Interviews
The Melody Thomas Scott Interview – The Young and the Restless

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
Viewers of The Young and the Restless have begun to experience the grief, also felt by several of the residents of Genoa City, over the news of the passing of Katherine Chancellor, played by the late Jeanne Cooper. Since Cooper’s death in May, the number-one soap had begun crafting a storyline that would have far reaching implications and impact on several key characters, which will also keep the legacy of Katherine, and honor the iconic Jeanne Cooper on the canvas for quite some time to come.
In story, Katherine has left letters for those close to her … some with instructions … and some with some heartfelt words with specific meaning to them, and more. One of those most deeply affected is Nikki Newman, who upon trying to cope with the contents of Kay’s letter to her, wept out loud, “Katherine, why are you doing this to me?” But what is she doing? There has been much speculation from fans of the show all-abuzz on the Internet, just what is in the letter. However, Y&R is keeping it close to the vest. And, so too is Nikki’s portrayer, fan favorite and long time series star Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki)!
However, On-Air On-Soaps sat down with Melody in her dressing room at CBS, to not only get a preview and a tease of her upcoming story, but to get insight on what it was like filming with the cast, Katherine’s memorial episodes that will air on September 3rd and 4th in back-to-back episodes, and the devastating loss it is for Nikki to be without her best friend who was also like a “mother” to her. Will Nikki need a drink to cope and fall off the wagon? Melody fills us in.
While Josh Griffith is no longer the head writer of the number-one soap, from this interview, it is clear that Melody is extremely enthusiastic as to the story that was given to her from his regime, and the respect paid to Katherine (and Jeanne Cooper) with the upcoming five-hankie memorial. Here’s what Mel had to say about it all!
MICHAEL:
The letter Nikki has received has greatly affected her! How will she handle getting through the upcoming memorial service for Katherine?
MELODY:
Courtesy/CBS
I think that having received the letter probably alters Nikki thoughts while she is at the memorial service, because for her now, she is not just there to remember her dear friend as a person would at a memorial, but in the back of her mind is this letter that is all tangled up for Nikki. She can’t think of Katherine without thinking about the letter and what that entails. She has mixed feelings more than just sadness and grief. She has got a whole other element going on … this letter.
MICHAEL:
How was the shooting of Katherine’s memorial on set with the cast? Was it difficult and emotional for everyone, given their love for their long time co-star Jeanne Cooper?
MELODY:
I think, and we all said at the time, “We were still in shock and we didn’t believe it.” We needed to get through the taping of the show, but we’re still not used to Jeanne not being there.
MICHAEL:
Given that Nikki and Katherine were the dearest of friends, would Nikki start drinking again, especially given the drama surrounding the contents of the letter, and the death of her confidante?
MELODY:
Courtesy/CBS
Absolutely! And, that was one of my first thoughts when this whole thing started. I said, “Whoa! This is an obvious point where she might pick up a drink.” But she doesn’t, not yet. She did admit to Victoria that she almost took a sip, but she didn’t. She is still sober.
MICHAEL:
How did you play Nikki’s reaction to the content of the letter? How does she feel about it?
MELODY:
Uncertainty, shock, ambiguity, unwillingness, yet knows deep down that she should do what Katherine is suggesting. It’s a topic that Nikki probably felt would never be discussed, or dealt with in her lifetime.
MICHAEL:
Many fans had hoped that Katherine would end up being the biological mother of Nikki! Was that something you wanted to have happen, as well?
MELODY:
I think it should have happened. I was not happy when all of a sudden it was Jill who was Katherine’s daughter. It should have been me, dammit! (Laughs) Their relationship was very much mother/daughter, and I wish that had been true. I did call Jeanne “mother” off set, and that is all I did call her. And sometimes we would have visitors on set, and they would over hear me call Jeanne, “mother” and they would say, “Wait a minute? Is Nikki Katherine’s daughter?” And I went, “No, no, no. I just call her that. Pay no attention to me.” At least I called Jeanne “mother” in real life, even if I couldn’t on the show.
MICHAEL:
Courtesy/CBS
Nikki is devastated by the death of Katherine … and obviously the letter. Initially, she turned to Jack for comfort, not Victor. Will she truly let Victor comfort her in her grief?
MELODY:
Of course! Victor is struck by the death of Katherine, but in a different way than Nikki. He had a different relationship with her. His was more business, and a lifetime friendship. Nikki’s was more, as a girlfriend and as a mother. I think if given the opportunity to satisfy Nikki’s hopes, Victor would comfort her. But, she does not bring this up to Victor, and has not yet. So he does not know the contents of the letter. He does not know what Nikki is struggling with secretly.
MICHAEL:
When you found out what your upcoming story was going to be, what was your reaction? Were you pleased?
