DeGeneres among lead Daytime Emmy nominees

NEW YORK -- Ellen DeGeneres' program won best talk show Friday in its rookie year, but Wayne Brady won the Daytime Emmy award as best talk show host even though his program has been canceled.

"The Ellen DeGeneres Show's" lighthearted blend of talk and music, coupled with the comedian's role as the voice of Dora in "Finding Nemo," capped a comeback for a career that stalled after she came out as a lesbian.

After kissing her mother, Betty, she thanked television executives who convinced station managers across the country that people still wanted to see her on TV.

"I have fun every day," said DeGeneres, whose show won three other technical awards. "It's the best job I ever had."

In what had to be bittersweet, Brady was honored as best talk show host for the second straight year even though production had been stopped on his program for poor ratings. He wasn't at Radio City Music Hall to accept his trophy.

Brady beat stars whose shows were more successful, including "Dr. Phil" McGraw, Regis Philbin, DeGeneres and the women from 'the View."

The legendary Anthony Geary of "General Hospital" won his fourth best actor award in a daytime drama. It seemed to take him by surprise, as he said fellow nominee Eric Braeden "was robbed."

"If I thought I had a shot at this I would have had someone do my hair," said Geary, whose gray locks spiked in all directions.

Michelle Stafford of "The Young and the Restless" won best actress in a daytime drama.

"I want to accept this in honor of all those kids who thought they were freaks in school and didn't fit in," said Stafford, who said she was a kindred spirit.

"The Young and the Restless" was honored as best daytime drama for the sixth time. The soap opera won a total of four Daytime Emmys this year.

Bob Barker won best game show host for the lucky 13th time and his show, "The Price is Right," won its fourth award as best game show since coming on the air in 1972. Barker was not in New York on Friday.

Convicted felon Martha Stewart's year got a little lousier. She lost the Emmy for best service show, an award she's won four times, the same week "Martha Stewart Living" was placed on hiatus with its star facing a possible prison sentence. Stewart was in the audience.

Financial adviser Suze Orman won the award. "For the first time in my life, I am seriously speechless," Orman said.

Al Roker, Meredith Vieira and Emeril Lagasse joined in an off-key musical tribute to "Sesame Street" on its 35th anniversary. The children's show is the most-honored program in Daytime Emmy history, with 91 awards, and won another six during the creative and craft awards presentation last week.

Rick Hearst of "General Hospital" and Cady McClain of "As the World Turns" won awards for best supporting actors in a soap opera during the ceremony, televised on NBC.

Chad Brannon of "General Hospital" won best younger actor in a daytime drama, and Jennifer Finnigan of "The Bold and the Beautiful" won best younger actress for the third year in a row.

Jeff Corwin of the Discovery Kids show "Jeff Corwin Unleashed" was honored as best performer in a children's series.

The 31st annual Daytime Emmy Awards was televised on NBC from Radio City Music Hall. The Emmys are awarded by the National Television Academy and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

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