Breaking News
TONIGHT: GH’s Maurice Benard As John Gotti In Lifetime’s ‘Victoria Gotti: My Father’s Daughter’
Fans and colleagues of Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) have been eagerly waiting to see the General Hospital star take on the role of famous mobster, John Gotti. Well, tonight (February 9th) is the night! Make sure to watch the Daytime Emmy-winner in Victoria Gotti: My Father’s Daughter on Lifetime at 8pmEST/7CST.
In the log lines for the movie. it relates: “Executive produced by Victoria Gotti herself, the movie takes us deep into the world of what it was really like to grow up as the daughter of mob boss John Gotti, revealing the glamour, glitz and unique hardships of her world. Sharing never-before-revealed stories about her life, Victoria (Chelsea Frei) tells of a sensitive child growing up with a beloved father (Maurice Benard) she worried about constantly; the tragedy of her younger brother’s death; and her turbulent romance, forbidden by her father, with the man who later became her husband. Victoria had a front-row seat to a life the world became fascinated with, all while trying to reconcile the loving father she adored with a man the outside world was determined to bring down. . The film is based on Gotti’s book This Family of Mine: What It Was Like Growing Up Gotti. Victoria Gotti will appear on camera narrating.
Benard spoke with ABC Soaps In Depth about taking on the role and wanting to get the performance just right, where he expressed: “That’s up to the audience to decide. I played him like a real-life guy who’s loyal to his people and loves his family — and that’s kind of what the story is about. It’s through Victoria’s eyes and told with complete compassion.”
Photo: Lifetime
As to how playing Gotti compared to his role as Port Charles’ loveable mobster, Sonny Corinthos, Maurice added: “When I was shooting the role, I didn’t really know how different it was from Sonny. But my last day, I wrapped at about 1 in the morning in Canada, flew back and went straight to work as Sonny. I remember shooting the scene and thinking, ‘Wow, Sonny’s in about second gear, Gotti’s in about fourth or fifth gear!’ It’s two different energies.”
Check out the promo for tonight’s Lifetime Movie starring Maurice as John Gotti below, and the let us know if you will be watching, and if you caught it, what you thought of Maurice’s performance, and the movie via the comment section below.
I don’t have the lifetime channel. Can I view it elsewhere?
Recording it so I can watch it a few times. Yes! I am watching it♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
I love Maurice benard on gh he is good with the mobster character. and I cant wait to see him in this movie tonight.
The movie was O.K, but got more from Victoria’s book. I still like Maurice no matter what. I am sure he did his ,best.
Come on guys, let’s not all get into an argument over a stupid movie, that was poorly done, including the screenplay,casting,(not M.B) ,just about everything! I can not imagine anyone seeing the movie, would not agree, that on a whole, it was a lousy production, pure and simple.
Every Italian I know will be up in arms…..They all say, they cannot see how an Hispanic, with a pretty high trace of Hispanic accent can pull it off… Italians do not appreciate a non Italian, anyone from a different race play such a prominent role. Gotti looked like the typical Italian. Sonny looks Hispanic, of mixed race. Italians are Caucasoid–European.
I hope Maurice does a great job. But, his Hispanic accent and coloring will not do him any favors. He simply does not look Italian at all.
The same thing happened with JLo in MAID IN MANHATTAN. She looks indigenous—a gorgeous woman, nonetheless—-just does not have the look of an Italian—–the accent, the gestures and, again, the coloring. The movie flopped!!
They must have really hated the Zacchara family on GH then.
An entire Italian mob family portrayed by Jewish actors.
If they matched actors ethnic origins with the characters they played over the years we probably wouldn’t have the film or tv libraries that we do now. It’s really apparent when you watch TCM. And can be infuriating. I wanted Bruce Lee in Kung Fu for instance but admit David Carradine was very good in the role. But right now I’m just getting tired of all of this nit picking. Can’t people just get over it, and appreciate an actors work well done. If I have any problem over Bernard playing Gotti it was that they did another Gotti story. And as an Italian I don’t appreciate this, and obviously didn’t watch.
And there you go again, Rose. David Carradine was disguised to look Asian. Maurice does not look Italian. You never miss the chance to get on the bandwagon, do you, oh pius one? Please, I have grown up these five years. If you push me? I will push back in spades, lady.
Who do you think you are? Ignore me!! Was I talking to you? Communicste with Satan.
Thou hath spoken a bunch of nothing……..
Hi Rose, I’m still playing catch-up (about to watch Feb episodes of GH), so I’ve stayed away from the site—avoiding the spoilers. Apropos of what you just endured here, the very definition of cyber bullying, I wanted to acknowledge your thought-provoking exchanges with Jamesj75 from the 1/16 “Aiden Gets Bullied” thread. Sadly, that kind of discourse was lacking here, through no fault of your own. As with James, I’ve only known you to be a thoughtful contributor, enhancing the discussions here, and I’ll continue to look forward to your posts.
