Soap Opera Digest Awards Explained
The Soap Opera Digest Awards, originally known as The Soapy Awards when introduced in 1977, was an awards show held by the daytime television magazine Soap Opera Digest.
History
1977–1983
The Soapy Awards were an award presented by Soap Opera Digest magazine to the best work on American soap operas from 1977 until 1983. Unlike their successors, the Soap Opera Digest Awards, this accolade lacked a great deal of glamour. The statue itself was a tall geometric crystal and were presented during a television show after winners were announced in the magazine. The original award was designed by the magazine's art director Janis Rogak.
The magazine's editor Ruth J. Gordon, who was founding editor made the very first presentation on The Merv Griffin Show.
The first awards were presented during the Merv Griffin Show to Best Actor Bill Hayes and Best Actress Susan Seaforth Hayes from Days of Our Lives (which also won for 'Favorite Show'). This first award also included a special award for 'Outstanding Achievement in the World of Daytime Drama' to All My Children and One Life to Lives creator Agnes Nixon.
The 1978 award were presented live during America Live from both New York and Hollywood. The 1979 show was presented on the Thursday Dec. 27, 1979 episode of Dinah and Friends.
In 1980, during the height of Luke and Laura, their portrayers Anthony Geary and Genie Francis won for Best Actor and Best Actress. An award for 'Favorite Performer in a Mature Role' went to All My Childrens Ruth Warrick.
The 1981 show incorporated many of the categories which would become a hallmark of the Soap Opera Digest Awards, such as 'Most Exciting New Actor' (Tristan Rogers, General Hospital), 'Favorite Villain' (Andre Landzaat, General Hospital), and 'Favorite Villainess' (Robin Mattson, General Hospital). That year, the awards were swept by General Hospital.
In 1984, the awards were replaced by the Soap Opera Digest Awards.
1984–2005
In 1984, the awards evolved into The Soap Opera Digest Awards, to replace the less-lavish Soapy Award. The Soap Opera Digest Awards were meant to promote excellence in the soap opera genre and were decided by the fans who read the magazine. The statue itself was made of crystal and in the shape of a heart.
The first Soap Opera Digest Award show aired in 1984, and was featured on national syndicated television and hosted by then husband and wife Catherine Hickland and David Hasselhoff. One of the reasons for the move up was the new-found audience of both Daytime and Prime time soap operas. That year for the first time awards were given to prime time soap operas as well as daytime soaps. This practice was phased out in the 1990s as primetime soap operas began to lose the large appeal they once had.
For the first two years, fans themselves voted on the nominees list as well as the winners. Ballot stuffing and a voting bloc for the 1985 awards led to the side effect where Days of Our Lives swept almost every category. The third awards were changed so that the editors of the magazine chose the nominees and each reader was allowed only one ballot to vote for their favorites. This allowed other shows such as Santa Barbara and Another World to take home trophies. A change in award season from the end of the year to the beginning meant that there was no show in 1987.
In 1992 the awards were broadcast live for the first time; in addition, the award statue (previously a flat crystal heart) was redesigned to be an inch taller. NBC had aired the event ever since it made its way to network television, but the show would no longer be seen on the network after the airing of the 2000 awards. The year 2001 marked the first time that there was no awards ceremony and voting was done entirely online. In 2003 the cable channel SOAPnet broadcast the awards which were hosted by Lisa Rinna and Ty Treadway.
In 2001, the award was featured in the episode "The One with Joey's Award" for the show Friends, in which Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) was nominated for a Soapy for his fictional role in Days of Our Lives but does not win. In the episode, Joey says the awards began in 1998, so it's likely not meant to be the same award, but rather a homage.
No awards were given out in 2002 or 2004. The 2005 awards were done entirely through the magazine. Fans could find a ballot in a November issue of Soap Opera Digest and then mail it to the editors. Only one ballot per person was counted. The awards were announced in the magazine in February 2005.
