Interviews
THE SHARON CASE INTERVIEW – THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
Poor Sharon Newman Abbott! It’s been a series of devastating events that have led one of Genoa City’s heroines to begin acting out in ways we have not seen before.
I mean, what would you do? The love of your life rekindles your relationship with a night of passion, only to go back to the woman who stole him from you in the first place. Your best friend professes his love for you and you send him away into a snowstorm. He ends up dead by saving your son who has fallen through the ice and almost dies, too. Your second marriage has fallen apart through a series of lies and manipulations and you realize everything you touch… you lose.
Well, Daytime Emmy Award winning actress Sharon Case, tells me what’s behind Sharon’s emotional turmoil. As many “Y&R” fans know, just this past week she spent a drunken night of passion
with Billy Abbott and has begun to steal
items and put them in her purse. Hmmm…
MICHAEL:
Many fans were overjoyed that Nick and Sharon finally reconnected and made love in the cabin! What are your feelings on the story?
SHARON:
I loved the storyline because it has so much conflict in it. I can speak for the actors that nobody wanted to see Nick and Sharon get back together and live happily ever after in one episode. Our audience wants to see them together, and so do we, but not all in one episode. It misses the point. I love that Nick and Sharon slept together and they are playing Sharon and Nick’s feelings for each other. Because for years, where was Sharon and Nick’s feelings for each other? Why weren’t they ever in the same room with each other? What happened? Well, we are back, and that does not mean Sharon and Nick should get together tomorrow, but we should be in the same room together, because there is conflict. In my opinion, this is what should have been playing out all along.
MICHAEL:
They have their son, Noah, but it seemed like over the past few years the show was not playing those storyline beats as parents. Not until recently, however.
SHARON:
We have a son! Where has this storyline been for the past two years? Thank God, we are back and Nick and Sharon had sex together. One of my favorite scenes was when we ran into each other in the office and Nick told me he wants to stay with Phyllis. Oh, my word, after everything we have been through and Sharon’s hopes were high, this was tragic! She has already filed for divorce from Jack and she is thinking, this is it. Once again, he says he is going to stay with Phyllis. He cheated, and now to hear this, how do you ever get past this?
MICHAEL:
Obviously, Phyllis’s manipulations made an impact on Nick.
SHARON:
When Sharon spoke with Nick in the office, he did not come out and say it. Sharon dragged it out of him, and pressure-cooked him into talking, and he was wondering what is going on, and not saying anything. So, I don’t know how you overcome that. I don’t know how any one gets over that. I guess you get over it by doing exactly what Sharon is doing… having a nervous breakdown and acting very unlike her.
MICHAEL:
She is acting so bizarre!
SHARON:
It’s stress that causes her to do weird things and panic. These are really extreme circumstances, where people can blank out or do things unlike themselves, or freak out. They even could go blind, temporarily.
MICHAEL:
Yes, hysterical blindness!
SHARON:
I heard someone who was having a nervous breakdown got hysterical blindness in real life. I know of people who have gone blind from stress or illness, and things can happen temporarily to you. With Sharon, she does not remember moments of time, here and there.
MICHAEL:
I remember after my major back-surgery and the stress of the recovery, I was forgetting things and I didn’t know why, but I think it was because of the stress it put on my mind and body.
SHARON:
People think it’s the illness or surgery, and it’s really the stress that’s connected to the illness or surgery or personal loss, or things like that.
MICHAEL:
So, it makes perfect sense. Sharon had lossed so much. Here she slept with Nick. He does not go back to her. Noah almost died, and Brad’s dead!
SHARON:
Can you imagine? Her child is saved and Brad dies, and she had sent Brad away! She was not that nice to him leading up to that day. She had to stop him from having any hope, but that does not matter now because he is dead. She feels bad about that. It’s awful! Jack was another horrible loss, a tragic loss. She tried everything she could possibly do to make her marriage work. She said, “Jack you are a liar, and I am going to have to adjust myself to live with that.” She tried to deal with Jack’s broken promises again and again. One thing is for sure; a promise from Jack doesn’t mean anything. How do you live with that in a marriage? It’s so disheartening.
MICHAEL:
And, Phyllis is just so mean to her!
SHARON:
She is a mean girl and she does not like Sharon, and she is mean to her.
MICHAEL:
Do you think Sharon can handle Phyllis’s machinations?
SHARON:
Look at the things that Sharon has handled in her life. Of course she can!
MICHAEL:
So, with all of this heartbreak the time was ripe to break her to pieces. It’s very interesting how they are taking apart Sharon’s spirit and mental stability.
SHARON:
