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Lauralee Bell discusses new web series, "Just Off Rodeo" & Christine's plight on Y&R!

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: CharlesBuch.com

Photo Credit: CharlesBush.com

From the creative mind of The Young and the Restless’ Lauralee Bell (Christine) comes another intriguing and fun web series, Just Off Rodeo. (She previously launched the hilarious Family Dinner). The actress, now wearing three other hats, and might we say quite well, of executive producer, co-writer, and director, has brought to the Internet a new concept she had brewing for over a decade.  The idea centers on a clothing store (something Bell has firsthand knowledge of) with interesting and quirky characters that interact, while at the same time, fans and site visitors viewing the webisodes can buy merchandise built into the content of the show!  Just Off Rodeo premiered its second installment this past Sunday.  You can view the first installment here. The series features a stellar cast comprised of Jennifer Birmingham, Zoe Taylor and Mike Rose. On-Air On-Soaps caught with Bell to get the low down on the new series.

And later in our interview, we catch up with Lauralee on what’s next for Genoa City’s Christine now that Ronan has disappeared, and Nina and Paul continuing to get cozy! Here’s our “quickie” chat with Lauralee, the entrepreneur!

Lauralee, what inspired you to do this concept?

LAURALEE: When I would pitch the concept, I would have people from weird walks of life tell me on a business level, it’s a great idea.  I have had it in my head for twelve years that these girls in the series would look different in every episode. They will start looking kind of “plain Jane” and go to extremes.  I put in all the things I would want to see.  I love watching the red carpet on award shows because of how people reinvent themselves.  So I thought, why can’t we do this with every episode?  And especially, for Middle America, who just has Target as their option. You have to train your audience to get online to get the merchandise, and make them excited to check it out, as you never know what we are going to sell next week.  I would love to have a clothing designer come in and say, “I will design just one item and it is specifically for Just Off Rodeo.”  Then they make a cameo appearance in the series.  I think there are so many things we could do.

Explain how someone purchases the items they see on the webisodes, and the retail aspect that gives the series a wider marketing appeal?

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

LAURALEE: In the first episode, we have two scarves available for purchase, and made it simple to explain the concept.  In the second episode, it’s all about a white t-shirt and a black t-shirt with our Just Off Rodeo logos, and it’s just a cool t-shirt to wear under a suit. I have to say I have worn it under a business suit and it’s a cool t-shirt. You can see it can fit a skinny Jennifer Birmingham (Danielle) or a size 18 woman.  You can see below the episode player two choices for buying the items. You can click on the item and purchase it and it’s in your home within four days. What makes this show so different is the marketing element. It’s very simple… it’s product placement built into the storyline.  But, I don’t want the clothing to take away from the story.  I just know if you could have bought a simple item worn by the Sex and the City girls and had it at your door in four days, it would have done very well. Plus, we have free shipping in the United States!

You said you were co-writer.  Who also helped you write the series?

LAURALEE: My husband Scott’s brother, Matt Martin who lives in Chicago.  He has been in comedy classes and writing skits and working with Second City. I had been reading his material before this and thought he was really good.  I thought I am going to give him a crack at this.  So he sent me the script, and I gave him a little bit of a re-direction, and added a few lines.  He sent it back to me, and he got it completely!

One of the standouts in the cast is the hilarious Mike Rose, who plays the hairdresser Rodrigo.  His timing is so unbelievable.  How did you find him?

