‘Guiding Light’ earns 16 Emmy nominations

updated 1:39 p.m. ET March 18, 2007

NEW YORK - Soon-to-retire game show host Bob Barker has a chance to win his 18th Daytime Emmy.

He received a nomination Wednesday, while the CBS soap opera “Guiding Light” captured a leading 17. Another CBS soap, “As the World Turns,” got 16.

New TODAY host Meredith Vieira was nominated for hosting the syndicated “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and may be recognized in another category: a new award for morning shows such as NBC’s TODAY is being established. Those nominations will be announced in April.

“There’s so much talk and feature material on the morning shows that has never been recognized,” said Peter Price, president of the National Television Academy.

It’s not a judgment that the network morning shows are no longer news programs, Price said. They still will be able to submit material for the News and Documentary Emmys.

The Daytime Emmys ceremony will be telecast 9 p.m. June 15 on CBS.

Barker, 83, will step down as host of CBS’s “The Price Is Right” in June. Besides Vieira, the sentimental favorite will be competing for the best game show host trophy against Alex Trebek of “Jeopardy!,” Pat Sajak of “Wheel of Fortune” and Ben Bailey of Discovery’s “Cash Cab.”

His 17 previous honors include a lifetime achievement award. It may not be his last chance to win, either; since the awards work on a calendar-year basis, he would be eligible again in 2008 for his partial year as host in 2007.

“Sesame Street,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and “The Young and the Restless” each got 12 nominations.

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Two “Guiding Light” cast members, Crystal Chappell and Kim Zimmer, will compete for best actress in a daytime drama. Other nominees: Jeanne Cooper and Michelle Stafford, both of CBS’ “The Young and the Restless,” and Maura West of “As the World Turns.”

With Peter Bergman and Christian LeBlanc, “The Young and the Restless” also had two nominees for best actor. Also in the running: Michael Park of “As the World Turns,” Anthony Geary of ABC’s “General Hospital” and Ricky Paull Goldin of “Guiding Light.”

Rosie O’Donnell, who won six straight Daytime Emmys for best talk show host on her old program, has the chance to return to the winner’s circle again.

She’d have to break a jinx to do it, though. The women of ABC’s “The View” have been nominated for best talk show host nine times without a win.

Other talk show host nominees: Dr. Phil McGraw, DeGeneres, Rachael Ray, Tyra Banks, and Lisa Rinna and Ty Treadway of “Soap Talk.”

The Daytime Emmys were held for 32 years in New York before shifting to the West Coast last year.

Price said both cities were considered this year, but Los Angeles was the only place the academy could find a suitable venue with available dates. It will be held in the Kodak Theatre.

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