The 2024 Daytime Emmys went largely according to script on June 7, but there were still more than a few surprises. As always, some of the best moments occurred when the winners genuinely didn’t see that Emmy coming. See the complete winners list.
Here are the Top 5 of those shocking winners on the “shockmeter” scale.
1. Michelle Stafford, Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series for “The Young and the Restless.”
Most Gold Derby editors and users seemed to think that it was a battle between “General Hospital” heroines Finola Hughes and Cynthia Watros. So Stafford did a classic jaw-drop when her name was called, giving the night the one big upset that it needed. Stafford’s portrayal of Phyllis Summers had previously earned her a Supporting Actress Emmy in 1997 and a Lead Actress statuette in 2004. Two decades later, she’s an official triple Emmy champ – not to mention the night’s biggest daytime drama queen. Shockmeter rating: 9.
2. “Be My Guest with Ina Garten,” Best Culinary Series.
Producer Jenna Reynolds seemed truly taken aback when her show won the bake-off, beating out stiff competition from delicious entrees like “Valerie’s Home Cooking” and “What Am I Eating with Zooey Deschanel.” Reynolds stood on stage giggling, leaving the acceptance speech to her colleague. Had she opened her mouth, she likely would have said the same thing as Garten herself – “How fabulous is this?!” Shockmeter rating: 8.
3. Kevin Frazier, Nischelle Turner and Denny Directo for Best Daytime Personality – Daily for “Entertainment Tonight.”
Frazier and Turner were well-prepared for their hosting duties, but weren’t prepared to accept this honor along with their fellow “Entertainment Tonight” talents. Their emotional and heartfelt reactions were wonderful to see – giving the Daytime Emmys a little “entertainment tonight” of its own. Shockmeter rating: 7.5.
4. Courtney Hope, Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for “The Young and the Restless.”
The actress might have lost all hope of getting the gold if she checked the Gold Derby odds – all 11 editors predicted Emily O’Brien of “Days of Our Lives” to have the night of her life. Hope gave a truly impassioned speech, paying tribute to all the children taken from their families much too soon. It was only fitting that Courtney, who plays Sally Spectra, offered words with so much hope. Shockmeter rating: 7.5.
5. “General Hospital,” Best Drama Series Writing Team.
It was an awards plot twist that even the show’s head writer Dan O’Connor didn’t see coming. That may be because, as he noted, “General Hospital” hadn’t prevailed in the prestigious Writing category in 15 years. The program also went home with prizes for Best Drama Series and Best Drama Series Directing Team. Had “General Hospital” been DOA in the Writing contest, the show could have sued for malpractice. Shockmeter rating: 6.
PREDICT the 2024 Emmy nominees through July 17
Make your predictions at Gold Derby now. Download our free and easy app for Apple/iPhone devices or Android (Google Play) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. See our latest prediction champs. Can you top our esteemed leaderboards next? Always remember to keep your predictions updated because they impact our latest racetrack odds, which terrify Hollywood chiefs and stars. Don’t miss the fun. Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. Everybody wants to know: What do you think? Who do you predict and why?
SIGN UP for Gold Derby’s free newsletter with latest predictions