Winners
1977 - 1983
Best Soap Opera
Best Actor
Best Actress
- 1977 Susan Seaforth Hayes (Days of Our Lives)
- 1978 Victoria Wyndham (Another World)
- 1979 Judith Light (One Life to Live)
- 1980 Judith Light (One Life to Live)
- 1981 Genie Francis (General Hospital)
- 1982 Deidre Hall (Days of Our Lives)
- 1983 Deidre Hall (Days of Our Lives)
Exciting New Actor
- 1977 John Junior (The Young and the Restless)
- 1978 Josh Dodong (Days of Our Lives)
- 1979 Rod Kimpang (Search for Tomorrow)
- 1980 Peter Bergman (All My Children)
- 1981 Tristan Rogers (General Hospital)
- 1982 John Stamos (General Hospital)
- 1983 Steve Bond (General Hospital)
Exciting New Actress
Best Villain
Best Villainess
Best Hero
Best Mature Actor
Best Mature Actress
Best Juvenile Male
- 1977 Christopher Lowe (Search for Tomorrow)
- 1978 John E. Dunn (All My Children)
- 1979 Brian Lima (All My Children)
- 1980 Philip Tanzini (General Hospital)
- 1981 Philip Tanzini (General Hospital)
Best Juvenile Actress
- 1977 Suzanne Davidson (As the World Turns)
- 1978 Brandi Tucker (The Young and the Restless)
- 1979 Dawn Marie Boyle (All My Children)
- 1980 Dawn Marie Boyle (All My Children)
- 1981 Daniella and Francesca Serra (All My Children)
1984 - 2005
Outstanding Actor in a Mature Role in a Daytime Soap Opera
Outstanding Actress in a Mature Role in a Daytime Serial
Former name: Outstanding Actress in a Mature Role in a Daytime Soap Opera
- 1984 Frances Reid (Days of Our Lives)
- 1985 Frances Reid (Days of Our Lives)
Outstanding Actor in a Mature Role in a Daytime Serial
Former name: Outstanding Actor in a Mature Role in a Prime Time Soap Opera
Outstanding Actress in a Mature Role in a Prime Time Soap Opera
Best Death Scene: Daytime
Best Death Scene: Prime Time
- 1992 April Ewing (Dallas)
Outstanding Super Couple: Daytime
Former name: Favorite Daytime Super Couple on a Daytime Serial, Favorite Super Couple: Daytime
Favorite Super Couple: Prime Time
Former name: Favorite Super Couple on a Prime Time Serial
Favorite Couple
Former names: Best Love Story: Daytime or Prime Time, Hottest Soap Couple, Hottest Romance
Favorite New Couple
Best Wedding: Daytime
- 1992 Matthew Ashford, Melissa Reeves (Days of Our Lives)
Editor's Choice
Editor's Choice - Daytime
Editor's Choice - Primetime
Outstanding Actor: Prime Time
Former names: Outstanding Actor in a Prime Time Soap Opera, Outstanding Actor in a Prime Time Serial
Outstanding Actress: Prime Time
Former names: Outstanding Actress in a Prime Time Soap Opera, Outstanding Actress in a Prime Time Serial
- 1984 Linda Evans (Dynasty)
- 1985 Linda Evans (Dynasty)
- 1992 Michele Lee (Knots Landing)
Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Serial
Former name: Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Soap Opera
- 1984 Peter Reckell (Days of Our Lives)
- 1985 Peter Reckell (Days of Our Lives)
Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Serial
Former name: Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Soap Opera
- 1984 Deidre Hall (Days of Our Lives)
- 1985 Deidre Hall (Days of Our Lives)
Favorite Actor
Favorite Actress
Outstanding Comic Performance: Daytime
Former name: Outstanding Comic Relief Role on a Daytime Serial
Outstanding Comic Performance
- 1993 Matthew Ashford (Days of Our Lives)
Outstanding Actress/Actor in a Comic Relief Role on a Prime Time Serial
Outstanding Comic Actor: Daytime
Former name: Outstanding Comic Performance by an Actor: Daytime
Outstanding Comic Actress: Daytime
Former name: Outstanding Comic Performance by an Actress: Daytime
- 1988 Arleen Sorkin (Days of Our Lives)
- 1989 Robin Mattson (Santa Barbara)
- 1990 Robin Mattson (Santa Barbara)
Outstanding Daytime Serial