Reed…Thank you for your kind comment. I will be interested on what you think of Feb GH. So don’t watch anything about what has happened in the first few weeks of March. Don’t want to ruin it for you. ((:
Firstly, Satan, I have tried by best to be civil with you, despite your sarcastic undercurrent. If you have an issue with me, I do not give a flying fig. I try to respect everyone. I will avoid you from here on in. Please do the same. I bite when pushed too far!!
Secondly, GH misspells Zaccara. There is no ‘H”…. the only time the ‘H’ is employed in the Italian language is with a soft vowel to beget the ‘k’ sound; as there is no ‘k’ in the Italian alphabet. How fo you like me now?? Laugh, if you must–
Thirdly, Jews are WHITE, neither mestizo or indigenous as Maurice is. More power to him…..not to offend anyone, all races are noble and outstanding…..BUT, Italians are caucasoid, not of mixed Hispanic heritage. That is the difference.
Have a good night nell’inverno!!
Comparing white, Jewish actors convincingly playing caucasian, Italian soap opera characters with CeeCee’s objections of the casting of a clearly Hispanic individual portraying a famous, real life mafioso of another race is hardly the same thing! Whilst a person’s religion of choice can have an imperceptible bearing upon how they fill a prospective role, their physical presence does not, especially if it is obviously indicative of a different ethnicity than said character. One works, the other often cannot.. (Take for example, the late, great Edward G. Robinson’s iconic star turn as “Little Caesar’s” Rico Bandello….despite being a Romanian Jew, he totally owned that role, not only through his acting ability, but by totally looking the part of the dapper gangster.)
hey Celia! 🙂
I watched it..
I never watch those lifetime movies isshh they just are not in my lane..
Anyways.. It was good to see Maurice having fun being a real gangsta ahaa
but- the movie stunk!
it was DULL for a Gotti movie, indeed.
It was a true to form Lifetime movie; BLAAHHH.
so- Maurice good, move bad ..
Hey, SuzieQ,
I didn’t watch….I couldn’t bring myself to watch a mockery……I like Maurice as much as you do…..the only difference is, you love Sonny—I don’t. LOL.
The accent alone probably did Maurice in. Mannerisms are also hard to imitate. It’s an art. Having been around my husband’s family since I was six years old, I have come to accept the fact that they can communicate by gesturing–no words. LOL. It is amazing to watch!!
Thank you, my friend, for always being so civil and kind!!❤️
C, watch the movie! I didnt focus on the races. I looked at the acting and the story. For Lifetime, I give them credit, they spent some money on the movie. Maurice did well. The actress who played Victoria was really good. Victoria herself was part of the movie, commentating on certain aspects of her story and her relationship with her dad. They even inserted clips of John himself. Listen, it wasnt a Netflix production BUT, remember this, Travolta and his wife were attached to one of the WORST movie last year, GOTTI, and it was panned by almost every critique. Thats John freakin Travolta! Maurice did a better job than John Travolta, hand down!
JLo was playing a Puerto Rican in Maid In Manhattan. :))
Her character name was Marisa Ventura. Can’t get more Italian than that, as my husband’s grandfather’s name is Bonaventura….everyone calls him Ventura.
In WDDING PLANNER, JLo also played an Italian–Mary Fiore ( fiore=flower).
What do you want from me, Rose? If you cannot address me by my name, yet refer to me as ‘people’, do not acknowledge me at all. Ok?
Hi Celia,
Agree with your comments. I didn’t want to criticize the show too much, and there isn’t enough space here, but, having grown up on the East Coast with Italians, including my mother, its not hard to want to take this show apart, but what’s the use? My first gripe was “Mottsarella??” Thought I’d choke on that one. I live in Ca.now, and they do say it that way here, but took me years to get used to it. Maybe a different network would have done a better job with authenticity, but I don’t understand V.G approving that script, which was so different than her book. At least Maurice’s dimpled don persona, didn’t let us down.
