38th Annual Daytime Emmys...Ho Hum telecast! Bold & Beautiful Best Soap! Ellen gets talk-show nod!

 

Fans of daytime TV coughed up $525.00 a ticket to mix-and-mingle with celebrated guests, B-list actors beamed on the red carpet, and Network Brass nervously stood on the sidelines waiting for the winners to be announced.

Although the 38th Annual Emmy Awards Show was tossed in an exotic locale in the desert oasis at the tony Hilton Hotel, they didn't really take advantage of it.

In sum, the broadcast was pretty pedestrian with few jolts or surprises.

No wonder!

After all, the daytime bill-of-fare on the old boob tube - endless talk, soap operas, and a multitude of mindless game shows - represent the "industry" side of the business.

A posse of workers routinley rise at the crack-of-dawn., head to the studio around six or seven as the sun is rising in the east, then - turn-out a few taped shows like clock-work - before they head home for dinner during the family hour.

Notwithstanding, a current transformation in the entertainment business has resulted in the cancellation of a handful of shows (long-running once-popular soaps, Oprah Winfrey, you name it), which has forced the suits to re-evaluate the tastes (and habits) of the American viewing audience.

Ronn Moss (an actor who plays "Ridge" on the Bold & Beautiful) theorized that one day the sizzling daytime pot-boilers (with plot lines that move along at a snail's pace) will be broadcast on the Internet.

Something tells me that sophisticated web-surfers (who populate the blogosphere) may not be interested in the fluff that the major networks are inclined to offer up though.

By the way, the "Bold & Beautiful" got the nod for the "Best Soap".

Grrrrr!

Years ago, when the serial first started up, I appeared on the show in a cameo role.

Of all the soaps I ever worked on (General Hospital, Young & Restless, Days of Our Lives) the cast of B &

Mr. Moss had a big ego (and acted like he owned the show) while Susan Flannery had the tendency to throw her weight around which was (and still is!) considerable.

By the way, the industry was inclined to sing the praises of Pat Sajak and Alex Trebek (two game-show hosts who have survived the axe over the years) and honor both with Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Deserving!

Of course, there was a loving tribute to Big "O" (Oprah Winfrey) on the heels of her departure from daytime Network TV.

In fact, the organizers of the event conjured up a spanking-new award-category to specially honor her.

The presenters gushed - so much so - that it ended up being way over-the-top.

Gladys Knight's parting song to Oprah was a disaster, too.

I didn't think it was possible for the legendary DIVA to bomb, but she did last night.

On occasion, Knight warbled off-key, gasped for breath, and strained to hit the high notes (which she missed more-often-than-not).

In contrast, Celine Dion sang one of Oprah's favorite hits beautifully.

At one point, when Susan Lucci sauntered up onto the stage, the host was inclined to take pokes at her character Erika Kane.

"You know, Erika was actually married eleven times, not eight," he joked.

"In fact, she played both sides of the fence," he quipped - at which point - a clip of Erika Kane marching down the aisle with Ellen DeGeneres sprang to life on the screen.

The audience roared.

By the way, the Ellen DeGeneres show won in the best talk show category this year.

Congrats, Ellen!

Unfortunately, Wayne Brady (a game-show host locally) failed to make the grade in his capacity as Master of Ceremonies.

Well, I'll put it this way.

Brady is no Neil Patrick Harris!

'Til next year!

http://www.thetattler.biz





Posse of Soap Hunks attended Emmy Awards in glitzy Vegas!




 

Bold & Beautiful...the "Blond and the Bad"; set the greedy b**tards adrift!

Well, guess 'ya heard, our two sisters unions are in a big cat fight right now over jurisdictional turf!

This past week my e-mail box has been rattled by missives from the administrative heads of SAG and AFTRA, respectively, begging for support.

A bitter dispute, but there will be a resolution, no doubt.

