2009's Soap Opera Spirit Award winners

And the envelopes, please: TV Guide.ca is proud to announce our second annual Soap Opera Spirit Award winners. Surprisingly, last year’s comeback soap, One Life to Live, swept the awards by topping their seven well-deserved wins with 11 honours, while The Young and the Restless trailed with eight triumphs.

The awards were chosen by the editors of TVGuide.ca, while the nominees were compiled by Nelson Branco. The 2009 eligibility time frame consisted of work that aired during the 2008 calendar year.

Unlike the Daytime Emmy Awards, SOS winners (quite the ironic acronym, huh?) were not chosen for specific episodes submitted, but instead were judged on an entire year’s work.

On Jan. 22, Daytimeconfidential.com will post a special Soap Opera Spirit Award podcast ceremony with Imaginary Bitches’ Eden Riegel (Bianca, All My Children) and creator Andrew Miller.

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees!

NETWORK TALLY:
A — 0
ABC — 18
CBS — 8
NBC — 0
SOAPnet — 0
Internet — 2
 
THE BIG WINNERS:
ALL MY CHILDREN — 1
AS THE WORLD TURNS — 0
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL — 0
DAYS OF OUR LIVES — 0
GENERAL HOSPITAL — 1
GH: NIGHT SHIFT — 0
GUIDING LIGHT — 0
ONE LIFE TO LIVE — 11
PASSIONS — 0
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS — 8
DAYTIMECONFIDENTIAL.COM — 0
CLAIRE AND KYLE — 0
IMAGINARY BITCHES — 2
LIFE IN GENERAL — 0
SCRIPT & SCRUPLES — 0
SOAPS UP — 0

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
General Hospital: Night Shift
One Life To Live
The Young and The Restless

Maria Arena Bell: “Wow! I speak for everyone at Y&R when I say we are thrilled and honoured to receive this honour from TV Guide Canada. All of the actors you chose have done fantastic work in the last year and as a writer and producer, I speak on behalf of all of us who say it means so much to have our efforts recognized by all of you. Thanks again!”

—Last year’s winner: One Life to Live

OUTSTANDING HEAD WRITER(S)
Sri Rao, General Hospital: Night Shift
Karen Harris, Life In General
Ron Carlivati, One Life to Live
Maria Bell, Hogan Sheffer, and Scott Hamner, The Young and the Restless

—Last year’s winner: Ron Carlivati, OLTL

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS Debbi Morgan (Angie Hubbard, AMC) Martha Byrne (ex-Lily Snyder, ATWT) Robin Strasser (Dorian Lord, OLTL) Erika Slezak (Viki Davidson, OLTL) Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor/Marge Cotrooke, Y&R) Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman, Y&R) Jeanne Cooper: “I am honoured… especially from my Canadian family!” —Last year’s winner: Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki, Y&R)

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR David Canary (Adam/Stuart Chandler, AMC) Darnell Williams (Jesse Hubbard, AMC) Jon Hensley (Holden Snyder, ATWT) Tristan Rogers (Robert Scorpio, GH:NS) Trevor St. John (Todd Manning, OLTL) Eric Braeden (Victor Newman, Y&R) —Last year’s winner: Jon Hensley (Holden, ATWT)

—New category

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING TEAM
All My Children
General Hospital
General Hospital: Night Shift
One Life to Live
The Young and the Restless

—Last year’s winner: General Hospital: Night Shift

OUTSTANDING PODCAST/RADIO/WEBISODE/SOAP-RELATED NON-DAYTIME SERIES Daytimeconfidential.com’s podcast Series Imaginary Bitches, YouTube.com Claire and Kyle: Night Shift, SOAPnet.com Life in General, Strike-tv.com Scripts & Scruples, scriptsandscruples.com Soaps Up!, A Creator Andrew Miller: “Thank you. TV Guide Canada’s support has meant a lot to myself and Eden. Being a Canadian, this Spirit Award in our first season is even more special. Our show really took off because of TVGuide.ca’s and daytimeconfidential.com’s passionate coverage. Hopefully, we’ll have a second season very shortly for fans to enjoy.” —New category

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE — ALL CATEGORIES Daytimeconfidential.com General Hospital: Night Shift Imaginary Bitches, YouTube.com Life in General, Strike-TV.com One Life to Live Scripts & Scruples, scriptsandscruples.com The Young and the Restless —New category