@CeeCee…This is just another example of the gross hypocrisy of the left where the application of “cultural appropriation” is a one-way street. God forbid caucasians of certain ancestries ask to be accurately portrayed by their own, yet when a minority person is piqued by even the smallest of perceived offenses by those of another race doing what they claim as theirs and theirs alone, then there is a huge outcry with major recriminations. Just look at what recently happened when a woman of color, albeit not the “right one,” decided to try out a different hairstyle associated with a particular ethnicity…Padma Lakshmi was excoriated for her cornrow braids, even though she wore them well and obviously meant no harm. Still, she was taken to the politically correct woodshead for daring to go there…At the same time, many of those very individuals who grouse about the most minute of matters regarding identity politics consider it perfectly acceptable to constantly demand that traditionally caucasian roles, like that of the iconic fictional film figure, James Bond, be relinquished to anyone and everyone but the actual white male of UK origin as his creator, Ian Fleming, intended. The same goes for that utterly disgraceful mess of a revisionists’ wish-fulfillment piece called “Hamilton.” Whether those who repeatedly seek to obliterate our actual history and sully those genuine heroes of our country’s earliest days like it or not, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and the rest of the founding fathers who instituted the world’s greatest nation on earth were indisputably male and they were indeed white….Hence they therefore should be presented as such since all the dramatic license and pc posturing in the universe shall never change that fact. No matter how many attempts by those who wish to the contrary seek to undermine that reality through their own interpretations of those courageous souls who bravely fought the American Revolution to give birth to our new land, they are still nothing but pure fabrication and a total insult to the real people they purport to portray If only those aggrieved individuals would just deal with this apparently inconvenient truth, move on and dedicate their efforts toward creating new icons that better illustrate their own agendas, rather than repeatedly trying to usurp or destroy ours, we would all be better for it. There is certainly enough room in this world for a variety of perspectives and characters who represent them, but why is it our long-treasured figures, both historical and fictional, cannot not be left standing undisturbed and revered as they always have been and always should be, instead of tearing them down as a means of building up those of alternative ideals? It’s quite one notion to do your own thing by introducing new idols, but demeaning established ones in the process is really not necessary.
Breaking News
Soap Alums Remembered During In Memoriam Segment at 78th Emmy Awards; Patrick Muldoon Omitted
During last night’s 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony, as it does every year, the television academy paid tribute to those in the industry that they’ve lost over the last year; since the previous Emmys held each year in September.
Starting with an emotional tribute to the late Catherine O’Hara by three of her co-stars, Schitt’s Creek’s Annie Murphy and Dan Levy and Home Alone’s Macaulay Culkin, the segment then dovetailed into Noah Kahan performing “Bridge over Troubled Water” as the faces and the names of those being remembered were shown on the screen.
Daytime soap alums, who either stayed in the genre for the majority of their career, or went on to primetime success as well, were honored including: Anthony Geary (Luke, GH), Hayden Panettiere (Sarah, OLTL, Lizzie, GL, Juliette, Nashville), James Van Der Beek, (Dawson, Dawson’s Creek, and Stephen, ATWT), Gil Gerard (Alan, The Doctors), June Lockhart (Mariah, GH), Patricia Crowley (Mary, Port Charles and GH), Randolph Mantooth (Clay/Alex, Loving and The City, and Richard, GH) and Jon Cypher (Alex, ATWT and Arthur, Santa Barbara).
Photo: TVAcademy
THOSE HONORED AND THOSE WHO WERE NOT
However, in a glaring omission, the producers of the In Memoriam failed to include Days of our Lives beloved star, Patrick Muldoon who played the OG Austin Reed and also Richard Hart on Melrose Place. Muldoon passed away in April of this year at 57.
After Kahan concluded his performance, a special tribute to Rob Reiner began with Jamie Lee Curtis taking to the stage to share some warm words about her late friend.
In a ironic and sad twist, Curtis shared ,“Last week, Robbie won an Emmy for guest actor in a comedy series for his beautiful work on The Bear, and he now holds the record of 48 years for the longest gap between acting Emmys, which was previously held by his father Carl Reiner, at 37 years.”
Reiner, who along with his wife, Michele Reiner were killed by their son, Nick Reiner, is currently awaiting a decision if he will stand trial. Prosecutors on Tuesday, shared they will not seek the death penalty if he is convicted at trial, but instead life in prison. Curtis said of Rob, “He was generous and kind and funny as hell, and a friend to all. We all miss Rob and Michele and all those we lost this year.” The Emmys then faded to black and went to commercial break.
So, were you happy to see those who you know from their work in soap operas included in the 2026 In Memoriam tribute at the Primetime Emmys? Share your thoughts in the comment section. But first, in case you missed it, you can watch it below.
Breaking News
‘Guiding Light’ and ATWT Alum Tom Pelphrey Wins Supporting Actor in Drama Series Emmy For ‘Task’
Tom Pelphrey, one of the greatest actors of our time, who got his first big break on the soaps, can now add a primetime Emmy to his two Daytime Emmys after receiving the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series tonight for his memorable role as Robbie Prendergrast in HBO’s Task.
