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Peter Porte, Crystal Chappell and Marc Anthony Samuel Talk The Strides and Not Strides in LGBTQ+ Representation on the Soaps

By Michael Fairman

Published

1 year ago

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Photos: JPI

LBGTQ+ representation over the years on daytime soap operas has been at times groundbreaking, at times controversial, and at times faced network and fan backlash. So, here we are in 2025, while Beyond the Gates, Days of our Lives, General Hospital, and The Young and the Restless currently have gay characters or couples currently on the canvas, the road to getting there hasn’t been easy and keeping them front burner has been another issue.

In the new audio-first soap opera Montecito, three daytime vets also play key roles in the story including: Crystal Chappell as Helena Granville-Belasco, who plays a strong-willed mother who’s not afraid to get her hands dirty to protect her family, Peter Porte as Deacon Granville, the trapped husband who is secretly gay, burdened by a moral obligation to his wife, and Marc Anthony Samuel as Gio Carreri, who carries a torch from the past for Deacon.

Previously, all three actors have played LGBTQ+ roles on major soap operas. Marc as General Hospital’s Felix Dubois, a part he played on and off from 2012-2022, and made appearances in 2023 and2024. Peter appeared on Days of our Lives as bad guy, Dimitri Von Leushner, first on the limited series Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem in 2021, and then on the mothership again in 2023.  Crystal, is soap famous not only for her various roles as Carly Manning on Days of our Lives, Maggie Carpenter on One Life to Live, Olivia Spencer, Guiding Light, and Danielle Spencer, The Bold and the Beautiful, but for creating the acclaimed LGBTQ+ digital drama, Venice the Series.

Photo: JPI

It was Chappell, along with Jessica Leccia (ex-Natalia) while on Guiding Light that made the on-screen couple known as “Otalia” one of the show’s most popular duos, while fighting the network and network sponsors that at that time would not apparently let two women kiss on the lips, and this was back in late 2008 and into 2009.

Recently, Peter, Marc, and Crystal along with Montecito creator, Grant Rutter visited You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel, to not only discuss their new project, but to have an open discussion on where LGBTQ+ representation is at on the soaps in 2025 and the strides, and the not strides, this genre had made since they each worked in the medium.

Photo: JPI

Marc Anthony Samuel said, “I think it’s different. I think when I came on the fact that I was the first out black gay character on a soap opera for General Hospital was made to be a big deal. Now, while that, in my opinion, is trailing real life by quite a bit, for daytime television, and for that particular show, it was a big deal. I don’t think the work is done. I would love to see a world where you see same gender couples without blinking an eye, and without it having to be the center of the story. It’s like, ‘They’re gay and black. Okay, cool. What else are you? Do you have your own storylines? Are you just a centerpiece through which all other stories just kind of touch base and then there’s nothing about your life?’  They have a long way to go in that respect. I wish them luck. I hope they can get to that point. Primetime television has been doing it forever. Real life has been doing it forever. So, I think daytime could fit it in a little bit.”

Peter Porte added, “I think that with Dimitri being gay is the least interesting thing about him. I think that that’s a reflection of our time, but yeah, I agree with Marc. I’m 41, but it’s only been recently that I’ve been playing gay characters, which is really fun. Luckily, they’ve taken a very positive turn in the way that we’re being represented, which is very real and sometimes ugly. And that’s great because if all those straight guys get to play villains, I wanna play one too!”

Photo: JPI

Crystal Chappell reflected: “I think certainly the networks have made some strides. I agree with Peter and Mark that we’ve got a long way to go. There’s some inherent fear. I’m not sure what. I don’t want to put a label on it, but I there’s something stopping daytime from pushing it a little further. It seems that way, and this is just my opinion with gay characters, that the pendulum swings in such extreme ways as opposed to what these guys are talking about, which is there’s so much more to the character than being gay. During the Otalia story we literally couldn’t touch each other and I was like, ‘This is actually a love story, we’re telling!'”

