Brazil, Japan win International Emmys for news (AP)

NEW YORK – Television networks in Brazil and Japan have won their first-ever International Emmy Awards in the news and current affairs categories.

TV Globo's "Jornal Nacional: War on Drugs," about the four-day raid in November 2010 by security forces to take control of a major drug dealer's stronghold in Rio de Janeiro, is the winner of the International Emmy for news.

Japan's NHK takes the award in the current affairs category for "Back from the Brink: Inside the Chilean Mine Disaster" about the 69-day ordeal of 33 miners trapped underground and their dramatic rescue last year.

The awards were presented on Monday by The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in New York.

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TV fans take in pre-show glitz at Creative Arts Emmys (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – Chaz Bono and Kristin Chenoweth were the top draws on the red carpet outside the Creative Arts Emmys on Saturday afternoon.

"Mr. Bono, Mr. Bono!" photographers yelled as he arrived at the Los Angeles event with girlfriend Jennifer Elia.

Publicist Howard Bragman was far from surprised by the response, considerating that Bono recently was announced as a contentast on the next season of "Dancing with the Stars."

"Nobody's said word one about (fellow contestant) Carson Kressley (who first appeared on the small screen in "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"), so I think the Christian right has given up on the gay rights battle, and now they're moving their battle lines to the transgendered issue," he told TheWrap before the three-plus hour show. "The biggest fear the Christian right has is that Chaz Bono will go on TV and be a nice sweet guy that America likes."

A tired Chenoweth said, "I'm here, but I'm not really here," after wrapping a night shoot of ABC's upcoming "GCB" ("Good Christian Belles") only hours earlier.

Nominee Julia Stiles was also walking off a set, having just started in an end-of-the-world comedy, "It's a Disaster!" with America Ferrara and David Cross this week.

"I was totally spoiled working on 'Dexter,'" she said. "I loved what they wrote for me, I loved going to work every day."

For the record, Stiles also was upbeat about the new project, her third with this team of producers.

Most of the fans gathered around the perimeter of L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles were young, yelling for "Degrassi" and the Nickelodeon cast of "iCarly."

Chuck Lorre and Jon Cryer, of the newly reconfigured "Two and a Half Men," are still avoiding the press, sneaking in through a side door, as did "SNL" head writer Seth Meyers and actress Cloris Leachman.

PICTURE-TAKING PROHIBITED

The TV Academy confiscated all cameras on the way in, something they will be doing again for the primetime telecast next Sunday.

Among other reasons, this may be because of a few overzealous guests last year who hounded talent like Stephen Colbert for photos in the lobby.

As the show kicked off, the team from "Undercover Boss" was polishing off some wraps in the lobby as "So You Think You Can Dance" host Cat Deeley kicked back in an empty back row.

Moments later, Deeley was laughing out loud at "Friday Night Lights" star Connie Britton's teleprompter banter with showrunner Jason Katims.

Kathy Griffin famously slugged the afternoon-to-night show "the Shemmemys," earning her some potential special treatment. "I'm in row M," she told TheWrap.

When Chris Colfer announced that "Saturday Night Live" won for Original Music and Lyrics, there was some confusion in the audience because "SNL" had four nominees in the category with various staff contributing to each entry.

When the graphic flashed on one of the screens showing that it was for Justin Timberlake's monologue song, Seth Meyers bounded onstage a few beats later.

"Justin Timberlake really wanted to be here. But we said, no, they really want to see the writers," Meyers said.

Paul "Pee-wee Herman" Reubens proved to be among the mostpopular presenters, eschewing his signature style for a traditional tuxedo with a regular tie instead of a bowtie.

After 76 awards, 3,000 attendees hiked across the street around 8 p.m. for the first installment of the Governor's Ball. An edited version of the show debuts on Reelz Channel on September 17.

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Timberlake, "Boardwalk Empire" win at Creative Emmys (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Singer Justin Timberlake took home two more Emmys on Saturday in his burgeoning career as a comedic actor, while Gwyneth Paltrow added a television honor to a life spent mostly in the movies.

The 30-year-old, who started out as a pop singer, already has two Emmys for his previous work on "Saturday Night Live."

Timberlake was not on hand to collect his trophies, which were handed out in the creative arts portion of the PrimeTime Emmy Awards.

Timberlake won the guest comedy actor Emmy for hosting the season finale of "Saturday Night Live" in May, and shared another for co-writing the original song in his opening musical monologue for the sketch show.