Taking to the stage for his acceptance, Pelphrey delivered one of the more impassioned and touching moments at the 78th annual Primetime Emmys airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
Pelphrey shared, “I thank God for my life and my sobriety. I thank my family and my friends for all your love and support all these years, from Emmys to black box theaters and everything in between.” He added special thanks to his Task co-star and Emmy nominee, Mark Ruffalo, sharing, “Thank you for this incredible role and this opportunity and your friendship. I’m so proud to be your friend.”
Photo: NBC/TVAcademy
TOM PELPHREY GIVES BEAUTIFUL SHOUT OUT TO KALEY CUOCO
In conclusion, Tom gave a shout to his fiancée, Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco, when he expressed, “And to my favorite actor in this room, my love, my best friend, my partner, the very pregnant Kaley — I love you more than anything, and our family is the crown jewel of my life.”
Cuoco is the mother to their first child together named Matilda, and she is pregnant with their second child. Tom also gave shout oust to his children, the one they have, and the one on the way. “Matilda, daddy loves you. Baby girl, daddy loves you. Thank you. God bless,” an emotional Pelphrey said.
The now Emmy-winning actor beat out a stellar field for the gold statuette that included: Three men from the cast of The Pitt: Patrick Ball, Shawn Hatosy and Gerran Howell, The Morning Show’s Billy Crudup, Slow Horses’ Jack Lowden and Pluribus actor Carlos-Manuel Vesga.
Photo: JPI
TWO-TIME DAYTIME EMMY WINNER FROM GUIDING LIGHT
Pelphrey had previously been nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 2022 for his guest star role as Ben Davis in the hit series Ozark. On the soaps, Tom won two Daytime Emmys for his role as Jonathan Randall on Guiding Light in the Younger Actor in a Daytime Drama Series in 2006 and 2008 and was nominated a total of four times.
For six years, Pelphrey played the son of Reva Shayne (Kim Zimmer) from 2003-2009, before later joining the cast of As the World Turns in the role of Mick Cain from 2009-2010. From there, it’s been all primetime television, stage and films for Pelphrey.
So, were you happy to see Tom Pelphrey winning an Emmy for his role in Task? What did you think of his acceptance speech? Do you think he was one of the best actors to ever get their start on soaps? Let us know via the comment section.
Breaking News
Dolly Parton Remembered: Y&R Alum Alyvia Alyn Lind Shares Heartfelt Tribute to the Legendary Singer and Songwriter
The world is in mourning on Tuesday, August 25 with the news of the passing of iconic and beloved country western singer/songwriter/actress Dolly Parton. The 11-time Grammy winner crafted and performed memorable hits such as “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” 9 to 5″, and “Here You Come Again, ” to name but a few.
Parton died in Nashville today. She was 80-years-old. Not only was Dolly an iconic name in the world of music, she was also an actor, producer, playwright, theme park founder (Dollywood), and a noted philanthropist.
One of the people lucky enough to know and experience the life of Dolly through a different lens was Alyvia Alyn Lind, the one time Faith Newman of The Young and the Restless. Lind played the role of Nick (Joshua Morrow) and Sharon’s (Sharon Case) daughter on and off from 2011-2021.
Photo: HallmarkChannel
ALVIA ALYN LIND PLAYED A YOUNG DOLLY
However, it was Lind, who portrayed a young Dolly in the television movie adaption of Parton’s song and book “A Coat of Many Colors” in 2015, and its sequel in 2016 Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.
Parton and Lind shared a close bond following the project, famously performing a touching, emotional duet of Parton’s song “Angel Hill” together on Hallmark’s Home & Family.
Taking to her Instagram just a short time ago, Alyvia paid tribute to the one and only Parton, expressing, “I am truly at a loss for words. There are some people who come into your life and leave a mark that can never be erased. Dolly was one of those people. will forever be grateful that I had the privilege of knowing her, learning from her, and carrying a piece of her with me through such an important and formative part of my childhood. Getting to play Dolly changed my life, but getting to know her changed my heart. Memories, lessons, laughter, and a light that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
Alyvia added, “The world will never be the same without her, but that light will live on in all of us who were lucky enough to experience it. Thank you for believing in me, for teaching me, for letting me be a small part of your story, and for being such a meaningful part of mine. Rest peacefully, Dolly. You will be missed more than words can ever say. Thank you for everything. ❤️
FAMILY ANNOUNCES THE DEATH OF DOLLY PARTON
Parton also starred alongside Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman in the smash 1980 film 9 to 5, and later roles in films including: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Rhinestone, Steel Magnolias, Straight Talk, and Joyful Noise.
Parton’s death was announced via her official Instagram post by her nephew, Bryan Seaver on behalf of the Parton family. He shared the news in a video statement. You can see that below.
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