WSB Director Ross Cullum’s (Andrew Hawkes) reign of terror came to an end last week on the July 2 episode of ABC’s General Hospital, after WSB agent Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) shot him dead. That ended the run of Andrew Hawkes who will go down for his portrayal of one of the ruthless, bad guys in the soaps in a very long time.

Just look at a partial laundry list of his crimes: stabbing Marco Rios (Adrian Anchondo) brutally to his death, gaslighting Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) to where he was held captive and then was sent to mental institution in France, attempting to kill WSB Bureau Chief, Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna), by tying him to his hospital bed at Turning Woods, putting a gas mask on it and making him breathe a full tank of carbon monoxide.

How about being the person responsible for the penthouse fire targeting Sonny (Maurice Benard) that instead got Michael (then Chad Duell, now Rory Gibson) burned so badly he had to be sent away to a clinic in Germany, and then there is the matter of lying to Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) for years, that she never had Huntington’s disease, instead she was injecting herself with saline, until near the end of his life, he had put poison in the vials of her medication, and let’s not forget taking a weaponized baton and attempting to beat the life out of Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) and kill him, till Cullum was stopped by shots to his back fired by Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr).

Photo: ABC

HOW CULLUM TURNED INTO A RUTHLESS MASTERMIND AND KILLER REVEALED

This week, Andrew Hawkes participated in a livestream chat on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel where he touched on many subjects of his six-month run as Cullum. One of the more intriguing moments came when Hawkes explained in-depth for the first time what drove Cullum to become a double agent, and to become this heinous of a man.  While it was never given to him by the soap opera, as an actor it is always helpful to fill in the blanks for yourself to help with your performance and the “why” a character is behaving the way they are.

Andrew explained, “This has nothing to do with the writers, or anything that anybody ever said, because we don’t get that backstory on Cullum, but I’ll let you in on a little secret. The reason why Cullum is so single-minded and ruthless is because he was on a job, did his job, which was taking out a high ranking government official in a foreign country. Then, he was turned out by the WSB, locked out of getting back to the United States, and therefore missed holding his daughter who died of leukemia because they froze everything.”

Photo: ABC

“Cullum had no health insurance, Cullum had no money, Cullum had no anything”, continued Hawkes. “What I’ve done with Cullum is he’s coming back to rip everything to shreds from the inside out. So, that was my secret. It’s much more detailed than that. Being a parent is so personal, and  Cullum could not get to his child in her time of greatest need, and he couldn’t do anything because the WSB turned on him. They wouldn’t bring him from out of the cold.”

HEROES AND VILLAINS

Hawkes added, “I played it as I played it, and I am not trying to make it about these mitigating circumstances. It’s just an example of why this guy is so full of rage and violence and that was what I was trying to do as that character is as I said, destroy everything from the inside out.”

On TV, in the movies or on the stage there are usually heroes and villains to every story.  Hawkes explains more on what caused Cullum’s vendetta with the world, “It’s a gasket being blown in your brain plus trauma. I heard somebody talking about what’s the difference between a hero and a villain. A hero says, ‘the world hurt me, and I don’t want to hurt anybody else.’ A villain says, ‘the world hurts me and I’m going to hurt the world.’ So, it’s a very fine distinction.”

Photo: ABC

MEETING JOHN OLIVER AND HIS PERFORMANCE AS Z

In addition, Andrew spoke on his last day of shooting and getting to meet guest star, John Oliver and how impressed he was with his performances, even though he, personally, didn’t get to share any spoken screen-time with the late night Emmy-nominated talk show host.

“I did meet him and talk to him, and when I was down on the ground (after Cullum was shot) I was going, ‘Wow, I’m done.’ I don’t have to sweat anything more today. But he came through, and I’ve been a fan of his for a long time and he was so cool and so prepared. I think he’s amazing. I was like, if you never knew this actor and watched him on GH, he’s just fascination to watch. He’s just so committed. I get the biggest kick out of it, and I hope they keep bringing him back.”

