Emmy Stunner: Two Shows Win for Outstanding Drama!

In an unprecedented occurrence at this year’s Daytime Emmy Awards, TWO shows won in the category of Outstanding Drama Series: Guiding Light and The Young and the Restless. The show was broadcast live from the Kodak Theater on June 15. The last time GL won the honor was in 1982 (with its only other win being in 1980), so this year’s win was a long time in coming. Y&R on the other hand has won for best drama five times previously, making this win its sixth time in the winner’s circle.

Other big winners of the night were: Outstanding Lead Actor, Christian LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin, Y&R); Outstanding Lead Actress, Maura West (Carly Tenney, ATWT); Outstanding Supporting Actor, Rick Hearst (Ric Lansing, GH); Outstanding Supporting Actress, Genie Francis (Laura Spencer, GH); Outstanding Younger Actor, Bryton McClure (Devon Hamilton, Y&R); Outstanding Younger Actress, Jennifer Landon (Gwen Norbeck, ATWT); Outstanding Writing Team, Guiding Light; Outstanding Directing Team, As the World Turns.

Another long-overdue win of the night was for fan favorite Genie Francis, who reprised her role of Laura Spencer during last year’s November Sweeps. She and longtime love Luke were remarried exactly 25 years after their first wedding, which was a lavish ceremony that was the most watched show in daytime television’s history. A visibly moved Francis stated that she was “overwhelmed” by her win, and was surprised that she had even made the ballot, considering she was on GH for only 4 weeks.