News
Meredith Baxter Joins The Young and the Restless!
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
It looks like a booze-fest is on its way to Genoa City that will spark some intriguing story on The Young and the Restless! According to TV Guide Magazine’s Michael Logan, none other than Family Ties favorite, Meredith Baxter has joined the cast of the CBS soap opera!
Baxter will debut in the role of Maureen on the Monday, September 8th episode and will be on throughout the fall. And look for Maureen to first cross paths with her new drinking buddy, Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott). The two will hit the sauce!
A CBS rep revealed: “Maureen is a charming, intelligent, middle-class woman who has always aspired to a more privileged life than she’s had. She appears kind and sympathetic, but can be quite manipulative. She is skilled at getting people to do the things she wants them to do by making them think it’s their idea!”
Apparently when not throwing back drinks, Maureen will cross paths with some other Genoa City residents who she has a connection with!
So, what do you think about Meredith Baxter joining Y&R? Who else do you think she will be connected to in GC? Comment below!
What excellent casting! I love Meredith, and hope she sticks around. I have a feeling she’ll be the mother of Stitch (Sean Carrigan) and Kelly (Cady McClain), which would be great for story! I’m pumped about this right now!
Good storyline, Scott…makes sense to me.
I think I’ll start drinking a bunch to forget another six months of Drunk Nikki. How many times is Y&R going to pull this crap out of the closet? Seriously, Melody Thomas-Scott’s crying and wailing over Paulie and Dullan were unbearable, but now this? Gee, you think Phelps is desperate much? Pathetic.
Melody has always stated how much she enjoys playing a drunk Nikki. And Nikki going back into the bottle is more based from Ian’s deception and games, than Dylan and Paul. And damn, people need to stop blaming JFP. If you ain’t got nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Weren’t you all raised right?
Larry…dude…if you’re actually serious about ‘drinking a bunch’, then you should stock up and all on the L-I-Q-U-O-R ASAP. I know I would. BOTTOMS UP!!!!! And Larry…Y-E-S…I think that Jill Farren Phelps is desperate, alright…STUPIDLY DESPERATE!!!!! Total lameness.
Peace, bro.
It is boring. Predictable.
Wow. Haven’t seen or heard of Baxter in a while. She was always a good actress.
ALWAYS NICE TO SEE A FAMILIAR FACE.
Maybe nikki will dip in the lady pond?
Ewww.
They can travel together to Lisbon.
Wow! Really? Yuck!
Get out of your own head. I’m sure you know what I mean. Stop visualizing things you feel yucky over. Gay people don’t do that with straight sex, you shouldn’t do that with lesbian sex. The show most likely will not go down that road. But to quote Seinfeld: “Not that there’s anything wrong with it!”
@MattsPlace. …huh? Somehow I feel I have offended you…if I have, I apologize…but you are right. I am a very visual person.
@CeeCee – Good response. I’m not offended so much as I’m just one of those people who see that we all live in the same world. Live and let live. Thanks.
There isnt enough vodka!
Lol!!!!!!
First thing I thought of too (woman on woman). Why not? Can’t be worse than Victor.
I hope they find some decent writers for her. Otherwise why is she wasting her time? At least when Bonnie Franklin was on, Y&R was still watchable.
Y&R is WAY more watchable now than it was at the time Bonnie Franklin was on.
What? I don’t know what show you’re watching, but it sure isn’t the boring, repetitive trash that’s on the screen these days! Y&R is horrible now.
I have been watching the show for over 30yrs, and have never been able to tear myself away. Yes some of the story lines have been a little off, but always lead back to something good happening. But the way this introduction is written it makes it seem as though she (her character) has been around GC in one way or another. There are some “twists” that were never straighten out, but it keeps you coming back for more!
You’re both right and wrong. It was unwatchable then and still is.
The show is fine now. At least it isn’t overrun by evil doppelgängers and woefully miscast veterans from the failed soaps. JFP and co. may not be perfect but compared to MAB they’re a godsend.
