Categories include:
-Most Promising Newcomers
-Most Botched Returns
-Best Guest Star
-Highs, Lows & Wishes for each soap.

Read our take here.

Talk Show Appearance

AIRING Jan 16, 2026

Sunny Anderson takes Drew on a behind-the-scenes tour of "Beyond the Gates." And films a cameo.

“Beyond the Gates” PSA Campaign Spotlights Know Your Lemons’ Important Initiatives

In the storyline, Anita’s breast cancer diagnosis has been confirmed as triple-negative (TNBC), which is most commonly found in Black women. After revealing the news to her husband, Vernon (Clifton Davis), and daughters, Dani (Karla Mosley) and Nicole (Daphnee Duplaix), the storyline will continue to unfold in months to come as viewers follow Anita’s chemotherapy journey and witness the emotional impact on the family as they navigate genetic testing for both the women and men who must confront the realities of the disease. Viewers will see the physical and mental effects of chemotherapy on Anita, including hair loss and the impact of the results of the BRCA gene test on her daughters and grandchildren.

The campaign not only raises awareness for the character’s breast cancer journey, but it also showcases what it means to be positive for the BRCA gene and how that ripples through families and communities. Anita’s journey offers a heartfelt, realistic look at a tragically common situation. Despite a 44% decline in breast cancer deaths since 1989, there is a mortality gap between Black and white women. Access and awareness are often barriers to Black women getting the care they need. In partnering with Know Your Lemons, BEYOND THE GATES takes a step to bridge this gap.

BEYOND THE GATES executive producers Michele Val Jean and Tracey Thomson, said, “Our goal is to tell a story that raises awareness about the prevalence of triple-negative breast cancer and the importance of regular screenings to aid in early detection. Beyond that, we want to encourage and empower women to take an active role in their own breast health. You are your own best advocate,”

Dr. Corrine Ellsworth Beaumont, CEO and founder of the Know Your Lemons Foundation, said, “So often we don’t learn about breast health until we have a breast problem. In partnership with BEYOND THE GATES, we can educate about the 12 symptoms of breast cancer and share an app that has saved many lives through early detection of breast cancer. Including us in the promotion of Anita’s diagnosis is a meaningful way to not only raise awareness among viewers but also encourage them to get screened, report a change and feel more confident about their health. We’re thrilled to be working alongside the show team to bring this education to everyone.”

Know Your Lemons app features:

Customize options for Black breast health

Calculate a personalized risk score based on age and health history

Build a custom screening plan tailored to country guidelines and risk factors

Learn the 12 signs of breast cancer using easy, memorable visuals

Follow self-exam audio guides to understand what feels normal and how to report a change

Get reminders and earn badges to stay on top of screening and monthly self-exams

About the Know Your Lemons Foundation: The Know Your Lemons Foundation is a global nonprofit founded by designer and educator Dr. Corrine Ellsworth Beaumont, PhD, MFA, dedicated to improving early detection of breast cancer through creative, inclusive education. Their Know Your Lemons campaign and award-winning app have reached over 2 billion people worldwide, helping to make breast health knowledge accessible, visual, and the reason why many lives have been saved from breast cancer.

57th NAACP Image Awards Nominations

Outstanding Drama Series
Bel-Air (Peacock)
Beyond The Gates (CBS)
Forever (Netflix)
Paradise (Hulu)
Reasonable Doubt (Hulu)

Outstanding Hair Styling (TV or Film)
“All’s Fair” – Valerie Jackson (Hulu)
“Bel-Air” – Terry Hunt (Peacock)
“Beyond the Gates” – Wankala L. Hinkson (CBS)
“Reasonable Doubt” – Deaundra Metzger (Hulu)
“Sinners” – Shunika Terry (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Meet Grayson on ‘Beyond the Gates’: Jordi Vilasuso Details Character With a ‘Good Heart’

Since getting his daytime start as Tony Santos on Guiding Light in 2000, Vilasuso has built an impressive résumé that includes playing All My Children‘s Griffin Castillo, Days of our Lives‘ Dario Hernandez, and, most recently, Rey Rosales on The Young and the Restless. Now stepping into his fifth soap role, the Daytime Emmy winner is keenly aware of how rare such opportunities have become. “I’m grateful to work in a time where jobs are few and far between,” he says. “It’s a privilege nowadays to work on a TV show, and I’m so encouraged by there being a fifth soap on the air. When I started 25 years ago, there were 10 soap operas. It shows you the viability. The people want these stories. There’s still an audience for them, and it keeps us actors employed.”