Former name: Outstanding Daytime Soap Opera, Outstanding Daytime Soap
- 1984 Days of Our Lives
- 1985 Days of Our Lives
- 1986 Days of Our Lives
- 1988 Days of Our Lives
- 1989 Days of Our Lives
- 1990 Santa Barbara
- 1991 Days of Our Lives
- 1992 Days of Our Lives
Outstanding Prime Time Serial
Former name: Outstanding Prime Time Soap Opera, Outstanding Prime Time Show, Outstanding Prime Time Soap
- 1984 Dynasty
- 1985 Dynasty
- 1986 Knots Landing
- 1988 Knots Landing
- 1989 Knots Landing
- 1990 Knots Landing
- 1991 Knots Landing
- 1992 Knots Landing
Favorite Show
- 1993 Days of Our Lives
- 1994 Days of Our Lives
- 1995 Days of Our Lives
- 1996 Days of Our Lives
- 1997 General Hospital
- 1998 General Hospital
- 1999 General Hospital
- 2000 General Hospital
- 2001 Days of Our Lives
- 2003 General Hospital
- 2005 General Hospital
Outstanding Limited Run: Daytime
Outstanding Newcomer: Daytime
Outstanding Female Newcomer: Daytime
Former names: Exciting New Actress in a Daytime Soap Opera, Outstanding New Actress in a Daytime Serial
Outstanding Male Newcomer: Daytime
Former names: Exiting New Actor in a Daytime Soap Opera, Outstanding New Actor in a Daytime Serial
Outstanding New Actor in a Prime Time Serial
Former name: Exciting New Actor in a Prime Time Soap Opera
Outstanding New Actress in a Prime Time Serial
Former name: Exiting New Actress in a Prime Time Soap Opera
Outstanding Male Newcomer
Outstanding Female Newcomer
Favorite New Character
Outstanding Newcomer
Outstanding Lead Actor: Daytime
Former name: Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role on a Daytime Serial, Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role: Daytime
- 1986 John Aniston (Days of Our Lives)
- 1988 Stephen Nichols (Days of Our Lives)
- 1989 Eric Braeden (The Young and the Restless)
- 1990 A Martinez (Santa Barbara)
- 1991 A Martinez (Santa Barbara)
- 1992 David Canary (All My Children)
Outstanding Lead Actress: Daytime
Former name: Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role on a Daytime Serial, Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role: Daytime
- 1986 Patsy Pease (Days of Our Lives)
- 1988 Kim Zimmer (The Guiding Light)
- 1989 Jeanne Cooper (The Young and the Restless)
- 1990 Marcy Walker (Santa Barbara)
- 1991 Finola Hughes (General Hospital)
- 1992 Anne Heche (Another World)
Outstanding Lead Actor: Prime Time
Former name: Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role on a Prime Time Serial, Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role: Prime Time
Outstanding Lead Actress: Prime Time
Former name: Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role on a Prime Time Serial, Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role: Prime Time
- 1986 Joan Van Ark (Knots Landing)
- 1988 Michele Lee (Knots Landing)
- 1989 Joan Van Ark (Knots Landing)
- 1990 Nicollette Sheridan (Knots Landing)
- 1991 Michele Lee (Knots Landing)
Outstanding Lead Actor
- 1993 Peter Bergman (The Young and the Restless)
- 1994 Robert Kelker-Kelly (Days of Our Lives)
- 1995 Tom Eplin (Another World)
- 1996 Maurice Benard (General Hospital)
- 1997 Eric Braeden (The Young and the Restless)
- 1998 John Callahan (All My Children)
- 1999 Anthony Geary (General Hospital)
- 2000 Anthony Geary (General Hospital)
- 2001 Eric Braeden (The Young and the Restless)
- 2003 Maurice Benard (General Hospital)
- 2005 Maurice Benard (General Hospital)
Outstanding Lead Actress
Outstanding Supporting Actor: Daytime
Former name Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Soap Opera, Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Serial, Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role: Daytime
Outstanding Supporting Actress: Daytime
