WEST COAST SHOWS LOOM LARGE, AND LUCCI GETS ANOTHER CHANCE; DAYTIME EMMY MAY NOT ELUDE DIVA 18TH TIME.

Byline: Carol Bidwell Daily News Staff Writer

Three West Coast-produced daytime dramas were among the four nominated Wednesday for a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.

``General Hospital,'' which won the award for the past three years and is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, was nominated once again, along with other West Coast shows ``Days of Our Lives'' and ``The Young and the Restless.''

``All My Children'' was the single East Coast-produced show nominated for best drama.

And, yes, Susan Lucci - soap opera's always-a-bridesmaid-never-a-bride - has been nominated for the 18th time for Outstanding Lead Actress for her role as ``All My Children's'' tempestuous Erica Kane.

But, given Emmy voters' penchant for rewarding actors who play more than one role, Eileen Davidson, who plays Kristen Blake and triplets Susan, Thomas and Sister Mary Moira Banks on ``Days of Our Lives,'' may have the inside track. (Unless, that is, you count Erica's stint as wife to more than a half-dozen husbands as different roles.)

Other nominees for best actress are Cynthia Watros, who plays Annie Dutton Lewis, and Kim Zimmer, who plays Reva Shayne, both on ``Guiding Light.''

West Coast actors account for four of the five nominees for Outstanding Lead Actor - Anthony Geary, who plays Luke Spencer on ``General Hospital''; Kin Shriner, who portrays Scotty Baldwin on ``Port Charles''; Eric Braeden, who plays Victor Newman, and Peter Bergman, who portrays Jack Abott, both on ``The Young and the Restless.'' They're up against David Canary, who's already won Emmys in 1986, '88, '89 and '93 for portraying ruthless mogul Adam Chandler and his childlike twin brother Stuart on ``All My Children.''

Other nominees in prestigious categories include:

Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show: ``Jeopardy!'' ``Pictionary,'' ``The Price Is Right,'' ``Wheel of Fortune'' and ``Win Ben Stein's Money.''

Outstanding Talk Show: ``Leeza,'' ``Live With Regis & Kathie Lee,'' ``The Oprah Winfrey Show,'' ``The Rosie O'Donnell Show'' and ``The View.''

Many shows won multiple nominations: 19 for ``The Young and the Restless,'' 17 for ``All My Children,'' 16 for ``General Hospital,'' 13 for ``The Rosie O'Donnell Show,'' 11 each for ``Days of Our Lives'' and ``Sesame Street,'' 10 for ``Guiding Light,'' eight each for ``The Oprah Winfrey Show'' and ``The View,'' seven each for ``Disney Presents Bill Nye the Science Guy,'' ``Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?'' and ``Reading Rainbow,'' and six each for ``Leeza'' and ``The Bold and the Beautiful.'' Two new West Coast soaps - ``Port Charles'' and ``Sunset Beach'' - won two nominations apiece.

The 25th annual Daytime Emmy Awards show will be broadcast on NBC-TV from New York's Radio City Music Hall from 9 to 11 p.m. May 15. Two simultaneous ceremonies for non-televised Emmy Awards - primarily for creative arts categories, including hairstyling, makeup, film editing and music - will take place May 9 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles and the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York.

For a complete list of nominees in all categories, check out the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Web site at www.emmyonline.org.

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1) For the 18th consecutive year, Susan Lucci will try for an Emmy for her role as daytime diva Erica Kane on ``All My Children.''

(2) Anthony Geary, the male half of ``General Hospital's'' Luke and Laura duo, is one of the nominees for a Best Actor Emmy.