HBO's prohibition era series "Boardwalk Empire" and 1930s drama "Mildred Pierce" both got off to a good start in their bid for next week's main Emmy awards. "Boardwalk Empire" walked off with a leading seven Emmys on Saturday, while "Mildred Pierce", starring Kate Winslet, won three.

Some 76 awards were announced in categories ranging from costumes and picture editing to reality host ahead of the main acting, comedy and drama series awards ceremony on September 18.

Paltrow, better known for drama, added a guest actress Emmy to her "Shakespeare in Love" Oscar for playing sexy substitute teacher Holly Holliday in the hit Fox musical comedy "Glee."

Paltrow, who beat Tina Fey ("Saturday Night Live") and nine-time Emmy veteran Cloris Leachman ("Raising Hope"), explained earlier this week that she could not attend Saturday's ceremony in Los Angeles.

But critical darling "Mad Men" came away empty-handed on Saturday in what could bode ill for its chances next week of winning best drama series for the fourth consecutive year.

GOVERNOR'S AWARD

John Walsh, host of the long-running crime show "America's Most Wanted", was given the Television Academy's Governor's Award for his contribution to society through television, winning a standing ovation from the audience.

Television Academy chairman John Shaffner thanked Walsh for "making the world a better place through television," noting that his show has helped police capture 1,500 fugitives and find 50 missing children since 1988.

"America's Most Wanted" was canceled by Fox as regular series earlier this year but will get a new lease on life on the Lifetime cable network.

On the drama side, Paul McCrane of "Harry's Law" was a surprise winner for best guest actor -- a category in which Michael J. Fox's quirky lawyer in "The Good Wife" was considered the favorite.

Loretta Devine took home her first Emmy for her guest actress role in hospital drama "Grey's Anatomy." Devine told reporters backstage, "I am over the moon. I just was not expecting it."

There were no surprises, however, for the best reality show host, which was won for the fourth time in four years by Jeff Probst of "Survivor." Probst said, "As we have seen tonight, the people in front of the cameras are nothing without the people behind the cameras".

Alaskan crab fishing show "Deadliest Catch" was a popular best reality program winner and also won three other technical awards.

Other notable winners included "So You Think You Can Dance" choreographers Mia Michaels and hip hop duo Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo, while the Kennedy Center Honors beat Lady Gaga's Monster Ball concert as the best variety, music or comedy special.

(Editing by Will Dunham)

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Paltrow loves `Glee' character but skips Emmys (AP)

LOS ANGELES – Gwyneth Paltrow says she was "totally thrilled" to be nominated for an Emmy for her guest starring role on "Glee," but she won't be at the ceremony this weekend where the winner will be announced.

The 38-year-old actress says she just reunited with her children in London and couldn't return to Los Angeles for Saturday's Creative Arts Emmy Awards, where TV guest roles are honored.

Paltrow would, however, return to "Glee" to reprise the free-spirited substitute teacher Holly Holliday, if invited. She says she "loves doing that show" and Holly is "probably the most fun character I've ever gotten to play."

Meanwhile, Paltrow has been busy promoting her latest film, "Contagion," where her role was probably NOT the most fun character she's ever gotten to play. She's Patient No. 1 in a killer pandemic.

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Cranky Miss Blankenship takes Randee Heller to the Emmys (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Randee Heller is walking the Emmy red carpet for the first time this year, but hoping that her many fans -- some of whom created a Facebook page in her honor -- won't recognize her.

That's because the "Mad Men" actress is nominated for her guest role in the 1960s TV drama as the cantankerous, racist, octogenarian secretary Miss Blankenship -- a character that added 20 years and hours of make-up to Heller's real self.

Heller, 64, talked and laughed with Reuters ahead of the Creative Arts Emmy ceremony on Saturday about the brief life (and hilarious death) of Miss Blankenship, and how 10 years ago she almost gave up working as an actress.

Q; What were you told about the character of Miss Blankenship when you were first cast on Season 4 of "Mad Men"?

A; "Literally nothing. (Creator) Matt Weiner approached me and said, 'first of all we are going to make you look terrible. Is that okay?' and I said 'sure, have fun'. The first thing I knew is that they were really going to age me up. That process took a couple of hours. They aged my skin, put on brown age spots, and then the wig and glasses.

