|
 The Soap Opera Digest Awards have come a long way. If you've been a fan of both them and the soaps they honor, then perhaps you remember that the very first Digest Awards weren't even called Soap Opera Digest Awards. They were called... Soapies.
Though the name was slightly embarrassing, the first Soapies were a landmark in soap history. In 1977, they were the only prominent industry awards voted on by the fans. The only thing the awards lacked was a glitzy and suspenseful presentation. That took some time.
 The first Soapy Awards -- which were tall, geometric crystals -- were presented on THE MERV GRIFFIN SHOW, after we'd already announced the winners in the magazine. Our November 1977 cover featured Merv Griffin along with Best Actor and Best Actress winners Bill and Susan Seaforth Hayes (Doug and Julie, DAYS OF OUR LIVES). There were just four other categories, including Favorite Show, which went to DAYS. The award for Outstanding Achievement in the World of Daytime Drama went to ALL MY CHILDREN/ONE LIFE TO LIVE creator Agnes Nixon.
In 1978, the Soapies were broadcast on NBC's AMERICA ALIVE, which came live from both New York and Hollywood; so winners -- including those in two new categories, Favorite Actor/Actress in a Mature Role and Favorite Villain/Villainess -- didn't even need to travel from their respective coasts to receive their trophies. In 1979, the process was much the same with the award presentation incorporated in the DINAH SHORE show.
 1984 was a big year for the Soapies -- they became extinct. In their place, the Soap Opera Digest Awards were introduced, and promised to be glitzier and more exciting than their predecessors. For a total of more than 25 categories, new categories were introduced, including Outstanding Prime-Time Soap Opera and corresponding Outstanding Actor/Actress, Villain/Villainess, etc.
For the first time, the awards were presented on a special, nationally syndicated show created just for the awards, and a reception was held following the taping. Viewers -- and editors -- who watched the show were unaware who the winners would be. The show was co-hosted by Catherine Hickland (now-Lindsay, OLTL; ex-Tess, LOVING/THE CITY; ex-Julie, CAPITOL, below right) and her then-husband David Hasselhoff (ex-Snapper, YOUNG AND RESTLESS), and attracted a bevy of prime-time stars. Peter Reckell and Deidre Hall (Bo and Marlena, DAYS) walked away with Outstanding Actor and Actress awards, which were now flat crystal hearts with engraved plates on their bases.
 The Second Annual Digest Awards brought much of the same excitement, as well as a sign of the times: DAYS swept every daytime category.
For the Third Annual Digest Awards, readers were allowed only one ballot, rather than the three previously provided in consecutive issues. But the biggest-- and most controversial -- change was that readers were no longer allowed to vote for anyone on any show. Our editors nominated five to 15 actors or actresses from which readers could choose, and added two categories: Outstanding Comic Relief and Favorite Supercouple.
The new procedure kept DAYS from sweeping every category, though the show still dominated. Its closest competitors were the up-and-coming SANTA BARBARA and NBC's third soap, ANOTHER WORLD. Though GENERAL HOSPITAL's Kimberly McCullough (ex-Robin) took home a Youth award, the broadcast marked the NBC domination that lasted years.
In 1987, Digest moved the annual show to the beginning of the year, so there was actually no show in 1987. For the Fourth Annual Digest Awards in 1988, prime time and daytime voting was done in one issue instead of two separate ones, and the nominees chosen by Digest editors were limited to five per category. Despite the new rules, DAYS still walked away with Outstanding Daytime Show and Best Actor (Stephen Nichols, Patch). GUIDING LIGHT's Kim Zimmer (Reva) won the award for Outstanding Actress.
 In 1989 the show moved to the Beverly Hills Hilton, and rather than being syndicated, it was shown the Monday afternoon following the Saturday taping. In 1990, SB ran away with Outstanding Show and the coveted Favorite Supercouple award, but it was a trend that wouldn't last. By 1991, the field of prime-time shows had dwindled considerably, and nominees in those groups were reduced to three each.
By the Eighth Annual Digest Awards, the prime-time categories were reduced to just four, and Best Wedding, Best Love Story and Best Death Scene were added to the daytime line-up. The 1992 awards were special for another reason: They were live, on a Friday night in prime-time. The actual award also got a facelift: It became taller.
In 1997, the show found a new home at the Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, CA. Throngs of fans cheered on their favorites, and GH toppled DAYS's winning streak for Favorite Show.
In 2000, the venue changed again when the Digest Awards aired from the Palladium in Hollywood. Actors from seven out of the 10 soaps took home trophies and ABC made an impressive sweep, winning every category it was nominated in.
In 2001, the Digest Awards were exclusively online. Seventeen categories were presented and DAYS was selected as Favorite Show. Eric Braeden and Melody Thomas Scott (Victor and Nikki, Y&R;) took top honors as Lead Actor and Actress.
In 2003, the all-soap network SoapNet presented the 2002-03 Soap Opera Digest Awards (a.k.a.The SODAs) live from Los Angeles. Dressed in their finest "Hollywood Hip" threads, the soap stars worked the red carpet. GH reclaimed the Favorite Show title, and Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH) and Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, Y&R;) walked away with Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress awards.
|
Sign up here for
