'General Hospital' wins big at Daytime Emmys

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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., June 23 (UPI) -- "General Hospital" won its 11th Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series in Beverly Hills, Calif., Saturday night.

Anthony Geary, who has played beloved scoundrel Luke Spencer off and on for more than 30 years on "GH," picked up his seventh Daytime Emmy at the ceremony, setting a record for an actor.

"Thank you so much. Wow!" he said upon collecting his newest Best Actor in a Drama trophy at the Beverly Hilton hotel.

Addressing his fellow nominees, he said: "John McCook, Bobby Woods, Darnell Williams and Maurice Bernard, you are all dear friends of mine and I admire you all very much. I feel a little bit guilty here. I think you were all robbed ... .

"It's a good way for 'GH' to start," Geary said of his win, the first of the night. "We have 23 nominations, which is pretty amazing since we were almost canceled in favor of a surefire ratings bonanza 'Celebrity Boob Jobs Gone Wrong,' I think it was."

"GH" is the last daytime drama on ABC after the network canceled "One Life to Live" and "All My Children" in favor of reality lifestyle programs.

Shortly after Geary finished his acceptance speech, Jonathan Jackson, who plays Luke's son, Lucky, on "GH," scooped up his fifth Emmy, this time for Best Supporting Actor.

"It's been 19 years since I started as Lucky Spencer and I feel just about the same as I did when I was 11 years old," Jackson told the crowd, first thanking God for his "grace and mercy," then adding: "This is a testament to Anthony Geary and his humility and his love and graciousness towards me. ... It's an incredible thing that we do -- putting 60 to 80 pages a day on the air -- and I'm humbled to be here."

The actors' co-star, Nancy Lee Grahn, scored the Best Supporting Actress award, but was not at the ceremony to pick it up. Grahn plays attorney Alexis Davis on the show, which also was recognized in the Best Directing Team category.

Heather Tom of CBS' "The Bold and the Beautiful" earned the title Best Actress in a Drama. She also is the first person to win Daytime Emmys in the categories Best Younger Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress.

"My baby is going crazy right now," the pregnant Tom joked, rubbing her belly. "Thank you to everyone in this room. I am so grateful to call you my friends and my colleagues. I am so proud to be part of the 'Daytime' community."

Christel Khalil of CBS' "The Young and the Restless" won the statuette for Best Younger Actress in a Drama.

NBC's "Days of Our Lives" won the award for Best Writing Team, as well as the prize for Best Younger Actor for Chandler Massey.

The network's "Today" show earned the Outstanding Morning Program honor.

Syndicated program "The Dr. Oz Show" won for Outstanding Talk Show -- Informative," while "Live! with Regis and Kelly" won for Outstanding Talk Show -- Entertainment and Best Talk Show Host[s] for recently retired star Regis Philbin and current solo host Kelly Ripa.

"Bobby Flay's Barbecue Addiction" was named Outstanding Culinary/Lifestyle Show, Sandra Lee was declared Outstanding Culinary/Lifestyle Host and "Last Shot with Judge Gunn" Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Show.

"Jeopardy!" won the prize for Outstanding Game Show/Audience Participation Show and "Family Game Night" emcee Todd Newton the accolade for Outstanding Game Show Host.

"Penguins of Madagascar" earned the trophy for Best Children's Animated Program and the award for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series went to Kevin Clash who plays Elmo on "Sesame Street."