The timing of the new role has been especially fortunate for the Vilasuso family. Beyond the Gates films in Atlanta, and the family moved to Nashville last year, a change he says has been nothing but positive. “I left L.A. for a reason, because I knew I didn’t have to be there to work, and my family had an opportunity to go to Nashville, which we’re just loving,” Vilasuso explains. “It’s a three-and-a-half-hour drive to the studio, not bad at all. Sometimes my call time is at 2 p.m., and I’ll leave Nashville at 8 a.m., come here, finish, and then go back, and I get to see my kids.”

Upon arriving on the BTG set, Vilasuso says he was immediately embraced by his new castmates. “It’s just such a great group,” he enthuses. “And it’s so interesting to be on a show that’s just starting. Everybody’s here helping something grow and wanting it to do really well. There’s a lot of loveliness in this place. Sometimes you don’t feel that family dynamic, and on this show in particular, I feel like everybody is just so friendly and welcoming. That’s been really encouraging and just a positive work environment.”

Like AMC‘s Griffin, Vilasuso is once again donning scrubs. “He’s a lab tech, and he’s got a very good heart,” relays Vilasuso of Grayson. “He’s been raised by a single parent for some time, and now the roles have changed because he has to take care of his mother. And he goes to great lengths; I’ll just leave it at that.”

The role also places him in story with Jen Jacob‘s Ashley Morgan, a collaboration he was immediately excited about. “She’s super talented,” he praises. “When I did the chemistry read, I was like, ‘Wow, this would be so great. If I get to work with her, I’m going to be happy.’ And it worked out. She’s just such a pro, works very hard, and I’ll be honest, that hasn’t always been the case with costars, and that just makes the dynamic a lot of fun, and makes coming to work great. She’s reading the scripts and saying, ‘Okay, your storyline is getting so good.’ So, she’s excited, and that’s really what we should be. When you have that, and you’re all able to all be in that place, you’re like, ‘OK, cool.’”

Beyond the creative camaraderie, Vilasuso is enjoying the perks of the show’s production setup. “They actually have craft services here, too, which, by the way, is nonexistent on other shows,” he adds. “It’s a new studio, which is nice. The dressing rooms are great. It’s new sets, which are really nice, too. I’m shooting in Georgia, which I’ve never shot in Georgia, and it’s a beautiful place to shoot. It’s definitely a vibe.”

Outside of his Atlanta commute, Vilasuso has kept plenty on his plate. “It’s funny, when I got this role, I actually booked a movie, I booked a commercial, and I got funding for my project, all in the same week,” he marvels. “It was insane. It was such a blessing. And I had to say no to the commercial, and they moved the dates for the movie so I could do this show, which had never happened to me in my life. I was like, ‘Oh, my God, you can move the dates for me? That’s amazing.’”

Reflecting on the past year, the actor notes just how dramatically his circumstances have shifted. “This time last year, I was definitely in a much different place,” he says. “And I just have a lot of gratitude in my life. I’m feeling good. I’m feeling really, really excited. I feel like there’s an opportunity here for Grayson to go in a lot of different directions.”

Vilasuso also remains deeply appreciative of the viewers who have supported him throughout his career. “I have fans that have become like friends,” he concludes. “I feel so blessed for the fans that I still have that watch me, that are always asking me, ‘When are we going to see you on TV again?’ And I’m so grateful that I have a really great answer for them now and a really great show. So, I can’t wait, and I’m hoping that we can keep this audience growing and alive, and that this is just the beginning of bringing soaps back to TV and broadcast television.”