I am interested in how they are doing it, too. One thing about Maria Arena Bell’s (co head-writer, “Y&R”) writing is that when you have a breakdown, it’s not only for an hour in a day you have a breakdown, and then life goes on. This is something that happens here and there a little bit each day, over periods of time, and over weeks. That’s how breakdowns happen. I think when people talk about a nervous breakdown they say, “I had a nervous breakdown between 12 noon and one, and now I am all better.” (She laughs) It does not also mean you are in a straightjacket full time. It just means you are going to act bizarre and you are going to have panic attacks at different intervals. It will be hard to deal with.
MICHAEL:
So, what is going on in Sharon’s mind? How are you playing this?
SHARON:
It’s a loss. This is the second marriage she has lost. She has almost lost her second child, which reminds her and reactivates Cassie’s death for her. Then, Nick does not want her and her friend has died. So, every time she thinks, ”Now I have my life together and now I can see a vision of where my future will lie.” You can see the future and it gives you hope. Every time Sharon has mapped it out it has been torn to pieces. She has to overcome it, restart it, and redraw it, not only with her first marriage, but her second, and also with her child, Cassie. That’s why Sharon is in this place right now. It makes you so fearful that you are going to be alone for the rest of your life; that no matter what you go out in life to create, it’s going to be ruined anyway.
MICHAEL:
Will there be a ‘night in shining armor’ along the way?
SHARON:
Isn’t that the hope in life that we all have? I hope so, and I don’t know who it will be.
MICHAEL:
Nick!
SHARON:
What you hope is that Nick will come around and be a good man. What you want to have happen is Nick to snap out of it one day and be the man he needs to be, and who Sharon wants him to be, so they can live happily ever after.
MICHAEL:
As the character of Sharon, what would you still love to do with her, or get a chance to play that you haven’t had in all of your time here at “Y&R”? I mean, Sharon has been through almost every soap storyline imaginable.
SHARON:
You know what I wanted to do? This will probably never happen, but before I knew Brad’s character was dying I did not know where they were going with Sharon and Brad’s storyline. Recently before he died, it looked like they might put us together again because Jack and Sharon were getting a divorce, and Brad was sneaking into my world with Phyllis’s assistance. I thought, “Huh, maybe they are putting us back together. If we were a couple, what kind of couple would we be?” I had this idea that Brad is this dual personality, or dual person assassin guy. What if we had this very cool, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” relationship, and I get involved as an action hero. If you ask me, anything I would like to do with the character that I haven’t done? It would be “Sharon Action Hero”. I would have this matrix and dominatrix outfit and I would be really good at firing weapons!
(She laughs)MICHAEL:
Have you noticed a difference in the writing, now that Maria Arena Bell is heading up the team?
SHARON:
Absolutely, and stories are better. Maria is just amazing. It’s got a bit of the old days in it, and every one of the actors feels like it’s the old days and everyone is happy. It’s so nice, and we deserved this. The cast and the show have been through a lot, and I am so happy for everyone here now that we have Maria. It’s what we needed and what we are looking for, someone who is a talented writer and knows the backbone of the show.
MICHAEL:
I know many of your cast mates who I have interviewed and posed this question to have responded the same way. Tell me a few words about working with Joshua Morrow (Nick).
SHARON:
I feel most comfortable when I am working with him. We have worked together for so many years, and even if I have not worked with him in a long time, I go right back into a groove with him that’s familiar and easy.
MICHAEL:
How about working with Peter Bergman, as Jack?
SHARON:
Peter is great to work with. He is very professional and always prepared. He has brought a lot to the scenes. He had a lot of great creative ideas, and a lot of what he brought to it was what that marriage was about. I feel like that marriage was really an awesome representation of modern marriage today. You don’t see a lot of that on soaps; it was not that thunderstorm marriage where kids were dying and house burning down. These were representing every day real problems that marriages have, such as dishonesty and how that whittles away at the marriage, and what that does to two people. It was a different story of marriage, and I really liked that. I liked that Sharon ran into Jack after her marriage to Nick fell apart. She lost her entire identity after that happened, and needed a new one.
MICHAEL:
How is working with your on-screen SORAS’d son, Kevin Schmidt as Noah?
SHARON:
He is a very talented actor. As a guy, he is silly and funny. When I look at him, I can’t believe I have an older son now on the show. I guess in reality, I could have a son that age, I think. No! I could have a son Noah’s age, but not like the actor’s age. He is so great and with Camyrn Grimes (Ex-Cassie) we did not age her. She was a very talented actress and we just watched her grow up. I have been lucky with the casting of my on-screen kids.
MICHAEL:
How was seeing your friend Don Diamont (Brad) depart the show? Have you spoken with him since he left?
SHARON:
No, I haven’t, not since his going away party here. It was hard for me. Everyone was sad. Don was great through it. He went through every different kind of emotion at the party, and he gave a very moving speech.
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Marquita Goings on Hayley’s Pregnancy, ‘Friendship’ with Leslie, and Working with Timon Kyle Durrett (Exclusive)