MELODY:
I love this story! Now, I don’t know how it’s all going to turn out, but the premise, the people I get to work with, and the writing, has been spectacular. That’s all you need; good actors performing a good script, and our fabulous new directing team, and I love them all. I have not been this happy at work in a while.
MICHAEL:
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
Nikki went to Paul at the end of the episode today for help! Would you say to your fans that you will be working with Doug Davidson (Paul) more often from this point on?
MELODY:
I have been working with Doug the last couple of weeks and enjoyed it, like I always do. So, I hope that the story keeps us together for a while.
MICHAEL:
On the air shows, Nikki is always concerned about Sharon (Sharon Case), and what she is up to. She does not trust her, especially around the Newman clan, and many times for good reason! Do you enjoy this rivalry?
MELODY:
I love working with Sharon Case, and we love Sharon and Nikki fights! And even if Sharon is innocent and up to nothing, Nikki always suspects that she is. Oh yes, even if it weren’t true, Nikki walks into a room and sees her son and Sharon, and the antenna will go up and she is going to try to get rid of her! (Laughs)
MICHAEL:
The classic bitch-fight between Nikki and Sharon was the one in the barn where you were dunked in that bucket of water! Did you love that? Or, hate it?
MELODY:
Courtesy/CBS
We loved it. Our director was very gracious, and was very loose and not rigid about blocking, and let us do our own choreography. So, if you look at it again, there are many elements of an “I Love Lucy” episode. Guess where that came from? But I couldn’t resist it. I had to do it! All the water and hair pulling and dunking in the bucket, that was all me, because that was “Lucy”!
MICHAEL:
Coming up with the heartbreak of Katherine’s passing, and the letters roaming around Genoa City, do you think Victor and Nikki are in for another bumpy road in their relationship?
MELODY:
Of course! I mean, what else could happen? This cycle has been going on for 34 years.
MICHAEL:
Are you still amazed that Nikki and Victor are still, to this day, the true star-crossed lovers and central characters of the number one soap in America, and known worldwide?
MELODY:
Yes, and Eric Braeden (Victor) and I often, whether it be at photo shoots or different events, we are posed while the photographers are going crazy. That always ceases to amaze me! We were in Monte Carlo and they were screaming, “Oh, my God. Victor and Nikki.” We would look at each other sometime and go, “We can’t believe after all these years, we are still here, baby!” We are amazed, and we just thank God, and smile!
MICHAEL:
Courtesy/CBS
Do you have a favorite on-screen moment or scene with Jeanne Cooper, between the two of you as Nikki and Katherine?
MELODY:
The sincerity, and all of the rich history that was a part of Nikki and Katherine’s enduring friendship, is something that I know is very important to our audience. That relationship has been deeply significant for Nikki for so many years. I don’t think I could ever pick out just one favorite moment between us, but I’ve truly enjoyed every scene where Katherine supported Nikki through the worst parts of the battle with booze.
MICHAEL:
Will Nikki soldier on, even though she may be devastated by the contents of the letter Katherine wrote to her?
MELODY:
I think Nikki will always try to heed Katherine’s advice in life in general. Certainly without Katherine this current storyline would not be happening. It’s also a way of incorporating Katherine’s presence, even though you are not seeing her on-screen. Katherine is behind the whole thing in the letter. So it is keeping Katherine alive, in a way.
MICHAEL:
Jess Walton (Jill) has delivered some amazing performances, upon Jill learning of Katherine’s passing. Would you like to work more with Jess now?
MELODY:
Courtesy/CBS
I love working with Jess, and I adore her. I got on my knees and begged her to get her ass out of Oregon and move back down to Los Angeles, and delay this damn retirement, because I want to work with her! Now that Katherine is not physically on the canvas, the story just begs for Nikki and Jill to come together in some way in story. Katherine’s death in a strange way has brought Nikki and Jill together, because all they have done is snipe for years. But, there are some very poignant moments coming up where Jill and Nikki can almost laugh, like, “We have always hated each other, but I kind of like you right now, because we are all suffering together.” It was sweet, because Nikki and Jill have never been sweet to each other!
MICHAEL:
Melody, do you feel the way Katherine’s death was handled on-screen was appropriate?
MELODY:
Absolutely, and some of it was just a fluke. Who knew in real life how she would pass? The way it turned out, as we all know, we had that footage of Jeanne as Katherine going up the stairs, which was pretty freaky. And do I think that Jeanne might have felt that it was her last scene? Yes. I think that is why she adlibbed, what she adlibbed. And as far as the writers go, they had a difficult job, as they would never have chosen to kill Katherine, but because Jeanne’s health had been poor the last few years, it was always a possibility. I felt for the writers. They had a tough job to do, but Jeanne helped them with that staircase scene. It worked out very well; in that the last time Nikki saw Katherine they were wheeling her into surgery.
MICHAEL:
Do you think we will need hankies for Katherine’s memorial service? I hear Corbin Bernsen is presiding over it as Father Todd!
