DeGeneres’ Talk Show Wins Daytime Emmy
NEW YORK – Ellen DeGeneres’ easygoing talk show won its second straight Daytime Emmy award on Friday and “Jeopardy!” √≥ with a boost from Ken Jennings’ 74-game winning streak √≥ was honored as best game show.
DeGeneres learned she had a fan from another generation when Merv Griffin, standing next to her as he accepted a lifetime achievement award, whispered: “I watch you every day.”
“Thank you for this prize,” DeGeneres said. “It shows us what we can do.”
“Jeopardy!,” which was created by Griffin in the 1960s, was honored as best game show for the tenth time.
“This just adds more luster to what has already been a shining season,” said Harry Friedman, the show’s executive producer. He didn’t mention Jennings, whose machine-like mind caused a sensation before he lost in November.
The Daytime Emmys, held at Radio City Music Hall and televised on CBS, have lost wattage over the years after losing story lines like Susan Lucci’s long losing streak. Its ratings last year were less than half what they were in 1997.
Stockard Channing added a Daytime Emmy award to her prime-time Emmy and Tony awards. She performed in “Jack,” a children’s special on Showtime.
“I thought nighttime was supposed to be hot,” Channing said. “But daytime is where it’s at.”
Greg Rikaart of “The Young and the Restless” and Natalia Livingston of “General Hospital” both won their first Emmys for supporting actors in a soap opera. David Yago of “The Young and the Restless” and Eden Riegel of “All My Children” won Emmys for young actors.
Wearing a purple velour jacked as he accepted his award, Yago tested the CBS censors. The audio was silenced for part of his acceptance speech.
“Oh, my God,” he said. “I should have been fired years ago.”
Let’s settle it in the kitchen: Chefs Bobby Flay and Michael Chiarello finished in a tie for the best service show Emmy.
The voice of Elmo on “Sesame Street,” Kevin Clash, was honored as best performer in a children’s series; Oscar the Grouch accepted the award for him. Henry Winkler also wasn’t on hand to pick up his first Emmy for his voiceover work on “Clifford’s Puppy Days.”
The ageless Bob Barker, recovering from skin cancer surgery, was not going to be on hand to see if he would win his 14th Emmy as best game show host.
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