Now below, check out our full conversation with members of the cast of Montecito. And below that, you can check out the fourth episode of the audio soap released on Tuesday.

So, do you think the soaps have done an admirable job of including gay characters on the canvas, and the stories they have given them? Do you think they have a long way to go to fully reflect the lives of the LGBTQ+ community? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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I adored the character of Dimitri and his relationship with Leo. I wish Peter would come back to the show.

I also love Paul, Andrew & Sonny … same show.

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Days Of Our Lives

Al Calderon Reflects on ‘Major Chapters’ Coming to an End on ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Brilliant Minds’

Published

7 hours ago

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June 21, 2026

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It’s been a bittersweet time for Al Calderon. The talented actor/singer/songwriter has watched from his vantage point to roles he loved so much come to their conclusion for different reasons.

In a heartfelt message posted to his Instagram story on Saturday, Calderon took a moment to share how grateful he was for the opportunity to play Javi Hernandez on Days of Our Lives, and nurse Nico Silva this year on NBC’s second season of Brilliant Minds. Currently, Brilliant Minds has two more episodes that will air on June 24 and the series finale on July 1.

Calderon expressed, “As I sit here reflecting on this lovely Saturday afternoon over the last two years of my life, I have two major chapters closing that have been part of my life every day for the last two years. We have Brilliant Minds. Our last episodes are wrapping up, and then my last scenes aired yesterday as me as Javi on Days of Our Lives.

Photo: JPI

“I’m just unbelievably grateful for the chance and the opportunity to be a part of something so much larger than me,” continued Al. “I (will) love Days of Our Lives forever, my family. Thank you for supporting me and supporting my decision to take the leap of faith and believe in myself and, and tell other stories. You know, it’s never goodbye. It’s always ‘see you later’ to me and just leaving with love and leading with love.”

Al concluded with a special mention to some very important people, the fans: “Thank you to the fans and the support from everyone, the lovely messages. So this next chapter, hopefully it’s not a dragon, hopefully it’s a gold coin.”

Photo: NBC

Calderon’s journey on-screen on Days of Our Lives began in October of 2024 and concluded this month. In one of his last appearances Javi was asking a favor from Gabi (Cherie Jimenez) before bumping into his ex, Leo (Greg Rikaart). In story, Javi has a new romance with Gus (Michael Ocampo), while fighting his feelings for Leo. The role of Javi will be played starting on June 30 by Jacob Martinez who takes over the role.

NBC decided to cancel the Brilliant Minds, after it split up the airing of its second season which began in the fall of September of 2025 and the back-half started airing after a long break this past May. Calderon joined the medical drama staring Zachary Quinto for the new season, which sadly was its last.

So, will you miss Al on Days of Our Lives and Brilliant Minds as his time on-screen has come to an end? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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Days Of Our Lives

Christopher Sean and Colton Little Make a Return to ‘Days of Our Lives’

Published

2 days ago

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June 19, 2026

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Next week, Days of Our Lives welcomes back fan favorites Colton Little (Andrew Donovan) and Christopher Sean (Paul Narita) when they reprise their roles for an upcoming special episode which contains Deidre Hall’s 50th anniversary as Marlena Evans.

Circle Monday, June 22 when the married couple comes back to Salem. Paul is the son of Marlena’s beloved and late husband, John Black (Drake Hogestyn). Andrew is the son of iconic couple Shane Donovan (Charles Shaughnessy) and Kimberly Brady (Patsy Pease).

According to the official Days of Our Lives spoilers for the week of June 22-26, Andrew scolds Cat (AnnaLynne McCord).  Let’s remember Andrew is ISA. Meanwhile while Marlena thinks back on her fifty years in Salem, Paul arrives back in town.

Photo: JPI

ANDREW AND PAUL

Christopher Sean began playing Paul Narita back in 2014. He has come and gone from the show over the last decade. He was last on-screen back in November of 2025, when Paul arrived back in Salem for the dedication of the Tom Horton Free Clinic as part of the Days of Our Lives 60th anniversary celebration.

