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Y&R's Justin Hartley Chats On The Making Of His Daytime Emmy Nominated Performance In The Adam Reveal!
Courtesy/CBS
Since taking over the role of Adam Newman on The Young and the Restless, Justin Hartley had won over the viewing audience with his strong, subtle and complex portrayal.
Now he is going for gold in the upcoming 43rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. And for the first time in his career, Justin is competiting in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama series category for his star turn in the Adam reveal. While there were so many tentacles to this story and the fallout of the reveal, Hartley sat down with On-Air On-Soaps to talk about his decision to use the scenes where Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) learns Gabriel Bingham is really her believed-to-be-dead husband, Adam. The two-person scenes won praise from Y&R fans, soap pundits and now from Hartley’s peers.
In our spotlight Emmy nomination chat, Justin fills us in on the making of one of the most memorable moments in daytime and if winning is everything come Emmy night!
When you found out you were nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor were you expecting it, surprised, or shocked?
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
JUSTIN: I don’t know how these things work and this is my first time being nominated. It’s so subjective, and you never know how these things will go. I was very humbled to be nominated. It’s funny, the way it shakes out when you look at some of the people who were not nominated that are phenomenal, not only do they deserve to be nominated, but win, in fact. That sort of came to my mind first of all. We were on set when I found out, and I think Christian LeBlanc (Michael) started telling everyone who was nominated.
You submitted the Adam reveal to Chelsea. What made you choose that episode? Did you have any help deciding on it?
JUSTIN: I am horrible at picking, and it’s such an interesting thing to pick out stuff that you do and then deciding what’s good, and not good. I sort of took it out of my own hands, and I asked Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea) what I should do. She came back with the Adam reveal episode where Cheslea finds out who Gabriel Bingham really is. Truthfully, I think Melissa and I submitted the same thing. I think I just submitted her reel! (Laughs)
You did not choose any other scenes in your submission, even though you could chose scenes from up to two episodes, lasting 20 minutes in length total with the revised rules this year.
JUSTIN: I think 20 minutes is a lot to ask people to sit through, and so I just went with the one episode. Missy’s feeling was you just tell the arc of the story, and then when people are watching it their not watching your resume, but they actually get to watch a story.
Why did you like the Adam reveal scenes?
Courtesy/CBS
JUSTIN: I think it’s a story that the show spent a lot of time and effort writing and telling and sort of weaving little stories in and out throughout the year and a half. Then I just thought it was a good payoff for the audience, and I thought we did a good job with those scenes. Missy is just so easy to work with. She’s connected, she is right there. And as an actor, if you ever find another actor who says they never slip out of a moment, I think they are lying to you. But when you do slip out, the goal is to slip right back in. If I find myself in my own head, all I have to do is look at Missy and connect with her. So many of the actors on this show are like that. They are so into the moment that all you have to do is really be there with them.
At the time you filmed those keys scenes; did you realize the enormity of it? That this was one of the biggest moments in Y&R in quite some time that audience had been waiting and waiting for?
JUSTIN: I think the writers new how big of a deal the reveal was. They were very good at letting us do our thing. Missy and I sat with it for awhile and there were a few things that we tweaked. It’s been my experience on the show that you can do that as long as you don’t shift story.
What was your rehearsal process with Melissa? Did the two of you work and work on the scenes?
Courtesy/CBS
JUSTIN: Missy and I rehearsed these scenes quite a bit, but not on set. Those scenes got off to such a clunky start. They gave us extra time to do them … I think it was the whole afternoon. Then we got to set there were mic problems, camera problems, and there were all kind of problems. It was just so strange, and as I said, it was such a clunky start to it that I think it gave some levity to it, and it lightened everyone up a little bit to sort of realize, we are still shooting a television show so let’s have fun. So it became this really quiet sort of peaceful, really delicate, hands-off experience. Everything was so quiet in there. We were the only two people talking. They would come down to us with notes, and then we blocked all of the scenes before we shot them. We just sort of new what we were doing, and so it was sort of a dance. It was really the closest thing to a play that I’ve had since I have been here, because it’s just one after another, after another, after the other, and the whole story got told. You could see that they started here and there was a middle and an end.
When you look at your competition in the Outstanding Lead Actor category, what are your thoughts on your co-nominees?
