Thoughts about Daytime Emmy Pre-nominations 2017

On Wednesday, January 25, 2017 Emmyonline.com posted the 44th annual drama performer pre-nominations. The final nominees will be announced on Wednesday, March 22, 2017. The winners again will be decided based on who got the most votes during this round. Below is the list and my thoughts on those who were included this year.


This year there are only four soaps that are eligible for prenominations in the soap opera categories: "The Bold and the Beautiful", "Days of Our Lives", "General Hospital", and "The Young and the Restless".  The younger list is based on whomever submitted, so everyone goes to the blue ribbon judging round.

Lead Actress
Kristian Alfonso (Hope, Days)
Sharon Case (Sharon, Y&R)
Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea, Y&R)
Mary Beth Evans (Kayla, Days)
Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis, GH)
Jen Lilley, as (Theresa, Days)
Gina Tognoni (Phyllis, Y&R)
Heather Tom (Katie, B&B)
Jess Walton (Jill, Y&R)
Laura Wright (Carly, GH)

Last year's winner Mary Beth Evans is included, but none of the actresses nominated with her are up for this award in 2016. Only four of the people pre-nominated last year, were on it again. We have 10 people listed so it is 1 for B&B, 3 for Days, 2 for GH and 4 for Y&R.

Lead Actor
Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH)
Peter Bergman (Jack, Y&R)
Scott Clifton (Liam, B&B)
Billy Flynn (Chad, Days)
Roger Howarth (Franco, GH)
Vincent Irizarry (Deimos, Days)
Christian LeBlanc (Michael, Y&R)
John McCook (Eric, B&B)
Kristoff St. John (Neil, Y&R)
Jason Thompson (Billy, Y&R)

Last year's winner Tyler Christopher (Nik, GH) isn't on the list, even though he was on that show for part of the year. Only Christian and Kristoff were nominated in this category last year. This year we have 2 B&B, 2 Days, 2 GH, and 4 Y&R people on the ballot. Most of the actors listed are known for being nominees, but not necessarily in the roles that they are best known for in daytime.

Supporting Actress
Eileen Davidson (Ashley, Y&R)
Judi Evans (Adrienne, Days)
Stacy Haiduk (Patty, Y&R)
Amelia Heinle (Victoria, Y&R)
Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe, Y&R)
Finola Hughes (Anna, GH)
Anna Maria Horsford (Vivian, B&B)
Kate Mansi (Abby, Days)
Michelle Stafford (Nina, GH)
Kelly Sullivan (Sage, Y&R)

Last year's winner Jessica Collins is no longer on Y&R, and won for her write-off story in 2016. Only two people got a pre-nom in this category last year that are on this list, and neither were nominated in 2016. This year 10 people were nominated and every show was included unlike last year, where there were no GH actresses. There are five Y&R actresses, 2 Days actresses, 1 B&B actress, and 2 GH actresses.

Supporting Actor
John Aniston (Victor, Days)
Obba Babatundé (Julius, B&B)
Steve Burton (Dylan, Y&R)
Sean Carrigan (Ben, Y&R)
Chad Duell (Michael, GH)
Bryton James (Devon, Y&R)
Wally Kurth (Justin, Days)
Jeffrey Vincent Parise (Carlos/Joe, GH)
James Reynolds (Abe, Days)
Dominic Zamprogna (Dante, GH)

Last year's winner Sean Blakemore is no longer on GH, and not included. Three of the actors who were nominated last year are included again as pre-nominees (Steve, Bryton, and Dominic) There are ten actors, 3 from Days, 1 from B&B, 3 from Y&R, and 3 from GH. Obba won in the guest performer category last year. There is diversity in both age and race. I'm surprised in a good way.

Younger Actress
Lexi Ainsworth (Kristina, GH)
Camila Banus (Gabi, Days)
Reign Edwards (Nicole, B&B)
Hayley Erin (Kiki, GH)
Olivia Keegan (Claire, Days)
Hunter King (Summer, Y&R)
Chloe Lanier (Nelle, GH)
Alyvia Alyn Lind (Faith, Y&R)
Paige Searcy (Jade, Days)

Last year's winner was True O'Brien from Days, whose character of Paige was murdered by a serial killer.  We only have one child actress on this list compared to last year and only Reign and Hunter got nominated in 2016. The breakdown is three from GH, 1 for B&B, 3 for Days, and 2 from Y&R. This is everyone who submitted, so I wonder if anyone aged out of the category.

Younger Actor
Jared Breeze (Max, Y&R)
Bryan Craig (Morgan, GH)
Rome Flynn (Zende, B&B)
Pierson Fodé (Thomas, B&B)
James Lastovic (Joey, Days)
Kyler Pettis (Theo, Days)
Tequan Richmond (TJ, GH)
Anthony Turpel (RJ, B&B)

Last year's winner Bryan Craig is on the list, but he departed GH in 2016 including him only three people were final nominees in this category: Pierson & Tequan. There are eight people included: 2 B&B, 2 from Days, 2 from GH, and 2 from Y&R. Hello parity.

Congrats to everyone on the ballot. Commiserations to anyone who did submit and didn't make it.