"They wanted a very strong New York accent -- which is not difficult for me to do -- and they just said, she is very loud, and I said to myself she probably has a hearing problem and she has been in the office for decades and nobody intimidates her. As the weeks progressed they would tell me little bits here and there -- that she was the 'Queen of Perversions' and I was like WHAT? So it was fun, kind of a surprise."

Q: How big a shock was it when you learned Miss B. was going to be killed off?

A: "I had no idea she was going to die. I was so disappointed, but they said you are going to have the greatest death of all time (Laughs). In retrospect, I really did understand this was the best arc for her because you couldn't really push it any further. She's not going to sleep with Don Draper! So it was perfect. It was a great smattering of her character."

Q: How many takes were there of that scene of you falling over dead on your desk?

A: "I hit that desk at least 15 times!. They had a little sponge the size of a quarter (on my head). It was like a high dive into a very small pool. But the glasses kept banging into my eyes. After a few times, they padded up my arms. It was fun though. We knew it was going to be hilarious and kind of touching."

Q: You've played all sorts of parts on the stage, TV and in movies like "The Karate Kid". How different was Miss Blankenship?

A: "I have never had that experience of having to inhabit the body of someone who looked at least 15 years older than me. It was very freeing. You didn't have to care what you looked like. If you had bags under your eyes in the morning, that was good!"

Q: How did you react to news of your Emmy nomination?

A: "I thought it was impossible for me to get nominated. I was like, WHAT?! I couldn't believe it. I said, it's got to be a mistake. I was absolutely thrilled and totally surprised."

Q: So will we recognize you on the red carpet without all the Miss Blankenship make-up and costume?

A: "Probably not. I hope not! That's what I am thinking. If they do I, am going to be very depressed (laughs). Maybe I should wear the glasses or the wig."

Q: Has your success on "Mad Men" opened more doors for you in Hollywood?

A: "Right after, I did 'Grey's Anatomy' and I did a recurring role on 'Plain Sight.' And I just did a role on the upcoming season of 'Desperate Housewives'. I hope there are a lot of things that are going to happen from this. It's a hard age. I dropped out of the business for 8 years and I taught English as a second language. Then I decided to go back to acting and I got 'Mad Men'. It was really amazing because when I was in my 50s, it was very hard to get work.

"But to my surprise I have an Emmy nomination, and I have never even been to the Emmys! So it's like I am Cinderella. But actually having thought about it, I am Cinder-elder!."

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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Cranky Miss Blankenship takes Randee Heller to the Emmys (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Randee Heller is walking the Emmy red carpet for the first time this year, but hoping that her many fans -- some of whom created a Facebook page in her honor -- won't recognize her.

That's because the "Mad Men" actress is nominated for her guest role in the 1960s TV drama as the cantankerous, racist, octogenarian secretary Miss Blankenship -- a character that added 20 years and hours of make-up to Heller's real self.

Heller, 64, talked and laughed with Reuters ahead of the Creative Arts Emmy ceremony on Saturday about the brief life (and hilarious death) of Miss Blankenship, and how 10 years ago she almost gave up working as an actress.

Q; What were you told about the character of Miss Blankenship when you were first cast on Season 4 of "Mad Men"?

A; "Literally nothing. (Creator) Matt Weiner approached me and said, 'first of all we are going to make you look terrible. Is that okay?' and I said 'sure, have fun'. The first thing I knew is that they were really going to age me up. That process took a couple of hours. They aged my skin, put on brown age spots, and then the wig and glasses.

"They wanted a very strong New York accent -- which is not difficult for me to do -- and they just said, she is very loud, and I said to myself she probably has a hearing problem and she has been in the office for decades and nobody intimidates her. As the weeks progressed they would tell me little bits here and there -- that she was the 'Queen of Perversions' and I was like WHAT? So it was fun, kind of a surprise."

Q: How big a shock was it when you learned Miss B. was going to be killed off?

A: "I had no idea she was going to die. I was so disappointed, but they said you are going to have the greatest death of all time (Laughs). In retrospect, I really did understand this was the best arc for her because you couldn't really push it any further. She's not going to sleep with Don Draper! So it was perfect. It was a great smattering of her character."

Q: How many takes were there of that scene of you falling over dead on your desk?

A: "I hit that desk at least 15 times!. They had a little sponge the size of a quarter (on my head). It was like a high dive into a very small pool. But the glasses kept banging into my eyes. After a few times, they padded up my arms. It was fun though. We knew it was going to be hilarious and kind of touching."

Q: You've played all sorts of parts on the stage, TV and in movies like "The Karate Kid". How different was Miss Blankenship?

