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Former Y&R Star Chris McKenna Lands Role On NCIS: NEW ORLEANS!

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

While Detective Harding, who was supposed to be keeping the citizens of Genoa City safe, but was actually murdering people, it spelled the end of the line for fan favorite Chris McKenna (Harding) on Y&R!

McKenna, who in his younger acting days played Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live, tweeted that he has landed a guest star role on CBS procedural drama: NCIS: New Orleans. (Tuesdays 9:00PMET)

Chris revealed: ” Seems the New Orleans PD needed some added muscle. Copy that. Officer Tate en route.@CBS @NCISNOLA” 

This is not the first time McKenna has played a role on the NCIS franchise, having appeared in NCIS: Los Angeles back in 2010 where he played a CIA agent.

When McKenna learned that Harding would be killed off and revealed to have murdered some of the characters in the Scooby-Doo Murder story, he related to Soap Opera Digest:  “I have to mourn Harding.  I mean, I love the guy. I helped make him, so I have a lot of affection for him. So, it was sad to see what happened to him and what he had done, but I just used that to make a convincing performance.   During the time I’ve been on the show, you didn’t see different sides to him, so near the end, you got to see him actually be broken and sad and filled with regret and conflict, but still that hard-ass you got to know. It was nice to make that all work.”

So, will you be checking out Chris on NCIS: New Orleans? Do you wish Y&R had not killed-off Harding? Share your thoughts below!

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tptb were so foolish to let this talented actor go – he will do very well on ncis new orleans………

I very fond memories of Chris as Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live. He has become a fine man. He did a great job as Harding. I was sorry to see Harding go. The Genoa City PD is in desperate need of staff besides the chief, the computer guy and the barista.

Best of luck to Chris. I’d love for him to get a steady job. Days are you listening?

I really could see him helming the DiMera…. as a recast for Peter Blake

I do not know his work… I just think he’s out of this world Yum

Loved him as Joey on OLTL and as Harding on Y&R. Foolish to let this one get away. Happy for him though.

I loved him on Y& R. Loved him on State of affairs. I watch NCIS : New Orleans anyway. But I would have made a special effort to watch if I wasn’t already. Chris Mckenna is a wonderful actor. And easy on the eyes too. Hope he finds a permanent home on tv soon.

Good for Chris. Y&R has been the number one soap for 27 years and also the number one soap to fire or let go some of the best talent ever on daytime! Billy Miller, Michael Muhney, Michelle Stafford and now Chris. He wasnt in their league yet but he was climbing and it shows since a high profile prime time show snagged him!

I am so glad to see him again. He and Kevin were do good together as co-stars. I watch both NCIS shows regularly. I love New Orleans. I spent much of my College breaks there with friends. So much to see!! And, so much fun, fun, fun.

CeeCee “Gone Wild!”

Boy, it was a dumb move to make Harding turn out to be the killer because there were lots of storyline possibilities with that character but at least Chris is now moving on to prime time where he will do very well too. I guess this is what you’d call “laughing all the way to the bank”.

miss him on Y&R so I might turn in to NCIS just to see him….hope he lasts longer there than on Y&R….big mistake to let him go

He is gorgeous!!! They Def made a mistake letting him get away!! That storyline was dumb AF anyways!! YR has no depth these days. Pratt is writing like he wrote for Melrose Place.

Great for him. Hopefully it springboards into something bigger and long lasting. Y&R totally ruined his character and let him go. Horrible.

He needs to join GH. Recast of Steven Lars Webber. Liz needs her brother and he’s also Franco’s brother and Olivia’s ex.

Great idea! And the other thing is Patrick is gone so we need more medical staff on the show!

OMG ! “let’s hear it for @Bjtripp2

that is the best idea… LOL bar none

talk about sprucing up GH in a big way…. “AND”

taking away, if you will…. from the blase Sonny/Carly – Jason/Sam

GH ! “GET THIS”

I love all the posts… about how “dumb” ; said show was to let him go

Talent! is Talent ! fans know….

MF… their needs to be a thread as such

DAYS : hire this man

DAYS : Kassie DePaiva and Daniel Cosgrove… serious mishap

I’ll get over all my postings of; except maybe Kassie DePaiva’ Eve

Happy for this guy! He has such charisma. He could have been a great character on Y & R had they planned it right. Best of luck to this gentleman!

Good for him. The hack Pratt wasted him at Y&R.

