The Young and The Restless- Daytime Soap Operas- News, polls

Presenters for the Emmys, hosted by Grammy®-nominated comedian Nate Bargatze, are as follows:

Elizabeth Banks, Ike Barinholtz, Angela Bassett, Jason Bateman, Kathy Bates, Kristen Bell, Alexis Bledel, Sterling K. Brown, Stephen Colbert, Jennifer Coolidge, Alan Cumming, Eric Dane, Colman Domingo, Tina Fey, Walton Goggins, Tony Goldwyn, Lauren Graham, Kathryn Hahn, Mariska Hargitay, Justin Hartley, Charlie Hunnam, Jude Law, James Marsden, Christopher Meloni, Leanne Morgan, Julianne Nicholson, Jenna Ortega, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Parker Posey, Jeff Probst, Phylicia Rashad, Hiroyuki Sanada, Anna Sawai, Michael Schur, Sydney Sweeney, Sofia Vergara, Jesse Williams and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Emmy Award-winning producers Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon, and Emmy-nominated Jeannae Rouzan-Clay of Jesse Collins Entertainment return as executive producers of the 77TH EMMY AWARDS. This marks their third consecutive year as executive producers of television’s biggest night.

The 77TH EMMY AWARDS telecast was preceded by the Creative Arts Emmy Awards this past weekend, Sept. 6-7, with ceremonies produced by Bob Bain Productions for the Television Academy; an edited presentation of the ceremonies will air Saturday, Sept. 13 at 8:00 PM, ET/PT on FXX. Winners from the weekend can be found at TelevisionAcademy.com/awards/creative-arts-emmys.

Talk Show Appearance

CBS ANNOUNCES FALL SEASON PREMIERE DATES FOR #1 DAYTIME LINEUP

“The Price Is Right” Introduces New Pricing Game “The Lion’s Share” in Season Premiere

Daytime’s Top Drama, “The Young and the Restless,” Begins 53rd Season Tuesday, Oct. 7,

Season One of Daytime’s Newest Drama Series “Beyond the Gates” Continues with New Episodes

CBS announces the fall season premiere dates for its unrivaled daytime lineup. The Network continues to stand as the highest-rated network in daytime for 39 consecutive seasons, including network television’s #1 daytime series, THE PRICE IS RIGHT; LET’S MAKE A DEAL; the #1 daytime drama for 36 straight seasons, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL; and television’s newest daytime drama, BEYOND THE GATES.

The longest consecutively running game show in television history, the Emmy Award-winning THE PRICE IS RIGHT, returns for its landmark 54th season beginning Monday, Sept. 22. Host Drew Carey, now in his 19th season, and announcer George Gray will once again invite contestants to “come on down!” for another exciting year of big prizes and classic fun. The season premiere debuts a brand-new pricing game in partnership with BetMGM, “The Lion’s Share.” In this high-stakes game, contestants will earn the chance to enter the Lion’s “wind chamber” to pull out prizes including spectacular trips, dream cars and a cash jackpot worth up to half a million dollars! This marks the first addition to the current game lineup since 2021’s “Back to ‘72” and “To the Penny.” Fans can also look forward to a variety of specially themed episodes throughout the season, celebrating Halloween, Breast Cancer Awareness, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, Pet Adoption Week, Mother’s Day and School’s Out. Returning to the stage are fan-favorite models Rachel Reynolds, Manuela Arbeláez, Amber Lancaster, James O’Halloran, Devin Goda and Alexis Gaube.

Emmy Award-winning host Wayne Brady returns for another year of dealing as LET’S MAKE A DEAL kicks off its 17th season on Monday, Sept. 22. This season raises the stakes with the return of fan-favorite themes “Mega Money Mondays,” “Worldwide Wednesdays” and “Fabulous Car Fridays,” offering lucky dealers more chances than ever to win big. Special guest appearances from CBS stars include Jeff Probst (SURVIVOR), Phil Keoghan (THE AMAZING RACE) and Danielle Pinnock (GHOSTS). The premiere episode will honor heroes with an audience full of courageous firefighters and first responders, while other standout episodes celebrate Halloween, Christmas, and spotlight the importance of Alzheimer’s Awareness and Breast Cancer Awareness months. Joining Brady are longtime fan-favorites: announcer Jonathan Mangum, model Tiffany Coyne and musician Cat Gray, who all bring their signature blend of improv comedy, music, iconic games, and, of course, those infamous Zonks that keep fans coming back for more.

CBS’ longest-running scripted series, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, continues with its 53rd season on Tuesday, Oct. 7, its 36th season as Daytime’s #1 drama. This fall, relationships are tested, unexpected romances flourish and a puzzling mystery leads to shocking revelations. Victor (Eric Braeden) and Jack (Peter Bergman) must decide if they can put their epic rivalry aside in order to protect their legacies; Nick (Joshua Morrow) and Sharon (Sharon Case) find themselves on a dangerous path when a troubling message sends them on a trip looking for answers; Billy (Jason Thompson) and Cane’s (Billy Flynn) power struggle intensifies with the return of Jill (Jess Walton); Nate (Sean Dominic) decides if his future includes Audra (Zuleyka Silver); Claire (Hayley Erin) finds herself torn between two suitors; and Cricket (Lauralee Bell) and Danny (Michael Damian) plan for their long-awaited wedding, airing in November. And Y&R sees the arrival of two intriguing newcomers: Sienna (Tamara Braun), whose unexpected tie to several key characters creates a stir, and a mysterious stranger (Roger Howarth), whose sudden presence raises more questions than answers.

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, the most-watched daily drama series in the world, marks its 39th season beginning Monday, Sept. 15. In upcoming episodes, viewers can look forward to families being reunited, love once lost being rekindled and boardrooms fueled by fashion. The season begins dramatically as Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Taylor (Rebecca Budig) go head to head after Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) makes a life-changing choice in the wake of a glamorous Forrester fashion show. Liam (Scott Clifton) is pushed to admit what he truly wants: a future with Hope (Annika Noelle), while her fiancé, Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor), faces an agonizing truth that will alter his plans for their future. Luna (Lisa Yamada) instigates a scandalous plan involving Will (Crew Morrow) that sends shockwaves through both the Forrester and Spencer families, significantly impacting the lives of Electra (Laneya Grace), Bill (Don Diamont), Katie (Heather Tom), Sheila (Kimberlin Brown), Li (Naomi Matsuda), as well as soulmates Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and Finn (Tanner Novlan).

BEYOND THE GATES, daytime television’s newest drama series, continues its groundbreaking debut season this fall. Future episodes find the foundations of Fairmont Crest, especially within the Dupree family, shaken to their core. Anita (Tamara Tunie) and Vernon’s (Clifton Davis) marriage may not be on solid footing. Dani (Karla Mosley) and Andre’s (Sean Freeman) impromptu trip together leads to shocking revelations and directs Dani toward a promising connection with Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) in a crossover with THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL. Nicole’s (Daphnee Duplaix) journey as a newly single woman sends her down a path toward her longtime friend Carlton (Robert Christopher Reilly). While Martin (Brandon Claybon) and Smitty (Mike Manning) work to re-establish their commitment to each other, Naomi (Arielle Prepetit) and Jacob (Jibre Hordges) unexpectedly find themselves on opposite sides of a major marital dilemma. Jacob’s brother Izaiah Hawthorne (David Lami Friebe) hits town and immediately establishes two complicated relationships amidst his own family drama. Eva (Ambyr Michelle), Kat (Colby Muhammad) and Tomas’ (Alex Alegria) love triangle hits a fever pitch, while a surprising familial connection to Hayley (Marquita Goings) poses a threat to Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett). Vanessa (Lauren Buglioli) and Ashley’s (Jen Jacob) worlds come crashing down around them as lies and the death of a loved one change everything.

‘Die, My Love’ Trailer: Jennifer Lawrence & Robert Pattinson Shine In Lynne Ramsay’s “Brutal But Beautiful” Drama

The movie follows a mother named Grace (played by Lawrence) in rural America, battling psychosis as it takes a toll on her and husband (played by Pattinson). Sissy Spacek, Nick Nolte and LaKeith Stanfield also star.

Grace tries to find her identity with a new baby in the isolated environment. Yet as she begins to unravel, it’s not in weakness but imagination, strength and a stunning untamed vivacity that she discovers herself anew.

Deadline’s Damon Wise called the film a “brutal but beautiful story of a married woman’s mental disintegration” in his review out of Cannes. He also posited that Lawrence’s performance, which may be a career best, could land her a fifth Oscar nomination.

Mubi snapped Die My Love up for $24 million out of this year’s Cannes Film Festival. It’s getting a domestic release on November 7, 2025.

Screenplay was written by Enda Walsh, Ramsay and Alice Birch based on the book by Ariana Harwicz. Producers are Andrea Calderwood, Justine Ciarrocchi, Jennifer Lawrence, Thad Luckinbill, Trent Luckinbill, Martin Scorsese and Molly Smith.

Supernatural alum Matt Cohen joins The Young and the Restless as detective investigating a major case

The South of Nowhere and Supernatural alum has been cast as Detective Burrow on The Young and the Restless, Entertainment Weekly can exclusively reveal. He began taping last week and will first appear in the episode airing Thursday, Oct. 16.

It is said that Detective Burrow, who is a new character on Y&R, will be front and center investigating a major case featuring some of the soap's key characters. Further details of the character are unknown at this time, but Genoa City has been in need of a new lead detective ever since the shocking death of Chance Chancellor (Conner Floyd) in July.

The well-respected lead detective was fatally shot by Carter (Vincent Stalba) during a confrontation in the Monday, July 28 episode, and the police force has been without a leader ever since.

Cohen is no stranger to the world of soap operas. He is well-known to daytime TV fans as Griffin Munro on General Hospital, a role which he played from 2016-2019. Fans of the CW series Supernatural will also recall Cohen playing a young John Winchester and the archangel Michael.

Additionally, Cohen is a Daytime Emmy Award winner for his work as a correspondent and co-host on Entertainment Tonight from 2019-2023. More recently, in January, Cohen directed and had a starring role in the feature film, Exes, alongside Briana Buckmaster, Mark Sheppard, Felicia Day, and Ricky Whittle.

He also produced and co-created the adult animated comedy Public Domain, which stars several fellow Supernatural alums. The first episode is available on the show’s YouTube page.

Cohen isn't the only former General Hospital star to make the leap to Y&R this year. Last week, EW confirmed Roger Howarth, whose daytime TV credits include years-long stints on General Hospital, One Life to Live, and As the World Turns, is also joining the CBS sudser in a new role.

Howarth was most recently seen on General Hospital as Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt, the third character he'd played on the ABC soap since 2012, after playing Todd Manning and Franco Baldwin.

In a heartfelt note announcing his departure from GH in 2023, Howarth wrote, "Daytime fans are lovely and amazing and supportive and dedicated and I am deeply grateful to each sparkly one of them. I enjoyed my time at General Hospital and wish the cast and crew the best and continued success. It was a pleasure working with you all."

In addition to Howarth and Cohen, it was also revealed last week that daytime TV veteran Tamara Braun would also be stepping into the world of The Young and the Restless, also as a new character named Sienna Bacall.

‘Young and the Restless’ Taps ‘DAYS’ Alum Lucas Adams to Play Noah Newman

Adams is no stranger to the soap world. He made his daytime debut on Days of Our Lives in 2017 as Tripp Dalton, son of Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) and Ava Vitale (Tamara Braun). His run as Tripp — the troubled soul who found his calling as a doctor — lasted on and off until 2024, earning him two Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Younger Actor along the way.

Noah, the offspring of Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) and Sharon Newman (Sharon Case), was last seen in 2023. He then relocated to London, where he found success in the nightlife scene. The character, who was born onscreen in 1997, has been played by several actors over the years, including Rory Gibson (2021 to 2023), now General Hospital‘s Michael Corinthos; Robert Adamson (2012 to 2020); and Kevin Schmidt (2008 to 2010; 2011 to 2012).

During his most recent run in Genoa City, Noah nursed feelings for Tessa Porter (Cait Fairbanks), who eventually married Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes). He also shared a complicated romantic history with Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver) before falling in love with Allie Abbott Nguyen (Kelsey Wang), Jack Abbott’s (Peter Bergman) granddaughter. Two years ago, Noah and Allie left town together to start a new life overseas.

Interestingly, this isn’t Adams’ first time in Genoa City: He appeared on the CBS soap early in his career, playing a character named Wesley in the teen scene for one episode in March 2012. Outside of soaps, he portrayed Josh Wilcox on the Disney Channel sitcom Liv and Maddie from 2015 to 2017. He has also made appearances on Dexter, True Blood, School of Rock, and The Thundermans.

On a personal note, Adams met actress Shelby Wulfert on the set of Liv and Maddie. They began dating in October 2015, then tied the knot on October 15, 2022, at the Chateau Hiddenwood estate in his native Texas.

When Adams reports to Y&R, he will find some familiar faces at the studio. Braun, his onscreen mother from Salem, has joined the cast in a new role, Sienna Bacall. Meanwhile, Billy Flynn (who is still airing as Chad DiMera on DAYS) is now portraying Y&R’s Cane Ashby.

‘The Girl Who Survived’ First Look: ‘B&B’ Star Ashley Jones Is Mom of Teen in Peril

Alina sneaks off to attend an amateur photo casting call without her parents Carl (Sam Trammell) and Nancy, played by Jones. It’s then she meets with up-and-coming photographer William Bradford (Steve Byers). Little did the young girl know she was being lured in by a serial killer hiding in plain sight. He used his charms to bring in aspiring young women like Alina into secluded photo shoots that end in unspeakable violence.

(Trailer) As seen in the exclusive teaser shared first with TV Insider, William gets Alina on the hook with empty promises. He tells her that he spoke with an agency in New York that was interested. “Maybe we should give them something a little sexier. The empty promises continued. William said, “You can have anything you want. We just got to get some better shots.”

The predator poured it on by adding the teen could be on the cover of magazines. Things look to get a little dicey from there as he encourages her “to cut ties with the people that are holding you back.” Alina begins hiding things from her mom and dad. Thanks to the protective instincts of Carl and a series of fateful twists, Alina managed to survive the harrowing ordeal and didn’t become his next victim.

Unfortunately, others weren’t as lucky. Bradford was found guilty in 1987 of murdering two models and sentenced to life. He died while on death row in a prison medical facility in 2008 of natural causes. The real-life Alina thanked the cast in a July Instagram post for bringing her story to life.

Along with the onscreen role, Jones also serves as an executive producer. The Daytime Emmy-nominated actress is no stranger to Lifetime. Her credits include A Teacher’s Crime, Dead At 17, Secrets from Her Past, A Sister’s Revenge, The Secret Sex Life of a Single Mom and Saving My Daughter. She worked behind the camera directing The Perfect In-Laws. Soap viewers know Jones over the last 20 years on-and-off as Dr. Bridget Forrester. She also had turns as Megan Dennison on The Young and the Restless and Parker Forsyth on General Hospital.

Lifetime’s string of new movies kick off with A Husband to Die For: The Lisa Aguilar Story starring Keana Lyn Bastidas, Jon McLaren and veteran star Marilu Henner on September 13 and I Was a Child Bride: the Courtney Stodden Story with Holly J. Barrett, Doug Savant, and Maggie Lawson on September 27.

The Girl Who Survived: The Alina Thompson Story premiere, September 20, 8/7c, Lifetime.

‘The Young & The Restless’ Recruits Former ‘General Hospital’ Star Roger Howarth For Mystery Role

Sadly, details about his character and storyline are being kept under wraps. Deadline has learned the Emmy-winning actor will begin taping in mid-September for his on-screen debut later this year.

From 2001 to 2010, Howarth played Paul Ryan on CBS’ old sudser As the World Turns. He went on to play Todd Manning on One Life to Live from 1993 to 2013, before joining General Hospital in 2012 to take over as Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt.

Howarth came and went from the ABC soap until his character was fatally shot in a 2023 episode. He let fans know via Instagram at the time that his run on GH had officially ended.

“Three things that I know for sure,” wrote Howarth. “1, Daytime fans are lovely and amazing and supportive and dedicated and I am deeply grateful to each sparkly one of them. 2, I enjoyed my time at general hospital and wish the cast and crew the best and continued success. It was a pleasure working with you all. 3, Life is amazing. We just don’t ever know what’s gonna happen. How great! Turn toward the light. Always. Huge thank you to you all.”

Love-struck fan duped by AI videos of popular soap star in shocking $81K scam

Abigail Ruvalcaba sent money through prepaid cards, cash and bitcoin after being conned into believing the actor lost properties in the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year, ABC7 News reported Thursday.

Abigail even sold her LA condo for $350,000 and planned to give the funds to the con artist until her daughter, Vivian Ruvalcaba, stepped in.

“Had I not intervened when I did, she was scheduled to send the scammer $70,000 out of that money that was sitting there,” Vivian shared.

Abigail believed she was in a relationship with Burton after she started receiving AI clips of the actor’s likeness professing his love for her.

In one of the messages shared by the outlet, the deep-fake version of Burton is seen telling Abigail: “Hello, Abigail. I love you so much, darling. I had to make this video to make you happy, my love.”

Vivian told the outlet that her mother suffers from bipolar 1 disorder and was in a manic episode when she began getting messages from the scammer last October.

“Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings. These include emotional highs, also known as mania or hypomania, and lows, also known as depression,” according to the Mayo Clinic. In certain cases, mania “may cause a break from reality.”

“In her head, there was no scammer. She was talking to Steve Burton the entire time,” Vivian said.

Abigail is now “in complete debt” due to the calculated scheme and is “going to have to file for bankruptcy,” according to her daughter.

“She’s ashamed and to put that stress on me, on herself, on my dad, the entire family, I know it weighs heavy on her,” Vivian continued.

Vivian teared up as she emotionally told the outlet that she was “sickened” by the ordeal.

“I’m sickened by it because why did it go this far? Why didn’t I know this? Why didn’t I see what was happening? What did I miss?” she said.

Burton — who has starred as Jason Morgan on “General Hospital” since 1991 — also talked to the outlet, confirming that he’s unfortunately seen this type of con using his likeness play out many times before.

“That I know of who have lost money, it’s in the hundreds. It’s in the hundreds,” Burton said. “I see people come to my appearances and look at me like they’ve had a relationship online for a couple years and I’m like, ‘No, I’m sorry. I don’t know who you are.’ It’s so sad, you see the devastation.”

He also cautioned his fans to be wary of similar scams, saying: “I don’t need your money. I would never ask for money.”

A similar romantic scam was reported in January after a French woman coughed up $850,000 to someone on social media posing as Brad Pitt.

The interior designer named Anne gave the fake Pitt her life’s savings after she was duped by AI images into believing Pitt was sick in the hospital and needed help paying his bills.

She realized she had been deceived by scammers after she saw reports of Pitt’s ongoing relationship with Ines de Ramon.

Soapy Episode 8 | Christian LeBlanc and Tracey Bregman Join Hosts Rebecca Budig & Greg Rikaart

‘The Young And The Restless’ Casts Tamara Braun

Deadline has confirmed that Braun, who played Ava on the Peacock sudser, will join Y&R this fall as Sienna Bacall. She’ll begin taping next week.

A source told People that Sienna has “personal connections to several characters.”

Braun last appeared on DOOL on April 3. She announced via her Instagram account that “I wish this was an April Fool’s Joke but it’s not. This is Ava’s last week on Days. Last couple of days really. Sad but true. I’ve been gone since late July of last year but you can still catch Ava on your screens until April 3rd! I miss being with my Days pals. They are a really good group of caring individuals and being with them was a joy.”

She had been in and out of Salem for years after first joining the soap in 2008. She earned her first Daytime Emmy in 2009 in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category.

Braun previously starred in other soaps like All My Children as Reese Williams and in General Hospital as Carly Corinthos and Kim Nero in separate runs.

Tristan Rogers to Make Final TV Appearance on ‘Y&R’ Following His Death

Rogers, who is also known to soap fans as General Hospital‘s Robert Scorpio, originated the role of Colin Atkinson in 2010. His return follows the reappearance of Colin’s son, Cane Ashby — now played by Billy Flynn — which had sparked speculation that Rogers would also come back.

Today, Y&R posted the following on its official Instagram account, “On behalf of the entire Y&R family, Jess Walton pays tribute to her longtime scene partner, Tristan Rogers, who makes his final television appearance on tomorrow’s episode of The Young and the Restless. As we revisit one of their most memorable scenes — an emotional moment between Jill and Colin from 2014— we are reminded of the lasting impact Tristan brought to our show, both on and off screen. He will forever be missed.”

In the intro to the video, Walton said, “Tristan Rogers was a respected member of the soap opera community, and he was a beloved member of The Young and the Restless family. And I had the pleasure of being his scene partner for many years. I adored working with him.” She concluded by adding, “We will miss you, Tristan, and your remarkable performance as Colin Atkinson.”

Rogers portrayed Colin on and off from 2010 to 2019. In addition to working closely with Daniel Goddard (ex-Cane Ashby, 2007-2019; Henry Dalton, General Hospital) and Jess Walton (Jill Abbott), he also shared scenes with Port Charles pal Genie Francis (Laura Collins, GH), who was hired as Colin’s ex/Cane’s mother, Genevieve Atkinson. The character passed away off camera in 2024 after making amends with Cane for past wrongs.

In her Instagram post to Rogers after his death, Y&R‘s Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers) shared a photo of herself with the actor from his most recent visit to set, captioning it, “I just wrote a whole post… it was too much. I deleted. This was just a month ago. The sexiest man in daytime…. I told him that many times. He laughed. I’m glad he‘s out of pain… and free.”

Goddard penned his own tribute to Rogers on Instagram, writing, “Mate, I just heard the news, and I’m shocked. I want you to know how much you meant to not just me but everyone that had the fortune of being in your presence. You were a trailblazer—doing what no other Australian had done—and after all these years, you were still everybody’s mate. You were kind, with one of the driest senses of humour I’ve ever known, and I caught every joke, no matter how subtle. From the first scene to the last, I never stopped learning from you. The world is now a little more empty without you in it. Rest in peace, my friend. #RIPTristanRogers #gh #yr #legend”

‘Celebrity Weakest Link’: See Star-Studded Lineup, Trailer & More

Weakest Link first made its debut in 2001. Anne Robinson hosted the original version, which was canceled in 2003. The game show was revived in 2020 with Jane Lynch as the host. Weakest Link has a team of contestants who try to reach and complete a chain of correct answers from general knowledge questions within a certain time limit.

At the end of each round, one person is considered the “weakest link” by either answering questions wrong or not banking money. The contestants vote on who the weakest link is, and Lynch will tell them, “You are the weakest link. Goodbye!”

However much money is banked at the end of the round goes into the contestant’s total pot, and one person wins at the end. This time, celebrities will try to win money for charity.

Celebrity Weakest Link will begin on Monday, September 15, at 9/8c on Fox, and air every Monday after that. The regular version of the game show used to air on NBC. Name That Tune will precede the new game show. Lynch is no stranger to Fox, as she starred in Glee, which aired on the network for six seasons.

The new season will air on Fox. Old seasons of the game show currently stream on Peacock.

Yes! Watch above. In the trailer, Jane Lynch is seen calling the celebrities “terrible people who suck at this game.” She also teased that this season will be “bigger, badder, better.”

The new season will have 11 episodes with themed eight guest stars. They include:

Glee Homecoming: Max Adler, Dot Marie Jones, Heather Morris, Alex Newell, Chord Overstreet, Amber Riley, Becca Tobin, Jenna Ushkowitz

Roasters: Cedric the Entertainer, Margaret Cho, Kathy Griffin, Lil Rel Howery, Lisa Lampanelli, Natasha Leggero, Chris Redd, Iliza Schlesinger

TV Moms: Melinda Clarke, Jackée Harry, Mary-Margaret Humes, Constance Marie, Monica Potter, Caroline Rhea, Sherri Saum, Bellamy Young

8 Degrees of Jane: Joel Kim Booster, Laverne Cox, Ron Funches, Carson Kressley, Jon Lovitz, Cheri Oteri, Adam Pally, Andy Richter

High School Reunion: Tatyana Ali, Shenae Grimes, Matt Lanter, Beverly Mitchell, Scott Porter, Daphne Reid, Aimeé Teegarden, Barry Watson

Ex-Wives Club: Cynthia Bailey, Tamar Braxton, Kate Gosselin, Vicki Gunvalson, Dorinda Medley, Shanna Moakler, Kendra Wilkinson, Jill Zarin

Reality Couples: Kelsey Anderson, Melissa Gorga, Joe Gorga, Joe Graziadei, Lauren Speed-Hamilton, Cameron Hamilton, Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt

Special Forces: Tyler Cameron, Gus Kenworthy, Kenya Moore, Jack Osbourne, Kyla Pratt, Jovon Quarles, Rudy Reyes, Christy Carlson Romano

TV Doctors: Torrey Devitto, Dr. Dubrow, Ryan Eggold, Jason George, Hill Harper, Dr. Will Kirby, Dr. Sandra Lee (Dr. Pimple Popper), Kal Penn

Holiday Heroes: Jonathan Bennett, Rachel Leigh Cook, Taye Diggs, Vivica A. Fox, Melissa Joan Hart, Eric Lloyd, Luke Macfarlane, Reginald VelJohnson

Football Legends: Emmanuel Acho, Vernon Davis, Keyshawn Johnson, James Jones, Cam Jordan, LeSean McCoy, Sony Michel, Andrew Whitworth

‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test’ Season 4 Trailer: Jussie Smollett & Teresa Giudice Among Recruits Enduring Extreme Urban Warfare Training

Season 4 sees the new team of celebrity recruits training in Morocco, enduring the extreme circumstances of urban warfare. The new recruits are Cody Brown, Brittany Cartwright, Randall Cobb, Eric Decker, Jessie James Decker, Andrew East, Shawn Johnson East, Mark Estes, Gia Giudice, Teresa Giudice, Chanel Iman, Brianna LaPaglia, Johnny Manziel, Eva Marcille, Ravi V. Patel, Christie Pearce Rampone, Jussie Smollett and Nick Young.

New this season, some recruits will arrive in pairs consisting of spouses and family members, but will compete individually. All recruits must learn the art of getting comfortable with being uncomfortable as they are faced with training challenges across the country’s expansive desert terrain, including a supply search in an abandoned village where they must race to extraction, a treacherous rat-run through dark and narrow tunnels, a plane shell dunk drill where pairs of recruits will be submerged underwater and must escape, a death-defying urban ladder crossing between buildings 50 ft above the urban streets, and more.

The training exercises are led by Directing Staff (DS) agents Rudy Reyes, Mark “Billy” Billingham, Jason “Foxy” Fox and Jovon “Q” Quarles, an elite team of ex-special forces operatives.

Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test is produced by Minnow Films. Becky Clarke, Liam Humphreys and Dave Sutton serve as executive producers.

‘Family Matters’ Alum Reveals He “Got Pretty Far Along” With Animated Reboot Featuring Original Cast: “I’m Still Trying To Pursue It”

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the actor — who portrayed youngster Richie Crawford from Seasons 2 through 9 — said he’s “had an idea to take the show and turn it into an animated series,” by “taking the old episodes and modernizing them and kind of starting from scratch for the new generation.”

The Young and the Restless star who recently marked the first crossover with CBS sister sudser Beyond the Gates added that he even got “a production company in line to finance” the animated reboot and was aiming to bring “everybody on board.”

“It’s sitting in Warner Bros.’ hands right now,” the Emmy winner told the outlet. “That plan is still kind of floating around out there, and I’m still trying to pursue it.” Per EW, a source familiar with Warner Bros. Animation said the company is aware of the project but that it has not moved beyond James’ interest.

Airing from 1989 through 1998 on ABC and later CBS and which was spun off of Perfect Strangers, Family Matters centered on the Winslows, a middle class Black family living in Chicago. The series, which was created by William Bickley and Michael Warren and developed by Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Boyett, launched the careers of Reginald VelJohnson (who played patriarch Carl), White (who played the eventual pop culture mainstay Steve Urkel) and James (who played Carl’s nephew).

Last year, White revealed that he shot down reprising his role of the nerdy next-door neighbor in a possible separate reboot of the sitcom that was part of the TGIF block of programming. “If it’s just a cash grab … I’m not interested in that,” he said at the time. “If I touch anything that’s associated with Family Matters, I want to advance the legacy and I want to help the kids’ careers.”

Tristan Rogers Remembered by GH’s Finola Hughes: ‘Wish I Could Play One More Scene With You, My Friend’

“Wish I could play one more scene with you, my friend,” Hughes’ tribute begins. “Tris sauntered into my dressing room on that first day to rehearse. Cropped hair and steel blue eyes, I thought, ‘Damn, I’m gonna be working with Steve McQueen!’ From day one, he called me ‘Kid’ or ‘Finny,’ and he made me laugh.

“An effortless actor, living on screen, he taught me so much,” her statement continues. “Serious about his work, but always a rebel. His own man, navigating the system, he protected me, protected Kimberly [McCullough], his character, his friends. God, he was a good one. Silly, funny, kind, serious. I am heartbroken for his awesome wife Teresa, his children Sara Jane & Cale. His family made him so happy and he adored talking about them. Love you Trissy, Mai Tai’s on the beach, Scorpio…”

Hughes’ remembrance comes one day after it was confirmed that Rogers had died at the age of 79 — just one month after the Daytime Emmy winner announced that he’d been diagnosed with lung cancer.

Tristan Rogers, aka Robert Scorpio on General Hospital, Dead at 79

“The entire [General Hospital] family is heartbroken to hear of Tristan Rogers’ passing,” the show’s executive producer Frank Valentini posted to social media on Friday. “Tristan has captivated our fans for more than 50 years and Port Charles will not be the same without him (or Robert Scorpio). I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to his family and friends during this difficult time. Tristan was a one-of-a-kind talent and will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace.”

The actor began his showbiz career in the ’70s in his native country, appearing on such Down Under soaps as Bellbird, Number 96 and The Box. He was even a regular on the short-lived police drama The Link Men. But his big break Stateside didn’t come until the Golden Age of Love In the Afternoon — when he landed his General Hospital role of Port Charles’ answer to 007.

Rogers’ initial run on the daytime drama lasted a dozen years. During that time, he was successfully paired with one leading lady (Demi Moore as Jackie Templeton) after another (Emma Samms as Holly Sutton) after another (Finola Hughes as Anna Devane).

On breaks from the show, he recurred on The Bold and the Beautiful as private eye Hunter Jones in 1997, spent the early 2010s playing conniving Colin Atkinson on The Young and the Restless and won a Best Supporting Actor in a Digital Drama Series Emmy for his work on Bold & Beautiful leading man Sean Kanan’s web soap, Studio City.

Outside of daytime, Rogers starred in Showtime’s stock-car racing drama Fast Track in ’97, voiced the kangaroo mouse in 1990’s The Rescuers Down Under and played Home Guard leader Malcolm Biggs in a Season 1 episode of Babylon 5 opposite General Hospital castmate Nancy Lee Grahn.

In July of 2025, Rogers shared via a statement that he had been diagnosed with cancer, adding, that he “sends his love to his fans and wants them to know how much he appreciates their loyalty and encouragement over the years.” He is survived by wife Teresa Parkerson and their two grown children.

Nancy Lee Grahn, who played Alexis on General Hospital and also co-starred with Rogers on Babylon 5, offered this tribute on Facebook: “Suave, wry, smooth, debonair and ridiculously handsome. This GH Aussie Icon left his mark and will be well remembered. Sending love to his family, and just donated to Go2.org in dear Tristan’s name.”

Kimberly McCullough, who played Rogers’ GH daughter Robin, added a simple “Trissy forever” on Instagram, alongside a vintage photo of her and Rogers on set.

Tristan Rogers Dies: ‘General Hospital’ Star Was 79

His manager, Meryl Soodak, confirmed the news to the publication, noting that despite his illness, Rogers was not a smoker.

In a statement, the manager said has his work on General Hospital “meant everything to him.”

“He loved being Scorpio, and he created that role from nothing. He was supposed to work a day, and he ended up making it into something huge. He was just a genuinely loyal, kind human being, and he loved his family,” the statement read.

General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini said in a statement about the news, “The entire General Hospital family is heartbroken to hear of Tristan Rogers’ passing. Tristan has captivated our fans for 45 years, and Port Charles will not be the same without him (or Robert Scorpio). I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to his family and friends during this difficult time. Tristan was a one-of-a-kind talent and will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace.”

Rogers starred as Robert Scorpio on the soap since joining in 1980 and continued to make appearances on the soap opera throughout the 45 years since, including after his diagnosis.

In July, he made a surprise appearance on the show to help conclude the story of his on-screen daughter, Sofia Mattsson’s Sasha Gilmore. Of his return, Mattsson told TV Insider, he was “lovely to work with and very sweet in real life.”

Of her chance to work with the actor amid his illness, she said, “It was special that [my final scenes] were with Tristan.”

A spokesperson for the actor at the time said of his diagnosis, which was revealed in July 2025, “While he remains hopeful and is working closely with his medical team on a treatment plan, this is a challenging time for Tristan and his family. As they face both the emotional and physical burdens that come with this diagnosis, the family kindly asks for privacy and understanding. They are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and love from their friends and family.”

For his work, Rogers was nominated for multiple Soap Opera Digest Awards and won two Soapy Awards. He was also recognized for his work in The Bay and Studio City, as well as his stint as Colin Atkinson on The Young and the Restless. He was also known for his voice role as Jake in The Rescuers Down Under and did commercial voiceover work for brands like Outback Steakhouse, Foster’s, Reebook, and Epson, as well as the 2015 video game Mad Max.

Rogers was born in Melbourne, Australia, and got his start in soap operas like Bellbird, Number 96 and The Box. He was married to Barbara Meale from 1974 to 1984 before marrying Teresa Parkerson in 1995. Together, he and Parkerson had two children, daughter Sara Jane and son Cale.

Following the news of his death, costar Kimberly McCullough, who played on-screen daughter Robin, shared a photo of the two with the caption, “Trissy forever.”

Also, fellow General Hospital star Jon Lindstrom shared a tribute to the actor on social media, writing, “I know the sadness I feel at this news is shared by so many of you. #TristanRogers was one of the coolest, funniest people I ever met. Whenever we were together, which wasn’t nearly often enough, we never missed a chance to try to crack the other one up. I wish I’d had more of those chances. R.I.P.”

Tristan Rogers Dies: ‘General Hospital’ Star Was 79

His passing was confirmed by his longtime manager Meryl Soodak. In July, it was revealed that Rogers had been diagnosed with cancer.

“He loved being Scorpio and he created that role from nothing,” Soodak said. “He was supposed to work a day and he ended up making it into something huge. He was just a genuinely loyal, kind human being and he loved his family.”

The Australian-born Rogers played Scorpio on and off on GH since 1980. He won a Daytime Emmy for his work in the digital drama Studio City. Rogers last appeared on GH last month, when his character left Port Charles.

“The entire General Hospital family is heartbroken to hear of Tristan Rogers’ passing,” General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini said today. “Tristan has captivated our fans for 45 years and Port Charles will not be the same without him (or Robert Scorpio). I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to his family and friends during this difficult time. Tristan was a one-of-a-kind talent and will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace.”

Reps for Rogers released this statement last month after revealing Rogers’ diagnosis.

“While he remains hopeful and is working closely with his medical team on a treatment plan, this is a challenging time for Tristan and his family,” the statement read. “As they face both the emotional and physical burdens that come with this diagnosis, the family kindly asks for privacy and understanding. They are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and love from their friends and family. Tristan sends his love to his fans and wants them to know how much he appreciates their loyalty and encouragement over the years. This support means more to him now than ever. Future updates will be shared if deemed appropriate by Tristan and his family.”

Besides GH, Rogers also appeared on The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless and The Bay.

Lorna Raver, “Drag Me to Hell” and “Young and the Restless” actress, dies at 81

Her former agent, Michael Greene, confirmed Raver's death to Entertainment Weekly and remembered her as "a beautiful lady." He added that Raver's Drag Me to Hell role marked "the height of her career."

Born in 1943 in York, Pa., Raver moved to New York City at the end of the 1970s to pursue a career in acting. She got her start on stage with a part in the Off Broadway debut of Robin Swicord's Last Days of the Dixie Girl Café.

After a brief stint in Chicago, Raver's career truly began to take root in Los Angeles, which set the actress on a path that would lead to prolific guest appearances and on-off TV spots. Throughout the 1990s, Raver appeared as receptionists, judges, doctors, PTA moms, and more on series like Beverly Hills, 90210; The Practice; Felicity; Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman; and The Bold and the Beautiful.

That latter appearance, as an unnamed receptionist on the CBS soap, led to a substantial part on its sister series, The Young and the Restless, in 2006. For two years, Raver played Rebecca Kaplan, a Holocaust survivor and mother to Don Diamont's Brad Carlton, a role she took over from veteran actress Millie Perkins.

Raver continued to star as faith healers, nuns, and professors on series like Weeds, One Tree Hill, and Grey's Anatomy, but her signature role came via a call from Sam Raimi in 2009. The Evil Dead director was looking for an actress able to summon enough unhinged ferocity to play Mrs. Ganush, the spurned old woman who summons the demonic antagonist of Drag Me to Hell.

"It was a blast. I had no anticipation I would enjoy it so much," she later said of the role, which required Raver to punch, kick, bite, scream, and vomit at the bank employee (Alison Lohman) who disrespected her by rejecting a humble plea. "Horror is not my genre necessarily. So I was intrigued by it, and I thought it would certainly be an interesting adventure, but I wasn't sure until we really got going with the production how I felt about it. Of course, I came to love it."

Soapy Episode 6 | Heather Tom and Lawrence Saint-Victor

Bryton James reflects on Beyond the Gates tribute to his late Young and the Restless dad, Kristoff St. John

James has played Y&R's charismatic record executive and music producer Devon Winters for 21 years. For 14 of them, he was also the loving adopted son of St. John's Neil Winters. On Monday, James became the first CBS soap star to cross over onto the network's newest daily drama, Beyond the Gates.

Fans had been feverishly speculating how Y&R's illustrious Winters empire and BTG's powerful Dupree clan might have been acquainted ever since James' cameo was teased two weeks ago. Now, James tells Entertainment Weekly he's "thrilled to celebrate" that in a touching tribute, Monday's episode reveals Neil as the connective thread between these soap dynasties.

"When I got the script, the best part of it was seeing that they continued to include him," James says. "As they should."

Devon arrives in Fairmont to make Dupree matriarch Anita (Tamara Tunie) an offer that he hopes she can't refuse. The retired EGOT-winner has just reunited with the girl group that launched her career, the Articulettes. But Devon is hoping he can parlay their one-off reunion show into the "next platinum project for my jazz label."

Before they get to all that, Anita insists Devon take a seat at her coveted table alongside Dupree don Vernon (Clifton Davis) for a proper catch up. "It's really good to see you both again," Devon enthuses. "I'll try to keep my cool this time. I remember when my dad introduced us at Indigo I was extremely nervous."

Anita laughs, recalling her glory days — "That club was jumping!" Devon remembers that Neil "tried to get you to go on stage but you weren't having it," which throws Anita into reverie. "How we miss Neil, his smile, his big heart, his love of music." Devon shares in her wistfulness, adding, "I know. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about him — and you were one of his favorites."

