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B&B’s Katherine Kelly Lang & ‘This Is Us’ Mandy Moore Deliver The ‘Power Performances of the Week’

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: CBS/NBC

The top honors for the most notable performances for the past week, this time go to one actress on daytime and one actress on primetime.  Both gave us compelling, heartfelt, and at-times gut-wrenching work within the confines of their storylines.

On The Bold and the Beautiful, Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke), continues to be a standout in one of the most aggravating storylines (Sheila getting away with dismantling Brooke’s life with booze to the point where there is a quickie reunion of Taylor and Ridge) and through it is giving the audience some of the best work of her entire 35-year-run on the CBS soap,

On Friday’s episode, Brooke tells Ridge she is giving him a divorce to make him happy, and with tears flowing she says she will never forgive herself for what happened on New Year’s Eve (getting drunk and then kissing Deacon). She goes on to tell Ridge that she wishes to God that she deserved his love, but she doesn’t. Brooke says she knows she has self-destructive tendencies. Ridge tells Brooke none of this makes him happy, but he does walk out on Brooke, and head to Taylor, leaving a devastated Brooke in a puddle of tears and her life torn to pieces.  Be on the lookout for Lang to be a major contender for a Daytime Emmy nomination for her work in the 2023 Daytime Emmy race.

Meanwhile, NBC’S This Is Us is quite the soap in our minds. The primetime drama, which is in its sixth and final season, is going to wrap up its run in 10 more episodes. However, this past Tuesday saw once again just how the unsung hero of the show, Mandy Moore, can play three different times in the life of Rebecca with such ease and such believability.

Moore out did even herself in the episode entitled “Taboo”.  In the present time, Rebecca, who we know has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, tells her children (Randall, Kevin and Kate), following Thanksgiving dinner, the provisions she wants the family to take when she can no longer understand or make choices for herself, or the end of her life nears.  First, Rebecca makes her children verbally acknowledge and agree that Miguel will be in charge of the decisions and her care.  However, if something happens to Miguel before she dies, she wants Kate to be in charge and the decision-maker of her care.  Then, Moore makes us reach for the hankies telling her kids : “You will not make your life smaller because of me, I am your mother, and I am sick, and I am asking you to be fearless.” She then needs them all to say they will do as she says, and in tears all three kids do just that. Later, Kate asks Rebecca why she chose her to be in charge of her care. Rebecca replies, “You are my daughter and my best friend. It was always you, Kate.”  And if you think that’s all Moore did in the episode … wrong!

Earlier in the episode, as the series goes to a flashback of her younger days after Jack’s death, we see how Miguel and Rebecca try to fight their growing attraction to each other, and how Miguel did not want to betray her ex-husband and his best friend, by following through on his feelings for her.

On the porch, following another Thanksgiving, Miguel tells a stunned Rebecca he’s moving to Houston, where he’s got a new job and will be closer to his kids.  Rebecca’s eyes immediately well-up in tears.  Miguel expresses, in tears too, “I feel like I’ve been staying around because… it’s time Rebecca. Now that you’re back up on your feet, it’s time for me to go.”  Rebecca is gutted and a younger Kate finds her mom crying on her bed and goes to comfort her.

So, what did you think of Katherine Kelly Lang’s work on B&B, and Mandy Moore’s on This Is Us? Share your thoughts on our picks for the Power Performances of the Week via the comment section below.  But first, check out one of the key scenes from This Is Us featuring Moore and Jon Huertas.

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Katherine Kelly Lang has been giving this same performance year in and year out.
Mandy Moore is amazing and has deserved the Emmy for a while now.

Shari
I don’t think you meant that as praise and Iam certainly not a fan of Brooke/K.K.L but after rereading your post, I have to agree that she DOES give the same, expected performance time after time. Are we just sick of her being good? Ha!

Disagree RE: Katherine Kelly Lang. She continues to deliver impassioned work, better each season, a vast improvement from her earlier days as Brooke. Agree with you on Mandy Moore

That is not her fault it’s Brad Bell and nobody gets too upset we have a fake Taylor a fake ridge just so disgusted with him ! Why JW and Wh agreeded to come back he is insulting to his actors ! He has actors nobody is interested in just to prove he is not whatever I’m so sick of him just cancel the show with some dignity!

And who in your opinion is the “real” Taylor and Ridge?

Ronn Moss and Hunter Taylor that’s who

Agreed! Cancellation on it’s way.

I agree, Shari. It must be boring doing the same story line for 30+ years. On the plus side, Mandy has been excellent all year and continues to be underrated.