Real Deal, when it comes to boring, repetitive trash, B&B has that market cornered.
I hope Maureen, Nikki’s new drinking buddy, leads her to the road of no return….to Genoa City, that is. I really am sick of Nikki’s perpetual Maid Marian role…enough with the tears and melodrama. No one cares about her past…let’s move on. Nikki’s behavior is annoyingly unbecoming.
I love Meredith; I am sure she will bring drama and a positive change to Y&R for the duration as Maureen.
aww c’mon.. you don’t want to see two drunk women crying in their wishy for an year?? LOL
Y&R does way too much story recycling..
they constantly recycle couples now stories.. sigh ..
but- we all all have a great fun time watching, regardless 🙂
Right.
Like YR is the only soap in history to repeat or recycle couples.
Ha!
Yes, it’s a shame Y&R cannot take a page from GH and refrain from recycling.
Oh, wait….nevermind.
Cede Cee, I totally agree!
Su000, I think you must be new to GH. How many times has Carly married Sonny? Maybe four times? And she is heading back his way soon. It is quite dull to me and many other viewers too.
Your perfect GH has been on the repeat cycle for about three years now and most of their replications are mere pale imitations of better stories from the begone years.
I meant to write Cee Cee.
c’mon Y&R always recycles the couples all the time , they take turns switching partners and eventually ending up back with the one they started with..
sorta like musical beds aha ..
GH doesn’t do the couple thing like Y&R does (thank god) heh.
What if Maureen is Ian Wards wife? Possible?
Her FAMILY TIES(pun) will be with her son: STICTH!!!
Or she’ll be Katherine’s long lost estranged sister!!! And she’ll be very eager to takeover the Chancelor Mansion and will still be Stitch’s mummy…lol
I don’t think Merideth Baxter would do Y&R unless it was to tackle the subject of lesbianism. Her character may fall in love with Nicki. Nicki’s booze could lower her inhibitions. They will be lesbian lovers.
Oooooh, good one, jimh. I’d love that….it would really make Jill’s head roll, not to mention Colin.
I bet you’re right, Jim.
Honestly, and no offense to MB, but I was really hoping the new cast member was going to be Erika Slezak and she would be Katherine’s long lost sister,
I’m with Harry, was hoping for Slezak. But, I’ll keep an open mind and hope for the best.
Perhaps she is Mariah’s ‘mum’ via an adoption that Mariah is not aware of, as I still reckon she is Sharon’s twin daughter of Cassie. This would probably place her in connection with In some how and all. To bad she did not turn up years ago as River Baldwin’s husband at the ashram, reuniting her and Stephen Gross who played her husband on Family Ties back in the eighties.
…’in connection with Ian’…sorry about the auto correct…
That’s even better, Eden! Everybody stop…lol. Every situation and suggestion you guys make sounds soooo good…my head is spinning…lol
From what I can recall, this photo doesn’t even look like Meredith Baxter. Yet another actress has felt it necessary to maintain the look of a woman in her 20’s. I feel it means we are losing actresses who look their age now. All look the same age, between 26 & 35. Apart from that critique, seems a shame we are going back downy he road of Nikki drinking again. Hasn’t that happened enough? Given the MS storyline for Nikki, one would think it is an oxymoronic SL twist that will be at cross purposes to this character being in charge of her MS and fully aware of being alcoholic. Think there could be better use of these two actresses than their hitting the booze. Why couldn’t they do something that shows women more than weak, manipulative creatures. There are too many already on YR in my opinion. Let’s see them start a publishing company, a charitable organization where they are hands on. Anything but women falling apart because of men in the show. Puleese, women are stronger than this.
I would hardly say she looks between 26 & 35 but I do understand your point. It’s tough for an actress to “age gracefully” in our youth-obsessed society which is even more prevalant in an actor’s world. I also agree that there need to be more storylines developing that doesn’t have a woman falling apart because a man doesn’t love or desire her or whatever. Naturally, I realize it’s that type of genre but on many levels I do agree with you.
