Brigitte Lacombe for The New Yorker

While Billy Magnussen (ex-Casey Hughes, “As The World Turns“) did not win Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play for his performance as Spike in “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike,” the play itself did win in the category of Best Play. Written by Christopher Durang, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” tells the story of Vanya (David Hyde Piece, “Frasier“) and Sonia (Kristine Nielsen,”Political Animals“) and Masha (Sigourney Weaver, “Political Animals”) and Spike (Magnussen), who together turn a generally quiet household into a standing circus full of intrigue and super fun.

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Steven Bergman Photography

Daytime fans might remember Billy Magnussen as “As the World Turns’” Casey Hughes, a role he played from 2008-2010. But the Broadway world has taken notice of the young actor for his work in front of live audiences, and his recent stint as the empty-headed yet handsome boy-toy Spike in “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” has even earned him a Tony nomination! But will the former soap stud be able to nab the role? You’ll have to tune in to find out!

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After five weeks of non-stop drama, one of my favorite new television shows, “Political Animals,” is concluding its six-episode mini-series run on USA Network tonight.

Andrew Accles/USA Network

Throughout its run, “Animals” has surrounded the lies, the affairs, the betrayals, and the numerous addictions of the Hammond family. As the families matriarch, Elaine Barrish (Sigourney Weaver), the former First Lady and Governor of Illinois, and current Secretary of State, is once again seeking to become the first female President of the United States. While she believes President Garcetti (Adrian Pasdar) is a good man, she feels she can do a much better job in the most powerful position in the world. In the season finale, aptly titled “Resignation Day,” Garcetti throws an unexpected curve ball in Barrish’s plan to resign from his cabinet by asking her to be his Vice President in the next election. This comes as an unexpected twist, considering Garcetti already has a Vice President in Fred Collier (Dylan Baker). Being that “Political Animals” is a primetime political soap opera, things are likely to happen that may end up putting a wrench in Garcetti’s plan in the end.

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