Though Neil's manifold business endeavors were never primarily concentrated around music, Devon followed in his adoptive father's entrepreneurial spirit. Neil served as a powerful executive at both Newman Enterprises and Chancellor Industries, two of the fictional Genoa City, Wis., setting's most consequential corporations.

Having risen from a humble background, Anita would have shared a lot in common with Neil, and with Devon, who was introduced in 2004 as a homeless teenager that Neil and wife Drucilla (Victoria Rowell) take a shine to, and ultimately adopt in 2006.

St. John died on Feb. 4, 2019 at 52. His death was ruled as accidental, primarily resulting from hypertrophic heart disease. His death rocked the Winters family, the extended Young and the Restless crew, and the soap community at large. Two years after his death, James said of his screen dad, "There was nothing negative about him. His mood... he was the most positive light, ball of energy at work." Still, having learned about St. John's private battles with grief and substance use, he remarked, "Knowing what we know now, the only thing I regret is not staying more involved in his life outside of the set."

Now, "a little piece of Young and the Restless" is in Beyond the Gates, James tells EW. But like his character in pursuit of Anita (who turns down his offer, for now), the actor is hoping for a freer exchange of stars within the CBS soap-verse, which also includes The Bold and the Beautiful.

"I think there's a universe for that as well," James says. "If the fans enjoy the crossover and want to see more of this storyline and the little hints that we dropped for the previous interaction, future interaction, let the writers know and let the network know, because they surely listen."

Beyond the Gates airs weekdays on CBS at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT, and is also available to stream on Paramount+.

Young and the Restless star Bryton James reveals what made historic Beyond the Gates crossover feel like a 'homecoming'

Two weeks after a tantalizing teaser first heralded an incoming cameo from Devon Winters, the character James has played on Y&R for over two decades finally arrived on Monday's installment of Beyond the Gates.

"It's extremely exciting," James tells Entertainment Weekly ahead of his historic role as the first crossover star from one of the fledgling soap's sister series on CBS. Longtime fans of Y&R and The Bold and the Beautiful, its companion series since 1987, have wondered whether Beyond the Gates' fictional setting in a ritzy Maryland suburb exists in the same world as Y&R's Genoa City, Wis., and B&B's Los Angeles. Then in walks Devon, instantly uniting the disparate kingdoms of the CBS soap opera-verse.

"It was a huge honor to be the one that they asked to make that jump. And it's been really a cool experience to see the show grow into what it is," James shares.

"When I heard who called I knew I had to be here," Clifton Davis' retired Senator Vernon Dupree tells his EGOT-winning wife Anita (Tamara Tunie) on Monday's episode of the new daytime drama. The pair settle into a table at Fairmont Crest, the country club in the heart of the gated community which gives the series its title, where Vernon continues, "When's the last time we laid eyes on him?"

Anita sighs that "it's been years" before spotting her old pal. "Devon! Welcome to Fairmont Crest," she announces, rising to meet James' spotlessly styled record executive and producer. The timing just days after Anita's grand reunion with her Supremes-esque girl-group, the Articulettes, isn't likely an accident.

Devon greets "miss Anita" and "Senator Dupree" like old friends, and James credits the actors who portray them as the primary architects of the "amazing environment" he was welcomed into. "Usually it's kind of uncomfortable going onto another show or another set," he shares with EW. "[But] Tamara and Clifton couldn't be more welcoming, and were just pleasures to work with. They made me feel right at home."

"I didn't want to mess up," James jokes, reflecting on his scenes opposite Tunie and Davis, who tout a near-century of acting experience between them, a decent chunk of which was devoted to soaps (Tunie starred as Jessica Griffin on over 1300 episodes of As the World Turns, and Davis' career began with a stint on the short-lived A World Apart).

"I was really nervous about not messing up. It's kind of [about] representing Y&R in the best way, and being my best for them, you know, being the focal points of the show. But they made me feel good," James says.

Before Devon can reveal why he placed what Anita describes as a "both intriguing and cryptic" call to the Duprees after so many years, the trio touch on the origins of their shared bond. It turns out they're acquainted through Devon's late adoptive father Neil (Kristoff St. John). "How we miss Neil - his smile, his big heart, his love of music," Anita muses, in a touching tribute to the actor who suddenly died in 2019 at 52.

Finally, Devon presents Anita with a "mind-blowing proposition" that vindicates weeks' worth of feverish speculation from soap fans.

"I livestream the reunion concert and I was just completely blown away and when you performed 'Loving You.' I knew right then and there that I had my next platinum project for my jazz label," Devon reveals. He offers the retired songstress a lucrative deal entailing "sharing executive producing credit, but you would have complete creative control." But Anita turns him down, citing the perennial Dupree "family first" dictum, and suggesting he instead sign her fellow Articulettes, Sharon (Bonita Brisker) and Tracy (Maria Howell).

Devon seems satisfied with the counter offer, and their business seems settled. But this is Fairmont Crest, where things rarely settle down completely.

On his way out of the country club, Devon runs into Anita and Vernon's daughter Dani (Karla Mosley), the spitfire powerhouse of the Dupree family. Witnessing James share the frame with Mosley is likely to trigger something within avid Y&R watchers, and the experience represents something profound for the actor, too.

"Working with Karla again, I mean, that was like a homecoming. She spent a lot of time across the hallway from us on B&B, and then she spent some time with my character on Y&R. So it just felt like home, even though it was a brand new environment," James tells EW.

Indeed, James and Mosley's paths previously crossed not once, but twice in soap world. Mosley played the trailblazing Maya Avant Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful for eight years, meaning from 2013-2020, she worked year-round on the same lot as James. Then in 2021, she filled in for Mishael Morgan for a stint on The Young and the Restless as Amanda Sinclair, the twin sister of the late Hilary Curtis. Devon had a romantic history with both Hilary and Amanda, and the sparks certainly seemed to fly between Devon and Dani on Beyond the Gates.

"Devon Winters," Dani purrs when they encounter each other in the Fairmont Crest foyer. "Dani Dupree," he returns, holding the hand she offered for a shake long enough to suggest that this is hardly their first meeting. "I just offered your mom a record deal and she turned me down. Think you could put in a good word for me?" Dani says she'll try, "but when my mother says no - set in stone."

Devon accepts that it's his loss and heads for the door, prompting Dani to sprout a bemused smile as she follows him out with her eyes. She is, after all, caught in the love triangle from hell with nurse Ashley (Jen Jacob) and her sister's nephew-in-law Andre (Sean Freeman), and still isn't over her imperious ex-husband Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett).

Devon would be a welcome way out of all this entanglement, but can James see a path forward with Dani?

"Absolutely," the actor says. "From how well the crossover went behind the scenes to the ideas that they've had for the future, I think they want to keep stuff open for there to be any potential interactions with our show and theirs. I think that fans will enjoy this, and that the network will pay attention."

That might have been all for James, but one pressing matter had to be resolved before he headed back to Genoa City. Devon was adopted by the Winters family, but for a long time went by Devon Hamilton, after discovering the identities of his biological father and mother - Tucker McCall (played at the time by Stephen Nichols) and Yolanda "Harmony" Hamilton (played at the time by Debbi Morgan). Could Dani be heading straight toward an even more complicated love triangle given Bill and Devon's shared last name?

"That's very interesting. This is the first I'm hearing of this theory," James reveals. Could Bill and Devon be cousins? Even half-brothers? "It's an interesting possible connection, and it makes sense to me," he muses. "I really hope that they not only plan to have some more of us from Y&R head over there, but they gotta bring some of them to our show too." Y&R and BTG fans could only get so lucky.

Beyond the Gates airs weekdays on CBS at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT, and is also available to stream on Paramount+.

Eva Longoria Joins Maia Reficco In Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘The Last Sunrise’

Longoria will play Isolde, the protective mother of Reficco’s character, Ry. The project puts Longoria back in business with Amazon MGM Studios on the heels of The Pickup, an action comedy where she stars opposite Eddie Murphy that just debuted on Prime Video. She’s also set to appear in the studio’s holiday flick Oh. What. Fun. from Michael Showalter, which is out on Prime Video on December 3rd.

Set in Majorca, The Last Sunrise follows 22-year-old Oriah “Ry” Pera (Reficco), whose life has been shaped by chronic illness and a well-meaning but overbearing mom. When a summer relocation gives her a taste of freedom, she meets Julián, who draws her into the kind of adventure she’s always longed for. But with a return to the U.S. on the horizon, Ry faces a decision that could change everything.

Carlson Young (Upgraded) is directing from a script adapted by Anna Klassen. Todd is producing alongside Jennifer Gibgot and Andrew Panay of Ethea Entertainment, Lena Roklin of Luber Roklin Entertainment, and Brian Pitt of Pitt Street Productions.

Most recently, Longoria has been seen in CNN’s original series Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain, which she produced through her company Hyphenate Media Group, and in The Pickup. Upcoming, as an actress, she also has the Gurinder Chadha film Christmas Karma.

Recently getting behind the camera to make her feature directorial debut with Flamin’ Hot — the first film to debut simultaneously stateside on Hulu and Disney+, which is Searchlight’s most-watched streaming movie ever — she’s currently working on expanding her Searching For franchise at CNN with Eva Longoria: Searching For France. She’s also set to direct the Netflix film Fifth Wheel, starring Kim Kardashian, and reteam with Searchlight on Anita De Monte Laughs Last, based on the novel of the same name by Xochitl Gonzalez.

‘Young and the Restless’ Shake-Up! Details on the Behind-the-Scenes Change

According to Soap Opera Network, Jill Farren Phelps, known for her time as an executive producer on the likes of Santa Barbara, Another World, Guiding Light, One Life to Live, and General Hospital, has returned to the daytime genre as a producer at The Young and the Restless.

Phelps previously served as the show’s executive producer between 2012 and 2016 alongside current exec producer and head writer Josh Griffith. She left in June 2016 after Mal Young took over the exec producer position.

Soap Opera Network noted that Phelps has been back at the show’s studio for several months already, though it was initially indicated she was there in a non-producing capacity. Speculation increased this week when actress Elizabeth Hendrickson announced her transition into directing. She thanked several producers and included Phelps’ name in her Instagram post.

Phelps has received 14 Daytime Emmy Award nominations throughout her career, winning 11. She earned five awards for her work at General Hospital, and another three from her time at The Young and the Restless.

The shake-up comes amid a flurry of fan backlash in recent months over the long-running soap’s storylines. Viewers often make their voices heard on the Young and the Restless Reddit forum, with one user asking, “What’s wrong with Y&R? Used to be so great, now it’s just meh.”

In the thread, the commenter listed various criticisms, including, “Writing is weak, boring & SL go on way too long & full of holes! I could [go] on & on list would be long.”

Others agreed, with one fan writing, “1. Too much focus on business without actually showing any scheming. 2. Cast is too small so it feels stale, especially when everyone is related. 3. Show skews old. The 60+ crowd is getting too much airtime at the expense of the younger characters being developed. They need to balance it.”

The same user also called out a “Lack of drama. No backstabbing, no affairs, no love triangles, no passion. Serious lack of romance too.”

One fan added, “The show is so boring and repetitive nowadays that I have 9 episodes on my DVR and no real interest in watching them.”

“It’s SO boring. Most the time I notice I’m phone scrolling or doing other stuff barely watching,” another wrote.

“Yeah, I still watch but I don’t look forward to watching anymore,” said one commenter. “It’s almost a chore to watch. I’m not excited about anything especially certain hookups that may be on the horizon. I feel like the characters do the same old things and have the same old conversations.”

Of course, not everyone seems to be unhappy with the current status of the soap. The show continues to bring in strong viewership in these slower summer months, earning its largest overall audience in 22 weeks at the end of July with 3.171 million viewers. But does Phelps’ return indicate that The Young and the Restless is ready to shake things up a bit? What do you think about the current state of Y&R? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

'Special Forces: World's Toughest Test' Season 4 cast: Jussie Smollett, Shawn Johnson

Fox's military training series returns for Season 4 on Sept. 25 and this year's cast – first announced Wednesday, Aug. 6 – features a star-studded roster of celebrities from the worlds of sports, social media and even modeling.

In the show, celebrities take on military-style challenges that test their bodies, souls and minds led by a roster of instructors who are special forces veterans: Rudy Reyes, Jovon Quarles, Jason Fox and Mark "Billy" Billingham.

The cast is headlined by Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson and her former NFL player husband Andrew East, "Sister Wives" star Kody Brown, embattled "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett, "Real Housewives of New Jersey" OG Teresa Giudice and her eldest daughter Gia Giudice of "Next Gen NYC" fame, "The Valley" cast member Brittany Cartwright and college football legend Johnny Manziel.

The cast also includes retired Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb, country singer Jessie James Decker and her ex-NFL player husband Eric Decker, Mark Estes of the Montana Boyz (also known as Kristin Cavallari's younger ex-boyfriend), "BFFs" podcaster Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia and sitcom star Ravi Patel.

Former pro soccer player Christie Pearce Rampone, former NBA player Nick Young, supermodel Chanel Iman and TV personality Eva Marcille are also set to star.

Notable past competitors include actress Denise Richards, former "Bachelorette" Hannah Brown, former first term Trump White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, Johnson's 2008 Olympic team member Nastia Liukin, "Jon & Kate Plus 8" mom Kate Gosselin, "The Osbournes" star Jack Osbourne and singer JoJo Siwa.

"Bachelor in Paradise" star Brown and former pro soccer player Carli Lloyd passed the Season 1 test while Brown's ex-boyfriend Tyler Cameron, fellow "Bachelor" franchise lead Nick Viall and Olympic speedskater Erin Jackson won Season 2. Travis Kelce's ex-girlfriend, model Kayla Nicole, won Season 3 along with "The Hills" alum Brody Jenner.

‘Regretting You’ Trailer: Allison Williams & Mckenna Grace Star As Mother And Daughter In Paramount’s Colleen Hoover Adaptation

Regretting You centers on the complex relationship between Morgan Grant (Williams) and her daughter, Clara (Grace). Morgan became a mother at a young age, putting her own dreams on hold to raise Clara. As Clara grows into a teenager, their relationship becomes strained, especially after a tragic accident claims the life of Chris, Morgan’s husband and Clara’s father.

The film is one of several that studios have fast-tracked following the success of the Blake Lively- and Justin Baldoni-led It Ends with Us, the Sony film based on Hoover’s hot novel, which grossed over $350 million worldwide. Pic’s cast also includes Dave Franco, Mason Thames, Sam Morelos, Scott Eastwood, Willa Fitzgerald and Clancy Brown.

Josh Boone (The Fault in Our Stars) directed from a script by After‘s Susan McMartin. The project is produced by Brunson Green, Anna Todd, Flavia Viotti, and Robert Kulzer. Exec producers included Oliver Berben, Hoover, Williams, Grace, Franco, Jon D. Wagner, Emily Magee, Pete Chiappetta, Anthony Tittanegro, Andrew Lary, Michael Rothstein, Samuel Hall, and Warren Goz.

Interview with Peter Bergman | Questions for Cancer Research

Billy Flynn Explains Move From 'Days of Our Lives' to 'The Young & the Restless'

‘Young & the Restless’ Star Michelle Stafford Shocks Steve Harvey with NSFW ‘Family Feud’ Answer

On the July 31 episode of Celebrity Family Feud, The Young & The Restless cast, consisting of Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers), Lauralee Bell (Christine Blair), Joshua Morrow (Nick Newman), Bryton James (Devon Winters), and Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea Lawson), faced off against the General Hospital team — Finola Hughes (Anna Devane), Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos), Rena Sofer (Lois Cerullo), Donnell Turner (Curtis Ashford), and Tanisha Harper (Jordan Ashford).

The Y&R team led with 161 points while the other soap opera had zero. The contestants had to guess the top six answers on the board. The question was “Name an occupation in which someone with a baby face might have a hard time.”

Bell buzzed in and said, “A police officer.” She got the number one answer and decided to play. Her teammates answered “doctor,” and “lawyer’ which were on the board, and “firefighter,” which was not.

When the turn came to Stafford, she said, “Respectfully, a porn star.” The crowd cheered, but Steve Harvey stood with his mouth open, not saying anything.

(Video) Morrow put his hands up to his face and laughed. When he composed himself, Morrow took his face off his hands and said, “Steve, I apologize.”

Harvey turned toward the board to see if the answer was up there, but the team received their second X. “Wow,” he said. “Imagine this, we’re in a mall. ‘Excuse me, ma’am. Would you like to take a survey?” the host imitated. “‘Name an occupation in which someone with a baby face might have a hard time.’ ‘Them d**n pornstars.'”

“I was expecting someone to say STRIPPER. PORNSTAR caught me way off guard,” one last fan said.

Her teammate answered next with “President,” and they got their third strike. The turn moved to the General Hospital team, who answered “teacher.” The answer was on the board, and they received 82 points.

(Video) In the end, General Hospital came back with the win and advanced to Fast Money. Sofer and Turner were selected to represent the team. Failing to reach 200 points, they did not win the $25,000 for their charity after ending with 192 points.

What’s Next for Soap Couples on ‘GH,’ ‘DAYS,’ ‘B&B,’ ‘Y&R’ and ‘Beyond the Gates’ in August

From hookups to life-changing news to tough choices, the love lives of your favorite soap couples are facing major developments this month. Scroll down to find out what’s coming up in August on every show.

Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings) shares news with Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) that?affects their?future.

Kat Richardson (Colby Muhammad) and Tomas Navarro’s (Alex Alegria) relationship heats up?during salsa night.

Naomi Hawthorne (Arielle Prepetit) leans on her husband, Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges).

Amid the breathtaking backdrops of Naples and Capri, tensions brew between Nick Marone (Jack Wagner), Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye).

Will Daphne Rose’s (Murielle Hilaire) return impact Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor) and Hope Logan’s (Annika Noelle) romantic reunion?

When Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn) and Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) are caught in an elevator together, things heat up.

Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) and Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) decide to have dinner and get an eyeful of Xander Kiriakis (Paul Telfer) and Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) kissing. Sarah pulls a shocked Brady into a kiss.

Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) and Jordan Ashford (Tanisha Harper) have an unexpected close moment.

Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Justine Turner (Nazneen Contractor) connect.

Emma Drake (Braedyn Bruner) opens up to Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) about her feelings for Gio Palmieri (Giovanni Mazza).

Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring) and Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) admit to a mutual?romantic interest.

Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) mourns the loss of Damian Kane (Jermaine Rivers) while still being pursued by Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn).

Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters) pulls out all the stops to romance Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) and make up for their ruined honeymoon.

Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) and Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) navigate mixing business with pleasure when she takes a more active role at Abbott Communications.

Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) and Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver) continue to play a dangerous game, leading both Claire Newman (Hayley Erin) and Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic) to make some tough choices.

Soapy Episode 4 | Lauralee Bell Joins Hosts Rebecca Budig & Greg Rikaart

Eric Roberts Among Cast Of Indie Comedy ‘Run Amok’ From Truman Hanks & William Bonnell

The film’s ensemble cast also features Bronson Pinchot (Beverly Hills Cop), Alexander James Rodriguez (Murder Motel), Kate Hess (Life Support), Colter B. Ford (Heavy Hitters), Wolf Taitano (Trumpacolypse), Alex Garcia Pompa (Godzilla: King of the Monsters), Finn Sanders (Doe a Deer) and singer Benji Patterson.

Directed by Bonnell, with Hanks as Director of Photography, Run Amok follows the chaos that reigns when the eccentric and dysfunctional Muck family gathers following the unexpected death of their patriarch, Dick Muck (Roberts), an accomplished Hollywood producer and mogul. At the lavish Beverly Hills estate, Dick’s four adult children, the eldest and scatterbrained Dick Jr. (Ford), glamorous Penny (Hess), the ambitious Tyler (Patterson), and youngest of the clan Cedar (Rodriguez), come together for what they assume is a standard will-reading by their father’s eccentric and unconventional attorney Harvey Zuckerman (Pinchot).

Instead, the group finds themselves embroiled in a bizarre and absurd scavenger hunt orchestrated by their late father, who has left his substantial $60 million fortune to whichever of them can solve his carefully devised riddle first. The film is said to be 25% scripted and 75% improvisation.

Run Amok is being produced by William Bonnell with his production company at New Frontier Pictures, and Truman Hanks. Executive producers on the feature include Liz Rodriguez (EMR Media) and Sebastian Twardosz (Savant Artists), who will also represent the project for sales.

Roberts is repped by Sovereign Talent Group, Pinchot and Rodriguez by Bohemia Group.

Conner Floyd Talks Chance’s ‘Y&R’ Ending and Becoming ‘DAYS’ New Chad DiMera

“As sad as it is, I think that’s how Chance would want to go out,” says Floyd of his character’s death by gunshot, trying to save Cane [Ashby, Billy Flynn] and Lily [Winters, Christel Khalil]. “That’s his story that he’s always been telling — that he’s a hero — and the ultimate person to put everybody else above himself, so I think it’s a little poetic in a way. And then the way I died in Billy Flynn’s [Cane Ashby] arms is also very poetic.”

That’s because Floyd already has a new job at Days of Our Lives playing Chad DiMera, the part Flynn vacated in April. “I think Josh [Griffith, head writer and executive producer of Y&R] did that on purpose,” winks Floyd of the two sharing his final scenes.

The actor has nothing but positive things to say about his first soap home. “Oh, it was just perfect,” he praises. “It’s such a special place. Since day one, I felt welcomed, and I have zero complaints. I feel very honored to be a part of that show and to make my little mark on history there.”

That sense of gratitude extends to both the personal and professional moments Floyd experienced during this time on Y&R. “Off-screen, I think it’s just the connections and the friendships that I made there,” he reflects. “So many of the actors, so many of the crew, so many of the creatives, everyone that works up in the offices, I’ve built this relationship with, and it’s sad to say goodbye.

“On-screen, to turn on the TV and see me in a scene with Eric Braeden [Victor Newman] or Peter Bergman [Jack Abbott] or Melody Thomas Scott [Nikki Newman], it’s super cool,” he continues. “I know my grandmothers are rolling over in their graves right now. I wish they could have been here to get a little piece of that, but it’s really cool just to be a part of the soap world. It’s a unique place for an artist, and I feel like I came out of this a little better of an actor than when I started.”

Finding out about Chance’s fate was “bittersweet,” reports Floyd. “I had another job on the horizon, and so it’s like, ‘Oh, OK, I’m not going to be unemployed,’ but it is sad to say goodbye to Chance and to everyone over there at Y&R, so it’s a little bit of mixed emotions. I feel happy, I feel sad, it kind of depends on the day.”

Nevertheless, he enjoyed playing out Chance’s grisly exit. “It was a lot of fun,” Floyd enthuses. “The sets they built for this whole French storyline are amazing; I felt like I was there. The wardrobe was really fun — they really spiced it up since everybody was on vacation. We had all these actors in the storyline that I hadn’t seen in a while, like Bryton [James, Devon Winters] and Melissa [Ordway, Abby Newman Winters], and to do scenes with them and kind of do a callback on that whole history was fun. It was a good time.”

Walking out of the studio for the last time, however, proved more emotional than Floyd anticipated. “Oh man, I’m so soft-hearted and I’m such a crier,” he relays. “I was going into this thing being like, ‘I’m not gonna cry. I’m not gonna cry.’ And I remember talking to Billy Flynn, and he was like, ‘No, I bet you cry. I cried when I left [Days].’ I was like, ‘Yeah, we’ll see, man.’ We had this last scene, and everyone was clapping, and I was saying goodbye to everyone and walking out, and I cried like a baby. I’m not going to lie. There were a couple of us that got together and hung out afterwards, and I was still fighting tears there. But there are good things on the horizon, so I was OK.”

Floyd has already started working at Days as Chad and is embracing the challenge of his new role. “It’s just a really good opportunity,” he enthuses. “The DiMera family is really cool, and the more I dig into it, this character has a lot to unpack. I like working, so I was really, really excited to dive deep into Chad and explore this world that he’s in. Days of our Lives is an iconic show, and a lot of really talented people have walked those stages, Billy Flynn included, so it’s going to be fun to try to fill those shoes.”

The gig came his way after a chance meeting with Days’ casting director, Marnie Saitta. “This is actually a pretty crazy story,” Floyd begins. “I was flying to Boston for Christmas with my fiancée to visit her family, and I was going to propose to her that weekend right before Christmas. The flight was delayed, then we get on the plane, and it’s delayed on the tarmac, delayed in the air, and delayed when we landed in Boston. I mean, this thing turned into, like, a 12-hour trip. We’re sitting next to these people the whole time and after about five hours, we made conversation, and it was Marnie and her family. So, we were chatting and CBS got brought up somehow. She was like, ‘What do you do at CBS?’ I said, ‘I’m on Young and the Restless.’ After 12 hours of talking, she said, ‘I’m gonna call you.’ And that’s kind of how this came into play.”

Working with Flynn for Floyd’s last month on Y&R proved to be a fruitful experience. “First of all, Billy’s the freaking man,” he raves. “I was kind of bummed, like, ‘I wish you were here for the other four years I was here; we could have had a good time.’ But it was really cool just getting to talk to him and pick his brain about how things work over there, about the character and the sets and the family and the schedule. He had the nicest things to say. It was very serendipitous, which I love.”

Flynn had a helpful note for the Salem newcomer. “When we had our first scene together [on Y&R], I said a couple words to him and then after they said cut, he goes, ‘You and I sound just alike,’ — we have this low, gravelly voice and kind of talk low and slow — ‘I guarantee you the first note you get over there is more voice.’ And sure enough, first scene I had over there, my first note was, ‘Uh, Conner, we need more voice.’ I texted Billy and said, ‘You called that, man.’ The more we hung out, it seems we’re very cut from the same cloth, and it’s good casting on Marnie’s part, I ain’t gonna lie.”

While fans won’t see Floyd on Days until 2026 because of the show’s unique filming schedule, he is settling in well. “Salem’s great,” he concludes. “Everyone’s awesome and very welcoming and very helpful. I’ve hit the ground running, and it’s been going great so far. Just like Y&R, everyone over there is very hardworking, and there’s a very talented cast and crew, and I’m going to bring it for them.”

Entertainment Tonight: Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart Reveal Sexy Soap Opera Secrets

Chrishell Stause and G Flip Say 'I Do' Again in Fairytale Castle Wedding

The couple said "I do" surrounded by family and friends, in the Hollywood Hills, with the city skyline shimmering in the background.

Chrishell looked straight out of a storybook in a flowing off-the-shoulder white gown featuring a romantic lace-up corset. G Flip fully leaned into the fantasy theme, rocking a regal red prince ensemble -- complete with gold trim and even a sword strapped to their back.

Before the ceremony, Chrishell was spotted laughing and chatting with costumed knights at the castle gate, setting the tone for the night.

The pair rented out the magical venue and transformed it into their own enchanted kingdom, where love ruled supreme. Following their vows, video captured Chrishell bouncing with excitement, clearly on cloud nine.

The pair had a Vegas ceremony back in May 2023, but were finally able to have their happily ever after wedding.

Finding Mr. Christmas Adds Guest Judges

Ice Cube & Eva Longoria’s ‘War Of The Worlds’ Reimagining Gets Prime Video Release Date; Watch The Trailer

The modern-day adaptation of H.G. Wells’ classic novel follows Will Radford (Ice Cube), a top cyber-security analyst for Homeland Security, who spends his days tracking potential threats to national security through a mass surveillance program, until an attack by an unknown entity leads him to question whether the government is hiding something from him … and the rest of the world.

The Rich Lee-directed movie also stars Eva Longoria, Clark Gregg, Andrea Savage, Henry Hunter Hall, Iman Benson, Devon Bostick and Michael O’Neill. The indie film was written by Kenneth Golde and Marc Hyman and edited by Charles Ancelle, produced by Aiello and Bekmambetov, and executive produced by Adam Sidman.

“The idea was organic,” says Aiello. “When catastrophes happen today, we experience them through our devices. That insight shaped the storytelling and tech used to create this immersive thriller.”

He adds, “For the first time ever, a studio-scale sci-fi epic has been produced using a format that places audiences inside the action through the lenses of phones, computers, and tablets. It’s a visceral, first-person experience designed for big screens in a language and format that is now natural within our daily lives.”

“It’ll be exciting for audiences to watch the movie and ask themselves: If aliens invaded today, how would we experience it? Most likely, we’d be watching it on our phones,” says Bekmambetov. “In that way, it’s kind of a modern spin on Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds. Back then, he used radio, the most popular technology of the time, to make people believe the invasion was real. Today, that medium is the screen of our devices.”

Bekmambetov’s feature credits include Unfriended (2015), Searching (2018) and Missing (2023), which have collectively grossed more than $200 million globally. His latest Screenlife production, the digital heist thriller LifeHack, premiered at SXSW in March and currently holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. As a director, he is set to release his new techno thriller Mercy in January; the Amazon MGM Studios project stars Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson and is produced by Bekmambetov and Oppenheimer’s Charles Roven.

WME represented War of the Worlds, along with producers Aiello and Bekmambetov, and co-star Longoria. Cube is repped by UTA, Prospect Park and Ziffren Brittenham. Lee is with Paradigm and Anonymous Content. Hyman is represented by Independent Artist Group.

The Young and the Restless' Lauralee Bell Reveals What She Really Thinks About Her Character's Bug Nickname

Bell, 56, debuted on The Young and the Restless — which was created by her parents William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell — in 1983 as a teen model named Cricket. Over the years, as Cricket went to law school and became a district attorney, she stopped using her entomological nickname, opting for her real name, Christine Blair, instead.

But for Bell, nothing compares to her original moniker. She tells PEOPLE exclusively that she thinks of her long-time character as “only Cricket.”

“I've only been okay with hearing that name if I'm in the courtroom or in a legal situation because obviously the other wouldn't work,” she says of Christine. “But I love that the OGs will forever and always call her Cricket.”

Bell feels “even more” strongly about using the name Cricket now that the character and Michael Damian’s Danny Romalotti are “finally” getting engaged again. Danny and Cricket’s love story started back in the ‘80s when, as Bell says, Cricket was a “little groupie girl” in love with a rock star.

Bell notes that Danny hasn’t always called the character Cricket, though, that “there was a time” when he called her “Chris” instead. “We were in trouble,” Damian, 63, jokes about that time in the characters’ lives, when Cricket was in a relationship with Doug Davidson’s Paul Williams.

The nickname Cricket also comes with one more perk. “I love that there's an emoji that's a cricket because I use it now all the time,” Bell says. “Everyone should have their own emoji.”

Both Bell and Damian are “grateful” their fans have stuck around to see them get engaged again. “I think the nostalgia is really beautiful and that's what they're connecting to,” Damian says.

Looking back at the genesis of their on-screen romance in the 1980s, Bell says, “The scenes that we had every day were extremely playful. We were chasing each other around the apartment. We were putting ice down each other's backs. We were tickling each other. We were playing strip poker. We were doing things that really draw people in because they feel like they're watching your intimate moments.” Damian calls their early romance “very sweet, very innocent.”

Cricket and Danny married for the first time in 1990, but, thanks in part to the machinations of Danny Romalotti superfan Phyllis (Michelle Stafford), they ended up divorcing.

As for Bell and Damien, Bell thinks their on-screen relationship works in part because they have “very much the same sense of humor.”

“We also are really going to continue putting in as much playfulness as we can moving forward,” Bell says. They also feel comfortable touching each other and playing around in scenes because of their decades of friendship and working together.

“It's very comfortable,” Damian says. “It's so much fun and it just feels very organic when we work together. . . . We know these characters. We've known them our whole lives.”

Joshua Coates’ Faith-Based Feature ‘Divine Direction’ Sets Cast

The movie tells the story of a father who is also a Pastor and grapples with his faith as his son battles a rare form of kidney cancer. Divine Direction is based on the heartfelt true-life story of Charles Moorer and based on his two books Standing on the World of Adoni and Giving Up Is Not an Option.

Dorian Gregory stars in the dual lead roles of Charles Moorer and his twin brother, Quinton Moorer. With over 70 film and television credits to his name, Gregory is best known for his portrayal of Darryl Morris on the hit TV series Charmed, which aired from 1998 to 2005. The cast also includes Tamala Jones (Blue Streak, Next Friday) as Cora Moorer, Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, The Expendables) as Dr. Patrick Batra, and Geoffrey Owens (The Cosby Show, Poppa’s House) as Charles Moorer Sr. Co-Starring, Torrei Hart (But Deliver Us From Evil, Hollywould) as Crystal Moorer, Judae’a (Showtime’s The Chi, Madonna Non Grata) as Chelsea Moorer, and Golden Globe and Grammy winning gospel singer Regina Belle as Aunt Gertrude. Comedian Marcus D. Wiley makes his on-screen debut as Pastor Reggie Fletcher and introducing newcomer Shamere Dunswell as Chad Moorer.

The film will be released by One Culture, a multinational TV and film distribution company based in Atlanta, GA.

Coates is the President and CEO of 20/20 Visions Entertainment Group, based in West Hollywood. His most recent feature, Ageless Love, was released in 2022.

The pic is a production of 20/20 Visions Entertainment Group in association with 4C Music Productions. The film is executive produced by Charles Moorer and produced by Coates and Pete Postiglione.

Inside Tristan Rogers’ Surprise ‘General Hospital’ Return After Cancer Diagnosis

The actor, who joined the soap in 1980 and has made appearances on and off in the 45 years since, returned for a one-day visit to wrap up the story involving Robert’s daughter, Sasha Gilmore, as her portrayer, Sofia Mattsson, marked the end of her run on the show.

In an exclusive interview with TV Insider, Mattsson reveals how excited she was to discover her alter ego was the offspring of one of soaps’ most beloved duos, Robert and Holly Sutton (Emma Samms). “I loved it so much!” she enthuses. “I had been wanting a family connection since day one on the show, so I was so glad it finally happened. And both Emma Samms and Tristan Rogers are lovely to work with and very sweet in real life. I really wish we would’ve explored their relationships more. And the rest of Sasha’s family connections through the Scorpios!”

She was especially touched that she got to work with Rogers as her final scene partner on her last day. “It was special because normally we don’t always shoot in order, but my last scenes that aired were actually filmed last,” she relays. “And, of course, it was special that they were with Tristan. I really loved how sweet those scenes were.”

As for Rogers, though the type of cancer he has wasn’t specified, a spokesperson for the actor says he is prioritizing his health at this time. “While he remains hopeful and is working closely with his medical team on a treatment plan, this is a challenging time for Tristan and his family,” said the rep. “As they face both the emotional and physical burdens that come with this diagnosis, the family kindly asks for privacy and understanding. They are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and love from their friends and family.”

‘General Hospital’ Star Tristan Rogers Reveals Cancer Diagnosis

“Beloved Emmy-winning actor Tristan Rogers, best known for his role as Robert Scorpio on the daytime drama, General Hospital, is sharing with fans that he has been diagnosed with cancer,” publicist Anthony Turk said in a statement. “While he remains hopeful and is working closely with his medical team on a treatment plan, this is a challenging time for Tristan and his family. As they face both the emotional and physical burdens that come with this diagnosis, the family kindly asks for privacy and understanding. They are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and love from their friends and family.”

“Tristan sends his love to his fans and wants them to know how much he appreciates their loyalty and encouragement over the years,” the statement continues. “This support means more to him now than ever. Future updates will be shared if deemed appropriate by Tristan and his family.”

Rogers is best known for his role as D.A. Robert Scorpio, a character that first took up residence in the fictional Port Charles in 1980, and has returned to the long-running soap opera periodically since he originated the role.

The last time General Hospital fans saw the actor in the role of Scorpio was November 2024, when the character left town with his ex-wife, Holly Sutton (Emma Samms).

The Aussie actor also played the malicious Colin Atkinson in The Young and the Restless and Hunter on The Bold and the Beautiful, as well as roles on Walker, Texas Ranger and Family Law. In 2020, Rogers earned recognition at the Daytime Emmy Awards for his performance in the digital drama series Studio City. He has also voiced animated characters in popular kids’ shows, including The Wild Thornberrys, Batman Beyond, and The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest.

Jermaine Rivers Confirms He’s Out At Young And Restless As Damian: ‘It’s Been an Honor’

Damian had gotten off to a rough start in Genoa City with his secrets and deceptions, but soon reconnected with his mother, Amy, and forged a relationship with his newly discovered half brother, Nate. He even found romance with Lily. Unfortunately, that all came to a tragic end when he and Cane found themselves drugged, and a mysterious person threw a knife that lodged in Damian’s back!

“Damian Kane has met an untimely demise,” Rivers said in the video he shared on social media. “We shot this back in May, and I actually knew about Damian Kane’s… what his fate was before we even went to France [within the storyline].”

As his time on the soap came to an end, the actor wanted to express his gratitude for everyone involved in the experience. “First off, I gotta say thank you to Josh Griffith for giving me this opportunity to bring Damian Kane to life,” he enthused. “It has been an amazing ride. It’s been an honor to not only be a part of the cast but to bring a character like Damian to life. The last seven, eight months, I got to play a multitude of emotions to really flesh out who this person was, with all his complexities, with his relationship with his mom, with his half brother, his best friend, and potential love interest And we got to go on a ride and really play into these moments truthfully.”

Rivers also acknowledged that Damian didn’t make the best first impression. “Early on, I know there was a lot of mixed emotions about who Damian Kane was,” he said with a chuckle. “Based off how he came into Genoa City — you know, the mystery, the air, the arrogance… which was very intentional. As an actor, my prime objective is to do three things. To be of service to the scripts; to the text that’s actually written for the character and his relationships with other characters on the show. To be of service to my fellow actors, to not phone anything in, and to really engage and be honest and truthful and make a genuine connection; bring out the best of that person that’s in front of me or around me, to be of service to the overall story. And the task that I had coming in, the reason I was cast, to do service to the storyline. Because at the end of the day, guys, it’s not about me. It’s not about one person on the show; it’s about the collective.

“Bearing that in mind,” he continued, “I’m just grateful to have been able to play a role on the show, to be a part of the cast. And no matter how long or how brief it is, at the end of the day, as an actor, that’s my job to come in and play the role that I was cast. And when it’s time to go, it’s time to go. And it’s time to go do something somewhere else.”

Rivers also singled out Y&R Casting Director Greg Salmon for helping bring him to Genoa City. “I know with our conversations early on, he told me how grueling that process was of trying to find the right Damian,” he said. “I believe you said that process started last July, and I got a chance to swing at that role in November. So from July to November, they still hadn’t nailed it down. And when I got that last-minute request to read for the role — on a Sunday — and apparently, you guys saw something in me that resonated. So thank you.”

While this marks the end of his time on Y&R, his career continues. “Right now, there’s a whole lot of stuff that has my name on it,” Rivers declared. “And there are other projects that I’m currently attached to, and I’m physically, mentally getting ready to do something super fun in the sci-fi genre. But I’ll tell you, I loved every minute of showing up to CBS studios on soundstage 41 and 43, getting to play alongside some incredible, talented actors.”

For his Y&R fans, Rivers offered: “Thank you for the fans who tuned in, who’s always committed and invested in the storyline that’s being played out day after day. So yeah, I’m gonna close this one out, with light, love, and gratitude in my heart. I’ll see y’all on the next one. The show must go on. Peace and love.”

Celebrity Family Feud: General Hospital vs The Young and the Restless (7/31)

Logline: Hosted by Steve Harvey, DJ and music producer Diplo goes head-to-head with actress Laverne Cox; then, it’s a battle of the soap operas as the casts of ABC’s “General Hospital” and “The Young and the Restless” compete.