Meredith has just had her 67th birthday in June of 2014.
I agree that I am not looking forward to yet another Nikki drinking s/l. Hasn’t this been done to death already! MB could have had one of many other possibilities. Don’t really care for her so will probably be in ff mode.
I agree with your premise, but I don’t think it’s applicable to MB. She has a short hair cut and her face betrays no evidence of having work done. She looks her age in that picture.
But everything else you state above, Wendy, makes a whole lot of sense to me.
I agree with you, especially about the drinking part. I figure this just shows now uncreative writers can be when they fall back on the same cliches over and over again.
Spelling error in previous post = “we are going down the road of Nikki drinking again.” Sorry about that.
one word: BORING !
Y&R has an old actress addiction! Anne Romano, Daisy Duke, MBB, and Sean Young. Is Betty White next!
Betty White did B&B with Phyllis Diller. It’s a Bell Serials’ gimmick.
Old men too..
Jack, Ian, Victor, Colin, and Neil and Paul are getting there too..
…. The Young and the Respite ahaaa!
HA! Excellent point. But you gotta’ admit, Betty White would be awesome. (For the record, I always disliked Bonnie Franklin and her “acting”)
Oh, c’mon now, Timmm. We can’t have a show with only a young cast. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles etc. are needed. I am fine with the introduction of an older cast as long as said cast doesn’t make out …show affection, yes, but no mouth to mouth, unless it is to resuscitate… Eg. Nikki and Victor ( his spittle), Jill and Colin. That ship has sailed. I don’t think I am alone in this.
Also, God bless Betty White. If I am to live as long as she, I hope I will be able to move around and walk with my own two legs on my own two feet.
i actually think meredith birney has been aging very gracefully and is wonderfully un-vain.
Her sexuality may be the reason for her not being vain. She’ll be the a aggressor to Nicki’s mousyness.
I don’t agree with the idea that Nikki displays any kind of ‘mousiness’, as you put it. On the contrary, in the 14 years since I have watched Y&R, Nikki has always been ‘in your face kind of woman.’ She is neither shy nor plain. I rather find her pretentious, of course that is my opinion. I also do not think that one’s sexuality has anything to do with vanity. Straight or gay, we are all the same in the way we feel about ourselves……some of us are vain, some of us are not. I am sure there are as many gays who are as vain as their straight counterparts; and vice-versa. It is all about one’s personality and sense of self, in other words, ego…how we perceive ourselves. IMO.
The character of Nikki has been for years her nose in the air I loved it years ago when Sharon told her she was nothing special. When she went into this cult she was married to Greg Foster the lawyer Jill’s brother once again history removed. 🙁
And for the record Lauren was always Paul’s BFF!!!!
I’m shocked!!
Nikki will be a drunkard again, never seen that coming, nope..
It will be exciting to watch a drunk Nikki again! how original!
the only save from complete boredom will be Meredith Baxter, IF the character is written well ..
A pompous woman afflicted with MS, a slurring drunkard on my screen through the next year .. ohhh mercy .. lol
Pompous is right on the mark. Nikki would do well to re-examine her roots and bring that nose down a notch. It is time for her lips to give it a rest and un-pucker….she is not 21.
I must comment on the plastic surgery. I can’t judge because I am in my 20’s, but psychologically speaking, I can understand. The business these actors are in is very demanding and focuses heavily on their looks. I must give Melody credit, though…..she does not appear to have had any work done. That is a definite plus.
Also, I agree that Mariah is Sharon’s daughter. I am finding the show quite boring lately and I have missed many episodes. So, I wonder if Mariah is aware that Sharon is her birth mother. If she is, is it payback time? Is that the reason she has her eye on Nick? For the first time in a long time, my interest is piqued.
From what the article said, two drunkards…what a waste.
