Unfortunately, the death of daytime drama couldn't be more evident than at the 2009 Daytime Emmys (8 p.m. EDT Sunday, CW).
Oh, the irony: These Emmys should be a celebration of the genre. Instead, the show is a sad reminder of what's all wrong these days.
CBS, ABC and NBC, the three networks that air daytime dramas, wouldn't touch the Emmys with a proverbial stick. The audience of the show is traditionally fairly small. So, the CW shrugged its shoulders and said, "Eh, we'll air it."
That's fine, but the CW doesn't air its own daytime soaps. So, yes, it's odd that a network not fully invested in daytime in that way would want to air this awards show.
Nonetheless, the show will go on -- at least for this year. Entertainment reporters Lara Spencer and Kevin Frazier are the hosts, not exactly big names in the daytime-drama world.
To give the show more glitz and glamour, the CW is also airing a pre-show red-carpet special at 7 p.m. You can see what Susan Lucci is wearing.
The Outstanding Drama category only has three nominees (out of eight shows left on the air): "All My Children" (ABC); "The Bold and the Beautiful" (CBS) and "Days of Our Lives" (NBC).
"Guiding Light" -- which goes off the air next month after 72 years in production (on radio, then TV) -- lost out on its chance to win the Outstanding Drama honor. "As The World Turns" could be gone by this time next year, leaving the 2010 Emmys with only six soaps to vie for honors.
Best Actor nominations include Thorsten Kaye, "All My Children"; Peter Reckell, "Days Of Our Lives"; Anthony Geary, "General Hospital" (ABC); Daniel Cosgrove, "Guiding Light" (CBS), and Christian LeBlanc, "The Young and the Restless" (CBS).
Best Actress nominations include Debbi Morgan, "All My Children"; Maura West, "As The World Turns" (CBS); Susan Flannery, "The Bold and the Beautiful"; Susan Haskell, "One Life to Live" (ABC), and Jeanne Cooper, "The Young and the Restless."
Other highlights for the week of Aug. 30-Sept. 5 (all times EDT; listings subject to change; check local listings):
MONDAY
-- "9/11: Science and Conspiracy" (9 p.m., National Geographic Channel). Forensics test the most popular conspiracy theories regarding that fateful day.
TUESDAY
-- "Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel" (10 p.m., Tru TV). Trendy spot Rehab has its own set of drama behind the scenes.
-- "Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World" (10 p.m., Travel Channel). Zimmern travels the world to investigate odd customs and rituals.
-- "Surviving Disaster" (10 p.m., Spike TV). Want to know how to survive a catastrophic event? Well, here's your answer.
WEDNESDAY
-- "Glee" (8:58 p.m., Fox). The pilot re-airs with a "director's cut."
FRIDAY
-- "Aquapalooza on Lake Martin" (8 p.m., CMT). Alan Jackson performs his greatest hits in a lakeside concert.
(E-mail Terry Morrow of The Knoxville News-Sentinel in Tennessee at morrow2(at)knews.com.)
TV HILIGHTS
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