News

Y&R's Kristoff St. John Talks His First Lead Actor Daytime Emmy Nomination!

April 4, 2016

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

With his sixth Daytime Emmy nominations, and two Daytime Emmy wins, The Young and the Restless’ Kristoff St. John (Neil) finds himself going for gold on May 1st for the very first time in his daytime drama career in the Lead Actor category. St. John looks to be the sentimental favorite in the most hotly contested contest of the night. If St. John should win, he would be the only actor besides The Bold and the Beautiful’s Heather Tom (Katie Logan Spencer) to have won in every daytime drama acting category: Younger, Supporting, and Lead.

For Kristoff, having recently celebrated his 25th year on Y&R as Neil Winters, is no easy feat, and to have a character as enduring as Neil has been, and that has remained so popular. In addition, Kristoff suffered the most painful loss imaginable with the death of his beloved son, Julian. Pouring his heart and soul into his craft following the tragedy, St. John delivered some of Neil’s darkest hours in a performance that will be remembered for quite some time to come.

On-Air On-Soaps talked with Kristoff to get his reaction to his Daytime Emmy nomination, how he sizes up the competition in the Lead Actor race, what he thought of his nominated work and banner Emmy season, and more. Here’s what he shared:

What scenes did you end up submitting in the final round of voting that landed you a nomination?

Courtesy/CBS

KRISTOFF: It’s always a tough thing to choose from a year’s worth of material … at least it is for me. I had already had my eye on one episode, and whenever we get done with a scene on set, which we would call ‘good’, we hear some nice comments and file that away. Well, I heard that about a scene on an airplane 33, 000 feet above the ground that contained the reveal of Neil’s vision coming back. I went back and looked at it, and it seemed pretty powerful for what we needed. Then I paired it with scenes from another episode where Neil is drunk and Devon (Bryton James) is there, and the two of them are going at it about the whole affair with Hilary (Mishael Morgan) and did he know the entire time. They seemed to have worked well together.

This is your first Lead Actor nomination in your daytime career, too!

Courtesy/CBS

KRISTOFF: I have been in either the Younger Actor or Supporting Actor category throughout my daytime career, and never ‘Lead’. But it was purposeful for much of my run on daytime. It has been a long journey and now I have been with Y&R for 25 years, and so this would naturally be the arc of my daytime Emmy entries – Younger, Supporting and Lead. Should I have been nominated before in Lead Actor? I don’t know. I think these are all very self-congratulatory moments, anyway in our careers. We all get together on Emmy night, share some laughs, have some drinks, and hand out some golden trinkets, and we say to each other, “See you next year!”

Another prerequisite, often times for actors to decide what category to submit themselves in, is if they drove story. Without a doubt in 2015, Neil was front and center.

KRISTOFF: Some of 2014 and 2015 were huge years for Neil. Our head writer, Chuck Pratt Jr. wrote me off of the page. I have only had four or five years of working over my guarantee, and Chuck was responsible for two of them, which is why I was able to pull these episodes out for the lead category.

Courtesy/CBS

I remember watching your now Emmy-nominated scenes when they first aired. Neil let everyone on the plane know he could see … and he knew how duplicitous Devon and Hilary were being for their affair. He was so angry, and he let everyone have it, just before the plane crashed.

KRISTOFF: If we go back to 2015, that was without question, one of the most difficult years of my life. Having lost my son Julian in November of 2014, I was embroiled in the middle of this story. I was still playing blind on the show and the angst and the pathos. It was years of having a relationship with a human being that I called my son, and it was cut off at the pass and destroyed. Being able to use some of those emotions as an actor is a treasure in an unfortunate way and circumstance. I had never had that kind of emotion to work with before, and it was absolutely terrifying for me.

Then later Neil became quite the villain! Viewers have never seen good guy Neil take such a left turn in his character, but it made for compelling drama.

Courtesy/CBS

KRISTOFF: Neil had never been down the dark corridors such as with the blind storyline and then ultimately coming out of that and going further down in the rabbit hole, and then having taken the life of another human being … a baby. That was a weird parallel universe in itself – having someone die in Neil’s world and having the same tragedy happen in real life. It was cathartic to go to work and throw myself into heavy drama, which I had not gotten to play in a long time.

