Supporting Actor Nominee Interviews

Max Gail (Mike, GH): Congratulations on your nomination! “Thank you. It feels good. It lets me know that I did my part, that I didn’t blow it or just get dragged across the finish line. Early on, when I started, people would say, ‘You’re gonna get an Emmy.’ I think that’s just a way that people express their response to the work. I had kind of mixed emotions [about submitting myself] but when I was looking through some of the tapes, I realized how good everyone was and how good the writing was, and I thought, ‘What an honor it would be to be nominated.’ ” So many people in your storyline were nominated, as well. “I’m so happy to see them all acknowledged. I think everybody felt good about having this story to tell and I certainly feel grateful to be a part of it.” You’re nominated against your on-screen grandson, Dominic Zamprogna [ex-Dante]. “I would really be thrilled to see Dom win because I think he’s wonderful. He just doesn’t hit any false notes and he’s a good guy.” You were nominated for Supporting Actor at the Primetime Emmys in 1979 and 1980 for BARNEY MILLER. What do you remember about that? “I remember one year, Danny DeVito and I, we agreed, ‘Let’s be looking at each other when they announce it,’ because it’s such an awkward thing. And we did. Robert Guillaume won and Danny and I kind of shrugged and laughed and felt really relieved, I think.” Are you looking forward to Emmy night? “I’ve been told that it’s a lot of fun. I’m not all that much into dress-up. I’ll probably wear one of Mike’s suits. Mike has a much better wardrobe than I do.”

Bryton James (Devon, Y&R): Where were you when you found out? “I was on set. I think we were filming the first scenes in this new set that we have. It was a full day.” What scenes did you submit? “I submitted two scenes from me and Mishael’s [Morgan, ex-Hilary] final day in the hospital. So the two scenes leading up to when she actually passes away, and then one scene with myself and Christel [Khalil, Lily] when I found out about her being the cause of running the red light and all that. And then there was an episode when Devon goes to therapy. I did one of those scenes. It was hard to choose between those two that I wanted to use. But I found one that works. It’s a nice little progression of the story.” What were Christel and Mishael’s reactions? “Mishael texted me ’cause she was nominated, too. We texted each other back and forth. We’re obviously very familiar with each other’s reels and what we went through with that storyline, so we were mutually excited for each other. And Christel, she didn’t find out until I think I told her or somebody else told her. She was very excited for me. I was disappointed, though, that she didn’t get it. I mean, Christel had some amazing work, too. I was bummed about her not being in the running altogether.” Who did you tell first? “I didn’t tell anybody. I didn’t say anything until someone on set brought it up. It’s an extreme honor to be recognized for something like that. It’s my second time in Supporting. I know how difficult a category that is to even be nominated in. It’s an honor.” Did you consider yourself for Lead Actor? “I still don’t see myself like that. I’m not in that league with Peter Bergman and Maurice and guys like that.”

Eric Martsolf (Brady, DAYS) : What was your reaction when you found out you were nominated? “I was very happy and pleased about getting the nomination this year, because I truly didn’t expect it. It was a lovely little surprise.” How did you find out? “I was teaching my son Mason how to properly take weeds out of grass. We were over at my mother-in-law’s house. That’s when I heard my phone over on the stool. My hands were full of mud and dirt. I picked it up because I thought it might be an emergency or something. My phone rarely goes off like that. It was all these congratulatory texts from friends and co-workers.” Were there any memorable ones? “The first ones I saw were from Victoria [Konefal, Ciara] and Olivia [Rose Keegan, Claire]. Those two have become very special to me. They’re like my sisters at this point. We have a really fun bond. We’re kind of loony in our own ways and have similar senses of humor. Getting a response from them first was adorable.” What scenes did you submit? “The scene where I was by Marlena’s bedside. I was basically apologizing for being such an awful teenager to her and not acknowledging the fact that she was really the only mother figure that I’d ever known in my life. I also used the losing of custody of Brady’s son, where he had to say good-bye to Tate.” What are you most looking forward to on Emmy night? “The best part of being nominated is that usually, you get car service. So that’s something to look forward to. The soap community has gotten smaller over the years. It almost has a high school reunion feel now instead of a competitive event. I feel like we’re more of a team than ever.”

Greg Rikaart (Kevin, Y&R; ex-Leo, DAYS): You’ve had a few Emmy nominations and a win. Does the thrill ever wear off? “No, of course not. It’s been downhill ever since the first one, because I won the first one and have kept losing since. It’s always very exciting to be recognized and included.” How did you find out? “I was laid out on my bed icing my back, because I threw it out the day before. My manager texted saying, ‘Hey, I have THE TALK on.’ I said, ‘Great. Call me when they announce the Daytime Emmy nominations.’ Before he had a chance to, THE TALK tweeted me.” What did you submit? “The first scenes I submitted were the confrontation ones between Sonny, Leo and Will, when Leo returned and explained to the boys how he survived and what his objective was now that he was back. He had quite an ax to grind. The other scenes I submitted were some of the material from Sonny and Leo’s wedding, because it was light and fun and showed a different color.” Did you receive any memorable congratulatory texts or messages? “The first person I heard from was Peter Bergman. That was an exciting text to get. I heard from lots of actors on DAYS on Twitter, and from Y&R, too. It was a fun morning. My husband [Rob] was in the writers’ room on his show and they were all watching [the announcements]. He said that everyone got up and cheered when they saw [I was nominated].” What are you most looking forward to on Emmy night? “It’s always fun to have a grown-up night out with Rob. To get dressed up is something we don’t do on the regular. And just getting to see everybody and celebrating.”

Dominic Zamprogna (ex-Dante, GH): This is nomination No. 3 for you. How do you feel? “I feel pretty good! The first one was really special to me because my mom had just passed and I felt like, ‘She would have loved this.’ The second one, I felt a sense of achievement and accomplishment. This one means a lot because although I left in May, there’s a sense of home for me in the soap world and at the show. Wherever my career takes me from here, it will always be a major part in my life. And when you put your heart and soul into something, making the cut feels good.” What was on your reel? “The scene with me and Nathan when he’s on his deathbed; the scene with Peter in the interrogation room; a scene with Max [Gail] in the stables; and then we finished it off with the good-bye scene with Lulu when I left.” Who from GH were you in touch with after the news broke? “Maurice [Benard] and I were texting, Maura [West] and I were texting. Tyler Christopher texted me, too, and I am super-excited for Ty because he’s in the Lead category, which is awesome. It’s nice to see him and Mo up against each other, and I’m so happy for Jon Lindstrom, as well. It feels great to be in their company. Same with Max, who’s had just a phenomenal career.” What are you looking forward to about the night? “Just hanging with people from the show. Maurice hasn’t been on the final ballot in a few years and I am really happy for him, so it will be fun to be there with him. We’re a really supportive group; all the nominees from GH are people I’ve had good connections with over the years, so I’m just excited to be there having a good time with those people.