I'll use this page as a place to give you a little insight of what it's like being on the show. Like I've said in interviews - I am sooo jazzed to be back on Y&R in this way at this time! Soooo grateful to Maria A. Bell for her courage to create this story line and for giving me the incredible opportunity to play it....!

11/15/09

Happy Thanksgiving! Personally I am grateful for Y&R and longtime friends and emails of support and my dog, Bodhi, recovering from Cushing's Disease (common with older dogs). I have had an amazing time being on Y&R these past 6 months and I want you to know that it is my intention to stay with the show. I think there are so many powerful and new stories to tell with Phillip's character. It feels like we are only getting started. I am also grateful for an amazing friend who started a proactive write in campaign to keep "Phillip" (me) on the show. The truth is that Y&R is a business that is dependant on loyal viewer ship. Loyal viewer ship equals ratings and ratings equal advertising dollars. It truly is that simple. So if the producers at Y&R/CBS/Sony receive positive, passionate feedback about Phillip being on the show and hear some of your ideas about the powerful storylines he can tell, it can and will make a difference in the airtime they give Phillip. If you feel inspired, I invite you to share your thoughts and ideas with Y&R / CBS by sending them an e mail at: yrbb@tvc.cbs.com

Again I want to share my gratitude for your continued love and support! Take care of yourselves and one another....

Thom

October 1, 2009
Hey everyone...!

It's been a while so I thought I would just drop a few lines to say hi! I've been pretty busy learning lines, and shooting at CBS, and I think you are going to really like what is coming up! Again I want to share with all of you how grateful I am to be on Y&R. Walking down the halls of CBS brings back so many memories! And now I get to make new ones. Speaking of which, I want to thank all of you who came out for the annual Y&R Fan Club Dinner. It was amazing to see everyone and to have a chance to meet some of you in person. I hope to see you all again next year! I then had those 4 amazing days in Minneapolis for the HRC, Human Rights Campaign black tie gala. I am humbled to say I was the recipient of their 2009 Visibility Award. That was an incredible experience beyond anything I could have imagined. If you like you can catch my acceptance speech where I was able to talk about the importance of what Y&R is creating with my story line. It's on my home page.

For you hardcore Y&R fans I think you will get a kick out of what I'm about to share. So when I opened the door to my Minneapolis hotel room I about fell over! It was a suite decorated very traditionally as if it came right out of the Chancellor mansion! I felt like I was walking into Phillip's bedroom! My manager started to laugh as I began walking around looking for Esther! I wish I would have taken picutres to share! Here is a big "shout out" of thanks to Brian Gilligan and his remarkable team and to Joshua Meyer of the HRC who made me feel so welcomed and at home.

Again I just want to say thank you to everyone for your continued love and support. The letters (emails) I receive are incredibly inspiring to read. I've been sharing some of them with the producers at CBS to let them know that Phillip's storyline is significant and it is making a difference in people's lives. To each of you, know that I am honored and will continue to do my part. Here's to a great October.
There is much to be thankful for.
Thom

8/8/09
Hello everyone...hope you are enjoying your summer and the show. I've been busy shooting scenes and painting. The big news for Phillip III and Y&R is I will be honored on September 12th as the recipient of the Minneapolis/Twin Cities chapter of the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award. I will accept this award with pride and I will share this distinctive honor with Maria A. Bell who has the courage to tell this important story line. Maria's portrayal of Phillip III's coming out shows a new kind of gay character in the media. He is not just gay, but also is a father, and a best friend with his ex-wife as he struggles to reunite with his mother and grandmother and make his way into the family business. This is important work and I continue to be grateful for this opportunity. On a personal note, I think it would be great if Phillip is the one who finally puts Victor Newman in his place...! But who knows, that's hopeful thinking on my part! Something important to keep in mind is that those who are opposed to this kind of story line often write in to express their opinion. IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT that you let CBS / The Young and the Restless know how you feel about this story line. Supportive viewership means supportive sponsorship which means continued important storylines for our community. You can write them at: yrbb@tvc.cbs.com.If you are moved to do so, I encourage you to ask your friends to do the same. Thank you.

Also on Sunday, September 13, 2009, I will be at the opening of my art show at the Jean Stephen Galleries, 917 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402. If you are in the Twin Cities area, please stop on by and say hello! It would be great to meet you in person! Take care and I hope to see you soon! Thom

P.S. ...for up coming events including radio and press interviews, make sure you check the Media & PR page!