MELODY:
Courtesy/CBS
I have to say it was odd to have the character of Father Todd being played by the real-life son of Jeanne Cooper, Corbin Bernsen. It was weird, and he felt weird. It was just a very unique situation. I don’t think that has ever happened on a television show, nor would it again. It was eerie. I told him Corbin something the day we taped the memorial service, about the month before when Eric and I were in Monte Carlo. We had to present an award at their film festival. And, who on earth would have orchestrated something like this? I know that Jeanne did it! There we are in Monte Carlo backstage getting ready to be presenters, and they announce us, and we walk out … and on stage was Corbin Bernsen! Little did we know he was on stage, because he was on the panel that voted at the festival! So, at one point there was just the three of us on-stage in Monte Carlo. It was just like, “Ok, I know what you are doing, Jeanne!” That was the moment, and something she would do. The most unexpected place, people, and that gathering of the three of us, was definitely orchestrated by her!
MICHAEL:
Melody, you have been the leading lady of Y&R for decades, and many times you have been back-burnered, which your fans have never understood. Should they feel confident that you will have plenty of screen time in the months ahead?
MELODY:
It’s a curious situation that I don’t know if we will ever know the answer. There has been a lot of ebbing. (Laughs) I have been working a lot, and you will see come September … “It’s Nikki month!” So, I guess I will have to get t-shirt saying that! (Laughs)
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
MICHAEL:
What do you think the fallout will be from the content of Nikki’s letter, when people on the canvas begin to find out what this is all about?
MELODY:
I would imagine Nikki’s story will affect a lot of people, including her family, because eventually they are going to have to find out what is going on. There is always a trickle down effect in soaps, where the whole town is affected by a situation.
MICHAEL:
Y&R suffered the loss of two of its most powerhouse actresses in the last few months. Jeanne Cooper passed away in May, and Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) decided to leave the show this summer. Do you think it’s a huge hit for the show, that will be a noticeable for some time to come?
MELODY:
Its’ always difficult to say goodbye to our dear co-stars, but history has proven to us that this show will go on in true show business fashion. Most of the time, when people leave it’s not our choice, or personal choice, and we are always upset to see that happen, as it does create a challenge for the writers. But sometimes out of that situation, the writers come up with interesting story that never would have happened if this actor had not left.
Courtesy/CBS
MICHAEL:
Now the big and final question: If Nikki finds out that Sharon switched the paternity test of Summer, and realizes Nick (Joshua Morrow) is actually the bio-dad; can we look forward to Nikki laying the smackdown on Sharon? (Laughs)
MELODY:
Oh, yeah! Look out for a catfight extraordinaire for that one! Forget shoving her in the pool! It better be something better than that! (Laughs)
Never been happy the way Nikki has no right trashing Sharon when Nikki has been a stripper and an escort and a drunk and has shared 4 men with her own daughter and the character has been married a hundred times. Really got out of hand with the amount of hate she has for Sharon. She also murdered Diane and got a slap on the wrist. I wish they can make Nikki a better women like Mrs C. Victor also needs to chill and be kind in his golden years 🙂 Let us all hope for better writing and happy times and memories not the negativity
I would really just like to see Nikki and others like Chelsea and Phyllis before she left pay for her crimes seems like the one and only person who is blamed for every and anything is Sharon. Everyone steals her man and she is the one blamed for wanting them back . really last thing we need is Nikki with another off spring. Plus he has good in him. He can’t be Nikkis kid! I wanted him to be Sharons had brother! what happened to that story?
Who ‘stole’ her men ? First a person can’t be stolen..Nick chose to have this affair with Phylis and then HE chose to leave Sharon for Phylis (by the way at this time Sharon had no problem sexing up with Brad..you know a married man to her sister-in-law at this time , Victoria ! As for Adam, Sharon chose to dump him no the other way around..the guy after trying to get her back again and once again decided to MOVE ON ! She could have been happy with Adam if only she had wanted it, instead she dumped him and chose to be involved with her former father-in-law Victor Newman of all people. Sharon had it hard in some ways but she is not a saint either and lot’s of things happened from HER OWN doing.
OMG I fast forward all things Nikki and Victor because they are so evil and I can’t stand it after 30 years of the same abuse they spill ! I fast forward all things Chelsea I hate her and hate Avery and so unhappy with the new Kyle. I loved the old days with Neil and Dru and Sharon with Nick and even Sharon with Adam. I loved Malcolm I really miss Kay and Jill together. This is what we want. Please bring back Ashley I loved Brad and loved Amber with Daniel. loved Janna with Kevin. Chloe sucks. Can you tell I LOVED EVERYTHING PRIOR TO 2007! Lol 🙂
Michael we love your interviews. Please have one with if you can with Josh Griffith and find out why he and Jill promised the fans the first order was they would repair Sharon to make her happy again. We are so upset they nearly destroyed her and there will be no turning back. Is that why Josh is not there anymore? He did not fix Sharon? I sure hope Drucilla will come home. Amber also she was so awesome. I miss the old days.