Sources close to the Y&R set say she is Nikki’s long lost daughter and Dylans twin!
ahaaa she is not even close to Dylans age to be his twin, more like g’ma ..
Way too old!
People it was a joke and the fact you bought into it is very telling! The show is yesterday’s news and very sad that it is going down in flames. Meredith Baxter is a joke and so is her casting just so done with this show the day it gets cancelled will be the day Bill Bell will finally RIP!
I had to reply here. I only made a big point to lesbianism because the last few years I’ve read stories/interviews with MB, she spoke of the subject. She became a poster child for lesbianism. Y&R could be giving her a platform for such a reason.
Since all roads lead to Dylan– my guess is she might be Avery’s and Phyllis’s mother.
While a lot of fans are speculating that it might be Ben and Kelly’s Mom, I think it’d be much more FUN if it WAS Avery/Phil’s Mom.
Good speculation.
How about her being Mariah’s adoptive mother? It is obvious they are going down that route of Mariah being Sharon’s daughter. I think this character was probably a member of the cult also.
I believe Baxter will be Mariah’s Mom.
Indeed, all roads lead to Dylan…and what a long, boring drive it’s been. However, I would prefer her being Phyllis and Avery’s mom than Kelly & Stitch’s. Although at this point, I don’t know why I care. As you said, all roads lead to Dylan. zzzzzzzz.
Love her! So classy!
Character needs to have a relationship to people on the show–not just Nikki’s drinking buddy.
It could be Kelly and Stitch’s mother?
They’ll be more than drinking buddies…they’ll be lesbian lovers! The booze will put Nikki at ease. She’ll be easy!!!
Well, that would put a new twist in Nikki’s storyline, which would be a refreshing change from Victor IMO.
I agree that she will likely be Kelly & Stitch’s mother. I personally would find it more compelling to finally meet Phyliss and Avery’s mom. If the writing is there, I think MBB will be a good addition either way.
Please stop it with the lesbian talk ok! I need Meredith Baxter’s personal life brought into a soap like I need a hole in the head. Please keep personal business out of show business. Could care less who she sleeps with.
4ever DAYS…GOOD ONE!!!!! Hee Hee Hee. And…how about this: Kevin and that VERY RUGGEDLY DREAMY Detective Mark Harding clearly have a LOVE-HATE working relationship. Then, from there, their LOVE-HATE working relationship can obviously SPRINGBOARD into something M-O-R-E!!!!! One more time…Hee Hee Hee. From there, can you imagine the ENDLESS D-R-A-M-A that would go on at the GCPD?!?!? I mean…Paul (in more ways than one) would lose his mind in terms of dealing with Mark and Kevin’s, um, Nu-bickering…LOL!!!!! Poor Paul…Hee Hee Hee. Oh, Well.
A-C-E-S!!!!!
@4 ever…Why so fixated on lesbianism? Good grief, enough already!
Yay – they added Meredith to the cast…. I guess.
Just not looking forward to a Nikki dipping into the sauce storyline again.
Not at all !
If she turns out to be stitch’s mom, I bet she really killed her husband and stitch took the blame to protect her and that’s why she’s a boozer.
The minute Kelly told Jack her mother told her not to be too hard on Ben for “killing his father” I thought the same thing. The mother killed her husband for being abusive, Ben in order to protect his mother confessed to it— which would make way more sense given his character—
I had this exact thought today that I bet Stitch’s mother killed the father & Stitch took the rap. And Kelly had such a weird reaction when Jack asked about their mother. Stitch never confirms to anyone that “of course it was self-defense” He clams up when anyone says that. I do have to laugh when everyone in town is SO self-righteous about Stitch having murdered someone & gone to prison. I mean every character on that show has been in jail at one time or another & some (Victor, Adam & more I can’t think of right now) for very hideous crimes & all is forgiven & forgotten. I mean it is not like Stitch is a serial killer or something for crying out loud!
Lizzy. I think you may be right. It would be a great storyline anyway. Thanks for the storyline idea, maybe the writers will read it. lol
Well, there is the final reason to STOP watching.