Photo ABC

FINDING OUT CASSIUS HAD LIVED

Hawkes admitted, “I thought Z was only in for one episode/day, but then I found out all the other stuff from watching the show that he had scenes with Carly (Laura Wright) and and then Cassius (Ryan Paevey). I didn’t even know that Cassius wasn’t dead. Of course, Ryan and I had talked a lot and it was the end of his contract and he was leaving the show, but I didn’t know that Cassius had lived through it.”

“As for John Oliver, it’s not easy walking in there with all these incredible professionals being like, “we’ve done it for a long time.” I mean, luckily he has his own show and it’s him talking for 30 minutes. He put in the work. The first behavior, you really see of him is him walking. And then, the way he just pulls out his gun and casually caps the guy on the ground who’s going try to shoot him was just the coolest. I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with him, but he was gracious and kind and cool, and you couldn’t ask for a better scene partner.

In case you missed our conversation with Andrew Hawkes on the Michael Fairman Channel, you can check it out below.

Now, let us know, what did you think of the incredible backstory that Andrew creating for himself to rationalize and play all the scenes and nefarious activities of WSB Director, Ross Cullum? What did you think of his final moments on GH in the shootout with Josslyn and Cassius shortly before Z arrived? Let us know via the comment section below.

It’s February, the month of love, and with Valentine’d Day coming up, The Bold and the Beautiful is serving up a wedding and some romance fo Forrester Creations employees, Daphne Rose (Murielle Hilaire) and unlucky in love, Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor).

However, as in any soaps, can they get through their “I do’s” without some kind of secret coming to light, such as how Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) brought Daphne in from France to break-up Carter and Hope’s (Annika Noelle) relationship? He’s still in the dark about that! Despite her initial intentions, Daphne fell in love with Carter.

In addition, we still don’t know much about Daphne’s back-story, which always could cause trouble. The possibility could exist that even after the duo ties the knot that a mystery man appears claiming to be her husband, and thus the marriage is invalid!

Photo: JPI

Brad Bell, the executive producer and head writer of The Bold and the Beautiful in his winter preview for the CBS soap opera expressed, “They’ll have an interesting story as they’re wanting to start this family, and they’ll also be involved in other stories, some interesting, unforeseen plots that are unfolding. We’re going to see a completely different side to Daphne.”

Murielle Hilaire and Lawrence Saint-Victor chatted with Michael Fairman TV to discuss their thoughts on the nuptials and what they think the chances are of Daphne and Carter going the distance, especially given Carter’s track record.

CARTER’S UNLUCKY IN LOVE

“It’s not his fault, those relationships have been short term. He would’ve loved to have gone the distance with most of his fiancees. He would’ve loved for it to turn into marriage and a family. It just never worked out. And with Daphne, I do think that he was trying to take his time. I think Carter was trying to go slow, but in doing so, now she’s (suddenly) leaving to go to Paris. So, Carter goes to default mode, which is, ‘I got this ring and I’m going to propose and pledge my undying love for you.'”

Photo: JPI

Hilaire responded, ‘I think that resembles real life, people are trying to go too fast, it really doesn’t hold. I think Carter is a real representation of most people just looking to have a relationship, looking to have a connection. When they fall in love with someone and there’s like attraction and admiration, they go straight to commitment because they think, I can’t do better than this is a great person.”

THE FUTURE OF CARTER AND DAPHNE

As to what viewers can expect come this Thursday, both actors were extremely coy albeit to add that we will see Daphne in a wedding dress, and Carter at the Forrester fashion show runway/altar.  However, what happens after that? Saint-Victor, who is also on the writing team of The Bold and the Beautiful teased,

“I think there’s some exciting stuff to come between them, but it’s going to be different, than what you’d be expecting.”

You can watch our pre-wedding full conversation with The Bold and the Beautiful’s Murielle Hilarie and Lawrence Saint-Victor below as well as You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel.

So, do you think Carter will end up getting dumped again? Will his relationship with Daphne stick? Does she have a shady past or secret that will come to life? Will they start a family and everything goes A-OK? Weigh-in via the comment section.

This week on The Bold and the Beautiful, Liam Spencer got down on one knee and proposed to his ex-wife, Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) and without hesitation (as has been Hope’s MO with other gents), she said, “Yes!”