When Beyond the Gates concluded last week’s Friday cliffhanger, Hayley (Marquita Goings) received some life-altering news! Up in her suite at the Bowman, she had decided to take a home pregnancy test. As she watched the timer, nervously, when it was time to check the results, it confirmed she was indeed carrying a child. This causes Hayley great angst as she threw it to the wall and screamed, “No!”
This development sideswipes and turns her next move upside down! Previously, Hayley had met with her cousin Randy (Maurice P. Kerry) who finally presented her with the requested new ID to start a new life, and for her to go after another rich man and scam him, like she tried to do with Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett).
Hayley’s new identify was to be that of Carey Jenner, …a nanny! Hayley didn’t want anything to do with kids. Randy had told her it was the perfect identify to infiltrate a wealthy man’s home and heart. Now, that Hayley’s pregnant presumably with Bill’s child, what will be her next move?

Photo: CBS
THE LATEST IN THE LIFE OF HAYLEY LAWSON HAMILTON
During a livestream chat with Marquita Goings on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel, the actress talked about what Hayley pregnancy would mean, what other men in the Fairmont Crest universe might she set her sights on, and her odd, yet “friendly” relationship with Leslie (Trisha Mann-Grant), plus working with her leading man, Timon Kyle Durrett, who this week’s goes for gold in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards.
Opening up about Hayley realizing she may be pregnant which prompted the home pregnancy test, Goings shared, “That was good timing with Leslie. With her saying, ‘Oh, you’re gaining weight,’ and Hayley just has to go throw up.”
Now that it has been confirmed that Hayley is pregnant, it will be interesting to see how she plays this off, because as Goings stated, “She said she was pregnant already twice, I think. She was back and forth with Bill, like, ‘Oh, I’m pregnant, and then all this happened, and then losing the baby at Uptown.’ I guess now we’ll have to see (how this plays out).”

