Interviews

THE HEATHER TOM AND JACK WAGNER INTERVIEW- THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

Published

17 years ago

May 22, 2009

Michael

-Breaking Up Is Hard To Do-

This week on The Bold and the Beautiful, Katie makes a decision about the future of her strained relationship with Nick, and it looks like it’s the beginning of the end for this duo, which over the past year has endured so much tragedy and little triumph.

Two of soaps most recognizable and respected performers, Heather Tom and Jack Wagner, brought viewers some dynamic moments as Katie and Nick, including Katie’s heart transplant and the aftermath. In fact, it was Brad Bell who chose the special episodes of Storm’s suicide and Katie’s receiving the gift of life as his choice for Outstanding Drama Series for Daytime Emmy competition. His decision paid off with a nomination.

TV SOAP sat down inside Heather Tom’s exquisitely decorated dressing room (Yes, she is an interior design consultant in her spare time) with her and her co-star, Jack Wagner, for this moving and bittersweet interview, as two top notch talents reflect on their work and the realization that they won’t be working so close anymore….or will they?

Here’s Heather and Jack!

TV SOAP:

First off, congratulations to “B&B” for getting a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, and it’s for the Storm suicide/Katie heart transplant episodes that you two were a part of! What did you think of those shows?

HEATHER:

I thought those were really amazing shows, and we took the time with it. I think Cindy Popp, who directed them did a beautiful job. Everything came together, the writing, the music and the lighting, made it a great show. I think we have a great shot this year. I think they were really emotional shows, too. Even if you don’t watch our show, they were interesting and you could get into them.

TV SOAP:

If we go back to the beginning of what drew Katie and Nick together, Jack, why do you feel Nick was so supportive of her in the first place?

JACK:

All relationships that have chemistry are about two people who don’t like each other and that’s how we started out. Our characters were a little bit at odds with each other, and because of a tragedy…in this case, a heart transplant… it drew them together. That’s where the magic started, and Nick was in a heroic position to be there for a woman who was really empty.

TV SOAP:

Then, didn’t Nick take Katie away to an Island, and isn’t that where you ‘made love’?

HEATHER:

Unbeknownst to any of us… (She laughs)

JACK:

That never happened on-screen!

HEATHER:

We did some flashback stuff, and honestly we had no idea. I was not playing in those scenes that we had sex, just the complete opposite of that! Then all of a sudden, Brad Bell (executive producer and head writer, “B&B”) called me one day and said, “By the way, remember when you guys went to the islands?” And I go, “Well that kind of changes everything I have been playing for the last few
months!”

JACK:

It kind of goes to show as actors, that this was “off-camera sex”. I remember Heather and I going, “What are we going to do here?” And we kind of tracked in our minds, will it work or not? And it did work. We could have been ultimately covering the fact that they had been intimate. So, that is what worked and was justifiable, but it was backwards how it happened, so we shot it out of sequence.

TV SOAP:

On “B&B” it’s known that story direction can change quickly on a dime. How did you adjust your performances?

HEATHER:

I am not sure it would have made any difference on how I played it, because I wouldn’t have wanted to tip my hand, no matter what. As an actor, I do give myself secrets even if they don’t have anything to do with anything, but that would have been a fun secret to have. Even though I would not have wanted to play that for the audience, I think that pretty much changed how the audience perceived it. As an actor, I would have been playing more subtext, and on this show you have to be open to all of the twists and turns. It can always go off in some new direction.

TV SOAP:

When we last spoke, Jack, you referred to Nick as “The Seed Man” because he was sleeping with and/or impregnating almost every woman on the show.

JACK:

I just show up at work and say, “Hi, will you marry me?

HEATHER:

And apparently he is very fertile!

TV SOAP:

The relationship is taking a turn now, and we are seeing the dissolution of the Katie and Jack pairing. Heather, in your words, why has Katie been acting so insecure?

HEATHER:

I think Katie feels residual guilt. She did this thing to her best friend that was awful. While she loves Nick and she wants him, I think she feels its stolen goods and it’s a little tainted. He is back at work and he is working with Bridget, and she knows he still has feelings for her. I think anyone would be insecure in that situation.

