I’ve been lucky to attend many awards ceremonies over the years — mostly the Daytime Emmys and Director’s Guild Awards, which I recapped in this post just before I left to travel the world in 2013 . And I thought my awards show days were behind me until Young & Restless asked me to fill in for a few months… and the timing happened to coincide with this year’s Daytime Emmys. I’d get to relive my soap opera glory days one more time! It’s like going to prom but with WAY more glitz and glamour.

For the first time, this year’s ceremony was held on a stage on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank. We park near the old set of ER (see that fraction of an L train in the photo below?) and hit the red carpet.

The red carpet lies in front of a series of building facades that populate the backlot of every major studio for use in films and TV shows.

Actors to the right, non-actors to the left. (That blonde woman in the teal dress on the right is Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell.)

Posing with my co-workers Robbin and Nancy on the red carpet…

My dress was $30 on eBay (plus $10 for shipping). I was determined to keep things low-maintenance this year by borrowing a clutch / shawl and using shoes and jewelry from past events.

While on the red carpet (and later backstage) I spot two of my favorite soap actors from when I was a teenager — Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn, who play supercouple John & Marlena on Days of our Lives. I was SO into them in high school, running home every day to watch the latest episode recorded on my VCR. It’s surreal to bump into them now — 15 years later! — as a fellow member of the daytime community.

A few more photos from the red carpet… that’s Giuliana Rancic in the red gown below:

Fans in bleachers add energy and excitement by cheering as their favorite soap actors pass by. That’s Kelly Sullivan (who plays Sage on our show and was previously on General Hospital) in the blue gown below.

Now onward to Stage 16!

Robbin and Nancy strike a pose with Lady Emmy:

… and I follow suit:

We’ve stopped so often to take photos that we miss cocktail hour entirely, but this is a lovely set-up. We’re not even at the sound stage yet and we’re already impressed by the effort put into this event. Thanks for making daytime feel special, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences!

So many selfies! Also, I love my co-workers. That’s RC, Paul, Robbin, Nancy, and Jim featured below.

We hop in trams (the same ones used on Warner Bros. tours) to travel the final distance to Stage 16.

At long last, here we are at Stage 16. Let me tell you a little about the history of this space — it’s the tallest soundstage in North America and can accommodate a 2 million gallon water tank (it was raised to its current height of 65 feet in 1935). Classic films shot here include Casablanca, Rebel Without a Cause, My Fair Lady, The Music Man, Camelot, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Ghostbusters, The Goonies, Jurassic Park, several Batman movies, the original Annie, The Perfect Storm, Ocean’s Thirteen, and Inception.

But tonight Stage 16 has been transformed into a perfect space for an awards show. Check out the glamour…

Allow me to introduce you to my co-workers…

1) Ed (script & story coordinator) and Brent (script editor)

2) Production Associates, past and present

3) Amelia (plays Victoria Newman), friend Sarah, and Laura (production coordinator)

4) Jasmine (receptionist), Mandy (writer’s assistant), and Greg (casting associate)

More fabulous co-workers…

1) Josh (associate producer) and Christina (production coordinator)

2) Michael (director), his wife, and me

3) Greg, Laura, and I pose with actor Ray Wise (an Emmy winner for Outstanding Guest Actor on our show)

4) me and Josh (associate producer)

After some schmoozing and a glass or two of champagne, the awards are ready to begin. They air live on the Pop Network, hosted by Tyra Banks.

First award of the night goes to… Y&R’s own Amelia Heinle, for Outstanding Supporting Actress! It’s her second win in two years — congrats, Amelia!

One highlight of the night is when Marie Osmond, Regis Philbin, Tom Bergeron, Charo, and Fred Willard present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Betty White.

Betty White accepts. Isn’t she the best?

And then our actress Hunter King wins for Outstanding Younger Actress — a category she also won last year. Go Hunter!

Hi Deidre Hall! She presents a tribute honoring the 50th anniversary of Days of our Lives, which will happen this November.

Random story: back in the fall of 2005 when I was an intern at the show, I attended the DAYS 40th anniversary party. My how time flies.

