Soapdom, Inc. Announces 'The Greats' of Soap Opera Performers Voted by Soap Fans Across the Net in 5th Annual Soapdom Cybby Awards(TM)

Soapdom, Inc. Announces 'The Greats' of Soap Opera Performers Voted by Soap Fans Across the Net in 5th Annual Soapdom Cybby Awards(TM)

Soap Star Watchers and Show Loyalists Are Fan-Based Judges in Annual Electronic Voting in Daytime Emmy Award Drama Series Categories and 25 Soapdom 'Fun Categories'

Soapdom Votes Reflect Popular Differences From Emmy Winners Voted in by Show Biz Experts

Soapdom Gears Up for 6th Annual Soapdom Cybby Awards(TM) Fun Category Nominations in February 2005

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- SOAPDOM.COM, Where Soap Operas Rule, annually tests the waters of who's hot and who's not among the acting fraternity appearing on leading network TV soap operas. Registered Soapdom members and all-access subscribers participate as judges by nominating their favorite performers and casting votes in Soapdom's annual Cybby (pronounced "sigh bee" as in cyberspace) electronic balloting covering nine Daytime Emmy Award Drama Series categories as well as 25 Fun Categories.

Thousands of Soapdom members responded to the 5th Annual Soapdom Cybby Awards(TM) invitation to pick Emmy nominated-winners as if they served on an Emmy Award Judges Committee, and register their nominations and then choices at the click of a button for winners in the 25 Cybby Fun Categories.

"What never ceases to amaze me," said Soapdom, Inc. CEO, Linda Marshall-Smith, "is that in the Emmy categories, our members tend to vote a totally different way than the Emmy Committee. In 2004, in five of the nine Emmy Categories, soap opera viewers picked different winners than the Emmy judges. We've seen the same thing happen year after year. Who knows better? Loyal viewers who watch day in and day out, or judges exposed to a few tapes in a single day?"

That was the question that led to Soapdom's 1999 initiative to create an award mechanism for fan voting. Over this five year span, Marshall-Smith estimates that over a quarter of a million enthusiastic Soapdom fans have let their ballots do the talking.

CYBBY WINNERS WIN BIG

It is unprecedented for soap actors to win more than one Daytime Emmy Award in a given year. Cybby Award Fun Categories are the exception to the rule. When all the votes were tabulated, behold one actor, Maurice Benard (Sonny, "General Hospital") led all the rest with six wins. Co-star Tamara Braun (Carly, "General Hospital") was right behind with a total of five wins. Braun was selected by GH enthusiasts across the country in four different Soapdom Cybby Award Fun Categories and named Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, an Emmy Award category, garnering her fifth Cybby. Overall, "General Hospital" won 17 out of 34 categories.

Braun profusely thanked her fans. "I am so touched and so happy that I have been honored with these awards that I didn't even have to get dressed up for! I am actually still in my robe! Seriously, I am honored that my portrayal of Carly has pleased so many. My family is proud, but they are biased, so to have so many other people not related to me enjoy what I do really means the world to me. Thank you for the honor and for the support. I will continue to do my best to make Carly someone that you want to watch. Many blessings and thanks."

Rick Hearst (Ric, "General Hospital") won two Cybbys himself this year. His comments: "Thanks so much for this wonderful honor and recognition. It is an honor to be received in this way by the fans. My sincere hope is that I can continue to entertain and, hopefully, surprise the audience with such a great role as Ric. Here is a special web toast to you all."

A sprinkling of Cybby's unique Fun Categories, and their intrepid actor and actress winners, impart liberal doses of humor to the mix, such as: "Outstanding Performance from a Hospital Bed" (a frequent occurrence in Soap lives), "Most Devious Doctor" (so many doctors with a villainous outlook) and "Tears for Careers" (alas, she who cries on cue, usually nabs an award).

For winners of "Most Elitist Snob," "Most Outstanding Performance While Hiding a Pregnancy," "Best Kisser," and the entire Fun Category titlists, please see Addendum A at the close of the release.

Voting for the Fifth Annual Soapdom Cybby Awards took place April 12 through May 31, 2004. One Cybby winner, Michael E. Knight (Tad, "All My Children"), has been nominated and/or won Cybby Awards in all five years of fan voting. For the past two years, he won the Fun Category of Most Outstanding Sense of Humor.