Disagree.. Nikki has made mistakes and has her flaws but the major difference is she never did anything to Sharon.. Sharon on the other hand is destroying Nikki’s family with her schemes. So yep Nikki is not a saint and Sharon is not all ‘evil’ although right now she is really cray cray, almost in Patty’s area..But it doesn’t change the fact that Nikki has some REAL REASONS to be furious against Sharon. And when she will know about all Sharon’s schemes she better give her some big payback !
NO NO NO! PLEASE Niiki needs to leave Sharon alone! Sick of that abuse she gives her. Please no smack down NOOOOO! Nikki has no right with all she did in her own past.
I agree. Nikki seems to always forget that she has a very checkered past and her recent actions with alcoholism and Diane’s murder proves she is no saint. And yes, needs to back off on Sharon because she needs help, not hatred. I can’t wait to see the skeletons tap dancing out of Nikki’s closet soon. That will be worth watching.
euh..ok so with your logic poor little Sheila, Patty and Adam when he was vilified..deserved help not hatred..hello it is soap, when the characters do some really bad things they got punished then they are redeemed or not and life goes on ! By the way some other characters like Nick Newman or Victor Newman himself should pay a little..that is the real problem with some characters and writing : the whitewashing and insta forgive and forget. Characters can be forgiven and have a nice redemption arc but BEFORE there need to be some fallout and commeuppance..otherwise why bother ?!
Sharon has to face the music before being accepted again simple as that, Sharon lovers !
Nikki’s past HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH Sharon ! Sharon is not the innocent victim anymore, she deserve the commeuppance any scheming soap character get when they are caught !
Really really tired of watching Nikki get away with her crimes and sex with all these men now we have Chelsea coming a close second to Nikki. Why must Sharon always be everyones punching bag. I nearly gave up I stopped the show for a month after being loyal for 36 years. Leave Sharon alone or Im done like I did with B&B after 24 years now OVER But thanks michael for the heads up Nikki will never leave my Sharon alone BOOOOOOOO
Please Sharon got lot’s of pass actually over the years although some other characters got even more, far more pass i have to admit (Nick Newman, Victor Newman yep i am looking at you and many others..)..Now let’s hope after all her crazy awful last deeds, she get some real wake up call. And don’t use bipolar disease as an excuse..it is more than offensive, bipolar disease NEVER EVER make people do the things Sharon is doing right now..even soaps can’t mock a real and serious mental illness like that. Stop.
I really had hopes Nikki would leave Sharon to be happy. Why must everyone be happy but Sharon. So tired of having to defend all that has happened to the Sharon character. i think fans had enough of the attacks on Sharon. please don’t there be one single show with Nasty Nikki and sweet Sharon I can’t take much more I will stop watching this train wreck. Any way we can get a message to the writers Michael before we have to endure one more attack on Sharon? can’t we PLEASE PLEASE PLEEEEEASE have her best friend Drucilla back! 🙂
Right now Sharon is not sweet, she is pathetic and delusional. Ah and crazy and kind of nasty, Nikki has nothing to do with that. End of story.
The movie Mr. Mom with Michael Keaton shows scenes of Y&R when Nikki was pregnant with Victoria and it was Victors child but they all thought it was Kevin the guy she was married to they have been showing that movie on cable and it is a hoot to see the hair and listen to Michael Keaton’s character talk about Victor’s vasectomy not taking. And just listening to the theme music. I am pretty sure it is going to be a long lost son that Nikki had back in the day and gave up and I know why JFP is doing it she does need to try to bring SB into the fold and it will be worth it just to see Victor’s face. I mean let’s face it how many people has Nikki murdered now on this show she needs another kid! SB is here to stay I have finally accepted it I just hope MTS gets more story with this then she has the MS story!
Terrific interview! Love MTS aand am so happy to hear she has a big story coming up that she seems to love so much. She’s long overdue for that. I agree totally with her that we need Jill back in GC full time now and wish it would happen. I also love the Nikki and Sharon feud and am happy the actresses enjoy it so much too.
Sharon is an absolute horror and has done one vile thing after another for years. Nikki hopefully will wipe up the floor with Sharon when the truth comes out about Summer. Then Sharon can be carted off to a mental hospital never to be heard from again.
Love that Nikki will be front and center again. It is about time.
adore Nikki. very happy Mel is working a lot. Y&R sounds like its getting good coming up.
Nikki having a long lost kid is a load of crap (really hope that rumor isn’t true!) but I love her feud with Sharon. The great thing about it is that they’re more alike than either of them want to admit. Hahaha. I root for both of them at different times! Always love Nikki and Victor together too. Just wish would stay together now.
