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Y&R's Justin Hartley Chats On The Making Of His Daytime Emmy Nominated Performance In The Adam Reveal!

Courtesy/CBS

Courtesy/CBS

Since taking over the role of Adam Newman on The Young and the Restless, Justin Hartley had won over the viewing audience with his strong, subtle and complex portrayal.

Now he is going for gold in the upcoming 43rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards.  And for the first time in his career, Justin is competiting in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama series category for his star turn in the Adam reveal. While there were so many tentacles to this story and the fallout of the reveal, Hartley sat down with On-Air On-Soaps to talk about his decision to use the scenes where Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) learns Gabriel Bingham is really her believed-to-be-dead husband, Adam.  The two-person scenes won praise from Y&R fans, soap pundits and now from Hartley’s peers.

In our spotlight Emmy nomination chat, Justin fills us in on the making of one of the most memorable moments in daytime and if winning is everything come Emmy night!

When you found out you were nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor were you expecting it, surprised, or shocked?

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

JUSTIN:  I don’t know how these things work and this is my first time being nominated.  It’s so subjective, and you never know how these things will go.  I was very humbled to be nominated.  It’s funny, the way it shakes out when you look at some of the people who were not nominated that are phenomenal, not only do they deserve to be nominated, but win, in fact.  That sort of came to my mind first of all.  We were on set when I found out, and I think Christian LeBlanc (Michael) started telling everyone who was nominated.

You submitted the Adam reveal to Chelsea.  What made you choose that episode? Did you have any help deciding on it?

JUSTIN:  I am horrible at picking, and it’s such an interesting thing to pick out stuff that you do and then deciding what’s good, and not good.  I sort of took it out of my own hands, and I asked Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea) what I should do.  She came back with the Adam reveal episode where Cheslea finds out who Gabriel Bingham really is.  Truthfully, I think Melissa and I submitted the same thing.  I think I just submitted her reel! (Laughs)

You did not choose any other scenes in your submission, even though you could chose scenes from up to two episodes, lasting 20 minutes in length total with the revised rules this year.

JUSTIN:  I think 20 minutes is a lot to ask people to sit through, and so I just went with the one episode.  Missy’s feeling was you just tell the arc of the story, and then when people are watching it their not watching your resume, but they actually get to watch a story.

Why did you like the Adam reveal scenes?

Courtesy/CBS

JUSTIN:   I think it’s a story that the show spent a lot of time and effort writing and telling and sort of weaving little stories in and out throughout the year and a half.  Then I just thought it was a good payoff for the audience, and I thought we did a good job with those scenes.   Missy is just so easy to work with.  She’s connected, she is right there.  And as an actor, if you ever find another actor who says they never slip out of a moment, I think they are lying to you.  But when you do slip out, the goal is to slip right back in.  If I find myself in my own head, all I have to do is look at Missy and connect with her.  So many of the actors on this show are like that.   They are so into the moment that all you have to do is really be there with them.

At the time you filmed those keys scenes; did you realize the enormity of it? That this was one of the biggest moments in Y&R in quite some time that audience had been waiting and waiting for?

JUSTIN:  I think the writers new how big of a deal the reveal was.  They were very good at letting us do our thing.  Missy and I sat with it for awhile and there were a few things that we tweaked.  It’s been my experience on the show that you can do that as long as you don’t shift story.

What was your rehearsal process with Melissa?  Did the two of you work and work on the scenes?

Courtesy/CBS

JUSTIN:  Missy and I rehearsed these scenes quite a bit, but not on set.   Those scenes got off to such a clunky start. They gave us extra time to do them … I think it was the whole afternoon.  Then we got to set there were mic problems, camera problems, and there were all kind of problems. It was just so strange, and as I said, it was such a clunky start to it that I think it gave some levity to it, and it lightened everyone up a little bit to sort of realize, we are still shooting a television show so let’s have fun.  So it became this really quiet sort of peaceful, really delicate, hands-off experience.  Everything was so quiet in there.  We were the only two people talking.   They would come down to us with notes, and then we blocked all of the scenes before we shot them.  We just sort of new what we were doing, and so it was sort of a dance.  It was really the closest thing to a play that I’ve had since I have been here, because it’s just one after another, after another, after the other, and the whole story got told.  You could see that they started here and there was a middle and an end.

When you look at your competition in the Outstanding Lead Actor category, what are your thoughts on your co-nominees?

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

JUSTIN:  I think we are all different.  I can’t speak to anything except for the fact than I don’t think people get nominated by accident.  There is a gentleman in the nominations: Anthony Geary (Luke, GH) who had been nominated like 367,000 times. (Laughs)  We are all different performers and we all do different things.  I have seen all the nominated performances, and every one is so different.

A lot of people often say, “It’s an award enough just to be nominated.”  How do you feel about that?  Do you want to win the Emmy? 

JUSTIN:   I would be very happy to win and I want to win, of course.  I think everybody wants to win.  Being nominated is great and being on Y&R is great, and winning would probably be great.  Winning’s fun!