In what is probably the most hotly contested race of the 43rd Annual Daytime Emmys, you are up against four extraordinarily talented actors in the Lead Actor category. What do you think of your co-nominees?

Courtesy/ABC

KRISTOFF: Tony Geary (Luke, GH) is an icon, and a legendary man and actor. He has been doing daytime for decades, and this would be his ninth Emmy win, and he would tie with Cloris Leachman for all-time Emmys wins by an actor, if he won. To be in the category with Mr. Geary with this his final year is an honor. I know Tony. He is one of the very few actors who can take anything you give him, or thrown at him, and he will take it turn it into gold. He has been fortunate to have incredible head writers and writers at General Hospital that have written specifically for him and that has been a gem for Tony. Then there is Tyler Christopher (Nikolas) at General Hospital, who has submitted one of the best tapes of his life. I watched the Lead Actor tapes in the Pre-Nom round. Tyler’s tape is one of thee best I have seen. I t was one of the most incredible storylines to be a part of potentially losing his child. Again, it’s something meaty to play. Justin Hartley (Adam, Y&R), who has come on to our show with a bang is such an organic actor. He lives moment by moment, I really admire that. To watch an actor pull from so many different places sometimes it’s inspiring. I find myself watching his scenes closely. And then there is Christian LeBlanc (Michael, Y&R)! What can I say? He is a three-time Emmy winner, and like Tony he has been up on the podium multiple times. He has been there, because of his body of work and year end and year out, Christian delivers. We were up against each other in 1999, and we lost to Shemar Moore (Ex-Malcolm, Y&R) that year! So we are both in this horse race. I am so happy and thrilled to be invited to the dance.

Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

If you were to win the Daytime Emmy this year, it would be extra special for many reasons, personal and professional, as we have discussed. But there is yet another interesting bit of Emmy trivia that could change with a St. John victory!

KRISTOFF: Yes, and I’ve to throw this in. It’s been 31 years for an African-American male to win in the Lead Actor category. The last man to do this was Darnell Williams (Ex-Jesse, AMC) in 1985, and before that the late Al Freeman Jr. (Ex-Ed Hall, OLTL) in 1979. And it has been since 1991 when James Reynolds (Abe, DAYS) was nominated for Generations that an African-American actor was even nominated in the Lead Actor category. If I win, it would be the first time in 31 years for that, and while it would feel great, it does make me pause. I mean, were there not any other years where an African-American could have made the final cut for Lead Actor? It’s one to think about, but not for too long.

For more with this year’s Daytime Emmy nominees listen to Soap Nation Live! with Michael Fairman Daytime Emmy Nomination Special 2016.

So, what do you think about the thoughts shared by Kristoff and his reaction to his Daytime Emmy nomination in the Lead Actor category? After an emotional rollercoaster of a year, would you like to see Kristoff win for his Emmy submission? What did you think of Kristoff’s analysis of the competitors in his category, and what did you think of Kristoff’s performance in his Emmy-nominated scenes? Is it hard to imagine that no other African-American actor has won Lead Actor in the last 31 years? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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As The World Turns

Jon Lindstrom and Cady McClain Announce They Have Ended Their Marriage

April 27, 2024

After much speculation, General Hospital’s Jon Lindstrom (Kevin) and Cady McClain (ex-Jennifer, DAYS, ex-Rosanna, ATWT, ex-Dixie, AMC et al) have officially confirmed and announced they have gone their separate ways and have ended their marriage.

For months on social media, it was clear that the two were seemingly apart, not appearing pictured in any of each others posts.

Now, on a mutually shared Instagram post, Jon and Cady made an official statement on the status of their relationship, beginning with “Cady and Jon here. We are taking this opportunity to make a short statement about our relationship status. It may be obvious to some based on our posts that we’ve taken some time apart. After serious consideration we have decided that our goals have been taking us in different directions and to end our marriage.”

Photo: JPI

As to the future, Jon and Cady explained, “We remain friends and wish each other every happiness. As people who work in the public eye, it can be difficult to have a private life. Regardless, we ask for your kind consideration in this matter.”

Jon and Cady met when they both appeared on As the World Turns, he as Craig Montgomery, and she as Rosanna Cabot. After four years together, the couple decided to get married in 2014.

Share your well-wishes for Jon and Cady’s separate futures as they ask for privacy on this matter in the months ahead via the comment section below.