Beyond the Gates, Weekdays, CBS, Check Local Listings.

Beyond The Gates Season 1 Returns To Paramount+ After Viewer Uproar

Fans were in an uproar when they discovered that the show’s first 200 episodes were no longer available for viewing. While it is standard practice for Paramount+ to remove the entirety of a previous season upon the dawn of a new one (this practice has also affected the service’s back catalog of Bold and Beautiful and Young and Restless episodes), watchers who had fallen behind on BTG during the busy holiday season and appeared no longer to be able to catch up on what they had missed were particularly taken aback.

On his official Facebook page, BTG star Sean Freeman (Andre) emphasized with upset viewers, writing, “A quick update for BTG fans: My castmates and I were just as surprised as you to find out that Season 1 is no longer available on Paramount+. Our cast group chat is going up right now lol! Apparently, this is a common practice— Paramount willsometimes remove past seasons to make way for new ones. We’re currently working on finding the best place for you to watch those final episodes. Please hang tight! In the meantime, don’t miss the new episodes airing on CBS— Season 2 has officially begun, so be sure to tune in or record them. Thanks for your patience and support! Signed, Your self-appointed team rep who goes by the name of Andre Richardson.”

Paramount+ has not issued a statement about its decision, but the news was met with celebratory messages from fans across social media platforms. Freeman also cheered the news, exulting on Facebook, “JUST IN: All season one episodes of Beyond The Gates are back up. The drought is over!!!! Run it up!!!! Thank you, Paramount+.”

Mike Manning (Smitty) joined in the happy chorus celebrating the restoration of the episodes as well. On X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “Hey #BeyondTheGates fans, Season 1 should now be back on @paramountplus. As a brand new show, we know how important it is to make episodes accessible to as many as we can. Thanks for sticking w/ us!” Replied user @@JammiLGeter, “Yay. Glad to hear they are back up. I’m still working on catching up! Love the show.”

The series’s first season is also available to watch on Pluto TV, which launched a dedicated BTG channel back in August 2025.

Jordi Vilasuso Poised For Daytime Comeback on Beyond The Gates!

Vilasuso burst onto the soap scene 25 years ago when he was cast as Tony Santos on Guiding Light. He exited the show in 2003, the same year he nabbed a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actor. His next daytime gig was on All My Children, where he portrayed Griffin Castillo from 2010-11. After AMC’s cancellation, it was revived online for a spell in 2013, and Vilasuso returned as Griffin for the reboot. Next, from 2016-17, he played the role of shady Dario Hernandez on DAYS. On Y&R, his Rey was in a popular romance with Sharon, played by Sharon Case, when the character was unexpectedly killed off.

When Soap Opera Digest broke the news of his exit, the actor told us exclusively, “Playing Rey Rosales on The Young and the Restless for the past 4 years has been an incredible experience that has brought me immense joy as an actor,” and he voiced his gratitude tot he show’s head writer/executive producer, Josh Griffith, for “the opportunity to sink my teeth into storylines that were some of the highlights of my career in this genre.”

That the actor has landed on BTG was revealed in the promo for the soaps’ second season, which is premiering on January 2, 2026. In the trailer, the actor can be seen — albeit briefly — interacting in an amorous way with Jen Jacob’s Ashley. A rep for the show confirmed that Vilasuso does appear in the promo, but stayed mum about the name of the actor’s new character or his exact first airdate.

Soapy S2 Ep 8 | Michele Val Jean & Jeresa Featherstone

Procter & Gamble Backs New Soap Opera Consisting Entirely of Micro-Episodes

The consumer-products giant behind household staples like Tide, Crest and Pampers has been entwined with daytime serials for nearly a century, helping to produce radio dramas like “The Guiding Light”; daytime TV mainstays including “As the World Turns”; and a recent revival of the format called “Beyond the Gates” that airs on CBS. Now the company hopes to reach digitally savvy consumers with an intriguing twist on the old formula.