The entire DAYS cast takes the stage and receives a standing ovation in honor of this milestone.

Next up is the In Memorium segment — singer Babyface performs during a montage of all those we lost this past year.

Melissa Rivers speaks about her mom Joan. Another standing ovation.

The lovely and talented Eileen Davidson (Ashley, Y&R; Kristen, DAYS; RHOBH) takes the stage to present.

Former Y&R actor Shemar Moore presents the Lead Actress category.

Daytime legends Tony Geary and Genie Francis (GH’s Luke and Laura) present the final award of the night — Outstanding Daytime Drama.

Surprise… there is a tie!

(I don’t get why there are sometimes ties in the Best Show category but oh well… more winners = more fun.)

The first winner is DAYS… congrats! Longtime executive producer Ken Corday (son of creators Ted & Betty) accepts.

And then Luke & Laura return to the stage to announce the second winner of the night… YOUNG & RESTLESS!!

(Forget what I said before about ties being cheesy… I’ll take it!)

Side note: back in 2007, our show tied Guiding Light for Outstanding Daytime Drama. That was the last time I was present for our show winning this top award (although they won it last year outright with no tie).

Our executive producer (my boss!) Jill Farren Phelps accepts on behalf of our entire company, as we all pile onstage.

Just before they announced the second winner in this category, I thought to record video on my little point-and-shoot camera. I’m so glad I did — here’s a short clip of the euphoria in our table section when they call the winner:

Backstage, everyone poses for a group photo:

Group shot of Bryton, me, Nancy, Vanessa, Greg, Jasmine, Kelly, and Tracey:

YRUAPA reunites:

View of the stage from the wings:

By the time we emerge from the backstage photo area, the dinner party is in full swing.

Time to eat!

May I present the main course: steak and salmon with cheesy potatoes and asparagus:

And here’s the dessert — a run bun, fresh fruit, and a decadent chocolate tower:

This marks the end of the awards. Now it’s time to party…

The CBS after party is in Hollywood, but DAYS and General Hospital are hosting their soirées (separately) right on the Warner Bros. lot. I stop by the GH party to say hello to my good friend Allison and her beau Craig.

Then my co-workers and I drive over the hill to the Hollywood Athletic Club, a very cool venue for the CBS after party.

Immediately, I recognize a college friend Joseph who I haven’t seen in nearly a decade — he’s working on Price is Right at the moment. It’s a fun and unexpected reunion!

There is an impressive spread of food — salmon, burgers, etc. — but I’m too stuffed from dinner to eat another bite…

… and then I see the dessert table. I can’t NOT try these fruit cobblers in mason jars, and one of these tasty meringues. #worthit

Fun photos from the night… that’s our accountant Amy on the left, longtime writer Beth Milstein and I in the center, and Nancy on the right.

Greg (casting), Matt (publicist), Nancy, and I pose with our show’s newly won Emmy:

A few more photos of us mugging with the Emmy because… why not? This is special and we embrace it.

CBS has thoughtfully brought in a photo booth. Robbin, Nancy, and I are about to pose when actor Sean Carrigan (who plays Stitch) hops in to join us:

Last up on the agenda is snagging a highly coveted gift bag — CBS has put together a SWEET group of gifts. There are two sets of bags — one black, one blue — and each has different gifts… we have to pick one sight unseen. I opt for blue and here are the contents of my bag: a make-up and nail kit, art.com gift card, necklace by a Beverly Hills designer, gift card for a blow out, $75 gift card to Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chao (I’m most excited about that one), a misfit (like a fitbit but a different brand), a clutch, a purse, and an at-home massage gift certificate. Not to shabby!

That wraps up coverage of the awards. These past few days at work have been extra fun — on Tuesday, we celebrated with a cake on-set.

And in every set this week, our EP Jill has placed the Emmy statue so that when these episodes air in a few weeks our fans can try to spot the Emmy in each scene. Currently, the Emmy sits on my desk as I type this.

Brent is REALLY excited about the Emmy.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this recap. It’s mostly to share with my co-workers, friends, and family, but I think this sort of behind-the-scenes glimpse is fun for everyone.

XOXO, Erica