Daytime drama veterans and spouses Melody Thomas Scott and Edward J. Scott and PBS cooking show host Lidia Bastianich will be honored for their careers at the 2024 Daytime Emmy Awards next month. The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences will present the trio with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 51st annual ceremony. on June 7th.
“We have long wanted to honor the legendary daytime duo Melody Thomas Scott and her husband Edward J. Scott,” said Adam Sharp, CEO of NATAS. “With a combined 93 years of contributions to our community, they are true institutions in the world of daytime television. Furthermore, Lidia Bastianich’s amazing success combines her love of cooking while entertaining millions of people every day. It’s an honor for us to say this Thanks for the many good dishes she has created from her TV kitchen and her cookbook pages.”
Thomas Scott played Nikki Newman The young and the restless since 1979, with her character evolving from girl from the wrong side of the tracks to the series’ bright and imaginative leading lady. She is a two-time Daytime Emmy nominee and won four Soap Opera Update Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress from 1992 to 1996. In the mid-1960s, Thomas Scott made guest appearances in such popular series as Wagon train, My three sons And Iron side and later The Waltons, Charlie’s Angels And The nanny. Recent primetime credits include guest shots by The crazy ones, Castle And My name is Earl.
Scott is a six-time Daytime Emmy-winning producer who has played an integral role in the development of the soap opera genre for nearly five decades and now serves as executive producer The bold and the beautiful. Upon joining, he began working with the Bell family and Bell-Phillip Television Productions The young and the restless He became an associate producer in 1976, rising quickly and serving as executive producer of the series for decades. Before joining B&BScott was executive producer for Days of our lives.
Bastianich is a Daytime Emmy-winning public television host, cookbook author, restaurateur, chef and food and entertainment company owner. Over the past 25 years she has created cooking programs including Lidia’s Kitchen, Lidia’s Family Table, Lidia’s Italy, Lidia’s Italy in America And Lidia celebrates America. Her most recent book is from last year Lidia is from our family table to yours, a companion to PBS’ Lidia’s Kitchen. Bastianich has won seven James Beard Awards and two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Culinary Host. In 2022, she received the Silver Award from APT for 25 years in public television.
“We are humbled and honored to receive this recognition from NATAS. “Over the course of our decades-long careers in front of and behind the camera, 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 craft and are passionate about the art we create during daytime television.” said the Scots, who have been married since 1985, in a joint statement. “We are grateful to have worked side by side with them and to be among such esteemed recipients who have made a name for themselves in our industry.”
Bastianich said, “It is a great honor to be recognized and receive the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award for sharing my passion for food with television audiences for over 25 years.” Cooking and eating together remains a common denominator of all cultures. Food nourishes, it connects different people and it brings families, friends and strangers together. There is no better place on this earth, especially in these difficult times, than to share food at a table with others. This simple idea was the foundation of my life’s work.”
The 2024 Daytime Emmys will air live on CBS from 8 to 10 p.m. and delayed in the West from the Westin Bonaventure Los Angeles. Paramount+ will stream the ceremony.