“The Young and the Restless” icon Melody Thomas Scott, veteran soap opera producer Edward J. Scott and public TV food host Lidia Bastianich are all set to receive Lifetime Achievement awards at this year’s Daytime Emmys. As announced Monday by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the honors will be presented during the 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, held on June 7 and June 8 at the Westin Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles.
Thomas Scott is a Daytime Emmy-nominated actress who has starred as Nikki Newman on “The Young and The Restless” for more than 45 years, having joined the show in February 1979. Meanwhile, her husband, the Daytime Emmy-winning producer Scott, is currently supervising producer for ”The Bold and the Beautiful,” and spent decades as exec producer on “The Young and The Restless.”
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Bastianich is a Daytime Emmy-winning host, cookbook author, restaurateur, chef and owner of her own food and entertainment business. Her series over the last 25 years have included “Lidia’s Kitchen,” “Lidia’s Family Table,” “Lidia’s Italy,” “Lidia’s Italy In America” and the James Beard Award-winning series “Lidia Celebrates America.”
“We’ve long wanted to honor the legendary daytime duo of Melody Thomas Scott and her husband Edward J. Scott,” said NATAS president/CEO Adam Sharp. “With a combined 93 years of contributions to our community, they are true institutions in the world of Daytime television. In addition, Lidia Bastianich’s astounding success combines her love of cooking while simultaneously entertaining millions each day. It is an honor for us to say ‘grazie’ for the many fine meals borne from her TV kitchen and cookbook pages.”
Thomas Scott received her Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in 1999; other kudos include the Soap Opera Digest Award in 2001 and four Soap Opera Update Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress (1992, 1993, 1995 and 1996). Thomas Scott’s early acting gigs in her youth included series such as “Wagon Train,” “My Three Sons,” “Ironside” and a recurring role on “The Waltons,” as well as Alfred Hitchcock’s “Marnie.” She released her memoir, “Always Young and Restless,” in 2020.
Scott began his association with The Bell Family and Bell-Phillip Television Productions when he joined “The Young and The Restless” as an associate producer in 1976. Scott’s credits also include serving as executive producer for NBC’s “Days of Our Lives.” The couple have been married since 1985 and have three daughters and five grandchildren.
In a joint statement, the Scotts said, “Throughout our decades-long careers in front of and behind the cameras, we have had the opportunity to work not only with each other, but also with an incredibly talented pool of people who excel in their crafts and are passionate about the art we create in daytime television. We are grateful to have worked side by side with them and to be included with such esteemed recipients who have made their mark in our industry. We look forward to spending another wonderful evening celebrating the daytime community!“
As for Bastianich, her most recent book is “Lidia’s From Our Family Table to Yours,” released in October 2023 as a companion to PBS’ ”Lidia’s Kitchen.” She earned seven James Beard Awards (Outstanding Chef, Television Food Show, Best Chefs in America, Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America, Specials 2016, Special 2017 and 2018) and two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Culinary Host (2013 and 2018).
“Cooking together and sharing food remain a common denominator of all cultures,” Bastianich said. “Food nurtures, it connects diverse people, and it brings families, friends, and strangers together. There is no better place to be on this earth, especially in these trying times, than sharing food at a table with others. That simple idea has been the basis of my life’s work.”
The 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards will air live on Friday, June 7, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS (delayed on the west coast). The Daytime Creative Arts & Lifestyle Emmy Awards will take place on Saturday, June 8, and streamed on The Emmys apps and at watch.TheEmmys.tv.
NATAS and Associated Television International produce the ceremonies; Adam Sharp and Lisa Armstrong are executive producers from NATAS, while David McKenzie is executive producer from ATI.
