Connect with us

Breaking News

20

TONIGHT: GH’s Maurice Benard As John Gotti In Lifetime’s ‘Victoria Gotti: My Father’s Daughter’

Photo Credit: ABC

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.

Leave a comment | 20 Comments

20 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

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

George Cheeks, CBS President & CEO, on Timeline to Launch New Daytime Drama, ‘The Gates’: “We’re So Focused on Getting it Right”

March 2024 will be remembered in the TV and soap world when the news broke that CBS is prepping a brand new daytime drama. Many had thought a major network would never bring a new daytime soap into the world, given that the last time it was attempted was 25 years ago when the now defunct Passions bowed on NBC.

However, The Gates is definitely in development and moving forward with some major players associated with it including: Michele Val Jean as The Gates writer, showrunner and one of its executive producers, and Sheila Ducksworth from NAACP Venture

Now, for the first time since its announcement, George Cheeks, the president and CEO of CBS and chief content officer for news and sports at Paramount+, spoke on the project that will feature a Black family as its central focus who live in a wealthy gated community.

Photo: NAACP

Speaking with Vulture, and when asked if The Gates is really something that truly has a chance of getting on the air, Cheeks clarified, “It’s super real. And just to give you a little bit of the backstory,  when we hired Sheila Ducksworth to run the NAACP Venture, she and I had multiple meetings talking about what different genres she was going to lean into, and we talked a lot about daytime.”

Cheeks added, “One of the things that the data made very clear to both of us is that daytime soap operas over index with Black women, and yet when you look at soap operas, it’s usually sort of a white-led family with supporting characters that reflect more of our society. So we just thought, wouldn’t it be interesting to flip that and make the core anchor family a Black family, and then make the other characters reflect more the broader scope of society?”

Photo: JPI

The CEO gave props to Michele Val Jean,  and how Ducksworth came to the table with the former B&B and GH writer. “She found this great writer, Michele Val Jean, who’s been in the soap opera space for 30 years. She came up with a pitch, and we loved it,” shares Cheeks. “We brought Procter & Gamble into it as well, because if there were going to be (product) integrations, we could do it more holistically and organically. All of that is to say, we did a lot of work on the front end to put this together. So while yes, it’s development, it’s accelerated development.”

When prodded on the timeline of when The Gates could come to full fruition, Gates related, “The actual timeline and when we’re going to do it is still uncertain, because we want to get this right. I mean, there hasn’t been a new soap opera launch since I can’t even begin to tell you when. But we have great success with Bold and the Beautiful and Young and the Restless, and so we think we’re the right folks to be launching a new soap. I wish I could tell you more about exact timing, but we’re so focused on getting it right, and that will dictate when we’re ready to launch it.”

The CBS exec also shared that whether The Gates will wind up an hour soap or half-hour is not yet determined, but that it is being developed as an hour show.

So, after reading what George Cheeks, the CBS President & CEO had to say about ‘The Gates’, are you even more excited for what looks to the first new network soap in 25 years? Comment below.

Continue Reading

Breaking News

Robyn Bernard, ‘General Hospital’s’ Terry Brock, Dead at 64

Former General Hospital star, Robyn Bernard, who played aspiring singer Terry Brock has died. She was 64-years-old.

Bernard’s body was found Tuesday in San Jacinto, California. A Riverside County Coroner told TMZ they identified the actress’ body using her fingerprints after deputies responded to a death investigation call on Tuesday March 12th.

Sources told the outlet that Bernard’s body was found in the wee hours of the morning. The cause of death has yet to be determined.

Photo: ABC

Bernard joined General Hospital back in 1984 as Terry Brock, the daughter of the abusive D.L. Brock (played by David Groh). Robyn remained on the ABC soap opera for six years before making her exit in 1990. At one point, Terry’s stepmother would become Bobbie Spencer (the late Jackie Zeman) when the nurse married her father.

Terry was involved in the Laurelton Murders storyline and after first setting her sights on Frisco Jones, wound up with killer Kevin O’Connor. Later, Terry was blamed for several murders and in the end killed Kevin in self-defense. In addition, Terry had a relationship with Dusty Walker played by none other than Shaun Cassidy.  She eventually left Port Charles after landing her own recording contract.

Photo: ABC

The last time GH Fans may have seen Bernard was in 2014, when she appeared at the GH Fan Club Weekend Past Cast event. Robyn is pictured below with the late Susan Brown (ex-Gail) at the fan gathering. She has been out of the limelight for several years.

Photo: JPI

In addition to her role on GH, Bernard was featured throughout her TV career on primetime’s Simon & Simon, Tour of Duty and The Facts of Life.

Share your remembrances and condolences for GH alum Robyn Bernard and her loved ones via the comment section below.

Continue Reading

Breaking News

51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Announce Broadcast Date on CBS

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) revealed on Tuesday, that the 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be broadcast live on Friday night, June 7th (8 – 10 PM, ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+*.

This year will mark the 18th time CBS has broadcast the Daytime Emmy Awards, which is more than any other network.

The 2024 Daytime Emmys will take place at the Westin Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles. Back in December of 2023, the delayed 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards were also held at that venue. The June 7th date for the upcoming ceremony will be the first time in several years that the event is scheduled a few weeks earlier than normal; excluding last year’s revised date to the actors and writers strikes.

Photo: NATAS

Lifetime Achievement honoree, nominations, host, and additional information will be announced in the coming weeks.

In a statement, Adam Sharp, President and CEO of NATAS noted, “We eagerly anticipate our return in June as we once again partner with CBS to recognize the exceptional and talented individuals who make daytime television great. We’re thrilled to kick off our second half-century of the Daytime Emmys.”

The Daytime Emmy Awards have recognized outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts since 1974, honoring work in a variety of categories, including daytime dramas, talk shows, instructional programming, hosting, culinary, and legal/courtroom programs. In 2021, NATAS and the Television Academy jointly announced plans to realign the Daytime and Primetime Emmy Awards to be organized by content genre, as opposed to program airtime.

Photo: JPI

The 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will once again be produced by NATAS and Associated Television International (ATI), which produced Daytime Emmy Award ceremonies on The CW in 2009 and on CBS in 2010, 2011, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Adam Sharp and Lisa Armstrong are executive producers from NATAS, while David McKenzie is executive producer from ATI.

So, glad to know that the 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards honoring performance and shows in the 2023 calendar year, will be held in early June this year, and once again broadcast on CBS? Comment below.

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Kim Coles as Whitley

Days of our Lives

Airdate: 7-24- 2023

Popular