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS Ellen Dolan (Margo Hughes, ATWT) Elizabeth Hubbard (Lucinda Walsh, ATWT) Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke Logan, B&B) Jane Elliot (Tracy Spencer, GH) Marcy Rylan (Lizzie Spaulding, GL) Susan Haskell (Marty Saybrooke Thornhart, OLTL) Kathy Brier (Marcie McBain, OLTL) Judith Chapman (Gloria Bardwell, Y&R) —Last year’s winners: Kathy Brier (Marcie, OLTL); Catherine Hickland (Lindsay, OLTL)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR Daniel Cosgrove (Bill Lewis, GL) John-Paul Lavoisier (Rex Balsom, OLTL) John Brotherton (Clint Buchanan, OLTL) Greg Rikaart (Kevin Fisher, Y&R) Michael Graziadei (Daniel Romalotti, Y&R) Ted Shackelford (Jeffrey Bardwell, Y&R) —Last year’s winner: Trent Dawson (Henry, ATWT)

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTRESS Kirsten Storms (Maxie Jones, GH) Julie Marie Berman (Lulu Spencer, GH) Kristen Alderson (Starr Manning, OLTL) Farah Fath (Emma Bradley/Gigi Marasco, OLTL) Melissa Fumero (ex-Adriana Balsom, OLTL) Emily O’Brien (Jana Fisher, Y&R) Melissa Fumero: “I am humbled and very honoured to be recognized. Thank you so much for noticing and appreciating what I had so much fun playing.” —Last year’s winner: Kirsten Storms (Maxie, GH)

OUTSTANDING YOUNGER ACTOR Van Hansis (Luke Snyder, ATWT) Blake Berris (ex-Nick Fallon, DAYS) Brandon Buddy (Cole Thornhart, OLTL) Austin Williams (Shane/Spencer, OLTL) Eddie Alderson (Matthew Buchanan, OLTL) —Last year’s winner: Tom Pelphrey (ex-Jonathan, GL)

OUTSTANDING FEMALE GUEST STAR OR RECURRING ACTRESS Shirley Jones (ex-Colleen Brady, DAYS) Genie Francis (ex-Laura Spencer, GH) Carolyn Hennesy (Diane Miller, GH) Ilene Kristen (Roxy Balsom, OLTL) Catherine Hickland (Lindsay Rappaport/Olympia Buchanan, OLTL) Pamela Peyton-Wright (Addie Cramer, OLTL) Lea DeLaria (ex-Madame Delphina/Delbert Fina, OLTL) Tricia Cast (ex-Nina Chancellor, Y&R) Signy Coleman (ex-Hope Adams, Y&R) Carolyn Hennesy: “Thank you Canadians and TVGuide.ca! Canadians, as it is commonly known, have the most discerning taste — especially when it comes to their soap operas. God bless, Canada. I couldn’t be happier. I’m over the moon. Thank you, thank you, thank you!” —Last year’s winner: Betty White (Ann, B&B)

OUTSTANDING MALE GUEST STAR OR RECURRING ACTOR William DeVry (ex-Storm Logan, B&B) Chad Allen (ex-Eric Whitlow, GH:NS) Kin Shriner (ex-Scotty Baldwin, GH) Peter Bartlett (Nigel Bartholomew-Smythe, OLTL) Tuc Watkins (David Vickers, OLTL) Greg Rikaart, (Mark, Imaginary Bitches) Jerry Douglas (John Abbott/Alistair Wallingford, Y&R) Tuc Watkins: “When you work for a creative executive like Frank Valentini, a clever writer like Ron Carlavati, and leading ladies like Robin Strasser and Erika Slezak, you feel like you’re on top of the world. But then sometimes they put you in orange monk robes for two months just to keep your ego at bay. I’m plotting revenge. No one at OLTL is safe. Not even Kristen Alderson, who had nothing to do with it.” —Last year’s winner: Tuc Watkins (David, OLTL)

OUTSTANDING MALE ACTOR IN A NEW ROLE OR RECAST JR Martinez (Brot Monroe, AMC) Cornelius Smith Jr. (Frankie Hubbard, AMC) Eric William Morris (ex-Matt O’Connor, ATWT) Billy Magnussen (Casey Hughes, ATWT) Kane Manera (Grady Foley, GL) Mark Lawson (Brody Lovett, OLTL) Billy Miller (Billy Abbott, Y&R) Mark Lawson: “Thank you so much! It has been such a wild ride of a year for me. This time last year I was tracking down new clients for personal training and counting the hours ‘til I could walk away from acting. Day by day, I’m practicing being more and more grateful for the opportunity to work in a great town, on a wonderful show, with a hugely talented cast, writers and crew. I am honoured to tell Brody’s story and I’m doing my best to tell the truth for all the returning vets out there.” —Last year’s winner: John Brotherton (Jared, OLTL)