A: "I have never had that experience of having to inhabit the body of someone who looked at least 15 years older than me. It was very freeing. You didn't have to care what you looked like. If you had bags under your eyes in the morning, that was good!"

Q: How did you react to news of your Emmy nomination?

A: "I thought it was impossible for me to get nominated. I was like, WHAT?! I couldn't believe it. I said, it's got to be a mistake. I was absolutely thrilled and totally surprised."

Q: So will we recognize you on the red carpet without all the Miss Blankenship make-up and costume?

A: "Probably not. I hope not! That's what I am thinking. If they do I, am going to be very depressed (laughs). Maybe I should wear the glasses or the wig."

Q: Has your success on "Mad Men" opened more doors for you in Hollywood?

A: "Right after, I did 'Grey's Anatomy' and I did a recurring role on 'Plain Sight.' And I just did a role on the upcoming season of 'Desperate Housewives'. I hope there are a lot of things that are going to happen from this. It's a hard age. I dropped out of the business for 8 years and I taught English as a second language. Then I decided to go back to acting and I got 'Mad Men'. It was really amazing because when I was in my 50s, it was very hard to get work.

"But to my surprise I have an Emmy nomination, and I have never even been to the Emmys! So it's like I am Cinderella. But actually having thought about it, I am Cinder-elder!."

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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8 nominees up for International Emmys for news (AP)

By CHARLES J. GANS, Associated Press Charles J. Gans, Associated Press – Fri Aug 19, 4:30 pm ET

NEW YORK – Television productions that took viewers inside a Somali pirate stronghold and a Taliban unit fighting in Afghanistan were among the nominees for International Emmy awards in the current affairs and news categories.

The eight nominees from six countries and the United Nations include "Unter Piraten" on Germany's Infonetwork GmbH in the current affairs category and Britain's "Sky News Live at Five: Inside the Taliban" in the news category.

Brazil had two nominations — Discovery Networks Latin America's "The Assassination of Jean Charles Meneses" (current affairs), about the fatal shooting of a Brazilian immigrant mistaken for a suicide bomber in London, and TV Globo's "Jornal Nacional: War on Drugs" (news), about a November 2010 raid by security forces on a drug dealer's stronghold in Rio de Janeiro.

There were also first-time nominations for the United Nations in current affairs for UNTV's "21st Century: Cambodia - A Quest for Justice" on the international tribunal trying perpetrators of the Khmer Rouge reign of terror, and for Iceland in news for "RUV News: Volcano Eruption at Eyjafjallajokull" about the impact caused by the massive 2010 volcanic eruption.

The other nominees announced Thursday by the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences were Japan's NHK for "Back from the Brink: Inside the Chilean Mine Disaster" (current affairs) and "TV Patrol: Manila Hostage Crisis" by the Philippines" ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. covering an August 2010 hostage drama in which eight Hong Kong tourists were killed after their tour bus was hijacked by a disgruntled former police officer.

"The Academy is proud to be bringing these riveting shows to the global stage," said Bruce L. Paisner, the academy's president and CEO, in a statement accompanying a news release. "The 2011 nominees offer unique perspectives from all parts of the world on the events that have shaped the year and touched audiences."

The winners will be announced at a Sept. 28 ceremony at the Frederick P. Rose Hall of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York.

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ReelzChannel to air 2011 Primetime Creative Arts Emmys (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – The Creative Arts Emmy Awards will be aired on ReelzChannel this year, with Spike Jones, Jr. returning to produce the awards ceremony, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced on Monday.

This will be the first year that ReelzChannel -- which airs in 58 million homes via DirecTV, Dish Network, FiOS TV and AT&T uVerse -- airs the ceremony.

Jones has had considerably more experience with the annual event -- this year will mark his 17th go at producing the Creative Arts Emmys.

"I'm thrilled the Academy has asked me back for my 17th year," Jones quipped in the announcement. "When I started producing this show there was only one 'Law and Order' and nobody knew Raymond."

The Primetime Creative Arts Emmys will be taped on September 10, and aired on ReelzChannel on September 17 at 8 p.m. ET.

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NBC4 big winner in Los Angeles Area Emmys (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap) – The Los Angeles NBC affiliate, NBC4, was the clear champ at Saturday Night's Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards, taking home 13 awards to six for its closest competitor, KTLA5.

