Mathison, Shepherd to host Two Hour Daytime Emmy Awards

Cameron Mathison (ALL MY CHILDREN and DANCING WITH THE STARS) and Sherri Shepherd (THE VIEW) have been tapped to host "The 35th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards," live from Hollywood's Kodak Theater, FRIDAY, JUNE 20 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET -- tape-delayed to the West Coast) on ABC. The announcement was made today by Brian Frons, president, Daytime, Disney-ABC Television Group and executive producers Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss. Frons also announced that the first episode of SOAPnet's new original scripted series, "MVP," which follows the on and off-the-ice drama surrounding the Mustangs hockey team and the women in their lives, will air on ABC at 10:00 p.m., immediately following the Daytime Emmys.

"Cameron and Sherri both have such an inviting way about them. Viewers will feel like they're in the Kodak and part of the excitement and enthusiasm surrounding this year's broadcast," said Frons. "They bring the perfect vibe to the celebratory atmosphere of this show." In commenting about "MVP," Frons said: "the Daytime Emmys are the perfect springboard into SOAPnet's new original series. We have a unique opportunity to leverage the strength of the division and showcase a great new dramatic series to a broad audience that loves serialized drama."

"We are excited to have two of the biggest supporters of daytime programming as our hosts," said Mr. Kirshner and Mr. Weiss. "The audience - both in the Kodak and at home - is in for a very entertaining evening, courtesy of Cameron and Sherri."

Mathison currently portrays Ryan Lavery on ABC's ALL MY CHILDREN, a role he created. He is also the host of SOAPnet's reality show I WANNA BE A SOAP STAR, and was featured as a celebrity dancer on the fifth season of ABC's hit competition series, DANCING WITH THE STARS.

Shepherd is a co-host of ABC's THE VIEW. In addition to stand-up shows and roles in several sitcoms, she had a regular supporting role in the ABC primetime comedy series LESS THAN PERFECT.

If you miss the June 19 premiere of SOAPnet's new original series "MVP," you can catch it on the ABC Television Network at 10:00 p.m., ET/PT on June 20, immediately following the two-hour Emmys broadcast. All-new episodes will premiere Thursdays at 11:00 p.m., on SOAPnet. The pilot episode, entitled "Game On," opens with a shocking tragedy with one of the team's star players and the aftermath that sends shock waves throughout the organization and his family. The series is produced by Screen Door Inc., with Mary Young Leckie and Heather Haldane serving as executive producers.