I’m not one that criticizes the “powers that be” trying to run the show for them and I do love all of Y&R’s cast mates and even the behind the scenes people I’ve had access to in one form or another and may like some more than others of course. I do wish some had stronger storylines like Tristan Rogers, Jess Walton, and I could keep going on. What outstanding talent Y&R has at their fingertips and they don’t even use! Chris is just one more that did not get a great role. I personally loved State of Affairs and hoped for a second season. I wish him all the best. I watch NCISLA religiously and had started out watching NCIS NOLA especially because there’s a Bama boy from just a few minutes from where I live. Then I became juggling too many tv shows so I stopped watching that one but with him on it I’ll definitely tune back in out of respect and I want it to do well for him. Good luck to him.

Y&R was so stupid to get rid of Chris McKenna. He’s super hot and is a good actor. I’m still mad that Harding and Kevin weren’t a couple. That would have made me a faithful viewer. I rarely watch Y&R anymore.

I honestly hated to see him leave Y&R. LOVED him as Harding, but incredibly happy to see that he’s found other work.

I love NCIS New Orleans and I knew he was the killer on Y&R, I had him picked from the start!
Hope his character isn’t like his Y&R one!

Days Of Our Lives

‘Brilliant Minds’ Officially Canceled After 2 Seasons at NBC; DAYS Alum Al Calderon, OLTL Alum Teddy Sears and Zachary Quinto Among the Cast

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After languishing on the bubble for months, on Friday, NBC handed down the decision and canceled the medical drama Brilliant Minds after two seasons.

Brilliant Minds stars Zachary Quinto as neurology physician Oliver Wolf, who’s character and the series is inspired by the life and books of neurologist. Oliver Sacks. The series focuses on the medical mysteries of the mind, as Wolf a larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns explore the last great frontier, the human mind, while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.

The final six episodes of what will now be the end of its second and final season were already set to air beginning on May 27, after being pulled off the network schedule in February as viewership saw a steep decline. Brilliant Minds second season became the lowest-rated drama on linear TV viewing, which didn’t bode well fo a network renewal, although it had its hard core fan base.

Photo: NBC

There are some exceptional notables in the cast along with the talented Quinto that includes Days of Our Lives alum, Al Calderon (ex-Javi Hernandez) who joined the series in its second season as Nurse Nico Silva, and One Life to Live alum, Teddy Sears (ex-Chad Bennett) who plays Wolf’s love interest and fellow physician, Dr. Josh Nichols.

The rest of the talented cast includes: Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Donna Murphy, John Clarence Stewart, and Brian Altemus.

In an ironic twist of fate on Thursday, April 30, Days of Our Lives finally revealed the actor who was Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Javi, when they announced that actor Jacob Martinez had now stepped into the role. Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming new episode, Calderon left in the spring of 2025, but will be seen in the part for the final part this month, and then on June 20, Martinez debuts as Salem’s new Javi.

Taking to his Instagram with a sorrowful and heartfelt post on the Brilliant Minds cancellation was Teddy Sears who wrote, “Thank you, Brilliant Minds. I got the call today and I didn’t want to hear, but I knew that it would come, You have to be a particular vintage to quote Don Henley from memory, but that’s the line that came to mind earlier today after I got off the phone with our inimitable showrunner Michael Grassi who delivered the news that NBC has cancelled the series”.

Photo: NBC

Sears continued, “To say that I feel sad to be moving on from these stories, this character, and this cast and crew just doesn’t paint the entire picture. I’m sad, sure. But I’m also deeply grateful that I got hired to play this part, so proud of the stories we told, and the other actors I got to play alongside. I’m excited to see what comes next, what adventures await, and terrified to be without a professional home. A quick and heartfelt thank you to everyone, all over the globe, who found us and found themselves in us, in our characters and in our stories. We wouldn’t have been able to tell them without you. And we still have 6 fresh episodes yet to air, and I do hope you tune in enjoy the remainder of the series. They’re the best we’ve done.”

As he wrapped up his sentiments, Sears signed off with, “The more I know, the less I understand. All the things I figured out I have to learn again. I’ve been trying to get down to the heart of the matter. But everything changes…Thank you, Brilliant Minds.”

The medical drama was created and executive produced by Michael Grassi alongside Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Lee Toland Krieger, DeMane Davis, Jasmine Russ, Henrik Bastin, Jonathan Cavendish, Andy Serkis and Shefali Malhoutra.