Eva Longoria To Direct & Produce ‘Anita De Monte Laughs’ Feature For Searchlight Pictures

The New York Times bestseller tells the story of a first-generation Ivy League student who uncovers the genius work of a female artist decades after her suspicious death. Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a propulsive examination of power, love, and art, daring to ask who gets to be remembered and who is left behind in the rarefied world of the elite.

The book was on Reese’s Book Club Pick and listed as Best Book of 2024 by Kirkus, TIME, NPR, Goodreads, Electric Lit and more.

Longoria and Searchlight last teamed on the 2023 feature Flamin’ Hot, which served as the multihyphenate’s feature directorial debut. Based on the novel A Boy, a Burrito and a Cookie: From Janitor to Executive by Richard Montañez, the feature stars Jesse Garcia, Annie Gonzalez and Tony Shalhoub. The Yvette Chávez and Lewis Colick-written dramedy received multiple awards and nominations, including an Oscar nod for Best Original Song.

SVP of Production Taylor Friedman and Creative Executive Daniel Yu will be overseeing Anita de Monte Laughs Last for Searchlight Pictures, reporting to Co-Heads of Production and Development DanTram Nguyen and Katie Goodson-Thomas.

Gonzalez published her debut novel Olga Dies Dreaming, in 2022, which became a New York Times Best Seller and was ordered to pilot by Hulu, which Gonzalez adapted. She is a staff writer at The Atlantic and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for her work there. She is repped by CAA, Entertainment 360 and Granderson Des Rochers, LLP.

Longoria’s recent work also includes Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain, an eight-part CNN Original series chronicling her immersive gastronomic journey across Spain, following the success of her previous Searching for Mexico. It was also recently announced that Longoria will expand the “Searching For” franchise with Searching for France, which is currently in production. Through her company, Hyphenate Media Group, Longoria champions creator-led stories for global audiences. She has a history of directing over the last decade, with past credits including the boxing documentary La Guerra Civil for DAZN. Up next, she will also direct the Paula Pell-penned Netflix comedy The Fifth Wheel with Gloria Sanchez producing. Longoria is repped by WME, Linden Entertainment, and Yorn, Levine, Barnes.

‘Duster’ Canceled — What Would Have Happened in Season 2

So will the J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan co-created series return for Season 2? Here’s what we know so far.

No. On Wednesday, July 9, it was announced that Duster was canceled after one season.

The cast included Josh Holloway as getaway driver-turned-FBI informant Jim Ellis, Rachel Hilson as Nina Hayes, Camille Guaty as Izzy, Asivak Koostachin as Nina’s bureau partner Awan Bitsui, Corbin Bernsen as Jim’s father Wade, Benjamin Charles Watson as Royce Saxton, Sydney Elisabeth as Genesis Saxton, Adriana Aluna Martinez as Luna, Greg Grunberg as Abbott, and Keith David as Ezra Saxton. Now, we’ll never know who would have played Joey, a.k.a. Xavier.

The series would have had to follow up on the threads left dangling by the Season 1 finale, including revealing the true fate of Ezra Saxton after he was shot in the chest and what that meant for his children, Royce and Genesis. Last we heard, Royce was “still at the hospital,” presumably with his father in critical condition. Also yet to be determined was what was next for Izzy as she undergoes chemotherapy treatment and how that could have impacted the relationship between Jim and Luna, who still calls him Uncle Jim even though he’s her father.

The season should have also featured Nina participating in the FBI’s effort to track down the national security threat Xavier, who happens to be Jim’s brother Joey, whom he and Wade grieved as dead in an explosion. Nina revealed that it was Saxton who helped Joey disappear, so surely there would have been some drama there, too, if the story had continued.

Morgan told TV Insider she was excited about exploring more about Joey, saying, “We’re so excited about where that’s gonna take us, and hopefully, if we get a Season 2, so many fun escapades to get into — all very exciting, I think … Who is Joey now? And what has he been getting into and who has he been getting into it with? There are a lot more murky areas that we want to peel back the layers of to really deepen the story and really challenge Jim and Nina’s relationship. They’ve just sort of kind of come to a place where they have a little bit of trust and now, what happens when this other X factor is thrown into the mix, so there’s lots of good stuff to play with.” She also teased that a romantic future between Jim and Nina or Jim and Izzy was “on the table.”

Nominees For The 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Revealed In Three Major Categories

Sharon Case (Sharon Newman, Young and Restless)
Eileen Davidson (Ashley Abbott, Young and Restless)
Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea Lawson, Young and Restless)
Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis, General Hospital)
Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers, Young and Restless)
Laura Wright (Carly Spencer, General Hospital)

Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott, Young and Restless)
Eric Martsolf (Brady Black, Days of Our Lives)
Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark, Days of Our Lives)
Paul Telfer (Xander Kiriakis, Days of Our Lives)
Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri, General Hospital)

‘Y&R’ Star Michael Damian Teases Danny’s Surprise Proposal to Cricket: ‘This Time, It’ll Be Even Better’

“It’s come to that point where they both want to take it to the next level, and where else could that be?” teases Damian. “Could it be wedding bells?”

Damian says the time is right for the duo, who have been traveling around the world as part of Danny’s music tour, to give matrimony another shot. “They’ve got this amazing connection,” he points out. “There’s this incredible history. They really haven’t had a home base because they’re gone so much, so they’re talking about the next steps, maybe getting something together.”

The actor, who joined the show in 1980 and has made numerous guest appearances since his 1998 departure, is thrilled to be teamed again with Bell. “We have such a great time and a great rapport and great respect for each other,” he notes. “I’ve known her a long time, and to know someone a long time and have a chance to work with them and grow up with them and continue to work with them is very rare.”

Though marriage didn’t work out for Danny and Cricket the first time around, Damian believes a second chance would be different. “I hate to use the cliché words, but they’re older and wiser, and maybe have learned from the past,” he offers. “There is so much history, and they’ve been through so much together. If they could still be friends at this point, that’s amazing, and that they are and have taken it to the next level is a beautiful thing. They were each other’s first love, so I think it’s really wonderful that they found it again. This time, it’ll be even better.”

The proposal will be both romantic and can’t-miss, Damian previews. “It’s pretty amazing what they did,” he praises. “Josh [Griffith, executive producer and head writer] and his team wrote something great. I don’t want to give away everything, but Danny sets up something pretty special, and the audience is going to get to relive some of the great highlight moments of their relationship going way back. And that’s pretty rare where you can dig into the vault. It’s like a time warp, and it’s very touching and really beautiful. Of course, Lauralee is brilliant in it, and I’m mediocre [laughs], but I hope the audience enjoys it. It was really enjoyable to shoot. It’s going to be fun. We’ll bring the audience on this nice, magical mystery tour.”

The actor appreciates that the fans of Danny and Cricket have championed their reunion over the past few decades. “They’re probably the driving force and the fuel that’s really been pushing this to happen because they’ve been so incredibly supportive,” he reflects. “They just won’t give up, and they’re not going to give up until it happens. They’re going to keep writing and posting. They’re wonderful, and we have the best fans ever. I’m just so grateful.”

That the powers-that-be at Y&R have continued to write Danny into the story is also deeply meaningful for Damian, who has been able to hone other skills in his time away from the soap. “The show has been incredibly accommodating, and it’s been really great,” he says. “This film company that I started 20 years back [Riviera Films] is going really well, thank God, and our new partners, Netflix, are fantastic, so I’m just loving that. I was born in the entertainment business and trained on the stages of CBS with the show and learned so much, and I’ve been able to take what I’ve learned from the writing, the directing, the producing, and the acting. All of those things have been the foundation for my becoming a filmmaker as well. So, Y&R has been my film school, so to speak.”

Damian says working behind the camera has brought new depth to his performances in front of it. “What’s cool about it is that during the movies, while producing and directing and writing, I feel even closer to acting now because I’ve had this outside point of view,” he explains. “It helps me understand the mindset of actors, and it’s been really great to experience working on both sides of the camera.”

His next project will drop after the summer. “I just finished another Netflix movie,” he reveals. “It’s called The Wrong Paris, and it stars Miranda Cosgrove and Pierson Fodé [ex-Thomas Forrester, The Bold and the Beautiful]. It’s coming out September 12th. It’s been a year-plus in the making, so that’ll be fun. And I’ve been working on some new music in the studio; hopefully, we can get a song or two on the show.”

But for now, he’s concentrating on Danny and his future. As for whether Christine says yes, Damian winks, “I hope it all goes well and I hope Phyllis [Summers, Michelle Stafford] doesn’t mess anything up. I’m not saying that she will, but you never know.”

‘Charles in Charge’ alum Josie Davis admits she struggles to find dates in Hollywood: ‘It’s so hard’

Josie Davis, who starred on the ’80s sitcom “Charles in Charge,” admitted that it’s not easy dating in Los Angeles while exclusively chatting with Page Six earlier this week.

“I’m apparently intimidating,” she shared, referencing feedback she’s received from men in the past. Though, she insists she’s just a regular gal “who’s quirky.”

The actress, 52, shared that she was using Raya — an exclusive, membership-only dating app that vets their users — for awhile, but “got off of [it]” because no one was even “trying” to write her on there.

“I guess you have to be either super famous or a model,” she rued. “It’s so hard for me to meet people.”

In the past, Davis has reportedly dated actors Jacob Young and Dax Griffin. Since she hasn’t found “the one” just yet, she’s been focusing her attention on her acting career.

The actress, who also hosts her own podcast, “Success Road,” will soon be seen in “Pardon Me: The Bevelyn B. Williams Story.” The film, which premieres in theaters on Aug. 15, follows the true story of Williams, a Black anti-abortion activist. Davis plays a federal judge and stars alongside Blac Chyna.

"Charles in Charge" cast.In order to familiarize herself with the role, she visited various California courts last year, where she stumbled across some MS-13 gang members who were on trial.

“This was right before it kind of blew up,” she remembered, referring to MS-13 becoming a flashpoint in the presidential elections.

“These two guys walk in and [were] shackled heavily. I mean, chains I’ve never [seen], big, thick chains were on their waist … it was frightening.”

Aside from her acting gigs and podcast, Davis is also a regular on TikTok, where she recently shared a video about the measly residual check she got from “Charles in Charge” that totaled $6.06.

The sitcom centered around a manny — played by Scott Baio — who looked after three children. Davis played the oldest daughter in the family, a bookish character named Sarah, whose younger sibling was played by “Baywatch” alum Nicole Eggert.

Davis told Page Six that many people seem to be under the false impression that she’s still receiving hefty checks from the series, which premiered on CBS and ran for five seasons between 1984 and 1990.

“I had a friend at the gym say, ‘God, do you still get those amazing residuals? You must make a lot of money?,’ and I just thought, ‘Are you an idiot?’ He got mad at me because of my reaction,” she said during our interview.

“We were kids,” she exclaimed, referencing her onscreen siblings, Eggert and Alexander Polinsky. “So I mean, they barely paid us anything!”

Daytime Emmy Nominations Announcement Date

J. Eddie Peck Out At Young And Restless As Cole Succumbs To Legionnaires’ Disease

Claire and Victoria were called back to the hospital when Cole told them he was grateful they made it back in time to say good-bye. Claire thanked him for being a great father and tried to hold back her bitterness at having lost so much time with him. She pointed out how unfair it was that she loses him only having just gotten him back. He pointed out how brave she was and that he was so proud she’s his daughter. She shared a memory from her youth of wanting her daddy to hold and he wished he could have been there for her.

She also didn’t want to give up hope that he could still make it and wanted him to stay. When he said he couldn’t and it was time to say good-bye, an overwhelmed Claire ran out of the room. This left Victoria to be there for the man she loved as he took his last breaths. They told him she’d see in the next life and he would be waiting. She knew he had to let go so she wouldn’t ask him to stay but she did ask for a final kiss. He obliged and as he did, he passed away.

Rumors of Peck’s return to Y&R back in 2023 preceded his actual return. He had not been on the show since 1999, having started with the soap in 1993, and while the interest was flattering, he hadn’t been contacted — yet. Eight days later he was. He told Digest then, “There was the email that said, ‘Hey J. Eddie, we’re interested in knowing if you would like to reprise your role of Cole Howard.’ I turned to my wife and I was laughing and crying at the same time. The irony was just so funny. Here I had been discounting the rumors and now I was being asked to come back!”

What Happened To Cole Howard On The Young and The Restless? Everything You Need To Know

That original arc was the reveal that Nikki’s assistant Claire, who had lured the Newmans to her aunt Jordan’s home for revenge, was actually Cole and Victoria’s grown-up daughter — Eve, whose death as an infant he and Victoria had mourned and thought lost to them forever. She was stolen by Jordan, groomed to be her tool for revenge against the entire Newman clan but especially Victor and Nikki. Jordan had blamed Victor for her sister Eve (whom little Eve was her namesake), Cole’s mother’s, death.

In caring for their daughter, that old spark between Cole and Victoria reignited and Peck stuck around the soap ever since. That is, until Cole returned from a recent trip with a cough he couldn’t shake. That cough turned out to be Legionnaires’ disease, which can usually be cured with antibiotics — but in Cole’s case, he was diagnosed too late and nothing could be done to save him.

Hollywood Walk of Fame invites 35 famous names to become part of the historic sidewalk of stars

Fellow Walk of Famers Eugenio Derbez and Richard Blade took turns announcing the big news on Wednesday.

"Good Morning America" anchors Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos are just two of the stars who will be honored in 2026 on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and they will have a rare double ceremony! They are in the television category, along with Bradley Whitford, Noah Wyle, Greg Daniels, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Melody Thomas Scott, Gordon Ramsey and Lucero.

Entertainers who will be honored from the recording side of show business are Air Supply, Bone Thugs and Harmony, Paulinho da Costa, The Clark Sisters, Miley Cyrus, Intocable, Angelique Kidjo, Lyle Lovett and L.A.'s own born and bred Grammy nominee, Josh Groban.

Oscar winner Rami Malek will be honored in the motion picture category. His long list of contemporaries in the 2026 class includes Timothée Chalamet, Chris Columbus, Marion Cotillard, Keith David, Rachel McAdams, Demi Moore, Franco Nero, Deepika Padukone, Molly Ringwald, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci.

There will also be two posthumous honors for special effects expert Carlo Ramboldi and producer/director Tony Scott.

In the live theatre category, Broadway superstar Lea Salonga will see her star unveiled, along with top-selling comedian Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias and NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal.

Dates have not been scheduled for the star ceremonies. Recipients have two years to schedule star ceremonies from the date of selection.

Y&R Vet to Days

Eva Longoria’s ‘Necaxa’ Docuseries From ‘Welcome To Wrexham’ Team Gets Premiere Date At FXX

Necaxa will premiere two episodes each Thursday for the first three weeks followed by one episode each Thursday until the season finale on Thursday, September 18.

The bilingual sports docuseries will “chronicle a turbulent, transformational time marked by staff shake-ups, career-defining injuries and the relentless grit of a football team determined to defy expectations and deliver hope to its city of Aguascalientes, Mexico,” according to the logline.

The series promises “unprecedented behind-the-scenes access” as it follows the emotional journeys of the players, fans and skeptics.

Necaxa is executive produced by Longoria, Cris Abrego, Rachelle Mendez, Nicholas Frenkel, Jackie Cohn, George Dewey, Mac, Reynolds, Alex Fumero and Diana E. Gonzales. The series is produced by Hyphenate Media Group, More Better Productions, Maximum Effort and 3 Arts Entertainment.

Justin Hartley’s ChangeUp Productions Inks New Deal With 20th Television

Under the new deal, Hartley will continue to develop and produce original content across broadcast, cable and streaming via ChangeUp, where Julianna LaRosa serves as Head of Development.

“Julianna and I are delighted to extend our collaboration with 20th. Over the past six years, the studio has championed our projects, resulting in the unparalleled success of Tracker, the #1 show on television,” shared Hartley. “ChangeUp is ramping up to deliver an impressive slate of upcoming projects, and we are truly fortunate to have such exceptional partners in Eric Schrier, Karey Burke, Carolyn Cassidy, Jane Francis and their outstanding teams,” he added.

The deal follows the record-breaking success of Tracker on CBS, which Hartley both stars in and executive produces. Since its Super Bowl debut in 2024, the action-drama has reached over 100 million viewers to date and became the first new series to rank as the #1 series on TV since 2000. Both seasons ranked as the most-watched broadcast series of the year.

Tracker stars Hartley as Colter Shaw, a lone-wolf survivalist driven by his past troubles who uses his instincts to find the missing and collect rewards. Supported by lawyer Reenie, his business handler Velma Bruin (Abby McEnany) and tech expert Bobby Exley (Eric Graise), Colter will stop at nothing to get the job done. The series was created by Ben H. Winters and is based on the bestselling novel The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver. Season 3 begins production this summer.

Before his work on Tracker, he was part of the ensemble cast of NBC’s critically acclaimed, award-winning series This Is Us opposite Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz and Jon Ortiz. Hartley played Kevin Pearson, for which he received multiple Critics’ Choice Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2019, 2020, 2021). Additionally, Hartley and his cast members won back-to-back SAG Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2018 and 2019. On the film side, Hartley starred opposite Rebel Wilson in the summer action-comedy, Bride Hard. He is repped by CAA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman, and LaRosa is repped by CAA.

ChangeUp Productions continues to build out a slate of original, character-driven projects across TV and film.

Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart

Hosted by daytime veterans Rebecca Budig (THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, “All My Children,” “General Hospital”) and Greg Rikaart (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, “Days of our Lives”), SOAPY features lively, nostalgic conversations with beloved past and present stars and creatives from across the entire soap opera community and all networks and platforms, including daytime and primetime. From unforgettable storylines to behind-the-scenes insights, the series celebrates the genre’s rich history, passionate fanbase and the talent that continues to bring these iconic stories to life.

July 8: Eric Braeden (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS)
July 15: Deidre Hall (“Days of our Lives”)
July 22: Sheila Ducksworth (executive producer, BEYOND THE GATES)
July 29: Lauralee Bell (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS)

Upcoming episodes will include Maurice Benard (“General Hospital”), Tracey Bregman (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Marc Cherry (creator, writer, “Desperate Housewives”), Scott Clifton (THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL), Eva LaRue (“General Hospital”), Christian LeBlanc (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Cameron Mathison (“General Hospital,” “All My Children”), Karla Mosley (BEYOND THE GATES), Lawrence Saint-Victor (THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL), Melody Thomas Scott (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Heather Tom (THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) and Tamara Tunie (BEYOND THE GATES).

Fans can listen to SOAPY HOSTED BY REBECCA BUDIG AND GREG RIKAART on Audacy or wherever podcasts are available and can watch full video episodes weekly on the CBS Brand YouTube Channel. Whether a lifelong fan or discovering the genre for the first time, SOAPY offers a fresh, fun behind-the-scenes look at the stories – and storytellers – that define daytime drama.

SOAPY HOSTED BY REBECCA BUDIG AND GREG RIKAART is produced by the Paramount Multiplatform Production Group. The podcast is executive produced by Mike Benson. Andrew Pemberton-Fowler serves as producer.

Rebecca Budig portrays Dr. Taylor Hayes, the compassionate psychiatrist and mother to Steffy and Thomas Forrester, and rival of Brooke Logan for the heart of Ridge Forrester on THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL.

Budig, a four-time Daytime Emmy® nominee, is well known to soap opera fans for her numerous roles, including Michelle Bauer in “Guiding Light” (1996-1998), Greenlee Smythe in “All My Children” (1998-2011) and Hayden Barnes in “General Hospital” (2014-2019). This marks Budig’s homecoming to CBS Daytime, having previously appeared on “Guiding Light.”

In addition to her numerous daytime roles, Budig’s other credits include “Blue Bloods,” “CSI,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Fit for Christmas,” “Castle,” “The Beast,” and “Skating with the Stars.” In 2014, after the birth of her daughter, Budig was inspired to write about her experience for the short film “About a Girl,” in which she also starred. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband, daughter and two dogs.

Greg Rikaart is an accomplished actor known for his extensive career in daytime television, where he has become a mainstay for over two decades. Best known for his role as Kevin Fisher on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, Rikaart has garnered critical acclaim and recognition, including six Daytime Emmy nominations. His portrayal of Kevin Fisher earned him an Emmy win, and he later received another nomination for his current portrayal of Leo Stark on “Days of our Lives.”

In addition to his impressive work in soap operas, Greg has made memorable guest appearances on popular television series such as “Dawson’s Creek,” “Major Crimes,” “Modern Family,” “Bones” and “Gilmore Girls.” He has also appeared in feature films, including “X-Men 2” and “Prey for Rock and Roll,” showcasing his versatility as an actor across various genres and mediums.

Outside of his acting career, Greg is an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. In 2014, he was honored with the Visibility Award from the Human Rights Campaign for his efforts to raise awareness and support for LGBTQ+ issues. Greg resides in Los Angeles with his husband, writer-producer Robert Sudduth, and their son, Monte. Throughout his career, Greg Rikaart has continued to thrive both professionally and personally, balancing a successful entertainment career with his dedication to family and advocacy.

‘Days Of Our Lives’ Casts Conner Floyd As The New Chad DiMera

The Peacock soap is bringing aboard Conner Floyd to take over the role previously played by Billy Flynn. Floyd, last seen as Phillip “Chance” Chancellor IV on The Young and the Restless, begins work June 23 on the sudser. Given how far ahead DOOL films, however, fans won’t be able to enjoy the new Chad until April of 2026.

Floyd is replacing Billy Flynn, who revealed earlier this year that he’s moving to Y&R. His departure from the Peacock soap was described as amicable. Flynn’s final episode of DOOL is not expected to air until early 2026; he made his Y&R debut on June 19.

“I am grateful for my years at Days. It changed my life in the best ways,” Flynn told TV Insider in March. “I’ve always said these stories we tell are like doing a play, and I’ve spent the last 10-plus years playing this amazing character and telling one of the all-time great love stories. And now I’m excited for this opportunity and to test myself in a new way.”

DOOL also released this statement at the time from EP Ken Corday: ““We support Billy as an actor and friend, and wish him nothing but continued success and happiness, personally and professionally.”

As for Floyd, he joined Y&R in 2021 as Chance. Last month, fans began noticing his absence from both the on-screen action and the credits, though nothing official about his status was revealed. Floyd previously appeared in such movies as The Last Deal and She Inherited Danger.

The role of Chad was first originated on DOOL in 2009 by Casey Deidrick. Flynn replaced him in 2014 and ended up developing a big following because of his romance with Abigail Deveraux (played by Kate Mansi and Marci Miller).

Christel Khalil Urges ‘Y&R’ Fans to Give the New Lily & Cane a Chance

“I’ve been wanting to be used more, so it’s great to be working a lot more and have something to really sink my teeth into,” Khalil begins. “For a long time, it’s been mainly a business storyline, which has been really fun to play and work with Victor [Newman, Eric Braeden], but it’s nice to have that other layer of emotion and relationship and connection to play as well.”

Khalil reveals she had no idea Cane would be written back in until shortly before Flynn began taping. “Josh Griffith [executive producer and head writer] kept it a secret for a very long time,” she shares. “I didn’t realize they were bringing Cane back until a week or two before he started. I was super excited; it was such a great character, and it was a shame to not have the character there.”

Although Khalil had never met Flynn, his reputation preceded him. “I heard great things from some of the other cast members who had either worked with him or knew people that worked with him,” she reports. “He’s such a great guy and great to work with.”

But this isn’t a simple “Lane” reunion, Khalil previews. Rather than revisiting the familiar dynamic between Lily and Cane, viewers should prepare for something entirely fresh. “I feel like the story is very compelling, and I think if fans can look at it with a new lens, they’ll really like it,” Khalil says. “I think the good thing that Josh has done is he’s completely changed the character of Cane.

“It doesn’t feel like we’re trying to have someone step in Daniel Goddard‘s [ex-Cane] shoes,” she continues. “It’s pretty much an entirely new character, so it’s been interesting to have scenes because we have the history there, but it’s a little bit different. They’ve also added in flashbacks that Lily has of interactions that she and Cane have had in the past, five or six years [since he’s been gone]. So, it’s almost a little bit of a new relationship again, in a way.”

Needless to say, Cane’s surprise return will cause major upheaval for Lily. “It’s the first time in Lily’s life that she’s single, and she’s invested in working with Devon [Winters, Bryton James] and Nate [Hastings, Sean Dominic] and just really focused on business,” Khalil points out. “Her kids [twins Charlie and Mattie Ashby] are gone. She doesn’t have a guy in her life, and she’s been focusing on work. So having Cane come back, it’s like the ground kind of falls out from underneath her in a way.”

Which Lily doesn’t appreciate. After Cane reveals himself in France to be the mysterious Aristotle Dumas, “Well, clearly she’s upset,” notes Khalil. “The whole time she thought that this person [Dumas] was somebody else, so it’s a lot of being really upset, feeling betrayed, and feeling like, how could this person that she was married to and have kids with have been lying this whole time?”

Plus, there are other factors for Lily to take into consideration. “Even before Lily finds out Dumas is Cane, the main concern she has is that Dumas is coming after her company,” Khalil explains. “So, when she finds out it is Cane, I think that fear is still there because she hears from Victor and other people that Cane is kind of scheming, and no one really knows what he’s up to. So, she’s really worried. What’s Cane’s plan? Why is he back in Genoa City? What does he want from everybody? What’s he trying to accomplish? Clearly, he’s here for a reason, so I think right now, she’s just trying to figure out what Cane is doing.”

What Lily is not looking for is to jump back into a relationship with him. “As of right now, no, absolutely not,” Khalil states. “She’s very disturbed by his behavior and how much he’s lied and kept secret and what he’s hidden from the kids and what he’s hidden from her, and the fact that she finds out he was working with his dad, Colin [Atkinson, Tristan Rogers], who is a very bad person. So right now, it’s very much like, ‘I want nothing to do with you. We’re never getting back together, especially after all of this. It’s never happening.’”

As this new chapter unfolds, Khalil urges fans to keep an open mind about the new “Lane” dynamic. “At the end of the day, it’s not going to be the same Cane,” she says. “It’s a completely different person, and I really hope that everybody gives Billy a chance and tries to look at the character through new eyes, because it is a new person, and honestly, it’s a new character. He’s nothing like Daniel Goddard, and that’s kind of the point. The point was to make this character something completely different. And so hopefully people give it a chance and look at it like a new relationship rather than like an old one coming back.”

For Khalil, having a meaty story 23 years into her Y&R run is a pleasant surprise, and one that she never expected. “It’s nice because I started as a kid when I was a teenager, and I was always only a part of the summer teen storyline,” she reflects. “I really thought that I was only going to be on the show for three years and did not anticipate still being there, but I’m so happy that I am. I love this job. I love the people that I work with. And it’s really amazing to be able to play the same character for this long, because the character really does kind of become you. There’s been so many different types of stories that I’ve gotten to play over the years, and it’s been really fun and amazing. I love it.”

Jack Betts Dies: ‘Spider-Man’ Actor Was 96

Per The Hollywood Reporter, which first reported the news, Betts died Thursday in his sleep at his Los Osos, Calif. home, his nephew, Dean Sullivan, said.

Born Jack Fillmore Betts (saying he bore a relation to the 13th POTUS Millard Fillmore) on April 11, 1929 in Jersey City, NJ, he grew up in Miami, where he eventually studied theater at University of Miami. Afterward, he moved to New York City, where he made his Broadway debut in 1953’s Richard III.

When a friend asked him to help with an audition for Lee Strasberg’s famed nonprofit, The Actors Studio, the director of the prestigious acting school granted him a three-year scholarship to study there. As a result, the venerated Elia Kazan later cast him in a production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. (He later returned to Braodway for Kazan’s 1959 production of Sweet Bird of Youth, as well as a late ’70s revival of Dracula, in which he once portrayed the eponymous count as Raul Julia’s standby.)

Betts’ first film credit was in 1959’s The Bloody Brood, and in 1966 he was cast as the title character in Franco Giraldi’s Sugar Colt, billed as Hunt Powers for the first time. That kicked off a string of credits in over a dozen Spaghetti Westerns through the 1970s.

On the television side, Betts racked up a number of appearances in daytime soaps, including General Hospital, The Young Marrieds, The Edge of Night, The Doctors, Another World, All My Children, Falcon Crest, Search for Tomorrow, Guiding Light, Generations and The Young and the Restless.

His other notable arcs included episodes for Perry Mason and The F.B.I., as well as turns in popular series like Gunsmoke, Seinfeld, Mad TV, Frasier, Everybody Loves Raymond, Friends, The Mentalist and Monk. (Betts was great friends with Everybody Loves Raymond star Doris Roberts, whom he met at The Actors Studio in the ’50s; the two shared a home from the late ’80s until her death in 2016.)

In Spider-Man, Betts notably portrays Henry Balkan, the Oscorp Technologies board chairman who tells Willem Dafoe’s Norman Osborn, “You’re out, Norman,” kicking off the Green Goblin’s villainous arc. Later on in the movie, Osborn parrots back the phrase to Balkan, as he vaporizes the board in an attack on Times Square, gleefully shouting: “Out, am I?” Additional film credits include 1993’s Falling Down with Michael Douglas and Robert Duvall, the 1995 Val Kilmer-starring Batman Forever and 1998’s Gods and Monsters opposite Ian McKellen and Brendan Fraser.

In addition to his nephew, survivors include his nieces, Lynne and Gail, and his sister, Joan, who turns 100 in November.

Following the news of his death, Beverly Hills Playhouse shared a tribute to the performer on Instagram, writing: “Our beloved Jack Betts passed away peacefully at home. It is a sad day for the BHP as we have enjoyed his presence for so many years. There are actors who credit him with their not giving up because of his encouragement. We were so fortunate to have enjoyed his great spirit, passion and true dedication to the work. There was only ever one like this and we are the richer for having his presence in our theatre. Rest in peace, Jack.”

Lynn Hamilton Dies: ‘The Waltons’ & ‘Sanford And Son’ Actress Was 95

Carson added that she “transitioned peacefully” on Thursday, surrounded by her “grandchildren, loved ones and caregivers.”

“With profound gratitude and admiration, we celebrate the extraordinary life of iconic actress Alzenia ‘Lynn’ Hamilton-Jenkins, whose remarkable legacy continues to uplift and inspire. Her illustrious career, spanning over five decades, has left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment, motivating audiences across the globe through her work as a model, stage, film, and television actress,” he wrote, in part.

Born on April 25, 1930 in Yazoo City, MS and raised in Chicago, Hamilton graduated from the Goodman School of Drama, being the sole Black actor among her peers. She soon gained experience performing with a South Side theater company, per The Hollywood Reporter, and translated that burgeoning skillset to Broadway for four plays from the late ’50s to early ’60s. Her experience on stage included productions of Shakespeare’s works and a world tour of adaptations of The Miracle Worker and The Skin of Our Teeth as a member of President John F. Kennedy’s cultural exchange program. In 1966, she joined the Seattle Repertory Theatre.

Among her TV credits are episodes of Gunsmoke, The Bill Cosby Show, Hawaii Five-O, Ironside, The Young and the Restless, Starsky and Hutch, The Rockford Files, Roots: The Next Generations, Days of Our Lives, The Jesse Owens Story (TV movie), The Golden Girls, 227, Sunset Beach, Moesha, Port Charles, NYPD Blue, The Practice and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Her most significant arcs in television include her role as practical Nurse Donna Harris, Redd Foxx’s onscreen fiancée on NBC’s sitcom Sanford and Sun; Verdie Foster on CBS’ historical drama The Waltons and Vivian Potter on NBC sudser Generations. She also starred as ex-con Cissie Johnson on the early ’90s syndicated nighttime soap Dangerous Women. Hamilton also reprised her character from The Waltons for holiday-themed TV movies released in 1993 and 1997.

Hamilton was married to poet and playwright Frank S. Jenkins (Driving While Black in Beverly Hills) from 1964 until his death in 2014, and the two frequently collaborated together on various theater productions, including Nobody: The Bert Williams Story.

‘Y&R’ Reveals Its New Cane Ashby! Billy Flynn Talks the Surprise Recasting

For the actor, who has played Chad DiMera on Days of Our Lives since 2014 and will continue airing on the soap for months to come, switching shows wasn’t an easy choice. “There’s that old saying you never get the job you want by staying at the job you have, but it felt like a huge gamble,” he allows. “If it doesn’t work out here, then I have a family to provide for. So, my wife and I talked, and I made the decision to take the jump, and I’m really glad I did.”

Flynn reveals that he was in the dark about the new gig when he had his initial discussions with the show’s executive producer and head writer, Josh Griffith. “I didn’t really know what I was going to be doing at the time,” he shares. “Josh gave me the breakdown of character, and I was like, ‘Yeah, that sounds awesome. Let’s do that.’ And then it wasn’t until a little bit of time later that I was like, ‘Can you tell me more?’”

After discovering he would be Cane Ashby, the role Daniel Goddard [Henry Dalton, General Hospital] played from 2007-2019, Flynn began doing his research. “I started watching old stuff, but that was really hard because I’m not Daniel,” he points out. “So, I read Wikipedia pages and fan pages. I have 25 pages of Cane and Lily’s entire history printed out. I keep it in my bag. It starts with, ‘Lily Winters, who divorced Daniel Romalotti, and Cane Ashby, recently divorced from Amber Moore, first met in 2007, to an instant chemistry.’ So, it goes way back. I did that just to know what significant moments were, to know that Valentine’s Day is very significant for them. You’re a new person, and you’re going to be playing a different written version of that person, but I wanted to have that history.”

Flynn quickly recognized the inherent challenges of assuming the role. “Cane and Lily were already a big thing,” he notes. “So, I come in and not only do I have to have that [connection] with Christel [Khalil, Lily Winters] but I’m not Australian and I’m a bit younger. What Daniel did was amazing — he was great as Cane — and obviously, the relationship that Cane and Lily had is a testament to their work. Cane is a fascinating character. Essentially, we’re going to rebrand it a bit, so they have a closer age range, and I don’t have a sexy accent. I can’t replicate it, so I’m going to do my thing. When people see this Cane and the relationship that I have as Cane with Lily, I think they’ll be happy.”

But being a recast wasn’t Flynn’s only hurdle. “The hard part was the idea that I’m playing Aristotle Dumas, this refined businessman who Cane created,” he explains. “And ultimately, the conversation I had with Josh when I first found out about it was that it was like The Great Gatsby. Cane created Aristotle Dumas the way that James Gatz created Gatsby. Lily is Daisy. He created this world to prove to her that he’s good enough for her, and that is a beautiful story to me.

“There are a lot of things that are going to be different, but Lily is Cane’s one true love, and I know how to do that,” he continues. “And Christel makes it very easy. She’s incredible, she’s beautiful, she’s really talented, and she’s got a great personality. When we did our first scene, there was a chemistry that I was like, ‘OK, it’s gonna be good.’ That connection was there for me.”

Flynn was immediately impressed by his other new castmates, too. “Everybody here is amazing,” he raves. “You’re sitting in your room watching the monitor, and you’re watching Jason Thompson [Billy Abbott] and Michelle Stafford [Phyllis Summers] and Christel Khalil and all these people and they’re doing such good work, and it made me want to raise the bar. I think I needed that in my career and in my life, and I’ve been feeling like I’m trying to stretch a little bit. I played Chad for 11 years, and now I come in and I’m playing two different [characters].”

Leaving Days after over a decade of playing Chad was a bittersweet experience, Flynn reports. “It was pretty emotional,” he says. “The Friday before my last day was my goodbye scene with Susan Hayes [Julie Williams] and Chad’s kids. My last scene as Chad on camera, I was super emotional, especially with the kids, because I’ve known them since they were so little, and now having kids of my own, I felt a good bond to them and to Susan. Then my last day was with Greg Rikaart [Leo Stark; Kevin Fisher, Y&R], and it was nice to go out with Greg. It was like a passing of the torch since he came from [Y&R]. Eleven years there, and I changed a lot as a human being during that time. I built trust there, and they trusted me to play that part and do the work.”

He will carry many fond memories of his time in Salem, both personal and professional. “Other than being employed, if I had not gotten that job, it might not have led to some of the things that happened,” Flynn reflects. “But because it did, I became who I am now, and I met my wife, Gina [Comparetto]. We started dating when I found out I got Days of Our Lives, and the fact that I was going to have a paycheck gave me the courage and the ability to even say, ‘Will you go out with me?’ because I could afford to take her out.

“And the Chad and Abby relationship was really special to me, as were my relationships with Kate [Mansi, ex-Abigail Deveraux; Kristina Corinthos, General Hospital] and Marci [Miller, ex-Abigail],” he shares. “I spent probably the most transformative years of my life there, and then the fact that I’ve done the work over the years that even put me in a position for Josh [Griffith] to go, ‘Let me call Billy,’ makes me feel really proud and happy.”

Now, his focus is fully on Genoa City. “I’m still figuring out who this version of the characters I’m playing are,” he says. “It’s the introduction phase. I didn’t originate Chad, obviously, and I forgot what that’s like, and how much work that is, but I’m great. I love everybody here. People couldn’t be kinder to me, and everybody has done everything they can to make me feel as at home as I can be.”

Billy Flynn Confirms He’s Playing Aristotle Dumas on ‘The Young and the Restless’

News broke in March that the actor, 40, was leaving Days of Our Lives after a decade as Chad DiMera to join Y&R.

“There’s a lot of moving parts that were involved,” Flynn tells Us. “It was a whirlwind of emotions — mainly excitement, but there was fear involved. I was leaving something that was very comfortable and seemingly secure. It’s never really in this industry, but it felt like a gamble. I have a wife and two kids. But at the same time, it felt like something I needed in my life. It felt like a serendipitous thing, the way the universe put all these different pieces together for it to align where the opportunity came when it did, and how it did.”

“Before I started, I was nervous to work with all these people. I was comfortable where I was and I had earned trust and in the people who knew what I could do,” he continues. “[But] everybody here was so great. I remember watching the monitor the first day, and was so impressed by everybody’s talent that I started to get really nervous [again].”

Flynn adds that the fact that there has been so much hype surrounding Aristotle Dumas — the soap has been mentioning the character as a mysterious business tycoon for months, but he has yet to appear on screen — makes it even more “nerve-wracking.”

Flynn also teases that there’s more to the story, comparing his character to “the person behind the Great Gatsby.” (Fans can come back after his debut on Friday, June 20, for more from Flynn on that tease.)

“It’s been a dream come true,” he concludes of joining Y&R. “I’m really grateful to Josh [Griffith] and all the people involved who made that decision and trusted me to come over and see me in this part that on paper, I don’t know if it was me or not, but time will tell.”

Fallen Giant Films Prepping Doc On Late Soap Star Kristoff St. John

Directed by Bobby Razak, Kristoff will chronicle St. John’s journey from child actor to his groundbreaking role as Neil Winters on The Young and the Restless — one of the most enduring Black characters on television — while offering a raw and intimate portrait of the man behind the screen. The documentary will delve deeply into his struggles with mental health, personal loss, and his enduring impact on television and the Black entertainment community.

St. John earned two Daytime Emmys and 10 NAACP Image Awards for his role on The Young and the Restless, which he played from 1991 until he passed in February 2019. He garnered two Daytime Emmy nominations for his role on NBC’s soap Generations and is also known for starring in ABC’s miniseries Roots: The Next Generations.