In January, P&G will launch “The Golden Pear Affair,” a 50-episode “microsoap” that will be made available initially via social media and, later, a bespoke mobile app. The idea, say backers of the new program, is to reach people who are used to giving content a swipe on a mobile phone, rather than those who sit back and passively swoon in front of a more traditional screen.

Will fans of the original concept flock to new one? The bite-sized episodes “are serialized dramas. They are soapy and there are going to be some elements that are a little out there,” says Anna Saalfeld, head of P&G Studios. But the new series — some people behind the scenes refer to it as a “short opera” — is “definitely social-first. It is optimized for viewing on your screen. It is very snackable. There are key differentiators” from old-school programs.

“The Golden Pear Affair” is meant to highlight Procter’s Native line of personal-care products. A new collection of “Global Flavors” products sport fragrances from around the world, and will likely get some nods during all the action in “Pear.” “It’s got romance. It’s certainly got adventure. And it’s a lot of fun,” says Geneva Wasserman, global executive vice president of entertainment IP strategy and investment at Dentsu, the agency that has worked with Procter & Gamble on creating the series.

Native may have more room for such play. The brand was founded in 2015 with a commitment to clean formulae for its products. P&G acquired it in 2017 — a nod, perhaps, to the growing clout of start-up consumer brands such as Dollar Shave Club, Honest Co. or BodyArmor. Native is no Tide or Old Spice, which are instantly recognizable and potentially harder to slip into a piece of programming without distracting the viewer.

“Golden Pear Affair” stars Nick Ritacco and Aloyna Real, two actors who have played roles in other microdramas. The Native products being spotlighted will be available only via the brand’s website and in Target stores. The hopes is that viewers will swipe their way through the whole production.

“We want you to have a little smile and a laugh, but also a shock, and ask ‘What’s going to happen next?’” says Wasserman.

Procter is the latest to enter the growing frenzy around what is known as “microcontent,” or programming with stories and plots that are told over the course of dozens of episodes that may last just a minute or two (some parts of “Golden Pear” may go as long as two and a half minutes). In recent months, several companies have begun to supply bite-sized dramas and serials for venues like TikTok or Meta’s Reels. In China, the content capsules have already proven quite popular. Microdramas could generate as much as $11 billion in 2026, according to estimates from Omdia, a London consultancy.

Already, U.S. media companies are trying to woo adherents of shorter stuff to their own venues, well aware that a rising generation of viewers is growing accustomed to having more control over the content they watch. Viewers can now swipe away instantly if they’re bored with something.

Spanish-language giant TelevisaUnivision in 2025 offered sponsorships tied to a new wellspring of “microdramas”– as many as 30 different titles. But the company plans to increase its production to as many as 100 in 2026. The company recently produced a Spanish-language microdrama for the large retailer JCPenney.

Others are courting similar (short) attention. When ESPN unveiled its much-ballyhooed new “ultimate” streaming service earlier this year, it did so along with a new interactive version of “SportsCenter” that is perfect for young sports aficionados with limited time. “SportsCenter for You” doesn’t feature anchors or intros. It serves up quick, consecutive clips — a key play, a short report from a correspondent — all narrated by Hannah Storm or handful of other ESPN personnel, boosted by A.I. ESPN calls its rapid-fire clips “verts.” Meanwhile, the new Fox One streaming service features “shorts” that let users dive into their favorite topics or programs with a series of attenuated video vignettes.

“Golden Pear” drama starts from the first second of the program. The heroine is marrying a crime boss, and things pick up from there, says Jonas Barnes, founder of Pixie USA, a Georgia-based microdrama studio that produced the new series. The hope is that any nods to Native won’t get in the way of viewers enjoying the show. “What’s really important is making the product part of the story where it’s instrumental. and not just on the table. Or the character picking it up and saying, ‘Look what I got.’”

Procter & Gamble wants to get Native into the hands of young consumers. To do so, the company needs to connect with them in the venues where they get their content — and accommodate their behaviors. “A lot of our growth is going to come from multicultural consumers. A lot of our growth is going to come from younger consumers, says Saalfield. “This format really affords us” an opportunity to speak with them in ways they might appreciate.

