The12th Daytime Emmy Awards were held on Thursday, August 1, 1985, onCBS to commemorate excellence in daytimeprogramming from March 6, 1984, to March 5, 1985. Two new categories were added: Outstanding Young Man in a DaytimeDrama Series and Outstanding Ingenue in a Daytime Drama Series. Of the 13 categories (including Lifetime Achievement) available that year, the broadcast showed the presentation of awards in seven categories.
Broadcast from 3-4:30 p.m., it preemptedGuiding Light andBody Language. The telecast marked the last time the Daytime Emmys would preempt any network programming airing at 4 p.m. EST.