Kristoff is a personal project for Goodwin, who was not only close friends but also roommates with St. John, and told us, “Kristoff was more than just an incredibly talented actor. He was one of my closest friends, my brother. This documentary is both a heartfelt tribute and a truthful exploration of the amazing, complex person he was. With Bobby Razak directing, we’re confident this story will be portrayed with the emotional honesty and artistic vision Kristoff deserves.”

Kristoff’s ex-wife, Mia St. John, a five-time boxing champion and mother of two of his three children —including their son Julian, who tragically passed away — is also a key partner in the project. Pic is slated for release early next year. In addition to the documentary, a scripted biopic about St. John’s life is currently in development.

Past films from Razak include Mask on TapouT apparel’s Charles Lewis; Fallen Soldier, on middleweight champ Gerald McClellan; and Mexican Fighter, which examined the historical impact of Mexican fighters in mixed martial arts.

On the producing front, Goodwin’s credits include Look Like Somebody: The Ricky C. Simmons Story, The Job, The Call, and The Holy Man. As an actor, his recent credits include the likes of Star Trek: Picard, All American: Homecoming, Dynasty, and NCIS. He’s repped by Global Artists Agency and Rugolo Entertainment.

‘Celebrity Family Feud’ Announces Star-Studded Season 11 Lineup & Premiere Date

Celebrity Family Feud will premiere on Thursday, July 10 at 8pm EDT on ABC. It will stream the next day on Hulu. Steve Harvey will be back to host. He also hosts the regular version of the game show.

The celebrity contestants will answer survey-type questions that were posed to 100 people. The lineup includes:

The Housemaid (releasing on December 25, 2025) vs. The Real Housewives franchise
The Housemaid: Paul Feig, Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, and Sarah Cooper
The Real Housewives franchise: Cynthia Bailey, Dorinda Medley, Eva Marcille, Melissa Gorga, and Alexia Nepola
Martina McBride vs. Patricia Arquette
Jennifer Hudson vs. Taraji P. Henson
Leanne Morgan vs. Lainey Wilson
Laverne Cox vs. Diplo
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders vs. The Harlem Globetrotters
Lil Jon vs. Matt Rife
Rich Eisen vs. Dan Patrick
General Hospital vs. The Young and the Restless
(General Hospital: Finola Hughes, Donnell Turner, Rena Sofer, Tanisha Harper, and Maurice Benard)
(The Young and the Restless: Joshua Morrow, Michelle Stafford, Lauralee Bell, Melissa Claire Egan, and Bryton James)
Stephen Nedoroscik vs. Jordan Chiles
Lil Rel Howery vs. George Wallace
NFLPA Defense vs. NFLPA Offense
NFLPA Defense: Booger McFarland, Sam Barrington, Bart Scott, Tyrone Poole, and Jevon Kearse
NFLPA Offense: Jerome Bettis, Marshall Faulk, Devin Hester, Ronnie Brown, and LeSean McCoy
Celebrity chefs Carla Hall vs. Bobby Flay
Jason Ritter vs. Andy Richter
Fantasia Barrino vs. Patti LaBelle
Vanessa Bayer vs. Bridget Everett
Francia Raisa vs. Kat Graham
Kandi Burruss-Tucker vs. Kyle Richards
Michelle Buteau vs. Normani

Eva LaRue Stalking Documentary Gets Paramount+ Greenlight

The project, currently in production from Forte Entertainment and See it Now Studios, features in-depth interviews with the CSI: Miami alum and will premiere later this year on Paramount+.

In the documentary, LaRue reveals the emotional toll, the terrifying encounters, and the strength it took to protect her family and survive.

“Eva’s extraordinary talent as an actress is matched only by her remarkable courage. After a relentless 12-year ordeal that put both her and her daughter in life-threatening danger, she has chosen to confront the unimaginable with strength, and offers hope for those living in the shadow of fear,” said Executive Producer Susan Zirinsky, President of See it Now Studios. “We’re honored to help tell her story — a journey so harrowing and chilling that it’s impossible to imagine it’s not straight from a script page of a crime thriller.”

My Nightmare Stalker: The Eva LaRue Story is produced by Forte Entertainment for See It Now Studios. Andrea Gabourie, Mitchell Gabourie, and LaRue executive produce for Forte Entertainment. Stephen Scott directs, Sarah Sharkey Pearce is Writer/Producer and Kim Creelman is supervising producer. For See It Now Studios, Susan Zirinsky and Terence Wrong are executive producers and Aysu Saliba and Cara Tortora are supervising producers.

“This documentary shares a deeply painful time in my and my daughter’s life—an experience shared by nearly 13.5 million stalking victims each year,” said LaRue. “Stalking is a global crisis, often involving violence and lasting psychological trauma. Yet many victims are denied justice due to weak laws, limited awareness, and the challenge of proving these crimes. I hope my story raises awareness and helps drive meaningful change in how authorities protect victims and pursue justice.”

Set Decorators Society Of America TV Awards Nominations

The international organization will vote on the nominations from July 11-18 and reveal the winners on August 10. Its Lifetime Achievement and other meritorious award recipients will be named later.

BEYOND THE GATES - CBS
Set Decoration by Cynthia Slagter SDSA
with Production Design by Bruton Jones

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL - CBS
Set Decoration by Charlotte Garnell SDSA, Jerie Kelter SDSA & Chelsea Mondelli SDSA
with Production Design by Jack Forrestel

DAYS OF OUR LIVES - Peacock
Set Decoration by Adele Caine
with Production Design by Tom Early SDSA

GENERAL HOSPITAL - ABC
Set Decoration by Jennifer Elliot SDSA
with Production Design by Andrew Evashchen

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS - CBS
Set Decoration by Jennifer Haybach SDSA, Justine Mercado SDSA, Maria Dirolf & Monica Lowe
with Production Design by David Hoffmann

‘Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence’: Cult Classic Reborn With David Koechner, Eric Roberts, Dan Bakkedahl, John Astin & More

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is alive again with a fifth movie, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence, from filmmaker David Ferino.

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence is billed as “pitting the eternal power of nature against AI’s best and brightest.”

The original movie was released in 1978. Made for $100,000, it was produced by J. Stephen Peace and John DeBello. DeBello directed the pic based on an original idea by Costa Dillon in a story about mutated killer tomatoes that torment the globe as a group of scientists try to fend them off.

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence features a string of comedy stars and thespians including David Koechner (Anchorman franchise) as the U.S. president’s Press Secretary; and John Astin (Gomez from the original Addams Family and European Vacation) reprising his role from previous AOTKT movies, as well as the Fox animated series, of Professor Nicholas Mortimer Gangreen. There’s also Veep‘s Dan Bakkedahl as the ubiquitous Wilbur Finletter, Daniel Roebuck (The Munsters, The Fugitive) as the admiral burdened by 50 years of burying the truth, Catherine Corcoran (Terrifier, Return to Nuke ’Em High) as the rampage’s first victim, Paul Bates (Coming to America) as a loopy “disguise expert,” and Vernee Watson (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) as a tech specialist whose down-home instincts anchor the team of “Tomato Guardians.”

There’s also Runaway Train Oscar nominee Eric Roberts joining in along with Myrna Velasca (Star Wars: Resistance) and Noor Razooky (The Old Man). Zachary Roozen (Romeo and Juliet Killers, Bring the Law) stars as Chad, first portrayed by Anthony Starke who played opposite George Clooney in Return of the Killer Tomatoes.

Also starring is Samantha Bailey (The Listening) as Kate Patel, “genius” CEO of VegIntel and inventor of “MyTomato” – the “O.I.” solution to all the fears that AI can’t fix, as well as Joshua Poon (Bad Boys, Your Place or Mine) who ensures that the world experiences every slimy moment as The Influencer.

Ferino (Wardcliffe, Nocturnally Yours) was tapped to direct by EPs and scribes Dillon and Peace.

The Attack of the Tomatoes franchise spawned three sequels (Return of the Killer Tomatoes, Killer Tomatoes Strike Back and Killer Tomatoes Eat France) along with the Fox Network’s Attack of the Killer Tomatoes animated TV series in the early 1990s.

W. Finletter Films and Killer Tomatoes Entertainment partnered with Atomic Toybox Entertainment (Michael Polis) and IVC/Olas Media (Chad Peace, Juan Hernandez and Anthony Aslofi) to oversee production with Polis and Roger M. Mayer producing.

Anchor Bay Entertainment is handling distribution, building on the cult and genre cinema buzz off its Abruptio, the all-puppet horror feature starring Jordan Peele and Sid Haig.

For Attack, there are plans for a limited theatrical release timed to this Halloween.

“This time, they’re not just back. They’re organically intelligent,” said Dillon.

“We’re proud to be bringing back a franchise with this much cultural DNA,” said Thomas Zambeck, CEO of Anchor Bay. “Organic Intelligence is fresh, funny, weird, and self-aware — just the kind of beautifully chaotic project that fits our mission. Killer Tomatoes are ripe for reinvention.”

Talk about a commitment to shoot movies in California: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence was shot in Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego.

The Bold and the Beautiful's Don Diamont Lets Loose on Taking Down Victor Newman and That Tiny Red Speedo

While speaking exclusively with PEOPLE at his 40th anniversary celebration, the actor, 62, reflected on his legacy as both Brad Carlton on Y&R and Bill Spencer Jr. on B&B.

One of Diamont's most memorable moments includes a shot of him hanging poolside wearing his infamous red Speedo on Young and the Restless — a moment he never thought would go down in soap opera history.

"Little did I know at the time that that Speedo was just going to take on a life of its own and really become something that fans will still talk about today," he laughed as he recalled back to the scene.

"In fact, I was doing Andy Cohen's radio show, [I] walk into the booth. What is the first thing he brings up?" he continued. "He was a huge Y&R watcher and the first thing he brings up is, 'When I saw Brad walk out on that Speedo, I'm like, this is the show for me.'"

At the time, he was making an appearance to discuss his latest book when the conversation quickly veered into speedo talk.

"I mean, it was hysterical," he added. "We're talking about a book that I've written and what does he want to get right to? The red Speedo."

Diamont first joined Y&R in 1985 before he left the show in 1996. He eventually returned two years later and remained on the cast until he was killed off in early 2009. Shortly after, CBS announced that the actor would be joining B&B as Bill Spencer Jr. the same year.

When asked who he thought would win in a corporate battle between Bill or Y&R's Victor Newman, Diamont replied, "Oh, Bill would beat him like a drum."

"There's nobody that Bill would be in fear of or feel that he couldn't vanquish in a corporate battle," he added.

On May 21, Diamont celebrated his 40th anniversary at CBS in a private event attended by his former costars, friends and family. In a post shared to Instagram, the actor marked the occasion alongside a series of photos from the celebration.

"Hard to express the depth of my gratitude for the last 40 years of my career in general, and for the beautiful event a few days ago celebrating my 40th Anniversary on CBS specifically," he began in the caption. "The sentiments expressed by ALL touched my soul, and I was blessed to have my family in attendance."

After thanking his costars and other loved ones, Diamont extended a note of gratitude to the fans who have supported him for the past four decades.

"It’s been quite a ride between @youngandrestlesscbs and @boldandbeautifulcbs, and we’re not done yet!" he concluded.

Shanna Moakler Reveals New Update About Greg Vaughan Relationship

In the weeks since they went public with their relationship, Moakler and Vaughan have mostly kept their romance off social media, but the former Miss USA had to give the Days of Our Lives star a special shoutout on May 27. She shared a new photo of the actor and penned a sweet message about her love.

“At the airport, not in his car, at the gate, shows up, and reminds me… good men do exist everyday,” she wrote on her Instagram Story. Moakler snapped a photo of Vaughan outside rocking a cowboy hat. The actor recently attended the graduation of his son, Jathan Vaughan. Moakler sweetly sent her congratulations to Vaughan’s son in the comments of her boyfriend’s post.

Moakler and Vaughan have known each other since 1997, when they met on the set of Poison Ivy: The New Seduction. They were first romantically linked in April 2024 after being spotted out at a party in Los Angeles.

In her 50th birthday post, Moakler wrote that Vaughan “loves me like no other.” Vaughan responded, “The human heart has potential for deep contentment, joy, and confidence… some stories don’t fade with time… they wait for the right moment to be found again.”

When Moakler shared a photo with Vaughan back in April 2025, a fan asked, “Is this the guy that you said on Jeff Lewis you knew from 20 yrs ago but now your lives were finally lining up?” Moakler directly responded “yes” with a heart emoji.

Moakler was previously married to Travis Barker from 2004 to 2008. They have two children, Alabama and Landon Barker. Moakler also shares Atiana De La Hoya with Oscar De La Hoya. Vaughan shares three kids with his ex-wife Touriya Haoud.

Wilson Bethel, Keith Carradine & Jackson Kelly Cast In Apple’s ‘Imperfect Women’

Based on Araminta Hall’s novel, Imperfect Women is an unconventional, psychological thriller examining a crime that shatters the decades-long friendship of three women. The series is a mystery complicated by perspective that explores guilt and retribution, love and betrayal, and the compromises we make that alter our lives irrevocably. As the investigation unravels, so does the truth about how even the closest relationships can change over time.

The core trio will be played by Moss, Washington, and Kate Mara. Joel Kinnaman and Corey Stoll also have series regular roles. In addition to Bethel, Carradine, and Kelly, Rome Flynn, Ana Ortiz, and Sherri Saum will also recur.

Bethal will play Scott, Carradine will play RL Hennessy, and Kelly will play Marcus.

The new series will be adapted for TV, written, and executive produced by Annie Weisman, in her latest collaboration with Apple TV+ following the dramedy Physical. Imperfect Women will be produced for Apple TV+ by 20th Television and Apple Studios.

Imperfect Women is executive produced by Moss and Lindsey McManus via their production company Love & Squalor Pictures, who optioned the book. Washington will executive produce for Simpson Street alongside Pilar Savone. Lesli Linka Glatter will direct the pilot and executive produce. Kay Oyegun will also write and executive produce under her overall deal with 20th Television. Author Araminta Hall will also serve as an executive producer.

Carradine is repped by Innovative Artists and Management Production Entertainment.

‘General Hospital’ First Look: Rory Gibson Talks Taking Over as Michael Corinthos

Gibson reports that his path to the ABC soap was a protracted process. “I originally sent in a tape for Vaughn [Bryce Durfee],” he reveals. “I came in and did a chemistry read with Eden [McCoy, Josslyn Jacks], then I had a nice little chat with Frank [Valentini, executive producer] afterwards, and I could kind of see the wheels turning as we were talking.”

Sure enough, Gibson got a callback a few days later, but for a different role. “It was super, super top secret,” he relays. “I came in and screen-tested for that with Kate Mansi [Kristina Corinthos] and Katey MacMullen [Willow Tait], and it went well. They were super warm and welcoming. A couple weeks went by, and they brought me in for another screen test with Steve Burton [Jason Morgan] and Laura Wright [Carly Spencer]. About a week after that, they locked me in, and it’s been a nice little journey ever since.”

(Photo) While Port Charles was unfamiliar territory for him, the soap itself wasn’t. “My family watched General Hospital religiously when I was growing up,” Gibson explains. ‘My grandma and my mom were diehard fans, which made it kind of a trip when I came in for the screen test, especially with Steve, because I just remember seeing Steve’s face when I was a little kid on my mom’s television.”

So, when Gibson secured the job, his relatives were understandably ecstatic. “I called my grandma first, and she was just shouting, hollering, screaming,” he reports. “Right when I got off the phone, I could just hear her yell out to my uncle in the background, ‘He’s Michael Corinthos!’ So, they were very, very excited.”

Before he reported to work, Gibson familiarized himself with Michael’s complicated past and family connections but didn’t delve too deep into the archives. “You don’t want to necessarily copy anything that anyone’s done before, and I know Chad really owned this role and he did incredible, incredible work, so I tried to stay away from watching too many old episodes and was more looking things up online,” Gibson notes. “And then the show sent me a huge summary of who he was, so that was extremely helpful. Outside of that, it was honestly just endless phone calls with my friend, Jenna, who is a diehard fan, just asking her everything about the character that she could possibly think of. So, I got a pretty in-depth summary of who Michael was and where he might be in his life right now, considering all the traumatic things that led up to the point of me getting there.’

(Photo) As for where Michael is upon his return to town, Gibson offers, “He is at a huge crossroads in his life. He has a thirst for vengeance and justice because it’s no secret what Drew [Quartermaine, Cameron Mathison] put him through. I think he’s at a place where he so badly wants to have a calm and peaceful life, especially after everything he’s gone through, but I don’t necessarily see that happening for him.”

Gibson says his first day went smoothly, and the cast and crew have helped him find his way in the role. “When I first came on, our casting director Mark Teschner, who is a gem of a man, really took me under his wing and showed me around and introduced me to people and made sure that I was comfortable and had everything that I needed,” he shares. “As far as the cast, Katey MacMullen and Sofia Mattsson [Sasha Gilmore] have both been unbelievably kind. They’re two of the sweetest, loveliest people anyone would ever have the joy of meeting, and they’ve really shown me the ropes.”

He has also enjoyed getting to know his other costars. ‘It’s been pretty incredible,” Gibson raves. “Maurice [Benard, Sonny Corinthos] plays such an intense, intimidating guy on the show, and then behind the scenes, he’s such a jokester and so lighthearted and fun and easy to be around. Same goes for Steve [Burton] and Laura [Wright]. I cannot speak highly enough of how unbelievably great this cast is. Everyone’s so lovely; we’re exchanging numbers already and talking about like going on little hangs. It’s been a wonderful time.”

The only bump in the road so far has been a social media entry that drew unintended attention. Gibson admits he was surprised when he posted what he thought was an innocuous photo from his dressing room that led eagle-eyed fans to figure out he had been cast on the soap. “You see a brown door and a blank wall,” he muses. “And then I started getting flooded with DMs of, ‘You’re at GH! You’re at GH,’ and I was like, ‘What is going on? How do all these people know?’ I had a brief second of being like, ‘Oh, gosh, I hope I’m not in trouble. I thought this was pretty low-key.’ So since then, I made sure not to post anything.”

While speculation that he was the show’s new Michael played out online, Gibson kept things under wraps. “When you’re jumping in as a recast, especially filling in for someone who’s done it for so long and did such a great job, it can be kind of an intimidating thing to do,” he concedes. “It’s not my first time doing it because I jumped into Noah over at Y&R after Robert [Adamson, who also filled in as Michael on GH] had played it for quite a while, too. So, it’s been a really nice kind of quiet reception. Everyone has been really cool thus far.”

(Photo) Looking back on his time in Genoa City, Gibson feels nothing but gratitude. “Oh, I loved it, I really did,” he raves. “Everyone became like family. I still spend quite a lot of time with a lot of my cast members over there. Josh Morrow [Nick Newman, Y&R], his son Crew [Morrow, Will Spencer, The Bold and the Beautiful], and I go to a movie, like, once a month. He feels like a second dad for me. We’ve become very, very close. And then Cait Fairbanks [Tessa Porter] is one of my best friends in the world. We hang all the time, so I love everyone over there. I had a wonderful time, but I am very excited for this change of scenery and change of pace.”

With his first episode about to air, Gibson is excited for what’s next. “I loved playing Noah, but I do feel a really strong connection to this character of Michael,” he concludes. “I feel like he has a lot more at stake and with the storylines that he’s woven into; there’s so much suspense and so much consequence behind all of them. It’s terribly, terribly exciting to play and challenging to play, so I’m feeling very fulfilled in this new role. It’s been very intense, but I’m loving every second of it.”

Corbin Bernsen To Star In Thriller ‘Laura Louise’ From Duane Edwards

Laura Louise follows Edward Brannock (Bernsen), a retired postal worker thrust into the center of a reopened missing person’s case. When new evidence surfaces decades after a teenage girl vanished, Brannock faces intense scrutiny, forcing him to confront long-buried family secrets he’s desperate to keep hidden.

Pic is based on an original screenplay by Frederick Mensch (HBO’s Nightingale), who previously collaborated with Edwards on the 2024 drama Wrong Numbers, starring Emily Hall and David Kelsey. Edwards will produce for The King Productions, alongside co-producers Phil Lee and Darryl Manuel. Aaron Schoonover cast the picture, which shoots in Chicago this fall.

A two-time Emmy and Golden Globe nominee, Bernsen can currently be seen starring opposite Jon Hamm in Apple’s Your Friends and Neighbors, and in the Max series Duster from J. J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan. He is represented by Paradigm and Randy James Management.

Kim Kardashian-Paula Pell Netflix Comedy ‘The Fifth Wheel’ Taps Eva Longoria To Direct; Gloria Sanchez To Produce

Kardashian is on board to star from a script by Pell and Janine Brito. Both Kardashian and Pell are producing along with Jessica Elbaum and Will Ferrell through their Gloria Sanchez banner as well as Cris Abrego and Longoria’s Hyphenate Media Group.

While plot details are being kept under wraps, insiders say Kardashian will play the eponymous “fifth wheel” alongside a female ensemble cast.

The project has been a priority ever since the streamer landed the package over Thanksgiving weekend in 2023 following a competitive auction. To no one’s surprise given Pell’s track record, the script has been described as one of the funnier in some time by a number of buyers who were involved in the auction.

That stamp of approval was legitimatized with Gloria Sanchez boarding the project. The production company has built a resume of not only popular, hit comedies like Booksmart and Theater Camp but also films led by strong female talent both in front and behind the camera.

Once Gloria Sanchez jumped in, the next step was finding a director and it soon became important to all parties to find a female director to help tell the story. After several meetings, execs and producers landed on Longoria as the right fit following her major studio directing debut Flamin’ Hot. The Searchlight biopic blew away the town after it premiered at SXSW 2023, where it won the audience award and earned praise specifically pointed at Longoria for her directing skills.

While that film leaned more on the dramatic end, Flamin’ Hot showcased plenty of laughs and heart and became a big selling point for this pic.

As for Kardashian, this isn’t her only acting job in the coming months as the trailer for her upcoming Hulu series All’s Fair dropped to a big reaction last week.

Longoria is repped by WME, Linden Entertainment and Yorn Levine. Kardashian, Pell and Brito are also all repped by WME. Kardashian is also repped by Cooley LLP, and Pell is also repped by Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller & Gellman, LLP. Brito is also repped by Cohen & Gardner.

‘S.W.A.T.’ Spinoff Planned By Sony With Shemar Moore Set To Reprise His Role As Hondo

And now we know why he wasn’t repeating things like “we ain’t done chasing bad guys and blowing up stuff” like he did after CBS canceled his show a second time: he’s not saying goodbye to Hondo, after all.

Sony Pictures Television is spinning off the cop drama for a new show dubbed S.W.A.T. Exiles. Moore will reprise his character as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson while the 200-person production crew that helped to make S.W.A.T. a success for CBS will get to keep their jobs when production resumes this summer in Los Angeles.

Jason Ning (Lucifer) will take over as showrunner as part of his recently renewed overall deal with SPT. The plan for the studio is to produce and distribute the 10-episode series globally by “finding the right homes and partners for these new stories to reach the passionate S.W.A.T. fanbase and attract new viewers.”

Additional executive producers include Moore, Neal H. Moritz and Pavun Shetty of Original Film and James Scura.

Here’s the logline for the spinoff: “After a high-profile mission goes sideways, Hondo is pulled out of forced retirement to lead a last-chance experimental SWAT unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits. Hondo must bridge a generational divide, navigate clashing personalities, and turn a squad of outsiders into a team capable of protecting the city and saving the program that made him who he is.”

“My eight seasons on S.W.A.T. have been epic and memorable,” Moore said in a statement. “We entertained the world, defied the odds, came back from the dead twice, and continued to woo fans and families worldwide. I am excited for this next generation and iteration of S.W.A.T. with Sony.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring the next chapter of S.W.A.T. to life — both for our incredibly dedicated fans of the original franchise and for a new generation of viewers,” added Katherine Pope, SPT Studios President. “We’re grateful to our incredible partners Neal H. Moritz, Pavun Shetty, Jason Ning and Shemar Moore for embarking on this journey with us. This team’s commitment to the global fanbase, to our beloved crew and to our city runs deep!”

S.W.A.T. wrapped eight seasons on CBS May 16 with Hondo and his 20 Squad responding to a robbery in progress. They all affectionately tapped the S.W.A.T. symbol on their way out of headquarters.

During the past two years, Sony was able to propose financial terms that were appealing to CBS, sealing eleventh-hour pickups for the drama from Shawn Ryan and Aaron Rahsaan Thomas. This time, however, CBS did not engage in renewal talks, opting instead to end the long-running series to make may for new Paramount-owned shows like Sheriff Country.

General Hospital Star Steve Burton Marries Michelle Lundstrom in 'Romantic' Laguna Beach Wedding: All the Details

The actor, 54, married chef and content creator Michelle Lundstrom, 44, on Saturday, May 17 in an intimate Orthodox church ceremony, followed by a reception at Montage Laguna Beach in Laguna Beach, California. The pair's church ceremony was immediate family-only, while their ultra-exclusive oceanfront reception was attended by 45 guests from their inner circle, including a few of the groom's friends from General Hospital.

"This day isn’t just about a ceremony," Burton tells PEOPLE. "It’s the beginning of forever with the love of my life."

Lundstrom, who appeared on Netflix's Barbecue Showdown 2, wore a custom, strapless couture gown designed by Lee Petra Grebenau for her big day. "It was exactly what I had wanted, romantic with a vintage vibe," the bride says. Her daughters from a previous relationship, 14-year-old Lilah and 10-year-old Hannah, joined her in her search for the perfect wedding dress.

"When I tried on my dress I knew it was the one," she recalls. "I came out to show my girls and they both said, 'That’s the one, Mom!' We all knew."

"It was beyond special," continues Lundstrom, whose hair and makeup were done by longtime friends Anzhela and Luiza Adzhiyan, respectively, who work on General Hospital.

Lilah and Hannah joined Burton's three children — daughters Makena, 21, and Brooklyn, 10, and son Jack, 19 — in the wedding party. General Hospital stars Jonathan Jackson and wife Lisa Vultaggio were also in the wedding party.

"The girls were so excited to wear matching dresses," Lundstrom says, with Burton adding that it "meant the world" to him to have Jack as one of his groomsmen.

The bride's sister, Janine, served as her maid of honor. Meanwhile, Burton's best friend, Jeremy Ross, was his best man.

Because Burton and Lundstrom "connected" over '80s music and movies after meeting on social media, they requested that their pianist play '80s romance songs during cocktail hour, and that their DJ, On the Go DJ Pro, do the same during reception.

The duo selected a more modern, though just as heartfelt, track for their first dance song — "I Choose You" by Forest Blakk.

The couple's "dream-like celebration filled with so much love," joined by those "who have always been there" for them, was "more meaningful than words can express."

"I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend, growing together each day in faith and love," Burton says, with Lundstrom adding that marriage "means everything" to them.

Tying the knot with Burton was an especially emotional moment for Lundstrom, who has "never felt so safe and loved" by someone.

"Gosh, he's proven that fairy tale love truly exists," she tells PEOPLE. "He's like pure sunshine — always uplifting, endlessly caring. His love makes me a better person every single day."

She continues, "To have the most incredible man I've ever known by my side forever brings me so much peace and happiness. He is the love of my life, and I feel so blessed to call him mine."

"Honestly, I've never felt so loved and cared for in my entire life," he admits. "I'm incredibly grateful to have her by my side. She is the most amazing, beautiful, and selfless woman I've ever known. I love her so much."

The master chefs at Montage "blew away" Burton and Lundstrom with "incredible" culinary creations. The Days of Our Lives alum especially enjoyed the savory beef tenderloin. However, Burton wanted something less luxurious for his wedding cake, requesting the dessert "to taste as close to a classic grocery store sheet cake as possible." However, he ultimately expanded his palate, compromising on a vanilla sponge cake with vanilla cream and fresh berries.

The following day, the newlyweds hosted a Sunday brunch "to celebrate once more before everyone headed home."

The nuptials took place just four months after the couple got engaged. Lundstrom admits that planning a wedding so soon alongside The Ashlyn Company was "fun and a little crazy."

Burton let Lundstrom "make most of the decisions," but had "a way of keeping everything stress free."

Burton announced his separation from his wife of 23 years Sheree Burton in May 2022. At the time, it was revealed that his ex was expecting a baby, and Burton released a statement explaining that the child was not his. Their divorce was finalized in December 2023.

Five months later in May 2024, PEOPLE confirmed that Burton was in a relationship with Lundstrom. The following month, Burton brought Lundstrom as his date to the Daytime Emmy Awards.

"Although we had been friends for a while and lived in different states, there was always an undeniable, electric connection between us," Burton says. "She is a breath of fresh air."

Lundstrom notes that she and Burton "built a deep, meaningful friendship before [their] relationship turned romantic." It didn't take long, however, for them to realize that they were each other's perfect match, with the soap opera star popping the question on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee.

"I found a beautiful farm that had a cool stage with string lights and a small romantic chapel. I told Michelle we were going to look at a piece of property to possibly buy," Burton remembers. "The plan unfolded perfectly and she said yes!"

"It was incredibly sweet," Lundstrom says of the proposal. "He had a backdrop of the first place we met in person set up on the stage. When he got down on one knee, I was filled with emotion and a bit in shock. But, of course, I said yes! He then led me into the chapel, where rose petals, candles, and our photos surrounded us. We slow danced to our favorite songs as I cried happy tears. He's very romantic. Afterward, we joined our kids and closest friends for an intimate dinner to celebrate."

‘Beyond the Gates’ is renewed as veteran Black soap actors cheer its success

On Monday, the first soap to feature a majority Black cast was renewed for a second season. Its creation was both a savvy business move and an acknowledgment of Black viewers’ passion for the genre as broadcast ratings have declined.

George Cheeks, the CBS chief, told Vulture last year the show was born out of crunching numbers: “One of the things that the data made very clear is that daytime soap operas over index with Black women.”

“I think there’s kind of a renewed appreciation for the audiences that do still engage in broadcast programing, and a recognition that one of those audiences are Black women, and this was a way to serve that audience,” says Elana Levine, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee professor and author of “Her Stories: Daytime Soap Opera and US Television History.”

Victoria Rowell’s “Young and the Restless” character, Drucilla Barber Winters, was introduced in 1990 as “an illiterate thief,” she says. Rowell worked with co-creator and then-head writer, William J. Bell to give the character dimension.

Drucilla became a ballet dancer, like Rowell herself, a storyline that showed “it is possible to be in a lower socioeconomic environment and be aspirational.”

The feeling, Rowell explains is, “Oh my God, I can be a ballet dancer through Drucilla, a pull-up-by-the-bootstraps kind of chick that’s rough around the edges and that can learn how to read and write, perhaps, and meet a Neil Winters and get married and improve her life.”

Rowell says she always understood her role as “so much bigger” than an acting job. She recalls meeting with the then-editor of Soap Opera Digest to advocate for a cover featuring the Black cast members — and it ended up happening.

Rowell’s tenure with the show, though, has been up and down. She has only glowing things to say about Bell, who died in 2005. But she sued CBS and producers in 2015 after she says she pushed for the casting of more Black actors and wasn’t hired back on the soap as a result. They later settled. After “Beyond the Gates” was announced, Rowell says she received a letter from CBS acknowledging her place in the show’s DNA.

“I have been contacted with great respect from the powers that be at CBS, thanking me for all of my hard work, recognizing the work that I have done that has influenced this moment and I appreciate that,” she said.

She was “astounded” to be asked to audition for the matriarch role of Anita Dupree, but says she didn’t hear back after submitting her tape. The role went to Tamara Tunie, whom Rowell describes as “a brilliant actress.”

Darnell Williams was cast as teen Jesse Hubbard on ABC’s “All My Children” in 1981 to capitalize on younger fans who fell in love with Luke and Laura on “General Hospital.” His fan base exploded after Debbi Morgan was cast as Angie Baxter. Jesse and Angie are regarded as daytime’s first Black supercouple.

“Before that, we didn’t see Black love, and what message does that send? It said that it did not exist because it was not reflected,” said Sherri Williams, an assistant professor at American University who studies Black representation in media.

“I think about the first time we realized the impact we’d had on the audience, we had gone to a movie in Times Square one night, and after the movie, the lights had come back up and we heard this rumbling. We were looking around and all of a sudden we heard our names being chanted,” Williams said.

When he thinks about “Beyond the Gates,” Williams says he’s hopeful about the job opportunities the show can provide.

For years, Veronica Redd played Mamie Johnson — Drucilla’s aunt — on “The Young and the Restless.” When she tuned into the premiere of “Beyond the Gates,” what she saw got her attention, but what she heard blew her away.

“I was not prepared,” laughs Redd. It begins with a women driving a Mercedes-Benz through the gates of an exclusive country club. The Emotions’ “Best of My Love” is playing — something that told Redd the production value was top notch.

Daytime isn’t usually Redd’s favorite genre even though she acknowledges “it’s paid the bills for many decades.” “Beyond the Gates,” though, has earned a spot in Redd’s TV time.

If “Beyond the Gates” can open the doors to new conversation, that’s a good thing, says Kimberly McGhee, a Tennessee viewer.

McGhee appreciates how one of the main characters is a psychiatrist. Mental health can be viewed as taboo within the Black community and McGhee believes incorporating it into storylines could help beat the stigma.

The soap also addresses Black history: Clifton Davis plays the Dupree family patriarch, a civil rights activist whose advocacy efforts are often mentioned. Bringing in the civil rights generation is “pretty significant,” said Sherri Williams, but “not surprising” given the NAACP’s producing credit.

“The NAACP is a group that has been fighting for civil rights and for Black liberation for more than a century, and it’s also an organization that has been advocating for authentic images of Black people in television and film,” she explained.

Some have critiqued how the main cast primarily includes light-skinned Black actors, though.

“Now, of the people who auditioned, if they went with the best option, the best talent, totally understand that,” said Atlanta viewer Simone Umba. “But we can still have those talks in regards to colorism because that’s a recurring thing.”

“Black families have to have relatives of all shades, but we don’t see that in this nuclear family. This feels like a missed opportunity to truly be historic and represent Black people across the spectrum,” said Williams.

“Beyond the Gates” may have been created with a Black audience in mind, but a diverse one is tuning in.

Charlene Polite Corley, Nielsen’s vice president of diverse insights and partnerships, says 52% of the total audience is Black.

“It’s bringing folks along for this really unique story being told in a lot of ways for the first time. And so, yes, the Black audience is leading here, but there’s a whole lot of other kinds of folks who are tuning in, too,” she said.

A varied audience is “good for everyone,” says Elle Murasaki, a Black viewer from New Jersey who hosts weekly live chats on Instagram to discuss the show.

“There is this misconception that being for the culture is exclusive. That it’s Black-only and that we don’t want to include any other demographic into it,” she said. “While there is a majority Black cast telling this story, I think everybody can identify.”

“If you like a good storyline and if you like the genre of a soap opera and something that’s soapy and glitzy, then 100%, this is something that you should watch,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what color you are.”

CBS Is #1 In Daytime For 39 Seasons

CBS’ weekly winning streak started on Oct. 3, 1988 (Ronald Reagan was president and floppy discs were still a thing), and the “weekly consecutive streak” was only interrupted from July 22-29, 1996, during the Summer Olympics held in Atlanta and broadcast on NBC. Since then, the network has maintained the #1 spot for the 1,500 consecutive weeks—approximately 28 years and eight months.

CBS is home to the top three daytime shows – #1 THE PRICE IS RIGHT, #2 THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS and #3 THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL and the daytime audience averages 2.76m viewers (Most Current, Season-to-Date).

For 13 consecutive seasons (since 2012-13), these shows have ranked as the top daytime programs for 571 of 615 weeks.

THE PRICE IS RIGHT has been the #1 daytime program in 691 of the last 701 consecutive weeks and this season averages 3.95m viewers (Most Current, Season-to-Date).

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS has been the #1 daytime soap for more than 36 years and 1,878 consecutive weeks and this season averages 3.29m viewers (Most Current, Season-to-Date).

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL this season averages 2.79m viewers (Most Current, Season-to-Date).

LET’S MAKE A DEAL this season averages 2.21m viewers (Most Current, Season-to-Date).

BEYOND THE GATES, the newest addition to the winning CBS Daytime lineup, is up +48% in broadcast viewership from last year’s time period and this season averages 1.82m viewers (Most Current, Season-to-Date).

Streaming viewership of every CBS soap is up year-over-year and streaming gains result in double digit lifts over the broadcast-only audience.

‘The Young and the Restless’ Sets Special Standalone Episode Dedicated To Love & Romance

Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) and Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) celebrate their love story and share a hope their loved ones will one day have their own success with love.

Michael Baldwin (Christian J. LeBlanc) proves to Lauren Fenmore (Tracey E. Bregman) that nothing is more important than their relationship.

Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) surprises Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters) with a special gift to show his appreciation for her work on the Abbott manse renovation.

‘The Young & The Restless’ Says Farewell To Allison Lanier As Summer Newman

The actress announced via X that May 2 is her final episode as the daughter of Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) and Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow). There are no plans to recast the role.

Lanier joined the CBS sudser in May of 2022 as a replacement for Hunter King. Lanier’s previous credits include a recurring role as Annabelle in the third season of Red Oaks, as well as the indie films Fish Bones and Mia.

Last year, Lanier earned her first Daytime Emmy nomination for playing Summer, a role that was first introduced in 2006. A series of young actors played the part, including Samantha Bailey and Lindsay Bushman before King took over.

‘Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping’ Movie At Lionsgate Taps Mckenna Grace In Maysilee Donner Role

The film adaptation of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will be released on November 20, 2026. Francis Lawrence will direct from a screenplay adaptation by Billy Ray, based on the bestselling novel by Suzanne Collins. Color Force’s Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson will produce. Cameron MacConomy will executive produce. The five films in the franchise have taken in more than $3.3 billion at the global box office.

Meredith Wieck and Scott O’Brien are overseeing the project for Lionsgate. Robert Melnik negotiated the deals for the studio.

Like every part in this latest installment of the hit series, the role of Donner was highly sought as reps around town described it as the closest thing to the Katniss role that Jennifer Lawrence made famous in the previous films.

Published on March 18, Sunrise on the Reaping sold 1.5 million copies in its first week on sale in the U.S., UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The 1.2 million copies sold in the U.S. are twice the first-week sales of Collins’ first prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and three times the first-week sales of the third book in the original series, 2010’s Mockingjay.

Sunrise on the Reaping revisits the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.

In addition to her many other credits, Grace starred in the blockbusters Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. She is currently starring in the adaptation of the bestselling Colleen Hoover novel Regretting You for Paramount. Upcoming, she will also appear in the lead role of Blumhouse’s Kiss of Death as well as Blumhouse’s sequel to Five Nights at Freddy’s; Scream 7 with Neve Campbell and Courtney Cox; and as part of an all-star ensemble led by Diane Lane in Lionsgate’s Anniversary.

Grace is represented by CAA, Entertainment 360, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox.

‘Y&R’ Alum Daniel Goddard Joins ‘General Hospital’ as Mysterious Professor Henry Dalton

For the actor, who portrayed The Young and the Restless‘ Cane Ashby from 2007 to 2019 (and his twin, Caleb, in 2011), performing wasn’t necessarily on his radar at the time GH came his way. “I was not really thinking about going back to acting,” he reveals. “I had kind of come to terms with that life.”

