On Sunday Night, The 44th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be livestreamed on their Twitter (@DaytimeEmmys) and Facebook pages. This year’s hosts are “Extra”‘s Mario Lopez and Sheryl Underwood from “The Talk”.
I don’t watch any Soap Operas (and I don’t know anyone who still does). It’s the Game, Talk, Entertainment News and Morning Shows that are dominating Daytime TV these days. Here are my picks in those categories:
Outstanding Game Show Host
Craig Ferguson has taken this the past two years for “Celebrity Name Game”. This will be his final chance to win, as the show is ending this season. Pat Sajak and Alex Trebek have already won several times each, and I just don’t think this is Harvey’s year. After seven attempts, Wayne Brady will finally win in this category for “Let’s Make a Deal”.
Outstanding Talk Show Host – Informative
Steve Harvey is switching his show into a celebrity/entertainment format in the fall, and the industry has known about this for months. I don’t see Chris Hedges (“On Contact”) or “The Kitchen” crew making a splash. “The Chew” gang won last year, and Dr. Oz is quite popular. But what the heck – let’s give it to the legendary Larry King, who’s nominated for his Ora TV show “Larry King Now”.
Outstanding Talk Show Host – Entertainment
Kelly Ripa could get some votes for her first post-Strahan year. “The Real” doesn’t have a chance. “The Talk” announced the Emmy nominees a couple months ago, and Underwood is a co-host, so they’re at a disadvantage. “The View” isn’t really “entertainment” anymore (ABC moved it to their “News” division). And Wendy Williams won’t take it, either. In a surprise upset, expect newcomer Harry Connick, Jr. to win, as he brought upbeat, vibrant energy, and a dominant male presence, to Daytime this past year.
Outstanding Entertainment Program
There’s been too much controversy and change surrounding “Access Hollywood” lately. “Extra” has won twice before, but because Lopez is co-emcee, this won’t be Win No. 3. “E! News” and “Inside Edition” will also fall to the staple: “Entertainment Tonight”.
Outstanding Morning Program
“CBS Sunday Morning” could easily win here, but the transition from Charles Osgood to Jane Paulley might hurt it. Charlie Rose from “CBS This Morning” recently left for a period of time due to an operation. The buzz around the “GMA” set has dominated the tabloids, speculating Michael Strahan isn’t great to work with. “The Today Show”, which celebrated 65 years in January, is your winner.
Outstanding Game Show
“Celebrity Name Game” has no shot. A “Jeopardy” victory is too predictable, and I don’t think it will be “Let’s Make a Deal”, either. “Family Feud” hasn’t won this category since 1977. As much as I’d like to see it break that streak, my gut is telling me that “The Price is Right” will make it two in a row.
Outstanding Talk Show – Informative
Dr. Oz, Harvey and King’s shows, along with “The Kitchen”, will all lose to the most “entertaining” Daytime “informative” talk show: “The Chew”.
Outstanding Talk Show – Entertainment
There’s “Ellen” and “Kelly”, “The View” and “The Talk”. But wouldn’t you just love to see “Maury” win? I certainly would. It hasn’t been nominated for a single Daytime Emmy since 1998. How did it get in this category? It’s because the Emmy committee has finally admitted what the rest of us have known for decades, “Maury” is REALLY entertaining.
The Presenter better say, “Maury”…You ARE The Winner.