News

Y&R Stars Pay Tribute and Remember Marla Adams

April 27, 2024

The Young and the Restless is in mourning following the news of the passing of longtime star, Marla Adams (Dina Mergeron) who passed away at the age of 85. Adams died on Thursday April 25th in Los Angeles.

Since her passing, several tributes and heartfelt remembrances have been shared on social media. The official Y&R Instagram expressed. “On behalf of the entire company of The Young and the Restless, we send our deepest sympathies to Marla’s family after her passing. We’re so grateful and in awe of Marla’s incredible performance as Dina Mergeron as both Marla and Dina made an unforgettable mark on Y&R.”

Several of Marla’s former co-stars took to the IG post and more to share their remembrances. Adams took home a Daytime Emmy in 2021 for her performance in 2020, as Dina finally succumbs to Alzheimer’s disease in several memorable scenes.

Photo: JPI

Here’s what some of Marla’s co-stars expressed:

Eileen Davidson (Ashley): “Marla will be missed. What a great honor to work with her in the storyline where Dina had Alzheimer’s. Love you Marla ❤️❤️❤️❤️”

Melissa Ordway (Abby): “Marla will be greatly missed”

Beth Maitland (Traci): “The earth stopped turning for a moment when my Marla passed to eternity. Rest now, my Muti and soar with the angels.”

Photo: JPI

Greg Rikaart (Kevin) :“Marla was just the loveliest. Rest well. ❤️”

Bryton James (Devon): “Marla will be missed and loved forever 🧡 My deepest condolences to the family”

Jason Thompson (Billy): “❤️ Marla Adams”

Photo: JPI

Michael Damian (Danny): May god be with you aways Marla! 🙏❤️

Lauralee Bell (Christine): “So sorry to hear. Marla was such a bright light and so talented! My condolences to her family.”

Kate Linder: (Esther shared on X): My heart and love go out to the friends and family of #MarlaAdams. It has been an honor to have known and worked with her for many years! She will be sorely missed.”

Michael Fairman TV will update this post as more tributes are posted.

What do you think about the sentiments shared by Marla Adams’ co-stars as they mourn the loss of, for some, their TV mom? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Interviews

(INTERVIEW) B&B’s Annika Noelle Reveals Her Lead Actress Emmy-Nominated Scenes, and the Ups and Downs of a Tough Year

April 27, 2024

When the nominees were announced last week for the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards, six women wound up in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category and that included The Bold and the Beautiful’s Annika Noelle (Hope Logan) who had quite the heavy on-screen story.

For months, Hope initially tried to hold her marriage to Liam (Scott Clifton) together, gave into her passion for Thomas (Matthew Atkinson), and became a stronger more independent woman in the process. Noelle was previously nominated in 2020 in the Outstanding Supporting Actress category, but this marks her first-time presence in the highly-coveted Lead Actress race.

On Friday, April 26th, The Bold and the Beautiful celebrated their leading 12 nominations, as well as being the show with the most acting nominations going into the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards set to air live on Friday, June 7 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

Photo: JPI

During the on set celebration, when B&B’s Emmy-nominated executive producer and head writer, Brad Bell, introduced each of the acting nominees, they took a moment to address their colleagues, and for Annika, her speech was touching and emotional. She expressed, “I’m so grateful to Brad Bell for believing in this dark brunette, and allowing me to be a part of this family. And when we say that we’re a family, it’s not just because we get along. It is really because we are here for the majority of the year with each other. I know for a lot of people, 2023, was a difficult year. The thing about this beautiful show is that it was my constant, and it’s what I could depend on during a tough year. And there are beautiful days like this when you come in and everything in your life is going amazingly. And then, there are days where your world is falling apart. And the crew, honestly, you guys kept me afloat this year and that’s why this is so meaningful to me.”

Photo: MFTV Inc

Annika added, “I don’t think I could have gotten through this year without the love and support from this family. So, thank you for being there for me on days that I needed the strength and you gave that to me. I’m so grateful to my co-stars and who I get to share these beautiful scenes with. I just wanted to say, I appreciate all of you and thank you so much. You all mean more to me than you will ever know.”

Michael Fairman TV caught up with Annika immediately following the Emmy nominee celebration, to her thoughts on this momentous occasion in her professional life and what it means to her personally, plus what did she choose for her scenes when Hope had such, shall we say, a torrid year of story to choose from. Here’s what she shared below.

