LOS ANGELES (AP) - “The Young and the Restless” won best drama at the first virtual Daytime Emmys along with three acting trophies on Friday night, with some winners speaking out about racial injustice.
Ellen DeGeneres accepted the trophy for best entertainment talk show for her self-titled program.
“I intend to use the next two years of my show as a platform for change, to amplify voices of Black people and people of color and to educate my audience,” she said. “More than ever, I feel like this is a responsibility to effect change.”
CBS’ “The Young and the Restless,” whose co-creator Lee Philip Bell died in February at age 91, earned four other trophies in technical categories.
Jason Thompson, who plays Billy Abbott on “The Young and the Restless,” won his first Daytime Emmy for lead actor in a drama series. He becomes the third actor who has played the part to win. David Tom did so in 2000, and Billy Miller won in 2010, 2013 and 2014. Thompson had been nominated five previous times for his stint on “General Hospital,” but didn’t win.
Bryton James of “Y&R” earned supporting actor honors, while Eva LaRue won for guest performer on the show.
“The world is fighting against racial injustice and it’s our responsibility as the human race to educate ourselves and take action, because until we all can acknowledge and empathize with the problem there will always be a problem,” James said from his sofa.
Alex Trebek won best game show host for the second straight year and “Jeopardy!” claimed game show honors. At 79, Trebek continues to preside over the popular quiz show while battling pancreatic cancer.
In March, he announced he had survived one year of treatment. Taping of the show has since been suspended during the coronavirus pandemic, which has affected talk shows and daytime dramas.
Heather Tom of “The Bold and the Beautiful” earned lead dramatic actress honors for her longtime role of Katie Logan. Tamara Braun of “General Hospital” won as supporting actress.
Singer Kelly Clarkson won best entertainment talk show host for the first season of her eponymous show.
The team from “General Hospital” won directing honors, while best writing went to the team from “The Bold and the Beautiful.”
Other winners included ABC’s “The View” for informative talk show and NBC’s “Today” for morning show.
Olivia Rose Keegan of “Days of Our Lives” won for younger actor or actress in a drama series.
The women of “The Talk” - Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, Eve, Carrie Ann Inaba and Marie Osmond - presided over the two-hour telecast on CBS. The 47th annual awards were back on a broadcast network for the first time since 2011 after being relegated to cable or streaming in recent years.
Nominees, presenters and hosts checked in remotely instead of gathering at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, where the show was to be held June 12.
This combination photo shows Heather Tom at the 46th annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Pasadena, Calif. on May 5, 2019, left, and Jason Thompson at the 43rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on May 1, 2016. Tom won an Emmys for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for her role in 'The Bold and the Beautiful,' and Thompson won an Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for his role in 'The Young and the Restless,' at the 47th annual Daytime Emmy Awards. (AP Photo)
This image released by CBS shows the cast of the daytime drama series 'The Young and the Restless.' The long-running daytime drama won the Emmy for outstanding drama series at the 47th annual Daytime Emmy Awards. (Sonja Flemming/CBS via AP)
Alex Trebek, host of the game show “Jeopardy!” JEOPARDY! VIA AP
This image released by NBC shows Kelly Clarkson on the set of her syndicated talk show 'The Kelly Clarkson Show.' Clarkson won an Emmy for outstanding entertainment talk show host for 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' at the 47th annual Daytime Emmy Awards. (Adam Christopher/NBCUniversal via AP)
FILE - In this May 5, 2019 file photo, actor Bryton James arrives at the 46th annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Pasadena, Calif. On Friday, June 26, 2020, James won the award for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series at the 47th annual Daytime Emmy Awards for his role on 'The Young and the Restless.' (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - In this May 5, 2019 file photo, Olivia Rose Keegan arrives at the 46th annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Pasadena, Calif. Keegan won the Emmy for outstanding younger actor in a drama series for her role on Days of Our Lives at the 47th annual Daytime Emmy Awards. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2018 file photo, actress Tamara Braun arrives at the Disney/ABC 2018 Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour in Beverly Hills, Calif. On Friday, June 26, 2020, Braun won the Emmy for outstanding supporting actress for her role in the daytime series 'General Hospital.' (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - In this June 27, 2010 file photo, a view of the stage appears at the 37th annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Las Vegas. The 47th annual Daytime Emmy Awards will air on Friday, June 26 at 8 PM EST/PST. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison, File)
CORRECTS AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTING TEAM FOR A DRAMA SERIES - This image released by ABC shows a scene from 'General Hospital.' The daytime series won the Emmy award for outstanding directing team for a drama series at the 47th annual Daytime Emmy Awards. (Nick Agro/ABC via AP)
This image released by Jeopardy! shows Alex Trebek, host of the game show 'Jeopardy!' The program won outstanding game show at the 47th annual Daytime Emmy Awards. Trebek also won outstanding game show host. (Jeopardy! via AP)
This image released by ABC shows co-hosts of the daytime talk show 'The View,' from left, Sunny Hostin, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, and Meghan McCain. The program won the award for outstanding informative talk show at the 47th annual Daytime Emmy Awards. (Lorenzo Bevilaqua/ABC via AP)
FILE - In this Oct. 13, 2016, file photo, Ellen DeGeneres appears during a commercial break at a taping of 'The Ellen Show' in Burbank, Calif. The program won outstanding entertainment talk show at the 47th annual Daytime Emmy Awards. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)