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Hamilton's Renee Elise Goldsberry On Her Time On One Life to Live: "It Was A Beautiful Experience"

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/AOLBuild

Courtesy/AOLBuild

Tony nominee and former One Life to Live star, Renee Elise Goldsberry (Ex-Evangeline Williamson) sat down for a very special half hour edition of the one-on-one AOL Build interview series.

Goldsberry, who is wowing audiences every night on Broadway as Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton, may just take home her first Tony when the awards are handed out next Sunday night,  June 12th on CBS.   Goldsberry is nominated in the Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Category.

During her AOL Build interview, in which the host noted that the studio was packed for Renee, and one of the most highly-attended, Goldsberry discussed her time in Llanview and how important her daytime soap experience, and the fans, have been to her success.

Renee on what she learned from her time as One Life heroine Evangeline:  “I was on One Life to Live for four years and it was a beautiful experience, and another wonderful family of people  …  another dream come true .. and another really awesome opportunity to learn.  I learned so much about acting on a soap opera.  Fortunately, we get so much opportunity to fail – it’s trial and error.  When there are five hours of show a week, just the pace of that is fantastic and crazy.  So that was one of the great things about it, but one of the other great things about it was learning about ‘the rooting factor’.  Meaning, who is the audience rooting for?  It serves me in everything I do, whether i am Nettie in The Color Purple, or Geneva Pine in The Good Wife, or whether I’m Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton.   It’s always my job as an actor for you to understand what I am doing, because that is what ‘the rooting factor’ is, and I am always going to be trying to get that from the audience.  So that is another thing I learned from One Life to Live.  And then I have to say  … the fans.  I still have a lot of them and the medium of daytime knows that the currency is really the fans, and I am excited that we had Broadway-Con this year.  I’m excited that we are learning that the greatest resources we have in the theatre are the fans.”

When asked if the One Life to Live fans have been like, “Excuse me, Hamilton fans! We knew about her a long time ago!”, Goldsberry replied: “Back in the day, we had soap operas in New York City.  We don’t have that anymore and it makes me want to shed a tear.   So the actors were all theatre people.  It was not a stretch to go see your favorite actor on a soap opera at night in a Broadway show, or at an Off-Broadway show somewhere.  They have always been a very savvy audience the daytime people, and they will support you doing anything.  If you want to write a book … if you want to put a clothing line together … whatever you do they will support it, and that is what I feel about the theatre fans as well.”

Watch the complete AOL Build with Renee Elise Goldsberry after the jump! Then let us know what did you think of Renee’s comments about the soap opera fans?  Working on One Life?  Will you be watching the Tony’s with excitement to see if Renee takes home her much-deserved first Tony for Hamilton? Comment below!

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Miss her and OLTL…

Me, too!

Loved everything she said! I was always rooting for Blair, not Evangeline, but I’m still a fan. Hope she wins the Tony! And I sure wish they would bring back the NY soaps!

I love Renee, great actress. Y&R need to recast the role of Drucilla winters with Renee. She would be terrific as the new Drucilla.

Renee is a truly gifted actress and singer. I loved Evangeline on One Life to Live. I always felt Evangeline was a much better match for John McBain than flighty Natalie. I know. I’m in the minority there. I was so sorry when she left OLTL. New York theater actors brought the very best to daytime drama. I definitely miss their spark.

Have my fingers crossed that Renee wins her Tony award and wish her continued mega success in everything she does.

I liked her with John too.

I say recast the actress who plays GH’s Jordan with Renee. The current Jordan acts silly and ridiculous, like a primping schoolgirl rather than a serious and dignified police chief. Renee would be perfect. Moreover, she could be paired up with Michael Eastman again.

You’re so NOT in the minority! There are PLENTY of us who wanted John with Evangeline. There were plenty of us who knew that John’s true love was Evangeline. We know that John settled for Natalie because she didn’t have any standards.

At the time, John couldn’t be the man that Evangeline deserved. Natalie, on the other hand, simply wanted John any way she could have him. She required nothing, and basically got nothing in return.

Go, Renee! I’m so rooting for her to win the Tony!