JACK:

I agree with Heather. Where people agree they have crossed that boundary, and they go through the initial rush of passion these two went through, all of a sudden you are left with a dose of reality and its kind of an understanding. We did not get to play out a whole lot of drama here, and to answer that other question to make a quick turn like that, (which I think Heather is great at) is a real challenge as an actor. That’s why it’s a play a day. You can’t get ahead of yourself in this medium, and that’s the challenge

TV SOAP:

Now that “Breaking up Is Hard to Do”, do you hope these two will remain connected, or do you think they will fall by the wayside like other soap couples who pretend their past never existed?

HEATHER:

I am hopeful they can maintain some of their history, and not throw it under the bus, and try and forget that it ever happened. There were a lot of good things that came out of it.

JACK:

It’s about the commitment of the writing. Once I started working with Heather we could do anything we want. We can be funny…we can cry together….

HEATHER:

And I felt that, too.

JACK:

We connected as actors. We have never really talked about it, but we did not over- rehearse. We knew our lines. The beauty of working with Heather is that it is so rich and she has a gift, and it’s so unexpected. That is what is so great about working with a talented actor. It just is there, and she has it all…. comedy, drama, and passion.

HEATHER:

Also, it was easy to do with an actor you really trust. I think that was there with Jack from the start. We had mutual respect and trust, for sure. I was really excited to be working with Jack. I felt an immediate camaraderie. You have to trust that the actor you work with is going to throw the ball back at you. I never for a moment doubted that we could play
with each other and throw each other
curveballs.

JACK:

I think they will go back to this sometime in the future. Brad has a tendency to write that, but again, you never know.

TV SOAP:

What worked in the storyline?

HEATHER:

I have to say; when I read it I was hesitant about it. But, I thought the prom worked, and was really pretty. I liked a lot of our earlier material when there was a lot of nice banter and throwing the darts. Up until the “sex on the beach” thing, I thought it was going in a nice direction. We will see what happens for them in the future.

JACK:

Hers was an underlying defiance, and my character is defiant. So, when two defiant characters butt heads, which they did, and for the time he was asking her with tears in his eyes on the beach, “Please take the pills. I can’t stand to see you in pain,” out of that came their lovemaking where they finally surrendered to each other. I think that is what worked, and they challenged each other. It was fun to watch and play. And these are challenges for an actor, when you look at a script and go, “This is going to look so stupid!” Quite often on daytime, I have to say the things I thought wouldn’t work, did work!

HEATHER:

I would have to agree with that, too. It’s like when I see something and go, “Are you kidding me?” And then it actually works pretty well. Even the flashbacks with the zits on my face, which I was HORRIFIED having to do, was just awful, but I thought it was just funny.

JACK:

I learned from working with her, the more she bitches and moans on set, I know it’s going to be magic! If she is bitching and moaning, it will be awesome!

TV SOAP:

Will you go to the producers with issues if there is something you don’t feel is right for the integrity of your character, or if there is something you feel completely ill at ease doing?

HEATHER:

I did take issue with the flashbacks and the pimples. Ultimately I lost, and I was wrong. They write the show and we do our jobs, and I have to trust what they write.

JACK:

Through experience, as far as acting, you get better as you get older with more life experience. For me, when something doesn’t work, I have to come in with an option. You can’t go in and just say, “This doesn’t work.” You have to go in with a “What if?” and some other idea or two. “For me…would you consider this?” I no longer do the type of thing where you would call Aaron Spelling and say this and that, and then have him say, “You know, we can find someone else to play that part!”

TV SOAP:

Heather…in a few words describe Jack?

HEATHER:

I would say he is really smart. I think that comes across at how he approaches the role and in his work, and working with the other actors. Jack is really trustworthy. The most important thing for an actor is that they are in this 110% with you. I would say he is trustworthy outside of his work, too. I would think that applies to his whole life.

TV SOAP:

Jack, tell me about working with Heather.