I want it to come out that Sharon did the awful, and Nick marries Avery. I hope Nikki stays w/Victor!
I hope Sharon ends up happy and with Adam inspite of selfish Nikki and Victor
WTF ? Sharon can ends up happy with Adam and Nikki with Victor like she is actually..lol the problem right now is Sharon and Sharon alone ! She is cray cray and pathetic. That is all.
Is she Dylan (SB) mother on the show?
That,s a twist!!
Dylan will turn out to be Nikki and Paul’s son. This is JFP’s way of making Dylan the central character on Y&R. Eric Braeden will be blowing smoke out of his ears no doubt.
Great that MTS will have a full fronter story at least for few months ! I don’t really like Y&R right now, i find most of the stories boring or awful..but Nikki on-screen is always a good thing, just give her an interestint story and i will watch.
Niki has another child, one no one knew about…. hardly creative is it?
Let me see…
1. Sharon is getting more and more STUPIDER by the minute.
2. Victor and Nikki are back together for the umpteenth time (blah blah blah blah).
3. Y and R (and especially that Jill Farren Phelps) totally ruined the end of Katherine’s beautiful memorial service by horribly tacking on Paul and Christine’s stupid nitwit nuptials at the last minute (more blah blah blah blah).
4. Summer’s, um, crying about Jack and Victor’s feuding and fighting over her is BEYOND ANNOYING!!!!!
5. The WONDERFUL AND FABULOUS Jess Walton is on recurring status…WHAT THE HELL????? No.
6. Arrogant Adam is on a DUMB AS HELL rampage because of Chelsea’s baby. Who cares if Adam is Chelsea’s baby daddy??? Adam is NOT fatherhood material!!!!! No.
7. That Hilary chick is so fake and one-dimensional. No thank you.
8. Neil and Leslie (as a soap couple) are starting to bore me. Not good.
9. Lastly, Y and R needs to bring back the character of Sarge so Sarge himself can knock some much-needed sense into his idiot nephew Mason (aka Hilary’s chump-filled puppet).
The moral of all this: As a so-called executive producer, Jill Farren Phelps did nothing but antagonize and alienate A LOT of other actors and actresses on previous soaps from long ago. Trust me…her tenure (or whatever) at Y and R will be no different. The absolute pits!!!!!
I think that Sharon needs to be put in nut house, she needs to get a life and a job. All the men she has slept with how can she call the kettle black.
I think Sharon should be put in a nut house
Nick will hate Her when.He found out what She did..I’ll be glad when He do.He don’t love Her she needed to get a life.
I am so upset you are taking Delia out like that. I don’t like when kids die like that in a show for the purpose of someone else life. very mush sure that you could have found someone else.
why is the reason I sure don’t no.
once I use to wash An Other World some child die because they made it look like the gangster kill her. This child was only 4 years old I was so up set also. Front that days I never watch that episode. just like I do not like Days of Our Live to phonies of a daytime show. now I have been watching the Do not like it when children end up like that.
I hope Victoria & Bill always stay together I really like the both of them they both seem to fit together and it nice watching 2 people been happy for once on the Y&R. I used to like Lauren & Michael put I have turned of her now I didn’t think she would ever do that to Michael
I do like Adam hope him & Chelsea work things out Don’t like Sharon & Avery
Interviews
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom Talks Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and What’s Behind Katie’s Deep-Seated Issues with Dylan (Exclusive)

The Bold and the Beautiful’s Heather Tom (Katie Logan) is heading into the 53rd annual Daytime Emmys next month with a chance to win not one, but two gold statuettes to add to her collection of six!
Heather is once again a nominee for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series, and for the first time a nominee as part of B&B’s writing team in the Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series category.
Currently, Heather is tied with One Life to Live icon, Erika Slezak (Ex-Viki) as the actresses with the most wins in Daytime Emmy history. An acting victory by Tom would break the tie, although Slezak’s wins have all been for Lead Actress, while Tom literally grew up before our eyes over 35 years in daytime, and has won in all three actress categories: Younger, Supporting and Lead.

Photo: JPI
Whether Tom wins the gold this year, next year is looking even like stronger lock with Heather delivering some of the best work of her career, over the last several months. Who can forget Katie’s showdown with her sister Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) over the creation of her own fashion house named Logan, that slap from Brooke, and eventually being disowned from the Logan family by Brooke and their sister, Donna (Jennifer Gareis).
This fall, Katie is in full momma bear-mode and being overprotective of her son Will Spencer’s (Crew Morrow) heart and pocketbook. In story, Katie has a massive distrust of Melissa Dylan, who has made her move on her son, while Will is still trying to deal with the break-up with the love of his life Electra Forrester.
During a live chat this week on the Michael Fairman Channel, Heather opened up on a myriad of subjects, including why Dylan gets under Katie’s skin in such a major way, and what scenes earned her a shot at Lead Actress gold at the October 30th Daytime Emmy ceremony.

