Exclusive Interview: Michael Bruno, talent manager, on what the Daytime Emmys got wrong and right — and who is soaps' newest JR Ewing 

Soap Central sat down exclusively with Michael Bruno, a Daytime TV talent manager, to talk about who he believes was snubbed for a nomination at this year's Daytime Emmys. The veteran expert also weighed in on who might be among next year's honorees, including the actor that he's calling the new JR Ewing of daytime!

Who got snubbed

“I was surprised about Giovanni Mazza [Gio, General Hospital],” says Bruno, whose client list includes Rebecca Budig (Taylor, The Bold and the Beautiful), Daniel Goddard (Henry, GH), and Days of our Lives actors Mary Beth Evans (Kayla), Martha Madison (Belle), and Wally Kurth (Justin). “He should have been on there, and I expect to see his name next year in either Emerging Talent or Outstanding Supporting Actor. I was nervous about the [paternity] reveal at the Nurses Ball. The heaviness was on his shoulders, and he did very well.”

“I was truly excited to see Avery Kristen Pohl [ex-Esme, GH] in the Guest Actor category,” Bruno says, “And Lisa Yamada [Luna, B&B], nominated in the Emerging Talent category, is a real find. She truly is a star.”

As far as GH performers who were left out of this year's competition, Bruno says three words come to his immediate mind: “Jane. Jane Jane,” referring to, of course, Jane Elliot (Tracy), who was surprisingly absent. “She rarely shows Tracy’s underbelly and her vulnerability. Her work with Gregory Harrison [ex-Gregory] was so emotional. I could not stop watching her. Her chemistry with Harrison had me tuning in every day. They shouldn’t have lost him.”

Count Bruno among the many who feel that Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie, DAYS) and Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki, The Young and the Restless) should have gotten nods as well for Daytime Emmys. "It was great to see DAYS and Y&R get so many nominations, but Susan and Melody should have been on the list," Bruno says.

Open (Beyond) the Gates

While Beyond the Gates, which debuted in February of this year, wasn’t eligible for this year's Daytime Emmys (because it honors work done in 2024), Bruno expects to see actors from that show pop up on next year’s ballot – especially in the Emerging Talent category. “I like a lot of people on Beyond the Gates,” he says. “They cast the show very well. I love Daphnee Duplaix [Nicole], RhonniRose Mantilla [Chelsea], and Ambyr Michelle [Eva]. I love her mother, Trisha Mann-Gant [Dana/Leslie]. They should all be on the list next year.”

It's not just the women of Beyond the Gates who've caught Bruno's eye. "I love Timon Kyle Durrett [Bill Hamilton]," Bruno raves. "He's a find. Timon is the new JR Ewing [Larry Hagman]. He plays Bill with such a twinkle in his eye. He loves being bad."

Bruno says that there were some other veteran omissions. "I wouldn’t have been surprised to have seen Rick Hearst [Ric, GH] or Sean Kanan [Deacon, B&B] on the ballot,” Bruno muses. “They’ve been at this since they were teenagers. They’re the definition of great supporting characters. They hit it out of the park every time that they’re on the screen.”

Trending

Bruno adds that the folks at the Daytime Emmys got it right by retiring the Outstanding Young Performer category, last won by Eden McCoy (Josslyn, GH) in 2023. “That was fine,” Bruno says. “It was weird that there was a six-year-old going up against the 19-year-old. The category of Emerging Talent is better.”

This year's Daytime Emmys will take place on Friday, October 17, in Pasadena, California.

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