Unlucky Lucci
While the Los Angeles branch of the Academy hosts its sensational prime-time awards, the New York branch hosts the less talked-about daytime, sports and news Emmy Awards. Perhaps the most famous face of the daytime awards — and the entire soap-opera world — is Susan Lucci, who has played mercurial Erica Kane on All My Children since Nixon was President. Unfortunately for Lucci, it's not the longevity of her role that has brought her Emmy fame, but rather the epic string of snubs she suffered before finally sealing the deal in 1999. After being first nominated for (and then losing) best daytime actress in 1978, she was nominated and disappointed an additional 17 times over the next two decades. As the presenter opened the envelope that 19th time to announce the winner, he yelled, "The streak is over!" Rosie O'Donnell cried. Oprah threw her hands in the air. And everyone else in the place offered a heartfelt standing ovation as Lucci finally got her hands on the statue. "I truly never believed that this would happen," she told the audience through her tears. Presumably she later partied like it was 1999.