Courtesy/MartinBellProds

LAURALEE: So it’s getting down to the wire and everyone is trying to send me these beautiful Rodrigo’s.  But I knew the character of Rodrigo, and they were sending me just these pretty boys.  If they don’t have the personality to go with the looks it would not work.  My Rodrigo is such an important character now.  So Jason Wood was helping me cast this.  He told me about this guy, Mike.  I worked that day on Y&R and Mike was saying to Jason, “I know I am your guy.  I know I am your guy.”  So I ran to The Grove shopping center which is right near CBS, and was sitting there at the Coffee Bean looking like an anxious dater! (Laughs) I met Mike and I did most of the talking going, “I don’t know where this is going, but you just need to understand I came up with this in 1999.  I have been passionate about the concept.  It has moved forward and then stopped.  I just need to put this out there.  We talked for ten minutes or so, and I said, “Will you do this?” He said, “Yes.”  This was the first thing I hadn’t been in as a performer, so I was going to be in complete director mode.  I was wearing so many hats in this… creator, executive producer, co-writer, and director!

Are you ever going to appear in Just Off Rodeo?

LAURALEE: I do what I call the Alfred Hitchcock walk by.  It’s like if you blink, you might miss it.  I wear a mask in the second webisode. You will see it’s sort of a fantasy and I don’t say a word.  And, I won’t be in this series moving forward.  But, when I created this 12 years ago, I saw myself in it as Danielle, but now I am too old to play the role.  Family Dinner I created as well, and I play a main role in it.  So I didn’t want it to come off as I am creating another web series so that I can play another role. These two projects are my two concepts and I am done.  I hopefully will be able to move forward with one of them or both.  But, I am not becoming the webisode girl! (Laughs)

Your clothing store On Sunset is no longer in existence, but from the looks of it and having been at your store before, it looks like the set for Just Off Rodeo. Why the decision to close?

LAURALEE: Regarding On Sunset, I feel it was not a sad thing for me when I closed the store.  I feel I had to close it so another door opened.  I really desperately needed to do Just Off Rodeo.  Because the store has not been leased out yet, I was able to shoot there!  Now I can finally explain the whole reason I signed on to opening up a store; because in my mind I was going to get this show off the ground and have the real life store, and the fake store from the web series, and somehow we would incorporate it all.

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

On to some Y&R questions: What is the status of Christine?  Are you done taping episodes or are you still there?

LAURALEE: Yes. I was taping last Friday and was there yesterday, and after that I do not know.  And so that is about a month out from airdates when fans will see it.  You know, I walked in after having two and half weeks off, into the Nina storyline and no one said, “You’re back!”  That was good, as I thought the time I am away was not looking so obvious anymore.

What is Christine thinking about Ronan, who now looks as if he turned his back on every one and vanished after his brother gave him a new lease on life with a life-saving transplant?

LAURALEE: I think, even though Christine is a tough girl and she is prepared for anything, I think she did trust Ronan.  I think when her life was here, there, and all over the place, Christine thought she could count on Ronan to be her eyes and ears if she is away, and be that person she could trust.  For him to just take off after the major surgery, I am sure she feels shocked, betrayed, and won’t be giving him any second chances.  At least I am hoping.

Looks like Christine got everyone’s hopes up again!  Have Nina and Chris really made up?

LAURALEE: Nina is her best friend, and Christine keeps getting blamed, even though we had kind of a makeup scene.  Nina kind of went back and forth.  So I would say it was a mini makeup, until Ronan was gone. (Laughs)

There was a scene where Christine was looking on as Paul and Nina comforted each other in the hospital scenes, waiting for Ronan and Chance to come out of surgery. She looked a little pissed off!

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

LAURALEE: Does she really wish them well?  I mean, I think it’s always weird when people get divorced and are with their new spouses.  I think you always feel, in some way, you have that claim on that person.  People have a kind of territory thing.  I try to leave it as I had played it with Ronan, and how I play it with Paul, which is very neutral. God forbid she should act on one!  You just know there is such a deep connection between Paul and Chris.  It is funny for me to see Paul and Nina together.

So you are kind of being able to still go in and out of Y&R.  What would you say to your fans about what your decision is to keep coming back or not, to do more story on the soap?

LAURALEE: I am really appreciative of Maria Arena Bell and the fans, for being kind of forgiving of me and allowing me leeway.  I just can’t do it all.  I love being busy doing Y&R, my webisodes, and my other projects.

