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This Is Us Featuring Y&R’s Justin Hartley Hailed As "Best Ensemble Cast Of The Season"

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: JHartleyFacebook

The rave reviews continue from TV critics across the board for the new NBC dramedy This is Us premiering this fall.  The Young and the Restless Justin Hartley (Adam Newman) stars in the new primetime series along with Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Milo Ventimiglia, and Chrissy Metz.

ET Online just heralded the program of one of six new series to watch for in their fall preview, and they also dubbed the performances as the “best ensemble cast of the season.” They go on to share why fans should tune-in to the show: “If we could hug a show and never let it go, we’d choose NBC’s soul-warming dramedy, This Is Us. From the writer and directors of Crazy, Stupid, Love, this refreshingly raw and genuine new series will ease the ache in our hearts that Parenthood has left behind. With four out of the five characters sharing the same birthday, you’ll discover that their lives intertwine in curious ways — and you’ll fall head over heels in love once you discover the series’ big twist. Bottom line: This is the show that everyone will be talking about, so don’t miss out on fall’s most emotionally satisfying series”

Pretty good endorsement, wouldn’t you say? But to top it off, Hartley posted on Tuesday a photo of himself following a screening of This is Us where he expressed: “Happy to report, not a dry eye in the theater.”  The series premieres immediately following The Voice on September 20th.

So, getting more jazzed about what looks to be one of the most moving TV series of the fall season starring Justin? Comment below.

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I watched the trailer and it was fantastic! Not many evening shows appeal to me anymore but this hooked me. Yeah, I looked at it because of JH but it really has a talented cast. I am thinking he can do both. He has a heavy schedule at Y&R but this new show is an ensemble so I wouldnt think it would be that hard to add to his schedule? Who knows, he is a super talent and if he leaves, a new search will be on for the Mustache’s thrown! Cross your fingers and toes because you see how the Billy replacements did and are doing. Thumbs down!

I agree Tim. I watched the trailer as well to get an idea of what it would be like. Im hooked as well. Justin Hartley going for the gold (prime time) doesn’t surprise me at all. I said right from the beginning he’s going places. Everyday you can see his heart & soul is in his scripts. So many actors mouth the words but there is no emotion in the acting. Even today in the jail scene with Chelsea there was so much emotion in his face, if it wasn’t a soap it almost looks real & that’s the type of actor Hollywood needs.

Nikki, you are so wise AND a fan of acting! You are right, people often discount actors as bimbos but I got to say, IF you do it right it is not easy! Justin’s eyes will pull you in and make you believe EVERY thing he is saying to YOU! Ray Wise has that gift, as well. I know Ian is a cartoon-like figure but his abilities are priceless. Good stuff Nikki!

Hi Nikki…yes Justin’s great…and gorgeous but from your post I wasn’t sure if you were aware he’s already done quite a bit of primetime. He was in Smallville for a few years and also played a major character’s son (who was the gay lover of another major character) on Revenge. He’s stunning!

Milo Ventimiglia is a fantastic actor as well! First time I saw him he played Rory’s boyfriend on The Gilmore Girls and went on to several other shows, movies, etc. These two guys on the same show has nothing but great potential!

Thank you Tim. I don’t know how wise I am but I am fussy when it comes to good acting. I think Justin could do circles around a lot of them. Devon & Ben (Abby’s husband) drive me nuts. They tend to wait until their wife’s say something and then they rhyme off words like their reading a cue card. I just read that they are bringing Tristan Rogers(Colin) back. I think he’s a good actor but his story was lame. Another great actor(JMO) is Ray Wise (Ian Ward). I thought his acting was fantastic and to see him and Justin play off each other was a real treat.I have really enjoyed the writing lately as well. This new guy has got to stay!

Yes…if this show has even the slightest hint of a PARENTHOOD theme; I will definitely watch. I love Justin and Mandy. And, PARENTHOOD never bored me. Every episode stressed a part of everyday life for everyday people.
Great post, Timmmy….as usual, I agree with your assessment of the ‘goner’ days of Billy and Phyllis.
If Justin does leave, I hope the next replacement will do Adam justice. Later, love.

I never watched PARENTHOOD. Seems I might have missed something? I remember getting hooked on LOST. That show went bonkers and it ended up sucking! I watched UNDER THE DOOM and the final season was so lame! Like I said above, I am really tuning out to evening TV but this seems good and I cannot wait for the premiere. See ya sweetie!

@Timmm.
What you missed, Timmmy was great, inspiring writing with the best cast, ever!!!!
And, these actors/actresses delivered like nobody else.
You missed the ups and downs of real people with real familial problems and then some.
But, the most important gift the viewer took away from the stories, was that nothing comes even close to what ties a family together: LOVE and TRUST.

Just wondering when Justin will be leaving Y&R. One of the few actors who can turn the crap writing into something interesting. He’s a talented actor, and he’ll be missed.

I wonder if Mr. Hartley as Adam will go to recurring for a bit until THIS IS US shows its potential for longevity. My hope is he can stay on daytime, too. he is a shot in the arm for Y&R even though I have never cared for the story lines involving the character. The destruction was complete with that horrid baby swap story about eight years ago. Plastic surgery and a reboot did not help me try again with the character.

Justin is a great actor, loved him in Revenge and Mistresses he also was a great replacement as Adam
I hope he will continue to play Adam. I wish his new series all the best. He deserves prime time.
Who knows if he leaves maybe Michael Muhney would return.

Well, thanks for all of your comments. The only Soap I know is Y & R.

If Adam is to be replaced the job would be one I would not seek. Since my following the Young and the Restless is but a light and very long lingering following your comments are always interesting and expanding my insight.