I absolutely loved her as Evangeline and Jovan will always be OTP.
They had this magnetism that drew them to one another it was breathtaking. She challenged John and that chemistry… Damn! So pleased for her!!

Very, very grateful for your support for the daytime genre, Renee Elise Goldsberry. Good luck at the Tony’s. I hope you win!!!!!

Towards the end of the interview Renee says that Phylicia Rashad is one of her theatre heroes. Coincidentally, Phylicia also played a strong black female lawyer on One Lofe to Live.

I really enjoyed this interview and am so happy that Renee is garnering the accolades we all know she deserves.

She’s a class act and a major talent, and not enough good things can come her way.

And I surely do and always will, miss OLTL.

I hope she wins!

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Shemar Moore Makes Another Return to ‘The Young and the Restless’ as Malcolm Winters

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When Shemar Moore (Malcolm Winters) made his most recent on-screen return to his old stomping grounds at The Young and the Restless back at the beginning of April. Viewers also know that it has been teased that he was not done taping his most recent return story arc, and that he would be back to wrap it up.

Circle next week on the Monday, June 8 and Wednesday, June 9 episodes of the top-rated CBS soap opera, when Malcolm Winters, who has survived his bone barrow transplant surgery after being diagnosed with aplastic anemia, is back for some important conversations.

This time out, he will reconnect once again with his daughter Lily (Christel Khalil) and is recently discovered biological son, Holden (Nathan Owens). In addition, according to Parade, he will interface with his son’s New York City “travel companion” in Claire Newman (Hayley Erin).

Photo: CBS

THE LEGACY OF MALCOLM WINTERS

Part of the bigger story is Malcolm’s relationship with his ex Dr. Stephanie Simmons (Vivica A. Fox), who happens to be the mother of his child, Holden. Viewers can look for some unfinished business that the two need to settle in the upcoming episodes. Both Moore and Vivica A.Fox first appeared together on Y&R back in 1994 and then some 30 years later just a few months ago.

Shemar Moore made his debut as the younger brother of the late Neil Winters (Kristoff St. John) back in 1994 and stayed with the soap until 2005. A Daytime Emmy win later, and with his first television experience under his belt, Moore went on to major primetime success on CBS’ Criminal Minds. Next, he helped launch and was the centerpiece for S.W.A.T. also on CBS, until it was canceled. Now, he will soon be seen in the new spin-off series, S.W.A.T. exiles.

During a recent conversation for Michael Fairman TV, Christel Khalil shared of working with her TV dad again: “It’s always amazing to have anyone come back that’s been away for a while, but especially, Shemar. It’s all the history with him being Lily’s dad. For me, it’s been 20 years of knowing him. Obviously, I don’t get to talk to him or hang out with him and that kind of thing. So it was just nice just to see him again and have that moment around Neil’s portrait, and to be able to share that together and even talk about that off-camera. It’s just special and feels like family, which is nice.”

So, looking forward to seeing Shemar Moore for a few more episodes as he wraps up Malcolm’s recent story arc and visits with his newly found son, Holden and his ex Stephanie? Do you hope for more emotional scenes that were not played out the first time he was back looking for a bone marrow donor to save his life? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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How ‘The Young and the Restless’ Mark Grossman Almost Became ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Thomas Forrester

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As initially reported by Michael Fairman TV, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation recently held a live daytime drama casting directors panel which featured: Greg Salmon (The Young and the Restless), Marnie Saitta (Days of Our Lives), Christy Dooley (The Bold and the Beautiful), and Kim Coleman (Beyond the Gates).

The four soap opera casting directors traded behind the scenes stories, their process to help actor’s in the audition process, the most difficult and important recasts to their respective shows during their tenure, and the challenges of casting under-five roles, which surprisingly can harder than finding the series regulars.

When the talked turned to a major recast that Greg Salmon had to find it was to fill the shoes of Justin Hartley who exited the CBS soap to star on the NBC drama, This Is Us.  The role of the black sheep of the Newman clan was previously played by Chris Engen and Michael Muhney, before Hartley. Salmon knew they found their man to be the fourth Adam when Mark Grossman entered the picture.