But in December 2024, he received a call from his former manager, Michael Bruno, who wanted to submit him for a role on the ABC soap. “The funny is, about four or five days before he texted me, out of the blue, I had this really strong, cosmic kind of moment where something about General Hospital was really prominent in my mind,” Goddard shares. “It was really bizarre. It happened about a month before I met my wife in 1998. I said to myself, ‘I’m ready to meet the one I meant to be with,’ and I opened myself up to the acceptance of, ‘I want this in my life.'”

The role was the recast of Jack Brennan, previously played by Charles Mesure, and getting back in the game put Goddard in an emotional spot. “It’s the first audition I’ve had in many years, and it was a bizarre experience for me,” he admits. “You feel like, in a way, you’re going back to ground zero, back to the beginning of it all, even though you’ve been on a different soap opera for, like, 15 years. It was humbling, but it was more of an awakening, and in that moment, I felt extraordinarily vulnerable.”

Especially when he realized he wasn’t the only familiar name in the mix. “I was standing out in the hallway, and there were four or five other guys there, one of them was Daniel Cosgrove [Ezra Boyle, GH], and I was like, ‘Oh, wow. There’s a bunch of people here and there’s competition,’ so instantly I become fearful of the fact that I didn’t want to fail,” he explains. “So, I kind of felt this incredible pressure, and I walked in the room, and I saw Laura [Wright, Carly Spencer] and Frank [Valentini, executive producer], and the writers, and Mark [Teschner, casting director] and I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, this is real. This is really happening.'”

The role ultimately went to Chris McKenna, but GH wasn’t quite done with Goddard. “A few weeks later, Michael called me and he said, ‘General Hospital called, and they’ve got this character, and they’re writing it, and they want you to do it,'” Goddard reveals. “I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ I was just gobsmacked by it. It wasn’t a recast. It was a new character, and I was so blown away. I really felt like the timing was right, and I felt like it was meant to be. I can’t begin to express my gratitude to Frank and everyone at General Hospital and to Michael Bruno for really believing in me and being there.”

Goddard reported to work in mid-March as the enigmatic Professor Henry Dalton, who works at Port Charles University. “He teaches environmental physics, and it seems there are some things in his past that he’s done that have left him in a position of some form of investigation,” teases Goddard. “And from there, it’s an absolute mystery to me.”

And that’s how the actor prefers it. “I said to Frank, ‘Don’t tell me anything about the character,'” Goddard shares. “I know that the characters that I’ve had scenes with know something about him. I don’t want to know what it is because I don’t want to play it that I know. I’d rather have the character be sort of a clean slate to me. At Young and the Restless, I always used to read the whole script because other characters will talk about you, and you’ll get to know more about you than you know about yourself. At General Hospital, you only get your pages, and I thought, ‘Woody Allen would do that, where he doesn’t want everybody know what’s going on or what the twists and turns are.’ And I thought, ‘This is going to be cool.’ So, I’m allowing myself to go on the journey of who Dalton is from the audience’s perspective, and from my perspective of what is the growth and evolution of him. I will allow it to unfold as the bits and pieces present themselves to me.”

So far, Eden McCoy (Josslyn Jacks) and Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) are some of the actors who have shared scenes with the newcomer, and he has rave reviews for both. “What a blessing to have someone with Finola’s cachet, and her value and her experience and talent,” he praises. “It was just such a wonderful experience. I was like, ‘You know what I want? I want to have fun. Let’s just have some fun.’ And she said, ‘Oh, God, I would love that.’ So, we played these scenes, and they were great. I just love the moments with her. Same thing with Eden — I think she’s fantastic. With Josslyn, it’s professor and student, and a great push and pull there.”

Goddard has already encountered some familiar faces at the set and is looking forward to reconnecting with Genie Francis (Laura Collins) and Tristan Rogers (Robert Scorpio), who played Cane’s parents, Genevieve and Colin Atkinson, on Y&R. “I’ve been waiting for my moment to see Genie and give her a big hello and a big hug,” he says. “I haven’t seen Tristan. I’m not sure where Scorpio is at the moment, but I’ve seen Steve Burton [Jason Morgan, who played Y&R’s Dylan McAvoy], and we had a great chat. I saw Eva LaRue [Natalia Rogers-Ramirez, who played Y&R’s Celeste Rosales], and we had a bit of chat. Daytime is a family and until you’ve been in it, you don’t really understand how tight it is.”

That close-knit feeling among the cast and getting to act in general are some of the many reasons he’s thrilled to be back in the genre. “Here I am, feeling like I belong,” he reflects. “I feel like this is something that is not just meant to be; I feel like this completes something in me that’s been missing. When you act on a daily basis, like Young and Restless for all those years, there’s a part of you that becomes this entity that expresses themselves this way. When you stop doing it, there’s always that part of you that’s missing, and then you start again, and it’s kind of like you take all those things you learned in the past that has sat in your subconscious for all these years, and then you reapply it. And it’s better. You’ve had a chance to metabolize it all, and when you call back upon it, you have this different understanding of how that craft should be applied.”

Goddard looks back on his Y&R experience with fondness, but his relationship with the viewers he met through the job is especially meaningful to him today. “I forever will be grateful to the fans of daytime in general,” he notes. “It goes back to in 2010 when Cane was killed off and fans banded together, rented an airplane, and flew it over CBS with a banner saying, ‘Bring Daniel Goddard back as Cane.’ And I never realized, up until that moment, how the fans of daytime are truly the greatest fans in the world. They see you as the character because you’re in their lives on such a regular basis, and then as the years pass by, they get to know you as your real name. And then you form these relationships through social media and going to fan events, and it’s just a phenomenal fan base that was wonderful.”

One that he hopes follows him to Port Charles, where he is having a great time as Professor Dalton. “It’s been an extraordinary, wonderful experience so far,” Goddard enthuses. “I just got new scripts, and I have four episodes coming up in one week, which I’m so excited about. It makes me feel wanted, in the sense that everything that I’ve gone through in this process up until now is meant to be. I couldn’t be more grateful to be back in what I think is probably the most beloved genre in all of entertainment.”

Jai Rodriguez Brings His ‘Queer Eye’ to ‘The Young and the Restless’

Rodriguez will be playing Pietro, a party planner hired by the Newman family to throw a birthday party for the family’s matriarch Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott). Pietro is described as “a successful and sought-out party planner to the movers and shakers in Genoa City.” Rodriguez will have his job cut out for him in order to impress the great Victor Newman (Eric Braeden).

Discussing the role on his Instagram, Rodriguez commented, “Oh hey. Guess who’s heading to Genoa City? Me. Thrilled to join the cast of @youngandrestlesscbs for a few episodes as ‘Pietro,’ party planner to the stars. It’s been really fun working on this iconic show and it’s very welcoming cast. Can’t wait for y’all to get into this hilarious role.”

This is not Rodriguez’s first time on a soap opera. The reality TV icon has had the opportunity to star on four other daytime dramas over the years. His history with soaps began with All My Children in 1993, One Life to Live in 2005, Days of Our Lives in 2012, and The Bold and the Beautiful in 2016.

Rodriguez came to the entertainment world’s spotlight when he joined the original cast of Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. He was the group’s pop culture, relationship, and social interaction expert.

The original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy premiered in 2003 and ran for a total of 100 episodes over the course of five seasons before ultimately ending in 2007. The series won an Emmy for outstanding reality program in 2004.

Since his version of Queer Eye ended, Rodriguez has stayed busy with a variety of television roles, from acting on Malibu Country to being a guest judge on Drag Latina.

Rodriguez will appear in a total of four episodes of the daytime drama The Young and the Restless, with the first airing Wednesday, May 28.

The Young and the Restless airs weekdays at 12:30 p.m. EST on CBS, and streams daily on Paramount+.

‘Sugar’ Adds Shea Whigham, Raymond Lee & Sasha Calle To Season 2 Cast

Created by Mark Protosevich, Sugar is a contemporary, unique take on one of the most popular and significant genres in literary, motion picture, and television history: the private detective story. In addition to Farrell, the ensemble cast for the first season included Kirby, Amy Ryan, James Cromwell, Anna Gunn, Dennis Boutsikaris, Nate Corddry, Sydney Chandler, and Alex Hernandez.

Whigham is believed to be playing a government agency employee helping Sugar (Farrell) in his investigations. Calle is believed to be portraying a hustler working for Sugar.

Season 2 of Sugar is showrun by Sam Catlin, who also executive produces under his Short Drive Entertainment banner. Audrey Chon and Simon Kinberg executive produce for Genre Films under Kinberg’s first look deal with Apple TV+. Farrell, Scott Greenberg, Chip Vucelich, Christopher Rogers, and Gary Tieche also serve as executive producers. Claudine Farrell co-executive produces.

Whigham most recently starred in the Netflix limited series American Primeval and in Magnolia Pictures’ Lake George. He will next be reprising his role as Jasper Briggs in Mission: Impossible-The Final Reckoning and will also be seen in Netflix’s Death by Lighting and Paramount+’s series Unspeakable: The Murder of JonBenet Ramsey. Whigham is repped by WME and Range Media Partners.

Lee played tee lead in NBC’s Quantum Leap reboot. He also appeared in the indie The Unknown Country Lily Gladstone and in Paramount’s Top Gun: Maverick. Lee is repped by Gersh, Stephanie Nese Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.

Calle made her feature film debut as Supergirl in The Flash movie. She will next be seen in Sony Picture Classics’ On Swift Horses alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones and Jacob Elordi, Netflix’s RIP as well as Wardriver. Calle is repped by CAA, The Society and attorney Sloan Whiteside-Munteanu.

John O’Hurley Family Flick

‘The Young & The Restless’ Brings Back Mishael Morgan

Mishael Morgan is returning to The Young and the Restless for a guest arc on the CBS sudser. She is back on set taping this week; her episode will air later this spring.

Morgan last appeared on Y&R in February of 2024 when her character made a brief visit to Genoa City.

In 2022, Morgan made history when she was awarded the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress. She was the first Black actress to win the award.

“I was born on a tiny island in the Caribbean, and I’m now standing on an international stage and I am being honored regardless of the color of my skin, regardless of my passport, for being the best at what I do,” she said in 2022. “Now there are little girls around the world and no matter what the industry, the vocation … they can strive to be the best.”

The actress, whose previous credits included Chicago Med, joined the sudser in 2013 — first as Hilary, who eventually died in a car crash five years later. Morgan then started a new run on Y&R as Amanda, Hilary’s twin, the following year.

In the meantime, fans can see Morgan in the Hallmark movie, Hearts Around the Table: Shari’s Second Act premiering on Saturday, March 29.

Eva Longoria Developing Jennine Capó Crucet’s Novel ‘Say Hello To My Little Friend’ For TV At AMC

The dark comedy series will be written by Capó Crucet, who, we hear, has already written the pilot for the project which is described as Scarface meets Moby Dick. We understand the TV series will follow the novel’s storyline quite closely.

“Say hello to my little friend” is one of the most quotable lines in film history, spoken by Al Pacino while playing Tony Montana in Brian De Palma’s Scarface (1983). Oliver Stone, as the screenwriter of the Miami-set feature, is credited for writing the line.

The novel follows failed Pitbull impersonator Ismael Reyes—you can call him Izzy—who might not be the Scarface type, but why should that keep him from trying? Growing up in Miami has shaped him into someone who dreams of being the King of the 305, with the money, power, and respect he assumes comes with it. After finding himself at the mercy of a cease-and-desist letter from Pitbull’s legal team and living in his aunt’s garage, Izzy embarks on an absurd quest to turn himself into a modern-day Tony Montana.

Capó Crucet is one of Miami’s pre-eminent literary voices representing the second-generation Latino experience of not fully feeling like you’re from the United States where you were born, nor from the Latin American home of our parents. Her career launched in 2009 with the release of her book of short stories, How To Leave Hialeah, which received the Iowa Short Fiction Prize, the John Gardner Book Award, and the Devil’s Kitchen Reading Award.

Other titles include the New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice Make Your Home Among Strangers (St. Martin’s Press, 2015), My Time Among The Whites: Notes From An Unfinished Education (Picador, USA, 2019) and Fourteen Days: A Collaborative Novel (Harper, 2024), which she contributed to among many other notable authors. Capó Crucet is repped by Maria Massie at Massie McQuilkinn and Altman Literary Agents.

In addition to Say Hello to My Little Friend, Hyphenate Media Group is developing Confessions on the 7:45 at Hulu. In the unscripted space, they have been shooting Bienvenido A Necaxa, a spinoff of Welcome to Wrexham following a Mexican soccer team, and the CNN Original series Searching for Spain, premiering in April. Hyphenate Media Group is a media holding company and premium content studio that develops and produces its own slate of premium programming and invests in creator-led production companies.

Mingacci has produced multiple TV and film projects, including Austenland and the BBC’s hit Killing Eve, a British spy thriller starring Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer. She is currently collaborating with Jonathan Glatzer on AMC’s latest original series, the as yet untitled Silicon Valley project centered around a rift between a self-appointed “inventor of the future” tech CEO and his self-serving “performance psychologist”, who are engulfed in a scandal sparked by the exploitation of personal data.

‘Young and the Restless’: Beth Maitland Talks Traci’s Shocking Discovery About Fiancé Alan

“It’s been a couple of decades, maybe 15 years, since Traci had been in a relationship of a romantic nature that was not too troubled,” begins Beth Maitland of her alter ego’s state of mind. “She has been so surprised by this gift that has fallen from the sky into her lap that she never in a million years expected. This romance at this stage of the game for her has caused not only elation and surprise and happiness and completion, but is setting us up for all of the questions that are about to be revealed, that Traci is not exactly sure who that man is across the table.”

An illuminating conversation with Sharon strongly connects the dots between the kidnapping and the text messages that she saw on Alan’s phone, which gives Traci pause. “This is the first time that she is suspicious of him,” notes Maitland. “Traci is full-hearted and lovely, but she’s not stupid. And being a writer, she has a very active imagination, sort of like Murder, She Wrote. Things click into place, and something just isn’t right. Nerve endings are starting to not lay smooth, and I think Traci is starting to see some warning signs. Sharon starts to reveal information about her abduction that starts lining up with messages on Alan’s phone.”

After her conversation with Sharon, Traci’s wheels are turning as she looks back on her recent interactions with Alan. “The timing in question starts to fall into place for her,” adds Maitland. “In her writer’s mind, she starts to put a few things together, and Sharon is the catalyst. Sharon confirms for her some suspicions; the seeds have been planted and are starting to grow.”

The enormity of Alan’s possible evildoing causes serious distress for Traci. “It sends her right into crisis mode, because not only is this late-in-life, absolute surprise of happiness being completely yanked out from under her, it also indicates that there are threats that she feels responsible for, to both Sharon and Phyllis, and to her sister Ashley [Abbott, Eileen Davidson],” points out Maitland. “She feels responsible for putting people in harm’s way because she didn’t figure this out sooner or see through him. So, there are lots of layers for Traci in that all of this causes her to want to help to put a stop to this and find out what the truth is.”

Unsure of her next move, Traci turns to her brother Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) for counsel. “She is in full panic, and Traci needs his feedback,” explains Maitland. “She needs to run all of this by him and have him be her voice of reason for a change and tell her if he feels she’s off-base or overreacting. It’s a series of very emotional, very desperate scenes, laying it all out, putting all the facts on the table, and trying to actually sort through this and get to the bottom of things.”

The actress admits she was waiting for the other shoe to drop in Traci’s burgeoning romance. “I was absolutely not surprised,” muses Maitland of the Alan twist. “I mean, you can’t be happy on daytime very long, or if you are, you’re relegated to go upstairs to wash your hair and never come back. The good news is that we start from the perspective that Traci already has a life she loves, she has people that matter to her, she has purpose, and she has a career that she also loves. She’s everybody’s go-to for a sounding board and a moral compass, so Traci already has a complete, happy life.”

However, Maitland is aware that not everyone will be as thrilled to see Traci’s happily ever after upended. “There’s a huge fan base of women of a certain age, and people who have watched Traci go through all of her four decades of pain, that want her to be happy, and we’re disappointing those people somewhat,” Maitland acknowledges. “But if Traci was happy, she would be even more boring than just being everyone’s shoulder to lean on, so I feel like there has to be something to tear it up a little bit. Nothing good lasts for long, and here’s something to do, and I long for something to do! Trust me, in the next couple of weeks, you’ll see I make the most of it.”

Maitland is thankful for Traci’s part in the tale and that her character has a hand in cracking the case. “It’s definitely a generous story gift to Traci to be able to be a part of unraveling all of this,” offers the actress. “But it also, I think, speaks to the fun that can be had in daytime if you go ahead and embrace the formula that we’re in. It is such a fantastic, soapy, delicious idea that the big conflict for viewers watching entertainment is this famous catchphrase, the willful suspension of disbelief, and the audience’s agreement that everything doesn’t have to be completely factual.

“When you turn on a daytime drama, you willfully agree that this may not make a whole bunch of sense, or it may not ever happen in real life, but it’s a soap opera, and that’s what we do. So, there’s a whole aspect of this that is delightful, that these kinds of stories still get to be toyed with,” she concludes.

Something that she appreciates after all her years in Genoa City, especially as the show celebrates its 52nd anniversary on Wednesday, March 26. “I’m winding up my 42nd year in about a month, and I will start my 43rd year on the show,” Maitland marvels. “I could not be more grateful. I could not be more surprised. I feel like this is where I’m meant to be. I never am happier than when I have dates on the calendar and I know I’m driving to that studio.”

The Young and the Restless Alum Heather Tom Was 'Scared, Literally' When She Had to Slap TV Dad Eric Braeden

The first two are non-negotiable, but No. 3 isn't necessarily set in stone — at least it wasn't for Heather Tom, who played Victor's firstborn, Victoria Newman, on The Young and the Restless from 1990 to 2003.

Tom had already been on the show for more than a decade when she delivered the slap heard around the soap world to her TV dad, played by Eric Braeden.

"No one gets to slap Victor Newman," Tom, 49, tells PEOPLE when reminded of the memorable scene. "And so it was a big deal, and I was scared. I was like, 'Oh my God.' I was scared, literally."

"I knew that this was coming up," she adds. "I was like, 'Well, I don't really know [where] this thing's going to go afterwards, so I guess we're just going to jump in.' But yeah, it played very well. It's something that people definitely remember, but I do vividly remember shooting that. And yeah, it was a thing."

In the scene, which aired in the early 2000s, Victoria confronts Victor after learning that he has run her boyfriend Diego Guittierez out of their fictional hometown of Genoa City.

Although Victor and Victoria's relationship sometimes turned stormy over the years, Tom has fond memories of sharing scenes with Braeden during her time on Y&R.

"I loved working with Eric so much because you kind of never know," Tom says. "You never really knew where the scene was going to go. And it was so exciting, and it was such a great learning experience because you really, really, really had to listen and be on your toes and watch for or follow along. It's an amazing acting exercise."

Tom won two Daytime Emmys for her work on Y&R. Since 2007, she's been playing Katie Logan on Y&R's sister soap, The Bold and the Beautiful, and picked up four more Emmys along the way.

In recent years, she's appeared onscreen less regularly while focusing more on directing and writing. To date, she has directed 36 episodes on B&B and written six.

And with the March 27 episode, Tom hit an impressive milestone, becoming the first woman to write, direct and act in the same episode of a daytime show. In doing so, she joined an exclusive club of women across daytime and primetime that includes Amy Poehler and Gillian Anderson.

"It was logistically challenging," she told PEOPLE a week before the episode aired.

The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless air weekdays on CBS. Check local listings.

'Tracker' Justin Hartley talks home theater TV viewing, road trips with his dog

In reality, network heartthrob Hartley, who is rolling in his second hit season as rugged Colter Shaw on CBS' action drama, loves the company of his wife, Sofia Pernas. The one-time "Young and the Restless" co-stars are the complete package since their March 2021 marriage.

While Pernas shoots her recurring "Suits LA" role near their shared Los Angeles home, and Hartley's Shaw hustles for reward money on the Vancouver "Tracker" set, the couple spends every moment possible together. Executive producer Hartley is even pleased to see Pernas' "Tracker" character, Shaw's rival rewardist and onetime lover Billie Matalon, in more action with another episode airing March 30 (CBS Sundays 8 EDT/PDT).

"I don't know if I'd call it a love story, but there's a romantic spark and chemistry between the two," says Hartley, 48. "I enjoy being around her. I'm having the time of my life with this show. I love it. To be able to share it with the people you love makes it even better."

Their ideal is together in their home theater. "I figure, turn on all the sound in the dark room and get the whole immersive experience. That's how these shows were designed to be watched," says Hartley.

Hartley and Pernas watch a lot of friends' shows, viewing "Paradise" together (featuring "This Is Us" alums Sterling K. Brown and Dan Fogelman). They loved Netflix's "Night Agent" and watch "Tracker," too, focusing on experiencing it as an audience. And if the couple is separated mid-series-binge, they are permitted TV stray and go solo. "I don't have a problem if my wife tells me, 'I watched six episodes' of whatever we're watching. It doesn't bother me," says Hartley. (He was previously married to "Selling Sunset" star Chrishell Stause).

Hartley has resisted the 'Tracker' Airstream, but travels cross-country in SUV comfort

"Tracker" has extolled the virtues of Shaw's open-road lifestyle in an enviable customized Airstream. Thus far, Hartley has held off on purchasing his own Airstream for his and Pernas' frequent road trips. "It is tempting, though," says Hartley. Instead, the duo and their beloved golden doodle Paisley travel the country visiting Major League Baseball parks in an SUV that's "nothing extravagant, just four tires," says Hartley.

"We have this really high-maintenance dog that doesn't fly. So we put the dog in the back and drive, and then we stay at hotels. I love the game of baseball, and this gives me an excuse to go around the country and realize how big it is and see the different walks of life."

For a guy who takes a lot of tumbles, Shaw doesn't use a protective case for his spotless iPhone. That's Hartley's call.

"I was like, 'I'm not putting a case on the iPhone, because I don't have a case on my phone.' And if I'm holding a phone with a case on it, it doesn't feel right," he says. "They built the phone in a certain way that it's supposed to look. I want Colter streamlined. No extra stuff." Not surprisingly, Hartley's phone doesn't look as good as Shaw's. "I tend to drop my phone a lot. My phone is cracked all the time. There's a big crack in the back right now."

Shaw is never in the dark the way he works his flashlights on "Tracker" (there's even a Reddit discussion page on which device) – Hartley is a Maglite fan.

"I have them stashed throughout the house," he says. "They are not just a source of light, they can also be used as a weapon if you need it. They're basically a big metal wand with a light at the end, which is wonderful."

Shaw started "Tracker" wearing a pricey Omega Seamaster, which is something the watch enthusiast Hartley might wear. But the show switched Shaw's watch to a less-pricey, more durable G-Shock. "His watch is going to get broken all the time, there's no sense in wearing a really expensive one. And the G-Shock is a solid utility watch that if it gets broken, no big deal. It's a couple hundred bucks."

Hartley's personal choice is the Omega Speedmaster ("It's pretty cool"), the u?ber pricey Rolex Daytona or the new generation of Timex watches ("I'm a Timex guy, actually").

"I always wear a watch," Hartley says. "I don't have many, but I love them all."

Heather Tom Talks Making History With All-Female ‘Bold and the Beautiful’ Episode

For Tom, who has been directing at the soap for years and began writing for it last fall, penning the script was a personal accomplishment. “I’ve been directing for the show for quite some time now and I just started writing for the show in September of last year, and I’ve obviously been acting on the show now for 17 years, and it also happens to be my 35th year in daytime,” Tom begins. “So, Brad [Bell, executive producer of B&B] called me and said, ‘Hey, I want to do an all-in show where you write it and direct it and act it,’ which has never been done in daytime for a multitude of reasons, but it’s also only been done a handful of times across any television platform. I think there’s two other ladies [Gillian Anderson on The X-Files and Amy Poehler on Parks and Recreation] that have actually pulled that off. So, I was quite honored to be a part of that group, and because we’re kind of making history, we thought that it was important for it to air during Women’s History Month.”

The episode, Tom previews, puts the emphasis on female family dynamics. “I talked with Brad and we decided to focus on mothers and daughters because I think that relationship is just so fraught; it’s the most personal relationship you can have with someone if you’re a woman,” offers Tom. “Your mother can either be the most supportive and the most pivotal or a relationship that has a lot of drama to mine. So, it primarily takes place between Steffy [Jacqueline MacInnes Wood] and Taylor [Rebecca Budig], who are kind of in this euphoric place in their story, and Brooke [Katherine Kelly Lang] and Hope [Annika Noelle], who are in this very tumultuous place in their story. And then Katie, my character, also had some scenes with her sister where they talk about their mother [Beth Logan], who has passed away. I brought a little bit of myself into those scenes just personally because I lost my mother last year and, well, every time I talk about this I cry, but I also cry for a living and I’ve been crying for the last 35 years, so I’m an easy mark.”

Tom says she took her time with the script so that it hit all the right marks. “I write from a very emotional place,” she explains. “I write very much from an actor’s point of view, and hopefully in the voice of the character, so it doesn’t feel like dialogue could be interchangeable. That’s very important to me, that it feels like this character is the only one that could say these things. So, I did take longer on the script because I really wanted the actors to shine and to give them something to sink their teeth into. I wanted this show to be special. Brad gave me this amazing opportunity, so I wanted to do him proud.”

Wearing multiple hats on the day of filming could have been a challenge, but Tom reports it went seamlessly. “It was an amazing experience; it really it went off without a hitch,” she shares. “We rehearsed a lot, and we really prepared for it. For the scenes that I was in, I had a monitor on stage so I could see the shots. I mapped out all the shots because the director has to snap the cues in the booth, which is difficult to do if you’re on stage, acting, so another one of our female directors actually snapped the cues in the booth and I was able to see and adjust if we needed to. Then we just made sure that we really rehearsed it so that the cameras really knew what they were doing and the actresses that I was working with all felt comfortable because the scenes that we were in were very, very emotional.”

Tom felt the love throughout the day from her coworkers. “I hope they really enjoyed it; I feel like they did,” she says. “I think that they were very excited to be a part of it. This was an all-female show, down to our stage manager. Everyone but Casey [Kasprzyk], who’s our producer, but we were like, ‘We’ll just put a wig on him.’ The cast and the crew just have always been so incredibly supportive of me doing these new endeavors.”

Making her mark in daytime is nothing new for Tom, who holds records with her Daytime Emmy wins — at six, she is tied for the most won by a woman and holds the distinction of winning in every category: Outstanding Younger Actress, Outstanding Supporting Actress, and Outstanding Lead Actress — and feels her hard work over the years has led her to this point. “My mother always said that luck is when preparation and opportunity meet, so I’ve tried to be as prepared as I could for this,” Tom explains. “I went to the CBS directing program and directed outside of the show, but if you don’t get the opportunity, then the preparation doesn’t mean anything. They don’t cut me any slack and I appreciate that because I wouldn’t want them to. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity because this doesn’t happen. To have someone like Brad just on my side and champion me, it floors me and I’m so grateful.”

Tom says she was thrilled with the final product — “I’m really happy with it. I hope Brad is, too” — and feels it’s the first step in what promises to be a memorable year for her. “I remember signing my first contract when I was 14, turning 15, and it was a three-year deal,” she recalls. “I was like, ‘Oh, my God! How am I gonna be here for three years?’ Cut to 35 years later, it does not seem possible. I was on The Young and the Restless [as Victoria Newman] for 13 years, and on One Life to Live [as Kelly Cramer] for four, and now I’ve been on B&B for 17. I really can’t wrap my head around it. So, August will be the official 35th and honestly, I cannot possibly think of a better way to celebrate it than to do a show like this.”

‘The Bold & The Beautiful’ Recruits Heather Tom To Write, Direct And Star In All Female Episode

The actress who plays Katie Logan Spencer will act, write and direct an all-female episode of the daytime drama — which is a first for the soap and rare for the genre. Slated to air March 27, the Women’s History Month-themed episode will star Rebecca Budig (Taylor), Annika Noelle (Hope), Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke), Jennifer Gareis (Donna), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy) and Tom herself.

“Brad Bell actually came to me and said, ‘this is your 35th year. You’ve been writing and directing. You’ve also been acting the whole time, and I think that it would be amazing if you did all three in one show,'” Tom, a six-time Daytime Emmy winner, tells Deadline. “I was like, oh, that’ll be interesting! So logistically it was just, well, let’s figure out how I can be on stage acting in the scenes and then directing those scenes. I thought it was very important and agree that it should air during Women’s History Month because it’s historical.”

The 18-minute episode (that’s how short it is with all those commercials) will focus on mother and daughter relationships. To keep consistent with the day’s theme, the episode also features a female stage manager, a female assistant director and female editors. (Tom considered throwing a wig on the one male producer but thought better of it).

B&B isn’t the first to tackle this; In 2020, General Hospital did suffrage episode written and directed by women and featuring all women — though it wasn’t penned by a GH actress. But it’s special all the same to Tom.

“The mother daughter relationships are so interesting to me and so formative,” says Tom. “And now this is going to make me cry because I lost my mother last year. I wanted to kind of pay homage to her because I certainly wouldn’t be here without her literally and figuratively. So I got a little bit of her in there with Katie and Donna, who are sisters who lost their mom.”

The episode that featured 45 pages of dialogue was shot all in one day in February. And despite its themes, it’s not considered a standalone episode.

“It does fit within the story of where they are in the series,” says Tom. “We considered doing something that was more of a standalone, but Brad felt, and I agreed that it needed to just kind of flow with the story and it made sense.”

Tom, who will continue to work as a multi-hyphenate on the show she’s called home since 2007, was humbled by the reaction to the episode. “I think everyone was really excited about it. And that’s the other thing about this show. When I first started doing this, I was like, gosh, am I going to have pushback? Are people going to be like, ‘what the heck is going on?’ But everyone has been so supportive.”

Wings Hauser, Character Actor From ‘Vice Squad,’ ‘The Young and the Restless,’ Dies at 78

“Movie icon Wings Hauser took flight in the arms of his film and music partner, Cali Lili Hauser, at their studio this weekend,” his wife’s statement posted to his Facebook account said. “Wings Hauser’s one of a kind, legendary career spanned 58 years in movies, TV and music working alongside many of the greatest artists in the industry and earning their respect.”

He was born Gerald Dwight Hauser in Hollywood to parents Geraldine and Dwight Hauser. He had numerous roles in both film and television and made his on-screen debut in an uncredited role in 1967’s war drama “First to Fight.” Hauser went on to work on hit shows including “Magnum, P.I.,” “The Fall Guy,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Perry Mason,” “Roseanne,” “Beverly Hills 90210,” “Kingpin,” “Bones” and “Criminal Minds.”

Hauser had a recurring role in the long-running soap opera “The Young and the Restless” over 15 episodes as Greg Foster, taking on the role after James Houghton and Brian Kern originally played him. Hauser first appeared on the show in 1977 and also came back for three episodes in 2010.

In film, Hauser is most known for his turns as Ramrod in 1982’s “Vice Squad” alongside Gary Swanson and the tobacco lawyer in 1999’s “The Insider” alongside Al Pacino and Russell Crowe. Over the years, Hauser also appeared in “Rubber” and “Tough Guys Don’t Dance,” for which he earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his supporting role. His most recent acting credit was in a 2010 episode of “Criminal Minds.”

“We were children together, we played life every day, played music and wrote songs together every day in preparation for several upcoming albums, books and a new movie with original soundtrack like our most recent award winning release ‘Eve N’ God; This Female Is Not Yet Rated,'” Cali Hauser said in a statement. “He said that I was his future and even though I am a feminist, I found my perfect partner in this man and was happy/proud to be building something together. I never thought I would ever get married or have a partner until I met Wings. Of course it’s much harder now, but I’m going to fulfill his wishes that I ‘continue the work’ and fulfill all the projects we set up to do in the next few years.”

Hauser’s dad was Dwight Hauser, a writer who was blacklisted during the Communist era and wrote on “The Magical World of Disney.” His son, Cole Hauser, starred on “Yellowstone” as Rip Wheeler, the ranch’s fixer and son-in-law of Kevin Costner’s John Dutton. In addition to his son, he is survived by his wife, Cali.

Sofia Pernas Returns To Tracker 3/30/25

‘Bosch: Legacy’ Casts Jeremy Glazer and Miles Gaston Villanueva in Final Season

Glazer will play Patrick Currey, a West Hollywood city councilman who uses his power to keep a tight lid on his sexual proclivities. When investigators start poking around his private life, he tries to ally with Honey “Money” Chandler to best position himself politically and legally.

Glazer is a prolific actor whose television credits include “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Good Fight,” “Animal Kingdom” and “Modern Family.” His numerous film appearances include “Letters from Iwo Jima,” “Rust Creek” and “Save Me.” He has performed on stage in productions of “The Little Dog Laughed” and “You Can’t Take It with You.”

Villanueva will play Perry Lopez, a native Angeleno with a background in working gang murders in South Los Angeles. Recently elevated to the LAPD’s elite Robbery Homicide Division (RHD), and eager to make a name for himself, he’s partnered with the seasoned Det. Jimmy Robertson (Paul Calderon) and tasked to investigate Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) in a possible murder-for-hire case.

Villanueva has starred in the award-winning Prime Video series “The Boys,” “Nancy Drew” and “The Resident.” He was nominated for an Imagen best actor award for his work as Lyle Menendez in 2017’s “Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders.”

Season 3 of “Bosch: Legacy,” a sequel to the Amazon Prime Video series “Bosch” (2014–2021), premieres March 27.

Morning Show Appearance

The King Sisters Shining Bright In The City of Lights!!!

Both gals shared a series of shots on their social media pages -- enjoying each other's company, snapping lots of sister selfies and posing pretty in front of the Eiffel Tower.

Food before fashion, Joey and Hunter showed their sisterly love and chowed down on a big ole' baguette as they roamed the streets of Paris!

The two sisters got all dolled up -- doin' their hair and makeup in their extravagant hotel room. They eased into the fashion shenanigans by sippin' wine as they prepped for the Miu Miu show.

A$AP Rocky -- who was also sportin' some Miu Miu clothing -- got in on the action and jumped in the middle of the famous siblings for a fun photo!

Vivica A. Fox Guest Stars on Poppa's House

Talk Show Appearance

Billy Flynn on His ‘Days of Our Lives’ Exit After 10 Years and Moving to ‘Young and the Restless’: ‘It Made Me the Person I Am Today’

“We do the best work we can despite the obstacles that we’ve faced as a show. Part of that move I’m excited about is [that] they move slower and there’s more time to do stuff. But I was trained like a warrior here,” he tells Variety with a laugh, referring to the rapid “Days” shooting schedule which is more than nine months ahead of air. “There’s a different pace [here], but it’s made me the actor and the person I am today.”

The reason for the move is simple: actors love acting but, as he put it, sometimes they just have to try something new.

“I love acting, and I love stories, and I never imagined I would just tell one story for the rest of my life,” he says. “The fact that I’ve been here 10 years and it’s gone by in the blink of an eye is amazing to me. I wasn’t a baby when I started here; I was 30. I didn’t start acting until I was 26. So it’s gone by really fast. I think with this character, I’ve done everything I can with it. I’m looking forward to doing something new. I’m about to start a new journey and tell another story. It really is just that simple.”

During Flynn’s time on the show, Chad has had two kids and has become a man, one who does his best to do the right thing despite being the illegitimate son of one of the show’s most notorious bad guys, Stefano DiMera. “I’ve got to play this entire revolution. I don’t know what else to do with him. He’s been as much of me as I think I probably will ever put into another part. There were some times when I was going through some really hard things in my life, and it just so happened that Chad was going through similar things: losing his wife, and I had lost somebody close to me. Things have all lined up with the character that made it [so] I put more of Billy into Chad than I probably would’ve otherwise. There were moments in it that became like a love letter to my own kind of life. It’s special in that way.”

For that reason and so much more, Flynn says the move is “bittersweet.” He was living on a 25-foot sailboat and had “absolutely zero money” to his name when he was offered the “Days” role. “Since I took the job, I’ve gotten married, I’ve had two kids, I’ve bought a house. I mean, it’s changed my life. The people that I work with here are close friends — I’ve experienced all sorts of ups and downs since I’ve started this job, and they’ve experienced them with me.”

And it’s not just the people he’s worked with at “Days” but also the show’s fans he’s met along the way who have been supportive and loyal since day one.

“The outpouring of well wishes and love since this came out has been humbling,” he says. “It’s been incredibly moving to me, and I’m gonna take that with me. I hope [fans] continue to watch ‘Days’ and support ‘Days’ and support whoever might come in and play Chad, if there ever is that case. I hope they do that and give somebody the same love they gave me. And I hope that they come with me on this journey that I’m on and support me doing that too.”

Because of the “Days” shooting schedule, Flynn will be seen as Chad in 2026 — while also being seen on “Y&R.”

“In a perfect world, that wouldn’t be the case,” he says, “only because you want people to suspend disbelief” and believe him in each character, which can’t really be done when viewers are seeing him in two different shows at the same time. “It makes my job a little harder.”

“Y&R” EP and headwriter, Josh Griffith, who wrote for “Days” when Flynn first started on the show, said in a statement: “On behalf of the entire company of ‘The Young and the Restless,’ we look forward to welcoming Billy to the show. He will be a wonderful addition to ‘Y&R’s’ stellar cast.”

Flynn says, “Josh wrote for me here, and he wrote amazing material with the Necktie Killer and the birth of Chad and Abigail’s love story in my reign. And I trust that he’s gonna do that with this new character [on ‘Y&R’]. I’ll just be along for the ride. And luckily there’s so many talented people there that I’ll just riding their coattails the same way I rode everyone’s coattails here [at ‘Days’.]”

Soap Shocker! Billy Flynn Leaving ‘Days of Our Lives’ for ‘Young and the Restless’

Flynn, a daytime newcomer when he joined the soap in 2014, quickly became a fan favorite as part of the Chad and Abigail Deveraux (played by Kate Mansi and Marci Miller) romance and was a key player in the DiMera dynasty.

“I am grateful for my years at DAYS; it changed my life in the best ways,” Flynn tells TV Insider exclusively. “I’ve always said these stories we tell are like doing a play, and I’ve spent the last 10-plus years playing this amazing character and telling one of the all-time great love stories. And now I’m excited for this opportunity and to test myself in a new way.”

In September 2024, Flynn recalled how pivotal it was to land the role of Chad, noting, “I lived on a sailboat, and I had no money; I could barely eat. I got this audition and was like, ‘I don’t really want to be on a soap; I want to do movies or whatever.’ But my manager, God bless him, said, ‘Mate, you’re living on a sailboat. You can’t afford to eat dinner.’ The screen test is still a vivid memory because I did it with Kate Mansi [Kristina Corinthos, General Hospital] and Rob Wilson [Alex Kiriakis]. I was super critical of myself. I remember leaving and apologizing to Marnie [Saitta], the casting director, and she was like, ‘You’re crazy.’ And then they offered me the job.”

Flynn flourished at DAYS, earning three Daytime Emmy nominations as Outstanding Lead Actor and starring alongside Mansi in the spinoff miniseries, Chad & Abby in Paris, which streamed on Peacock in 2019. Last month, he appeared as Atticus Waverly in the hit CBS series Matlock.