JACK:

This will be on a critical note, but positive. When Heather is unconscious, she is the best actress on a daytime. When she removes herself, she is without a doubt the most talented person on daytime television. We always have a tendency to be conscious when we work so fast, and a lot has to do with speed sometimes, but I feel so honored to have worked with her …

HEATHER:

Same here….

JACK:

She makes things fun and she makes things sad, which I like to feel everyday. I also would like to say; I did not know what episode was nominated for Drama Series for the Emmys. And so, congratulations Heather, because for her not to get nominated (and I think she should have been nominated for that performance) is a bit shocking to me. I remember that period of time. There was a block of a month where Heather had about 40 pages a day, and she had five three-page monologues. So by the end of it, I built a noose and we would walk around rehearsal with it and say, “Who’s going to work with Heather today?” and hang ourselves because all we did was listen and look. The show will probably win an Emmy, because she is awesome.

TV SOAP:

Heather, you are always pregnant in the storyline of each soap you have been on. You have miscarried, had your baby stolen and/or switched, and I could go on. It seems like the soap gods don’t want you to have a baby and play the soap mom.

HEATHER:

I have had a baby stolen and one who died. I am childless in real life, as well. The only thing this time was I was hoping that it would go on a little longer and it would be fun if Katie was flaunting her belly, but she lost it so quickly. Rubbing the belly, “Baby wants a cupcake,” I was looking forward to that, but “No!” (She laughs)

TV SOAP:

Jack are you looking forward to the next chapter in Nick’s life?

JACK:

I always look forward to the next chapter. I embrace it. But, it’s hard not to take things personally because you really do get personal with these actors, and when they go in different directions it feels sad. I am sure Heather feels the same way. In your career you enjoy working with actors who do comedy, actors who can cry, and different storylines are fun. Some storylines are not so much fun. You embrace it and you have to learn to let it go.

TV SOAP:

What do you think about some other leading ladies on “B&B”, namely Ashley Jones (Bridget) and Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke) who are pivotal to Nick’s story?

HEATHER:

I really liked what Ashley and I were doing. At the end we seemed to have a little more bite to us. I don’t think that is going to continue because they have seemed to sanitize that out of our characters. What I love about daytime is there is a built in history. This show has been on for more than two decades, and you have that to draw on where you don’t in primetime shows. There you have to build your own history. Here at “B&B” we have our own history, let’s use it. That is what I find exciting with the other characters on the show, and with Katherine and Ashley. We try to find those places.

TV SOAP:

Nick has been a man going back and forth to different women…..

JACK:

It’s been a weird couple of years for me on the show. I thought the chemistry between Heather and Ashley was interesting, and then the way they would embrace and then go about cat fighting. I thought they brought a new youthful energy to the show.

HEATHER:

I thought all three of us were good together.

JACK:

I agree with Heather. It just did not have enough history. You go through Bridget, Brooke and Taylor on this show, and they seem to go back to that and they will go back to this because it worked. It has some fun energy. I just remember that Nick was pretending he wasn’t there when he saw two women fighting. A man always wants to get out of the room. So it was those uncomfortable feelings, as the man in those scenes, that I know worked, because I felt so uncomfortable.

TV SOAP:

Jack, who is the ultimate love of Nick’s life?

JACK:

I would love to say, I knew. I would say they are heading towards Bridget being his ultimate love, but I just don’t think that is the case. I think they are going to have to get back to Brooke one day. They keep touching on it and going away. I think their super couple here is Ridge and Brooke. But, I think Nick made an impact with Brooke and every time those two touched, the storyline crossed and something happened. So,
to not get back to that some
day, the audience would be
robbed.

TV SOAP:

Recently, Don Diamont has started on “B&B” as Bill Spencer Jr. Heather, you knew him from your days together on “Y&R”. How do you think he will fit in here?

HEATHER:

I am thrilled and happy he is on the show. I think he will make a great addition to the show. I think it will be interesting to see what could happen with Bill and Katie. So, we shall see. It will be interesting now, because you have the Nick character that is the hero character, and you have Bill, who is sort of the anti-hero. So it might be dynamic!

