A typical soap opera airs over 250 original episodes per year. When it comes to Emmy night, determining the best of the best comes down to a single episode. These are the episodes submitted by this year's Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress contenders.
Here are the clips submitted by the Lead Actor and Lead Actress nominees this year for Emmy consideration. We've provided synopses for each clip and provided links to our comprehensive recaps of those episodes so that you can get a better feel for what action took place. To get all the additional details, just click on the appropriate links.
Outstanding Lead Actor
Maurice Benard (
Sonny Corinthos,
General Hospital)
Episode #12352
Air Date:
July 21, 2011
Running Time: 13:05
Episode Synopsis: When Brenda arrived to tell Sonny she was leaving, Sonny told her that he couldn't love her because he was afraid of love. Power, he said, he could understand, signaling an unwillingness to leave his mobster lifestyle. After trying to promise Brenda the life she dreamed of, Sonny explained that the man she loved never existed. When Brenda left, Sonny broke down and cried. Later, Sonny confessed to Carly that he wasn't sure if Brenda would have stayed with him if it were not for her having a young son.
Anthony Geary (
Luke Spencer,
General Hospital)
Episode #12325
Air Date:
June 13, 2011
Running Time: 17:56
Episode Synopsis: Lucky arrived to try to convince his dad to return home. Luke brushed him off, saying that he didn't have a home to return to. Everyone had their own version of how he should be, Luke railed. He noted that he was a father against his will and a lousy husband. Growing up around johns and seeing his sister turn tricks had taught him that love was commerce. He stunned his son by revealing that there was a silver lining in the drunk driving death of Lucky's son. By killing a child, Luke stated that he been moved beyond redemption and was liberated from ever having to be a father again. After Lucky left, Luke sat alone with a gun with a single bullet in the chamber. Lupe, a female companion, was able to take the gun away from him and asked for details about Luke's son. Luke praised Lucky glowingly, and said that he'd given him the best gift he could -- a goodbye.
John McCook (
Eric Forrester,
The Bold and the Beautiful)
Episodes #6174 and 6175
Air Date:
October 13, 2011 and
October 14, 2011
Running Time: 14:31
Episode Synopsis: Eric set up a romantic dinner for Stephanie. Noticing that Stephanie only seemed to cough when he was around her, Eric questioned if he made Stephanie sick. Stephanie seemed uneasy by Eric's advances, prompting him to question if she felt that a woman with cancer could not be beautiful. Later, Stephanie told Eric that they were past the point in their lives where they should be intimate. Eric became curt and said that Stephanie's idea of a relationship was getting what she wanted, while his needs were ignored.
Because it airs for only 30 minutes, The Bold and the Beautiful actors are permitted to submit two episodes.
Darnell Williams (
Jesse Hubbard,
All My Children)
Episode #10588
Air Date:
March 30, 2011
Running Time: 12:01
Episode Synopsis: While visiting their former home, Angie went into labor. Jessie tried to summon the paramedics, but none were available. Angie told Jesse that he'd have to deliver the baby. They reminisced about their life together, and spoke of the dreams they had for their baby, named Ellie after Jesse's mom. During labor, Angie lost consciousness. When Jesse was finally able to deliver the baby, the infant wasn't breathing. He tried unsuccessfully to revive her. Jesse grieved uncontrollably over the baby's death, until he heard the sound of a baby crying in the distance... a baby that had been abandoned in Officer Brot Monroe's squad car.
Robert S. Woods (
Bo Buchanan,
One Life to Live)
Episode #10950
Air Date:
June 14, 2011
Running Time: 6:26
Episode Synopsis: Bo told Viki that the doctor recommended taking Matthew off of life support. Knowing that his brother, Clint, needed a heart transplant, he questioned what would happen if he allowed Matthew to remain on life support and Clint died, only to have Matthew not get any better. Then, he said, he would have killed his brother. Later, an obviously distraught Nora told Bo that Clint refused to accept Matthew's heart, so they could give Matthew all the time he needed to get better.
Hear the Reaction: Robert S. Woods visited Soap Central Live to discuss his nomination. To hear the interview or to download it (for free),
click here.
Outstanding Lead Actress
Crystal Chappell (
Carly Manning,
Days of our Lives)
Episode #11655
Air Date:
August 19, 2011
Running Time: 5:43
Episode Synopsis: Carly was being treated for drug addiction/withdrawal. Alone in her room, she flipped out, noting that she was a doctor and should be able to diagnose what needed to be done to make her feel better. She writhed around in pain on the floor, swatting at imaginary bugs, and pleaded for more drugs. Later, her son, Nicholas, arrived and asked to know how something like that could be happening to his mother. Carly didn't appear to be lucid until after her son left, at which she screamed to him and begged for forgiveness
Debbi Morgan (
Angie Hubbard,
All My Children)
Episode #10695
Air Date:
August 30, 2011
Running Time: 12:04
Episode Synopsis: Angie learned that her baby had died, and that that Lucy, the baby she thought was hers, did not belong to her. Angie angrily lashed out and accused Jesse of lying to her. Later, Angie demanded that Jesse take her to their daughter's unmarked grave. In a state of disbelief, Angie dropped to the ground and cried uncontrollably, asking that her baby be given back to her.
Erika Slezak (
Viki Lord,
One Life to Live)
Episode #10917
Air Date:
April 27, 2011
Running Time: 30:00
Episode Synopsis: In an episode that celebrated Erika Slezak's 40th anniversary with One Life to Live, Viki fought with her alters, Niki and Jean, for control. Viki struggled to regain control before Niki botched her plan to get custody of Ryder and send Jessica to a treatment facility.
Hear the Reaction: Erika Slezak visited Soap Central Live to discuss her nomination. To hear the interview or to download it (for free),
click here.
Heather Tom (
Katie Logan,
The Bold and the Beautiful)
Episode #6127 and #6128
Air Date:
August 5, 2011, and
August 8, 2011
Running Time: 16:50
Episode Synopsis: Having just suffered a heart attack, Katie arrived at Steffy's to confront Steffy about sleeping with Bill. Katie listened as Steffy claimed that Katie and her sisters were too drama-filled for Bill's liking. Katie returned to the hospital and blasted Bill for his duplicity. She asked Bill why he would throw away their marriage just to sleep with a younger, sexier woman. Katie then told Bill that if he wanted her back, he'd have to beg for her forgiveness.
Because it airs for only 30 minutes, The Bold and the Beautiful actors are permitted to submit two episodes.
Laura Wright (
Carly Jacks,
General Hospital)
Episode #12267
Air Date:
March 22, 2011
Running Time: 7:36
Episode Synopsis: Carly was left with the incredibly difficult task of trying to convince Jason and Elizabeth to donate one of little Jake's kidneys to help save Josslyn's life. Jason seemed on board, but Elizabeth was initially reluctant. She did later change her mind and agree to move forward with the transplant. Later, on the roof of the hospital, Carly told Michael that she wanted nothing more than to be able to keep him and his sister happy and healthy forever... but she knew she didn't live in a perfect world.
Hear the Reaction: Laura Wright visited Soap Central Live to discuss her nomination. To hear the interview or to download it (for free),
click here.
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39th Annual Daytime Emmys