Photo: JPI

Dare I say, I called this nomination for you? Back on New Year’s Eve, I revealed My “Best Of” Picks for 2023 and I had you as the Best Overall Performance by an Actress for the year, and alongside your fellow nominee, Cynthia Watros (Nina, GH), to boot!

ANNIKA: Thank you for believing in me that I could do it.

How did you to tackle your Emmy-nominated reel and what you were hoping to showcase?

ANNIKA: I was just so grateful to have the story to be able to pick from, and to really try to show the character growth and the arc of everything that happened to Hope Logan in the past year. For me, I really wanted to take the voters on a journey from her really being heavily influence by everyone’s opinions and everyone else’s voices, to her really coming into her own and going, “I don’t care if it’s the right or wrong choice, it’s my choice.”

Photo: JPI

What scenes did you end up submitting the landed you this Lead Actress Emmy nomination?

ANNIKA: I started with this great scene that our producers, Casey Kaspryzk and Rachel Herman actually remembered, where Hope walks in on her mother in her lingerie flirting with Ridge. And they remembered that scene. So, that really launched us off to Hope being kind of in this deep denial of, “I’m nothing like you. I’m not going to follow in your footsteps. I don’t have feelings for Thomas.” Cut to Liam confronting her about watching her give into her desires in Rome. And him saying, “Where were you Hope? At the Colosseum?” and then kind of in a roundabout full circle way, Brooke finding Thomas and Hope in bed together and then Hope really kind of going toe to toe with her mother. Then, ending with her kind of fully coming into her own as a woman and saying, “You wanted a divorce, Liam, here’s your divorce.” I really wanted to show the journey of her finding her own voice and advocating for her own choices and finding that inner strength, basically.

Photo: JPI

Was choosing the reel difficult given you had so much material within the 2023 calendar year of eligibility to consider?

ANNIKA: It was hard to pick and choose. There were a few I ended up leaving out. There was a really beautiful scene with Thomas where she realizes he overheard her kind of talking ill of him. That one was really hard to let go of. I was also considering another scene with Liam where they actually signed the divorce papers. I’m just so grateful to even be able to have the material to choose from.

Photo: JPI

How did you find out you were nominated?

ANNIKA: Eva Basler, our VP of Communications & Talent Relations, called me and it meant so much to me to get that call from her. I tend to get nervous and have anxiety, so that day I just had to not think about it. So, I was out on a walk with my love, and my dog. We’re just in the middle of a cul-de-sac and my phone starts ringing. And it was the best surprise ever! Then, when I found out that Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke, B&B) got nominated alongside me, I immediately FaceTimed her. It was the funniest thing because she literally picks up and she is wearing a sun visor and sunglasses wrapped up on top of a horse as she’s in the middle of a mountain and in a valley on this beautiful white horse. It was the most picturesque thing.

Photos: ABC, JPI, NBC

I believe you know some of the women you are nominated with, obviously Katherine, but also Tamara Braun (Ava, Days), Finola Hughes, (Anna, GH), Cynthia Watros (Nina, GH) and Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, Y&R). What are your thoughts on these nominees?

ANNIKA: Well first, I’m just so excited to be in this category with the other women. Tamara Braun, who I was nominated with previously in the Supporting Actress category I’m excited that she’s in this category with me. Michelle Stafford, who I see in the hallway all the time, is great, and Finola Hughes, I’m just like obsessed with from afar. I even watched her on Watch What Happens Live! Cynthia, I hear her work is tremendous, and with Katherine, I’m just really grateful to get to share this with her. To be honored amongst these legends of daytime is amazing. Just to be seen in that way, that means more to me than anything.

Photo: JPI

You mentioned during B&B’s on-set Emmy celebration that this past year was a difficult one for you, and that everyone at the show really helped you through it. What meaning would winning the Emmy hold for you?

ANNIKA: That would be overwhelming. I wouldn’t even know how to describe it – an honor, a privilege, a blessing? It would mean the world to me, especially after this past year. That’s why it’s so significant, because even on the darkest days, the storms passes. You just have to hold on for that brighter day.

So, what did you think about the scenes Annika submitted for Lead Actress? Were they some of your favorite moments from the Emmy season? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.