Courtesy/CBS
RANDY AND LESLIE UNLIKELY ALLIES?
As for her cousin, Randy, with whom Hayley keeps asking for new passports and fake ID’s, does she have any true familial feelings for him? “A little bit. I hate to say it,” shared Goings. “I feel like Hayley definitely loves her cousin. She appreciates her cousin, but they’ve always had this dynamic to where she’s bossed him around. She’s always helped him in a sense, although he’s helping her too, but when she scams, she’s the one going through everything, making the money. She’s playing him, but deep down, she cares about Randy.”
Beyond the Gates fans love the soapy goodness of two bad girls seemingly becoming frenemies when Leslie paid Hayley’s bail! Now the two chat over food and sundaes, as Hayley’s keeps getting sick at the sight of anything she would have to put down her stomach due to her pregnancy.
“Hayley doesn’t fully trust Leslie. She feels like she’s a scammer and they’re kinda two peas in a pod to some degree,” declared Marquita. “She probably doesn’t trust her because of Hayley knowing her own ways. She’s like, ‘Okay, why does she want to be close?’ But then it’s like, ‘Oh, wait! She bailed me out of jail of all people!”

Photo: CBS
TIMON KYLE DURRETT GOES FOR GOLD
While becoming pregnant may have given Hayley a second chance at a marriage of convenience to Bill, who else might Hayley target next? Goings weighed-in, “It definitely needs to be someone with some wealth because of her being money hungry. Like Isaiah (Lami), he doesn’t have anything. So he wouldn’t do her any good. And of course, he could be like eye candy, but he’s already in a relationship and he doesn’t have the tools. So, I don’t know. I don’t know if it would have to be someone new?”
Marquita also had high-praise for her co-star, Timon Kyle Durrett and was thrilled for his Daytime Emmy nomination. “It’s deserving. I cannot wait for the Emmys. I will be there. I have most of my scenes with Timon and I have a lot of fun with him. I also love my scenes with Karla Mosley (Dani Dupree) too. Just working with Karla alone is a joy. She’s amazing. I will say this, being my first time being on a soap, just watching her handle the pacing and just learning all the things, is a great example of how to do this medium.”
So, what do you think of Hayley being pregnant? Will she get Bill to take her back if she is carrying his child? Do you think it could be another man’s baby? What do you think of Hayley being frenemies with Leslie? Are you rooting for Timon Kyle Durrett and Karla Mosley at this week’s Daytime Emmys? Weigh-in below.
Interviews
Joe Hendry Talks WWE Microdrama Collab ‘Agent of Shadows,’ New Music, and What’s Next! (Exclusive)

The motto, “I believe in Joe Hendry” is catching on even outside the WWE Universe! The Scottish-born pro wrestler is having a banner October (well not so much on this week’s Monday Night Raw), but with the release of his new album Beyond Belief and appearing in WWE’s first-ever microdrama Agent of Shadows in its partnership with vertical leader ReelShort.
On Friday, October 23, ReelShort launched Agent of Shadows on its mobile-first storytelling platform that is available in more than 100 countries, reaching more than 70 million monthly active users.
Hendry joins fellow WWE stars Drew McIntrye, Jacob Fatu, plus Booker T, Michael Hayes and Nikkita Lyon and more in the cast as they mix it up with microdrama leading men, Chase Mattson and Marc Herrman, in the action-packed series.

Photo: ReelShort
A NEW FRONTIER FOR WWE SUPERSTARS
As the story begins, the world’s greatest secret agent must protect and care for his 6-year-old daughter while posing as her nanny. Now, without revealing his true identity, he must win his daughter’s (and her mother’s) trust, while secretly thwarting corrupt suitors, mafioso strongmen and even a megalomaniacal billionaire who’s using his family to get to him. What could go wrong?
Michael Fairman TV chatted with Hendry on his ascension and rise in the ranks of the WWE, bringing his brand of satire, music and singing to sports entertainment, plus his thoughts on branching out into the acting world of motion pictures, microdramas and more. The full conversation can be seen with Joe on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel.

