Soap Hub Performer of the Week for DAYS: Jay Kenneth Johnson

 

How to make a perennial loser like Philip Kiriakis lovable – or, at the very least, tolerable? It’s a thoughtless job, but somebody’s got to do it – and that somebody is actor Jay Kenneth Johnson, the recipient of Soap Hub’s Performer of the Week honors.

Jay Kenneth Johnson – Performer of the Week

Pros: Philip is all about the grand gesture; he is capable of remorse, and he will concede his errors in judgment. Cons: Philip is extremely jealous – though it’s hard to begrudge him that character flaw; there’s not been a woman he’s dated that hasn’t lied to him, cheated on him, or both.

The truth of the matter is that Philip wants to believe in his girlfriend’s fidelity; but that’s been made awfully difficult considering the number of times he has caught Chloe Lane (Nadia Bjorlin) embracing, lying next to, or giggling with her ex-husband, Brady Black (Eric Martsolf). Even when he’s asked her to stop doing those things, or confided how concerned those actions make him, Chloe still persists.

So, of course, Philip blew his stack when observed Chloe and Brady hugging…again. Hurtful words were exchanged, vile insinuations were made, and once again Philip was left looking the ogre.

As per usual, Philip apologized – and gosh darn it if Jay Kenneth Johnson didn’t sell it. But this time, Chloe wasn’t the least bit inclined to accept…which served to put Philip in the sour mood that Jake DiMera (Brandon Barash) found him in.

The rivals argued over Philip’s attempt to use a skeleton in Jake’s closet to force Gabi Hernandez DiMera (Camila Banus) into signing away the rights to her company – and Philip refused to reverse his position; not even the threat of bodily harm could get him to back down from this particular fight.

However, Philip did want – desperately so – to win back his beloved’s trust. But that’s going to be easier said than done…especially in light of his cleaning Brady’s clock for putting his hands on Chloe, AGAIN.

In no time flat, Johnson steered Philip from contrite soul to brutish thug, before settling on guilt-addled mess. Much to Philip’s pleasure, Chloe assured him that they weren’t over; but to his great chagrin, she’s moving out of his family’s home.

Chloe says it’s because she needs to figure some things out, so here’s hoping she doesn’t decide to break Philip’s heart. But in the likely event that she does, we know that Jay Kenneth Johnson will rise to the occasion and that his Philip will soldier on.