The local ABC and CBS affiliates, ABC7 and CBS2, each won four Emmys, while Fox Sports West, KCAL9 and KCET won three each.

Among its wins, NBC4 swept the three newscast categories, winning for Daily Daytime Newscast, Daily Morning Newscast and Daily Evening Newscast.

The Los Angeles Area Governors Award went to Christine Devine for the weekly news segment "Wednesday's Child" on FOX11.

The 63rd annual Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards took place at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theater at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' headquarters in North Hollywood.

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For Emmys, networks have the right sense of humor (AP)

LOS ANGELES – With "Mad Men," "Boardwalk Empire" and other prestige series, cable ruled the Emmy nominations for drama. But broadcast networks got the last laugh with their sitcoms.

Of the six nominees for best drama series only one, CBS' "The Good Wife," is a network program. Of the half-dozen comedy series contenders, all air on networks.

Members of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences clearly favored sitcom tradition in Thursday's nominations. "Modern Family," "The Office" and other broadcast shows have a more purely comic bent and err on the good-natured side of satire. Cable comedies are increasingly, in a word, mordant: Think Showtime's "The Big C," about a cancer-stricken woman.

"There was a heyday of comedies on cable like `Sex and the City,' but now it's broadcast" that dominates the genre for Emmy voters, said Tom O'Neil, editor of the award websites goldderby.com and theenvelope.com.

The lack of cable comedy bids may represent "a bit of a backlash" against the hybrid comedy-drama, O'Neil said.

It also underscores the sitcom's resurgence on broadcast TV, which seemed to lose its comic touch as hits such as "Friends" and "Seinfeld" faded into memory and weren't replaced.

A winning new crop is now emerging, including ABC's "Modern Family" and its clever take on what family has come to mean. Crowned best comedy series after its freshman season, it received 17 nominations this time around. Nods also went to NBC's "Parks and Recreation," "The Office" and "30 Rock," CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" and Fox's "Glee."

They've yet to break into lofty ratings territory — only one comedy, CBS' former Charlie Sheen vehicle "Two and a Half Men," cracks the Nielsen top 20 — but they're generating buzz and gaining momentum.

"OK, keep it together," a surprised nominations co-announcer Melissa McCarthy said Thursday when she realized she was a nominee herself for "Mike & Molly."

While cable comedies were overlooked, their stars weren't. Edie Falco, who was named best actress in a comedy last year for Showtime's "Nurse Jackie," was nominated again. Laura Linney scored a bid for "The Big C" and Louis C.K. earned a best comedy actor bid for his FX Networks show "Louie."

Given broadcasters fixation on franchise crime dramas such as "CSI"and "NCIS," it's unsurprising that cable's daring, unique (and often awash in nudity and violence) series dominate the Emmys.

Besides handing AMC's "Mad Men" 19 nominations and a shot at a fourth consecutive best drama series trophy, the academy gave fistfuls of bids to HBO's wild Prohibition-era series "Boardwalk Empire" (18) and fantasy saga "Game of Thrones" (13). Other best drama cable nominees are DirecTV's "Friday Night Lights" and Showtime's "Dexter."

"The Good Wife" had to be really good to wrestle a spot. It received eight other nominations, including one for star Julianna Margulies.

The period melodrama "Mildred Pierce," starring Kate Winslet and based on the 1941 James M. Cain novel, grabbed a top 21 bids, including best miniseries or movie in the new category that combines both formats.

Also in the category is the miniseries "The Kennedys," which was dropped by the History channel and given a second chance by lesser-known ReelzChannel. It received 10 nominations, including best miniseries and, among its acting bids, one for the critically lauded Barry Pepper as Robert Kennedy.

There was room for fresh faces, including best drama actress nominee Mireille Enos of AMC's "The Killing" and best drama actor Timothy Olyphant of FX Networks' "Justified."

And there were longtime favorites as well, most notably Betty White. The 89-year-old wonder nabbed a best supporting actress bid for the sitcom "Hot in Cleveland." If she wins, it would be her eighth Emmy.

"I am so thrilled. How lucky can an old broad be?" White said by phone a few minutes after her agent woke her. "I wasn't even thinking about the nominations because I didn't even think there was a chance."

Jon Hamm of "Mad Men" received his fourth nomination and another chance to convert one to a win. Although three-time winner Bryan Cranston is out of the running because "Breaking Bad" took a breather, Steve Buscemi, a Golden Globe winner for "Boardwalk Empire" is among the formidable competitors.