Now that you have sort of got your feet wet at Y&R again, is there something you would love to do or play as Christine, that you have never done?

LAURALEE: I would love her to do off the wall things.  It would be a little out of character, but have Christine be just quirky and outrageous.

In closing, if you were trying to encapsulate for fans what they will get when they watch Just Off Rodeo, what would you tell them?

Photo Credit: Lesley Bohm

LAURALEE: I am trying to say, that while my first project, Family Dinner, is very raw, and is something we can all relate to, Just Off Rodeo is a total fantasy about hair and make-up and fun.  I really want the audience to get to know the characters.  Here are three people who are in this boutique for whatever reason.  The one girl is there because her father put it in her lap.  The other girl, Kat, has gone to art school and wants to make this work.  And Rodrigo wants to be the next Paul Mitchell or Vidal Sassoon.  They are going to get a taste of this business they have been given.  All of a sudden, it’s going to become a hot place to go to in Beverly Hills.  They realize that the three of them together, with all their quirky talents, is what is making this a stopping place for a Lindsay Lohan or whomever, and that is a fun place to shop and be around.  I want to show how their success came together.  They realize how they need each other and what they have to offer as a team makes it a success.  They get charged up and disappointed by the hype and glamour of Los Angeles and the whole scene.

Make sure to log onto www.justoffodeo.com for more series information and to watch the webisodes!

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Great interview! Congrats to Lauralee and her new series! Can’t wait to check it out! 🙂

Hey, Mike. Interesting article with Lauralee. Her idea for her shop with story and merchandising is very unique. I hope she has lots of success. If she stays on Y&R,i hope she doesn’t end up with Nick. I’ve had it with all the coupling and where it has lead. I just hope Diane doesn’t get pregnant and where it could be Victor’s or Nick’s baby. That would be some great story..you heard it here, fans….

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Shares He Was ‘Happy to Hear’ of The Triangle Storyline Developing Between Dante/Elizabeth/Ric

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Dominic Zamprogna

General Hospital’s Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) opened up about the burgeoning love triangle forming between his Port Charles alter-go, Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) after recently aired scenes, plus his hopes for the future of a Dante and Liz pairing, during his appearance on the Sunday, April 23 edition of the That’s Awesome podcast with Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli).

On last week’s episodes of GH, Ric has made the decision that he wanted to propose to his ex-wife, only when he showed up at Elizabeth’s front door, he misread the scenario he walked in with Liz tending to Dante’s injured leg from the softball game. From there, the legal eagle’s jealous streak is reemerging which may cause him to act out and do something unforgivable, or will he take the high road? Stay tuned.

Speaking with Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson about where Elizabeth stands in the annals of the long-running soap, Zamprogna said, “She’s up there with Steve and Maurice (Maurice Benard) as one of the most legacy-filled people on the show.”

Courtesy/ABC

HOW DANTE AND ELIZABETH CAME ABOUT

Dominic jokes it’s a far cry for where Dante and Elizabeth previously, recalling, “We had some scenes together years ago and we were both laughing. Becky’s like, ‘Well, I guess we’re not going be paired up anytime soon.’ I remember we laughed immediately after they yelled ‘cut,”‘and said to each other, ‘Well, so much for that!'”

Fast-forward to early 2025 and as Zamprogna remembered it, “Elizabeth Korte (co-head writer, GH) came up to me at the General Hospital Christmas party, and I think it was a year and a half ago and she said, ‘We’re going to have you in scenes with Elizabeth,’ My internal monologue is going, ‘I’m not with Lulu (Alexa Havins) anymore and Sam’s (Kelly Monaco) gone, so maybe they want to see if this works.’ I didn’t want to get scenes with Becky and try to find the chemistry. I just wanted to play whatever honestly was written and came across for both of us and hope it was what people liked, and I don’t know if it is … or not.”