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
JUSTIN: I think we are all different. I can’t speak to anything except for the fact than I don’t think people get nominated by accident. There is a gentleman in the nominations: Anthony Geary (Luke, GH) who had been nominated like 367,000 times. (Laughs) We are all different performers and we all do different things. I have seen all the nominated performances, and every one is so different.
A lot of people often say, “It’s an award enough just to be nominated.” How do you feel about that? Do you want to win the Emmy?
JUSTIN: I would be very happy to win and I want to win, of course. I think everybody wants to win. Being nominated is great and being on Y&R is great, and winning would probably be great. Winning’s fun!
Watch Justin’s nominated performance below and then let us know: if you thought the Adam reveal was one of the best moments on Y&R last year? Did you enjoy hearing Justin’s perspective on working with Melissa Claire Egan on the key scenes? And are you going to be rooting for Justin to take home a gold statue come Emmy night? For more with this year’s Daytime Emmy nominees, listen to the Soap Nation Live! with Michael Fairman Daytime Emmy Nomination Special.
Absolutely gripping scenes watching them again here as they were on screen. A win hopefully for Justin, who brings his ‘all’ to the role of Adam Newman. Great choice by casting when he was auditioning for the role.
Justin Hartley is one of the all time best recasts in soaps. I’d really like to see him win the Emmy.
That was a fantastic scene. Justin Hartley is a great actor. I wish that the award show would be televised so all of these daytime fans could enjoy it.
I agree. Why isn’t it on tv??
I really did not care much for this character, however when Justin took over I gain more interest in watching the Y&R. I have been watching ever since the 80’s where I lived in the Caribbean. Justin plays a wonderful character everyone can relate too, where you go with the waves in doing what’s best for you, just like our everyday life experiences. Adam Newman has grown up a bit more, which is great, and has attracted more viewer ever since his character (played by Justin) has returned to the show. You are the reason I watch the show after a busy day at work. It’s the one thing I look forward too before I end my day. Thank you 🙂 CJ
Mellissa Claire Egan got snubbed by the Emmys she gets no respect at all by the biased Emmys voting .
Absolutely!!!!!!
I feel the same way. I mean, what DIDN’T she do this year?
I think Justin chose the best scene s, for him to win. He surely deserves to win as he is an outstanding actor, and very good to look at too.
I think he did an outstanding job taking over the role of Adam Newman. I’m an avid fan since Y & R came on the air. Noone wanted that role given to anyone else, until Justin stepped onto the scene. He was fabulous as Adam, love him!!!
Amen!!!!
Justin is remarkable in these scenes, but there were so many others just as good.He is a wonderful actor & has become a real favorite of mine.I like the other actors too, but Justin has my vote….& thank you Michael, for another great interview… 🙂
I loved the scenes where ‘Gabe’ tells Chelsea he is really Adam. I was right there crying along with them. Justin and Melissa are just pure magic. Every day is a very good day when I get to see Justin and Melissa on my t.v. screen.
I am watching this again and again I am teared up. I love him!!!
Donna & Karen…loving the ability to replay nominees tapes again. Amazing how much more subtle things you see you missed the first time around.
I hope Justin will get it, they probably will give it to Anthony Geary again. Not that he isn’t a great actor, but Juston deserves it just for filling the shoes of MM. They were big shoes to fill and Justin did it. Excellent recast and he definitely deserves the win.
Also as a fan of the soaps I’m am greatly disappointed that it will not be televised, these are hard working actors and they deserve their awards show just as much as any other actor. Not fair to them and not fair to the fans.
You know an actor is really good when there are any number of scenes you can recall that are Emmy caliber. That’s how I feel about Justin Hartley’s work this year. From the scenes with Ian Ward to his testimony against Victor, he continues to be a true original: creative, unpredictable, funny, consistent. That’s why I hope he wins this year.
I hope Justin gets it too. If it goes by the reels that we’re handed in then he will win. I think the others we’re ok but a real winner to me is someone who you want to watch over & over again and that’s Justin Hartly for sure.
If he doesn’t win this year he should win next year if he submits those scenes where Adam tells Chelsea that Christian was his baby and that he had to hide his grief over his death— that scene was Emmy gold for sure.
I hope he wins.
really really hope Justin win . definitely an Oscar winning performance ……
Really hope he wins.
He gets my vote.
Good luck Justin I do hope you win.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
Many things are coming up roses for Jonathan Bennett! On the heels of the news that he is set to debut this month in the role of Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital, who is rumored to be a new love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), comes the news that Bennett’s reality series, Finding Mr. Christmas has received 3 nomination for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.
