Jason Thompson Is “Forever Grateful” for His Daytime Emmy Win (EXCLUSIVE)
After five nominations during his run as GENERAL HOSPITAL‘s Patrick Drake, Jason Thompson finally has a long-overdue Daytime Emmy Award win! The daytime star was named Outstanding Lead Actor for his powerful work as Billy Abbott on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS at the 47th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. “I don’t know if it’s really sunk in, yet,” Thompson confided to Soaps In Depth. “But it feels really good to at least be able to represent the show and the network in this kind of way, and obviously it feels good to be recognized by your peers. I’ll take it. I’ve been at it for a while, but at the same time, it’s the best thing to be able to have a job and to be able to do what I love to do with amazing people. It’s a little bit of a cherry on top that I am forever grateful for.”
Unfortunately, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Daytime Emmys were held virtually, which meant no red carpet, no theater full of attendees, and no after parties. Instead, Thompson watched the ceremony with some of the Y&R cast and crew on a group Zoom call. “I wasn’t connected the whole time because we were still kind of running around with the kids making dinner,” he admitted. “But it was so great to see everybody. We realize how much we miss each other when you kind of see their faces but not be able to be with them. So it was really nice to at least get that.”
Plus, Thompson also won the award for cutest acceptance speech, as he gave his thanks while his wife, Paloma, wrangled their four-year-old son, Bowie, and two-year-old daughter, Rome. “It became pretty apparent that I wanted them with me in that we’re no more than a couple feet away for the last couple months, so it would’ve felt a little disingenuous not to have them be a part of that at this point also,” he explained. “I also thought it would be a nice little memory for the family to have as we go forward. So it was fun. I did one without my wife and kids, and then we did one with them, and the one that you saw was the one we did.
“The fact that I got them to sit there for 45 seconds straight, asking them not to say too much would have been impossible,” Thompson added with a laugh. “So one take, that’s all we get. That’s the way that we do our business, man. Just one take!”
While Banjo and Bowie may not have understood what daddy was talking about to the camera, once that golden trophy arrives, it’ll make more sense. “They kind of lived in the excitement,” Thompson said, “but when it goes on the mantel or wherever it goes, I think it’ll be interesting to look back on it and have a little bit of a memory from that night.”
And while Thompson is forever grateful for this honor, even given the unique circumstances of this year’s Daytime Emmys, he’s eager to get back to business. “Looking forward to getting back to work with everybody and trying to win another one next year for the show and just do our job,” he declared. “Get back on there so the fans can have something fresh to watch.”