Emmy voters have a chance to flaunt their risk-taking side with "Game of Thrones," given the usual resistance to rewarding genre shows such as fantasy or science fiction. The series based on the George R.R. Martin novels scored a best drama nod but only a single acting bid, for Peter Dinklage in a supporting role.

HBO received the most nominations, 104, more than double second-place CBS' 50. NBC has 46 bids; PBS, 43; Fox, 42; ABC, 40; AMC, 29; Showtime, 21.

The nominations were announced by McCarthy and Joshua Jackson of "Fringe" at academy offices. The Emmy Awards are scheduled to air Sept. 18 on Fox, with "Glee" star and nominee Jane Lynch hosting.

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AP Entertainment Writer Derrik J. Lang contributed to this report.

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Daytime Emmys bid adieu to departing stars, shows (AP)

LAS VEGAS – Jonathan Jackson of "General Hospital" and Heather Tom of "The Bold and the Beautiful" earned trophies as supporting actor and actress at the Daytime Emmys on Sunday night.

Jackson, who plays Lucky Spencer on the ABC soap opera, brought his young son and daughter onstage with him to accept the first award presented on the live CBS telecast.

"It's Father's Day. I couldn't resist," he said.

Tom, a veteran soap star who plays Katie Logan Spencer the CBS show, won for the first time after five nominations in the supporting category.

"I have to thank the daytime community as a whole," she said. "You have been my home for most of my life and I am so grateful for that."

"Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune" tied for best game show, fitting since the respective hosts, Alex Trebek and Pat Sajak, were to receive lifetime achievement awards later.

Earlier, the red carpet brought out the stars for a ceremony that seemed more like a bittersweet goodbye, with Oprah Winfrey, Regis Philbin, "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" leaving the daytime airwaves.

Stars from "The Young and the Restless," including Tricia Cast and Tracey E. Bregman, thrilled fans as they walked the carpet in the middle of the Hilton casino. Fans pointed cameras and screamed, drowning out the jingling of slot machines as gamblers oblivious to the glamour played on.

Winfrey, who recently ended her lauded talk show after 25 years, will be honored for changing the face of daytime television during the show hosted by Wayne Brady.

The 38th annual ceremony honoring everything from soap operas to game shows to talk shows was to see a parade of stars like nominees Philbin and Meredith Vieira joining Winfrey on the way out.

Philbin is leaving his syndicated chat fest later this year, and he could retire with a trophy, having been nominated for best talk-show host.

Vieira ended her five-year run on the "Today" show earlier this month. She is a presenter and has multiple nominations, including one for best game-show host.

The ABC soaps "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" are bowing out after more than 40 years on the air, both victims of declining ratings.

"Erica Kane, forced retirement," Brady joked about the role played by Susan Lucci on "All My Children" as boos rang out.

ABC's "General Hospital" came into the ceremony with a leading 21 nominations, followed by CBS' "The Young and the Restless" with 20 and "Sesame Street" with 16.

"All My Children" vied for best daytime drama, along with "General Hospital," "The Young and the Restless" and CBS' "The Bold and the Beautiful," the two-time defending champion in the shrinking category.

"All My Children" co-stars Alicia Minshew and Debbi Morgan were up against each other for best actress in a daytime drama. Other nominees were Colleen Zenk of "As the World Turns," Susan Flannery of "The Bold and the Beautiful," Laura Wright of "General Hospital" and Michelle Stafford of "The Young and the Restless."

Best daytime actor nominees were Ricky Paull Goldin of "All My Children," Michael Park of "As the World Turns," James Scott of "Days of Our Lives," Maurice Benard of "General Hospital" and Christian Le Blanc of "The Young and the Restless."

The awards show was in its second year in Las Vegas, where it moved from Los Angeles after up-and-down ratings in recent years. The CBS telecast faced competition in its second hour Sunday from another splashy event, the Miss USA pageant held at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Sin City and shown on NBC.

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Daytime Emmys bid adieu to departing stars, shows (AP)

LAS VEGAS – Oprah Winfrey may be gone from daytime television, but the queen of talk is hardly forgotten.

Winfrey, who recently ended her lauded talk show after 25 years, will be honored for changing the face of daytime television at Sunday night's Daytime Emmy Awards, hosted by Wayne Brady and broadcast live on CBS from the Las Vegas Hilton.

The 38th annual show honoring everything from soap operas to game shows to talk shows might seem more like a bittersweet goodbye, with nominees Regis Philbin, Meredith Vieira, "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" joining Winfrey on the way out.