Maybe she will bring MJF with her as a Kyle recast! Oh wait, they sort of already did that and they let him go and hired some square jawed caveman! Thankfully he is off canvas!
Here we go again. All the writers do is keep bringing in new characters who have negative ulterior motives and do harm against the main characters. Can’t they write some original stories?
What would really be fun is if River Baldwin would return. He was played by Michael Gross, who was Meredith Baxter’s husband on “Family Ties” back in the 1980s. River could come back and give Ian Ward a run for his money (Nikki’s money?) on how cults should be run in the Genoa City area while trying to bilk folks out of money, make their family members crazy and then River could fall in love with Meredith’s character while still having some feelings for Gloria, his ex-wife!
Heck, it would be lot more interesting storyline than what some have been on the show lately, right?
Well, I hope when she comes on, she brings some of that Bette Broderick evil with her … I like Meredith when she’s baaaaad!!
wolfy
Forgot about that storyline. Michael Gross was really good in that role. And any storyline with more Gloria would make me happy. Also, Michael needs a storyline that isn’t about someone else. Love Michael and Gloria (and the rest of the Baldwin/Fisher/Fenmore family).
I look at it like this…over the years, Meredith Baxter has proven (over and over again) that she can do ANYTHING acting-wise. To me, Meredith was BEYOND AWESOME when she played the role of that totally deranged socialite Betty Broderick on-screen. Not only once but twice. And if I remember correctly, that Betty Broderick stuff and all was based on a true story. Bottom Line Here: Come 9/8/2014 (aka next month)…let the DRAMATIC FIREWORKS BEGIN!!!!! D-R-A-M-A!!!!!
I love Meredith…you are right jaybird, she can play any role…she is that talented.
But she is not daytime there are tons of out of work actress’s from daytime that could have done this role justice. People on this board go on and on about saving the daytime genre then we should do that. Are you really going to tell me that Slezak, Strasser, Zenk, the list goes on & on could not have done this part. Be loyal fight for out of work Daytime actress”s & actors!!!!
And no I am not Union if they had me working for them they would be working! 🙂
Totally agree with you jaybird and CeeCee. I love her acting.
Absolutely, k/Kay. I love all those actresses, especially Strasser…one of my favorites. I would have loved to have one of them on the soap. I am not comparing, I am merely stating that Meredith is a great actress. Perhaps Slezak , Strasser and Zenk did not want the job. We can only speculate and hope that drama, suspense, romance and all that good stuff are re-introduced to daytime. I may be young in age, but I am an old soul at heart…if that makes any sense.
I have to agree with k/kay. The stunt casting with MBB and formerly Bonnie (yuck) Franklin, Sean Young and so on is not appealing to me as a soap fan. So many GREAT former soap queens I would rather see than Ms. Birney. Not because she isn’t a good actress (loved her as Betty Broderick) just would rather see Slezak, Strasser, Zenk, and so on…They know how to do soaps.
(Although Cady McClain seems to be proving me wrong as Kelly. Former Cady fan/not in this role. I do put a lot of that on the writers, though.)
It is sorta funny;
Nikki and aged drunk with Multiple sclerosis sucks up the booze with her drinking partner..
They will slur and stumble through scenes when they are not crying in their whisky..
And she will hide her drinking and on and on and on it will go for a year …
Speaking of recycling and repetition….you have written the same thing over and over.
Since it seems Kelly and Stitch are going to stick around, it wouldn’t surprise me at all that she is their mother. It’s quite reasonable for her to be a boozer after what sounds like a very troubled past. Honestly, I’d love it if they had her and Nikki have some sorta relationship. What a great way to stir up some real drama. The fallout would be huge!! Things like this do happen in real life and way more realistic than some of the other story lines that they’ve had in the past and some that are going on right now. Looking forward to it. Either way, I look forward to Meredith being on the show.
