Fans Approve of Daytime Emmys In Memoriam: 'How All Awards Shows Should Do It'
Johnny Wactor was included in the 2024 Daytime Emmy Awards in memoriam segment.
With a special tribute presentation, the 2024 Daytime Emmy Awards remembered the stars and legends the industry has lost this year.
A solemn in memoriam segment had the audience in tears during the 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, which took place at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in Los Angeles on Friday, June 7.
The segment consisted of a shorter-than-usual presentation that paid homage to some of the notable individuals who passed away in the first half of 2024. As fans noted online, this year's in memoriam covered less than one year of industry losses due to the 2023 Daytime Emmys being held a few months ago in December, following a delay due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
Among those named in the emotional segment were: longtime TV anchor Sam Rubin, Young and the Restless star Marla Adams, Daytime Emmy-winning soap star Meg Bennett and General Hospital actress Robyn Bernard, among others.
The tribute also included the late General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor, who tragically died at 37 just weeks before Friday's ceremony.
Wactor, known for playing Brando Corbin on the long-running soap opera, was fatally shot on Saturday, May 25, following an attempted catalytic converter theft in Los Angeles, Calif.
Though some fans were confused by names that appeared to be missing in the segment—names that were actually included during the 2023 ceremony in memoriam—most seemed to approve of the presentation.
One fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that they "hope the Oscars take note" of how it was done. "The focus was only on the people who’ve passed and the music underscored it. There was no audio from the ballroom, no singer to focus on, no cutting away. This is how all awards shows should do it.”
“Now this is how you do an In Memoriam!!!" another fan tweeted. "Excellent job #DaytimeEmmys - Hopefully the other award shows take notice of this beautiful, classy, easily visible spotlight honoring those that have passed on! Beautiful presentation.”
“Using this subdued elegant music for the background of In Memoriam was perfect," one fan wrote as another simply said, "“They got the In Memoriam right.”
The 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards presentation aired live on CBS. You can also stream the ceremony live and on-demand on Paramount+.
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