Philbin is leaving his syndicated chat fest later this year, and he could retire with a trophy, having been nominated for best talk-show host.

Vieira ended her five-year run on the "Today" show earlier this month. She is a presenter and has multiple nominations.

The ABC soaps "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" are bowing out after more than 40 years on the air, both victims of declining ratings.

ABC's "General Hospital" came into the ceremony with a leading 21 nominations, followed by CBS' "The Young and the Restless" with 20 and "Sesame Street" with 16.

"All My Children" vied for best daytime drama, along with "General Hospital," "The Young and the Restless" and CBS' "The Bold and the Beautiful," the two-time defending champion in the shrinking category.

"All My Children" co-stars Alicia Minshew and Debbi Morgan were up against each other for best actress in a daytime drama. Other nominees were Colleen Zenk of "As the World Turns," Susan Flannery of "The Bold and the Beautiful," Laura Wright of "General Hospital" and Michelle Stafford of "The Young and the Restless."

Best daytime actor nominees were Ricky Paull Goldin of "All My Children," Michael Park of "As the World Turns," James Scott of "Days of Our Lives," Maurice Benard of "General Hospital" and Christian Le Blanc of "The Young and the Restless."

The show was in its second year in Las Vegas, where it moved from Los Angeles after up-and-down ratings in recent years. The CBS telecast faced competition in its second hour Sunday from another splashy event, the Miss USA pageant held at the Planet Hollywood hotel in Sin City and shown on NBC.

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New TV awards show aims to be Emmys barometer (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – The head of the Broadcast Film Critics Association thinks the inaugural awards ceremony of its television offshoot will do for the Emmy race what the group's Critics' Choice Movie Awards has done for the Oscar race: shape it by predicting it.

The Critics' Choice Television Awards will be handed out during a luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Monday.

"Modern Family," last year's best comedy Emmy winner, leads the field with six nominations. Reigning Emmy drama champ "Mad Men" scored five nominations.

The Critics' Choice Movie Awards are, by some measures, among the most accurate precursors of the Oscars -- better than the Golden Globes or the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

"Since 1995, only two movies were ever nominated for best picture without getting a Critics' Choice nomination first," said BFCA president Joey Berlin. "The best thing you can do if you want an Oscar is to get a Critics' Choice nomination. Now the Emmys have a precursor too."

There are 15 television categories, including most exciting new series -- a category with no Emmy equivalent. The event will be streamed live on VH1.com and telecast June 22 on ReelzChannel. Emmy ballots are due June 24.

"It helps the Emmy voter focus their attention," Berlin said of the new ceremony. "It's logical to think that will happen."

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Wayne Brady puts on razzle-dazzle at Daytime Emmys (AP)

LAS VEGAS – Wayne Brady is right at home amid the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, so he jumped at the chance to put on the old razzle-dazzle as host of the Daytime Emmys.

Brady first hosted the awards honoring everything from soap operas to game shows to talk shows in 2003. Now, he's back for the 38th annual shindig airing live from the Las Vegas Hilton on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

Brady, whose old talk show won four Daytime Emmys, will sing and dance during the two-hour show, which opens with him performing alongside Jabbawockeez, an all-male hip hop crew that has their own show on the Strip.

"We're going to do something that maybe folks have never seen on the Daytime Emmys," he said. "We're looking to up the entertainment factor. It's all done with a wink, look at all these feathers and sequins, but we're just here to have a good time."

The show moved to Vegas two years ago after a run in Los Angeles, and its ratings, like many awards shows, have bounced up and down in recent years. Executive producer David McKenzie is focused on putting together a fast-paced telecast loaded with stars.

"We're featuring tons of people that perform in Vegas," he said.

Among them are Marie Osmond, Gladys Knight, Cirque du Soleil and Blue Man Group.

The Daytime Emmys will pay tribute to Oprah Winfrey, who recently ended her lauded talk show after 25 years. She'll receive the Crystal Pillar award for changing the face of daytime television.

Also on his way out is Regis Philbin, who is leaving his syndicated chat fest later this year. He could retire with a trophy, having been nominated for best talk-show host.

"We're going to celebrate those shows and celebrate the stars and make it more of an old New Orleans-type of wake," said Brady, nominated for best game-show host for "Let's Make a Deal," which was previously taped in Sin City.