Executives believe viewers will stick around for the high production values of the series, as well as some of the humor and sudsy antics. Procter will be counting the length of time people interact with the episodes, and how many they watch, among other behaviors.

Add up all the views, says Wasserman, and they may just equal something bigger than the sum of its parts “If you watch it all, you’ve got an hour, maybe an hour and a half of content — like a feature film.”

63rd ICG Publicists Awards 2026 TV Nominees

Maxwell Weinberg Award for Television Publicity Campaign
Andor - Walt Disney Studios, Lucasfilm/Disney+
Beyond the Gates - CBS Studios/CBS
Nobody Wants This - 20th Television/Netflix
The Pitt - Warner Bros. Television/HBO
Stranger Things 5 - Netflix/Netflix
The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox - 20th Television/Hulu

Beyond The Gates: Greg Vaughan Is Ready To 'Ruffle Feathers' In Fairmont Crest — And Ignite Sparks With Nicole

At least that's how Vaughan describes Dr. Kial Roberts to TVLine, adding that he was a little nervous when "Beyond the Gates" creator Michele Val Jean, with whom he previously worked on "General Hospital," first described the role.

"I was taken back a bit when I asked Michele what the character was and she said, 'You're going to be a doctor, but that's all I can share,'" Vaughan tells TVLine. "I've never portrayed that, and I've probably always feared that a little bit, just because it comes with big verbiage, words that are unfamiliar to me, not my everyday vocabulary, so I knew I was going to have my work cut out for me."

Fortunately, as a father of "three boys that spend a lot of their time injured, and the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree," Vaughan found specializing in orthopedics to be a natural fit. "This is right in my lane," he says. "It's not like I'm playing a heart surgeon or a brain surgeon."

So, what do we know about this mysterious new doctor? "He's a widower, a traveler — a nomad, if you will — who goes from hospital to hospital," Vaughan explains. "So he's never in town for too long, but always long enough to make a dent, and really make his presence known."

Of course, no daytime leading man would be complete without a love interest, and it's already clear which of Fairmont Crest's eligible bachelorettes will be booking a physical with the good doctor — Nicole (Daphnée Duplaix)! Don't even pretend like you don't feel the chemistry between them in the clip below, which ends with the pair's first kiss... on the hand.

Vaughan isn't ready to give away the future of Kial's love life, but he does confirm that "a lot of things are blossoming." Vaughan started filming in early November, so a lot has happened that viewers have yet to see.

And since "Beyond the Gates" technically exists in the same universe as "The Young and the Restless" (via the multiple crossovers we've seen so far), we couldn't help but reminisce about Vaughan's time on "Y&R," where he played Diego Gutierrez from 2002 to 2003. Would he ever step back into the role, more than 20 years later?

"If that was something that happened, I would totally embrace it," Vaughan says. "But that was so long ago. I don't even know if that character would be remembered."

Greg Vaughan Previews His New Beyond the Gates Character: ‘He’s Reshaping His Life’

Man of Mystery

Joining the cast of BTG came about when the new soap’s head writer, Michele Val Jean — who was a script writer at GH during Vaughan’s tenure as Lucky — called him up out of the blue. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, I haven’t spoken to Michele in a long time,” Vaughan recalls. “I pick it up, and she’s like, ‘Hey Greg, it’s Michele.’ And I’m like, ‘What do I owe the pleasure of this phone call?’ And she’s like, ‘I have a role, so give me an answer.’ And I’m like, ‘What do you mean?’ And she’s like, ‘I have a role that I want you to take, so yes or no,’ and I’m like, ‘Well, what is it?’ And she’s like, ‘It’s a yes or no conversation right now, okay? I’ve written it, it’s for you. Do you want it? Because if you come, I’m going to write this. Yes? Okay, done. I’ll have people call you.’”

