by Suzy Byrne, Producer (see more from this contributor)

Though we've attended the Daytime Emmys before and worked the backstage press room, this year was our very first time down on the bustling red carpet, and we weren't disappointed.

The red carpet ran the length of a New York City block, from the Sheraton Hotel to Radio City Music Hall, on 51st Street. Just beyond the steel barriers cordoning off the red carpet were daytime television fans, lining the streets in hopes of catching a glimpse of their favorite stars. And the handsome men and women of daytime loved their public ‑- they waved to the shouting fans, posed for photos and a few even hopped over the barricades to shake hands with admirers.

Armed with a camera, tape recorder and lots of yummy chocolate to woo the talent (courtesy of b.sweets), we rolled up our sleeves and got to work, snapping photos and chatting up your favorite stars to bring you the juiciest celebrity dish. You can check out the results of our efforts in our splashy Daytime Emmy photo slide show. (Don't miss the photos of Ellen and Portia, Antonio Sabato Jr. and the one and only Susan Lucci!) In addition, we thought we'd share our own highlights and lowlights from the red carpet. So here's our personal best and worst list...


Best Newcomer

Days of Our Lives' Martha Madison, who plays Belle, has talked a lot about how lucky she is to have a gig on daytime. After all, she's been a big soap fan her whole life. "I've been a nervous wreck all day," she confided, "but it's really fun. I'm having a good time."


Best Teens

The Bold and the Beautiful's Kayla Ewell and Drew Tyler Bell, both 19, were dressed to the nines and impressed us with their ease during our interview. "This is our second time here," explained Kayla. "The first time we were just shocked about how many fans came to stand on the streets. This time we're a little more prepared. Everyone screams your name, and you love it."


Worst Accessory

Ugh! Guiding Light's Crystal Hunt would have been okay in just her purple dress. But the teen decided to torture her poor pooch, toting it around like a handbag and draping it in purple fabric. Even though the fabric was Versace, it still rated low in our book.

Best Smile

The Food Network's Rachael Ray, who hosts $40 a Day, in which she travels to various destinations and attempts to eat three meals for just $40, has the best job, and we told her so. "I know I do," said the chef, winking. "I'm so lucky." Perhaps that's the reason why she's always beaming.


Best Intentioned

Grand dame Susan Flannery (left), who has starred on B&B since it debuted in 1987, doesn't do much press, so over the years she has earned a reputation for being a toughie. But in our brief encounter, she dazzled us. Not only did she ask us how we were holding up in the chilly weather (how sweet!), she told us how she took all the lead-actress nominees out to lunch the day before, then she flagged down and hugged Hillary B. Smith, who stars on a competing network.


Worst New Look

Hunter Tylo, what have you done? The B&B star, who just returned to the show, has always been one of the great beauties of daytime. But her recent makeover has left us... stiff.


Best Conversationalist

B&B's Maeve Quinlan is one of the most down-to-earth stars you'll ever meet. She stopped by to tell us her plans for the weekend, which included checking out the Broadway show Spamalot, starring her pal Hank Azaria. Also on tap? "Drinking, drinking and drinking," she laughed.


Best Compliment

The answer is... TV's biggest flatterer. Who is Alex Trebek? That's right! While we were thinking up an interesting question for the silver-haired Jeopardy! host (and trying to phrase it in the form of an answer, of course), he came over to tell our reporter that he liked her eyes, winning her -- and us -- over instantly.


Worst Diss

All My Children's Aiden Turner was happy to stop and strike a pose for us, but his poor girlfriend got the shaft. We said we'd love to have her in the picture too, but he shrugged off our request. Guess there's only one star in that household.

Best over 40

Catherine Hickland, who was recently let go from One Life to Live, keeps getting better and better with age. Pushing 50, the Cat Cosmetics founder looked glamorous on the arm of her dashing husband, All My Children's Michael E. Knight.


Best Pose

Kimberlin Brown has been one of our favorites ever since she played psycho Sheila on The Young and the Restless and B&B. But as she raced down the carpet just before show time -- on the arm of her new OLTL costar Robert S. Woods -- we were nervous that we wouldn't be able to get her snapshot. Ever the classy lady, Kimberlin was halfway down the carpet when she stopped and struck a quick pose for us. We appreciated it.


Worst Entourage

When we saw a slew of burly bodyguards making their way down the red carpet, we thought, Is it P. Diddy? How about Britney and K. Fed? But, alas, it was a grumpy Aretha Franklin, who we couldn't get to stop for us -- or to even crack a smile -- despite our best efforts.


Best Paparazzo

One of the cameramen on the red carpet looked pretty familiar. It was none other than Ron Hale, who plays Sonny's dad on General Hospital. Ron was chillin' on the sidewalk videotaping people, which cracked up his costars when they spotted him. As they say, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.


Best Veteran

James Mitchell, who's 85, has played prickly Palmer Cortlandt on AMC since 1979. And we must say that he was as cute as ever, slowly making his way down the carpet at least an hour before show time with friend and former costar Gillian Spencer (who played Daisy Cortlandt). He even stopped to strike a pose for us, but not before warning us that it had to be quick because he had to get to his seat.


Worst Fashion Moment

Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who returned to The View last week after her maternity leave, had a fashion emergency on the red carpet. A team of about four scrambled to fix her dress as her hubby, NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck, looked on.