Mandy Moore has been underrated for so long wouldn’t it be a great thing for the Emmy awards to finally award her after all of her stellar work on this is us especially on this final season it’s about time the Emmy’s gave a network show the award since it’s well deserved as far as Katherine Kelly lang her work this week was great and she’s also been underrated along with many in daytime congrats to both

KKL has been given the same story for 35 years. She is a delight to watch but Brooke would be more compelling a character with a strong backbone. Brook should be a power player not a weepy ingenue. We have Hope for that. Have her soon realize this recent fall off the wagon is not her fault, that Ridge is not her endgame, and let her live a vibrant exciting life. Weary of all the moping. Tired of the Forrester hypocrisy. No one deserves casting a stone here… Steffy, Thomas, Ridge. I would love to see Brooke launch a company and move forward on her own terms. Maybe with her younger sons RJ or Jack in support, thus giving us some younger people to stir up trouble. It’s just time for Brooke to no longer be considered less-than.

I don’t watch B&B but Mandy Moore this week – oh WoW. I agree that she has been under-rated but she was outstanding this week. I do think this show has gone on too long, but it would certainly be well deserved if she won an Emmy on this last finale.

I’m glad we are getting to see how Rebecca and Miguel got together; the scene where they were playing the game was so telling in how well they knew each other and their history and obvious to everyone in the room.

Mandy Moore is an incredible actor! She moves from one generation to another with such ease and earnest perfection to her defined roles. Congratulations Mandy on your deserved award.!!!!

KKL is a good actress however she has played this scene (Brooke and Ridge breakup) with different variations almost every year for the past 30 years. How many times have they broken up/? I know the show has a small cast but why can’t they come up with a different story line for this talented woman. At this point she should pull an Eileen Fulton with her infamous grandmother clause and make it a part of her contract that she will never break up with Ridge again.

B@B writing is horrific

General Hospital

Could Kristen Vaganos and Josh Kelly Be Exiting ‘General Hospital?’

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Josh and Kristen

General Hospital fans took to social media following the airing of the Wednesday, October 21 episode of the ABC daytime drama series. In story, Molly (Kristen Vaganos) reveals to Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) that she has received an offer to join the top law firm in Chicago that practices civil law. She says it’s her dream job.

The problem Molly says is relocating from Port Charles and uprooting her life and being away from her mother, Scout and boyfriend Cody Bell (Josh Kelly). Wistful that she may lose another daughter to a long-distance situation (Kristina left a few months back to go to medical school in California), Alexis urged Molly to get Cody to go with her.

Molly still seemed concerned and has trouble committing to the idea. Alexis tells her to talk it over with Cody. Meanwhile, Cody asked Tracy (Jane Elliot) is he can have Thanksgiving off because he and Molly planned to spend Thanksgiving together with their families. After initially balking, Tracy agrees.

Courtesy/ABC

WILL MOLLY AND CODY HEAD TO CHI-TOWN?

Later, Cody shows up at Miller & Davis and the conversation turned to Thanksgiving dinner that Alexis is hosting. Molly and Cody asked her not to cook anything. Cody hugged Molly reassuring Alexis that he and Molly would take care of whatever was needed on Turkey Day.

So, this raises the question, why out of nowhere are we learning that Molly received an amazing law offer in Chicago, if the character was not being written out? If Molly leaves the canvas, would the character of Cody make his exit too?

Kristen Vaganos joined GH as a recast Molly Lansing-Davis back in September of 2023 and went on contract in August of 2024. Josh Kelly began playing Cody Bell back in June of 2022. Initial reports were that Kelly joined the show on contract and then as of June 2025 went on recurring status with the show per his choice.

Do you see a world where GH is writing out Molly and Cody? Would you be sad to see Kristen and Josh exit the soap opera? If this is not what is going on, is this just a plot point for some other story that is upcoming? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.

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Recaps

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Adam Delivers Sally’s Baby as Billy Reels from Jill’s Health Crisis in Tearjerker Episode

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Billy, Sally and Adam

The Tuesday, October 20 episode saw The Young and the Restless deliver some deeply-poignant moments in the aftermath of Billy (Jason Thompson) and Sally’s (Courtney Hope) wedding.

The scenes which will be talked about for some time to come, because of how they can impact longterm story, had Adam (Mark Grossman) being the one to deliver Billy and Sally’s baby, while Billy was gut-punched by a phone call from Snapper Foster that Jill had suffered a heart attack in London.

In story, while up in Sally’s room at the GCAC, wishing his ex all the happiness, (because Adam and Billy have no love lost, and he didn’t want to cause waves), Sally’s water broke. In true soapy fashion, all phones were dead. Sally’s phone was missing because it was with Audra (Zuleyka Silver), Adam’s battery ran out etc. Prior to that, Adam did try to call Billy, but Billy did not pick up his calls, as he was with Cane (Billy Flynn) coming to terms with the news on Jill.

