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Y&R's Kristoff St. John Talks His First Lead Actor Daytime Emmy Nomination!

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

With his sixth Daytime Emmy nominations, and two Daytime Emmy wins, The Young and the Restless’ Kristoff St. John (Neil) finds himself going for gold on May 1st for the very first time in his daytime drama career in the Lead Actor category.   St. John looks to be the sentimental favorite in the most hotly contested contest of the night.  If St. John should win, he would be the only actor besides The Bold and the Beautiful’s Heather Tom (Katie Logan Spencer) to have won in every daytime drama acting category: Younger, Supporting, and Lead.

For Kristoff, having recently celebrated his 25th year on Y&R as Neil Winters, is no easy feat, and to have a character as enduring as Neil has been, and that has remained so popular.  In addition, Kristoff suffered the most painful loss imaginable with the death of his beloved son, Julian.  Pouring his heart and soul into his craft following the tragedy, St. John delivered some of Neil’s darkest hours in a performance that will be remembered for quite some time to come.

On-Air On-Soaps talked with Kristoff to get his reaction to his Daytime Emmy nomination, how he sizes up the competition in the Lead Actor race, what he thought of his nominated work and banner Emmy season, and more.   Here’s what he shared:

What scenes did you end up submitting in the final round of voting that landed you a nomination?

Courtesy/CBS

KRISTOFF:   It’s always a tough thing to choose from a year’s worth of material … at least it is for me.   I had already had my eye on one episode, and whenever we get done with a scene on set, which we would call ‘good’, we hear some nice comments and file that away.   Well, I heard that about a scene on an airplane 33, 000 feet above the ground that contained the reveal of Neil’s vision coming back.  I went back and looked at it, and it seemed pretty powerful for what we needed.  Then I paired it with scenes from another episode where Neil is drunk and Devon (Bryton James) is there, and the two of them are going at it about the whole affair with Hilary (Mishael Morgan) and did he know the entire time.  They seemed to have worked well together.

This is your first Lead Actor nomination in your daytime career, too!

Courtesy/CBS

KRISTOFF:   I have been in either the Younger Actor or Supporting Actor category throughout my daytime career, and never ‘Lead’.  But it was purposeful for much of my run on daytime.  It has been a long journey and now I have been with Y&R for 25 years, and so this would naturally be the arc of my daytime Emmy entries – Younger, Supporting and Lead.   Should I have been nominated before in Lead Actor?   I don’t know.   I think these are all very self-congratulatory moments, anyway in our careers.   We all get together on Emmy night, share some laughs, have some drinks, and hand out some golden trinkets, and we say to each other, “See you next year!”

Another prerequisite, often times for actors to decide what category to submit themselves in, is if they drove story.  Without a doubt in 2015, Neil was front and center.

KRISTOFF:   Some of 2014 and 2015 were huge years for Neil.  Our head writer, Chuck Pratt Jr. wrote me off of the page.  I have only had four or five years of working over my guarantee, and Chuck was responsible for two of them, which is why I was able to pull these episodes out for the lead category.

Courtesy/CBS

I remember watching your now Emmy-nominated scenes when they first aired. Neil let everyone on the plane know he could see … and he knew how duplicitous Devon and Hilary were being for their affair.  He was so angry, and he let everyone have it, just before the plane crashed.    

KRISTOFF:   If we go back to 2015, that was without question, one of the most difficult years of my life.  Having lost my son Julian in November of 2014, I was embroiled in the middle of this story.  I was still playing blind on the show and the angst and the pathos.  It was years of having a relationship with a human being that I called my son, and it was cut off at the pass and destroyed.  Being able to use some of those emotions as an actor is a treasure in an unfortunate way and circumstance.  I had never had that kind of emotion to work with before, and it was absolutely terrifying for me.

Then later Neil became quite the villain! Viewers have never seen good guy Neil take such a left turn in his character, but it made for compelling drama.

Courtesy/CBS

KRISTOFF:  Neil had never been down the dark corridors such as with the blind storyline and then ultimately coming out of that and going further down in the rabbit hole, and then having taken the life of another human being … a baby.  That was a weird parallel universe in itself – having someone die in Neil’s world and having the same tragedy happen in real life.  It was cathartic to go to work and throw myself into heavy drama, which I had not gotten to play in a long time.

In what is probably the most hotly contested race of the 43rd Annual Daytime Emmys, you are up against four extraordinarily talented actors in the Lead Actor category.  What do you think of your co-nominees?

Courtesy/ABC

KRISTOFF:  Tony Geary (Luke, GH) is an icon, and a legendary man and actor.  He has been doing daytime for decades, and this would be his ninth Emmy win, and he would tie with Cloris Leachman for all-time Emmys wins by an actor, if he won.   To be in the category with Mr. Geary with this his final year is an honor.  I know Tony.  He is one of the very few actors who can take anything you give him, or thrown at him, and he will take it turn it into gold.   He has been fortunate to have incredible head writers and writers at General Hospital that have written specifically for him and that has been a gem for Tony.  Then there is Tyler Christopher (Nikolas) at General Hospital, who has submitted one of the best tapes of his life.  I watched the Lead Actor tapes in the Pre-Nom round.   Tyler’s tape is one of thee best I have seen. I t was one of the most incredible storylines to be a part of potentially losing his child.  Again, it’s something meaty to play.  Justin Hartley (Adam, Y&R), who has come on to our show with a bang is such an organic actor.  He lives moment by moment, I really admire that. To watch an actor pull from so many different places sometimes it’s inspiring. I find myself watching his scenes closely.  And then there is Christian LeBlanc (Michael, Y&R)!   What can I say?  He is a three-time Emmy winner, and like Tony he has been up on the podium multiple times.  He has been there, because of his body of work and year end and year out, Christian delivers.   We were up against each other in 1999, and we lost to Shemar Moore (Ex-Malcolm, Y&R) that year!   So we are both in this horse race.  I am so happy and thrilled to be invited to the dance.