Photo: ReelShort
JOE HENDRY ON PLAYING … JOE HENDRY
Unlike the other WWE superstars in Agent of Shadows, Hendry is taking on the role of … himself! Seems like it may not be then been too much of a stretch to play or is it? Joe explained, “I don’t know how much of this I’m allowed to reveal, so I’m sure there’ll be a lot of fun in discovering what that is. But what I will reveal is what I think is the best thing about my involvement … everyone else plays a character and I play Joe Hendry. So, I’m very pleased about that.”
Speaking on his background, Joe explained, “For those of you who don’t know, I’ve been a wrestler for 14 years, but I kind of had a mainstream crossover in 2024 when my music video became a meme. It did really well in the charts. I’ve now been able to carry that forward and I’m in one of those positions where I can just appear as myself.”
“This is the first film-type project I’ve been a part of,” elaborated Hendry. “I think that’s why WWE stars crossover so well into movies, because we’re so used to having to do everything in one take, whereas in Hollywood you may get as many takes as you need. In microdramas, you can look at these chapters as well. So, let’s say you manage to get through the first give chapters on your way to work or whatever, you can always come back to that. I think’s its a smart combination for storytelling.”

Photo: WWE
NEW LP TRACK LIST INCLUDES ‘FIRE LOGAN PAUL’
Back on October 5, Hendry released his LP Beyond Belief filled with hilarious and clever send-ups. The track list includes: Tables, Ladders and Chairs, Fire Logan Paul (the social media phenom and pro wrestler), Give Joe Hendry Every Single Belt and more. Hendry added one more favorite, that is his latest single and music video!
“The other main one is If You Don’t Love Joe Hendry, and the lyrics are, ‘If you don’t love Joe Hendry, then, you’re a useless piece of … ‘ So, I think we should fire Logan Paul, and I think we should give Joe Hendry every single belt. I just think these are sensible messages we have to get out to the world.”
The album was completed in what some would consider lighting speed! “We had a lot of fun recording these, but it was done so fast. It was actually a lot of pressure to get it done. I wrote the album except Fire Logan Paul in a span of four days. It was pretty intense. We recorded all the vocals in five hours, which is insane,” recalled Joe. “But it’s kind of what I was talking about before. In WWE, everything is done live. We do not have retakes. So, I think being a WWE superstar has prepared me well for producing other forms of media quickly.”

Photo: WWE
TEENAGE DREAMS BECOME A REALITY WRESTLING RANDY ORTON
Back in the squared circle, Hendry has been in a feud with the Judgment Day, and in particular of late with JD McDonaugh on Raw. But taking a look at his rise from NXT to TNA to WWE, Joe reflected on his heart-stopping moment at WrestleMania 41 against one of his legends, Randy Orton.
“I remember being 15 and kind of imagining being a pro wrestler. I also remember specifically thinking, ‘What if I had a feud with Randy Orton?’ And then, I became a wrestler when I was just about to turn 25 and all these years later, it happened!
“It such an unlikely story,” said Joe of getting the call he would be facing the 14-time WWE champion. He added, “I’m so grateful that I’ve had that moment early on in my WWE career and it kind of takes the pressure off, because it doesn’t get any bigger than that. So now, I can focus on my goal which is just to get better all the time; improve as a wrestler all the time. I can see the progression in myself. I’m gaining skills and confidence all the time.”

Photo: WWE
SHOULD JOE STAY GOOD OR TURN BAD?
The proverbial question had to be asked, “Does Joe prefer being a babyface or would he like to see a heel turn? Hendry replied, “Interesting question. Never say never. You just never know. Anything can happen in the WWE. It’s funny, originally, my character was designed by me to be hated, and people just happened to like it! You can’t force it. The audience is going to tell you. They are a huge part in dictating our paths as wrestlers.”
Check out Joe in Agent of Shadows by visiting ReelShort.com to download the ReelShort app on Apple and Android devices. You can also check out @ReelShort on YouTube.
You can also watch our full conversation with Joe Hendry now on the Michael Fairman Channel below.
Now let us know, will you check out WWE’s first microdrama, Agent of Shadows? Do you get a kick out of Joe Hendry’s songs and how it relates to his feuds in the WWE and his rise in the ranks of pro wrestling? Hoping Joe stays a babyface or would you like to see him turn heel? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Mike Manning Talks Smitty’s Emotional Visit with His Mother (Exclusive)

