ABC Wins 12 Daytime Emmys; ‘Nye’ Picks Up Four

ABC was the big winner in the preliminary portion of the Daytime Emmy Awards, claiming a dozen prizes overall during ceremonies Saturday, far more than any other network.

In terms of programs, the Disney-produced syndicated educational program “Bill Nye the Science Guy” received four Emmys, including honors as outstanding children’s series. That total was matched only by the ABC soap “One Life to Live” and Warner Bros.’ syndicated “The Rosie O’Donnell Show.”

Presented in New York and Pasadena, the weekend’s awards primarily recognized technical categories such as direction, editing and sound. Most winners in the performer and program balloting will be presented Friday and broadcast in prime time on ABC.

ABC’s tally included a trio of statuettes for its daytime talk program “The View” and a directing Emmy for the prime-time hit “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”--submitted in the daytime competition because there is no category in the prime-time Emmys covering the game-show genre.

Other series awards went to “Martha Stewart Living” as best service show and AMC’s “Film Preservation Shorts” as special class series. James Earl Jones and James Woods also were voted Emmys for their involvement in two children’s programs--the Showtime special “Summer’s End” and ABC’s animated “Hercules,” respectively. --BRIAN LOWRY