Watch Justin’s nominated performance below and then let us know: if you thought the Adam reveal was one of the best moments on Y&R last year?  Did you enjoy hearing Justin’s perspective on working with Melissa Claire Egan on the key scenes? And are you going to be rooting for Justin to take home a gold statue come Emmy night?  For more with this year’s Daytime Emmy nominees, listen to the Soap Nation Live! with Michael Fairman Daytime Emmy Nomination Special.

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Absolutely gripping scenes watching them again here as they were on screen. A win hopefully for Justin, who brings his ‘all’ to the role of Adam Newman. Great choice by casting when he was auditioning for the role.

Justin Hartley is one of the all time best recasts in soaps. I’d really like to see him win the Emmy.

That was a fantastic scene. Justin Hartley is a great actor. I wish that the award show would be televised so all of these daytime fans could enjoy it.

I agree. Why isn’t it on tv??

I really did not care much for this character, however when Justin took over I gain more interest in watching the Y&R. I have been watching ever since the 80’s where I lived in the Caribbean. Justin plays a wonderful character everyone can relate too, where you go with the waves in doing what’s best for you, just like our everyday life experiences. Adam Newman has grown up a bit more, which is great, and has attracted more viewer ever since his character (played by Justin) has returned to the show. You are the reason I watch the show after a busy day at work. It’s the one thing I look forward too before I end my day. Thank you 🙂 CJ

Mellissa Claire Egan got snubbed by the Emmys she gets no respect at all by the biased Emmys voting .

Absolutely!!!!!!

I feel the same way. I mean, what DIDN’T she do this year?

I think Justin chose the best scene s, for him to win. He surely deserves to win as he is an outstanding actor, and very good to look at too.
I think he did an outstanding job taking over the role of Adam Newman. I’m an avid fan since Y & R came on the air. Noone wanted that role given to anyone else, until Justin stepped onto the scene. He was fabulous as Adam, love him!!!

Amen!!!!

Justin is remarkable in these scenes, but there were so many others just as good.He is a wonderful actor & has become a real favorite of mine.I like the other actors too, but Justin has my vote….& thank you Michael, for another great interview… 🙂

I loved the scenes where ‘Gabe’ tells Chelsea he is really Adam. I was right there crying along with them. Justin and Melissa are just pure magic. Every day is a very good day when I get to see Justin and Melissa on my t.v. screen.

I am watching this again and again I am teared up. I love him!!!

Donna & Karen…loving the ability to replay nominees tapes again. Amazing how much more subtle things you see you missed the first time around.

I hope Justin will get it, they probably will give it to Anthony Geary again. Not that he isn’t a great actor, but Juston deserves it just for filling the shoes of MM. They were big shoes to fill and Justin did it. Excellent recast and he definitely deserves the win.
Also as a fan of the soaps I’m am greatly disappointed that it will not be televised, these are hard working actors and they deserve their awards show just as much as any other actor. Not fair to them and not fair to the fans.

You know an actor is really good when there are any number of scenes you can recall that are Emmy caliber. That’s how I feel about Justin Hartley’s work this year. From the scenes with Ian Ward to his testimony against Victor, he continues to be a true original: creative, unpredictable, funny, consistent. That’s why I hope he wins this year.

I hope Justin gets it too. If it goes by the reels that we’re handed in then he will win. I think the others we’re ok but a real winner to me is someone who you want to watch over & over again and that’s Justin Hartly for sure.

If he doesn’t win this year he should win next year if he submits those scenes where Adam tells Chelsea that Christian was his baby and that he had to hide his grief over his death— that scene was Emmy gold for sure.

I hope he wins.

really really hope Justin win . definitely an Oscar winning performance ……

Really hope he wins.

He gets my vote.

Good luck Justin I do hope you win.

News

Robin Strasser Meets Kristen Alderson’s Baby Kiera in a One Life to Live Reunion

For years, Robin Strasser (ex-Dorian) and Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) have been the best of friends and the best of co-stars. On One Life to Live, Kristen was only six-years-old when she began her journey as Todd and Blair’s daughter and met the iconic Strasser.

Now in 2024, Kristen is a new mom to her baby girl, Kiera. Strasser, who lives in New York, along with her best friend, John, traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just a few days ago to visit the Alderson family and spend the day with Kiera.

Taking to her Instagram a very happy Kristen shared, “Look at who came to visit today! Robin & her bestie John! Robin and I got all misty eyed when she met Kiera today!”

Photo: JPI

In a very touching part of her post, Alderson expressed, “Robin is such a special person in my life, it means so much to me that we’re as close as we are. She’s just the best❤️ A great day of laughs & a great brunch spread😍”

Robin added, “I’ve been smiling since I met her. I’m a big softie for babies, but what a doll Kiera is!” The Daytime Emmy-winning star, also shared, “I’m so grateful for my ongoing friendship with Kris and Kathy. Amazing women and loyal friends!”

What do you think about Kristen and Robin’s enduring friendship and recalling their time on One Life to Live? Comment below.

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General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

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