This marks the fourth time, Lope has been engaged. Now, let’s see if they can make it to the altar for the fourth time. The two have been married before in 2012 (when Hope was played by Kim Matula), 2018-2019, and 2020-2023. Will number four be the charm?

Three-time Daytime Emmy winner, Scott Clifton caught up with Michael Fairman TV at the recent 52nd annual Daytime Emmy Awards, where he discussed Hope being Liam’s ladylove, and how Liam’s faux brain cancer storyline, changed the trajectory for the on-screen duo, and his daytime career, where at one point he thought he may be packing his dressing room.

Courtesy/CBS

Over the years, Liam has been known to be wishy-washy and flip-floppy in particular ping ponging between his ex-wife Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and Hope. So, when in 2025, he comes to the realization he wants to be with Hope, it came with Scott’s knowledge of how it would be perceived by some fans of the show.

A HOPE-LESS ROMANTIC

“I know, a whole lot of talk about, ‘I’m going to do things differently and I’m going to be different. I’m going to change. I’m not dying. Hope, you wanna get married?’ Cause that’s what we do (on soap operas),” joked Clifton, knowing full-well his on-screen alter ego is headed back and full steam ahead into a serious relationship with his ex-wife.

Photo: JPI

Clifton weighed-in on why Liam and Hope found their way back to one another, yet again! “I think the whole point of everything that Liam and Hope have both just gone through, is it can’t be for nothing. I really hope that these epiphanies that they’ve each had about each other and their family stick. I believe that they will.” Famous last words on The Bold and the Beautiful which has been notorious for breaking-up couples, then having them circle back to each other.

LOVE AND TUMOR

Earlier this year, things looked bleak for Liam Spencer when he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. At the time, Clifton chatted live on the Michael Fairman Channel as Liam was struggling with the realization he was o borrowed time, and from comments made by Scott during the conversation, it did give off vibes to many that he could be, in fact, being written-off the show.

Photo: JPI

Scott reflected on the discussion five months ago. “Everything I said to you was true. The truth as far as my knowledge at that time. It wasn’t until later I was informed about it. Brad Bell wasn’t even like pulling one over on me. I mean, he pulled me into his office, and he said, ‘Look, I’m going to level with you. This is what I want to do with the character, and we’re going say goodbye to Liam.’ Brad was conscientious and you could tell he loved this character, and it was even hard for him to say goodbye. But, that was what he had chosen to do. So when we had our conversation, that was the plan.”

Scott continued, “At that point, I just kind of wanted to focus on this storyline, because if it really was going to be sort of a swan song for this character that I put so much of my life into, not to mention what Brad’s put into it. I really wanted to do it right. So thankfully I never had to get to the point where, now I’m out of work. Where do I go from here?”

Photo: JPI

As Liam’s story played out, suddenly Dr. Grace Buckingham (Cassandra Creech), who had been the doctor who came up with the inoperable brain tumor diagnosis, was acting very odd. As it came to light, she faked Liam’s medical crisis to bilk his father, Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) out of $1 million, in order to pay off criminals who were coming after her and her daughters for a debt owed by her ex-husband, Dr, Reese Buckingham (Wayne Brady). You know, the guy that told Hope that baby Beth died and then sold her? Quite the twist.

Scott recalled when he learned of Liam’s last minute reprieve, “Brad told me that he had changed his mind about this before he told me how that was going to work out. It was just a very short phone call. He said, ‘Just be prepared. I’m going to change direction here.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, my God! Thank you.’ But, I was going, ‘How on earth is he going to pull this off? It’s clearly been established that there is a tumor in my head.’ When he kind of revealed that, it was amazing how he did it.”

Now below, check out our conversation with Scott from the 2025 Daytime Emmy Awards red carpet and in case you missed it, our livestream chat with him from this past summer via the Michael Fairman Channel.

So, are you glad that Liam proposed to Hope and she said, “Yes!” Do you think they will tie the knot for the fourth time? What did you think about how Scott recalled how Brad Bell informed him that Liam wasn’t going to die after all? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.