Daytime Emmy Award time is the time each year when Daytime shines a light on those they consider to be its brightest lights. Well, around here we know of two of the brightest lights whose work went formally unrecognized this past month. So allow me to rectify that in some small way here and now.

For giving so much of themselves – their time, their abundant talents and abilities, their warm and generous spirits – to two characters we can’t stop talking and writing about – characters we can’t stop watching over and over and over again – thank you to Michael Easton and Renee Elise Goldsberry.

With each line of dialogue you speak, in each and every setting – with a look in your eyes or a simple gesture, with a touch of your hands or a tone of voice, you breathe so much life into the characters John McBain and Evangeline Williamson. Your consistent and dedicated hard work makes so many of us care what happens to these characters – care whether they’re happy or sad, lonely or frightened. We feel each and every ache and pain, each and every moment of joy right along with them. As they rise and fall, so, too, do we. We watch you and we’re swept along into the amazing energy that surrounds John and Evangeline – the true connection.

We are so completely mesmerized and so totally invested in their story that, for us, One Life to Live can’t come on soon enough each day – hoping we’ll be lucky enough to get at least a moment of interaction between John and Evangeline – whether actually on screen before us or only in their hearts. And knowing how you always do so much with even the briefest of scenes, we know we won’t be disappointed if we do. And if it should it turn out that we get more than just the moment we were hoping for, we’re thrilled because with you as John and Evangeline, even though more is still not quite enough, we know from experience that it will still soar to the heights – moving ever onward and upward - taking us along for the ride.

So for making us care so much, for making us buy in so completely, for giving us two richly layered portrayals each and every day – for performances that make great, good, and even not so good dialogue virtually leap off the page, thank you Michael and Renee.

Here’s to you both – for not only all you’ve given us thus far, but for all we know you’ll give us in the future.