'Young and Restless' big winner
LOS ANGELES — Matt Lauer and Ellen DeGeneres helped the Daytime Emmys return to television with a comedy bit involving black stockings — not worn by DeGeneres.
“General Hospital” and “The Young and the Restless” were the top winners Sunday with three trophies each, while the latter shared the best drama series award with “Days of Our Lives.”
“CBS Sunday Morning” hosted by Charles Osgood, was honored as best morning program.
Betty White was honored with a lifetime achievement award.
“Hello, beautiful,” she said to her trophy. “When I started in 1949 I had no idea that I'd still be around at this point, for one thing, or that I'd still be privileged enough to still be in this business. ”
Tyra Banks hosted the ceremony that aired on the Pop cable channel. The Daytime Emmys, which once had a secure home on the broadcast networks, settled for streaming online last year after a two-year turn on the cable news channel HLN.
The change in fortune reflected the dwindling daytime audience and programming shifts, but that didn't diminish the winners' enthusiasm.
A beaming Craig Ferguson, replaced by James Corden as host of CBS' “The Late Late Show,” accepted the trophy for best game show host for “Celebrity Name Game.”
“I never win anything. This is fantastic,” Ferguson said, adding, “Thank you, Hollywood, for a job.”
Freddie Smith was honored as best younger actor in a drama for his role as Sonny in “Days of Our Lives.” His character and that of Will (played by Guy Wilson) were part of daytime TV's first gay wedding with two men.The ceremony featured the reunion of Anthony Geary and Genie Francis, the former “General Hospital” couple of Luke and Laura, who presented the trophy for best drama series, a tie, to “Days of Our Lives” and “The Young and the Restless.”Geary was a winner as well, accepting his eighth Emmy for his “General Hospital” role, while fellow series star Maura West was named best lead drama actress.Other winners included Amelia Heinle, best supporting actress in a drama series for “The Young and the Beautiful,” and Chad Duell, best supporting actor for “General Hospital.”Among other winners were “Jeopardy!,” best game show; Steve Harvey, host of an informative talk show; “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” entertainment talk show; “Entertainment Tonight,” entertainment news program; Hunter King, younger actress in a drama series; and Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan, entertainment talk show hosts.