Photo: JPI
HEATHER TOM’S DAYTIME EMMY SUBMISSION
In daytime, Heather Tom does it all, she acts, directs and writes for The Bold and the Beautiful. When deciding what material to submit for Emmy competition with its eligibility rules of episodes from 2025, it relayed heavily on scenes with her longtime B&B scene partner, Don Diamont (Bill Spencer).
“I submitted material having to do with the Luna (Lisa Yamada) storyline and having to do with Katie and Bill. I love that Katie and Bill have been really trying to find their way back to each other for, honestly, five years. He’s been trying to woo her back. Katie’s been like, ‘No.’ However, they come together, especially over their son, Will (Crew Morrow) and they have a very real relationship-type of discussion. It wasn’t an argument. It was more about, ‘I know you. Don’t do this.’ That’s always kind of been Katie’s relationship with Bill. The scenes with Don Diamont were about Katie and Bill’s history, the pain, and the drama, and especially about their son, seemed very familiar to me.”
Heather added, “There’s also a couple scenes with Will and Luna, when Katie finds out that Luna is pregnant. Katie was like, ‘Nope! Our son is having a baby with somebody, and we’re going to figure this out. We’ve got means and the ability to do this. I don’t care if we have to take this baby away from Luna because she’s crazy, we’ll figure it out.’ They were some really good scenes that I felt very proud of. I thought to myself, “OK, this is Katie really taking a stand for her son, and having these conversations with Bill where I just felt they were real and honest.”
In conclusion to standing by her choices of scenes, Heather explained, “It was nice to see Bill and Katie operating as a parental unit and have her be like, “Yep, we’re not doing this. You know, you can’t force Luna to do anything, so let’s just figure out how we’re dealing with this.” Katie was kind of the adult in the room. Then, the scenes where Bill says to Katie, “You have to come back to me and I need you,” while Katie shed a few tears, she still didn’t take him back, not yet.”

Photo: JPI
DYLAN BROKE THE ‘GIRLFRIEND CODE’
There are specific reasons why Katie has it out for Melissa Dylan. In fact, Dylan went so far as to get her mother Darcy Dylan to town to shut down Katie’s suspicions of her, but it still isn’t swaying Katie away from her stance on the matter. Heather revealed how she is playing the scenes.
“So, here’s the deal. It’s multifaceted,” began Tom. “This girl pushes Katie’s buttons. She reminds her of her sister, Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang), and what Katie’s going through with her sister right now is very unpleasant. I think she looks at this girl and says, “This girl is going to crawl over anyone to get what she wants. And right now, she wants my son, and she’s willing to throw her best friend (Electra) under the bus.”
Heather also said, “Honestly, there’s something known as the ‘girlfriend code.’ Would you like to know what the girlfriend code is? ‘The girlfriend code’ is if your girlfriend, who is also your best friend, dates a guy and is especially in love with him, it doesn’t matter if you break up, that guy is off limits. You need to find yourself another guy.”
KATIE’S TROUBLES WITH BROOKE AND DYLAN MAKE HER TAKE A STAND
Katie clearly draws a similarity to her sister Brooke and Melissa Dylan which is also driving her attitude, which Heather confirmed. “So to Katie, it’s like Dylan broke that code. She is someone who follows her heart just like Brooke and leaves carnage in her wake,” said Tom.
She continued, “I think Katie looks at her and goes ‘Okay, one, you were living in your car. You didn’t call your mother who clearly loves you and ask her for help, but you were more than willing to take help from this, lovely rich guy.’ I think Katie feels like the fact that Dylan has been so expressive of how in love she is with Will, I think she finds that a little weird. She’s telling him that she’s e in love with him, and he doesn’t say it back to you. So, clearly he’s in not in love with you.”
In story, Katie can’t trust a young woman, who knows her son doesn’t feel the same way about her and yet is still hanging around. Heather shared Katie’s viewpoint to Dylan: “He’s clearly in love with your best friend. So, isn’t it a little unsettling that she kind of keeps saying she’s in love with him? So that’s my multifaceted reason why Katie doesn’t like her. It really has nothing to do with the fact that she came from humble beginnings because Katie did too. That being said, the Spencers are billionaires, so she would have to also look out for that. However, I don’t think that’s the main reason why she doesn’t like this girl or doesn’t trust her. I really don’t.”
You can check out the full conversation from our livestream conversation on the Michael Fairman Channel below.
Now let us know, are you rooting for Heather Tom to win the Lead Actress Daytime Emmy? What did you think of the scenes she submitted? Will Katie be proven right about Melissa Dylan, or will her distrust blow up in her face and she will wind up respecting Dylan when all is said and done? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Interviews
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Kelly Sullivan Talks Becoming Darcy Dylan, Who’s Melissa’s Dad, and Future Love Interest (Exclusive)

Kelly Sullivan made her triumphant return to daytime on recent episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful in her new role as Darcy Dylan, the mother of Melissa Dylan (Sydney Bullock).
