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GH's Maurice Benard On Being Part Of David O. Russell's Film JOY: "Working With David Is Like Working With An Incredibly Talented Mad Scientist. The Energy Was Out Of This World And It Made Me Want To Be Great."

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: Getty Images

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Soap fans have become more excited this past week to see David O. Russell’s latest film Joy, which features a character Terri played by Virginia Madsen, who is obsessed with her daytime soap, The Joyful Storm!  The savvy O. Russell decided to bring in the real deal to play very noted soap actors to play the characters in the fictional soap, which is a key ingredient to the movie.   Jennifer Lawrence stars as Joy, in a story inspired by Joy Mangano, and her rise to being a mogul for her creation  … the Miracle Mop!

Soap heavyweights: Susan Lucci (Ex-Erica, All My Children), Donna Mills (Ex-Abby, Knots Landing), Laura Wright (Carly, GH), and Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH) were cast in the motion picture.  After the story broke where O. Russell sang the praises of daytime soap actors during a Hollywood Reporter roundtable with the hottest directors and their latest films, Maurice Benard took to his facebook page to return the favor and say some very nice words about being part of Joy and working with David and his experience.  Plus, the Daytime Emmy winner revealed even his fear of flying could not stop this from being a joy-ful experience.

Maurice shared: “It was such a priveldge to be in a David O. Russell movie. Working with David is like working with an incredibly talented mad scientist. The energy was out of this world and it made me want to be great. I suffer from major anxiety when it comes to flying, so it had been 10 years since I’d been on a plane. Through this experience, one of my biggest fears turned into ‘Joy’. The people on the set could not have been nicer and more respectful and what made it even more of a blast is that I got to work with my friends Laura Wright, Susan Lucci, Donna Mills and John Enos.”

So what did you think about the sentiments shared by Maurice on the filming of Joy? Will you be running to the theatre starting Christmas Day when the film opens nationwide to catch Maurice and the gang in it? Comment below!

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That’s very cool!

im a major anxiety sufferer as well but i cant go on planes at all…i get panic attacks when im on the second floor of my home!!!…I was terrified of heights ever since i was a young child when i went on a ferris wheel with my sisters friend from high school…i was 11 and she was 16 or 17….she kept swinging our seat when we were on top as the ferris wheel stopped to let someone off….she rocked it too fast and i almost fell off…never again did i go on another ride or anything high after that!!!…My sisters friend was a real jerk and i regretted going on the ride with her!!!

0oohh dear Jimh..
I enjoy climbing .. I didn’t always make it to the top but when I did the feeling is wordless, like I conquered the world LOL
I’ll tell you a secret that not many think of– getting back down is harder than going up, at least for me.. lol

Maurice is sooo awesome! he, getting on the plane and facing his fear can open up a new world of flight for him, perhaps.. he calmed his anxiety, good for Maurice!!
I’m looking forward to seeing him as ‘Jared; in Joy..
He is very excited for the movie and his part in it..
Nothing has been mention of the other 3, hopefully we will hear something from them also..

climbing rope in gym class was horrible….id get to the top and had a hard time climbing back down…had panic attack…hated it…coach had to coax me back down…lol

What a story. Did you ever try to get help for fear of heights?

Yep…but it didnt work…i can go up only so far…was in hospital fourth floor as a patient and they had to keep the curtains closed…i also get attacks in lower places too…i spend short periods in the basement…

i can’t wait to see it.

Looking forward to seeing the move ” Joy !
And-
Maurice Benard is the Marlon Brando of the soaps, indeed

John Enos is salivatingly HOT…

Maurice Benard ???

mind blowing muster (?)

“…and it made me want to be great.”

blech

prop much

Right on, Patrick. Far out and sock-it-to-me. So sorry, he will never be great. I think he thinks he’s Rodolfo Valentino.

Will I? Absolutely!

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnnn……….
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz……….

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’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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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Michael Reveals His Plan to Set Up Chase and Willow to Have an Affair

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After the Wednesday, April 29 episode of General Hospital, it’s clear outside interference and other circumstances are set to blow Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) marriage sky high, as Michael (Rory Gibson) reveals his plans to entrap Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) and use her relationship with Chase to do it!

In story, Michael dropped by unexpectedly to Carly’s (Laura Wright). A plotting Michael reveals his plan to nudge Willow and Chase into having an affair. Michael hopes it would create both a political and personal scandal, where Willow would lose her seat in congress. In the scenario, she would be having an affair with her ex-husband, while taking care of her supposed disabled husband, Drew (Cameron Mathison), who cannot speak and is confined to a wheelchair, which in turn will look horrible for Willow’s character.

Carly asked does he really want to destroy his cousin, Brook Lynn’s life in the process? Michael goes in on Chase’s holier than thou attitude, and says he is going to set-up the circumstances that would lead Chase and Willow to betray their spouses, and hit the sheets together. Michael swears to Carly what the two of them do is up to them, but he’s going to go on the offense with this.

MICHAEL HAS BACK-UP

Later, Jacinda (Paige Herschell) is talking with Charlotte (Bluesy Burke) at Crimson and how much she dislikes Willow because of what she has done to Michael. Just then, Michael shows up and tells Jacinda privately, he’s figured out a way to fight Willow. Looks like Jacinda might work with Michael to bring down Willow and use Chase as the person to do it!

At the hospital, Lucas (Van Hansis) tells Josslyn (Eden McCoy) that Carly is cheating on Jack, but he doesn’t know with who. Josslyn suddenly flashes back to the moment she found her mother harboring a fugitive, Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart), in her attic, and as figured out that her mother is sleeping with him. She heads out.

Courtesy/ABC

BRENNAN IS ABOUT TO LEARN ABOUT CARLY

Next thing you know, Josslyn has showed up inside Jack’s (Chris McKenna) hotel room at the Metro Court and when he enters his room, he is shocked to find her there. He lays into her for not keeping his distance and that Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) will have no problem killing her if he knows she’s WSB. Josslyn fires back that he is only concerned about that because his relationship with her mother depends on her being safe. But then, she lays the boom, and tells Jack, Well, you’re too late. You already lost her.”

LULU GETS A GLIMPSE OF CASSIUS’ TEMPER

In addition, Lulu (Alexa Havins) sees a different side of “Nathan.” Since she is unaware that the man before her is his twin, Cassius Fasion (Ryan Paevey), he tells her that Rocco (Finn Carr) blabbed that he shot Cullum to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), and now he thinks they should send him away to stop him from talking to everyone else. This concerns Lulu, who rails at Nathan for telling her what to do with her son and that she isn’t going to abandon him. With “Nathan’s” outburst at her on the matter, will she finally get a clue this is not the man she thinks it is?

So, what do you think of Michael’s plan to push Willow and Chase into an affair? Will it work or backfire? Do you think Joss will reveal that Valentin is the man sleeping with Carly to Brennan, which will send him in a rage? Will Lulu continue to be clueless about “Nathan?” Weigh-in via the comment section below. But first, take a look at the GH video tease for today’s April 30 episode.

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