The 2021 Daytime Emmys May Be a ‘Transition Year’ But It’s Still on With the Show: Here’s What to Expect

Michael Schneider
·6 min read
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The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is prepping for a return to normalcy in 2022, including a live, in-person Daytime Emmys at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. But that’s next year. For 2021, NATAS, CBS and producer Associated Television Intl. are putting together a pre-taped Daytime Emmys telecast that will still be a hybrid of studio segments, remote presentations and pre-submitted acceptance speeches.

“The Talk’s” Sheryl Underwood will serve as solo host of this year’s telecast, her fifth time emceeing the ceremony but the first on her own.

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“She’s a great friend of daytime programming and a great friend of the Academy, so it just worked out,” says NATAS director Steve Ulrich. “In fact, if it’s not the record, then I think she’s certainly up there in terms of someone who has hosted our Daytime Emmys more than anyone else.”

Underwood will host the show from ATI’s studio facilities in Burbank, where one of the stages has been transformed into this year’s Daytime Emmys home base. ATI producer David Martin says the set is actually larger than the one that will be built next year in Pasadena.

“It’s a big set with a red carpet area for the celebrity names who are coming to present,” Martin says. “It’s the first step in getting back to normal. I think we’re getting there, and viewers will feel more like they’re watching an award show this year.”

Still, some presenters will be seen on the sets of their own shows or even at home. That’s because although the country is moving back to normalcy, it became apparent that travel would remain difficult for out-of-town talent, and some might not want to fly in to do a pre-tape that could be shot elsewhere.

“Daytime spans such a wide variety of genres, and while obviously Hollywood is the center of a lot of this, there’s a lot of the daytime production that occurs outside of L.A.,” Ulrich says. “So, when we have the opportunity to have a presenter who is a big part of daytime and a boldface name, then we’re using whatever technology is available to produce their presentation of an award. It’s a bit of a mix. Those who are in the Los Angeles area, we are encouraging them to do their bits at ATI’s studio.”

Producing the show at its own headquarters made it easy for ATI to handle security and COVID-19 protocols. “This way we can keep control of what’s going on, who’s coming in,” Martin says. “It ticks all the boxes.”

As with last year, every nominee was asked to send in their acceptance speech, but only the winners’ thank-yous will be shown. “Once we know who the winner is, then we use that, and we destroy everything else,” Martin says.

The June 25 CBS telecast will focus mostly on daytime dramas, game and talk shows, and other high-profile categories. NATAS opted not to hand out lifetime achievement awards again this year, to avoid robbing honorees of the normal pomp and circumstance that comes with a live audience.

Kathy Lee Gifford, Ken Jeong, Martha Stewart and Robin Roberts are among the stars who will appear and help pay tribute to late daytime legends Regis Philbin, Alex Trebek and Larry King. Also, Diamond White from CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful” will sing a song for the “In Memoriam” segment that White will also score.

Here are the presenters lined up for this year’s Daytime Emmys:
Al Roker (“Today Show”)
Amy Robach, T.J. Holmes & Dr. Jennifer Ashton (“GMA3: What You Need to Know)
Bryton James and Brytni Sarpi (“The Young and the Restless”)
Deidre Hall (“Days of Our Lives”)
Donnell Turner and Cynthia Watros (“General Hospital)
Drew Barrymore (“The Drew Barrymore Show”)
Giada De Laurentiis (“Giada at Home 2.0”)
Gloria Estefan (“Red Table Talk: The Estefans”)
Heather Tom (“The Bold and the Beautiful”)
Jackée Harry and Robert Scott Wilson (“Days of Our Lives”)
Jacqueline MacInnes Wood and Tanner Novlan (“The Bold and the Beautiful”)
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest (“Live with Kelly & Ryan”)
Kelly Thiebaud (“General Hospital”)
Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner (“Entertainment Tonight”)
Mario Lopez (“Access Hollywood”)
Michelle Stafford (“The Young and the Restless”)
Nate Burleson (CBS Sports and “Extra”)
Rachel Lindsay (“Extra”)
Sean Kanan (“Studio City”)
Tamron Hall (“Tamron Hall”)

Categories scheduled for the CBS broadcast include:
Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Limited Drama Series
Outstanding Game Show
Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program
Outstanding Morning Show
Outstanding Informative Talk Show
Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show
Outstanding Entertainment News Program
Outstanding Daytime Special Event
Outstanding Daytime Non-Fiction
Outstanding Special Performance by a Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Outstanding Special Performance by a Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Outstanding Younger Performer in A Drama Series
Outstanding Guest Performer in A Drama Series
Outstanding Culinary Host
Outstanding Game Show Host
Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host
Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host
Outstanding Writing Team for a Drama Series
Outstanding Directing Team for a Drama Series

Totals by network and by program will be revealed on June 28, when nominees for both the Daytime Children’s Programming & Animation Emmy Awards and the Daytime Lifestyle Programming Emmy Awards will be announced. The Daytime Children’s Programming and Animation Emmy Awards will be presented in a stand-alone show streaming on NATAS’ Emmy OTT platform on Saturday, July 17, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET. The Daytime Lifestyle Programming Emmy Awards will be presented on that same Emmy OTT platform on Sunday, July 18, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET.

The Daytime Emmys, presented to programs broadcast between 2 a.m. and 6 p.m., as well as all forms of children’s television programming and certain categories of streaming and syndicated content, received more than 3,100 submissions this year. The show includes content that originally premiered in calendar-year 2020, and is judged by a pool of peer professionals from across the television industry.

Ulrich calls the 2021 Daytime Emmys a “transition year,” as it will have more of a big event feel, but he and Martin say they’re looking forward to next year’s return to a real ceremony. “It’ll be good to be back in the theater again,” Martin says.

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