In the Champions episode “Grandma Dearest,” when high school student Michael (J.J. Totah) needs to complete a school project about his grandparents, he realizes he’s never meet his father Vince’s (Anders Holm) mother, Gayle. When she was 17 she was crowned Miss Black Irish Brooklyn. Her talent was bikini trampoline. But Vince and Gayle don’t speak. He refers to his mother as “toxic,” which makes Michael want to meet her more.
Grandma Gayle is portrayed by Carolyn Hennesy. Hennesy is known for her roles on General Hospital (Diane Miller), These People (Julia), Youthful Daze (Randy’s mom), Jessie (Mrs. Rhoda Chesterfield), Revenge (Penelope Ellis), True Blood (Rosalyn Harris), Cougar Town (Barbara Coman), and Dawson’s Creek (Mrs. Valentine), among others. Champions airs Thursdays at 9:30pm on NBC, right after A.P. Bio, and right before Chicago Fire.