Despite not knowing exactly what he had just gotten himself into, the actor was excited to be getting back to work. “I mean, it’s been 15 months,” says Vaughan, referring to the end of his time on contract at DAYS (he has subsequently popped in for visits as Eric). “I took time off and I embraced it, but now I’d love to get back into the game because, if you know the industry well enough, there’s not been a lot of work going on.”

And he did eventually get a little hint as to the character he’d be playing before the actual scripts started rolling in. “Another week went by, and I’m like, ‘You know that conversation we were supposed to have? Because I’m now getting contracts that I need to be there in Atlanta without scripts,’” he recounts with a laugh. “So I was like, ‘Can you send me some kind of a synopsis?’ And she’s like, ‘You are a traveling sports orthopedic surgeon. Widower. Father of two boys.’”

The idea of playing a doctor spouting medical jargon was daunting, but Vaughan was up for the challenge. “This is the fear that I have had to be in this medical world, this dialogue that one would share with another doctor,” he admits, “but when she gave me that it was a traveling orthopedics doctor, I was like, ‘Okay, I’m a father of three boys [real-life sons Jathan, Cavan, and Landan]. I’ve been hurt a lot, they’ve been hurt. I’ve spent a lot of time recently in the ER because of my sons and their motorcycles, so I can do this.’”

Getting to Know You

Already familiar with Val Jean from GH and aware that BTG had made quite a splash since it premiered in February 2025, Vaughan’s anticipation to begin working was soon growing. “I knew the success as it was launched was picking up,” he says of the fledgling soap. “I saw a lot of articles going on about the show. But then a few of my former co-stars that I worked with on Queen Sugar [as Calvin] were there [such as Timon Kyle Durrett, Bill, who played Davis], and I reached out to them, trying to get a pulse on the temperature out there, and they were like, ‘Bro. You need to come! I can’t wait.’ They were sending me emojis of like, confetti flying everywhere [to show] how excited they were if I would come. So I just leaned into it. This was an opportunity to do something outside of what I had been accustomed to doing the last 10 years. So it was refreshing, and it’s been fantastic.”

Vaughan teases that fans who are familiar with him from his previous soap roles are about to see him in a whole new light, as Kial is completely different from his other daytime characters. “He’s been more introverted as he’s getting the lay of the land in a new environment, a new hospital,” the actor previews. “He’s not aggressive with his approach. He’s just embracing it and a sponge, if you will, soaking it up. And he’s a nomad, because he’s a traveling orthopedic surgeon, so he’s never rooted in one place. He’s just kind of reshaping his life, and I’m reshaping a character that hasn’t been established. So I’m just enjoying this journey.”

The actor hopes that fans of his from the other soaps tune in to check him out on BTG. “My grandmother was the biggest CBS watcher, so I did Young and the Restless for her,” he says. “But let me tell you, Beyond the Gates is so fresh, so well written, and so much talent for such a new show. I’d say this is already, like, veteran quality television, and I’m just happy to be a part of it. And I hope this character is somebody that each and every one of these fans will be excited to see and wanting more.”

Vaughan is confident that his storyline will be a hit with fans. “You’re gonna love it,” he predicts of what Kial gets mixed up in. “It’s got drama. It’s got everything you’d want a soap to have.”

Jon Lindstrom Breaks Down His ‘General Hospital’ Return as Kevin Collins

For the actor, who is currently playing Joey Armstrong on Beyond the Gates, it was a matter of working out his schedule. “It’s just been difficult to find the time,” explains Lindstrom, who shoots the new CBS soap in Atlanta.

Looking back, Lindstrom says the decision to trade Port Charles for Fairmont Crest wasn’t a tough one. “In all fairness to me, it had whittled down to about one or two shows a month, so Kevin had been fairly inactive for a long time,” he points out. “I haven’t seen him have a really active story since the show Port Charles, or unless Ryan [Chamberlain, Kevin’s twin] was around, so it was kind of a no-brainer.”

