, which feels like an eternity).

-  Eli's teeth are whiter than the North Pole.

-  That poison that Dorian put in Mitch's food.... will that come back to haunt her? Will that be what kills a Cramer?

-  Eli and Blair, really? You're going to have sex on Lowell's desk in an unlocked office where you could get arrested for public indecency?

Tuesday, 1/12

-  Renee and Nigel alert!!! Yay!!! David Vickers alert!!! Yay!!! 

-  Kim:  "No red carpet to welcome me to my new home?" Renee: "Red light, is more like it." WOW. Clint, Kim, Nigel, and Renee living in the mansion = golden.  Now please find a way to get David Vickers living there, too.

-  Today Kim became one of my favorite characters (that is, when she's away from Stacy). The upscale bitchery and fabulousness with Renee and Nigel reminded me very much of a young Gabrielle Medina. I mean, it doesn't get any better than that.

-  Kim just called Renee, "old lady." Wow. And how great is it that Renee is being a huge bitch to Kim? I cannot get enough of this. I'm a bit surprised though that Kim is being so openly evil toward Renee and Nigel. You'd think she would play them a little closer to the vest and then stab them in the back. 

-  TPTB are integrating Eli very nicely and involving him in several stories.

-  Starr got even dumber today. Why would a 17-year-old heiress decide to move herself and her baby in with her boyfriend (both full-time students) when her parents are willing to pay for around-the-clock care in the comfort of a clean, sizeable mansion? Just who is going to watch Hope while all four of the teens are at school? Starr - I cannot relate to you or understand you. Why are you not acting like the product of Blair and Todd? You are more like the 17 year old version of Jessica, only without the alter personalities. Starr = dumb and boring.  I hope Dani brings some spice into Starr's life.

-  42 million dollars, Clint? Really?

-  The Clint vs. Nora scenes with Eli and Kim were great!!! Very venomous and soapy.

-  How on earth are Cole and Starr going to support themselves? What a ridiculous, stupid storyline!

-  Michael Lowry gave a devastating performance today when Ross told Dani the truth! Impressive. But how is it that Ross was cool, then turned into a psycho, and now apparently is cool again? That was some faulty writing, to say the least. But maybe somehow Blair can find herself in a triangle with Eli and Ross? 

-  Okay, when Kim was dancing and David walked in on her, I thought, "Here we go." Because I've had a feeling about David/Kim for awhile now. But... I was kind of disappointed with their scenes. The chemistry isn't a problem. I just didn't like how serious their scenes were. These are two comedic characters... where was the comedy? And where was the attraction? I thought these scenes were a bit misdirected.

-  Love the shot of Todd holding Dani's picture up to Starr's. The casting department really deserves kudos. Dani and Starr LOOK like sisters.

Wednesday., 1/13

-  Cris walks around shirtless... in the winter? 

-  The Mitch/Todd scenes are delicious. Talk about mind games. I love how Todd tried to play it cool but you could tell Mitch was getting to him.  Yet, no one handles Mitch as well as Todd does.

-  I couldn't help but think about Miles today. It makes no sense at all that Miles hasn't returned to Llanview (if he ever left?) to see his brother and check in with Natalie, Jessica, and Roxy. It just makes no sense.

-  Sorry to harp on this, but I'm just really finding Starr annoying and cheesy. I'm so disappointed with her.

-  Stacy is supposed to give birth in February!?!? That is so absurd... yet awesome. Because that means Stacy will probably die in February sweeps, and nothing could make me happier.

-  Clint, to Kim: "You know, it's fairly obvious to me that you're looking for a sugar daddy. Now then, if I'm going to be the daddy, sooner or later we're going to have to talk about the sugar." BEST LINE EVER!!! My jaw hit the floor!!! I love how Clint is in full control of the Kim situation. It's a very refreshing relationship because Clint is forcing everything out in the open. He's not the older man being duped. He's the older man demanding straightforwardness.

-  Starr's baby is living in a hell hole after being taken out of a mansion...Hope has lived in like four or five homes in her first year of life.

-  Nice Jessica/Rex rapport. But how stupid does Rex look once again, for buying into the whole "Stacy has changed" crap? He actually said to Jessica that he thinks Stacy is going to be "a good mom." What a dumb ass.

 

Thursday, 1/14

-  Now Ford is parading around the apartment in his underwear, AND asking Fish to massage him?  Score one for the bisexual theory.

-  Ford:  "I'm straight." Score one for the not bisexual theory. Note to TPTB:  Mistake.

-  I found Greg's presence in the Sky/Gigi/Rachel scenes really disturbing. His overbearing jealousy is the type of things you expect from men who beat their women.

-  Schuyler is in med school? Really? Because he sure does seem to have a lot of free time for someone in med school!!!

-  Is Ford going to EVER wear clothes? 

-  "Ugly David" was just... kind of silly and confusing.

-  David: "Who's ever heard of a name like Tuc?" LOL.

-  Blair is inviting Eli over to TODD'S house to have sex!?!?

-  Ford STILL doesn't have a shirt on, 30 minutes later.  And it's January.  In... Pennsylvania.

-  Okay, if Ford's going to be straight and given to Langston, then the least TPTB can do is give him to DORIAN in a triangle with Langston. Because it's been far too long since Dorian had a play thing, and Ford seems like the type who might be down for a sugar momma. Actually, Ford reminds me a little bit of a younger David.

-  Blair's hooker outfit almost blinded me. I seriously cannot believe she answered Todd's door wearing that. That is the home her young children AND her mother live in!!! And actually, I'm sad the writers didn't think to have Addie and Jack walk in on Blair and Eli screwing. That would have been potentially hilarious.

-  LOL! Sky is working at the hospital already! This is some accelerated med school he and Kyle go to! They don't ever have homework either, or have to pull all nighters. Med school is so easy on soaps.

Friday, 1/16

-  I'm grateful that Kyle found out the truth about Stacy's pregnancy today. This means her demise is approaching...and so are February sweeps!

-  I can't believe John had the gaul to kidnap Dorian! What an asshole. And to involve Brody...! Dorian could easily have Brody fired for this. John just doesn't think. He belongs in jail.

-  When Mitch walked into the diner and said, "Buenos Dias!" to everyone, I couldn't help but laugh.

-  Mitch quoting the Bible to Viki, Charlie, Jessica, and Natalie is just so creepy and fun at the same time.

-  Clever move to draw Fish into the baby story as Stacy's new bodyguard.

-  Why is John turned away from Brody and Dorian for minutes on end, rolling up his sleeves? Who does that in real life?

-  Brian Kerwin had another Emmy-level day today. The man is a powerhouse!!!  But I can't believe neither he nor Viki picked up all of those garbage cans outside of the diner! I guess Cristian will have to do that the next time he works there (which is like, once a month or so).

-  Schuyler is just not very likeable anymore. I don't care about him either way.  Scott Clifton is good, but neither he nor the writers have succeeded in creating a character. He's just a random guy played by a talented actor... there is no character though.

-  Mitch, sitting in Victor Lord's tomb, reading the bible to himself. Not sure why he's there, but doesn't it seem like it must mean something? 

-  Nice of the writers to take a stab at the internet soap craze with the Ford/David story. Ford: "Everyone knows there's no money in internet serials!" I don't know about that, but personally I can't stand to watch entire programs on my computer or my phone.  No thanks.

-  If Dorian wants Mitch dead, why doesn't she call her old friend, RJ, to hook her up with the right person?