Colton Little, first began playing the all grown-up Andrew Donovan in 2022 on the Peacock limited series, Beyond Salem: Chapter 2. Little eventually moved to the mothership and Days of Our Lives in 2023. He was last seen on the soap opera back in March of this year in scenes with Peter Porte (Dimitri Von Leuschner) and Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark).

In story, Andrew and Paul tied the knot in front of family and friends on June 24, 2025, which followed the heartbreaking funeral of Paul’s father, John Black, who had passed away several weeks earlier from injuries sustained in an explosion.

Photo: JAnchondoIG

Michael Fairman TV also confirmed the romance exclusively of Colton Little with former General Hospital actor, Adrian Anchondo (ex-Marco Rios) at the end of  December of 2025.

Anchondo shared at that time, “I reached out to him (Colton) when I got the job on GH. We knew of each other through mutual friends; so I knew of him for a long time. I started asking Colton about what his experience was like on soaps and asked about SAG health insurance, etc. We met up one night and were hooked from then on.”

So, are you excited to see Andrew and Paul back on your screens? Share your thoughts and if you would like to see them stay longer in Salem in the future, with a story all of their own via the comment section. But first, check out the just released promo for the action on Days of Our Lives entitled “Conspiracy” below featuring Christopher and Colton.

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Days Of Our Lives

GH and DAYS Alum Brandon Barash and Wife Isabella Welcome Son ‘Sebastian’ Into the World

Published

5 days ago

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June 16, 2026

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Congratulations are in order for General Hospital and Days of Our Lives favorite Brandon Barash (ex-Johnny and ex-Stefan/Jake, respectively) and his wife, Isabella Devoto Barash, who welcomed their newborn son, Sebastian Antonio Barash back on June 5.

For the first time his Sebastian’s birth the couple is posting and beaming with pride at the new addition to the family. This is Brandon and Isabella’s second child and second son together following the birth of Joaquin Lee Barash back in September of 2023. Barash is also the father of Harper Rose Barash from his previous marriage to General Hospital star, Kirsten Storms (Maxie) who is now 12-years-old and big sister to do younger brothers!

In his heartfelt post on Instagram accompanied by several photos of his growing family, Brandon expressed, “The heart is indeed a muscle, and boy, can it stretch. We welcomed our newest addition Sebastian Antonio Barash (Antonio after Isa’s dad) on 6.5.26. Lil Seba, I vow to love you with undying ferocity and without condition. As for our new family of five, we have all already evolved for the better as we rise like the lotus through the muck of sleepless nights, soul-tingling baby whimpers, and yes, poopy diapers. These babies teach us a clinic on love…all we need to do is saddle up, be still, and take em in. Isabella Barash, you’re my hero. Thank you for the gift of your love. House is full, hearts fuller.”

Photo: BBarashIG

BRANDON’S BUDDIES CONGRATULATE HIM ON WELCOMING NEW SON

Several of Brandon’s former co-stars have already jumped in the commenting thread including, Rob Scott Wilson (Alex, DAYS) “Congrats my brotha!!,” Dan Feuerriegel (EJ, DAYD) and Eric Martsolf (Brady, DAYS), with whom Brandon appears with in the Day Players Band and more.

Back in April of this year, Brandon was granted an emergency restraining order against his ex-wife, Kirsten Storms claiming that the GH favorite was exhibiting concerning behavior and he feared for the well-being of their daughter, Harper. They each now live separate lives in Tennessee.

We send our well-wishes to Brandon, Isabella and their new son, Sebastian as they build their burgeoning family unit.

Take a look at Brandon and Isabella’s new little bundle of joy in the snaps below.

Now, share your congratulations to Brandon and Isabella  via the comment section!

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A post shared by Brandon Barash (@brandonjbarash)

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