Traditionally SAG maintained jurisdiction over all productions that were shot on film; while AFTRA kept a vigil over projects taped on video.

The three camera video process first developed by Desi Arnaz for the long-running comedy - "I Love Lucy" - is generally used for the Soaps, TV Sitcoms, and News Broadcasts.

However, a few years ago, shows like "Cheers" - although 3-camera in nature - started using film to rustle up a higher quality image for a more sophisticated night-time audience.

The sad part - for performers anyway - is that working on a project that falls under the AFTRA contract usually means less pay. Hence, the reason actors prefer the more prestigious offerings that come SAG's way.

Of course, in recent years - what with run-away production and industry expansion into Cable, Music Videos, Reality TV, and Internet rich media - AFTRA and SAG have become more competitive about the pickings; hence, the current bitter dispute which is a major departure from the past amiable stance of the two entertainment heavies.

I was quite galled, though, when I learned that part of the recent upheaval was due to the fact a posse of spoiled actors over on the "Bold & Beautiful" suddenly decided to entertain the ludicrous notion of jumping ship (fleeing the AFTRA camp) to take wing under the SAG umbrella for purely selfish greedy motivations: bigger bucks!

You know, I've always referred to that dim-witted show - deservedly so - as the "Blond & the Bad".

For good reason; after all, I know from whence I speak.

When the daytime soap first started up, a storyline featuring a catering company was crafted around one of the young nubile leads, Brooke. For several weeks, I played one of the caterers in the tawdry slow-moving subplot which went nowhere fast.

Yeah, life's a drag for the rich in Malibu, you bet!

What astounded me most were the temperaments of the young stars, who - for the most part - were dredged-up out-of-the-blue with little or no acting experience or newly-minted from some dismal acting academy east of La Brea, somewhere.

In all the years I've been in the "biz" I've rarely encountered such "ATTITUDE" among a regular cast of featured players, a lack of empathy for fellow actors, and an overall lack of professionalism.

Talk about a disregard for others; Ron Moss (Ridge) acted like he owned the show.

But, Susan Flannery - who plays the part of the matriarch to the hilt - was the absolute worst! Rarely ever content, she often haggled with the director - and more-often-than-not - threw her weight around which was considerable.

In fact, the tensions were so high on the set you could cut through 'em with a chainsaw, just maybe!

The soap tattlers are tittling that Flannery may pack it in, retire. Good riddance!

But, the problem was not just in front of the camera.

Shortly after the sweet casting gal Jill hastily departed to marry a rock musician, some mousy little secretary by the name of Christie Dooley crawled out from under a rock to take her reins.

After that, I never worked on the show again. Cast out, like a leper!

I have a theory that she didn't want people around who were witness to her humble beginnings; after all, the low-life schemer was inclined to weave some grand plans of her own!

In a short while - in spite of the fact she lacked the credentials - she was actually conducting acting classes and workshops for struggling actors in the Hollywood area.

Talk about the blind leading the bland.

For twenty bucks or so she'd rent herself out to actors. But the truth of the matter is that most thespians regarded her coaching skills with disdain.

If the truth be known, actors were only signing up to charm her pants off, with the specific aim of landing a plum role on the show.

Of course, Ms. Dooley was wise to the game; she not only played it to the max, but lined her sow's purse with their cash and laughed all the way to the bank, as well.

The acting workshop "scam" is one of the oldest in the business and is generally frowned upon by Agents and Union Officials in particular.

Frankly, I was appalled that head honcho William Bell - the respected producer of "B&B" and "The Young & Restless" - didn't cut her loose.

I mean, it reflected so negatively on CBS and the soaps produced there and industry standards, at best.

So, of course, look who ended up on the show?

A non-charismatic cast of no-talents.

Go figure!

I say, cut the greedy b**stards loose, and set them adrift.

We need unity in our profession now, not petty outbursts from prima donnas, with little regard for what's best for the Industry and the solid traditions of Hollywood.