Still, he knew taking the job on BTG would impact his GH appearances. “When I called Frank [Valentini, GH’s executive producer] to tell him that I would be going to do Beyond the Gates on Election Day 2024, he asked me, ‘Can you do both?’” relays Lindstrom. “I said, ‘Well, technically, yes, because I’m not under contract. The only stickler is that they’re 2,000 miles apart.’ So, there were just logistical problems along the way over the last year where they would reach out every now and again and ask if I was available for one episode or another episode in the middle of a week, and that’s impossible for me to do from out here because Gates takes up a lot of my time.”

Even so, GH found a way to make a visit work. “To their credit, they came to me and said, ‘What if we stack a bunch of shows up over a couple of days? Will that be worth your while to make the trip out?’” he shares. “And the short answer is, ‘Yes, of course.’ Besides, I think Genie [Francis, Laura Collins] is getting tired of talking to a disembodied Kevin on the phone.”

Returning to the soap he first joined in 1993 carried emotional weight for Lindstrom. “I love those people,” he says. “I love all of them. So many great things in my life are a direct result of my association with General Hospital. Coming back, the beautiful thing is a lot of people don’t know you’re coming back, so they see you in the hallway, and they’re really happy to see you. It was like, ‘My God, Jon, how long has it been?’ And then you walk on the stage, and they can’t believe that they’re actually seeing you, so it’s great. It’s like coming back to see old friends and a great reunion around it.”

Among those reunions, reconnecting with Francis was a standout. “I love working with Genie, and she and Jonathan [Frakes, her husband] have become really close friends,” he notes. “I hadn’t seen them in over a year, so to be able to just sit down and hang out in the dressing room with Genie and catch up and talk about life and how things are, I was really excited to do that. I also ran into Maurice [Benard, Sonny Corinthos], and we had a little bit of work together. I love Mo.”

Once back on set, slipping back into character as Kevin proved effortless. “Like putting on a comfortable old suit,” Lindstrom reports. “It did feel like going back to my hometown. I haven’t lived in my hometown since 1978, but I still have that feeling whenever I step off the plane into the Medford, Oregon, terminal. It’s like, ‘Wow, I’m home. This feels really familiar.’ And it’s a good feeling. They say you can’t go home again. I don’t know if that’s true.”

Story-wise, Kevin will quickly get caught up to speed about Laura turning to Sonny for help in the wake of Professor Henry Dalton’s (Daniel Goddard) death. “Genie, who never slouches, never walks through a scene, is just terrific in this story,” he praises. “Kevin doesn’t love her relationship with Sonny, but he also understands it. Being the shrink that he is, he understands the value of human connection.”

While Kevin’s return will be impactful, Lindstrom is also energized by his work on BTG. “I’m absolutely loving it,” he declares. “Michele Val Jean [BTG’s creator] has written really great characters for me in the past — she wrote all the great Ryan and Kevin stuff back in the day — so when she came to me and said, ‘Oh, by the way, I threw your name out to the network, and they approved you,’ I was stunned. I haven’t had a character this good, this layered, this interesting, this much fun to play since I played Ryan Chamberlain the first time around.”

And in a twist that amuses him, Joey resembles a GH fave. “I was with Michele at the GH Emmy party, and we were talking to Maurice, and Mo goes, ‘So what’s this character that you do?’” Lindstrom recalls. “And Michele laughs and goes, ‘He’s you. He’s the Sonny of the DMV.’ And I said, ‘I think Joey has a much better sense of humor than Sonny Corinthos.’”

Part of the thrill of being on BTG, he adds, is working with a clean slate. “One of the reasons I really love doing this show is because it’s new,” he says. “It’s because of that energy of everyone wanting it to work and be seen and enjoyed by a lot of people. It’s hard to get a show off the ground, but that energy and focus of trying to find the rhythm of something that doesn’t know its rhythm yet is hard to beat. And to have that feeling at this time of my career and my life is such a gift to me. Boy, I’ll tell you, Mick Jagger was right when he said, ‘Do what you love, it keeps you young.’ I get up every morning ready to go to work. I want to go to work. I want to be a part of this, and it’s really wonderful.”