The actor is leaving DAYS with the full endorsement of the soap, as well as executive producer Ken Corday. “We support Billy as an actor and friend, and wish him nothing but continued success and happiness, personally and professionally,” Corday says. “He will certainly be missed in Salem.” Because of DAYS’ unique shooting schedule, which tapes nine months ahead of when the shows airs, Flynn will remain on the soap well into 2026.

Y&R’s executive producer/head writer Josh Griffith wrote for Flynn from 2015-16 at DAYS, so he’s very familiar with the actor’s skills. “On behalf of the entire company of The Young and the Restless, we look forward to welcoming Billy to the show,” Griffith tells TV Insider. “He will be a wonderful addition to Y&R’s stellar cast.”

‘The Young & The Restless’: When To Expect The Return Of Lauralee Bell

Lauralee Bell’s Christine — who was last seen on The Young and the Restless during a New Year’s Eve party that aired on Jan. 2 — is set to return to the show’s set at the end of April. Her return episodes will start airing in early June.

Her character’s absence was due to her joining Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian) on the road during his world tour. In real life, Damian needed time away to produce a movie for Netflix.

But Bell didn’t stray far from the Bell Dramatic Serial Company world; she made a stop to the set of The Bold and the Beautiful for her third crossover appearance. And this time, her participation involves one of the sudser’s signature fashion shows.

“You never know when Brad Bell calls, if I’m going to be asked a [sibling] question or if I can come to B&B for a couple of days,” Bell tells Deadline about her brother, who is the head writer and executive producer of B&B. “He established this collaboration. Years ago I represented Ridge [Ron Moss] on a court case, and then several months ago, Danny and Christine stopped in during the summer because we’re on tour and he’s the rock star. And then they used Danny’s music for a Brooke’s bedroom lingerie line. So the tie-in continues!”

“We’ve been super lucky because so many of our Y&R fans who have rooting for Danny and Christine to be back together after 30 years came to watch B&B for those couple of days,” Bell continued about her second crossover with B&B, which aired in August. “We assume everyone who watches Y&R watches B&B, but for the few that didn’t, we got Y&R people to come to watch B&B. Our audience really showed up.”

Bell says she continues to be blown away by fan reaction to her character’s reconciliation with Danny in early 2024 after their divorce 30 years ago.

“It’s incredible what we’ve learned this time around,” says Bell. “We have these very vocal, very energetic, very creative fans who are posting stuff every day. They’ll do a countdown that we’re going to be on in 14 days, 13 days, all these creative things. These are fans from the ’80s and ’90s. They’re so into it. And then we’re realizing, they are the ones that had Michael’s poster up in their bedroom and they are the ones that went to real Michael Damian concerts when they were teenagers and college students. And now here they are, they’re in their ’50s and ’60s and they’re saying things like, we’ve waited for this moment for 30 years.”

“There was a little hiccup when we started getting back together with Phyllis, but now Phyllis is leaving us alone,” Bell continued. “We are together. We are happily touring the world. I dropped everything legal to join him on this worldwide tour, and we’ll come back to Genoa City in April to start taping again. There’s still so much more to say and there’s still so much more story to go.”

‘S.W.A.T’ Star Shemar Moore Sends Up Signal Now That CBS Has Canceled Drama: “Netflix, We’d Love To Come Play”

In a video for his 4 million-plus followers on Instagram, Moore told CBS “I don’t think you’re making the right choice” by canceling S.W.A.T. again but added he’s still not ready to say goodbye to Hondo and Co.

“Hey Netflix, how you doing?” he said on IG. “Let me just remind you that in a very short period of time, once upon a time ago …it only took us about two weeks to go from number 15 … to number one. And then we stayed in your top 10, top 15 for about six months, nine months, maybe a year. So Netflix, if you’re interested in a show that is on autopilot that the world is watching, we’d love to come play. NBC, Fox, ABC, hey, you want to come flirt with me? You’re invited to the barbecue. Pick your favorite restaurant. I will pay the bill.”

“Trust me, all of us, the family over at SWAT, we ain’t done chasing bad guys and [performing] helicopter chases and motorcycle chases and car chases and blowing up stuff. We ain’t done,” he continued.

On Thursday, CBS revealed that it has once again pink-slipped the police drama that’s now in its eighth season. This is the second time the net cut the yellow tape around Moore’s show; it was dramatically canceled in May 2023 after six seasons, only for CBS to reverse the decision days later with a pickup of what was announced at the time as a seventh and final season.

“We were canceled twice, two years in a row,” Moore said on IG. “Now I don’t know my history, but how many shows get to say that? I’m gonna say none, or I’m gonna say that we’re close to one of the none,” Moore continued. “But we did that. We are so proud … we defied the odds, and we made a hit television show that the world loved to watch. So I say to CBS, if you’re done, I know it’s about money, optics, politics. I don’t think you’re making the right choice. I’ll say that. But if you are done, I say thank you, genuinely, honestly from my heart.”

Pamela Bach, actor and ex-wife of David Hasselhoff, dies at 62

The Los Angeles medical examiner’s office reports that she died Wednesday and determined her death was a suicide. Also known as Pamela Hasselhoff, Bach appeared on “The Young and the Restless” and met her future husband on the set of his series, “Knight Rider.”

Bach and Hasselhoff were married in December 1989, and had two daughters, Taylor and Hayley. Hasselhoff filed for divorce in January 2006 and the former couple had a contentious split, with Bach accusing him of domestic abuse. A video of Hasselhoff drunkenly eating a burger led to him temporarily losing visitation privileges with his daughters, but they were restored after two weeks. The actor acknowledged the video, shot by one of his daughters, showed him during an alcohol relapse but he denied abuse allegations at the time.

‘S.W.A.T.’ Canceled (Again) By CBS After 8 Seasons; Showrunner Calls News “Heartbreaking”

If you are having a case of déjà vu, that is because, after a string of early renewals, S.W.A.T. was dramatically canceled in May 2023 after six seasons only for CBS to reverse the decision days later with a pickup of what was announced at the time as a seventh and final season. Flash-forward to May 2024 when S.W.A.T. was surprisingly renewed for an eighth season.

Don’t expect another miraculous reprieve; this time the decision is believed to be final — and permanent. The past two years, S.W.A.T. lead studio Sony Pictures Television was able to propose financial terms that were appealing to CBS, sealing eleventh-hour pickups. This time, I hear CBS did not engage in renewal talks, opting instead to end the series outright.

This is the third high-profile drama cancellation at the network this week, following the axing of FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International. All three come from outside studios, Sony TV and Universal Television.

Drama cancellations were inevitable this year as CBS already has two drama slots reserved on next season’s schedule for new series Sheriff Country, a spinoff from Fire Country, and Boston Blue, an extension of the Blue Bloods universe. It also has potential FBI and Equalizer spinoffs in the works and drama pilot Einstein starring Matthew Gray Gubler.

A mass renewal last month left the FBI spinoffs, S.W.A.T. and Equalizer on the bubble. Of the four, only Equalizer, from Universal TV, is still standing, with talks for a sixth and potentially final season underway. (Midseason entry Watson, from CBS Studios, is still in its first weeks on the air but is looking promising for renewal.)

As Deadline reported at the time of the renewals, given its history, S.W.A.T. was an obvious candidate for cancellation as it is lower rated than the other dramas on the bubble this year — including the FBI spinoffs. But it has still been a sturdy performer in the thankless job of keeping the lights on Friday.

“It’s heartbreaking news, primarily because it’s been such an immense pleasure working with this cast and crew to put out a show that we’ve always been proud of,” S.W.A.T. executive producer/showrunner Andrew Dettmann said. “They are truly an extraordinary group of people who have all worked so hard and have been so dedicated for all these eight seasons, overcoming countless challenges. I can’t give them enough credit. I feel so privileged to have been a part of the S.W.A.T. family.”

S.W.A.T. is a rare broadcast drama filming in Los Angeles. Following the cancellation, executive producer and former showrunner Shawn Ryan spoke of the series’ crew that will now be out of work.

“It’s been an extraordinary privilege to work on S.W.A.T. for eight seasons and tell the stories of Hondo and 20-Squad,” he said. “I thank our fans, Shemar Moore, the rest of our cast, our producers, Sony Pictures Television, CBS Studios and CBS for the opportunity. Most of all I want to thank our tireless, dedicated crew who made our writers, directors and cast always look good. My greatest concern right now is for them.”

Speaking with Deadline in January, Ryan shared concerns over the fate of S.W.A.T. in light of the pending ownership change at CBS.

“The show I think is beloved in the executive ranks at CBS, the show is beloved by our audience,” he said at the time. “But we also understand that a corporate change is happening in that world. I don’t know what the plans are. I don’t know what the criteria for renewal is going to be. It seems like it could be much different than years past.”

He referred to the pending acquisition of CBS parent Paramount Global by Skydance, which is slated to close in the first half of the year.

S.W.A.T. is based on the 1975 TV series and 2003 film of the same name. It stars Moore as LAPD Sergeant Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson and his Twenty Squad. The cast also includes Jay Harrington, David Lim, Patrick St. Esprit, Anna Enger Ritch, Niko Pepaj and Annie Ilonzeh. Ryan, Dettmann, Justin Lin, Neal H. Moritz, Marney Hochman, Pavun Shetty, Billy Gierhart, Moore and James Scura executive produce.

Original Y&R Cast Member James Houghton Dead at 75

Houghton died Aug. 27 at his home in Encino of peritoneal mesothelioma, his wife, Karen Houghton, told The Hollywood Reporter. She did not want to discuss his death until now.

Houghton also portrayed the fiancé of Nancy Allen’s character in Robert Zemeckis’ I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978), and he played U.S. senator Cash Cassidy — a bitter rival of Charlton Heston’s oil mogul Jason Colby, on the second season (1986-87) of the ABC primetime soap The Colbys, a spinoff of Dynasty.

Houghton starred as Kenny, a record producer who often fooled around on his wife, Ginger (Kim Lankford), before they had a baby on 66 episodes of CBS’ Knots Landing from 1979-83.

The young Wards were one of the original four couples who lived on the show’s iconic cul-de-sac. Gary and Val (Ted Shackleford and Joan Van Ark), Sid and Karen (Don Murray and Michele Lee) and Richard and Laura (John Pleshette and Constance McCashin) were the others.

“The thing about Knots Landing was, because we were all on a cul-de-sac together and because we interacted with one another, it was still very much a family,” Houghton noted in a 2006 interview.

“Plus, we were putting on a show that — the initial season or two at the very least, a new show — we were in this foxhole mentality of ‘We’re all in this together.’ We’re all praying that it’ll catch fire and we’ll be on a show that will last a while and put us all into some kind of security, which most of us had never had.”

Earlier, Houghton had originated the role of Greg Foster on the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless, playing the attorney from 1973-76. (Wings Hauser followed him in the part.)

He returned to the soap in 1991 as a writer and shared four Emmys — off 14 nominations — as a member of the outstanding drama series writing team through 2007. He and his fellow writers made Y&R a dominating force in the daytime ratings.

James Carter Houghton was born in Los Angeles on Nov. 7, 1948. His father was Buck Houghton, a producer of the first three seasons of CBS’ The Twilight Zone, and that got his son on the 1962 episode “The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank” in one of his first onscreen appearances.

Houghton attended the Harvard School in Studio City, boarding school at the Institut Le Rosey in Rolle, Switzerland, and UC Berkeley before he appeared in 1972 on the ABC series Alias Smith & Jones and in the women-in-prison exploitation film Sweet Sugar.

He then joined Y&R, where he and William Espy, as Snapper Foster, played brothers.

“We were both driving around in old beat-up cars and just trying to make ends meet, and that was our first job where we actually weren’t worried about where our next meal was coming from,” he said.

Houghton left the soap to star with Martin Kove on the CBS action series Code R, but that show, about a rescue team on the Channel Islands, lasted just 13 episodes in 1977.

In the late 1970s and early ’80s, his onscreen wife Lankford had been romantically involved with Warren Zevon, and through that Houghton (and Shackelford) got to be on the cover of the singer-songwriter’s 1982 album, The Envoy.

Houghton and Lankford, who were real-life neighbors in Laurel Canyon while they worked on Knots Landing, were written off the David Jacobs-created Dallas spinoff when Kenny and Ginger move to Nashville to pursue careers in country music.

Houghton said he didn’t want to leave, but with other characters on the Dallas spinoff becoming more popular and getting bigger salaries, he understood.

“There comes a time when you’ve got to throw some ballast overboard in order to make room for something else,” he said. “You know, it’s a pretty surgical process. I didn’t take it personally.”

Houghton’s acting résumé also included the films One on One (1977), More American Graffiti (1979), Superstition (1982) and Purple People Eater (1988); guest spots on Fantasy Island, Hotel, The Love Boat and Remington Steele; and a role on the 1986 ABC miniseries North and South: Book 2, Love and War.

He and his younger sister, Mona Houghton, co-wrote three Knots Landing episodes in 1982, and after The Young & the Restless, he wrote for another CBS soap, The Bold and the Beautiful. He also authored a crime thriller, The Hooligan’s Game, published in 2017.

Over the years, Houghton gave his time and money to such charities as Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Special Olympics and School on Wheels.

In addition to his wife — they met at a T-ball game and were married in November 1994 — and sister, survivors include his mother, Wanda; his children, Daniel and Alisa; his son-in-law, Jim; and his grandson, Milo.

Michelle Stafford and Sharon Case Tease ‘Y&R’s Sharon-Phyllis Kidnapping Episode

For Case, who had just completed the dramatic arc of Heather Stevens’ (Vail Bloom) murder, where her beleaguered alter ego was put through the emotional wringer, it was a surprise to learn there was more in store. “Before we went on Christmas break, someone told me, ‘Oh, Michelle Stafford said that when you guys come back, you have a storyline together, something about being abducted, maybe,’” Case recalls. “And I’m like, ‘Wait what? I was just abducted. Maybe somebody misheard her.’”

“That’s so funny,” adds Stafford, “because that’s what I said when I heard that — ‘Oh, again? Sharon was just kidnapped.’”

But Sharon’s past experience will come in handy as the tale unfolds. “It’s my third or fourth abduction, and I really know the ropes now,” quips Case. “Sharon knows her way through this kind of thing. She’s sort of like, ‘You know, I’ve been here, done that, follow me. I know what I’m doing in this abduction.’”

Kidding aside, the turning point comes at a fractious time in the Sharon and Phyllis relationship, where they’re still trying to work through the fact that Sharon, who thought she killed Heather — thanks to some manipulation by Ian Ward (Ray Wise) and Jordan Howard (Colleen Zenk) — let Phyllis’s son, Daniel Romalotti (Michael Graziadei), take the rap for it.

“I appreciate the story because there was nowhere for Phyllis and Sharon to go; it was the apex of their discord,” points out Stafford. “Something had to happen from that. There’s no way Phyllis is ever going to say, ‘Oh, it’s OK that you hid the bloody towels. I’m over it.’ And no way that Sharon is going to be OK with not being forgiven and just moving on. When they see each other, it would be difficult. So, I think this story that we’re doing really fixes that.”

Working so closely together over a concentrated period was something new for the actors, who have shared scenes for decades. “We were doing all of these shows together, just Sharon and me, and I said to Josh [Griffith, executive producer/head writer], ‘It’s like we’re doing our own little movie over here,’” recalls Stafford. “I think it will be very interesting for our viewers to watch because it’s nothing they’ve ever done on the show before. And we went into a very easy work rhythm. Sharon is very easy to work with.”

Even though the scenes were filmed very early in the morning. “Oh, I was really grumpy,” admits Case. “Everyone out there knows I hate being first up in the morning. And not because it’s early. It’s because you have to come up with a lot of emotion and scream and cry and it’s eight in the morning.”

“No one is going to feel sorry for us,” muses Stafford. “But hey, it’s challenging. When you get up in the morning, you’re like, ‘I need my coffee.’ Now imagine if someone said, ‘Cry right now.’”

Timing issues aside, Case reports that the actual filming was seamless. “Everything seemed so easy and fell right into place,” she relays. “Maybe we’ve been working together for so long, but we just slid into it without questions; we didn’t even have to discuss it. It’s like we read each other’s minds, or we’re just on the same page. As storylines go, I love this one. I had a lot of fun doing it. I love working with Michelle. It was very challenging, but every day she and I got in there and we just did it. We did the impossible some days.”

Preparing for the special episode, which will exclusively feature Case and Stafford — something done only once before in May 2024 with Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott) and Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman) — took a lot of work. “I actually didn’t realize it at first,” reveals Stafford. “I was going over the dialogue and was like, ‘This is a lot.’ And then I realized, ‘Oh, wait, we’re the only two in the show.’ So, I didn’t know it until a couple days beforehand. I was just memorizing it.”

Case appreciates that they broke up the shooting schedule. “They cut it into three days; it’s hard to shoot that all in one day,” she notes. “I did tell Owen [Renfroe, the director] afterwards, ‘OK, Owen, we have done this enough times now where I’m never going to call you on the weekend panicking again. I know we can do this now.’”

The focus of the hour will be on the two trying to piece together where they are and who put them there. “They’re figuring out what the what the hell is going on,” previews Stafford. “I kept on trying not to get too literal about it but really imagine if you were kidnapped and put in a room and you had been drugged. You probably think the next thing is you’re going to be raped and murdered or tortured and chopped up, so I kept on being like, ‘Don’t we think we’re gonna die?’ So, we were playing that it is our last moment of life.”

Case offers, “We felt like the characters thought, ‘Maybe we are supposed to work together.’ And sometimes they feel the opposite, that this is an every-man-for-themselves situation, which is very real. Over the course of the entire storyline, we’re put in a lot of rough situations, we go through every different kind of emotion and our relationship changes over and over.”

Case shares she came up with a unique name for this new chapter. “I like to call this story ‘Asylum,’ ” Case explains. “The first one [Heather’s death] was ‘Murder.’ Everyone saw the first episode of ‘Asylum’ today, but this carries on and it does take some interesting turns and arcs. It changes the characters and propels them forward. This is really going to be fun and interesting and a great ride for the audience. When Josh Griffith writes this way, it’s a treat. You have to tune in for this one.”

CNN Sets Debut Date For Eva Longoria’s ‘Searching For Spain’

The travel and cultural series will include jaunts to San Sebastián, Barcelona, Madrid, Andalusia, Galicia, Asturias and Marbella, where she has a new home. Each week’s episode will air at 9 p.m. ET.

The CNN Original Series follows other Searching For series, including Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy and Eva Longoria: Searching for Mexico.

In a statement, Longoria said, “Spain’s rich culture, passionate people and bold and diverse cuisines have captivated me as long as I can remember, especially knowing that one of my Mexican-American ancestors has deep roots in this remarkable country.”

Executive producers for Searching for Spain are Eva Longoria, Cris Abrego, Rachelle Mendez, and Shauna Minoprio for Hyphenate Media Group. Amy Entelis and Lyle Gamm are the executive producers for CNN Original Series. Banijay Rights is handling international distribution of the series.

CBS RENEWS NINE ADDITIONAL SERIES FOR THE 2025-2026 SEASON

Previous series orders for the 2025-2026 season include the #1 new series MATLOCK, starring Kathy Bates; SHERIFF COUNTRY, the new drama expanding the universe of the hit series FIRE COUNTRY, starring Morena Baccarin; new police drama BOSTON BLUE (working title) starring Donnie Wahlberg as his BLUE BLOODS character Danny Reagan; THE ROAD, a singing competition series from executive producers Blake Shelton and Taylor Sheridan; and hit reality series SURVIVOR and THE AMAZING RACE. The original FBI series was formerly renewed through the 2026-2027 broadcast season. This brings the total number of series ordered for the 2025-2026 season to 16.

“This season, our new and returning series continue to showcase CBS as the leader in launching and programming the biggest hits with mass appeal for broadcast and streaming viewers,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “These returning shows represent a mix of long-standing hits and a new generation of fan favorites. In collaboration with our extraordinarily talented partners in front of and behind the camera, we look forward to delivering another successful season.”

CBS series dominate in both broadcast and streaming with returning series posting year-over-year growth. Below please find season-to-date live plus 35-day multiplatform data on returning shows:

GHOSTS delivers nearly 11 million multiplatform viewers with streaming alone up +9% year over year

FIRE COUNTRY delivers 10.6 million multiplatform viewers with streaming alone up +43% year over year

NCIS averages 10.4 million multiplatform viewers with streaming alone up +3% year over year

NCIS: ORIGINS delivers 9.2 million viewers with streaming alone up +72% year over year (from NCIS: HAWAI’I)

NCIS: SYDNEY is estimated to deliver 7 million viewers in live plus 35 days of viewing, based on its series premiere live plus 7 days of viewing estimates

HOLLYWOOD SQUARES is estimated to deliver 5.4 million viewers in live plus 35 days of multiplatform viewing, based on its season-to-date live plus 7 days of viewing average

SOURCE: Nielsen live plus 35 days of viewing (9/15/24-12/22/24) and CBS internal streaming data and Nielsen Most Current 09/23/24-02/16/25.

CBS shows are available on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+

Jon Lindstrom & Cady McClain Join ‘Beyond the Gates’ — Plus, More Scoop on the New Soap

In addition to the previously announced talent — Tamara Tunie (ex-Jessica Griffin, As The World Turns) as Anita Dupree, Clifton Davis as Vernon Dupree, Karla Mosley (ex-Maya Avant, The Bold and the Beautiful; ex-Christina Moore Boudreau, Guiding Light) as Dani Dupree, and Daphnée Duplaix (ex-Rachel Gannon, One Life to Live; ex-Valerie Davis, Passions) as Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson) — popular soap favorites Jon Lindstrom (Kevin Collins, General Hospital) and three-time Daytime Emmy winner Cady McClain (ex-Dixie Cooney, All My Children; ex-Rosanna Cabot, ATWT; ex-Kelly Andrews, The Young and the Restless; ex-Jennifer Horton, Days of Our Lives), have been tapped to join the star-studded roster.

“I’m just so thrilled to be a part of this incredible cast and this amazing show,” says McClain, who will play Pamela Curtis. “I think it is so exciting. It’s such a beautiful production and such amazing actors, and I have the great pleasure of getting to work a great deal with Karla. We have so much fun —probably too much fun. We play very, very, very, very, very dear old friends, and we get up to a bit of trouble.”

As for what drew Lindstrom, who will play Joey Armstrong, to the project, he says, “Michele Val Jean. Everybody knows that Michele is the best writer in the business, and they don’t want to admit it, especially if they’re another writer, but she is the very best in the business. And to be able to come down here to this brand-new studio and every day, every single member of this cast — this incredible cast — and this crew, who are so happy to walk through those doors every day and be a part of something, I think it is so groundbreaking. That’s the most special part of it all.”

Val Jean, who has toiled on a host of shows, including B&B, Generations, and GH, has been working on Beyond the Gates for decades, so to see it finally make it to air is a surreal experience. She credits Sheila Ducksworth, President, CBS/NAACP Production Venture, for helping to make her dream of a Black soap a reality. “The origin was over 20 years ago when I met Sheila Ducksworth through Vivica [A.] Fox [ex-Stephanie Simmons, Y&R],” Val Jean relays. “I’d created a nighttime pilot about a rich Black family, and Sheila read it, and she really liked it, and she said, ‘You know, I can’t do anything with this right now, but you and I are going to work together one day.’ So fast forward all these years later, she became the president of the CBS/NAACP Venture, and she called me and she said, ‘This is the time.’ And I said, ‘You know, I’m not sure I know how to do that.’ And she says, ‘Yeah, you do. You just don’t know you do.’ So, I didn’t think anything would come of it, because we all know how soaps have been canceled, not greenlit, so, I just figured it would be a nice COVID project. I kept writing my scripts for Bold and the Beautiful, and I worked on the Bible. And four years later, here we are, amazingly enough.”

Ducksworth says she was excited about the project from the moment she heard the pitch from Val Jean all those years ago. “What I really loved about the idea of this premise is that I love to work with things that are real and authentic,” she explains. “And many people don’t know that the DMV area — Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia — is one of the most affluent areas for Black Americans in the entire country. And it’s a place where many Black Americans are living in gated communities, on big, park-like grounds. I’m not a writer. That is Michele, writer, and creator. But the idea of a big sprawling Black family, in this area in the DMV where we could explore the upstairs and the downstairs of it all, and have it be really real and authentic and something that people can check the demographics and say, ‘This exists,’ was important in that regard. And yes, Michele was the only person that I really felt could capture that world, and she did it in a huge way.”

After getting the go-ahead for the series, casting began and Tamara Tunie — who hadn’t been on a soap scene since a brief appearance as Judge Weston on Days in 2011, but had great success in primetime on shows like Law & Order: SVU — was tapped to play matriarch Anita. “Back in September, end of August, I got a call from my rep saying, ‘There’s this new African American soap that they’re going to be shooting in Atlanta, and they’d like to offer you the role of the matriarch of the show,’” Tunie recalls. “And I said, ‘Well, let me read something, and then let me sleep on it.’ And so I woke up the next morning, and what was uppermost in my mind was the historic nature of this project, and the glass ceiling breaking of this project — to have an affluent African American family lead a daytime drama for the first time in history was very, very enticing to me.”

Tunie asked to speak to Val Jean and Ducksworth before she officially got on board, and when she heard who was in consideration to play her husband, she was even more intrigued. “Over a period of a week or two, whatever it was, we came to an agreement, and I joined the family,” she says. “And as soon as I joined the family, I sent an email to Michele and Sheila and said, ‘By the way, I just spent five days with Clifton Davis in Winston-Salem at the International Black Theater Festival. And if you’re still talking to him about Vernon Dupree, just know that we’ve connected, we’re friends, we’ve got a nice chemistry, and I’m just throwing it out there,’ and I left it at that. And so, a week or so after that, Clifton and I did a camera test together over Zoom, which was fun. And then the next morning he was Papa Dupree.”

TV and film veteran Davis had to do some quick shuffling to make it to the set on time. “I got the call to confirm the role on Thursday, and I had to be in Atlanta on Monday,” he shares. “So I had to organize myself to find a hotel, to get an apartment, to start life in Atlanta. And with my darling wife’s assistance, Monica, I was able to do it and to show up. And I got to tell you, at my age, to get a job is a wonderful thing. My first television show was the Melba Moore-Clifton Davis Show in 1972. I remember starting the first day of That’s My Mama on ABC in 1974. I remember starting Amen in 1986. I remember getting the recurring role that lasted five years on Madam Secretary in 2014.

“And here we are in 2024, 2025, doing another television show. That brought tears to my eyes just to look back and see how this business has advanced since those first days when African Americans’ jobs on Broadway and in television were few and far between. And to look around and see Black crew, Black writers, Black actors, and everything, it was overwhelming. And I am so humbled by this, and I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished. And as many years as I can give you, that’s what I’m going to do.”

For Karla Mosley, who lives in Los Angeles, her past relationship with Val Jean played a role in her accepting the part of Dani. “I have been friends with Michele since working on Bold and the Beautiful, and when she was working with Vivica [Fox], on Ambitions, she was always saying, ‘I’d love to rope you in on something,’ ” Mosley recalls. “You hear that in the industry time and time again, but then I saw her at her birthday party, and she said, ‘It’s happening, Karla, it’s really happening.’ And I was just over the moon for her and so excited. And she said, ‘It’s shooting in Atlanta.’ And I was like, ‘I’m not moving to Atlanta.’ But then, a couple months later when they were contacting people, they sent a script, and I read the script, and I read Dani, and I texted her, and I was like, ‘Damn it, Michele.’ And here I am.”

Duplaix says she waited weeks to find out whether she booked the role of Nicole — “I felt like I was being tortured,” she jokes — but when her team reached out with the news, it was worth the wait. “My manager sent me a test and he said, ‘Pop a bottle. It’s yours,’ ” she relays. “Just being an actor in this business, you want to do great work. It’s what we do. It’s what we have a passion for. And then when I really thought about the magnitude of what we were creating, what Sheila and Michele had put together, I was like, ‘Oh, my God, this is big. This is really big.’ And so I’ve just been so excited and so proud to be a part of this groundbreaking show.”

Seeing the production go from the page to the stage was an overwhelming moment for Tunie and Co. “I’ve spent 40 years in this business, and the majority of that time, I’ve spent being the only Black person on a set,” Tunie concludes. “And so to walk into this production, which is not exclusively Black, but is predominantly Black, and to be shooting it here in Atlanta when there’s such a wealth of incredibly talented Black practitioners, whether it’s hair and makeup, whether it’s acting, whether it’s camera operating, whether it’s crew — to walk into the studio and see all of these extraordinarily beautiful Black faces and to walk into Black excellence on the level that this is overwhelmed me. It brought tears to my eyes, and all I could feel was absolute joy.”

Beyond the Gates will premiere on CBS on February 24. From February 17-21, CBS will air a five-part special, Beyond the Gates: Welcome to the Neighborhood, in BTG’s future time slot, 2 p.m. ET. Hosted by Sheryl Underwood and Entertainment Tonight‘s Kevin Frazier, the special will go behind the scenes and show how the new soap came to life, showcase the cast and sets, offer a sneak peek of what’s ahead and so much more.

Beyond the Gates, Series Premiere, Monday, February 24, CBS, Check Local Listings.

Soap Star Jason Thompson Reflects on ‘General Hospital’ Supercouple Patrick & Robin

His relationship with Robin evolved into GH supercouple status. When asked about his favorite soap supercouple, Thompson immediately thought of Patrick and Robin.

“They were one of my favorite couples ever,” he told Swooon. “Now that I’ve had time to look back on that, I think it was a very special pairing. It was a time in their life, what they went through personally, you know, Kimberly being on the show since she was young, the HIV storylines that we got to play, all that kind of stuff. I thought it was a very special couple.”

Just like any soap couple, Patrick and Robin endured many highs and lows throughout their romance, but their love prevailed. The couple currently lives in Berkeley, California, with their son, Noah. Their daughter, Emma Drake (Braedyn Bruner), recently returned to Port Charles.

Bruner told TV Insider that she prepared for the role of Emma by “going back and watching old episodes and YouTube videos of what I could find of Robin and Patrick and what their relationship was like with Emma and also what Emma’s relationship was like with Anna [Finola Hughes].”

The actor made his final appearance on General Hospital in January 2016 to head over to Genoa City to play Billy. He spoke to Swooon about his character’s burgeoning romance with Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope). “I think there’s a lot that these characters could do together, however it goes, but I think there’s a lot of passion between the two of them,” he said. “So, I’m personally a big fan of the two of them together.”

Thompson certainly knows a thing or two about great soap couples, so maybe he’s on to something here with Billy and Sally.

77th annual Writers Guild Award Winner

Daytime Emmy Exec Explains New Acting Category That Could Have Your Favorite Newcomer Taking Home the Gold

TV Insider spoke exclusively with Rachel Schwartz, Head of Daytime and Children & Family Emmy® Awards to get the scoop.

How did the new Daytime Emmy category come about – Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series? It sounds exciting.

Rachel Schwartz: Absolutely, and I’m glad to hear that you’re excited about this new category because we are also excited about this new category. Last year, we unfortunately had to make the decision to get rid of the younger performer category. There just were not enough entries to consider it a viable category any longer. But it was never really our desire to remove a chance for some of the amazing on-screen talent in daytime to receive an Emmy.

So, this is going to be a new category specifically for people who are on their first daytime contract, so there is not necessarily an age parameter with it. Although, I do imagine that some of the people that enter into the category will be on the younger end of the spectrum.

There will be a limitation that you can enter the category for the first 2 years that you are on the program, and then at that point you’re no longer going to be considered “emerging,” and you also, if you win the category, then you can no longer enter it as well.

One of the inspirations for the category was actually a couple of months ago, the passing of Helen Gallagher, who, of course, was a three-time Daytime Emmy-winner for her role as Maeve Ryan on Ryan’s Hope. Before she started there, Helen was already a two-time Tony Award winner and was well-known to New York theater audiences. She then transitioned to becoming a very well-known, well-respected daytime performer.

Do contenders have to be contract? Shows have used performers in front burner stories with actors who may not be on contract for economic reasons.

You need to have a speaking role and you need to have at least one continuous story arc in order to be eligible for this new category.

How recently – or how far back — can a performer have joined a show to be eligible?

They can be on the show for up to two years and also enter the category for those two years – unless they win. Then, they will be, of course, still eligible to enter the lead or supporting categories if they remain on their program.

Not right now. Our contract with CBS expired last year. Switching the Daytime Emmys to October was mainly driven by our desire to move other Emmy awards – news and documentary – to earlier in the year.

‘The Neighborhood’: Justin Long, Kara Royster, Hunter King & Angelique Cabral Join CBS Spinoff

The quartet have options to become series regulars if CBS moves forward with the planted spinoff for the 2025-26 season and will star on the proposed series alongside The Neighborhood’s Marcel Spears and Sheaun McKinney who will move onto the offshoot.

The premise of the spinoff echoes that of the mothership in reverse. It follows Marty (Spears) and Malcolm (McKinney) Butler as they embark on new adventures, finally leaving their parents’ nest to start the next chapters of their lives, finding themselves the newcomers in a neighborhood that’s both close by yet worlds apart: Venice Beach.

Long will play Bruce, a tech millionaire who is a mix of unjustified confidence and social ineptitude. Cerebral, impulsive and a genius, Bruce has no boundaries or filter when it comes to saying what’s on his mind but deep down there’s a sweetness at his core and his sincerity ultimately wins Marty and Malcolm over.

Royster will play Matisse. A child of privilege, Matisse is Malcolm’s new neighbor and a would-be influencer. On the surface, she’s spoiled rotten but she’s also smart, interesting, sharp and analytical. When her father stopped bending to her every whim, she took it as a wake-up call and is now selling her own fabulousness.

King will play Bellamy. Dark, sardonic and often under the influence of edibles, Bellamy works generating content for the coolest cannabis boutique in SoCal. Despite her jaded outlook, she’s also hilarious, fun and a fiercely loyal friend. Bellamy does have secret dreams of doing something bigger, but for now, she’s content in her carefully curated world of detachment and irony.

Cabral plays Lisa. Impeccably dressed, high energy and unpredictable, Lisa is a fast-talking book agent who seems genuinely passionate about Malcolm’s writing talent and hopes to represent him and take him to the top of the literary world.

The Neighborhood kicked off in 2018 as a white Midwestern family, the Johnsons, moved into a predominantly black neighborhood in Pasadena, California, with the Butlers as their neighbors.

The multi-camera spinoff comes from The Neighborhood studio, CBS Studios, and production companies, Cedric the Entertainer’s A Bird and a Bear Entertainment, Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment and Wendi Trilling’s TrillTV. The Neighborhood showrunners Bill Martin and Mike Schiff executive produce with Cedric the Entertainer, Kaplan, Trilling and Eric C. Rhone.

The spinoff reunites King and Cabral with CBS and Kapital; the two were previously series regulars on the 2015 family comedy Life In Pieces.

Long recently starred in the first season of the Disney+/Hulu anthology series Goosebumps, Indy horror film Night Patrol and crime thriller Stranglehold. He recently wrapped production on the survival thriller Coyote. Long is repped by Independent Artist Group and Yorn, Levine, Barnes.

Royster is probably best known for her recurring roles on Pretty Little Liars and Dynasty. She is repped by Luber Roklin and The Kohner Agency.

King stars in Hallmark’s Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. She is repped by LINK Entertainment, Gersh and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof & Fishman.

Cabral recently voiced Queen Amaya in Disney’s animated film Wish and is recurring on the Amazon comedy series Clean Slate. She is repped by IAG, attorney Derek Kroeger and Karen Forman Management.

Eric Braeden Says He Was the ‘Only One’ Who Knew ‘Titanic’ Would Be a Hit

“I’m the only one who did,” he admitted. “And I remember being interviewed by [famed Variety writer] Army Archerd. He said, ‘Why are you the only one who says this is going to be a success? Everyone else is afraid it will sink 20th [Century Studios] and sink Paramount because it costs too much money.’ I said, ‘Very simple. It’s a soap opera, a very expensive soap opera. And I know something about soap operas.’”

The Young & the Restless star spilled some secrets from the set, including the moment director James Cameron showed him the first cut of the movie.

“My son, who was a film student then, and my wife wanted to come to the location,” Braeden revealed. “James Cameron, to me, is one of the geniuses in this business. He knows everything about filmmaking and then some. So, he stopped shooting and took me, my wife, my son, and my son’s girlfriend into his trailer, and he showed us the first five minutes that were cut together. I got goosebumps. I turned to him and I said, ‘You’re gonna make a sh**load of money.’ And he said, ‘From your mouth to God’s ears.'”

Braeden said he “knew then” that the movie “would make a fortune” and also had an inkling about how successful the film’s star Leonardo DiCaprio would become. “I knew then that Leonardo DiCaprio was a damn good actor,” he shared. “In between scenes, he would imitate some other actors so perfectly, it’s incredible. I said, ‘This guy is very gifted.’”

Talk Show Appearance

‘Y&R’ Star Eric Braeden Gets Candid About ‘Ups and Downs’ After Losing His Home

“It’s been kind of peculiar,” Braeden allows. “Emotionally, you go through ups and downs, but we shall take it step by step. There are uncertainties regarding insurance, and it’s a very difficult situation. When I saw the ashes, I looked into the rubble and remembered my wife and my granddaughter, who we adore, sitting there before Christmas and having a wonderful conversation about her experiences and her travels. But you’re never really fully prepared for the unforeseen events in life. I grew up during the Second World War, and that was arguably worse, so some of me is optimistic. You just look forward. Screw it all.”

Being able to channel his energy into playing Victor has been a welcome distraction for Braeden. “Oh, completely,” he nods. “You need to focus, otherwise you can’t do the scenes, so it gives you a little relief from the constant concerns and worries.”

Braeden says he and his family are talking about next steps in terms of their house and property. “We’re formulating the plan,” he shares. “I don’t want to rush into it. So far, we intend to rebuild, but that is contingent on insurance companies actually insuring us in those areas. That’s going to be a huge problem. On the one hand, they would want to rebuild the Palisades and other communities like it quickly because it’s an enormous tax base and finances all kinds of other situations in the city, so it is in everyone’s interest to rebuild quickly, but that can only happen after a thorough cleaning up of the soil, etc. So, it’s all in the works right now. I don’t think anyone has a definitive answer.”

A bright spot for his family has been the success of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, which was written and directed by Braeden’s son, Christian Gudegast. “It was number one in the box office for a while and I couldn’t be happier,” Braeden enthuses. “It’s interesting how life works. That was an enormous feeling of success and happiness, and then on the other hand, you are reminded of what you lost — 40 years of accumulated memories.”

Another high point is that he’s celebrating 45 years on Y&R, something Braeden never could have envisioned when he first began working on the soap in 1980. “If you had told me that then I would have said you’re crazy,” he muses. But there are a host of reasons why he has stuck around Genoa City for over four decades. “I love the show and I love playing the character. He is self-made. He is suspicious. He’s tough. He’s hard. But he’s also vulnerable and he wants family more than anything because he didn’t have it growing up in an orphanage. It’s difficult for Victor to trust. And this is all inherent in the groundwork that [Y&R’s co-creator and former head writer] Bill Bell laid.”