JACK:

I have not worked with Don, but I think having any male character on this show besides me is a mistake (laughs)

TV SOAP:

And now, the most recent male casting buzz has Rick Hearst reprising his role as “Whip” Jones later in June. How do you feel about Rick coming into the fold?

JACK:

All male characters, other than Nick, are a mistake, thank you. (Laughs again)

HEATHER:

I am thrilled. I have kind of had a crush on him since his Guiding Light days.

TV SOAP:

I could see “Whip” and Katie together, easily. I want to suggest it.

HEATHER:

Yeah, I have already written the email, but apparently he won’t be whipping it out for Katie anytime soon. But you never know!

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Andrew Hawkes Shares Cullum’s Secret Backstory He Never Told Anyone (Exclusive)

Published

5 days ago

July 9, 2026

Michael

WSB Director Ross Cullum’s (Andrew Hawkes) reign of terror came to an end last week on the July 2 episode of ABC’s General Hospital, after WSB agent Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) shot him dead. That ended the run of Andrew Hawkes who will go down for his portrayal of one of the ruthless, bad guys in the soaps in a very long time.

Just look at a partial laundry list of his crimes: stabbing Marco Rios (Adrian Anchondo) brutally to his death, gaslighting Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) to where he was held captive and then was sent to mental institution in France, attempting to kill WSB Bureau Chief, Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna), by tying him to his hospital bed at Turning Woods, putting a gas mask on it and making him breathe a full tank of carbon monoxide.

How about being the person responsible for the penthouse fire targeting Sonny (Maurice Benard) that instead got Michael (then Chad Duell, now Rory Gibson) burned so badly he had to be sent away to a clinic in Germany, and then there is the matter of lying to Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) for years, that she never had Huntington’s disease, instead she was injecting herself with saline, until near the end of his life, he had put poison in the vials of her medication, and let’s not forget taking a weaponized baton and attempting to beat the life out of Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) and kill him, till Cullum was stopped by shots to his back fired by Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr).

Photo: ABC

HOW CULLUM TURNED INTO A RUTHLESS MASTERMIND AND KILLER REVEALED

This week, Andrew Hawkes participated in a livestream chat on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel where he touched on many subjects of his six-month run as Cullum. One of the more intriguing moments came when Hawkes explained in-depth for the first time what drove Cullum to become a double agent, and to become this heinous of a man. While it was never given to him by the soap opera, as an actor it is always helpful to fill in the blanks for yourself to help with your performance and the “why” a character is behaving the way they are.

Andrew explained, “This has nothing to do with the writers, or anything that anybody ever said, because we don’t get that backstory on Cullum, but I’ll let you in on a little secret. The reason why Cullum is so single-minded and ruthless is because he was on a job, did his job, which was taking out a high ranking government official in a foreign country. Then, he was turned out by the WSB, locked out of getting back to the United States, and therefore missed holding his daughter who died of leukemia because they froze everything.”

Photo: ABC

“Cullum had no health insurance, Cullum had no money, Cullum had no anything”, continued Hawkes. “What I’ve done with Cullum is he’s coming back to rip everything to shreds from the inside out. So, that was my secret. It’s much more detailed than that. Being a parent is so personal, and Cullum could not get to his child in her time of greatest need, and he couldn’t do anything because the WSB turned on him. They wouldn’t bring him from out of the cold.”

HEROES AND VILLAINS

Hawkes added, “I played it as I played it, and I am not trying to make it about these mitigating circumstances. It’s just an example of why this guy is so full of rage and violence and that was what I was trying to do as that character is as I said, destroy everything from the inside out.”

On TV, in the movies or on the stage there are usually heroes and villains to every story. Hawkes explains more on what caused Cullum’s vendetta with the world, “It’s a gasket being blown in your brain plus trauma. I heard somebody talking about what’s the difference between a hero and a villain. A hero says, ‘the world hurt me, and I don’t want to hurt anybody else.’ A villain says, ‘the world hurts me and I’m going to hurt the world.’ So, it’s a very fine distinction.”