Outside of acting, Lindstrom is juggling multiple creative projects. His next book, Hollywood Payback, will be released on April 14, 2026, and he’s the host of a new pilot, The Bible on Trial, but he’d be open to another appearance in Port Charles. “It all comes down to scheduling,” he says. “I’ll do GH anytime. I just don’t know if we can work it out. I’m busier than I’ve ever been, and I thought I’d be retired by now!”

General Hospital, Weekdays, ABC.

CBS UNWRAPS A FESTIVE HOLIDAY LINEUP!

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Wednesday, Nov. 26 (1:30-2:00 PM, ET/ 12:30-1:00 PM, PT)

Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood), Finn (Taylor Novlan), Taylor (Rebecca Budig), Kelly (Sophia Parras McKinley) and Hayes (Alexander and Chase Banks) share a family Thanksgiving together with a surprise guest. Sheila (Kimberlin Brown) and Deacon (Sean Kanan) celebrate the holiday at Il Giardino and much to their surprise, graciously extend an invitation to Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) and Daphne (Murielle Hilaire).

BEYOND THE GATES Wednesday, Dec. 24 and Tuesday, Dec. 30 (2:00-3:00 PM, ET/ 1:00-2:00 PM, PT)

BEYOND THE GATES celebrates the holidays with two special episodes, featuring an original song from series star Clifton Davis, and a serenade to ring in 2026 by special guest star singer Kenny Lattimore. Colleagues Ted (Keith D. Robinson) and Shanice (Ernestine Johnson) are pulled into each other’s romantic orbit, much to the chagrin of Leslie (Trisha Mann-Grant), and the entire Dupree family is left reeling from a health crisis.

How To Watch The Daytime Emmy Awards Online

The Daytime Emmys are not being televised on a broadcast network. The ceremony will stream live on National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ website at watch.theemmys.tv, and via The Emmys app which is available to download on iOS and Android mobile devices and on smart TVs via Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV and Roku.

Soapy Extra 2 | Stars Reveal the Stories Behind Joining Soaps

‘Beyond The Gates’ Casts ‘Days Of Our Lives’ Veteran Greg Vaughan

Details about his role are expected at a later date.

Speculation has been rampant on social media that the Days of Our Lives alum was coming to the sudser. Over the weekend, cast member Trisha Mann Grant posted a video on Instagram to celebrate star Clifton Davis’ birthday.

Vaughan was seen in the background.

In July, Val Jean told Deadline that “I can’t say who just yet, but I will say longtime soap fans all know and love him!”

Vaughan departed Days of Our Lives in 2020. He portrayed Eric Brady on the then-NBC daytime drama since 2012, and won a supporting actor Daytime Emmy for the role in 2018.

This the second major cast addition on the CBS soap since Keith D. Robinson joined in March as a series regular. He took over the role of Dr. Ted Richardson, previously played by Maurice Johnson.

Just last month, Beyond the Gates killed off its first big character. The role of Doug McBride, who was played by Jason Graham, perished in a car crash. Graham, whose previous credits include 911, All-American Homecoming and Sisters, was part of the original cast when the CBS soap debuted in February.

Beyond the Gates has been renewed for a second season. The sudser is up 67% in multi-platform viewership from last year’s time period and beats ABC’s General Hospital by 7% among women 25-54 on broadcast, according to Nielsen.

2025 Daytime Emmy Awards Announces Presenter Lineup

“We’re thrilled to welcome such a wide-ranging and talented group of presenters to this year’s Daytime Emmy Awards,” Adam Sharp, President & CEO, NATAS, said in a press release. “From beloved daytime drama stars to culinary innovators, lifestyle experts, and talk show favorites, this lineup reflects the vibrancy and diversity of daytime television. We look forward to an unforgettable evening celebrating their contributions and honoring the best of daytime.”

The Daytime Emmys will be streamed on the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) website at watch.theemmys.tv on October 17.

For Older News Visit The Daytime Soap Operas News Archives: Here!

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