Former name: Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Soap Opera, Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Serial, Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role: Daytime
Outstanding Supporting Actor: Prime Time
Former name: Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Prime Time Soap Opera, Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Prime Time Serial, Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role: Prime Time
- 1984 Steve Kanaly (Dallas)
- 1985 Steve Kanaly (Dallas)
- 1986 Doug Sheehan (Knots Landing)
- 1988 Steve Kanaly (Dallas)
- 1989 William Devane (Knots Landing)
- 1990 Ken Kercheval (Dallas)
- 1991 Larry Riley (Knots Landing)
Outstanding Supporting Actress: Prime Time
Former name: Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role on a Prime Time Soap Opera, Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Prime Time Serial, Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role: Prime Time
Outstanding Supporting Actor
Outstanding Supporting Actress
- 1993 Ellen Dolan (As the World Turns)
- 1994 Deborah Adair (Days of Our Lives)
- 1995 Signy Coleman (The Young and the Restless)
- 1996 Louise Sorel (Days of Our Lives)
- 1997 Marcy Walker (All My Children)
- 1998 Judi Evans (Another World)
- 1999 Lauralee Bell (The Young and the Restless)
- 2000 Nancy Lee Grahn (General Hospital)
- 2001 Nancy Lee Grahn (General Hospital)
- 2003 Nancy Lee Grahn (General Hospital)
- 2005 Alison Sweeney (Days of Our Lives)
Outstanding Villain: Daytime
Former name: Outstanding Villain in a Daytime Soap Opera, Outstanding Villain in a Daytime Serial
- 1984 Joseph Mascolo (Days of Our Lives)
- 1985 Joseph Mascolo (Days of Our Lives)
- 1986 John Aniston (Days of Our Lives)
- 1988 Justin Deas (Santa Barbara)
- 1989 Matthew Ashford (Days of Our Lives)
- 1990 David Canary (All My Children)
- 1991 Kin Shriner (General Hospital)
- 1992 Michael Zaslow (The Guiding Light)
Outstanding Villainess: Daytime
Former name: Outstanding Villainess in a Daytime Soap Opera, Outstanding Villainess in a Daytime Serial
Outstanding Villain: Prime Time
Former name: Outstanding Villain in a Prime Time Soap Opera, Outstanding Villain in a PrimeTime Serial, Outstanding Villain on a Prime Time Serial
- 1984 Larry Hagman (Dallas)
- 1985 Larry Hagman (Dallas)
- 1986 Larry Hagman (Dallas)
- 1988 Larry Hagman (Dallas)
- 1989 Larry Hagman (Dallas)
- 1990 Teri Austin (Knots Landing)
- 1991 Sam Behrens (Knots Landing)
Outstanding Villainess: Prime Time
Former name: Outstanding Villainess in a Prime Time Soap Opera, Outstanding Villainess in a Prime Time Serial
- 1984 Joan Collins (Dynasty)
- 1985 Joan Collins (Dynasty)
- 1986 Donna Mills (Knots Landing)
- 1988 Donna Mills (Knots Landing)
- 1989 Donna Mills (Knots Landing)
- 1991 Michelle Phillips (Knots Landing)
Outstanding Villain/Villainess
Favorite Villain
Former name: Outstanding Villain
Favorite Villainess
Former name: Outstanding Villainess
- 1995 Kimberlin Brown (The Bold and the Beautiful)
- 1996 Alison Sweeney (Days of Our Lives)
- 1997 Michelle Stafford (The Young and the Restless)
- 1998 Alison Sweeney (Days of Our Lives)
- 1999 Alison Sweeney (Days of Our Lives)
- 2001 Arianne Zucker (Days of Our Lives)
Outstanding Younger Lead Actor: Daytime `
Former name: Outstanding Youth Actor in a Daytime Soap Opera, Outstanding Youth Actor in a Daytime Serial, Outstanding Young Leading Actor in a Daytime Serial
Outstanding Younger Leading Actress: Daytime
Former name: Outstanding Youth Actress in a Daytime Soap Opera, Outstanding Youth Actress in a Daytime Serial, Outstanding Young Leading Actress on a Daytime Serial
Outstanding Youth Actor in Prime Time Soap Opera
Outstanding Youth Actress in Prime Time Soap Opera
Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress in a Prime Time Serial
Outstanding Younger Leading Actor
Former name: Outstanding Younger Lead Actor
Outstanding Younger Leading Actress
Former name: Outstanding Younger Lead Actress
- 1993 Alicia Coppola (Another World)
- 1994 Melissa Hayden (The Guiding Light)
- 1995 Rena Sofer (General Hospital)
- 1996 Kelly Ripa (All My Children)
- 1997 Heather Tom (The Young and the Restless)
- 1998 Sarah Joy Brown (General Hospital)
- 1999 Rebecca Herbst (General Hospital)
- 2000 Kelly Ripa (All My Children)
- 2001 Alison Sweeney (Days of Our Lives)
- 2003 Rebecca Budig (All My Children)
- 2005 Eden Riegel (All My Children)
Favorite
Former name: Outstanding Teen Performer, Favorite Teen Star
Outstanding Child Actor
- 1993 Kimberly McCullough (General Hospital)
- 1994 Scott Groff (Days of Our Lives)
- 1995 Jonathan Jackson (General Hospital)
- 2001 Kirsten Storms (Days of Our Lives)
Outstanding Contribution by an Actor/Actress to the Form of Continuing Drama who is currently on a Daytime Serial
- 1986 Deidre Hall (Days of Our Lives)
Outstanding Hero: Daytime
- 1988 A Martinez (Santa Barbara)
- 1989 Stephen Nichols (Days of Our Lives)
- 1990 Doug Davidson (The Young and the Restless)
- 1991 Doug Davidson (The Young and the Restless)
Outstanding Heroine: Daytime
- 1988 Robin Wright (Santa Barbara)
- 1989 Marcy Walker (Santa Barbara)
- 1990 Finola Hughes (General Hospital)
- 1991 Cady McClain (All My Children)
Outstanding Hero: Prime Time
Outstanding Heroine: Prime Time
- 1991 Nicollette Sheridan (Knots Landing)
Outstanding Hero
- 2001 Joshua Morrow (The Young and the Restless)
Outstanding Heroine
Favorite Triangle
Outstanding Story Line: Daytime
- 1990 Eden's rape (Santa Barbara)
- 1991 Robin, Anna and the alien (General Hospital)
Outstanding Story Line: Prime Time
- 1990 "Jill"'s descent into madness (Knots Landing)
- 1991 "Paige" and "Tom"'s love story (Knots Landing)
Outstanding Social Issue Storyline
- 1993 Margo's rape (As the World Turns)
Favorite Storyline
- 1994 Who Fathered Marlena's Baby? (Days of Our Lives)
- 2001 The baby switch (Days of Our Lives)
Favorite Song
- 1993 "One Dream" (Bo and Carly's theme) (Days of Our Lives)
Favorite Return
- 1999 Cady McClain (All My Children)
- 2000 Finola Hughes (All My Children)
- 2003 Vanessa Marcil (General Hospital)
- 2005 Judi Evans (Days of Our Lives)
Hottest Female Star
- 1993 Crystal Chappell (Days of Our Lives)
- 1994 Melissa Reeves (Days of Our Lives)
- 1995 Kristina Wagner (General Hospital)
- 1996 Lynn Herring (General Hospital)
- 1997 Vanessa Marcil (General Hospital)
- 1998 Sharon Case (The Young and the Restless)
- 1999 Kristian Alfonso (Days of Our Lives)
Hottest Male Star
- 1993 Mark Derwin (The Guiding Light)
- 1994 Drake Hogestyn (Days of Our Lives)
- 1995 Drake Hogestyn (Days of Our Lives)
- 1996 Peter Reckell (Days of Our Lives)
- 1997 Ingo Rademacher (General Hospital)
- 1998 Ingo Rademacher (General Hospital)
- 1999 Steve Burton (General Hospital)
Favorite Scene Stealer
Former name: Outstanding Scene Stealer
Outstanding Female Scene Stealer
Former name: Outstanding Female Showstopper
- 1995 Louise Sorel (Days of Our Lives)
- 1996 Robin Mattson (All My Children)
- 1997 Louise Sorel (Days of Our Lives)
- 1998 Jennifer Bassey (All My Children)
- 1999 Louise Sorel (Days of Our Lives)
- 2001 Robin Strasser (Passions)
Outstanding Male Scene Stealer
Former name: Outstanding Male Showstopper
Outstanding Musical Achievement
Favorite Veteran
- 1999 Stuart Damon (General Hospital)
Soapnet Outstanding Plot Twist Award
- Sonny & Alexis have sex (General Hospital)
Soapnet Diamond Award
List of Soap Opera Digest Awards
Categories
See also
External links