Photo: ABC

MEETING JOHN OLIVER AND HIS PERFORMANCE AS Z

In addition, Andrew spoke on his last day of shooting and getting to meet guest star, John Oliver and how impressed he was with his performances, even though he, personally, didn’t get to share any spoken screen-time with the late night Emmy-nominated talk show host.

“I did meet him and talk to him, and when I was down on the ground (after Cullum was shot) I was going, ‘Wow, I’m done.’ I don’t have to sweat anything more today. But he came through, and I’ve been a fan of his for a long time and he was so cool and so prepared. I think he’s amazing. I was like, if you never knew this actor and watched him on GH, he’s just fascination to watch. He’s just so committed. I get the biggest kick out of it, and I hope they keep bringing him back.”

Photo ABC

FINDING OUT CASSIUS HAD LIVED

Hawkes admitted, “I thought Z was only in for one episode/day, but then I found out all the other stuff from watching the show that he had scenes with Carly (Laura Wright) and and then Cassius (Ryan Paevey). I didn’t even know that Cassius wasn’t dead. Of course, Ryan and I had talked a lot and it was the end of his contract and he was leaving the show, but I didn’t know that Cassius had lived through it.”

“As for John Oliver, it’s not easy walking in there with all these incredible professionals being like, “we’ve done it for a long time.” I mean, luckily he has his own show and it’s him talking for 30 minutes. He put in the work. The first behavior, you really see of him is him walking. And then, the way he just pulls out his gun and casually caps the guy on the ground who’s going try to shoot him was just the coolest. I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with him, but he was gracious and kind and cool, and you couldn’t ask for a better scene partner.

In case you missed our conversation with Andrew Hawkes on the Michael Fairman Channel, you can check it out below.

Now, let us know, what did you think of the incredible backstory that Andrew creating for himself to rationalize and play all the scenes and nefarious activities of WSB Director, Ross Cullum? What did you think of his final moments on GH in the shootout with Josslyn and Cassius shortly before Z arrived? Let us know via the comment section below.

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Weighs-In on Dante and Elizabeth Pairing and Sharing Scenes with Rebecca Herbst (Exclusive)

Published

1 month ago

June 14, 2026

Michael

On General Hospital, the current PCPD commissioner Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) has been lied to, and kept in the dark, by those he thought he could trust which includes his ex-wife Lulu (Alexa Havins), his own son, Rocco (Finn Carr) and a man he considers a good friend and police partner, “Nathan” West, only Dante doesn’t know that “Nathan” is a fraud, and really his twin brother, Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey)!

The only person, who seems to be a good friend and reliable is ‘General Hospital’ head nurse Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst). For months, GH viewers are witnessing key moments when Dante and Elizabeth are there for each other. In fact, she helped Dante realize it was Rocco who shot Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) and was willing to help him cover up the crime so his son does not go to prison. Problem is, Rocco took off with Britt Westbourne (Kelly Theibaud) and as of now Dante has no idea where they are.

In a new and exclusive interview out this weekend on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel, Dominic Zamprogna chats about the potential pairing of Dante and Elizabeth and the opportunity to work with beloved longtime GH favorite, Rebecca Herbst, and if he thinks when all is said and done, Dante will wind up back with Lulu. Here’s some excerpts from the conversation below.

Courtesy/ABC

ELIZABETH HAS PROVEN HERSELF TRUSTWORTHY TO DANTE

Speaking on how Dante feels currently about Elizabeth, Zamprogna explained, “At this point, Elizabeth is the only person, he can trust. She’s the only one who’s essentially told Dante what’s what. But. there’s also this connection for sure beyond that, right? That’s something that we’ve tried to play. We don’t know what the end game is, honestly, as actors, I don’t know what the end game is. You have to assume that every time you’re in a scene with anybody, you’re chemistry testing, and you want to do right by the characters.”

Although Dante’s primary romances have been with Lulu and the late Sam McCall (Kelly Monaco), a paring of Dante and Liz has never been approached by the series until now.