If it’s a day ending in “y” you can count on Y&R adding yet another character instead of focusing on storytelling…
I think it would be great if Y&R brought back Michael Gross and connected him to Ian and this new character Maureen somehow. Maybe River and Ian could be brothers? Though I’m still hoping Ian turns out to be Victor’s long-lost brother Matthew Miller from the days when Victor was really Christian Miller – THAT would be awesome.
As for Maureen, I think she will end up being Stitch and Kelly’s mother, and maybe we’ll learn that Stitch and Kelly are only half-siblings, and that Kelly’s real father was River, but she never knew that growing up because Maureen didn’t want River’s influence in her daughter’s life?
I agree with you wolfsmistress, your story line would really be something to watch. I have been watching Y & R since it started. After reading all the other comments, yours not only makes sense but would we be oh so interesting. Oh yes, I also like Meredith when shes baaaaad!
Meredith is an amazing actress. She’s very talented. She is able to do comedy; therefore, I think she would make a drunk companion with Nikki! I don’t watch Y&R much; but, I do tune in from time to time while at home during lunch.
The real irony here is the name! Wonder how many GL fans picked up on it? Interesting choice naming her Maureen.
Maybe I should explain JFP was behind the killing of Maureen Bauer. Ironic that a new character on Y&R will be named Maureen. I thought that was the first thing Guiding Light fans would notice.
great, more stunt casting, said noone….
YES YES YES YES YES! Fantastic news, I could not be happier. Now I wish they would bring back Helen Slater on a regular basis. She was better in her doctor role than almost all of her ’80’s movies combined.
4ever….as much as Lisbon is a beautiful place to visit, I think you meant to say, “Lesbos”, which is a Greek island.
That too!
Lol….now, that’s funny.
Isn’t that the island Wonder Woman is from?
When I read “Lisbon” I was wondering, “Why would they want to go to the Town of Lisbon?” A small burg in Wisconsin, much like Genoa City, but without the multinational conglomerates or the mega-billionaires. As if Y&R could get anymore boring. (sorry to anyone who resides in Lisbon. On Wisconsin!)
I doubt she meant Lisbon, Wisconsin, but the internationally known Lisbon, Portugal.
I am thrilled. I love her acting and hope it goes LONG TERM.
I thought the character of Mariah said her mom’s name is Maureen? Maureen phoned Mariah looking for money, right?
Mariah’s mother’s name is Helen.
No Micheal Muhney – no Y&R!
Micheal Muhney was a real yuk I hear. Loved him as Adam but he was a DOM when it came to being around women. He was a jerk personally. The people in the cast did not like him and he caused a lot of trouble. Just saying
Wasn’t Meredith Baxter Birney on Y and R several years ago helping Victor wgeb he was searching for Nick or someone or had amnesia? I know Bonnie Franklin was on way back then, but I seem to remeber Meredith on there at some point.What was her storyline back then?
Kathy, I was just talking to my daughter about her. …I would swear Meredith Baxter Birney has been on Y & R before?? I don’t see any replies to your question…and I don’t see anything on the web?? Are we crazy?? LOL
Would love to see Meredith and Nikki involved in a lesbian relationship along with the booze. Nikki would find out that she was always a lesbian. Interesting concept. Have Nikki try out lesbian sex like Adam did.
You mean Maureen, not Meredith. Yes, I suspect they will be lovers.
I REALLY love it that Meredith is on the show, it adds an exciting element that has been sorely needed… a veteran character’s (Melody’s) story line going in a new direction. I also think it’s great when Nikki starts drinking again because it’s a more realistic depiction of the alcoholic struggle. Typically a character will have been outed as a drunk, they’ll rehab and then for ever after they’ll casually mention AA every couple of years. I hope Meredith stays on indefinitely!
Welcome to Y&R, Meredith. Loving your acting and that you are aging nsturally. You look beautiful and great haircut. How can I dupe it?
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.”
Calderon took to his Instagram story and simply shared, “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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