Daytime Jolt Earthquake Pays Off For Soap: 'Santa Barbara' Wins Emmy

from "The Enquirer" - June 30, 1988

“Santa Barbara,” the NBC soap opera that only four years ago introduced an earthquake into its story line to shake up the ratings, yesterday won an Emmy for best daytime drama series.

The award was the biggest surprise in yesterday’s 15th annual Daytime Emmy Awards, broadcast live from the Waldorf-Astoria in New York despite the ongoing writer’s strike.

CBS was the big winner, taking seven of the 17 awards presented. ABC and NBC each won three; syndicated shows, two; and PBS one.

Justin Deas of “Santa Barbara” captured the award for Best Supporting Actor. And to think, the hour-long soap, seen here weekdays at 9 a.m. on Channel 3, was in such dire need of attention in 1984 that NBC decided to put a little life into the show by ordering an earthquake to destroy most of the cast.

At the time, none of the “Santa Barbara” characters “tested” very well, and none of the characters was particularly popular with viewers. The earthquake turned out to be a nice, noisy way of drawing attention to the soap opera - a strategy whose aftershocks are just now being enjoyed by the producers.

For the ninth straight year, Susan Lucci of “All My Children” did not pick up an Emmy as Best Actress in a daytime drama. Instead, the award went to Helen Gallagher of “Ryan’s Hope”.

Other winners included David Canary of “All My Children” as Best Lead Actor and Ellen Wheeler from the same soap as Best Supporting Actress. “All My Children,” created by Bryn Mawr’s Agnes Nixon, also won an award for best writing.

In a deeply affecting moment, Wheeler spoke about her character’s experience with AIDS. “I am reminded that if we work together, we can accomplish something” she said. “We can entertain people and teach them something at the same time”.

“

Sesame Street

” once again received the award for Best Children’s Show and for Best Writing on a Children’s Show. In accepting the prizes, Sonia Manzano (Maria) and Emilio Delgado (Luis) announced that next year, on “

Sesame Street

” 20th season, Luis and Maria will have a baby.

And you thought sex was on soap operas only.

Daytime soaps, children's programming, talk shows and game shows were nominated by members of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Here is a list of the winners:

DRAMA SERIES: "Santa Barbara," NBC.

LEAD ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES: Helen Gallagher, "Ryan's Hope," ABC.

LEAD ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES: David Canary, "All My Children," ABC.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES: Ellen Wheeler, "All My Children," ABC.

SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES: Justin Deas, "Santa Barbara," NBC.

INGENUE, DRAMA SERIES: Julianne Moore, "As the World Turns," CBS.

YOUNGER LEADING MAN, DRAMA SERIES: Billy Warlock, "Days of Our Lives," NBC.

DRAMA SERIES DIRECTING TEAM: "The Young and the Restless," Rudolph L. Behar, Frank Pacelli, Heather Hill, Randy Robbins, Betty Rothenberg, CBS.

DRAMA SERIES WRITING TEAM: "All My Children," Agnes Nixon, Clarice Blackburn, Lorraine Broderick, Susan Kirshenbaum, Kathleen Klein, ABC.