Braeden is aware of the reach his character has — he’s arguably the most recognizable face from the show — but won’t take all the credit for Victor’s popularity. “In the end, it is hard to define,” he offers. “You can’t define really define someone’s success in this business. It’s a marriage of the right role, the right time, on the right network, surrounded by the right people. It’s serendipitous, really.”

When pressed to name something he wishes he could have played more in his four-plus decades, Braeden responds, “Well, I kind of regret that there wasn’t this ongoing relationship with Ashley [Abbott, Eileen Davidson] — that could have always been looming in the background — but other than that, to be frank with you, no. I have enormous respect for the writers because I would not want to do what they do. I really would not. I don’t know how they do it. Do I disagree sometimes? Well, of course. Sometimes you do, but it is my task to make it real. That is the challenge and it’s more of a challenge than you realize. But writers are the most unsung people in this business, really. I also know from my son. I know what he goes through when he writes a script.”

Braeden reveals that he still gets a thrill when he has a good day at the studio. “It’s in the little moments,” he explains. “I just did a scene with Christian LeBlanc [Michael Baldwin], and he and I talked about it afterward and he did something in the scene, and I did something in the scene that suddenly made it all more real. I cannot often predict what I’ll do in a scene, but when you really listen and suddenly something comes to you, boom. It’s those moments I cherish. I love them. I don’t know why that excites me, but it does.”

While his focus over the years has been firmly on the soap, one memorable project Braeden was a part of was playing John Jacob Astor IV in the 1997 blockbuster, Titanic. Braeden says he knew it would be a hit, despite some concern from those around him. “I’m the only one who did,” he recalls. “And I remember being interviewed by [famed Variety writer] Army Archerd. He said, ‘Why are you the only one who says this is going to be a success? Everyone else is afraid it will sink 20th [Century Studios] and sink Paramount because it costs too much money.’ I said, ‘Very simple. It’s a soap opera, a very expensive soap opera. And I know something about soap operas.’ ”

Braeden and his family had a special experience during the production of the movie. “My son, who was a film student then, and my wife wanted to come to the location,” he relays. “James Cameron, to me, is one of the geniuses in this business. He knows everything about filmmaking and then some. So, he stopped shooting and took me, my wife, my son, and my son’s girlfriend into his trailer, and he showed us the first five minutes that were cut together. I got goosebumps. I turned to him and I said, ‘You’re gonna make a sh**load of money.’ And he said, ‘From your mouth to God’s ears.’ I knew then it would make a fortune, and I knew then that Leonardo DiCaprio was a damn good actor. In between scenes, he would imitate some other actors so perfectly, it’s incredible. I said, ‘This guy is very gifted.’ ”

As for what’s kept him in Genoa City all these years, Braeden reflects, “It’s the realization when I drive to work that I have a job. We entertain millions of people all over the world and that gives you a certain feeling of responsibility to do it as well as you can, and it gives you some joy as well. We have some damn good actors on the show. It’s love working with Joshua Morrow [Nick Newman], Mark Grossman [Adam Newman], Amelia Heinle [Victoria Newman], Melissa Ordway [Abby Newman], who, unfortunately, I’ve not seen much lately, Melody [Thomas Scott, Nikki Newman], obviously, Peter Bergman [Jack Abbott], Christian LeBlanc [Michael Baldwin], and Christel Khalil [Lily Winters]. They’re all wonderful.”

Braeden declares that he has no plans to step away from the job anytime soon. “No,” he says firmly. “There were moments, obviously, during negotiations and all that where you say, ‘OK, that’s it. Bon voyage,’ and then it always works out. But the actors I used to work with in the ’60s on nighttime television and film are either not working or they’re gone, passed away. I’m a stubborn son of a bitch. I’m still here.”

Kiernan Shipka & Mckenna Grace To Star In Picturestart Thriller ‘The Nowhere Game’

David Charbonier and Justin Douglas Powell (The Djinn) will direct off a script by Alex Pototsky, which made the 2023 Black List. WME Independent and UTA will co-rep domestic rights, with WME Independent handling international.

The film follows Carin (Grace) and Allie (Shipka), whose road trip takes a harrowing turn when the two young women are kidnapped by a cold-blooded sadist and thrust into a brutal game of survival. With a short head start, Carin and Allie will be set loose in the forest with limited supplies while being hunted in front of an online audience watching in grim fascination. With no sign of civilization and no way to call for help, the women rely on their wits and each other to evade capture. Navigating the hostile wilderness, they discover eerie clues left behind by previous “contestants,” painting a grim picture of the stakes they face. As the hunter closes in, realization dawns on them: surviving isn’t just improbable — it’s nearly impossible. Carin and Allie must shed their fear and transform from prey to predator to bring this twisted game to its final, bloody conclusion.

Recently working with Picturestart on the rom-com Sweethearts, which wound up at Max, Shipka is also coming off of performances in Twisters, Longlegs and the acclaimed indie drama The Last Showgirl opposite Pamela Anderson.

Soon to be seen in Scream 7, Grace was last seen starring in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

Charbonier and Powell are lifelong friends who recently completed their third feature, Push, a horror thriller starring Alicia Sanz and Raul Castillo that has been picked up by Shudder. Their first film, The Boy Behind the Door, had its world premiere at the 2020 edition of Fantastic Fest, releasing on Shudder along with their indie horror-fantasy The Djinn, which was acquired by IFC.

Picturestart is coming off of Sundance sucess with Together, the body horror pic starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie, which sold to Neon for a reported $17M, in one of the only big deals of this year’s festival.

Shipka is represented by WME, Anonymous Content, and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern; Grace by CAA, Entertainment 360 and attorney Stewart Brookman; Charbonier and Powell by UTA, Anonymous Content, and attorney Marios Rush; Pototsky by Writ Large and attorney David Jelenko; and Picturestart by WME.

Meet the Real Damian Kane: ‘Y&R’ Newbie Jermaine Rivers Opens Up About His Big Debut

So, when he booked the role of the mysterious newcomer, his mom was one of his first calls. “My mom and I have the best relationship, and I call her every day,” Rivers says. “Now, my mother doesn’t do social media at all, so I felt it was safe for me to give her a little crumb of, ‘Hey, Mom, I’m on the show, but you’re gonna have to keep this classified.’ She was like, ‘Are you gonna be the new son?’ She follows it! She doesn’t miss an episode.”

Growing up as a viewer wasn’t Rivers’ only tie to Genoa City and its denizens — he had met one of the show’s superstars on a previous project. “Fun fact: In 2017, I was working on a film called Den of Thieves with Eric Braeden, who plays Victor Newman,” Rivers relays. “It was directed by his son, Christian Gudegast. Eric and I would have conversations, and I would ask him questions and he was so gracious.”

Showing up on the first day was “a very surreal moment,” describes Rivers, who had to put his personal ties to the soap to the side to focus on his job. “I had to compartmentalize pretty quickly because it can mess with your head,” he confides. “I walked around and was like, ‘I recognize this set. I recognize the coffee shop,’ so it was kind of like, ‘Wow, I’m here,’ but then I thought, ‘Okay, now it’s time to do your job, have fun, enjoy the moment and make it real.’ ”

Rivers initially worked with Nathan Owens, who has been playing Fake Damian, and they quickly found common ground. “We hit it right off,” Rivers reports. “We had nice exchanges during filming. He’s a good guy and I see him as a friend.”

The two had crossed paths before in 2016 on Devious Maids. “We were on the same episode together. I saw him in passing, like, ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ and in hair and makeup. I think when you’re on your intended path, and you’ve been doing the work that’s putting you on a certain trajectory, you will meet the same people. He was pleasant then, and he’s even more pleasant now.”

As for what viewers can expect from Rivers’ version of Damian, the actor previews, “He’s a very cerebral, cautious man. He’s very strategic and plays his cards close to the vest. He’s a very successful businessman who is managing and overseeing a couple of companies, so he doesn’t have time for a lot of games or drama. With that level of anonymity comes mystery, so it’s going to be fun for everyone to see him initially, in contrast to what they’ve already been acquainted with with his proxy. You will see a contrast.”

Rivers had an unconventional path to soaps. After 20 years of active-duty military service, he was set to retire in 2013 and had to figure out his next move. A chance meeting in Savannah, GA changed the course of his future. “I was at a hotel bar and long story short, I met my former agent at the bar,” he shares. “I bumped into her, accidentally, and she spilled a drink, so I bought her another one and apologized. I walked out the door to the balcony and she came out a few minutes later and was like, ‘Thank you for the drink, and you have a great look. What do you do?’ I told her I was currently processing out of the military, and she said I could be an actor or model. I blew it off, but she gave me a business card.”

Rivers ended up signing with her and mere months later found himself working on a movie called Killing Winston Jones with Danny Glover and Richard Dreyfus. “I don’t think they released it,” he recalls. “Something happened in the distribution or whatever, but my first experience on set was as a featured extra on Killing Winston Jones and I got the bug. And then two months after that, I had a principal role on a movie called The Sacrament. By the time I was officially out of the military on June 31, 2013, I had about three or four regional commercials under my belt and a couple of films, and I was gaining a little ground. I knew it going in that it’s a game of inches and it’s going to be a slow grind, and I was okay with it.”

Many of his early roles had a similar vibe to them. “I played a cop on Law & Order: SVU, and I played an FBI agent on The Resident,” he lists. “I think I was just emanating law enforcement after 20 years of military, and then I said, ‘OK, now let me rebrand myself and try to find my way into being a love interest or whatever,’ and then I ended up being a Marvel superhero on The Gifted, playing Shatter.”

Booking that role was a dream come true for Rivers, who grew up devouring comic books. “I was such a comic book geek as a little Army brat in Germany,” he muses. “It was so deep for me that I would spend my lunch money to buy comics, so to be able to step into the shoes of a Marvel character that I was familiar with was another surreal moment.”

But his focus now is doing the most he can with Damian. “I’m excited,” he enthuses. “It feels like it’s been a long wait and I’ve been sitting on that secret but I’m excited for the world to meet the real Damian and to see the story progress. It is an absolute pleasure and a privilege to be there, and I have to honor it. It feels like the universe conspired for me to be at the right place at the right time to be placed where I am right now.”

Netflix 2025 Movie Slate With Former Soap Stars

DIRECTOR: Stephen Chbosky (Wonder, The Perks of Being a Wallflower)
WRITER: Liz Maccie
PRODUCERS: Gigi Pritzker and Rachel Shane for Madison Wells, Jack Turner for Boat Rocker’s Matador Content

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Scott Budnick and Ameet Shukla for 1Community, Alexis Garcia, Vince Vaughn, Jay Peterson, Todd Lubin for Boat Rocker’s Matador Content, Amanda Morgan Palmer and Stacy Calabrese for Madison Wells, Produced In Partnership with Fifth Season
KEY CAST: Vince Vaughn, Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, Linda Cardellini, Drea De Matteo, Joe Manganiello, Michael Rispoli, Campbell Scott

RIP
Drama / Thriller
Upon discovering millions in cash in a derelict stash house, trust among a team of Miami cops begins to fray. As outside forces learn about the size of the seizure, everything is called into question — including who they can rely on.

DIRECTOR: Joe Carnahan
WRITER: Joe Carnahan
PRODUCERS: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Luciana Damon and Dani Bernfeld for Artists Equity
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Michael Joe and Kevin Halloran for Artists Equity
KEY CAST: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Steven Yeun, Teyana Taylor, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Sasha Calle, Nestor Carbonell, Lina Esco, with Scott Adkins, and Kyle Chandler

WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
Mystery
Benoit Blanc returns for his most dangerous case yet.

DIRECTOR: Rian Johnson
WRITER: Rian Johnson
PRODUCERS: Ram Bergman, Rian Johnson
CAST: Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church

R&B
Drama
R&B is a contemporary version of the story of Ruth and Boaz, one of the most iconic love stories in the Bible. Set in Tennessee, R&B tells the story of a young woman who escapes the Atlanta music scene to care for an elderly widowed woman and in the process finds the love of her life and gains the mother she never had.

DIRECTOR: Alanna Brown
WRITERS: Michael Elliot & Cory Tynan
PRODUCERS: DeVon Franklin and Tyler Perry
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Angi Bones, Tony L. Strickland, Bart Lipton
KEY CAST: Serayah McNeill, Tyler Lepley, Phylicia Rashad, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Walnette Santiago, Nijah Brenea, James Lee Thomas, Jermaine Dupri, Lecrae Moore, Christopher Broughton, Yung Joc

TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S DESTINATION WEDDING
Comedy
Brian and his ex-wife Debrah are shocked to learn their daughter Tiffany is engaged to a rapper she met on a yacht—and the wedding is in two weeks. Madea and her crew head to the Bahamas, stirring up chaos and heartwarming fun.

DIRECTOR: Tyler Perry
WRITER: Tyler Perry
PRODUCERS: Tyler Perry, Angi Bones, Yolanda T. Cochran
KEY CAST: Tyler Perry, Cassi Davis Patton, David Mann, Tamela Mann, Taja V. Simpson, Diamond White, Jermaine Harris, Xavier Smalls

THE WRONG PARIS
Romantic Comedy
A young woman (Miranda Cosgrove) joins a dating show thinking it’s in Paris, France, but it’s actually in Paris, Texas. She plots a way to get eliminated until her unexpected feelings for the bachelor (Pierson Fodé) complicate her plans.

DIRECTOR: Janeen Damian
WRITER: Nicole Henrich
PRODUCERS: Brad Krevoy, Michael Damian
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Miranda Cosgrove, Galen Fletcher, Janeen Damian, Amanda Phillips, Jimmy Townsend, Vincent Balzano, Kelly Frazier
KEY CAST: Miranda Cosgrove, Pierson Fodé, Madison Pettis, Madeleine Arthur, with Frances Fisher and Yvonne Orji. Also starring Torrance Coombs, Christin Park, Emilija Baranac, Hannah Stocking.
ADDITIONAL CAST: Veronica Long, Naika Toussaint and Ava Bianchi.

Corbin Bernsen & Stephen Tobolowsky Wrap On Indie Comedy Pilot ‘Woodstockers’

The original logline for the dark generational comedy teased the story of “two guys who went to Woodstock in ’69 and never left,” with Bernsen and Tobolowsky respectively playing friends Lenny Baker and Cal Reddick. But per Bernsen, who relocated to the Hudson Vally six years ago, “Early on I had the good fortune to connect with Michael Lang, one of the original organizers of Woodstock, and quickly discovered a deeper story about the 60’s and a generation who espoused ‘Love and Peace,’ but failed in their early attempts to ‘change the world.’ At the same time, I witnessed a new generation dusting off the “hippie” mantra and giving it their own spin.”

Woodstockers‘ cast also includes Oscar nominee Barbara Hershey (The Portrait of a Lady) as Lenny’s wife Rebecca, and Maggie Lawson (Psych) as Bernsen’s ultra-conservative daughter, Alice. Others on the call sheet included Susan Ruttan (A Man on the Inside), John Glover (Smallville), Lea DeLaria (Orange Is the New Black), Lee Wilkof and Willie C. Carpenter (Reacher).

Bernsen co-wrote additional drafts of the pilot with Joshua Michael Stern (Jobs). Oliver Bernsen directed, having also recently wrapped production on his first feature Bagworm, which is scheduled to premiere this year. Zoe Rosenberg produced along with Bernsen through her Choxiee banner.

Indie TV pilots have been having a moment of late, with Mark Duplass’s Penelope being one notable success story, striking distribution deals with Netflix and Fremantle after premiering at last year’s Sundance Film Festival. At Sundance 2025, Cooper Raiff unveiled his independently produced series Hal & Harper, in which he stars opposite Lili Reinhart and Mark Ruffalo, with Lionsgate TV repping it for sales. Recently, we were also first to report on Books, an indie TV pilot starring Spencer Grammer and Ajay Naidu, from director Micah Khan.

Next to be seen on Apple TV+’s Your Friends and Neighbors and J.J. Abrams’ Max series Duster, the elder Bernsen is repped by Paradigm and Randy James Management. Seen on the hit Netflix series Nobody Wants This, Tobolowsky is repped by Innovative Artists and Framework Entertainment. Stern is with Innovative and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.

Colleen Zenk Reflects on Unexpected ‘Y&R’ Exit: ‘I’m Sad Jordan Went Away So Quickly’

Nevertheless, Zenk, who played As The World Turns’ Barbara Ryan from 1978 to the show’s finale in 2010, feels thankful to have been hired for the role after more than a decade away from soaps. “What a gift at my age and my tenure to be given that kind of character,” she reflects. “And to be able to work with the people that I worked with, first with Mel [Thomas Scott, Nikki Newman], then Amelia [Heinle, Victoria Newman] and sweet little Hayley [Erin, Claire Grace] and Eric [Braeden, Victor Newman] and then Ray [Wise]. It’s been so much fun.”

When the actress was initially tapped to play Jordan in 2023, the gig was short-term but quickly became longer. “When Josh [Griffith, executive producer/head writer] first got a hold of me, he said, ‘I’ve got this character. Are you interested? It’s only about 12 shows,’ ” she recalls. “And I said, ‘I’m in.’ And then the 12 shows turned into 50 and then I came back for another 22. It’s just been a great ride with a great group of people, from actors to production.”

Though Zenk had plenty of daytime experience under her belt, she says she battled nerves when she showed up to the studio. “It was daunting, and I was completely intimidated,” she confides. “Coming into the show that first week, I was terrified until Eric, on our first or second day of work, looked into the camera and he said, ‘Thank God, you hired me a pro.’”

She also found many familiar faces on set to help ease her way. “There are so many people out there from World Turns and Guiding Light,” she explains. “Chris LeBlanc [Michael Baldwin, who played ATWT’s Kirk McCall], I’ve kept up with for years and I’ve known Peter Bergman [Jack Abbott] since we were both 22. So, the New Yorkers made me feel like I was home, between Vivian Gundaker, one of our main producers who was the lead producer on World Turns, who I’ve known since she was an intern, down to Fritz Brekeller, who is one of our stage managers, who I’ve known since he was an intern on World Turns. And there were just so many people that came through that I’ve known from other shows in New York. Little Lizzie Henderson [Chloe Mitchell, who played All My Children’s Maggie and Frankie Stone] and I rebonded, which was great.”

Zenk also met some new co-stars over the months she spent there. “I met Jess Walton [Jill Abbott] for the first time when she came back for Devon [Bryton James] and Abby’s [Melissa Ordway] wedding [last November],” Zenk relays. “We were in the makeup room, and she gets up out of the makeup chair, she sees me, she runs over and we both start crying because we couldn’t believe after all these years, we had never met each other. And we had that beautiful little moment in the makeup room in front of everybody, and then I never saw her again.”

Ray Wise was another actor with whom she developed a close bond. “I’ve never met Ray before, but I knew his work,” she shares. “He’s everything that everyone told me he would be. He’s the real deal. He is kind, he is supportive, he is gracious, he’s funny as hell and he’s a pure gentleman. And he’s an actor who supports other actors. I loved my time with him, and we became good friends, and he’s called a couple of times since I’ve been home just checking up on me.”

There are other performers Zenk wishes she could have shared scenes with before she wrapped her run. “I never got a chance to work with Peter [Bergman],” she laments. “I only had one day with Christian [LeBlanc]. And Michelle Stafford [Phyllis Summers]! I adore her and never got to work with her or Tracey [E. Bregman, Lauren Fenmore]. We became really good friends. I thought I was going to be in the Abbott world when I came back but that didn’t happen. I would have loved to work with the Abbotts — Peter, Eileen [Davidson, Ashley Abbott] and Beth [Maitland, Traci Abbott] — all of them over there.”

Zenk says she loved working out what made Jordan tick and going along for the ride as she descended into madness. “I wasn’t given really any direction,” she notes. “I just had to go with what was on the page and figure Jordan out myself. The only thing I kept saying to Josh Griffith was, ‘If I go too far, pull me back.’ He said, ‘You can’t go too far.’ I went, ‘OK.’ That was very freeing as an actor. I had to jump in with both feet and not even think about how out there I was being.”

The actress appreciates the support she received from the show’s devoted fans when they heard she was cast in the role, and the positive feedback since. “I didn’t expect the overwhelming welcome I got when I came back and now I’m getting the overwhelming sadness because they’re saying, ‘No, no, don’t die,’ ” she muses. “So, I’ve had it from both ends and it’s been lovely. It’s been really lovely just seeing the outpouring of love and the respect that I’ve had from everybody.”

Though she’s kept busy since her Oakdale days, Zenk reports that she fully embraced her soap return. “I’ve been able to do a lot of different things since World Turns,” she offers. “I played Tallulah Bankhead in Looped, I did Hello, Dolly! again, and I played the gun-toting madam on a Western web series called Thurston. There was also a lot that came into my lap over the last decade or so that I turned down because I didn’t feel it was right. But when Josh got a hold of me for this, I felt it was right.”

And while she wishes the job could have lasted longer, “my biggest takeaway is I can still work this medium,” Zenk declares. “I can still do this. And for my age with no work, I look pretty good on camera, not too bad. For a 72-year-old woman to be given this kind of opportunity, I’d jump in again.”

‘The Young & The Restless’ Veteran Actress Colleen Zenk Departs CBS Sudser

Colleen Zenk, who joined the CBS sudser in November 2023 to play the villainess, appeared in her last episode Friday, January 24.

“We appreciate all of the incredible work that the amazing Colleen Zenk brought to The Young and the Restless and the role of Aunt Jordan,” Josh Griffith, Y&R‘s executive producer and head writer, tells Deadline.

While surrounded by members of the Newman family, Jordan succumbed to a cup full of crushed sleeping pills. It was that or the pokey, it seems. Jordan was happy to choose the former.

Zenk first joined the sudser to wreak havoc against the Newmans as a way to retaliate for the death of her sister Eve.

Y&R was lucky to recruit the popular daytime actress. Before arriving to Genoa City, Zenk played Barbara Ryan on As the World Turns from 1978-2010. She earned three Emmy nominations while working on the soap.

On TV: A Black History Month Special

The one-hour news special is hosted by Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner, the first Black co-hosting team for ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT. Filmed on location from the sets of CBS programs, the special guides viewers through a celebration of Black excellence in television. The hosts shine a spotlight on Black actors who are forging a path in daytime and primetime television. CBS stars share their personal stories and reflections on their time in the entertainment industry.

Damon Wayans, Damon Wayans Jr., Essence Atkins and Tetona Jackson (POPPA’S HOUSE)

Tamara Tunie, Clifton Davis, Daphnee Duplaix and Karla Mosley (BEYOND THE GATES)

The special also celebrates historic milestones, honoring trailblazers of the past, present and future, such as:

Isabel Sanford, the first Black actress to win a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy (1981)

Cicely Tyson, the first Black actress to star as a regular in a TV drama series (1963)

STAR TREK’s groundbreaking moment with the first interracial kiss on television (1968)

ALL IN THE FAMILY featured the first interracial married couple on television (1971).

Additionally, the show spotlights Black comedians who have shaped the industry, highlighting their cultural impact, including:

The Wayans family, known for their comedic legacy and impact across various entertainment platforms

Cedric the Entertainer and Tichina Arnold, who have brought laughter to millions through their roles on THE NEIGHBORHOOD

‘The Yeti’ Casts Brittany Allen, Eric Nelsen & More Ahead Of New York Shoot; Radiant Inks Pre-Sales

Production will begin later this month in Buffalo, New York, on the horror film from recently launched Torfoot Entertainment Group.

As we previously revealed, Radiant Films launched sales at last year’s AFM. The company has inked pre-sales for UK, Germany, and Italy with Plaion; Turkey with Aqua Pinema; India with Empire Networks; Middle East with Phoenicia; and Australia and New Zealand with Rialto. Sales will continue at the upcoming EFM in Berlin.

Pic is co-written and will be co-directed by Gene Gallerano (The First Wave) and William Pisciotta (Thunder Road).

The synopsis reads: “Oil tycoon Merriell Sunday Sr. and renowned adventurer Hollis Bannister have disappeared without a trace. Their last known location is northern Alaska. Ellie Bannister and Merriell Sunday Jr., set out to search for their missing fathers and the truth behind what made them vanish. As the rescue team heads deeper into the heart of this frozen landscape, danger mounts. Something has taken notice of their trespassing expedition…and that prehistoric something is now stalking them…hunting them.”

Creature design is spearhead by Wayne Anderson and Ali Gordon, known for their creature design on projects including The Predator, Jurassic World and Stranger Things. Stunt coordinator/second unit director will be Freddie Poole (Tulsa King) and production designer will be Frank Coppola (Nightmare Alley).

Torfoot is an LA-based film and TV firm spearheaded by producer Johnathan Brownlee (The Standoff At Sparrow Creek) and casting director-turned-producer Ross Meyerson (Damages).

Radiant CEO Mimi Steinbauer said of the multi-territory European deal: “We’re very excited to be partnering with Plaion on this project, they recently distributed Terrifier 3 which has been a huge box office success worldwide so we know the film will be in good hands.”

Brittany Allen is represented by Luber Roklin Entertainment; Eric Nelsen is represented by TCA; Corbin Bernsen is represented by Randy James Management and Paradigm Talent Agency; and William Sadler is represented by Insurge-Ent.

Don Diamont Shares Good News

“It’s been a harrowing week, to say the least!” Diamont began his update, a joint Instagram post with his wife, high-profile Los Angeles realtor Cindy Ambuehl. “We had to evacuate the Palisades Fire last Tuesday. It was touch and go, but our home and immediate neighborhood are still standing. We are so incredibly fortunate!”

The first slide in Diamont’s post is a selfie video in which the actor pointed out the National Guard members who are “sadly” patrolling his neighborhood and others, protecting it from looters seeking “to take advantage of people at their most vulnerable.” He then urged those following him who want to help those displaced and affected by the Los Angeles wildfires to donate to the Red Cross.

Diamont also included a photo of him with two first responders, as well as a selfie taken in his backyard where the flames of the fire can be seen in the distance as he crosses his index and middle fingers in the universal “good luck” symbol. Additionally, he shared two videos taken while he was driving in his neighborhood. The first clip, taken in the daylight, showed heavy smoke in the air as the fire burned in the distance while the actor drove past a long line of cars (presumably evacuees fleeing the area). The second video, filmed at dusk, shows even thicker smoke and the flames burning more intensely, casting a pinkish hue to the darkening sky.

“The videos I took driving into our neighborhood to get as much out of our home as possible gives a sense of it,” he relayed. “It was really just a matter of which way the winds were going to blow, and the tireless, courageous, heroic work of the Los Angeles Fire Department [and its Air Operations unit] heroes battling the inferno that made the difference.”

While grateful that his home was spared from the wildfires, Diamont acknowledged that there were area residents who were not as lucky. (His B&B co-star Jennifer Gareis (Donna) lost her home in Malibu; The Young & The Restless colleague Eric Braeden (Victor) saw the estate in the Santa Monica mountains that he’d called home for over 40 years burn to the ground; and General Hospital’s Cameron Mathison (Drew) was among the first to speak out and share that his Altadena home was gone.)

“Just three minutes away from our home, less than that as the crow flies, heartbreaking apocalyptic devastation,” he noted. “So many of our friends, my B&B family, former Y&R friends and castmates, and my wife’s business associates lost their homes and entire neighborhoods. The same holds true for thousands more! Our hearts go out to all.”

If you would like to help people affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, CBS has teamed up with the Red Cross to assist victims. Visit http://www.RedCross.org/CBS for information.

WGA Awards Nominations

Days of Our Lives, Head Writer Ron Carlivati Writers Sonja Alarr, Kirk Doering, Christopher Dunn, Jamey Giddens, David Kreizman, Henry Newman, Ryan Quan, Dave Ryan, Katherine D. Schock; Peacock

General Hospital, Head Writers Elizabeth Korte, Chris Van Etten Writers Nigel Campbell, Ashley Cook, Emily Culliton, Suzanne Flynn, Charlotte Gibson, Lucky Gold, Kate Hall, Catherine LePard, Patrick Mulcahey, Dan O’Connor, Shannon Peace, Stacey Pulwer, Anne Schoettle, Scott Sickles, Micah Steinberg; ABC

The Young and the Restless, Head Writer Amanda L. Beall Writers Susan Banks, Jeff Beldner, Marin Gazzaniga, Lindsay Harrison, Marla Kanelos, Rebecca McCarty, Madeleine Phillips, Dave Ryan; CBS/Paramount +

Eva Longoria Teams With Courage And Civility Award To Pledge $1M To L.A. Wildfire Relief

Former HUD Secretary Julian Castro announced the pledge on social media today, saying the funds will support both Castro’s Latino Community Foundation’s Wildfire Relief Fund and the California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund.

Both groups are partnering with front-line, grass-roots organizations that are deep in these communities and understand their needs.

Three wildfires are currently burning in Los Angeles Country — the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires — after starting almost a week ago. The death toll is 24 to date, with more than 38,000 acres burned and more than 3,100 structures destroyed, most in the Palisades and in Altadena where the Eaton fire started.

In March 2024, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos gave $50 million apiece from his Bezos Courage and Civility Award to Longoria and retired Navy admiral and former University of Texas System chancellor Bill McRaven. The annual prize is given to people who make significant contributions to society.

Longoria will discuss the donation further Tuesday when she co-hosts NBC’s Jenna & Friends, before heading back to L.A. to volunteer with Global Empowerment Mission and visit World Central Kitchen’s Eaton Fire operations.

Talk Show Appearance

Y&R Star Eric Braeden Makes Emotional Return to Home Lost to LA Fires

Actor Eric Braeden talks about California wildfires, Donald Trump

Y&R’s Eric Braeden Says “Goodbye” to His Family Home

The daytime legend had first posted a video of his beautiful backyard early on, sharing with his Instagram followers just how close the flames were to the edge of his property. “Behind my house! The worst ever in L.A.!” he said of the fire blazing brightly on the other side of his pool. You can even see the glow of the fire reflected in the still pool waters.

Several hours later, the Y&R star gave another, more serious update: He and his wife, Dale, were being forced to leave as the Santa Ana winds pushed the blaze terrifyingly close to their home. Showing his backyard from the same vantage point as his earlier video, Braeden simply captioned his post, “Saying goodbye.”

In this second video, however, the orange glow from the fire beyond his backyard pool was much more intense. “Well, we’re going to have to evacuate our house,” he said as a helicopter flew over the scene, attempting to battle the raging flames below. “You see this beautiful area go up in flames. Unbelievable. All right. God bless you all. Be cool. Bye.”

The Braedens have lived in their beautiful home in the Santa Monica mountains for 40 years, and we can only imagine that they are quite worried that the fire will destroy their property. Many soap stars live in the Los Angeles area, and the list of those impacted by the historic wildfires is growing. Several have shared updates on if they needed to evacuate, and three members of the daytime community have unfortunately lost their homes. General Hospital’s Cameron Mathison (Drew) revealed that he lost “everything” when his home burned to the ground; The Bold & The Beautiful’s Jennifer Gareis (Donna) reported that her family’s home “is gone” from the fire that ravished the beachside community of Malibu; and Y&R’s Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea) shared in an Instagram Story that she and her family will never get the opportunity to move into the home they bought just two weeks ago in Pacific Palisades “that’s now destroyed.”

Jennifer Gareis Loses Her Home in the Wildfires

The actress shared a photo of herself with her daughter Sophia posing happily on the beach as she shared the sad news. “I had no idea this past weekend was my last beach walk and sunset in Malibu… at least until we can rebuild the community after this devastating fire,” Gareis wrote. “Thank you for your messages. Our home is gone but we are safe. I pray for all of the families who have lost their homes and memories. Stay safe!”

Many soap stars have shared updates on their situations including evacuating their homes, and General Hospital’s Cameron Mathison (Drew) shared a heartbreaking video of what was left of his home after the wildfires tore through the neighborhood.

Before joining the cast of B&B, Gareis starred as Grace Turner on sister soap The Young & The Restless, and naturally, her co-stars shared the love in the comments on her emotional post. “Oh love, I’m so sorry,” wrote Karla Mosley (ex-Maya, B&B; Dani, Beyond the Gates). “And so glad you are safe. Sending all the love and light.”

“I am so very, very sorry!” declared Kate Linder (Esther, Y&R). “Thank goodness that you and your family are safe! My heart and love are with you!” Katrina Bowden (ex-Flo, B&B) shared: “Oh, Jen, I’m so sorry about your home. So happy you’re safe, though. Sending so much love.”

Daytime, News & Documentary Emmys Move Dates

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) is moving the News & Documentary Emmy Awards from September to June, while the Daytime Emmys are moving from June to October.

“For nearly half a century, the News & Documentary Emmys have honored the best in broadcast journalism and documentary programming,” said NATAS President and CEO Adam Sharp. “Moving the ceremony earlier in the Emmy schedule shines a brighter light on the timely nature of the incredible content being recognized.”

This means 46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards will have an adjusted timeline. Entries open on January 9, regular deadline is January 24, final entry deadline is February 7, the judging window is now March 3 – April 13 and the nominations will be announced the week beginning April 28 before the event in June.

The eligibility window remains the same; all content originally broadcast in calendar 2024 is allowed.

This comes after the 45th Annual News & Documentary Emmys were celebrated on September 25 and September 26, 2024 with lifetime achievement honors given to the likes of Jane Pauley and Alex Gibney.

As a result, the 52nd Daytime and Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards will be held in October.

The 51st awards were held in June 2024 with Netflix’s African Queens: Njinga and Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones scoring three wins each.

NAACP Image Awards Nominations

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Adjoa Andoh, “Bridgerton” (Netflix)
Coco Jones, “Bel-Air” (Peacock)
Golda Rosheuvel, “Bridgerton” (Netflix)
Lorraine Toussaint, “The Equalizer” (CBS)
Lynn Whitfield, “The Chi” (Paramount+)

Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie)
Aaron Pierre, “Rebel Ridge” (Netflix)
Colman Domingo, “The Madness” (Netflix)
Kelvin Harrison Jr., “Genius: MLK/X” (National Geographic)
Kevin Hart, “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” (Peacock)
Laurence Fishburne, “Clipped” (FX/Hulu)

‘Days of Our Lives’ Alum Nathan Owens Teases ‘Very Delicate,’ Mysterious ‘Y&R’ Role

Owens, whose career began in 2012 when he was cast as Days of Our Lives’ Cameron Davis, had some jitters about returning to the medium. “I’m not going to lie to you, I was a bit nervous,” he admits. “I know the speed at which the soaps move, so the preparation is key. I remember that being one of the issues I had when I was on Days, it being the first acting job I ever got. I was so green; I didn’t really know how to operate in that space and I kind of drowned a little bit because it was a bit difficult at that time. But I’ve seen a lot since then, so now I know the preparation that it takes.”

Though he only spent a year in Salem, Owens says he took a lot from the experience. “It really showed me how to prepare yourself in this industry in many different ways,” he reflects. “I was a lot younger at the time, and I wasn’t as focused as I think I should have been for something so big. I think my time there really gave me better insight going forward, about preparing and focusing and having discipline to make sure that you’re there and professional and a good scene partner. It really gave me a lot of tools for the rest of my acting career, not just in soaps. And I made some really good friends.”

After his Days run wrapped, Owens landed on Marc Cherry’s comedic drama, Devious Maids. “I was auditioning a lot after I left Days,” Owens recalls. “I actually did an ABC showcase in that interim period, which really put me on the map, I think, with a lot of the ABC shows. Thankfully, the folks at Devious Maids saw something in me and scooped me up for a couple of seasons, which was really fun.”

Owens played Jesse Morgan, a fitness instructor. “I liked the fun that you could have with the dramedy,” he shares of being in the campy series. “The cast was so amazing. We would do our dinner nights, and we really got to explore Atlanta when we were in production there. That was pretty cool because that was my first time ever being there for a longer amount of time.”

He also toiled with All My Children legend Susan Lucci (Erica Kane), who played Genevieve Delatour. “She was really cool,” Owens relays. “She’s a very sweet human being and we had a blast.”

Owens feels the show gave him a good career boost. “It put me on the prime time path,” he explains. “I was exposed to a lot more eyes on me, so I got more opportunities. One was travel. I remember I was in Colombia and I was going through security and somebody spotted me and said, ‘You’re on Devious Maids, right?’ And this was a couple of years after the show had already been canceled, so I was like, ‘Wow, ok.’ But it turns out they have a massive fan base in a few pockets around the world. That’s actually happened multiple times in a lot of different cities.”

Owens next landed on The CW’s Batwoman playing Ocean. “That was a whole other experience in and of itself because it was during the pandemic and it was in Vancouver,” he says. “The quarantine that was involved with that just really tested the mental fortitude of everyone. We all became very close because we kind of leaned on each other through those trying times.”

For the actor, a superhero fan, the gig was “like a dream come true. I used to collect comic cards and comic books growing up, so that was a trip to me, especially when we would go to set and see what the wonderful team had done there as far as the set design and creating the bat cave and all that jazz. I geeked out on all the set designs and the intricacies and the details that they put in. So, stepping on any of those sets and knowing that it was the DC world was amazing.”

He’s also done a handful of Christmas movies. His latest one, A Season to Remember, aired on OWN last month. “That was really wonderful,” he raves. “And then the one prior to that, The Christmas Sitters, I worked with another Y&R cast member, Melissa Ordway [Abby Newman] and her husband [Justin Gaston, Chance Chancellor]. That was a cool little surprise when I showed up on set and I got to see her.”

Now, he’s hoping to run into a fellow Days alum. “I haven’t seen Eileen Davidson [Ashley Abbott] yet, but she was over at Days [as Kristen DiMera] when I was there, which is pretty cool. I’m looking forward to seeing her.”

Owens reports that Y&R’s cast and crew have been very welcoming and made him feel at home on his first day. “I shook a lot of hands, met a lot of different people,” he remembers. “Everyone was incredibly warm. From the point I parked, I really didn’t know where to go, and I ran into one of the makeup artists, Amanda [Goldstein]. She literally walked me to where I needed to go. Everyone was very kind and inviting. That’s what really stood out to me, the warmth from everybody. The folks that I got to work with on day one were amazing. Sean Dominic [Nate Hastings] is one of them and he was great.”=

Owens can’t say a lot about his new part, which will become clearer as the weeks unfold. “He plays a very delicate role in this scenario, and he’s a very mysterious guy,” Owens winks. “He holds his cards close to the vest and he keeps things tight. I like diving into the mysterious world my character has. I very much enjoy this character and the depth that he can bring to the show.”

Phil Morris Guest Stars on Fire Country 1/31/25

“Coming in Hot” – With the Chezem Valley fire blazing out of control, Bode and Audrey must find a way to save themselves; Manny risks his freedom for his missing daughter; and Eve tries to protect her father (Phil Morris) and their family’s ranch, on FIRE COUNTRY, Friday, Jan. 31 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs)*. Series star Kevin Alejandro directed the episode.

‘General Hospital’ Star Steve Burton Engaged to Michelle Lundstrom

Burton and Lundstrom announced their engagement on social media on January 4 with a carousel of photos from the proposal, including the moment when Burton got down on one knee. The couple actually got engaged a day earlier on January 3.

“Engaged 1/3/25,” their caption began. They also included a verse from Jeremiah: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Many of the actor’s GH costars sent their love in the comments. Kimberly McCullough wrote, “Congratulations!” Rick Hearst said, “Steve and Michelle I wish you both a long, loving and fruitful life together! Congratulations.” Finola Hughes added, “Oh Steve!!!! Congratulations! I wish you both all the happiness in the future, you are a wonderful couple! Congratulations Michelle!”

