LAS VEGAS (AP) - Brittany Allen of “All My Children” earned one of the show’s final Daytime Emmys, winning for younger actress in a drama series on Sunday night.
The ABC soap opera is leaving the air after more than 40 years because of declining ratings, as is “One Life to Live.”
Jonathan Jackson of “General Hospital” and Heather Tom of “The Bold and the Beautiful” earned trophies as supporting actor and actress in a bittersweet ceremony at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Jackson, who plays Lucky Spencer on the ABC soap, 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 actress 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.”
Also on on their way out of daytime are Oprah Winfrey, Regis Philbin and Meredith Vieira.
“Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” tied for best game show, fitting since the respective hosts, Alex Trebek and Pat Sajak, received lifetime achievement awards during the show. Those shows dethroned “Cash Cab,” which had won three straight years.
But Ben Bailey of “Cash Cab” took home a trophy, repeating as best game show host. He didn’t immediately appear to accept his award, leaving presenter Tracey E. Bregman to ask the audience, “Anybody?”
A harried Bailey walked out from backstage, where he said he had been using the restroom when he heard his name called.
Backstage, Bailey admitted he hadn’t washed his hands but promised to do so, which surely would have met the approval of Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Oz repeated as best talk-show host, while his “The Dr. Oz Show” won for best talk show-informative. Oz, one of Oprah Winfrey’s proteges, is being rewarded in many markets with the 4 p.m. slot that Winfrey ruled for so many years.
“I don’t feel pressure,” he said backstage. “I feel honored and I feel responsibility to give to the audience what she did so beautifully for 25 years.”
Oz added, “I think I’ll have Oprah on as a guest sooner rather than later.”
“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” earned best talk show-entertainment honors for the second straight year, although she skipped the ceremony, yielding the spotlight to her producing and writing staffs.
In a tribute to Winfrey, Gladys Knight sang “That’s What Friends Are For” as a montage of the talk queen’s shows played behind her. Oz paid tribute, as did frequent Oprah guest Celine Dion, who sang “Because You Loved Me” from the stage at Caesar’s Palace, where she performs.
Winfrey appeared on tape with her staff gathered behind her and holding the Crystal Pillar award she was given for changing the face of daytime television.
Philbin is leaving his syndicated chat fest later this year, and he lost out to Oz for talk-show host. Vieira ended her five-year run on the “Today” show earlier this month. She was nominated for best game show host for “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”
“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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