“To me, it’s interesting because they’ve never really explored anything between Dante and Elizabeth before. So, it’s all kind of new,” shared Dominic. “That’s the most exciting part of any relationship, the new stuff, before you jump into the domesticated stuff. That’s maybe where Ric (Rick Hearst) and Elizabeth are. They’re kind of more in this domesticated thing, or experiencing that, whereas Dante and Elizabeth truly are kind of needing each other at this moment.”

As Dominic explains it, Dante has found himself needing Elizabeth as his sounding board, since everyone else betrayed him. “Dante definitely needs Elizabeth and has reached out to her. She’s been honest, and provided him with things that he needed (to help cover up that his son, Rocco shot Cullum), explains the five-time Daytime Emmy nominee. “There’s also the other stuff that he’s finding out about her that he didn’t know. Like when she’s in the office with him and she’s talking about her past and the trauma that she’s been through (referring to Elizabeth’s rape).”

Courtesy/ABC

COULD THERE BE A DANTE/ELIZABETH/RIC TRIANGLE AHEAD?

Dominic continued with high praise for his co-star, “It’s interesting for me to play, because I don’t know that story of Elizabeth as an actor, because it was before I got to the show. So, it’s two characters finding out more about each other who’ve been in each other’s orbit for 17 years. (As to the potential pairing), I’m happy to hear people are digging it because I dig it. Rebecca is phenomenal, and she plays a legacy character, and to me, one of the best actors on the show.”

With Lulu seemingly falling for “Nathan” and then currently breaking it off, Zamprogna and GH fans are awaiting to see what happens when Lulu finds out that “Nathan” is Cassius, while also finding out if Ric Lansing could be the true spoiler in any potential Liz and Dante budding romance.

“I don’t know what the long game is. I literally have no clue,” shared Zamprogna. “I currently don’t believe that there’s a Dante/Lulu happening. It feels like if they did go down the road of Dante and Ric fighting for Elizabeth, I think that would be interesting to have two guys fighting over her as opposed to two women fighting over Ric and Dante.”

Courtesy/ABC

PLANTING THE SEEDS FOR DANTE/ELIZABETH ROMANCE

GH fans will recall the recent scenes where Elizabeth was dressed for her date with Ric, but stopped by Dante’s office at the PCPD first. Dante remarked, in so many words, how beautiful she looked.

Zamprogna hoped that viewers caught it, explaining, “Those are real little moments that I’m always happy or captured. It’s two people who don’t have a romantic relationship, but, planting those little seeds of her coming in and him seeing her out of her scrubs for the first time and being like, ‘Oh my, God You look amazing.” And then as the scene ends, they’re kind of wrapped up in things, and then he is like, ‘I could keep talking to you forever,’ but she has a date to get to with Ric.”

You can check out the full conversation with Dominic Zamprogna now on the Michael Fairman Channel below.

Now, let us know, after checking out Dominic’s thoughts on a potential Dante and Elizabeth pairing? Are you hoping the GH writers put them together, or do you want Liz with Ric? And, do you think the end game will still be Dante and Lulu as the exes still have to come together to find their son, Rocco, who is on the run with Britt? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Brandon Claybon Talks Inclusion, The Crossover, While the Fate of Martin Richardson Hangs in the Balance

Published

1 month ago

June 13, 2026

Michael

On Friday’s June 12 episode of Beyond the Gates, after it appeared Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) survived being trapped under a tree after a tornado ripped through Fairmont Crest, viewers were left with a frightening cliffhanger when Martin got up and tries to walk, but only took two steps before he collapsed right in front of his husband, Smitty (Mike Manning)!

Previously, Martin had directed Shonda to use all the money donated from his campaign fundraiser for tornado relief efforts. Nicole (Daphnée Duplaix), Ted (Keith D. Robinson) and Smitty advised Martin that he needed to go to the hospital to get check out for any internal injuries or brain trauma. However, when Martin found out his sister Kat (Colby Nixon) was missing he began to panic. Martin says he just wants to go home and get some rest, even as his husband told him he should get checked out. Now, viewers will need to wait till the Monday, June 15 episode to see the upshot.

