NEW YORK (AP) - ABC’s “General Hospital” led with 23 nominations Wednesday in a Daytime Emmy Awards field with notable omissions as well as old favorites.
The television academy said “General Hospital” will compete with NBC’s “Days of Our Lives,” CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” and the canceled “All My Children” of ABC for best soap opera.
CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful” has won that trophy three years running but wasn’t nominated this year. Another surprising absentee is ABC’s other axed drama, “One Life to Live,” said Carolyn Hinsey, author of “Afternoon Delight: Why Soaps Still Matter.”
“The real travesty is `One Life to Live’ not getting nominated in the best show or writing category,” Hinsey said. “It was by far the best soap in 2011.”
Veteran game show hosts Alex Trebek of “Jeopardy!” and Pat Sajak of “Wheel of Fortune” won lifetime achievement awards at last year’s Daytime Emmys but got little love in 2012. Neither was nominated for best game show host. Multiple winner Ben Bailey of “Cash Cab,” Wayne Brady of “Let’s Make a Deal,” Meredith Vieira of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and Todd Newton of “Family Game Night” on The Hub were nominated.
“Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” were nominated as best game show.
Regis Philbin, who quit “Live with Regis and Kelly” last year, has one last chance to win best talk show host with partner Kelly Ripa. Philbin has won the award only once, sharing it with Rosie O’Donnell. First-time host Anderson Cooper, last year’s winner Dr. Mehmet Oz, Rachael Ray and the six co-hosts of “The Doctors” were also nominated in this category.
Cooper’s “Anderson” has had middling ratings in its debut year, but was nominated for best informative talk show along with “The Doctors” and “The Doctor Oz Show.”
“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” has a chance to repeat as best entertainment talk show, with the competition including “Live with Regis and Kelly,” “The View” and “The Talk.”
Veteran producer Bill Geddie, executive producer of “The View,” will get a Daytime Emmy lifetime achievement award.
“Sesame Street” and “The Young and the Restless” tied for second most nominations, with 16 apiece. ABC was the most honored network with 56 nominations. The ceremony will be held in Beverly Hills, Calif., on June 23. It’s still not clear who will televise the event.
Nominees for lead actress in a soap are Crystal Chappell of “Days of Our Lives,” Debbie Morgan of “All My Children,” Erika Slezak of “One Life to Live,” Heather Tom of “The Bold and the Beautiful” and Laura Wright of “General Hospital.”
Nominees for top soap actor are Maurice Benard and Anthony Geary of “General Hospital,” John McCook of “The Bold and the Beautiful,” Darnell Williams of “All My Children,” and Robert S. Woods of “One Life to Live.”
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