Fans of daytime TV coughed up $525.00 a ticket to mix-and-mingle with celebrated guests, B-list actors beamed on the red carpet, and Network Brass nervously stood on the sidelines waiting for the winners to be announced.
Although the 38th Annual Emmy Awards Show was tossed in an exotic locale in the desert oasis at the tony Hilton Hotel, they didn't really take advantage of it.
In sum, the broadcast was pretty pedestrian with few jolts or surprises.
No wonder!
After all, the daytime bill-of-fare on the old boob tube - endless talk, soap operas, and a multitude of mindless game shows - represent the "industry" side of the business.
A posse of workers routinley rise at the crack-of-dawn., head to the studio around six or seven as the sun is rising in the east, then - turn-out a few taped shows like clock-work - before they head home for dinner during the family hour.
Notwithstanding, a current transformation in the entertainment business has resulted in the cancellation of a handful of shows (long-running once-popular soaps, Oprah Winfrey, you name it), which has forced the suits to re-evaluate the tastes (and habits) of the American viewing audience.
Ronn Moss (an actor who plays "Ridge" on the Bold & Beautiful) theorized that one day the sizzling daytime pot-boilers (with plot lines that move along at a snail's pace) will be broadcast on the Internet.
Something tells me that sophisticated web-surfers (who populate the blogosphere) may not be interested in the fluff that the major networks are inclined to offer up though.
By the way, the "Bold & Beautiful" got the nod for the "Best Soap".
Grrrrr!
Years ago, when the serial first started up, I appeared on the show in a cameo role.
Of all the soaps I ever worked on (General Hospital, Young & Restless, Days of Our Lives) the cast of B &
Mr. Moss had a big ego (and acted like he owned the show) while Susan Flannery had the tendency to throw her weight around which was (and still is!) considerable.
By the way, the industry was inclined to sing the praises of Pat Sajak and Alex Trebek (two game-show hosts who have survived the axe over the years) and honor both with Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Deserving!
Of course, there was a loving tribute to Big "O" (Oprah Winfrey) on the heels of her departure from daytime Network TV.
In fact, the organizers of the event conjured up a spanking-new award-category to specially honor her.
The presenters gushed - so much so - that it ended up being way over-the-top.
Gladys Knight's parting song to Oprah was a disaster, too.
I didn't think it was possible for the legendary DIVA to bomb, but she did last night.
On occasion, Knight warbled off-key, gasped for breath, and strained to hit the high notes (which she missed more-often-than-not).
In contrast, Celine Dion sang one of Oprah's favorite hits beautifully.
At one point, when Susan Lucci sauntered up onto the stage, the host was inclined to take pokes at her character Erika Kane.
"You know, Erika was actually married eleven times, not eight," he joked.
"In fact, she played both sides of the fence," he quipped - at which point - a clip of Erika Kane marching down the aisle with Ellen DeGeneres sprang to life on the screen.
The audience roared.
By the way, the Ellen DeGeneres show won in the best talk show category this year.
Congrats, Ellen!
Unfortunately, Wayne Brady (a game-show host locally) failed to make the grade in his capacity as Master of Ceremonies.
Well, I'll put it this way.
Brady is no Neil Patrick Harris!
'Til next year!
http://www.thetattler.biz
Posse of Soap Hunks attended Emmy Awards in glitzy Vegas! 