Official Beyond the Gates spoilers for June 15 share, “In the wake of the tornado, Shanice, Ashley and Jacob rush into action when someone collapses. Meanwhile, emergency surgery is required to save a life. Nicole’s update worries Samantha and Tyrell.” But is the surgery for Eva (Ambyr Michelle) who was rushed to the hospital or Martin?

Courtesy/CBS

MEETING THEE VICTOR NEWMAN

With such a pivotal week of story, Michael Fairman TV caught up with Brandon Claybon earlier this week during a roundtable press junket at A Toast for Black Excellence event in Los Angeles, promoting the major crossover event on Beyond the Gates which featured six cast members from The Young and the Restless, who also got caught up in the twister, but not the mighty Victor Newman (Eric Braeden). He somehow escaped and made it back to Genoa City in one piece.

Claybon shared his excitement of initially meeting Eric Braeden, because in the Black community, they have a long-history of watching the soap, and love Victor! “I think I just had to pinch myself because I was shaking hands with Victor Newman (on-screen), that means so much too many people spiritually,” expressed Brandon. “For people in my community, Victor Newman is everything and to have the Y&R cast in Atlanta and at our studios.”

While viewers wait to find out the fate of Martin Richardson, Claybon recalled the shooting of the Tornado storyline. “These episodes were a lot of hard work. We’re talking about 12 to 15 hour days, and you have to think about all of the actors supporting each other, it’s tremendous. Everything that we went through that viewers we’ll see sooner or later was so well worth it!”

Courtesy/CBS

PRIDE MONTH REPRESENTATION

In a very important illustration of inclusion, it was key in the story to note that Genoa City titans, Victor Newman and Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman), were backing Martin Richardson’s political campaign. Martin is married to Smitty in an interracial romance, and the two men are raising two black teenagers, which is a first on daytime television for a nucleus of a family. This story point is not lost on Claybon.

“Martin needs money (it was a fundraiser), so it was amazing that both Victor Newman and Jack Abbott were financially helping him with his campaign. This is is Pride month, you know, and for the first interracial gay couple on daytime TV, people are coming up to me to all the time, saying, “I see myself in your character and relationship,” and that’s what it means, representation, and that’s what we’re here for. It’s something that I’ve prepared for and I do know the responsibility it holds. Martin loves Smitty dearly, and Martin loves his family, and family is everything now.”

Previously, Michael Fairman TV spoke with Beyond the Gates series creator, head writer and executive producer, Michele Val Jean, where she named the racism storyline involving Martin killing a white bigot to protect himself and his grandfather, Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis), one of her favorite storylines in the young soap’s history.”It’s absolutely remarkable. She didn’t tell me this. I didn’t know, but it means a lot coming from her,” expressed Brandon. “Michele’s been doing this a long time, and especially for her to have her own show, she thought it would never happen. The words, “a legacy.” I think about it all the time, especially because the show has the power to change attitudes.”

Photo: CBS

WILL BEYOND THE GATES SCORE BIG AT UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMY AWARDS?

Coming up next month, the nominations are expected to be announced for the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. This would mark the first year that Beyond the Gates is eligible for the competition for its season 1. Will they triumph?

Claybon had this perspective, “I am looking forward to having a moment to celebrate with the cast, and with each other. That’s the most important thing. Recognition is fun, but at the same time, it’s not why we do this. I’m an actor, but my passion in life is to encourage, uplift, entertain and inspire. I don’t want to think about that when acting. Let (awards) come if they may, but if they don’t, I’ll still be OK.”

You can check out a moment from Friday’s Beyond the Gates below, where Martin is seemingly “OK” and Abby Newman (Melissa Ordway) finds out Victor got out of Fairmont Crest just in time!

Now let us know, what do you think will be the fate of Martin Richardson? Will he have sustained a life-altering brain injury or be OK? What did you think of the final episode of the crossover? Do you enjoy the portrayal of the same-sex relationship between Martin and Smitty and sees its importance, as we are in the middle of Pride Month? Weigh-in via the comment section.