It isn't a perfect world.

   There's crime that can't be prevented, disease that can't be cured, war that can't be won.

   Hands down, "Guiding Light" is the most watchable soap on television, yet it isn't the most watched.

   Obviously it isn't a perfect world, it's not even close.

   For its actors alone, "Guiding Light" has been awarded a dizzying 11 Daytime Emmy nominations - nearly triple the number of nods nabbed by the nearest runners-up.

   But those ratings . . .

   Recent Nielsens estimate the show is seen by one-third fewer viewers than the top-rated "The Young and the Restless."

   It isn't a perfect world, it's mad - mad, mad, mad!

   "There's no accounting for it," says outstanding actor nominee Michael
Zaslow. "Bill Bell's soaps have I guess a lot of glitz, some good lighting, sets . . .   "Some of the actors are good."

   "It's extremely infuriating," says outspoken outstanding actress nominee
Fiona Hutchison. "But what can you do but continue to do your best?

   "Bless their cotton socks, audiences are fickle."

   Also impatient, says amiable Monti Sharp, last year's outstanding younger actor. "Attention spans are very short.

   "If you're not showing (skin) or saying something racy, people tend to do a little more channel-surfing."

   The "Guiding Light" time slot is a wipeout, too, says Jill Farren Phelps, the show's sharp producer. "I'd like to see how we'd do if we were on at the same time as 'Y&R.' "   "Obviously more people are going to be watching 'Y&R.' "

   By day, maybe. But come Emmy night, as mad and imperfect as it is, the world will be watching "Guiding Light."

   "I hope we'll raise a few eyebrows," says Sharp, "make a few people watch our show a little longer, turn it on a little earlier."

   "We've had a lot of nominations in the past," says skeptical Melina
Kanakaredes, an outstanding younger actress nominee. "I certainly think (the brouhaha) helps, but I don't think it gets new viewers.

   "I think it gets old viewers to start watching again."

   Even if it doesn't, says Zaslow, "numbers don't necessarily reflect quality."

   "What is really marvelous about 'Guiding Light,' " says Hutchison, "is that the ship is not run by ratings alone. It's got a sort of quality control.

   "Getting it to be believable, getting it done well, getting it done right -
at 'Guiding Light,' these are the important things."

   "We all have a great perspective on the Emmy hoopla," says Phelps. "It's great, it's exciting, it's emotional . . .

   "But in the end, the play is still the thing."

   ==============================================
MICHAEL ZASLOW: It isn't awkward competing with co-star Peter Simon for the best actor Emmy, he says. "For a long time I pushed Peter to submit himself for the nomination." MELINA KANAKAREDES: Co-star Rick Hearst called to tell her she was an Emmy nominee. "I was bawling out my puppy for doing something on the
floor," she says. "I'm so glamorous!"

 'Guiding' Council
By: Charles Masson
The Times-Picayune
May 22, 1994 Sunday

   So sublime is the current cast of "Guiding Light," in all but one of the six acting categories, co-stars are competing.

   "Maybe there will be a tie," says Fiona Hutchison. "It could happen."

   Easy for her to say. Hutchison is the only trouper to whom it couldn't happen.

   Here's a who's who of the ensemble that's that good.

   Up for outstanding younger actor: Returning champ Monti Sharp (loyal law student David Grant); also 14-year-old four-time nominee Bryan Buffinton (addled adolescent Bill).

   Up for outstanding younger actress: Two-time nominee Melissa Hayden  (tormented teen Bridget Reardon); also first-timer Melina Kanakaredes (guileless Greek immigrant Eleni).

   Up for outstanding supporting actor: Three-time nominee Jerry ver Dorn (beleaguered lawyer Ross); also three-time victor Justin Deas (outre entrepreneur Buzz).

   Up for outstanding supporting actress: Two-time nominee Maureen Garrett (embattled newspaperwoman Holly); also first-timer Hilary Edson (suspect surgeon Eve).

   Up for outstanding lead actor: Third-time nominee Michael Zaslow (manipulative mogul Roger); also first-timer Peter Simon (widowed doctor Ed).

   Up for outstanding lead actress: In a league of her own, it's Hutchison (apprentice potentate Jenna).

GRAPHIC: EVERYBODY LOVES A WINNER: Daytime Emmy hopefuls Monti Sharp, Fiona Hutchison, Justin Deas and Maureen Garrett PHOTO

Copyright 1994 The Times-Picayune Publishing Co.

   Daytime Emmy Award nominations have exhibited their usual restraint this season, favoring established daytime stars while relegating the hunks and sex goddesses-responsible for attracting new viewers to daytime drama-to another world.

   CBS triumphed with 23 nominations in eight major categories, including three of the four shows nominated for outstanding series: "As The World Turns," "Guiding Light," and "The Young and the Restless." ABC's "All My Children" was the fourth. NBC limped into the sweepstakes bolstered, in large part, by best actor and actress nominees Charles Keating (Carl) and Linda Dano (Felicia) both from "Another World."

   "Days of Our Lives," always the flashy winner in viewer popularity contests, clearly has less luster within the industry. It was shut out in all major categories, except writing.

