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On Thursday, May 14, this year's Daytime Emmy nominations will be announced. The announcement means that the field of about 100 pre-nominees will be whittled down to about 30 finalists.
Normally, I save my predictions for the final ballot. It seems easier to pick one winner out of five nominees that it is to pick five nominees out of sixteen pre-nominees. Math experts may argue against me, but when math can explain how a character born on-screen in 1999 is now old enough to marry and have kids... then we can talk.
I've waded through the pre-nominees and came up with the five or six nominees in each category that I think will find their names on the final Emmy ballot. For many of the pre-noms, I have no idea what clips they've submitted to the judging panel. Because of this, I've decided to weigh each nominee's entire year to determine who should make the final cut. This isn't the way that the nominees are selected, but maybe it should be.
After you review my picks, head over to our Soap Central message boards and make your own predictions. We've set up a special discussion thread for fans to make their predictions. We'll see how you measure up when the nominees are announced. To get started, click here.
¤ Denotes a correct prediction.
Outstanding Drama Series
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General Hospital and The Young and the Restless are yearly "locks" in the category. If one of these soaps didn't make the cut, I think it would be seen by many as a huge surprise. All My Children should earn a nomination for the hi-tech tornado scenes from last year. One Life to Live should receive a nomination for its throwback episodes from last year that honored its 40th anniversary. Guiding Light may get a lot of sentimental votes, considering that CBS decided to cancel the show, but I am not sure that voters will like the new filming technique that was used.
Outstanding Lead Actress Predicted Nominees
There is no possible way that Jeanne Cooper will not end up on the ballot this year -- even if she did win last year. I think Cooper may have turned in an even better performance in 2008 than she did in 2007 -- if that's possible. Bobbie Eakes was phenomenal in dealing with the death of her on-screen daughter and Debbi Morgan may earn props for the scenes reuniting Angie amd Jesse. Maura West, another previous winner, is always great... even if her material isn't the best. Gina Tognoni has won Supporting Actress trophies twice before and I think this year may pave the way for her to join the "big girls."
Outstanding Lead Actor Predicted Nominees
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The Lead Actor category always seems to be one of the stuffier categories. Year after year, the nominees seem to be the same. Since 2003, the winner in this category has either been Christian J. LeBlanc or Anthony Geary. Since they seem to alternate every year, this would be LeBlanc's year to win. There could be any of a number of other actors that land on the ballot, but I've picked Park, Kaye, and Cosgrove on the volume of work that they've had last year -- and the overall quality of their performances.
Outstanding Supporting Actress Predicted Nominees
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Julie Pinson should have received a Daytime Emmy before. It's a strange situation for her to be nominated, since she's been on recurring status for her entire time on As the World Turns. Cady McClain was a winner a few years back and she was never on contract with the show. If recurring players can win Emmy nominations, will all soap stars end up on recurring status? Melissa Claire Egan was stunning as AMC's Annie went cuckoo. Alley Mills has been so much fun to watch as Pam and she's turned in some of the most memorable moments of anyone in the B&B cast.
Outstanding Supporting Actor Predicted Nominees
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This is an extremely talented pool. William deVry had one of the most dramatic exits in recent soap history: his character committed suicide so that his heart could be donated to his sister. If deVry doesn't get a nomination, I'll be extremely disappointed. I also think that Jacob Young deserves a nod for the aftermath of Babe's death on All My Children. Meanwhile, Tuc Watkins has always been great on One Life to Live, and I feel that he should receive a nomination. Jeff Branson breathed new life into a role on Guiding Light, a character much different than his AMC role.
Outstanding Younger Actress Predicted Nominees
I'm really not sure who will end up with a nomination in this field. I would have to assume that Kristen Alderson will receive a nomination, but I say that every there, and every year she is denied. There is no "powerhouse" in this year's field -- the previous repeat winners are all gone. This year we will have a first-time winner and I think it's anyone's game.
Outstanding Younger Actor Predicted Nominees
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This is an interesting category. The soaps keep bringing on younger and younger performers, but three of the soaps didn't have any nominations in this category. Some of the other nominees were too young, I think, to be able to compete with the "older" younger actors. I have to believe that if things are to be fair, Blake Berris will be nominated. His trip down a dark path as DAYS' Nick was amazing to watch. Billy Magnussen also deserves a nod for bring a different edge to Casey, a character that seems to be recast every two years.
Outstanding Writing Team Predicted Nominees
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Despite what some fans may say, the writing on all of the soaps was great last year. Maybe not as a whole, but at least in parts. The nominees in this category are chosen for individual episodes -- not the entire year of work. All My Children had its tornadoes, General Hospital had a young child being shot in the head, Guiding Light killed a much-loved character in order to save another, One Life to Live went back in time 40 years, and The Young and the Restless saw one of its male leads go into a tailspin after the death of his wife.
Outstanding Directing Team Predicted Nominees
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All My Children is a shoo-in to receive a nomination because of its CGI-heavy tornado scenes last year. The Young and the Restless is the winningest soap in this category and, as of last year, was the only soap broadcasting in high-definition. Guiding Light will receive a nomination because of its revolutionary production changes -- even if they were maligned by critics and viewers. The show was changed from stem to stern and they have to be rewarded for making the changes. General Hospital does phenomenal Sweeps stories every year, and that usually lands them a spot on the ballot.