Photo:JPI

THE SEARCH FOR ADAM NEWMAN

Salmon explained, “That was a really tough role to recast. Before Justin, there were two other people who played the part. Adam Newman is central to the show. This is Victor Newman’s son, so it’s an incredibly important character. I remember Mark came in and read with Eric Braeden (Victor Newman) and a few other members of the Newman family. His energy was just off the charts. It felt like this is how Adam should be. Eventually, I think the audience really accepted him. Mark has playing the role for several (7) years now and he’s completely made the role his own.”

However, in an ironic twist, it appears that Grossman came very close to joining Y&R’s sister soap, The Bold and the Beautiful in the part of Thomas Forrester played most recently by Matthew Atkinson, and before that Adam Gregory and Drew Tyler Bell.

THE SEARCH FOR THOMAS FORRESTER

Responding to Salmon, The Bold and the Beautiful ‘s casting director Christy Dooley revealed that Mark Grossman was once in the running for the role of Ridge and Taylor’s son. “He tested for us,” she recalled. “Mark came in and read for the role of Thomas Forrester, and he was my choice for the role,” Dooley shared.

Dooley added, “The role wound up going to Matthew Atkinson. But then Mark came down (the hall) to read for The Young and the Restless.”

Fans of The Young and the Restless know that during his 7-years as Adam Newman, that Mark Grossman has become one of the most popular stars on the show. So it’s difficult to wrap you head around that B&B might have nabbed his first as Thomas, and if so, we wouldn’t have gotten to see him turn out those stellar performances in Genoa City .

So, what did you think of this casting tidbit? Could you have seen Mark Grossman as Thomas Forrester? Glad that Y&R had him firmly as their Adam Newman? Let us know via the comment section and you can check the full daytime drama casting director panel below.

 

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General Hospital

Marc Forget Exits ‘General Hospital’

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The Thursday June 4 episode of General Hospital paved way for the end of the line for Jenz Sidwell’s (Carlo Rota) butler/fixer, Pascal (Marc Forget).

In the pick of the June 3 cliffhanger, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) was the hero and stopped the evil-doer from fleeing Port Charles for his part in aiding and abetting his boss with the cover-up of the murder of Professor Henry Dalton (Daniel Goddard) among other crimes.

Today’s episode did indeed mark the final appearance of Marc Forget who joined the ABC soap opera when he debuted back in July of 2025. Viewers met met Pascal when Kelly Thiebaud returned to the soap opera as Britt Westbourne and she was being blackmailed to work on Faison’s final project while at the Five Poppies in Dalmatia.

Courtesy/ABC

A General Hospital rep confirmed to Soap Opera Digest, that the June 4 episode, “Will be the last viewers will see of Pascal for now, but notes that in the world of Port Charles, comebacks are always possible.” So, how did Pascal get written-off the canvas? Here’s what went down:

PASCAL GIVES LUCAS KEY INFORMATION BEFORE BEING DRAGGED AWAY

After Sonny intercepted Pascal on his desperate attempt to get out of town, Sonny informed him hat Sidwell would stop at nothing from trying to get retribution for whoever killed his son, Marco, and promptly turned around and said that he would help Pascal flee the country, only if he turned on Sidwell.

An absolutely terrified Pascal had evidence for Sonny that he could use against Sidwell. However, he feared he would get killed on sight if he tried to retrieve the incriminating photos of Sonny and Laura from the safe at Wyndemere. So instead, Pascal gave the combination to the safe to Lucas (Van Hansis), so he could get the blackmail photos himself. But, did Pascal just set up Lucas to be killed since he loathes him for being the man to win the heart of the late Marco?

In the end, Sonny had one of his henchmen drag Pascal away and whisked off to an airfield to fly away to parts unknown, and hopefully never to be heard from again. But what now? Is Lucas going to end up being pegged as Marco’s killer and taken down by Sidwell if he gets his hands on the incriminating photos for Sonny and Laura? Stay tuned.

So, what did you think of Marc Forget’s run as Pascal? Sad or happy to see the character go? Do you think he will be back down the line? Share your thoughts via the comment section.

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