7/24/09
Hello !
I just wanted to bring you up to date a bit. It's been a bit bumpy for Phillip's return (he does have an attitude LOL because he's afraid to let people close after he spent years rebuilding his broken self) but finally he is softening, especially toward his son and Nina - and Jill (next week). You have to love the quality of acting on this show! These people are just incredible and to be among them is such an honor! Speaking of incredible, the other night I went out to support Tricia's husband Bat McGrath who is an amazing song writer/singer in his own right. He was performing at the Genghis Cohen restaurant over on Fairfax. Jeanne Cooper along with a few others from Y&R were also on hand to lend their support. Jeanne is a real music aficionado, and was ready to keep going when the night was through! I just love that woman. I also have to tell you that a special part of the show for me was not watching Bat but Tricia. The way she was watching her husband with such an adoring look, it was as though she was seeing and hearing him for the first time. They each say they are each other's "soul mates." I just got my script for this week and I got to say, I love the direction they are deciding to take with Phillip and Nina....you know I can't say anything right now, but I have a feeling many of you are going to be able to relate in a powerful way! Hope you are all having a good summer!
Thom



7/9/09
What a week....! It is surreal that so much has changed in my life recently --- and mostly, that I am actually back on these CBS stages surrounded by so much personal history, and loved ones, and playing a gay man. 20 years ago I felt I had to hide who I was both on and off the set...I was told to come out would ruin my career and take away any success I might be experiencing. So even though I was successful, I was always afraid of being "found out." I could not fully enjoy this important part of my life. Now to be back, playing a character that I loved, is profound. I want to thank all of you for the incredible support I've received through your e-mails as well as the message boards. Your words encourage me to stay true. I came out almost a decade ago and I am honored to be able to represent a gay man on TV that is multidimensional. A man who is dealing with family issues as a father, an ex-husband, a son, a grandson and a brother. There are so many opportunities for Phillip's character to grow as he stops masking his low self esteem through indifference as a victim and heals through genuine acceptance of himself AND his family. And eventually watch him go through all the different dynamics of dating and the effects it will have on the Chancellor clan! I am so grateful to Maria A. Bell for giving me this opportunity to revive Phillip and to each of you for standing with me both professionally and personally. Life is good!
Thom



6/19/09
Hi again...just a quick note to say how much I've enjoyed reading your e-mails. Please forgive me if I don't respond right away, but know that I will. I've been on the set quite a bit these last few weeks, plus doing some photo-shoots for upcoming magazine articles. Again it's been really great working with everyone....you might be surprised to know how "funny" most of them are during the rehearsals. And sometimes we lose it during the actual scenes when we have that "what's my next line" look in our faces. I feel so fortunate to be with such great talent! OK, I hate to be so vague, but I am sworn to secrecy right now regarding this current story line...so all I'm going to say is this....DO NOT MISS July 3, 6th and 7th....! I am really excited about this. I will talk to you soon!
Thom



6/9/09
Hey, I will be writing here from time to time to give you a little insight as to what is going on behind the scenes on the set...or in the art studio or just about life in general! I'm thinking about getting a blog. Meanwhile, you can always write to me through the contact page on this site.

I've just spent the last few days at CBS with a lot of the cast and crew shooting upcoming scenes. I cannot really say with who or why yet! But I think you're going to really like what happens! Jeanne, like Jess and Trisha invited me back with open arms. Literally! Jeanne even invited me to hang out in her dressing room anytime. I think she just wanted to make extra sure I felt welcomed and wanted. Which I did. That is just like her! She has been there for me from the beginning and has never waivered in her love and support over all these years.

It's been incredible being back. I cannot be very specific right now, but I can tell you that this is my dream job. It's like coming home in a whole new way. The new actors I've met have been remarkably supportive, and just a heck of a lot of fun to hang out on the set with. The directors and crew, stage hands, make-up, wardrobe, I mean it's really clear everyone loves what they do here not to mention how talented they are. I feel incredibly blessed to be here and hope it last for a long, long time.

To those who have been with me during this 20 year journey, I want to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude. Your continued support has in part carried me through some of the really difficult times. And now I get to come back, but in a whole new way. As opportunities provide through Y&R events, I hope I get to thank you in person. Unitl then, take care of yourselves and one another.
Thom