Joining Winfrey and Philbin on the sidelines are ABC soaps "All My Children" and "One Life to Live," both victims of declining ratings after more than 40 years on the air.

"All My Children" earned 13 Emmy nods and "One Life to Live" had 12.

Because both soaps won't end until later this year, no tributes to them are planned.

"There are great efforts to bring them back," McKenzie said. "Other networks may be taking them, so it would be premature to throw dirt on them."

ABC's "General Hospital" led the way with 21 nominations, followed by CBS' "The Young and the Restless" with 20 and "Sesame Street" with 16.

"All My Children" will vie for best daytime drama, along with "General Hospital," "The Young and the Restless" and CBS' "The Bold and the Beautiful," the two-time defending champion in the shrinking category.

"All My Children" co-stars Alicia Minshew and Debbi Morgan are up against each other for best actress in a daytime drama. Other nominees are Colleen Zenk of "As the World Turns," Susan Flannery of "The Bold and the Beautiful," Laura Wright of "General Hospital" and Michelle Stafford of "The Young and the Restless."

Best daytime actor nominees are Ricky Paull Goldin of "All My Children," Michael Park of "As the World Turns," James Scott of "Days of Our Lives," Maurice Benard of "General Hospital" and Christian Le Blanc of "The Young and the Restless."

Among the presenters are nominees Rachael Ray, Dr. Mehmet Oz, and Meredith Vieira, who ended her five-year run on the "Today" show earlier this month. Also, CNN's Anderson Cooper, Penn & Teller, Peter Marshall and Vanna White.

Hosts Alex Trebek of "Jeopardy!" and Pat Sajak of "Wheel of Fortune" will be honored with lifetime achievement awards, although neither man was nominated for best game show host this year.

The nominees aren't the only ones who could walk away winners.

Viewers can go online and answer questions to enter a contest with prizes featuring trips to Universal Studios Orlando, the Bahamas and a yacht cruise.

"We're just going to have fun and blow the roof off," Brady said.

___

Online:

http://www.emmyonline.tv

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Networks, Emmys, reach 8-year, $66 million deal (AP)

LOS ANGELES – The Emmy Awards and the four major TV networks agreed to an eight-year, $66 million deal that allows for changes in the ceremony marking its 63rd year in September.

After protracted negotiations, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' board of governors approved the deal Wednesday night with ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.

Reality kingpin Mark Burnett, whose credits include "Survivor," "Celebrity Apprentice" and newcomer "The Voice," will produce the ceremony airing Sept. 18, according to an academy-network statement.

"We are excited about the continued collaboration with our broadcast partners, and look forward to working with Fox and, for the first time, with Mark Burnett on this year's telecast," said John Shaffner, academy chairman and CEO.

The major broadcasters will continue airing the awards in a "wheel rotation," with Fox kicking off the new cycle.

The academy earned a small increase in its license fee from the networks, which agreed to pay at least $8.25 million for the ceremony each year for a guaranteed $66 million over the life of the agreement.

The previous deal, which was reached in 1992 and expired this year, provided for license fees of $7.5 million per year for the past four years.

In a move aimed at boosting viewership, the agreement calls for each year's designated network and the academy to consider reviewing the number of awards and how they're presented.

Previous efforts to trim the show's roster of two-dozen-plus categories to create a sleeker, more audience-friendly show have run into industry resistance from writers and others. The agreement notes that the interests of "various constituencies" will be taken into account.

That review doesn't kick in until after the first year of the contact, which was concluded with too little time left for Fox to attempt changes.

While the Grammys and some other awards show have managed to increase their ratings in recent years, the Emmys have struggled for attention.

In 2008, the Emmy telecast hit an all-time viewership low of 12.3 million. In 2009, the show rebounded when an additional 1 million people tuned in for a total audience of 13.3 million, but last year's ceremony rose only slightly, to 13.47 million.

Shadowing the Emmys talks were a New York-based competitor that's been in the planning stages. The proposed Paley Center for Media honors were aiming for a 2012 launch, possibly in spring when the networks present the following season's programs to Manhattan ad buyers.

An exploratory committee with high-profile studio, network and other industry executives was weighing options for categories and the selection process. One proposal was to give the public a voting role with an eye toward popularizing the winners.

Such an approach would appeal to the networks, which have seen their top-rated programs such as CBS' "NCIS" and "The Mentalist" snubbed on Emmy night, while lower-rated but acclaimed cable shows including AMC's "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad" collect trophies and free promotion.

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