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Melody Thomas Scott signs new contract with Y&R!

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: Steven Bergman

Photo Credit: Steven Bergman

Well here is a bit of good news!  With all the house cleaning speculation this week over at Y&R, now comes the news via TV Guide, that one of the shows most valuable assets and fan favorites, Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman) has finally signed a new contract with the number one sudser, and will be back on-air in November starting around the Thanksgiving holiday!

As many know, Melody was last seen on the set of Y&R back in April and all of a sudden stopped getting scripts leading her and many to believe, perhaps we had seen the last of Nikki, especially since on-air she was sent off to rehab for her battle with booze!

In her feature with TVG, Melody clears the air a bit and teases what is to come when Nikki hits Genoa City again.    Here are a few excerpts!

Melody on why she suddenly vanished from the soap and if it was all about financial restraints and budgetary problems at the soap: Yes, I do but it was not handled very well. I’ve been in this business since I was three and I know how this works. If a show is having problems with money or budget they call the actor very respectfully and say, “We have a little financial crunch here. Let’s try to work something out, okay?” That’s what should have happened. The problem was that such a phone call was never made to me and I was left in the lurch. Had they picked up the phone back in March or April and just said two or three sentences to me, none of this would have happened. But nobody said anything, and that started to get a little odd after a couple of weeks of not working. I would call in for my shooting schedule as I usually do and be told, “You have another week off.” And this kept happening week after week after week. Then the fans started paying attention to all this and were asking me, “Are you leaving the show?” I had no idea what to say or why I wasn’t working. Then all hell seemed to break lose. People were saying I had asked for a leave of absence. False. They were saying, “Oh, Melody, wants to spend time with her new grandbaby twins.” False. [Laughs] Well, of course I do want to spend time with them but I would never quit my job over it!”

Melody on what brings Nikki back to the canvas! “Well, apparently Nikki has been missing for a while. The rehab thing only lasted so long and now she’s disappeared and has been doing other things, which is what I can’t tell you about at this point. But when she finally comes home there are some very big issues going on with a lot of people and it will create big problems.”

So are you thrilled that Melody will be back on-air where she belongs on Y&R? Let us know!

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Praise God. Put this woman on the front burner for about a year so fans can actually see her again-and without Meggie or Deacon, please.

Michael,

Melody last worked at Y&R in April and made her last on-air appearance on June 3. Just want that clarified!

FINALLY!!!

Y&R finally made a good casting call. Hopefully Nikki comes back and is the one who murdered Diane. I love MTS!! Finally Nikki can come home!!

great news!!! Eventhough i m not the biggest fan of her, I admit that she is a key player for the show!

melody is a very valuable asset to y&r and i knew she would eventually be back!!
i can’t wait to see what niki has been up to!

Finally!!! Now, I can go back to watching Y&R again….

Yeah!!! This is the same silliness they pulled on Eric Braeden, totally disrespectful!! You know Sony MAB all these actors want is a little respect they deserved to know what is going on! Glad you are back Melody!!

Yes. I am not entirely happy with how she has handled all this (not that the show’s decision making and handling of this is any better) and I find that “They have come around and suddenly appreciate me again” quote to be particular graceless but Nikki and MLS belong on the canvas and I am thrilled she will be back.
The news from Y&R from the past couple of days have been pretty good. Seems they realized the show was a mess right now.

Thank God! Now plaease Powers That Be… treat Miss Scott and Nikki right!

I knew that MTS would be back, and that it was just a matter of time. As MAB put it once, “Melody is one of the hearts and souls of Young and the Restless.” That is very true, and I don’t care what happened, as long as she comes back…. with a vengeance! 🙂 Can’t wait!

I think you will realize actors are always a little full of themselves and you just have to ignore it. And to me it does not make sense to write how many new characters in that no one cares about and ignore the veterans. Doug Davidson deserves a meaty storyline he has been on for 33 years. Christian LeBlanc does nothing more then carry a briefcase around. And I am sorry but they could get rid of Tucker and no one would care. They are going to have to get back to the basics or this show will be canceled.

Thank Heaven’s Melody will be back…..but can we please NOT have her paired with Victor again….it’s old and tired !!

It can ‘t come soon enough!!!! I have missed MTS and Nikki so much. She is SUCH AN AMAZING actress and such a HUGE staple on Y&R! We need her back ASAP!!!

I am very happy to hear that Nikki will be back soon. She is a very important character on the show and has been truly missed!

So very pleased–my prayers have been answered. Nikki is my favorite character on the Y & R – and I have been watching the show since its first air date. Cannot imagine the show without her–and frankly the show has really been lacking in believability since she left. Nikki, Victor, Kay, Jill, Jack are my favorite characters. Would also love to see more of ESTHER. Melody Scott Thomas is wonderful–hope she remains on the show forever! LOVE HER!

Glad Nikki’s back. Now we need Dru back to make Sofia step!

I have been watching y&r since the late 70s im use to seeing nicki on the show with victor miss alot of other people that use to be on to

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

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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.

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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

‘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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