Regis: Emmy Bridesmaid?

By Stephen M. Silverman

04/29/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

Regis vs. Rosie vs. Barbara, Star, Meredith, Joy, Lisa vs. Donny and Marie. And that's only in one category of the Daytime Emmys, whose nominations were announced Wednesday morning. (The category in question is for talk show host, and if you need to ask the nominees' last names, you shouldn't be reading this.) Actually, Regis Philbin, so far an eight-time loser in that race, now has a couple more chances to change his luck. He's up for two Daytime Emmys: for "Live!" (as a solo host -– no nods for either Kathie Lee Gifford or the newly installed Kelly Ripa) and for being the host of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," despite the fact that the quiz show airs in prime time. When sidekick Ripa asked the once and future Reege this morning on "Live!" whether or not he was excited over his nomination, he replied with a sarcastic "Yeah" before hastily moving on to the show's next guest. Among other high-profile Daytime Emmy nominees, after a one-year absence, Susan Lucci of "All My Children" is back in the race for best soap opera actress. (Lucci won her first Emmy in 1999 after losing in the category 18 straight times) PERIOD. Her competition will be her costars on the show, Julia Barr and Marcy Walker, as well as Martha Byrne of "As the World Turns" and Susan Flannery of "The Bold and the Beautiful" (who took the prize last year). The Daytime Emmys will be dispensed on May 18 from New York's Radio City Music Hall.