Knowing how beloved Elizabeth is to the GH faithfuls, Zamprogna added, “She got a big fan base with Ric … and a big fan base with with Jason … and you know, you’re going to piss somebody off. But, didn’t Ric drug Elizabeth and put Carly in a panic room?”

Dom and Liz

Photo: ABC

DANTE AND ELIZABETH PAIRING COULD STIR UP STORY FOR OTHERS IN PORT CHARLES

In closing, Dominic felt that the wide-reaching tentacles of a Dante and Elizabeth relationship is something he is 100% down for. “The triangle thing; I was happy to hear it was with Ric and her, because I felt it’s important to have her the top of it as opposed to Dante, Lulu and Elizabeth.”

Zamprogna added, “When you get into relationships on a soap, things seem to fizzle out a little bit, The buildup is what’s the fun part, and the getting to know each other, and the people who are affected by this coming together. When with this case it’s going to affect: Ric, Sonny, Lulu. There’s so much more story here. To me, it’s going to be a fun story to play.”

You can check out Dominic’s visit to That’s Awesome with Steve and Bradford below.

Now weigh-in: Are you rooting for Dante and Liz, or Dante and Ric at this juncture of the story, or neither guy  for Elizabeth? Let us know your thoughts and picks via the comment section.

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Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Mike Manning Lands Role in Indie Horror Feature ‘Deify’

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Mike Manning

While Smitty tries to hold the fort down in his marriage to congressman Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon)  and their two teenaged children, Samantha (Najah Jackson) and Tyrell (Jaden Lucas Miller) on Beyond the Gates, Emmy-winner Mike Manning has also landed another feature film role.

According to Deadline, Manning has joined the cast of Deify with 6 other new cast members for the indie psychological horror film starring Neal McDonough and Skeet Ulrich, which was previously announced last week.

Joining Manning as the latest cast addition are: Dennis Haysbert, Ashley Greene,  Casey Harnett, Kirk Avecdo, Anji White, anf Nicholas Chimera who’s directing the pic also has a part in the film.

WHAT’S THE STORY OF DEIFY?

Taking to his Instagram with the news of his casting, Manning shared, “A movie about a cult? What could possibly go wrong? Come for the enlightenment. Stay because they won’t let you leave. DEIFY is coming…”

The movie is currently shooting in Chicago and in story, “a cult leader is put on trial after causing his devoted followers to be burned alive. The film is inspired in part by events surrounding the 1993 Waco, Texas, standoff between members of the Branch Davidians church and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, one of the largest civilian firefights ever recorded on American soil.”

MIKE MANNING IS A DAYTIME EMMY NOMINEE

In addition, the multi-talented Manning is a producer on the feature. Previously, Mike was nominated last month in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. He previously won an Emmy for his role on The Bay and for being a producer on the digital drama.

Mike’s previous credits include the role of Charlie Dale on Days of Our Lives and the Manny on This Is Us, plus various primetime and screen credits.

So intrigued to find what role Mike will play in the upcoming horror/cult film, Deify? Enjoying him as Smitty on Beyond the Gates? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)

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Patrick J. Gibbons

At the conclusion of today’s August 21 episode of General Hospital, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) sings a lullaby to baby Dez, that went into a montage to close out the episode as her father Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) reports to Pentonville and winds up in his jail cell.

However, in a fun fact, the song entitled, “A Lonely Heart To Give” was actually written by none other than former One Life to Live and General Hospital actor, Patrick J. Gibbons.

Daytime fans first met Gibbons as Sam Manning on One Life to Live. At the time, when he started on the soap, he was just 5-years-old. Gibbons played the part from 2010-2013 on ABC and Prospect Park’s editions of the show. Fast-forward to 2018, Gibbons shows up on General Hospital as Wyatt Hoover, the scout who seemed always be injured, but in the thick of the drama. Patrick had appeared on GH multiple times as Wyatt including: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023.