"Oh those fans!' he said. "Just thinking that I won makes me smile. I've always been a humorous type of guy. I get the laughter from my mom and I enjoy laughing. At All My Children, writers crank out dialog with added humor," Knight said. "They know me and that's how they write the material. Back when I started, Tad wasn't that funny, but after getting to know me personally, they now write his dialogue quite differently. There is a lot of laughter among cast members at AMC, which makes it that much easier to have a sense of humor. You fans are great, and I'm glad to hopefully make you laugh."

In the Fun Category of Most Endearing Imp, tall, dark, handsome Trent Dawson who plays loveable conman "Henry" on As the World Turns, won by a considerable margin. "It's fantastic! I always love what's done by the fans," Dawson said. "It's really a great feeling, and I'd like to thank everyone that voted."

"Days of our Lives" won a Cybby as "The Most Outstanding Soap of All Time," for the second consecutive year. Upon hearing the news, Day's executive producer, Ken Corday, spoke for cast and crew: "I would like to thank our viewers from the bottom of our hearts, and the middle of our hour-glass which never runs out of sand. May you stay tuned for the next 39 years," he said, adding, "viewers tell us they love what has never disappeared from the show, the feeling of family. That legacy continues generation after generation. I believe that now, in our fourth decade, the show is as healthy as it was when it started, and we are grateful, very grateful."

"As the World Turns" won in the Emmy categories for Outstanding Writing and for Outstanding Drama Series. Head writer Hogan Sheffer, responded smartly, "Your (voters') taste is impeccable and your conclusions inarguable. And we -- or at least I, since everyone else has gone home - thank you."

The Annual Soapdom Cybby Awards(TM) are cyberspace's equivalent to the Daytime Emmy Awards, with the addition of nominating and voting privileges for fans in the Fun Categories. As she gears up for this year's 6th Annual Soapdom Cybby Awards(TM), Marshall-Smith is heartened by the increasing voter turnout and visitor frequency at her popular, all-about-soaps website.

"We thank the casts, producers, writers and crews for giving our viewers the opportunity to express their gratitude for the hard work they do to bring us diverting characters, great talent and memorable shows 52 weeks a year," she said. "Soaps are mercurial, entertaining, and an endlessly fascinating look at relationships. And who should know that better than the fans?"

Soapdom will launch its 6th Annual Cybby Awards(TM) beginning with nominations for the Fun Categories in February 2005. For a penetrating look at industry developments, breaking news, interviews and the latest soap scoops, please visit: www.soapdom.com.

About Soapdom, Inc.

Soapdom, Inc. is a privately-held, woman-owned, B2B2C content delivery business, working with networks, production companies, actors and publicists to promote the genre of daytime drama. Soapdom brings the fans to the soaps and the soaps to the fans via a high-profile internet presence, taking them Inside the Bubble(TM) of their favorite soaps through The Annual Soapdom Cybby Awards(TM) and exclusive features, interviews, sneak previews, daily recaps, breaking news, community, and fun. Get Inside the Bubble(TM) Where Soap Operas Rule. http://www.soapdom.com/

Addendum A

5TH ANNUAL SOAPDOM CYBBY AWARDS(TM) WINNERS

DAYTIME EMMY CATEGORY WINNERS
Voted on by Soapdom All-Access and Free-Registered Members

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
The Emmy went to Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, Young and the Restless)
And the Cybby goes to Tamara Braun (Carly, General Hospital)

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
The Emmy went to Anthony Geary (Luke, General Hospital)
And the Cybby goes to Maurice Bernard (Sonny, General Hospital)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
The Emmy went to Cady McClain (Rosanna, As the World Turns)
And the Cybby goes to Cady McClain (Rosanna, As the World Turns)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
The Emmy went to Rick Hearst (Ric, General Hospital)
And the Cybby goes to Rick Hearst (Ric, General Hospital)

Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series
The Emmy went to Jennifer Finnegan (Bridget, Bold and the Beautiful)
And the Cybby goes to Eden Riegel (Bianca, All My Children)

Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series
The Emmy went to Chad Brannon (Zander, General Hospital)
And the Cybby goes to Chad Brannon (Zander, General Hospital)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
The Emmy went to As the World Turns
And the Cybby goes to As the World Turns

