The first presenter of the evening, Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman, The Young and the Restless), read the names of the nominees. Scott, dressed in a gown that resembled the American flag, tickled reporters with claims that Betsy Ross had designed her dress.
When Scott read Duhamel's name as the Emmy recipient, it came as special reward to Duhamel because he grew up with his mother watching The Young and the Restless.
Duhamel, visibly moved by his win as tears streamed down his cheek, didn't immediately race to the stage to claim his golden statue. Instead, he ran away from the stage and into the waiting arms of his mother who was seated in the rear of the theater.
During his acceptance speech, Duhamel took a friendly jab at a co-star and fellow nominee.
"I'm just so grateful that I finally beat Cameron Mathison (Ryan Lavery, All My Children) at something for once in my life," Duhamel grinned. Duhamel revealed that Mathison continually bests him in their weekly golf outings.
Despite roles on Santa Barbara and One Life to Life, this was the soap veteran's first Emmy nomination.
Early buzz had Chappell as a frontrunner in the category, but the actress admits that hearing the pre-show chatter was a bit unnerving.
"I wish I hadn't heard anything. I was practicing my losing faces -- just to keep it in perspective," Chappell told reporters.
There was definitely a maternal bond in the Supporting Actress field as four of the five nominees had given birth in the past year.
"I've gotten quite comfortable with my bitch," Chappell joked when asked if it was difficult to play a less-than-squeaky-clean character. The actress says that her Guiding Light role is possibly her favorite soap role and that playing a villainess provides much more opportunity than the typical soap opera heroine.
And where exactly will Chappell put her new Emmy?
"I'll build a house for it in the country," laughed Chappell.