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTOR IN A NEW ROLE OR RECAST —TIE— Tamara Braun (Reese Williams, AMC) YaYa Da Costa (ex-Cassandra Foster, AMC) Julie Pinson (Janet Snyder, ATWT) Tamara Braun (ex-Ava Vitali, DAYS) Lisa LoCicero (Olivia Falconeri, GH) Kathleen Noone (ex-Patricia, GH:NS) Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe/Kate Ashby, Y&R) Elizabeth Hendrickson: “I am so very thankful for being recognized for this award. I can’t believe I’ve been playing Chloe for a year — time truly does fly by when you’re having fun. And a very BIG thank you to the fans for watching and accepting Chloe into your homes and hearts.” —Last year’s winner: Beth Ann Bonner (Talia, OLTL)

OUTSTANDING CASTING DIRECTION
All My Children
GH: Night Shift
One Life to Live
Scripts & Scruples
The Young and the Restless

Julie Madison, Casting Director: “Thank you for honouring the work of the OLTL Casting Department. It’s exciting to help bring to life the vision of the writers and producers of OLTL by finding the right actors for each role. I believe the diversity and talent of our acting company is one of the great strengths of OLTL. I am proud to work on the show and I thank you for this honour.”

—Last year’s winner: The Bold and the Beautiful

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN
All My Children
The Bold and the Beautiful
Guiding Light
One Life to Live
The Young and the Restless

Roger A. Mooney, Production Designer: “The One Life to Live Scenic Design Department would like to thank TV Guide Canada for its Soap Opera Spirit Award in outstanding set direction. We take great pride in helping to bring to life for our viewers our show’s varied stories with the sets that we create. We are equally proud to be a part of the great, collaborative One Life to Live production team.”

—New category

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
All My Children
General Hospital
One Life to Live
The Young and the Restless

Y&R’s wardrobe department: “Wow! That’s lovely! We are truly honoured. Thank you so much for thinking of us. We really do appreciate this award. It is such a nice surprise!”

—New category

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A DUO Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams (Angie and Jesse, AMC) Eden Riegel and Tamara Braun (Bianca and Reese, AMC) Austin Peck and Terri Colombino (Brad and Katie, ATWT) Kimberly McCullough and Jason Thompson (Robin and Patrick, GH:NS) Luke Kerr and Jamey Giddens, Daytimeconfidential.com Robin Strasser and Erika Slezak (Dorian and Viki, OLTL) Michael Graziadei and Adrienne Frantz (Daniel and Amber, Y&R) Eric Braeden and Melody Thomas Scott (Victor and Nikki, Y&R) —Last year’s winner: Van Hansis (Luke, ATWT) and Jake Silbermann (Noah, ATWT)

THE IRNA PHILLIPS SPIRIT AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE SERIAL ART FORM
Agnes Nixon

—Last year’s honouree: B&B’s Patrick Mulcahey

THE DOUGLAS MARLAND MEMORIAL AWARD
Beverlee McKinsey
James E. Reilly

—Last year’s honouree: Darlene Conley (ex-Sally, B&B)

Want to dish the soaps with Nelson Branco? Join The Suds Report discussion group today on Facebook.com.

Nelson Branco is a Toronto freelance entertainment journalist, who regularly contributes to Hello! Canada, The National Post, The Los Angeles Times' theenvelope.com, TV Guide USA, tvguide.com, Inside Entertainment, OUT, and fab magazine, along with spearheading the soap coverage for TVGuide.ca's popular daytime TV hub. After graduating from Ryerson University in 1997, he moved from Toronto to New York in 1998 to take on the roles as senior news editor at Soap Opera Update. Branco first freelanced for Soap Opera Weekly as an intern in 1994, and after leaving Soap Update to help create and launch Bauer Publishing's In Touch Weekly in 2003, Branco continued to freelance occasionally for its sister publication, Soaps In Depth. Most recently, he helped create and launch Canada's first celebrity magazine, Weekly Scoop in 2005 as its news and entertainment director. Branco is also a contributor to a new TV show titled Planet Soap to air in Canada and America.