Bennett’s Hallmark Channel series finds itself in tough competition alongside fellow nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), Survivor 50 (CBS), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Traitors (Peacock). In addition, Jonathan himself is nominated for Best Show Host and the series participants as the Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series.
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) revealed the nominees for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Thursday, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.
Photo: Hallmark
Taking to his Instagram to celebrate the nominations, GH’s Bennett, enthused, “3 Critic Choice Nominations! I’m so proud of the FINDING MR CHRISTMAS and to be in the company of all the legends in all these categories is so surreal! Congrats to Hallmark Channel and to our nominated cast and nominated show and everyone who made this magical show possible. This is crazy! This gives FMC 6 Critics Choice nominations in 2 years. Not bad for a little show on Hallmark Channel. What are your thoughts on our show?” Jumping first into the comment thread was one of his new GH co-stars, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) who expressed, “Yeah buddy!!!🔥🔥”
In the series, Bennett, the host and co-creator spends eight weeks guiding 10 aspiring actors through a series of “festive face-offs” and acting challenges alongside actors like soap opera notables, Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R) and Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS). Along the way, they develop their skills and a bond with one another. The show, which is available on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus, highlights LGBTQ+ representation with openly gay contestants vying to be the next Hallmark star.
It should be noted that Traitors received the most Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations with 6 nods, followed by Dancing with the Stars with 4.
Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans having started his career as JR Chandler on All My Children in 2000-2001, before landing the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout performance.
You can check out the full list of Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations here.
So, excited for Jonathan Bennett’s General Hospital debut this month? Have you ever watched Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark? Let us know via the comment section below.
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General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?
On the April 30 episode of General Hospital, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had some choice words and warning for her brother Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) who has been masquerading as his twin, the very dead, Nathan West.
As the story has unfolded, viewers learned that Britt knew all along that when “Nathan” showed up in Port Charles seemingly resurrected with a missing 7 years of his life unexplained, that Cassius was taking his place.
Now in developments on today’s GH, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is figuring out that this guy pretending to be Nathan is someone else, and Cassius learns from Britt, that Joss is not just a ditzy sorority girl as he claimed, but a WSB agent! The moment stuns Cassius. Are the walls about to close in on him and his charade?
Courtesy/ABC
Daytime Emmy winner, Kelly Thiebaud spoke to Soap Opera Digest, about the story point and getting the opportunity this time back at GH to work with Ryan Paevey, when she hadn’t had the chance to before.
BROTHERLY LOVE?
Thiebaud expressed on sharing scenes with Ryan Paevey, “It’s just been so wonderful to have him back and to actually work with him! When he first came onto the show (as Nathan at the end of 2013) I was kind of heading out — it was right towards the end of my contract, so we didn’t actually work together a ton. It’s been really refreshing and so much fun to really spend time together and get to know each other and work together. I think we have really great on-camera chemistry and banter with each other. I really enjoy working with him.”
With the stakes at an all-time, Thiebaud explained how she views her on-screen alter-ego’s involvement with her more hot-to-temper sibling and why Britt revealed the truth about Josslyn to him. “People finding out about Cassius would expose what she’s involved in and what she agreed to do,” explains Kelly “And now Josslyn is digging around, and she’s connected to Carly (Laura Wright) to Jason (Steve Burton) and that whole dynamic! It’s messy!”
BRITT’S MURKY FUTURE
Britt has currently also reached her breaking point with Jason being carted away by the WSB, Rocco (Finn Carr), the child she gave birth to, shooting Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) to protect her and Jason, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) being killed after trying to help her, and Cullum holding over her head getting her Huntington’s disease medication to control her symptoms, while blackmailing her into finishing the research on her father, Cesar Faison’s, final project. Thiebaud summed it up best for Britt right now, sharing, “It’s been a really tough time for her.”
So, who do you think will be the person to blow Cassius’ cover? Will it be Britt herself? Josslyn? Liesl? Brennan? Nina? Lulu? Rocco, Maxie, Cullum or someone else? Let us know your pick in the comment section.
Breaking News
Jacob Martinez is ‘Days of Our Lives’ New Javi Hernandez Replacing Al Calderon in the Role
Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.
As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.
Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.
Photo: JPI
Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.
Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”
Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.
So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.
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THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Nick Confesses His Drug Problem to Victor; Joshua Morrow, Mark Grossman, Eric Braeden Bring the Newman Bond
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
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