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Revenge Creator Mike Kelley on those Burning Questions from the amazing Season Finale!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

If you missed last night’s season finale of Revenge, you missed one kick-ass cliffhanger after the next.  The hit ABC primetime drama delivered and EW.com  talked with series creator and head writer, Mike Kelley to try to get some clarity and some answers to all the shocking twists and turns and how it all might play out in season two.   Here are some excerpts from the interview below!

Kelley on Victoria Grayson’s (Madeleine Stowe) apparent demise where we presume she blew up on a plane!  “I knew I wanted a cliffhanger on Victoria. I wasn’t sure what the details were going to be. After the Fire and Ice Ball, I started to think of the last seven episodes, I thought of those as a contained story, episodes 16 through 22. Since it was leaning toward the white-haired man and the conspiracy and all those things were coming up, what I really wanted to do was twin the first plane crash and it seems poetic in a lot of ways, for her to almost knowingly get on a plane and go to her fate, by her own design. I didn’t want her to be tricked into her own demise. I wanted her to sort of embrace her fate and the role she played in bringing herself to this terrible place. We had thought about it extensively, but we were so buy writing that I didn’t get the chance to flesh out how I wanted it to work.  People should listen to their instincts because they’re invested in characters in the show, but there are twists and turns and they love to be surprised. What everybody expects happened that night has not been fully reported.  How about that?”

Courtesy/ABC

Kelley on the reveal that there was a bigger conspiracy theory going on all along and we learn that Emily’s mother is alive!  “We did definitely know that was going to play a larger role. You have to continue to expand into season 2, we need a larger palette. We don’t want to get repetitive. We need new discoveries and new sinister twists and new villains. So we definitely knew that there was going to be a larger thing at play. What’s going to be fun is that we’re going to reveal is that we’ll find out that Emily’s involvement about what’s about to happen in season 2 was not by chance. There is a lot happening here, a larger plot is at play and she’s part of it. She’ll become more mad than ever, and with the help of Nolan, she’ll really plan to do something significant to bring down a very large, very evil, very untouchable force.  What you’re going to discover about the woman who was Emily’s mother is the circumstances under which they were separated and you’re going to find that there’s some deep psychological issues with her, which I think is going to be fun for us to explore. For Emily, she’s going to start seeing some of the psychological damage that her mother has in herself. So she’s going to start doing a lot of soul-searching about who she is, what part DNA has played in her life choices and how she’s going to move forward, whether or not this person is going to be part of her life or if this is going to be someone that is going to disappoint and hurt her.”

Kelley on Amanda being back and pregnant and with Jack which destroys Emily’s heart in the finale:   “The thing about Jack is that if there’s any place that we’re more ponderous with storytelling, it’s with Jack, who really — and by design — sees the best in people. We want him to be a moral center. He doesn’t immediately go to the I’m-being-played place. Now he’s not an idiot. He knows that Amanda has been tricky, but the last thing that happened was she told him that she loved him and wanted to go before she ran off. He’s got a lot of questions, and as far as the baby is concerned, if he was sleeping with her, he has no other reason to believe that it’s not his. And, I will tell you: There is a baby. So it’s not illogical that the baby would belong to him. He’s the kind of guy that is going to do the right thing. He’s not immediately going to go to the dark place.”

Kelley on what he is thinking to make season two top the first season of Revenge: “We have a lot of questions to answer. Something that served us very well in season 1 was flashing forward to a very dramatic event and telling our audience how we got there. The audience trusts us to tell a satisfying story without dragging it out for 100 years. So I think you can expect that we’ll answer a lot of questions up front and we’ll pose a lot of new ones as to where we’re headed, and you can expect a Fire and Ice-level event that we’re headed to in the opening of season 2. That’s my plan for now. I reserve the right to change my mind. We get back into the writers’ room next week, and I want to know what everybody thinks. Everyone has had a chance to sit and think — I want to know what they think, if there’s a better idea, but the formula that we began seems to have been working for us.”

So soapers, what did you think of the season finale last night?  What do you think about Mike Kelley’s comments on the cliffhangers and the upcoming season season? Weigh-in!

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Hopefully it doesn’t get cancelled by ABC/Disney. I read an article on msn.com about how all their programs could suffer cancellation due to people using pvr’s and other viewing means to skip all the ads.

Is this the true reason AMC and OLTL are gone? I must admit, I haven’t watch “live” tv since 2004.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE REVENGE OMG IT IS OFF THE HOOK!!!

I think Emily’s mother has been the real evil behind the entire plot to frame her dad!

can you say witness protection program? madeline stowe will be back

Oh totally she survived the crash! Nolan I LOVE also!

I totally have enjoyed this season of Revenge! I pray it does not get cancelled!!
The cliff hanger was just that!! I was sitting on the edge of my seat.. I am not a child but I must admit I did not see a baby coming into the picture.. Oh please keep this show on.. I love it and so does my 82 year old mother!!!

Best show since ER!!!
I love Nolan!

They need to cast Peter Porte the actor is perfect as a son of Grayson!!!

Great show! The twists just kept on coming…

I hope Victoria somehow didn’t end up on that plane and that she’ll be back. LOVE her!

I hope fakeAmanda’s baby is not Jack’s. He and Emily should be together in the end.

The revelation that Emily/Amanda’s mother is alive should easily keep this show going for another season.

Nolan is my favorite character besides Emily! I love it!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Revenge best night time show since ER and Sienfeld!!! Nolan is my favorite!!!

I love revenge but I find it very hard to understand Emily when she speaks She speaks so softly and hardly opens her mouth when she talks

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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