So, what do you think of NBC’s decision to cancel Brilliant Minds after two seasons? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’

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Many things are coming up roses for Jonathan Bennett! On the heels of the news that he is set to debut this month in the role of Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital, who is rumored to be a new love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), comes the news that Bennett’s reality series, Finding Mr. Christmas has received 3 nomination for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.

Bennett’s Hallmark Channel series finds itself in tough competition alongside fellow nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), Survivor 50 (CBS), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Traitors (Peacock). In addition, Jonathan himself is nominated for Best Show Host and the series participants as the Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series.

The Critics Choice Association (CCA) revealed the nominees for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Thursday, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.

Photo: Hallmark

Taking to his Instagram to celebrate the nominations, GH’s Bennett, enthused, “3 Critic Choice Nominations! I’m so proud of the FINDING MR CHRISTMAS and to be in the company of all the legends in all these categories is so surreal! Congrats to Hallmark Channel and to our nominated cast and nominated show and everyone who made this magical show possible. This is crazy! This gives FMC 6 Critics Choice nominations in 2 years. Not bad for a little show on Hallmark Channel. What are your thoughts on our show?” Jumping first into the comment thread was one of his new GH co-stars, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) who expressed, “Yeah buddy!!!🔥🔥”

In the series, Bennett, the host and co-creator spends eight weeks guiding 10 aspiring actors through a series of “festive face-offs” and acting challenges alongside actors like soap opera notables, Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R) and Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS). Along the way, they develop their skills and a bond with one another. The show, which is available on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus, highlights LGBTQ+ representation with openly gay contestants vying to be the next Hallmark star.

It should be noted that Traitors received the most Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations with 6 nods, followed by Dancing with the Stars with 4.

Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans having started his career as JR Chandler on All My Children in 2000-2001, before landing the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout performance.

You can check out the full list of Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations here.

So, excited for Jonathan Bennett’s General Hospital debut this month? Have you ever watched Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark? Let us know via the comment section below.

 

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?

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On the April 30 episode of General Hospital, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had some choice words and warning for her brother Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) who has been masquerading as his twin, the very dead, Nathan West.

As the story has unfolded, viewers learned that Britt knew all along that when “Nathan” showed up in Port Charles seemingly resurrected with a missing 7 years of his life unexplained, that Cassius was taking his place.

Now in developments on today’s GH, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is figuring out that this guy pretending to be Nathan is someone else, and Cassius learns from Britt, that Joss is not just a ditzy sorority girl as he claimed, but a WSB agent! The moment stuns Cassius. Are the walls about to close in on him and his charade?

Courtesy/ABC

Daytime Emmy winner, Kelly Thiebaud spoke to Soap Opera Digest, about the story point and getting the opportunity this time back at GH to work with Ryan Paevey, when she hadn’t had the chance to before.

BROTHERLY LOVE?

Thiebaud expressed on sharing scenes with Ryan Paevey, “It’s just been so wonderful to have him back and to actually work with him! When he first came onto the show (as Nathan at the end of 2013) I was kind of heading out — it was right towards the end of my contract, so we didn’t actually work together a ton. It’s been really refreshing and so much fun to really spend time together and get to know each other and work together. I think we have really great on-camera chemistry and banter with each other. I really enjoy working with him.”

With the stakes at an all-time, Thiebaud explained how she views her on-screen alter-ego’s involvement with her more hot-to-temper sibling and why Britt revealed the truth about Josslyn to him. “People finding out about Cassius would expose what she’s involved in and what she agreed to do,” explains Kelly “And now Josslyn is digging around, and she’s connected to Carly (Laura Wright) to Jason (Steve Burton) and that whole dynamic! It’s messy!”

BRITT’S MURKY FUTURE

Britt has currently also reached her breaking point with Jason being carted away by the WSB, Rocco (Finn Carr), the child she gave birth to, shooting Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) to protect her and Jason, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) being killed after trying to help her, and Cullum holding over her head getting her Huntington’s disease medication to control her symptoms, while blackmailing her into finishing the research on her father, Cesar Faison’s, final project. Thiebaud summed it up best for Britt right now, sharing, “It’s been a really tough time for her.”

So, who do you think will be the person to blow Cassius’ cover? Will it be Britt herself? Josslyn? Liesl? Brennan? Nina? Lulu? Rocco, Maxie, Cullum or someone else? Let us know your pick in the comment section.

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