News
Glee's Amber Riley Bests OLTL's Corbin Bleu & Is Named Champion Of Dancing with the Stars 17!

Courtesy/ABC
After weeks and weeks of competition, it all came down to the two celebrities that did seem the odds-on favorites to win the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy on season 17 of the ABC ballroom dance competition series, Dancing with the Stars!
Last night, after performing one final dance, a fusion combo, Glee’s Amber Riley and her partner, now a five-time champion, Derek Hough, landed the only perfect 30, and with a late surge in the competition in the final weeks, things seemed to be going their way.
As for One Life to Live and High School Musical star, Corbin Bleu and his partner, Karina Smirnoff, they landed a 27 with their fusion combo, but even though the judges cited Bleu for falling out of synch with Smirnoff, he later conceded that he was so lost in the moment of this being his final dance with Karina ,and his adoration for her, that may have been the cause. All throughout the season, Corbin showed incredible dance prowess and truly seemed to be the strongest dancer in the competition.

Courtesy/ABC
After the emotional favorites, Jack Osbourne and dance partner, Cheryl Burke received third place, it came down to Amber and Derek and Corbin and Karina, and in the end … it was Amber Riley (who has battled through knee problems throughout the competition) and Derek Hough who were voted the Mirror Ball Trophy! Riley said she wanted to show women everywhere, no matter what size, if you put your mind to something you can have a favorable and wonderful outcome. For One Life to Live’s Corbin Bleu, a terrific season where viewer sentiment could have leaned more towards Amber Riley which in the end that could have cost him the title, in what he related was one of the highlights of his professional career … getting to be on DWTS and to dance with Karina.
So, what did you think of Amber Riley winning DWTS? Did the right celebrity take home the Mirror Ball Trophy? Comment below!
Amber was amazing. But she was not my choice to win. I wanted another pro to have the chance to win with their celebrity. I wanted Bill but realistically I knew he wouldn’t. I wanted either Jack or Corbin.
Amber was ok but i liked Corbin better!
I am glad amber won, but I would have liked to have seen Leah win or male it to the final. Because she truly is a non dancer and she improved so much
Amber surprised me. When the match ups were first announced I thought they gave Derek the overweight celeb on purpose so he wouldn’t win again– but dang that girl prove them all wrong– she could move and dance her heart out. I honestly don’t know if she would have won without Derek because the man is genius choreographer who just seems to have a knack for bringing out the best in his partner and making them the star. So although I hated that Derek got a 5th mirror ball– it was a well deserved win for Amber.
I was rooting for Jack to win. For someone who had zero dance experience, plus a debilitating disease like MS, it was amazing how much he improved and how many weeks he could do with his condition. He truly was inspiring.
The fix was in. There was no way that Derek was going to lose face after winning an Emmy for his choreography. From what I’ve read, he’s ready to bolt DWTS and this might reel in his ego for one more year.
This is completely non-soap related.
And don’t bring up the Corbin Bluecard. He was as much of “One Life to Live” as my cat.
amber totally deserve the win Corbin was awesome Jack was amazing and I’m really glad bill went home however he was entertaining to watch too
My pick was 1st Amber and 2nd Corbin. They both the tops. I have to say that Amber surprised me because, dang, that girl can move and she puts it all out there–heart and soul. Corbin is charming and talented as well.
I have zero problem with Derek H. winning again. I think he is fantastic and the very best pro…though Karina is also smashingly good.
In general, I think viewers don’t respond as well to men “stars” because their female pro does most of the flashy dancing. Where as the female “star” does most of the flashy dancing with the male pro less in the forefront.
I didn’t watch much of the finale. I wasn’t invested in any of the finalists. I did vote for Corbin, just thought he was better over the season. I vote for the star, not the pro.
This season didn’t really excite me. I hope they get better stars next season.
Amber was the best
Congrats to her!!!!!!
Corbin slightly behind
Bill was the worst(was the Repub.voting him ??????????)
But Corbin danced his ass off!!!
Amber could move, especially for a big girl, but I was rooting for Corbin.
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
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.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
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?
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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