With 27 nominations spanning all the way back to 1975, the Writing Team of The Young and the Restless has been nominated 22 times in the past 25 years. Prior to this year's win, The Young and the Restless last won in this category in 2011.
"They say if it's not on the page, it's not on the stage," Shelley Altman said on behalf of Y&R's writing team. "But our words would be absolutely meaningless without a whole lot of other people who give them voice."
Altman went on to say, "Thank you to our entire amazing cast and crew and staff. Thank you to Bell Dramatic and thank you to all the people who tell us every Monday what we do wrong so that we can get it right."
Before leaving the stage, Altman thanked the show's "fearless leader," Jill Farren Phelps, and "our amazing fans. We have the best fans in the world. You guys rock."
For the first time in Daytime Emmy history, a drama series that aired online was honored as the Outstanding Directing Team.
"Thank you [for] recognizing our efforts for One Life to Live's pioneering online venture," director Jill Mitwell said in accepting the award on behalf of the show's 12-person directing team.
"We faced many challenges, working without a network infrastructure," Mitwell admitted. "That we were able to accomplish as much as we did is a tribute to our brave and resilient cast and crew, many of whom came from Another World, As the World Turns, Guiding Light, All My Children, as well as One Life to Live. And it [was] wonderful to work with these experienced friends and colleagues again."
Mitwell briefly commented on One Life to Live's very short life as an Internet-based series on Prospect Park's TOLN.com network. The show premiered in April 2013 and production was indefinitely halted several months later amid labor disputes and lawsuits.
"We are certainly sorry that it didn't last longer," Mitwell continued. "We wish it did, not only for the employment that it created, but most especially for daytime's fierce and devoted fans who were with us all the way."
Mitwell thanked Rich Frank and Jeff Kwatinetz, the co-owners of Prospect Park, "for believing in us and for backing us... and for giving us the opportunity to visit our dear Llanview one more time."
Several of One Life to Live's former stars sat together at a table inside the International Ballroom. However, across the room, Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair Cramer, OLTL; now-Eve Donovan, Days of our Lives) could be seen giving the One Life to Live directors a standing ovation.
This was the fifth time that One Life to Live's directors were honored by the Academy. The show also received honors for directing in 1976 before there was a specific category dedicated solely to directing.