Outstanding Directing Team for a Drama Series
The Emmy went to General Hospital
And the Cybby Goes to the Young and the Restless

Outstanding Drama Series
The Emmy went to the Young and the Restless
And the Cybby Goes to As the World Turns

CYBBY FUN CATEGORY WINNERS
Nominated and Voted on by Soapdom All-Access and Free-Registered Members

Most Elitest Snob
And the Cybby goes to...
Jane Elliot (Tracy, General Hospital)

Cutest Smile
And the Cybby goes to...
Maurice Benard (Sonny, General Hospital)

Most Endearing Imp
And the Cybby goes to...
Trent Dawson (Henry, As the World Turns)

Most Devious Doctor
And the Cybby goes to...
Vincent Irizarry (David, All My Children)

Most Outstanding Performance While Hiding a Pregnancy
And the Cybby goes to...
Robin Christopher (Skye, General Hospital)

Most Outstanding Performance Playing Pregnant When Not
And the Cybby goes to...
Tamara Braun (Carly, General Hospital)

Tears for Careers -- It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To
And the Cybby goes to...
Tamara Braun (Carly, General Hospital)

Oh Brother! Best Sibling Rivalry
And the Cybby goes to...
General Hospital's Maurice Benard and Rick Hearst (Sonny and Ric)

Most Missed Missing Veteran
And the Cybby goes to...
Finola Hughes (Anna, All My Children)

Old Dog, New Tricks -- Best Veteran on a New Show
And the Cybby goes to...
Roger Howarth (Paul, As the World Turns)

Most Chiseled
And the Cybby goes to...
Steve Burton (Jason, General Hospital) and Cameron Mathison (Ryan, All My
Children)

Best Return of a Character
And the Cybby goes to...
Jane Elliot (Tracy, General Hospital)

Most Outstanding Performance from a Hospital Bed
And the Cybby goes to...
Thaao Penghlis (Tony, Days of our Lives)

Best Kisser
And the Cybby goes to...
Maurice Bernard (Sonny, General Hospital) and Olga Sosnovska (Lena, All
My Children)

Grandest Grande Dame
And the Cybby goes to...
Frances Reid (Alice, Days of our Lives)

Maid with the Mostest
And the Cybby goes to...
Kate Linder (Esther, Young and the Restless)

Seeing Double Award -- Character That Should Have an Evil Twin
And the Cybby goes to...
Eden Riegel (Bianca, All My Children)

Best Bad Guy
And the Cybby goes to...
Hunt Block (Craig, As the World Turns) and William de Vry (Michael, All
My Children)

Most Outstanding Sense of Humor
And the Cybby goes to...
Michael E. Knight (Tad, All My Children)

Most Clever Copper
And the Cybby goes to...
Michael Easton (John, One Life To Live)

Character You'd Most Want to Bring Home to Meet Your Parents
And the Cybby goes to...
Maurice Benard (Sonny, General Hospital)

Wooden Spoon Award -- Character You'd Most Want to Bop Upside the Head
with a Wooden Spoon
And the Cybby goes to...
Ted King (Alcazar, General Hospital)

Cast Me Award -- If You Could Play Any Character on Any Soap, Who Would
You Want to Play
And the Cybby goes to...
Tamara Braun (Carly, General Hospital)

Super Couple of All Time
And the Cybby goes to...
Maurice Bernard and Tamara Braun (Sonny and Carly, General Hospital)

Most Outstanding Soap Opera of All Time
And the Cybby goes to...
Days of our Lives

5th SOAPDOM CYBBY AWARDS - SHOW AND NETWORK STANDINGS


ABC took the grand prize with the total overall number of wins. CBS came in second, with NBC trailing a distant third. General Hospital won 50% of the total Cybby Awards in 2004. Here's how it breaks down:

By Network

ABC 26
CBS 8
NBC 3

By Soap

General Hospital 17
All My Children 8
As the World Turns 6
Days of our Lives 3
Young & the Restless 2
One Life to Live 1

Of Note

There were ties in three categories:
Most Chiseled
Best Kisser
Best Bad Guy

For a complete list of Fun Category nominees visit http://www.soapdom.com/


Source: Soapdom, Inc.

CONTACT: Linda Marshall-Smith, CEO of Soapdom, Inc., +1-310-820-0545

Web site: http://www.soapdom.com/


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