From here, new Adam has been almost great. I don’t want him to leave. Should he leave please find one with the script who can project a sense of balance between good and slightly naughty.

It seems ratings should not stop expanding and investing in more sophisticated themes; not referring to bedroom scenes.

I record PBS as well as Young and the Restless. Best many of you do too.

Thanks!

Bet many of you do too.

I will be looking forward to seeing him on this show,to tell you the truth,he is hot.besides the fact he is such a great actor.Every time I see him I want to jump into the screen and take his clothes off.Sorry about that. but Justin is gorgeous..He could still do both shows.I have seen other actors do two.

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Shares He Was ‘Happy to Hear’ of The Triangle Storyline Developing Between Dante/Elizabeth/Ric

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Dominic Zamprogna

General Hospital’s Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) opened up about the burgeoning love triangle forming between his Port Charles alter-go, Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) after recently aired scenes, plus his hopes for the future of a Dante and Liz pairing, during his appearance on the Sunday, April 23 edition of the That’s Awesome podcast with Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli).

On last week’s episodes of GH, Ric has made the decision that he wanted to propose to his ex-wife, only when he showed up at Elizabeth’s front door, he misread the scenario he walked in with Liz tending to Dante’s injured leg from the softball game. From there, the legal eagle’s jealous streak is reemerging which may cause him to act out and do something unforgivable, or will he take the high road? Stay tuned.

Speaking with Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson about where Elizabeth stands in the annals of the long-running soap, Zamprogna said, “She’s up there with Steve and Maurice (Maurice Benard) as one of the most legacy-filled people on the show.”

Courtesy/ABC

HOW DANTE AND ELIZABETH CAME ABOUT

Dominic jokes it’s a far cry for where Dante and Elizabeth previously, recalling, “We had some scenes together years ago and we were both laughing. Becky’s like, ‘Well, I guess we’re not going be paired up anytime soon.’ I remember we laughed immediately after they yelled ‘cut,”‘and said to each other, ‘Well, so much for that!'”

Fast-forward to early 2025 and as Zamprogna remembered it, “Elizabeth Korte (co-head writer, GH) came up to me at the General Hospital Christmas party, and I think it was a year and a half ago and she said, ‘We’re going to have you in scenes with Elizabeth,’ My internal monologue is going, ‘I’m not with Lulu (Alexa Havins) anymore and Sam’s (Kelly Monaco) gone, so maybe they want to see if this works.’ I didn’t want to get scenes with Becky and try to find the chemistry. I just wanted to play whatever honestly was written and came across for both of us and hope it was what people liked, and I don’t know if it is … or not.”

Knowing how beloved Elizabeth is to the GH faithfuls, Zamprogna added, “She got a big fan base with Ric … and a big fan base with with Jason … and you know, you’re going to piss somebody off. But, didn’t Ric drug Elizabeth and put Carly in a panic room?”

Dom and Liz

Photo: ABC

DANTE AND ELIZABETH PAIRING COULD STIR UP STORY FOR OTHERS IN PORT CHARLES

In closing, Dominic felt that the wide-reaching tentacles of a Dante and Elizabeth relationship is something he is 100% down for. “The triangle thing; I was happy to hear it was with Ric and her, because I felt it’s important to have her the top of it as opposed to Dante, Lulu and Elizabeth.”

Zamprogna added, “When you get into relationships on a soap, things seem to fizzle out a little bit, The buildup is what’s the fun part, and the getting to know each other, and the people who are affected by this coming together. When with this case it’s going to affect: Ric, Sonny, Lulu. There’s so much more story here. To me, it’s going to be a fun story to play.”

You can check out Dominic’s visit to That’s Awesome with Steve and Bradford below.

Now weigh-in: Are you rooting for Dante and Liz, or Dante and Ric at this juncture of the story, or neither guy  for Elizabeth? Let us know your thoughts and picks via the comment section.

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Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Mike Manning Lands Role in Indie Horror Feature ‘Deify’

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Mike Manning

While Smitty tries to hold the fort down in his marriage to congressman Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon)  and their two teenaged children, Samantha (Najah Jackson) and Tyrell (Jaden Lucas Miller) on Beyond the Gates, Emmy-winner Mike Manning has also landed another feature film role.

According to Deadline, Manning has joined the cast of Deify with 6 other new cast members for the indie psychological horror film starring Neal McDonough and Skeet Ulrich, which was previously announced last week.

Joining Manning as the latest cast addition are: Dennis Haysbert, Ashley Greene,  Casey Harnett, Kirk Avecdo, Anji White, anf Nicholas Chimera who’s directing the pic also has a part in the film.

WHAT’S THE STORY OF DEIFY?

Taking to his Instagram with the news of his casting, Manning shared, “A movie about a cult? What could possibly go wrong? Come for the enlightenment. Stay because they won’t let you leave. DEIFY is coming…”

The movie is currently shooting in Chicago and in story, “a cult leader is put on trial after causing his devoted followers to be burned alive. The film is inspired in part by events surrounding the 1993 Waco, Texas, standoff between members of the Branch Davidians church and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, one of the largest civilian firefights ever recorded on American soil.”

MIKE MANNING IS A DAYTIME EMMY NOMINEE

In addition, the multi-talented Manning is a producer on the feature. Previously, Mike was nominated last month in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. He previously won an Emmy for his role on The Bay and for being a producer on the digital drama.

Mike’s previous credits include the role of Charlie Dale on Days of Our Lives and the Manny on This Is Us, plus various primetime and screen credits.

So intrigued to find what role Mike will play in the upcoming horror/cult film, Deify? Enjoying him as Smitty on Beyond the Gates? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)

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Patrick J. Gibbons

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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