Photo: ABC

FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER’S DEATH CAME THE INSPIRATION FOR HIS SONG

Now in 2026, General Hospital fans are getting to learn about another side of Gibbons’ talent as a songwriter and guitar player after “A Lonely Heart to Give” debuted today! Michael Fairman TV caught up with Patrick, who is now a senior at Penn State entering his final year as a finance major, to get the back-story of how his song wound up on GH!

Gibbons explained he wrote the song in honor of his grandmother who passed away a few years ago with whom he was, very, very close with. “Randomly, my grandmother had a downfall and passed away during the second semester of my sophomore year. I was in my dorm a lot and I was just playing with my guitar. And at the time, I was really into finger-style playing. I wrote the lyric and music to it (with a little help from my guitar teacher Lou), and my mom showed the rough demo to Frank Valentini (EP, General Hospital). He’s like an uncle to me. Frank loved it so much he said, “Finish that up. I want to hear the whole thing, and I want it on the show.”

MAKING MUSIC FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL

Gibbons and his parents took the next steps! “So now, all we needed was a female voice, because I thought that would fit the song well,” Patrick shared. “At the golf club we go to my parents were at a dinner. They liked the singer that was performing and spoke to her about the song, and she says she would like to bring it to her ‘boss’ who ended up being Eric Bazilian of the Hooters fame!” (Bazilian also wrote the smash hit song “One of Us” for Joan Osborne).

Next, “We went in the studio and recorded it and the song came together and it was beautiful. We loved it. They loved it at General Hospital and now they’re putting it the show and they are coming in with a piano, instead of a guitar. Paul Glass, the GH musical director, has been keeping us updated over the last six months of how it was coming along, and when it would air, and how GH put their own arrangement to it. I can’t wait to see and hear what they did with it.”

Photo: JPI

PATRICK’S ONE LIFE TO LIVE FAMILY

Everyone knows that the One Life to Live extended family share a very tight bond, and Patrick said he does stay in touch with a few of his former One Life to Live co-stars, especially those from the Manning family! “I stayed in touch with Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair) and sent her little videos here and there. She was like my second mom for five years. We keep in contact with Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) over X the most, and she can’t believe how big I’ve gotten. Like, none of them can! (laughs). I also loved working with Roger Howarth (ex-Todd) and Trevor St. John (ex-Todd and Victor Jr.), and to me since I was so young, they were just my friends, ‘Roger and Trevor,’ not Todd Manning or Victor Jr.”

It was a trip to California and a visit to Port Charles that ultimately led to Gibbons second soap role of Wyatt Hoover. Patrick explains, “In 2016, Frank Valentini invited us out to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital. I think he heard me say, ‘This is so much fun. I miss being on the set.’ He goes, ‘You should come out. I’ll bring you on the show. We can make you a character.'”

A few years later, Patrick’s dream became a reality! “Then, by the summer of 2018, I was playing Wyatt, the scout, and shared scenes with Wes Ramsey (Peter August), and the best was when I shared a scene with Roger Howarth and Michael Easton (ex-John, OLTL and ex-Silas, Finn et al, GH), it was like chemistry from the old days.”

Photo: PGibbons

IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS

As to his future aspirations, it’s a career in the finance game that has piqued Gibbons’ real-life interest. But never say never to a return to acting. Patrick explained, “I’ve always enjoyed numbers. And on top of that, one of the biggest parts of finance is being personable and outgoing.”

He continued, “That’s one of the greatest skills I developed growing up. I really love the markets. I’m super interested. I’m never going to close the door to acting. I’m always open to that because I just love it so much. It’s such a great art.”

Take note! If there are any investment bankers or private equity folks among the GH faithful looking for a young analyst next year, Patrick’s DMs are open. You can find him on X at @PatrickJGibbons.

So, what did you think of the song sung by Trina on today’s GH that was written by Patrick J. Gibbons? Did you enjoy Patrick’s performances as One Life’s Sam and GH’s Wyatt? Would you like to see him back on GH at some point? Let us know via the comment section.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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