Photo: JPI

TORN BETWEEN RUNNING TO HIS MOTHER OR HIS NEW WIFE AND BABY

Now in the perfect storm of circumstances, Adam is the one to help Sally deliver her baby when she begged him to stay with er screaming, “Please don’t make me do this alone!” Adam reminded Sally that he’d already delivered a baby twice before. She assured him that it will be OK, and not to be scared, because this isn’t the same set of circumstances when she lost their daughter, Ava, during childbirth.

Downstairs, Billy is in tears over his mother. So too is Cane. Cane speaks to Jill on the phone when Snapper holds the phone to her while at her hospital bed. He tells her he loves her. Billy cannot bring himself to talk to his mom.

Cane decides he will go to London. Billy doesn’t know what to do with a new wife and a baby on the way. It’s clear how much losing Jill would devastate Billy. Cane tells Lily (Christel Khalil) what has happened to Jill, and Billy informs Jack (Peter Bergman) before he tries to find his bride who is upstairs in her room.

Photo: JPI

A NEW ABBOTT

Back in Sally’s room, eventually Adam asks Sally (who is deep in labor), if she thought she was having a girl or boy, and she said a boy. But then, Adam introduced her to her “beautiful, perfect baby girl.” It was a moment laced with so much history for Adam and Sally and Adam and Billy, when you think of the deaths of Ava and Deliah.

As Sally cradled her newborn little bundle of joy, Adam went to go get Billy at her request, and as he made his way to the door, Billy was standing there. Billy is stunned to see his rival standing, but then Sally tells Billy to meet his daughter!

Billy rushes to the bedside to be my his new wife and daughter, with the heartbreaking final shot of Adam emotionally overcome thinking of the baby he has lost with Sally. and how he wishes things could have turned out differently in a bittersweet moment.

Photo: JPI

EMOTIONAL PERFORMANCES

The episode was laced with hankie-inducing moments from Jason Thompson, Courtney Hope, Mark Grossman and Billy Flynn, who each delivered, to bring this story so much heart and history.  There is plenty of Emmy material within for next year for these four.

You can check out the final moments of yesterday’s episode where Billy meets his daughter for the first time, followed by the final shot of Adam at the door below, followed by our live chat replay with Y&R stars, Jason Thompson and Courtney Hope which streamed immediately after this episode aired in all timezones on the Michael Fairman Channel.

Now let us know, did you reach for the hankies during the episode? Did you like that Adam was the one to deliver Sally’s baby? Do you think something more will happen with Jill? Share your reactions in the comment section.

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Recaps

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Finn Blows a Gasket After Steffy Reveals She’s Gone Ahead and Become Carter and Daphne’s Surrogate

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Steffy and Finn

On the Monday, October 19 episode of The Bold and the Beautiful, after Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) stammering around and trying to find a way to couch her lie to her husband, Finn (Tanner Novlan), she finally admits what she has been dreading telling him.

But not before, Finn and Steffy rehash Monaco, Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown), and how it was turning point in their lives (that’s an understatement) with Finn reiterating, “Our marriage is precious. What we have is pure and true.”

Finn promises Sheila is out of their lives for good, and Steffy chokes back tears saying how she wished she hadn’t removed her ring and hightailed it out of Monaco. She says she wishes she could take that back, but she can’t.

Finn

Courtesy/CBS

Steffy tells Finn she has a lot to say. Finn tells her there is nothing they can’t overcome. Steffy says she made a significant decision while he was away. She goes to to say what a great friend Daphne (Murielle Hilaire) has been to her. Finn asks if Daphne and Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) are still interviewing to find a surrogate? Steffy says they found someone and the process has begun, and its “me.”

Finn gulps, “What do you mean it’s you?” Steffy eeks out of her mouth, “I agreed to be Daphne and Carter’s surrogate.” Finn, who is a doctor no less says, “I don’t understand!” He explains he knows there is a list of medical and legal hurdles someone has to go through before a woman can become a surrogate for a couple. He also tells Steffy he knows she could never carry a child and give it up.

Next, Finn tells Steffy she’s wonderful for considering to do this for Carter and Daphne, but she’ll have to tell them no. Steffy says it’s too late. That while he was out of town they went ahead with the procedure. Finn asks, “What procedure?” Steffy responds, “The fertilization of the eggs.” Finn learns they used Steffy’s frozen eggs and did the implantation and loses it!

“I can’t believe you went and did that! This isn’t something a wife does when their husband is out of town on a business trip,” hollers Finn. He cannot believe what he is hearing and that his wife just went and did this without him! He pushes back on Steffy. demanding answers, “There’s more going on here. What is it? Steffy? Tell me!” We fade to black.

You can check out the pivotal scene between Finn and Steffy below.

Now weigh-in: are you glad Finn is as of now not being a doofus? That he is pushy back on Steffy? Do you think Steffy will continue with this lie or admit she slept with Carter and became pregnant? Either way, would Finn stay with his wife while she became a surrogate for Carter and Daphne? Let us know in the comment section.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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