Photo Credit: Sue Coflin/Max Photos

If you were to win the Daytime Emmy this year, it would be extra special for many reasons, personal and professional, as we have discussed.   But there is yet another interesting bit of Emmy trivia that could change with a St. John victory!

KRISTOFF:   Yes, and I’ve to throw this in.  It’s been 31 years for an African-American male to win in the Lead Actor category.  The last man to do this was Darnell Williams (Ex-Jesse, AMC) in 1985, and before that the late Al Freeman Jr. (Ex-Ed Hall, OLTL) in 1979.  And it has been since 1991 when James Reynolds (Abe, DAYS) was nominated for Generations that an African-American actor was even nominated in the Lead Actor category.   If I win, it would be the first time in 31 years for that, and while it would feel great, it does make me pause.   I mean, were there not any other years where an African-American could have made the final cut for Lead Actor?   It’s one to think about, but not for too long.

For more with this year’s Daytime Emmy nominees listen to Soap Nation Live! with Michael Fairman Daytime Emmy Nomination Special 2016.

So, what do you think about the thoughts shared by Kristoff and his reaction to his Daytime Emmy nomination in the Lead Actor category? After an emotional rollercoaster of a year, would you like to see Kristoff win for his Emmy submission?  What did you think of Kristoff’s analysis of the competitors in his category, and what did you think of Kristoff’s performance in his Emmy-nominated scenes?  Is it hard to imagine that no other African-American actor has won Lead Actor in the last 31 years?  Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Neil has been put through hell and then some and St. John takes him there masterfully. Hell yes my buddy is going to win the gold and congratulations and keep up the great work. Interview great- wanted it to go on more but thanks for interview.

I agree, Mark. TPTB have ruined Neil. Kristoff did his job, and did it well; unfortunately, the butchering of the character by the writers damaged him for the viewer.
I do not like Neil….I admire the actor; I loved the character back in the day. But, Neil is portrayed as as chasing young skirts, a lascivious older man, unscrupulous alcoholic who would stab his son in the back.
Most importantly, i support his beliefs and values. Very good point….I agree.
But, honestly? No one compares to Darnell Williams…..unparalleled!!

CeeCee- my goodness. When you find a little mold do you throw out the whole wedge? Not in my house, young lady! Cut it off and enjoy the rest! Neil had some troubles and will have more and will have Nicki and they will have a baby. Darnell left AMC to become the big star that never happened – crawled back and I love him and a delight and did not see him on Y&R and I know Angie was on as well and also left- why did they leave?

Tyler Christopher takes the emmy his reel was off the charts! Please could we keep race out of just one thing god I love my friends for who they are not the color of their skin!!!

I love kristoff

Congratulations Kristoff! Well deserved!

Wish Drucilla was back in on the show! You two were such a power couple!

She is an excellent actress but she has burned her bridges and pretty much torched the town and outlying areas and yet continues in her claims of racial discrimination and her website devoted to latest updates on her case which in some way is still going on. #getoverit

Yikes! What? Thanks for the information. I haven’t followed her after her Y & R departure. Too busy parenting etc. LOL. But now I’m going to research her case! Sounds ridiculous! Why would she destroy her reputation and career? Y & R was so good to her! Very Sad.

In any case! I’m so happy for Kristoff!

having Dru, BACK , ON

WITH Neil… would answer soooooo many questions… intrigue would be heightened… and yes… a supercouple unite

i’ll continue to say as such… The Neil Winters Clan… like the Newmans… are so BORING!

Neil is the lone standout
Victoria is the lone standout

I still say… Devon has a setback… loses his hearing… this time for good… he puts all his trust in Dru… she has HER … OWN motivations

she caches her sultriness and IS hot about town

give her a job Y&R… she’s the African American Brenda Dickson

CHARGE your wares Ms. Winters

may as well go all out and wreak havoc with Devon 2 billion dollars

I can see her and Sharon joining forces and take MR. BIG NewMAN for a RIDE

I liked Neil best with Drucilla. She made his life and everything she touched interesting. I loved her drama-queen personality. There is no one like her on Y&R. She was a natural; spontaneous and talented. I loved Drucilla. I love Victoria. I don’t care what circulates the air waves or the media. No one knows, and I am sure she has sound reasons.
All I know is after Dru /Vic left, Neil started going downhill….then, after the appearance of Devon, Neil was doomed.

It would be good and history if Kristoff wins………………His biggest competition is Tony Geary (GOD I HOPE HE DOESN’T WIN!!!!)

Congrats and hoping you win!

Too bad all we’ll be able to do is read about the results.. Oh well

I really like the actor and the character of Neil as well. I would be happy to see him win. I watched Michael Knight today and would like to see him win supporting next year. I have watched vigilantly for any sign of Thaddius Martin and can find none whatsoever and loved Tad the cad but have respect for the actor now too and I have the right to an opinion on here I think.

You certainly do, Bettina. And, it’s a very good opinion, at that.
I agree, I loved Tad, the cad….I love Michael Knight in everything he does.

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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