This week on all-new episodes of Beyond the Gates, as Smitty (Mike Manning) continues to be framed and in hot water for the murder of Dr. Lia Whitmore, he gets some familial back-up when his never-before-seen mother, Jenny Smith arrives in Fairmont Crest to see her son.
Jenny is played by Jennifer Van Horn who made her Beyond the Gates debut on the Wednesday, October 21, which was the same day that Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series Emmy nominee, Mike Manning participated in a livestream chat on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel.
In story, as Smitty was at home, he received a surprise visit from his mother, who resides in Ohio. Jenny came to support her son through this difficult time. Smitty made note of his disappointment that his father didn’t come with her on the trip, sharing that he knows his dad has never been comfortable around wealth or the Duprees. Smitty also acknowledged how his father didn’t approve of becoming a journalist or moving to the DMV. Later, when Smitty’s husband, Martin returned (Brandon Claybon) he walked in on Smitty getting a pep talk from Jenny.

Courtesy/CBS
SMITTY’S MOM ARRIVES
Manning addressed how he had to keep the appearance of Smitty’s mom on the down low. “I do have a mom now. Yes.! I couldn’t talk about it to anybody. Jennifer Van Horn who plays my mom was so lovely and so nice, and she was great. I love Smitty having some backstory and having a parent.”
And there could be even more Smitty drama to come! Mike shared, “They mentioned Smitty’s father too, so they kind of plant the seeds for maybe more to come, which is nice. I think it really shows that there’s just one more level to the community that is surrounding Smitty. One of my favorite scenes from this entire storyline is when Smitty gets hauled into jail and the entire Dupree family shows up and they all start taking shots at Jacob (Jibre Hordges) and everyone at the police station.”
BEING EMBRACED BY THE DUPREES
Manning, in particular, recalled a moment from fellow Daytime Emmy nominee, Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree). “I loved when Anita goes, and this is not verbatim, but it was something along the lines of, ‘If Smitty’s not home for dinner, you’re gonna be hearing from Anita Dupree.’ Then, Vernon (Clifton Davis) says something, and Kat (Colby Nixon) comes in and she’s giving him so much sass. I remember watching the episode just being so touched that the entire Dupree family is wrapping around Smitty like this shield, this cocoon. So, it makes this storyline of him being framed a little bit easier to swallow.”

Courtesy/CBS
MORE OF SMITTY’S BACKSTORY TO BE REVEALED?
Speaking of the scenes between Smitty and his mom, Manning felt, “It was very touching. He spoke about how he loved his mom for what she sacrificed, It was one of those mother-son things, but it was poignantly done. I would like them to explore that more, and Smitty’s family, because, I think that it’ll also help inform some of the dynamic between Martin and Smitty. We know that Martin comes from a long line of successful people, whether it’s in entertainment or politicians. His grandfather’s a senator. So, we understand that he grew up in the country club, basically. We don’t really understand where Smitty grew up yet.”
The two-time Daytime Emmy winner also explained that he has his own origin story for Bradley “Smitty” Smith: “Obviously, I have an idea in my head with the backstory that I’ve sort of decided for Smitty, whether or not that’s exactly what the writers are going to throw at me, eventually, who knows? But, I certainly have an idea of why Smitty is the way he is, why he’s so driven, why he takes risks, why he’s so hungry to prove himself and be successful in journalism and everything else.”
You can check out a scene between Smitty and his never-before-seen-mom, Jenny below. Followed by our live chat with Mike Manning after the episode aired.
Now let us know, do you hope Beyond the Gates explores more of Smitty’s backstory? Did you enjoy the debut of Jennifer Van Horn as Smitty’s mom? Share your thoughts via the conversation below. And make sure to catch Mike on the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards streaming next Friday, October 30 to see if he takes home his third gold statuette!
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