   Notably missing from the nominations for best actress was Susan Lucci, who is out of the running after 13 consecutive years. The actress, who plays vixen Erica Kane on "All My Children," will co-host the awards show (8 p.m. May 25 on ABC).

   This season, the sex kitten prototype made famous by Lucci was left behind as the academy turned its attention to women with troubles rather than to troublemakers.

   Like Stella Dallas before them, nominees reflected the modern-day version of "a woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do." Named are last year's winner Dano; Julia Barr, Brooke on "AMC;" Kathleen Widdoes, Emma on "ATWT"; Hilary B. Smith, Nora on "One Life to Live;" and Fiona Huchison, Jenna on "GL," who enjoyed the storyline of a lifetime. With the likes of co-stars Michael Zaslow (Roger) and Justin Deas (Buzz), Huchison self-propelled out of the shadows this year with knock 'em dead performances.

   A few good, rich men lead the pack of lead-actor nomineees. All play wealthy, self-posessed men demonstrating that the '80s are still around in varying degrees in soap operas. Only one cop and no bartenders or Harley men here, which is more the turf of "Days" and "General Hospital." Ponytailed nominee Keating is never going to play Carl as a mainstream guy. The field also includes Peter Bergman, Jack on "Y&R"; Michael Zaslow, Roger, "GL"; Peter Simon, Ed, "GL"; and Robert S. Woods, Bo, "OLTL".4

   Typically, nominees in supporting categories get high marks for high anxiety storylines, and this year is no exception. Receiving the nod for supporting actresss are Sharon Wyatt, as handwringing Tiffany on "GH"; Hilary Edson, post-traumatic shock seductress Eve on "GL"; Maureen Garrett, Springfield's classiest second fiddle Holly, on "GL"; Susan Haskell, perennial victim on "OLTL"; and Signy Coleman, blind and uprooted on "Y&R."

   Supporting actor nominees are Patrick Tovatt, Cal on "ATWT"; Ian Buchanan, James "The Bold and The Beautiful"; Justin Deas, Buzz "GL"; and Thom "get nominated, get fired" Christopher, who won two years ago for "OLTL" after he was written off the show. This year's nomination comes after the actor leaves "Loving."

   Younger actress is the toughest category to call, especially considering that outstanding work by the likes of "Days"' Lisa Rinna and "Y&R's" Victoria Rowell did not make the cut. Sara Michelle Gellar, Kendall, "AMC"; Martha Byrne, Lily, "ATWT"; Melissa Hayden, Bridget, "GL"; Melina Kanakaredes, Eleni, "GL" and Heather Tom, Victoria, "Y&R" all turned in crackerjack performances this year.

   Overlooked as younger actor nominee was Paul Anthony Stewart for his non-glossy spin on Casey, an alternative slacker type on "Loving." Nominated are Roger Howarth, Todd "OLTL"; Dondre T. Whitfield, Terrence "AMC"; Scott De Freitas, Andy "ATWT"; Bryan Buffinton, Bill "GL" and Monti Sharp, David "GL."

   Perhaps the most telling omission is "GL," absent from best writing category. Never a soap that aims low, and with glorious writing from Patrick Mulcahy among others, "GL" should not have been overlooked for its consistently intelligent dialogue, which manages to keep speechifying at a minimum. The master of a good story William Bell and his writers received the nod for "Y&R," as did writing teams from "AW," "Days" and "OLTL."
 Copyright 1994 Chicago Tribune Company

   The news from the 21st Annual Daytime Emmy nominations, announced last month, was that Susan Lucci (Erica Kane Marick, All My Children) did not get a 15th nomination. She will, though, get to host the awards again. The ceremonies air May 25 on ABC.

   Potential nominees are voted on by their peers. The actors and shows put together reels of their best work. An actor with only a few good days, or a weak show with some strong episodes, can receive a bid that does not reflect a body of work.

   Most of the nominations do reflect outstanding work. Listed below are the major soap nominees, followed by our comments on overall merit.

   BEST LEAD ACTRESS: Julia Barr (Brooke English Martin, All My Children) - great work with great material. Linda Dano (Felicia Gallant, Another World) - really belongs in the Supporting Actress category, but did fine work nonetheless. Kathleen Widdoes (Emma Snyder, As the World Turns) - definitely a Supporting Actress role - no magic. Fiona Hutchison (Jenna Thorpe, Guiding Light) - a constant delight. Hillary B. Smith (Nora Gannon, One Life to Live) - wonderful, gutsy work.

   BEST LEAD ACTOR: Charles Keating (Carl Hutchins, Another World) - every scene of his was a gem. Peter Simon (Ed Bauer, General Hospital) - quietly heart-wrenching performances. Michael Zaslow (Roger Thorpe, General Hospital) - always wonderful. Robert S. Woods (Bo Buchanan, One Life) - fine, comic touch. Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott, The Young and the Restless) - not much to do this year. (We have a tough choice in this category, resulting in a tie - both Keating and Simon were great.

   BEST SHOW: All My Children - almost all stories were powerful and worked well. As the World Turns - the show is in transition since the death of head writer Douglas Marland. Guiding Light - wonderful much of the time, some rough spots. The Young and the Restless - many good stories.

Copyright 1994 Palm Beach Newspaper, Inc.