In story, Melissa, better known as just “Dylan,” phoned home to her mother to come to Los Angeles, in an effort to calm the waters with Will Spencer’s (Crew Morrow) nosy mother, Katie Logan (Heather Tom), who doesn’t trust Dylan one iota.
Soap fans remember Sullivan from her previous Daytime Emmy-nominated role sas Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri on General Hospital and as Sage Warner on The Young and the Restless. During a livestream conversation exclusively on the Michael Fairman Channel, Kelly spoke about her time on GH and Y&R, and the wonderful co-stars she shared the screen with, and her excitement on her brand new role on B&B.

Photo: JPI
As to her thoughts on if Darcy will ultimately prove to be a gold-digger, opportunist, but still has a heart of gold (as we saw in recent scenes with her daughter, seemingly), Sullivan explained, “Characters like Darcy can be dangerous. I think Darcy is a survivor and she can charm. She’s a flirt. She knows what she wants. Darcy is self-made, according to her, and she made it.”
THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN DARCY AND HER DAUGHTER, MELISSA DYLAN
However, Melissa plays a big role in what’s next for Darcy! Kelly explained, “She’s got this beautiful daughter and that was her entire life who is now making her way. Let me tell you, I don’t know what Darcy’s retirement plan is, but one would assume she doesn’t have much savings. This is a great opportunity for her to connect with her daughter and get the lay of the land.”
Finding out that Melissa has been dating Will Spencer from the rich and powerful Spencer family in Los Angeles, while initially a shock, could prove interesting if the mother/daughter were to work together for a common cause, their survival.
Sullivan explained, “Darcy’s all about the tabloids and all about this life of illusion and the haves and have-nots, essentially. She would never shy away from an opportunity to see what’s around the corner. I think the interesting thing for me, that I’m excited about is to explore the dynamic between Darcy and Melissa and what is that going to become?”
From all accounts, Darcy is here to stay in Los Angeles, and fans will see much more of Sullivan on their-screens. “Darcy’s not going anywhere”, confirmed Kelly. “I always said to Sydney Bullock, Darcy didn’t buy a round trip ticket. If you think about it, Melissa could be her ticket. She might be Darcy’s only hope. There are serious stakes here if Darcy has been waiting for this moment.”

Photo: JPI
SHARING SCENES WITH HEATHER TOM
Last week, Sullivan had her first on-screen confrontation with Heather Tom. In the scenes, Katie was disapproving of Dylan and let Darcy know it. Eventually, Darcy takes Dylan with her to leave Will’s beach house apartment, but Will stops Dylan.
Recalling the taping of the scenes, Kelly said, “Heather Tom is a real special artist. In the story between Katie and Darcy, you’ve got momma bear and you’ve got momma bear. You can’t fault either of these women for how they feel, and how protective they are of their children.”
There are many things viewers and perhaps the writers have not totally fleshed out about the Dylans. Are their Dylan sisters coming, or to be revealed to rival the Logan sisters? Who is Melissa’s biological father? Plus, some more nuggets as Kelly revealed.
“I think there is a juicy, juicy story there of the Dylans,” previewed Sullivan. “It would also be interesting if they decide who Melissa’s dad is. Who is that? I mean, that’s interesting. You know, when I auditioned for this role, it said on the page that the character was charming, from the Midwest, and dance skills a plus. and I was a Broadway dancer. So, I hope this means there might be an opportunity to dance on the show at some point.”

Photo: JPI
DARCY DYLAN AND WYATT SPENCER PAIRING?
As for the men on the canvas, Kelly was asked what she thought of a potential Darcy and Wyatt Spencer (Darin Brooks) pairing? To which she responded, “That would be so much fun. I’m such a fan of Darin’s work. Oh, I would have a ball working with him. One of the things that really excited me about Darcy when I was coming into audition for her was that they said that they wanted her to have a comedic sensibility, comedic chops as they said it.”
Sullivan concluded, “To work with Darin, I would be so lucky. He’s such a great actor and he’s got great comedic timing and he’s just really present and phenomenally talented. He’s a great actor, so I would love that. I mean, anyone on the show would be really fun. You throw it at the wall (in daytime) and say, ‘Is there a thing? Is there something here?’ Chemistry is chemistry.”
Now below, and in case you missed it, you can check out our full video livestream chat with Kelly Sullivan below.
So, what have you thought of Kelly’s performances thus far as Darcy? Do you think Darcy will turn out to be an opportunistic woman, but who deeply cares and loves her daughter, or will it turn out to be a ruse? Would you like to see Kelly paired with Darin Brooks on-screen as a love interest, and who do you think truly is Melissa Dylan’s biological father? Weigh-in via the comment section.
