Lynda Hirsch on Soaps -- Q&A

Q: Last year the Daytime Emmys moved to L.A. and became very glitzy. What was the first Daytime Emmy show like? — Rhonda in Minnetonka, Minn.

A: Thirty-five years ago, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which gave out nighttime Emmys, would not even consider having a Daytime Emmy award. Finally, the association gave in. Paul Rauch, then-producer of "Another World," and later "Guiding Light" and "One Life to Live," organized the event. It was held in sweltering weather outside a New York City venue. Rauch, wearing a velvet purple sash over his slacks, was the best dressed. The event was not televised.

Slowly, the show evolved. When Susan Lucci became a perennial nominee and loser, the show had phenomenal ratings. Those days are gone. Over the years, the voting has changed from almost non-existent to trying to please everyone. This year, each show could nominate three actors for each category. The nominees were then seen by a panel and the official nominations were announced.

Q: Why did the Daytime Emmys move form New York City to L.A.? — Eunice in Portland, Ore.

Why indeed? Brian Frons, the head of ABC Daytime, pushed for the move. He wanted the industry to view the Daytime Emmys as on par with its nighttime counterpart. Like where you hold the event proves that. When the Emmys started to be awarded at Radio City Music Hall, the telecasts were at the ratings prime. When Erika Slezak (Viki, "One Life to Live"), received one of her first of five Daytime Emmys, she exclaimed, "I can not believe I won this on the stage of Radio City Music Hall." Frons decided it would be better to move the show to the Kodak Theatre.

It is a beautiful venue. However, nothing is as grand as Radio City Music Hall. The pre-show events in New York were amazing. Beautifully dressed actors and actresses paraded down Fifth Avenue in a fashion extravaganza. West Coast shows like "Young and Restless" honored their casts with press parties that let their stars shine.

Wonderful private parties held afterward were memorable. At one such event, Terry Lester (the original Jack from "Young and Restless") popped out a solid gold Dunhill lighter. "I bought this because I saw the winning list before the show. I lost. I decided to make myself a winner," he said at the time.

At the same event, Kin Shriner (GH's Scott) was ordered by his larger-than-life producer, Gloria Monty, to give her a kiss — not a request, a demand. Shriner did it. How do I know? John Michael Reed (my dearly departed soap columnist rival) and I hosted one of these parties for years. The party was always simple: shrimp, champagne and stars.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

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