General Hospital
GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)

At the conclusion of today’s August 21 episode of General Hospital, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) sings a lullaby to baby Dez, that went into a montage to close out the episode as her father Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) reports to Pentonville and winds up in his jail cell.
However, in a fun fact, the song entitled, “A Lonely Heart To Give” was actually written by none other than former One Life to Live and General Hospital actor, Patrick J. Gibbons.
Daytime fans first met Gibbons as Sam Manning on One Life to Live. At the time, when he started on the soap, he was just 5-years-old. Gibbons played the part from 2010-2013 on ABC and Prospect Park’s editions of the show. Fast-forward to 2018, Gibbons shows up on General Hospital as Wyatt Hoover, the scout who seemed always be injured, but in the thick of the drama. Patrick had appeared on GH multiple times as Wyatt including: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023.

Photo: ABC
FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER’S DEATH CAME THE INSPIRATION FOR HIS SONG
Now in 2026, General Hospital fans are getting to learn about another side of Gibbons’ talent as a songwriter and guitar player after “A Lonely Heart to Give” debuted today! Michael Fairman TV caught up with Patrick, who is now a senior at Penn State entering his final year as a finance major, to get the back-story of how his song wound up on GH!
Gibbons explained he wrote the song in honor of his grandmother who passed away a few years ago with whom he was, very, very close with. “Randomly, my grandmother had a downfall and passed away during the second semester of my sophomore year. I was in my dorm a lot and I was just playing with my guitar. And at the time, I was really into finger-style playing. I wrote the lyric and music to it (with a little help from my guitar teacher Lou), and my mom showed the rough demo to Frank Valentini (EP, General Hospital). He’s like an uncle to me. Frank loved it so much he said, “Finish that up. I want to hear the whole thing, and I want it on the show.”
MAKING MUSIC FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL
Gibbons and his parents took the next steps! “So now, all we needed was a female voice, because I thought that would fit the song well,” Patrick shared. “At the golf club we go to my parents were at a dinner. They liked the singer that was performing and spoke to her about the song, and she says she would like to bring it to her ‘boss’ who ended up being Eric Bazilian of the Hooters fame!” (Bazilian also wrote the smash hit song “One of Us” for Joan Osborne).
Next, “We went in the studio and recorded it and the song came together and it was beautiful. We loved it. They loved it at General Hospital and now they’re putting it the show and they are coming in with a piano, instead of a guitar. Paul Glass, the GH musical director, has been keeping us updated over the last six months of how it was coming along, and when it would air, and how GH put their own arrangement to it. I can’t wait to see and hear what they did with it.”

Photo: JPI
PATRICK’S ONE LIFE TO LIVE FAMILY
Everyone knows that the One Life to Live extended family share a very tight bond, and Patrick said he does stay in touch with a few of his former One Life to Live co-stars, especially those from the Manning family! “I stayed in touch with Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair) and sent her little videos here and there. She was like my second mom for five years. We keep in contact with Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) over X the most, and she can’t believe how big I’ve gotten. Like, none of them can! (laughs). I also loved working with Roger Howarth (ex-Todd) and Trevor St. John (ex-Todd and Victor Jr.), and to me since I was so young, they were just my friends, ‘Roger and Trevor,’ not Todd Manning or Victor Jr.”
It was a trip to California and a visit to Port Charles that ultimately led to Gibbons second soap role of Wyatt Hoover. Patrick explains, “In 2016, Frank Valentini invited us out to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital. I think he heard me say, ‘This is so much fun. I miss being on the set.’ He goes, ‘You should come out. I’ll bring you on the show. We can make you a character.'”
A few years later, Patrick’s dream became a reality! “Then, by the summer of 2018, I was playing Wyatt, the scout, and shared scenes with Wes Ramsey (Peter August), and the best was when I shared a scene with Roger Howarth and Michael Easton (ex-John, OLTL and ex-Silas, Finn et al, GH), it was like chemistry from the old days.”

Photo: PGibbons
IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS
As to his future aspirations, it’s a career in the finance game that has piqued Gibbons’ real-life interest. But never say never to a return to acting. Patrick explained, “I’ve always enjoyed numbers. And on top of that, one of the biggest parts of finance is being personable and outgoing.”
He continued, “That’s one of the greatest skills I developed growing up. I really love the markets. I’m super interested. I’m never going to close the door to acting. I’m always open to that because I just love it so much. It’s such a great art.”
Take note! If there are any investment bankers or private equity folks among the GH faithful looking for a young analyst next year, Patrick’s DMs are open. You can find him on X at @PatrickJGibbons.”
So, what did you think of the song sung by Trina on today’s GH that was written by Patrick J. Gibbons? Did you enjoy Patrick’s performances as One Life’s Sam and GH’s Wyatt? Would you like to see him back on GH at some point? Let us know via the comment section.
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