Burton and Lundstrom began dating in 2024. He confirmed his new relationship in May 2024 to Daily Drama. The couple made their red carpet debut at the 2024 Daytime Emmys a month later.

At the start of 2025, Lundstrom reflected on her past year with Burton. “Some years you wish you could just fast forward & forget,” she began. “I’ve had a few of them for sure. Then one day you’re living life differently…welcoming big changes, feeling content & full of LOVE. I hope to remember the memories from this last year forevaaaa and for that I’m grateful.”

Lundstrom is a recipe creator best known for being a Netflix’s BBQ Showdown competitor. She was a contestant in Season 2 and came in third place.

This will be the second marriage for Burton. He was previously married to Sheree Burton for 23 years before their separation in 2022. “I wanted to clear something up. Sheree and I are separated,” he wrote on his Instagram Story at the time. “She recently announced that she’s expecting her 4th child. The child is not mine. We are still co-parenting our three beautiful kids. We would appreciate privacy at this time. Much luv, Steve.”

He filed for divorce in July 2022. Their divorce was finalized in 2023. They have three kids together.

What to Expect From ‘Y&R’ in 2025: Life or Death for Sharon & Phyllis, Kyle’s Love Triangle, and More

“I feel really good about the fact that we were able to reestablish the Phyllis [Summers, Michelle Stafford]/Sharon [Newman, Sharon Case] battle dynamic and rekindle the friendship between Nikki [Newman, Melody Thomas Scott] and Jack [Abbott, Peter Bergman] over her alcoholism,” Griffith reflects. “Him helping her out, especially that wonderful two-hander episode that we did in the in the hotel room [in May] with Peter and Melody, just knocked it out of the park.”

Heather Stevens’ [Vail Bloom] murder, which took place in September, had a ripple effect through the town, but especially on Sharon, and was a story driver. “With the whole arc of Heather’s murder and Sharon’s belief that she was guilty and all the people that were affected, I felt like I got to tell my Hitchcock movie finally,” Griffith muses. “The momentum kept going and I just kept finding new directions and new twists to spiral out, with just a killer performance by Sharon Case. Bringing back Linden [Ashby] as Cameron [Kirsten] as sort of her vision and muse yielded much more story and much more excitement than I even thought it would. I was excited about it going in, but I wasn’t prepared for how well I think it spun out. And the return of Ray Wise [Ian Ward] and Colleen Zenk [Jordan Howard] was a real plus for me.”

Colleen Zenk as Jordan Howard and Ray Wise as Ian Ward on 'Young and the Restless'

There was one storyline that hit close to home for the scribe. “I was very proud of the Connor Newman [Judah Mackey] OCD story because that’s a very personal story for me,” Griffith reveals. “A couple of years ago, my daughter was diagnosed with OCD. The journey that my wife and I went through with her, learning how severe and debilitating it is, and how so many people are unaware of it, made me feel it was important to tell that story. I was really proud of the story and really proud of how Missy [Claire Egan, Chelsea Lawson] and Mark [Grossman, Adam Newman] and Judah handled it.”

Another absorbing tale was Ashley Abbott’s (Eileen Davidson) journey through Dissociative identity disorder. “I loved the Ashley DID storyline,” Griffith says. “I thought she just knocked that out of the park. I thought it was engrossing, it was exciting, and it was wonderful to watch her dig into the material, so I was really happy about that.”

Griffith also got to pen the show’s 13,000th episode on November 13 which included a rebuild of the Newman ranch that burned down in 2012. “Bringing back the Newman ranch has been a long time in the works,” Griffith says. “And I’m thrilled that finally we could pull it off for Nikki and Victor [Newman, Eric Braeden] and for Mel and Eric to have that back. I want to give special kudos to our art department, who just did an amazing job of recreating the old ranch even grander and more opulent.”

Griffith says he is well aware that it was not the most popular decision all those years ago. “I was part of the regime that burned it down and it got us a good Adam/Sharon story, but let’s just say all has been rectified,” he notes.

As for to expect 2025, Griffith declares, “It will be even better than 2024. It will be a whirlpool of romance, suspense, and family conflict.”

Sharon Newman, Nick Newman, Phyllis Summers, Mariah Copeland, and Tessa Porter

“This story is going to explode over the next month or two in a major way, with a lot of surprising reveals as to what really happened over the course of the last six months. It will shake up Mariah [Copeland, Camryn Grimes] in a huge way and affect her relationship with Tessa [Porter, Cait Fairbanks], and it will bring Sharon and Nick closer than ever. He is the one who’s determined to find out what happened to her. He’s leading the charge, so it’s going to be very exciting and very suspenseful. Sharon and Phyllis will be thrown into a life-or-death situation where they’re both going to have to reevaluate their relationship.”

“For the longest time, they seemed to have reached a détente. But one of the things that I loved about how Nikki’s alcoholism and Jack’s involvement in that spun out was that I was able to reignite, in a very organic and dramatic way, the rivalry and the hatred between Victor and Jack. That’s going to continue, and in true Jack/Victor battle history, just as one thinks they bested the other, the other one comes up with another strategy. So, the war is going to escalate. Victor’s going to go after Jack where it hurts, which is [his company] Jabot, and unfortunately, in a big Romeo and Juliet type story that we’re going to tell, Claire [Grace, Hayley Erin] and Kyle [Abbott, Michael Mealor] will be caught right in the middle.”

“Claire and Kyle are going to have to fight the fact that Victor doesn’t want them together and Jack is worried that they shouldn’t be together because of what Victor might pull. Summer [Allison Lanier], in true ‘I’m Phyllis’s daughter’ fashion, will A, feel a pull back to Kyle and B, sense an opening, so if Victor and Jack weren’t enough for Kyle and Claire to have to worry about, Summer’s decision of, ‘Maybe I want Kyle back,’ is going to throw another wrench into that. We’re going to see Summer sort of return to her Phyllis attitude.”

“As we build this powerful Romeo and Juliet story, they will all be affected — Nikki, Victoria [Newman, Amelia Heinle], Victor — and Nick will be heavily involved in the next arc of this Ian fallout for Sharon.”

“I’m really intrigued by this. They’re coming together off this mutual sense of betrayal by Adam and by Chelsea and it puts them in a very interesting and romantic situation. I think Sally [Spectra, Courtney Hope] is going to be a very good influence for Billy [Abbott, Jason Thompson], and as we slowly introduce Phyllis into that mix, Phyllis becomes the sort of darker angel on one shoulder of Billy’s while Sally is the lighter one on the other.”

“They really emotionally rebonded as parents as they dealt with Connor’s OCD. They had that one night in Baltimore, and they’re going to find it harder to isolate that night as just a one-time thing that came out of fear and grief, and realize that there’s more to their relationship that still exists beyond being parents.”

“[New hire] Nathan Owens, who’s fantastic, is just the first step in a major, evolving mystery for the entire Winters family. It will have major impact on Nate [Hastings, Sean Dominic], on Devon [Winters, Bryton James], and especially on Lily [Winters, Christel Khalil], but we’re going to find out that maybe Audra [Charles, Zuleyka Silver] has some more skeletons in the closet as well as we get into this mystery.”

“Daniel [Romalotti, Michael Graziadei] has to find a way to get full closure from the death of Heather, find a way to totally forgive Sharon, and set himself off on a new path with a potentially, I don’t want to say romance, but a but a bit of a walk on the on the emotional wild side.”

“We’re headed for a wild ride and a massive showdown between this diabolical duo and the Newmans. Look for major showdowns between Nikki and Jordan and Victor and Ian.”

Sean Kanan Says ‘Fear of Losing’ His Wife Was ‘Ultimate Catalyst’ for His Sobriety

In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE alongside wife Michele Kanan, the Bold and the Beautiful star, 58, opened up about what motivated him to quit drinking nearly five years ago. He recalled the moment when Michele made a candid plea that hit him "like a lightning bolt."

"She said to me at one point, 'I have put my heart and everything into this relationship. Please tell me that I didn't back the wrong horse,' " says Sean, who has portrayed Deacon Sharpe — a character who similarly struggled with alcohol issues — on the daytime soap since 2000.

"I had been trying for a very long time to get sober, and I had intermittent periods of success followed by fairly catastrophic setbacks, let's say. But when I heard that, I don't know. The skies parted," he continues. "It set something in motion that was different than everything before."

Sean says it was the thought of losing Michele that gave him the push he needed to make a lasting change.

"I believe there's two forces in the universe that create profound and lasting change in human beings, and that's fear and love. I was motivated by both," he explains. "I was in fear of losing the thing that I loved the most, which was Michele, and that was the ultimate catalyst that finally got me to get it together."

Michele quickly clarified that she wasn't giving Sean an "ultimatum," but rather offering him a "safe space" to inwardly reflect and do the work to set himself on a path toward sobriety.

"I told him, 'Look, this is our life together, and it's either going to be painful and you're going to watch me slowly die because I love you, and I see that you're hurting yourself for some reason that I can't fix, and that's going to slowly kill me as well. So, we're in it together. Whatever you want to do, the ball is in your court,' " she tells PEOPLE.

She continues, "To me, being a partner is you take the good and the bad. I always knew that that guy was in there. I just was waiting for him to see that it was okay to come out. I figured if I provided a safe space for him, that he would be able to do it."

"I'm definitely the kind of guy, you put your finger in my chest and you're not going to get the reaction that you want, but if you give me positive reinforcement and allow me the space to do a little critical thinking, I almost always make the right decision. That's what Michele did," he explains. "I mean, she really played the long game. She understood this was not going to be a quick fix, but given the right environment and the right positive reinforcement, that I was going to get it."

The Cobra Kai star says his hard-fought sobriety has had "a profound effect" on his life and taught him a valuable lesson.

"Somebody said something to me once, and it sounds so simple, 'Would you give up one thing to have everything?' I gave up this one thing, and I have everything. I mean, I truly have everything," Sean says. "That doesn't mean that I don't strive for more, but my life is amazing. Probably the most incredible part about [giving up alcohol], aside from my relationship with Michele, is that I don't miss it. It's not like I'm white knuckling it and I'm hanging on."

"I attribute it to God, to my relationship with the Almighty that there has been something that has been fundamentally removed from me that I didn't ever think could be removed," he continues, adding, "I also attribute a lot of it to my love and relationship with Michele."

The pair — who married in 2012 — share some of their relationship wisdom in their book Way of the Cobra Couples, released on Oct. 8. According to a synopsis, the book promises to teach readers "the mindset, philosophy and battle-tested strategies that led [Michele and Sean] to a life of meaningful happiness together."

Michele credits their open communication and unflinching honesty with each other for leading them to a place where their relationship is now stronger than ever.

"When I first met Sean, he was going through some things, and I was also going through some things. We were in this really troubled time in our life, and we didn't try to hide them or pretend that it wasn't happening," she explains. "We just trudged through them. I feel like we came out the other side and are stronger because of it."

She adds, "Our relationship works because we inherently talk to each other. We inherently care about each other, and we're respectful to each other."

Geoffrey Deuel Dies: ‘Chisum’ Actor Who Played Billy The Kid Was 81

The news was additionally confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter by wife Jacqueline Deuel. The performer, younger brother to Peter Duel (who became known for portraying Hannibal Heyes/Joshua Smith on the popular ABC Western Alias Smith and Jones prior to his suicide), died in hospice care in Florida following a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

“He and Peter were very close,” Jacqueline Deuel told THR. “They really loved each other and took care of each other.”

Deuel, who was born Jan. 17, 1943, mostly appeared on television in a variety of series stretching from the late ’60s to mid-’70s. Among those credits are The Monkees, The Invaders, The F.B.I., The Manhunter, Medical Center, Barnaby Jones, Mannix, Adam-12, The Mod Squad, Mission: Impossible, The Streets of San Francisco, Ironside, Cannon, The Young and the Restless, To Rome With Love and more.

Born in Lockport, New York to a doctor father and nurse mother, he was raised in nearby Penfield. After attending Penfield High School, Ithaca College and Syracuse University, Deuel followed in his brother’s footsteps, beginning his career in Hollywood in 1965. The following year, he appeared in an episode of ABC’s 12 O’Clock High. Deuel and Duel, who was three years his senior, worked alongside one another on a 1971 episode of NBC’s The Name of the Game.

In the 1980s, Deuel acted in plays in Tampa, Fla. and returned to higher education to earn a master’s degree from the University of South Florida. Thereafter, he became a substitute teacher.

He is survived by his wife — whom he married in 2017 after four decades together — and younger sister Pamela.

‘The Young & The Restless’ Adds Former ‘Days Of Our Lives’ Actor Nathan Owens

The sudser will kick off the new year by adding Nathan Owens — who played Cameron Davis on Days of Our Lives — in a mysterious new role. Details on his character are being held under wraps but Y&R promises his arrival will create plenty of excitement and intrigue for the locals.

The former model turned actor recently starred in the OWN holiday movie A Season to Remember and has completed production on the independent feature, A Mother’s Love, in the lead role. His past credits include series regular roles on Devious Maids as well as recurring roles on Batwoman and 911: Lone Star.

In 2012, Owens assumed the role of Cameron Davis on the then-NBC sudser DOOL. He became a romantic squeeze for Abigail Deveraux but his most memorable arc was how he moonlighted as a male stripper to help pay the bills. Owens left the show in 2013.

‘Scream 7’ Adds Mckenna Grace To Cast

Original creator Kevin Williamson is directing Scream 7 with Guy Busick writing. Project X Entertainment’s James Vanderbilt, William Sherak and Paul Neinstein are producing. The pic has a February 27, 2026 worldwide release date.

A logline for the new slasher has not been disclosed, and it is unknown who Grace will be playing in the pic. It comes on the heels of Scream VI, which brought in a franchise-high domestic gross of more than $108 million in March 2023. Collectively, films in the meta horror franchise have earned more than $900 million in worldwide box office.

Grace will next be seen in the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s Regretting You opposite Allison Williams, to be directed by Josh Boone. Other credits include starring in Ghostbusters: After Life and Ghostbusters: The Frozen Empire and Gifted.

Valarie Pettiford & Telma Hopkins Talk Reuniting on ‘Y&R’ Almost 20 Years After ‘Half & Half’

The actors, who toiled alongside each other on the series that ran from 2002-2006, have remained close since the show wrapped. “When we auditioned together for Half & Half, we started developing a relationship,” says Hopkins, who played Phyllis Thorne. “I got her all to myself for four whole years. Best time of my life.”

Pettiford, who portrayed Deirdre “Big Dee Dee” Lafontaine Thorne, reveals that Hopkins surprised her with the news they’d be reconnecting. “They didn’t even call me,” Pettiford shares. “She called me and said, ‘Guess what?’ ”

Explains Hopkins, “Because they had to ask me if I would do it first. And I happened to be going to South Africa during the time that they wanted me, and they actually rescheduled, so we got to work together. And that, for me, is just everything. I mean, whenever I’m with Valarie, I’m always having a good time. It’s extended family, and we just appreciate each other whenever we’re together. It’s just disgusting.”

Muses Pettiford, “I know. Good God. I know, it’s really gross, but I love her.”

Hopkins, who previously appeared on Y&R in 2021, will reprise the role of private detective Denise Tolliver. As a newcomer to soaps back then, “It was frightening,” she recalls. “The only reason I got talked into it was because Bryton [James, Devon Winters] played my son on Family Matters, and he can kind of talk me into anything.”

But she did have some ground rules. “I had warned them beforehand, ‘Don’t give me all that dialogue that y’all used to doing, because I will run out of here and go play in traffic,’ ” quips Hopkins. “So they were very kind to me the first couple of times. And then the last time I worked with Bryton, we had, like, 12 pages. I almost had a nervous breakdown. Other than that, it’s been great. It’s a pleasure for me because I started watching Young and the Restless with my grandmother when I was a little baby. And the people here are so fun. I’ve watched them for so long, I actually talk to them as if they know me.”

Pettiford, who made her Genoa City debut on October 29 as Amy Lewis, had soap experience early in her career, appearing as Courtney Walker on Another World from 1988-90 and Dr. Sheila Price on One Life to Live from 1990-94. But after a 30-year gap, “It freaked me out, too, all this dialogue,” she admits. “It was interesting. But when you’re in your dressing room, you can see the other actors filming their stuff before you go and do your scenes, and something about it calmed me down. They were, first of all, so brilliant. And it’s okay if you mess up a line and you have to take it again or whatever. One of the actors was having trouble. It was like, ‘I wish I had your kind of trouble,’ because she was so brilliant, so it just reminded me of that rhythm again and then I immediately got back into it. For the most part, it was like riding a bike.”

Sharing scenes together again came easily. “We’re so comfortable with each other,” observes Hopkins. “I mean, we spent four years, five days a week together, and we were adversaries on [Half & Half], which was really fun to play. It just gives it a foundation, a kind of gravitas that it wouldn’t have if we didn’t have the relationship we have. So, we don’t have to work at that, we just have to work at the scene.”

In the story, Amy asks Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic) to help her find her missing son Damian, who is Nate’s half-brother. Nate will hire Denise to track him down. Pettiford says she is enjoying getting into the deeper parts of Amy’s plight. “I’m having the time of my life,” she declares. “I’m getting to play every bit of me. I’m getting a chance to exercise some muscles that have been dormant or I haven’t used in a while and I just feel so free. And it really is a dream. I’ve been around a long time and I’ve done it all with the best of the best and this is right up there with it.”

For Hopkins, playing a detective is a new twist for her. “I’m nosy so I can get right into that,” she chuckles. “I want to know everybody’s business anyway, so I’m glad they called for that. I’ve never done that kind of role. I mean, it’s nothing heavy like what [Valarie’s] going through, but it’s a fun role and it’s just a fun show to be a part of.”

So was Half & Half, the series that bonded the two for life. “We had the best time on that show,” says Hopkins. “That was one of the bigger disappointments that we did not come back to finish out that last season. We liked each other, but we came to love each other just being in each other’s lives. We just had a ball, and so whenever anybody brings up Valarie, Half & Half or anything in that era, it’s just a pleasure for me. It’s just warmth.”

“What she said,” nods Pettiford. “Absolutely. We had fun. It was just brilliant.”

Both performers say they would welcome an invite back to the soap. “Of course! It’s like family now,” notes Hopkins. “Bryton threatened my life if I don’t come back and work with him. He’s not my son, but he feels that way, so I just love being with him. And I was in his dressing room! The irony of it all! I left him notes and stuff.”

Adds Pettiford, “I’ve been dropping hints constantly. It’s great work and things have changed in the business right now. Baby, this is the gig to be on! [I’m] so very lucky and very, very grateful.”

Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Nominations

John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in LA (Netflix)
Tonia Green, Jude Alcala, Tyson Fountaine

The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBC/Peacock)
Gloria Elias-Foeillet, Monica Boyd Lester, Kim Weber, Louie Zakarian

The Young and the Restless (CBS / Paramount+)
Stacey Browning, James Elle, Robert Bolger, Riley Nightingall, Amanda Goldstein

The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)
Stephanie Paugh, Danielle Dubinsky, Karlye Buff, Alexis Reyes

The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBC)
Corey Morris, Kerry Joly, Brittany Hartman, Adam Long

The Young and the Restless (CBS)
Lauren Mendoza, Justin Jackson, Michelle Corona, Diana Santana

‘Young & the Restless’: Colleen Zenk Reveals the One Person Who Could Help Aunt Jordan Find Redemption

There’s been speculation that Jordan and Ian may have had a role in Heather’s (Vail Bloom) demise, for which Sharon (Sharon Case) has taken the blame. Will that turn out to be the case? Oh, what a tangled web Y&R is weaving! TV Insider chatted with Zenk about her second reign of terror in Genoa City, whether or not she feels Jordan can be redeemed, and how, in 2025, CBS will become a three-soap opera network again!

A collective chill went up the spines of Y&R viewers when they saw not only was Jordan back on the scene but she was also in cahoots with diabolical Ian Ward! Had you ever met Ray Wise before?

Colleen Zenk: No, but the irony is we have so many people in common who have crossed throughout our lives in musical theater. It’s crazy how connected we are. But in all these years, we’d never met until we were in the hair and makeup department at Y&R. I said, “I’m Jordan!” We hit it off, right off the bat. It’s been fabulous!

I have found an acting partner in Ray that I never expected to have at this point in my life. We’re so similar in our working styles and where we came from. We go down the halls [at the studio] singing songs together. It’s absolutely delicious. I’m thrilled to be working with an actor who has this kind of history and repertoire. He’s Ray Wise!

Well, we both have an agenda. We each have an agenda to attack, control, and achieve a connection once again with some of the Newman family. That’s what it’s all about. I believe Ian will do for Jordan what she will do for him in order to achieve their mutual goals.

Their alliance seems to be based on the old saying, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” However, that might not make for a lasting relationship should their objectives come into conflict.

No. Not at all. But Jordan got out of prison because of Ian Ward. She feels gratitude for that. She was in a place where she was confined and she felt tortured. She’s gone along willingly with his plan.

Jordan’s feelings of animosity are towards Victor (Eric Braeden) because of how she feels he treated her late sister, Eve (Margaret Mason). Ian, on the other hand, is more obsessed with Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott). How do those differences complement their alliance?

What a great question. I think their immediate problem is how to get to the people that they want back in their lives. Then, they’ll get to new goals after that.

I just love wearing them! I love being in disguise. It’s so much fun! They’re so theatrical. I have human hair wigs and falls back from when I was 16 years old, back when I was doing print work and all kinds of stuff. So, I have an entire wardrobe of hair and I brought some of it with me this time, and actually, last time, too.

Victor Newman once fed rats to his wife Julia’s (Meg Bennett) lover. Michael Baldwin (Christian Le Blanc) once attempted to assault Christine Blair (Lauralee Bell). They managed to turn corners and find redemption. Do you think Jordan can ever be redeemed?

I don’t know. I do think the love she has for her niece Claire [Hayley Erin] would be the thing that could help redeem Jordan. On all my years at As the World Turns, the thing that was redemptive for Barbara Ryan was her love for her children. While there are some similarities, Jordan is a horrible human being! So, I don’t know what the answer to that is.

In 2016, you reunited with some ATWT pals and scores of other CBS Daytime folks for a big reunion photo, honoring the network’s 30 years as No. 1. What was that like?

I felt so privileged to be asked to be a part of that. It was a privilege for all of us. It was very emotional for all of us to be together again.

And, now, Tamara Tunie, who played Jessica Griffin on ATWT and was in the photo, is coming back to CBS as Anita Dupree on Beyond the Gates.

I’m so excited for all of them because I know probably 90 percent of the people involved in that show. I’m so thrilled for Tamara, for the entire production, and for CBS.

Saturn Awards Nominations

BEST ACTRESS IN A FILM
Willa Fitzgerald- Strange Darling (Miramax/Magenta Light Studios)
Demi Moore-The Substance (Mubi)
Lupita Nyong’o- A Quiet Place Day One (Paramount Pictures)
Winona Ryder- Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Naomi Scott- Smile 2 (Paramount Pictures)
June Squibb- Thelma (Magnolia Pictures)
Anya Taylor-Joy- Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (Warner Bros. Pictures)

BEST YOUNGER PERFORMER IN A FILM
Freya Allan- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (20th Century Studios)
McKenna Grace- Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (Sony Pictures)
Kaylee Hottle- Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (Warner Bros./Legendary)
Calah Lane- Wonka (Warner Bros Pictures)
Jenna Ortega- Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Alisha Weir- Abigail (Universal Pictures)
Rachel Zegler- The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (Lionsgate Films).

Eva Longoria Decries Industry Obsession With Talent Only Working On One Show At A Time: “Our Business Is So Slow”

The ex-Desperate Housewives star and now-Hyphenate Media boss decried an industry obsession with talent only working across one show at a time.

“Our business is so slow,” said Longoria at Content London. “That’s the problem with the industry it’s like, ‘Wait you can only do one show’ and I’m like, ‘No you can do more things than one’.”

This notion especially applies to women, Longoria joked, who said: “If you want to get something done, then ask a busy woman.”

Hyphenate recently struck a deal with One Day at a Time co-creator Gloria Calderón Kellett, who was previously signed up with Amazon Studios. Speaking alongside each other today, the pair said Kellett being able to work across multiple projects was crucial in her signing with Hyphenate, and she has 23 projects in various stages of development.

“[Gloria] had to beg to go out and direct this other thing that wasn’t in the Amazon silo and you shouldn’t have to do that, we should work when we want to work,” added Longoria. “I said, ‘Gloria this system is not serving you’.”

Longoria and Cris Abrego launched Banijay-backed Hyphenate last year at MIPCOM to develop and produce its own slate as well as invest in creator-led companies, with a view to helping multi-hyphenates. It has since invested in Kellett’s GloNation Studios, landing the full estate rights for the Celia Cruz Estate. Longoria has previously said she wants Hyphenate to court the “most diverse generation ever.”

Today, Longoria said she is shooting for the stars and wants to develop a pipeline of Latina auteurs. “We want to build 80 more Gloria companies and 20 more Eva Longorias,” she said. “I can’t do everything and if you look at the landscape of Latina directors there’s myself and Gloria and a couple others, but when we’re looking to do something with them they’re always taken because they’re such a diamond. So we need to build a pipeline. Gloria will mentor future showrunners, the future ‘lil Glorias’.”

As is often the case, Longoria, who is starring in Gurinder Chadha’s Christmas movie, was asked if a Desperate Housewives reboot is on the cards. Sadly, she did not offer much hope for fans.

“There’s no ‘why now?’ for Desperate Housewives,” she added. “I’ve talked to Marc [Cherry, Desperate Housewives creator] 1000 times and he says we fully mined those characters. We were on for a decade and there were 24 episodes a year, none of this six per year stuff.”

Scott L. Schwartz Dies: Wrestler Who Played Bruiser In ‘Ocean’s’ Franchise Was 65

Schwartz made his Ocean’s debut in the 2011 first installment by pretending to pummel George Clooney’s Danny Ocean behind closed doors. He would go on to reprise his role in Ocean’s 12 and Ocean’s 13.

Born on March 16, 1959, in Philadelphia, Schwartz started out as a pro wrestler under the ring names of The Israeli Commando and Giant David before trying out his moves in Hollywood as both a stuntman and a baddo for hire.

His TV credits include Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Martial Law, Angel, Nash Bridges, Castle, The Mentalist, The Young and the Restless and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Besides Ocean’s, he also appeared in the films Fun with Dick and Jane, Starsky & Hutch and The Scorpion King.

Schwartz was described by those close to him as a “jolly person, so full of life, a foodie and travel aficionado.” When he wasn’t acting, wrestling or telling jokes, he spent his time visiting children with cancer at hospitals.

He is survived by his wife, Misty; children Angela and Adam; mother-in-law Brenda; cousins Sherry and Duwayne; and aunt Penni, along with her children Holli, Todd, Howard and their families.

Phil Morris Guest Stars as Elroy Edwards on Fire Country

Morning Show Appearance

(7-9 a.m.) Hunter King and Tyler Hynes on Hallmark’s Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.

(10-11 a.m.) Hunter King and Tyler Hynes on Hallmark’s Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.

Chrishell Stause joins ‘The Traitors’ Season 3

The cast of the reality TV competition includes Vanderpump Rules villain Tom Sandoval, stars of The Real Housewives franchise like Robyn Dixon, Chanel Ayan, Dorinda Medley, and Dolores Catania, and Big Brother legends like Danielle Reyes and Britney Haynes.

Other contestants include Britney Spears’ ex Sam Asghari, RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Bob the Drag Queen, Chrishell Stause, and Survivor alums Carolyn Wiger, Jeremy Collins, and Tony Vlachos.

The Traitors is a competition series in which contestants, known as the faithful, work together on missions to win a prize of up to $250,000 while trying to uncover the secret players working against them to banish them from the game.

Season 3 of the show features 21 celebrities, at least three of whom will be selected by Cumming to be a Traitor, while the rest will be Faithfuls. Viewers will discover the “Traitors” identity in the season premiere.

The Traitors is produced by Studio Lambert with Stephen Lambert, Mike Cotton, Sam Rees-Jones, Rosie Franks, Jack Burgess and Tim Harcourt serving as executive producers.

‘Baby Reindeer’s Nava Mau To Topline Comedic Thriller ‘The Dregs’

Shooting in Italy in March, The Dregs centers on a friends’ trip to Tuscany that gets derailed by old wounds and a cursed bottle of Vin Santo.

Others in the cast include Benjamin Norris (Never Have I Ever), Marta Pozzan (From Scratch), Maria Grazia Cucinotta (Il Postino) and Zach Tinker (American Horror Story), who also is executive producer.

Mike Stern developed the project and will produce through Astral Plane, with Alessandro Bertolucci (Spin Me Round, The Little Hours) serving as co-producer via Dublab IT. Co-EPs include Pozzan, Jeremy O’Keefe, Marco Allegri, and Austin Aronson. O’Keefe handled casting via JOK Casting.

Stated Stern on the addition of Mau, “Nava was incredible on Baby Reindeer, and we are thrilled to have her join The Dregs following the global success of the show. Connor Martin’s script for The Dregs is inventive, suspenseful, and painfully funny. Nava, Ben, Maria, Zach and Marta bring authenticity and conviction to everything they do and it’s a real honor to provide such a fun showcase for their talents.”

With her first Emmy nomination this year for her turn as Teri, the girlfriend of Donny Dunn (series creator Richard Gadd), on Netflix’s UK sensation Baby Reindeer, Mau became the first trans woman nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Subsequently signing on to a role in the fifth and final season of Netflix’s serial killer thriller You, she’s also been seen on the Max series Generation.

Norris rose to prominence as Trent on Netflix’s Never Have I Ever and had memorable recurring roles on Superstore and Abbott Elementary. Pozzan recently wrapped the indie Fior di Latte opposite Tim Heidecker, appeared in Netflix’s From Scratch alongside Zoe Saldaña, and starred in Jacob the Baker, produced by Indian Paintbrush. Tinker boasts credits like American Horror Story and horror thriller I Live Here Now, whereas Cucinotta is best known for starring in the Academy Award-winning Il Postino, having also been seen in Bond film The World Is Not Enough and Anthony Hopkins’ thriller The Rite.

Mau is represented by Innovative Artists, IKIGAI Management, and Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz; Norris by Paradigm and Strig Artist Management; Tinker by Pakula/King and Luber Roklin Entertainment; and Martin by Jackoway Austen Tyerman. He and Pozzan are managed by Austin Aronson.

FOUR CBS DAYTIME SHOWS POST YEAR-OVER-YEAR GROWTH

CBS will further expand the daytime audience with BEYOND THE GATES, the new daytime drama series and debut project from the CBS Studios/NAACP Venture, which premieres Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, and will air weekdays (2:00-3:00 PM, ET; 1:00-2:00 PM, PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+. This marks the first-ever one-hour Black daytime soap and the first daytime drama to premiere since “Passions” in 1999.

Eva Longoria Clarifies She Didn’t Leave U.S. “Because Of Trump”

The Golden Globe nominee, who mostly splits her time between Spain and Mexico City with her family, clarified that she didn’t leave the country because of Donald Trump being re-elected as president.

“Will you please let them know I didn’t move out of the United States because of Trump? … I’ve been in Europe for almost three years,” she explained to The View co-host Ana Navarro as she called into the Behind the Table podcast.

Longoria noted that her work has taken her abroad, having previously filmed her Apple TV+ series Land of Women in Spain, as well as the upcoming CNN series Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain. “That’s why I’m in Europe. I didn’t leave because of the political environment,” she added. “I left because my work took me there.”

Although the Desperate Housewives alum explained that to Marie Claire, she told Navarro, “People just grabbed some clickbait stuff to be divisive, which makes me so sad, that everything you say is just meant to be divisive when we can’t be that way tight now.”

She added, “Being away from the constant 24-hour news cycle puts you in a bit of a bubble for sure.”

Longoria’s surprise call came after she told the magazine that she felt fortunate to no longer live in Los Angeles following Trump’s election victory against Kamala Harris last week.

“I’m privileged. I get to escape and go somewhere. Most Americans aren’t so lucky,” she said. “They’re going to be stuck in this dystopian country, and my anxiety and sadness is for them.

“I had my whole adult life here. But even before [the pandemic], it was changing. The vibe was different. And then COVID happened, and it pushed it over the edge. Whether it’s the homelessness or the taxes, not that I want to shit on California — it just feels like this chapter in my life is done now,” added Longoria.

‘The Young And The Restless’ Surprises Viewers By Bringing Back Two Super Villains

At the end of the episode, super villains Ian Ward (Ray Wise) and Aunt Jordan (Colleen Zenk) staged an unexpected comeback. They two have returned to gleefully execute a revenge plot — the details of which have yet to be revealed.

“The pairing of Ian Ward and Aunt Jordan will be a double dose of danger,” Head Writer Josh Griffith tells Deadline. “The residents of Genoa City should be on high alert thanks to this intriguing alliance. As a company, we are thrilled to welcome back the talented, Ray Wise and Colleen Zenk to the canvas.”

Wise, who won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer for his work on Y&R in 2015, was last seen on the show in 2016.

“It’s wonderful to be back on The Young and the Restless,” Wise tells Deadline. “It feels like home. I had a great time when I last appeared on the show and am having an even better time now with the talented, Colleen Zenk. I could not have asked for a better partner in crime and it’s so good to see both Eric Braeden and Melody Thomas Scott again. I look forward to the mischievous Ian Ward causing more havoc in Genoa City. Stay tuned, it’s going to be a whole lot of fun.”

Zenk’s character hasn’t been seen since June 2024, after she was held captive by Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) before going to prison.

“I’m so happy to return to Y&R surrounding the show’s 13,000th episode and be paired with the amazing, Ray Wise,” continues Zenk. “Jordan is lucky enough to have Ian Ward by her side and she settles some unfinished business while also finding the time to take on some new adversaries as well.”

On Nov. 13, the cast celebrated the milestone of reaching 13,000 episodes with a press event and lots of bubbly.

Tyler Hynes Is Hunter King’s Perfect Catch in ‘Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story’ Trailer

Derrick (Hynes) is the Director of Fan Engagement for the Kansas City Chiefs and meets Alana Higman (King), whose family has a lifelong history of being Chiefs superfans. The Higman family is a frontrunner to win Fan of the Year, and Derrick is tasked with evaluating their love for all things Chiefs.

Alana’s crew is very superstitious about their beloved team, and they have a lucky hat to prove it. “We only get to the Super Bowl if someone in our family wears the hat on Christmas,” she tells Derrick. However, Derrick’s not so sure he believes in the magic.

It’s clear to pretty much everyone that sparks are flying between Alana and Derrick. “We can all see there’s something between you and Derrick. Why do you keep fighting it?” Alana’s mother (Megyn Price) asks.

King had a blast working alongside Hynes. The Countdown to Christmas movie marked their first-ever project together. “Tyler’s amazing, he’s a Hallmark Pro,” she told TV Insider. “He’s so easy to work with and just bounce ideas off of. I feel like we work really well together. Just all of our little ideas like, “Oh, we can add this little thing,” and a nudge here and a nudge there. So he’s amazing.”

Will Alana and Derrick get an all-star romance? Or will their relationship run out of plays?

Diedrich Bader, Christine Ebersole, Ed Begley Jr., and Richard Riehle also star in Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. Notable cameos include Donna Kelce, Jenna Bush Hager, Coach Andy Reid, Trey Smith, Mecole Hardman Jr., Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and more.

Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, Movie Premiere, Saturday, November 30, Hallmark Channel

Eva Longoria Reveals She Moved Out Of “Dystopian” U.S. Following Trump’s Election Win: “Most Americans Aren’t Lucky”

“I’m privileged,” the Only Murders in the Building star told Marie Claire in a new cover story. “I get to escape and go somewhere. Most Americans aren’t so lucky. They’re going to be stuck in this dystopian country, and my anxiety and sadness is for them.”

The politically involved multi-hyphenate has long been away from LA, though the pandemic is what clinched the deal, she said.

“I had my whole adult life here,” the Flamin’ Hot helmer explained. “But even before [the pandemic], it was changing. The vibe was different. And then COVID happened, and it pushed it over the edge. Whether it’s the homelessness or the taxes, not that I want to shit on California — it just feels like this chapter in my life is done now.”

Her husband, José Bastón, and their 6-year-old son Santiago have also relocated alongside the Desperate Housewives actress.

Elsewhere in the feature, the Mexican American producer — who campaigned heavily for Harris and VP pick Tim Walz, as well as organized key voting demographic blocs like Latinos and women — said she was not as surprised at Trump’s second win, saying, “The shocking part is not that he won. It’s that a convicted criminal who spews so much hate could hold the highest office.”

She added, “I would like to think our fight continues … if he keeps his promises, it’s going to be a scary place.”

Young And Restless's Melissa Ordway (Abby) Taken Off Contract

In an Instagram Story posted the very same day her Genoa City alter ego, Abby Newman, married Devon Winters on the show’s landmark 13,000th episode, Melissa Ordway confirmed that she has been taken off contract at Young and Restless.

The actress invited her followers on the social media platform to “Ask me anything,” and shared that the most-asked question she received was about what made her decide to cut her hair. Ordway told Soap Opera Digest in October that she had been motivated to chop off nearly a foot of her previously long locks after admiring the cropped style sported by a woman at a bagel shop. She explained, “I was like, ‘You know what, there’s a lot of blondes on the show that have a very similar length of hair, so why not change it up? It’s just hair, it grows back, so why not?”

But in response to the fan query, Ordway wrote, “Honest answer,” and added, “Honestly, it’s been an interesting couple of months. The show decided to take me off contract so I decided to change me look up a bit for auditions. Definitely not something I wanted but I love and respect my YR family and appreciate any time they ask me back.”

Ordway has posted from the set and been filming since the show informed her of its decision to change her contract status. Many daytime actors, both on Y&R and the other soaps, work regularly as recurring players without being on contract.

The actress’s Y&R career kicked off in 2013. She debuted on April 16 of that year, succeeding Emme Rylan in the role of Ashley Abbott and Victor Newman’s daughter when Ryan exited Y&R to take over the role of Lulu Spencer Falconeri on General Hospital. Prior to Rylan’s 2010-13 stint, Abby was played by Hayley Erin (who know appears on Y&R in the role of Claire Howard) from 2018-10. As a child, Abby, who was born on-screen on November 13, 2000, was played by Madison and Morgan Reinharz (2000-03), Rachel and Amanda Pace (2003) and Darcy Rose Byrnes (2003-08).

Before being cast as Abby, Ordway had appeared on the 2012 prime-time sudser Hollywood Heights, which was executive-produced by Jill Farren Phelps. When Farren Phelps was tapped as Y&R’s executive producer in 2013, she reached out to Ordway, who recalled to Soap Opera Digest in 2023, “I was so excited because I always wanted to be on a soap, so it was a dream come true. My mom had told me for years, ‘You need to do a soap opera,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, who do I call? How do I get to do one?’ Hollywood Heights was a nice introduction but I wanted to be on one of the big soaps. So when Jill offered the role to me, I was over the moon about it. I had just done six episodes of 90210, and I was more thrilled about Y&R.”

The actress had already been a fan of the show. She noted to Digest, “The positive was I knew the relationships between the characters already. I didn’t have to figure out who was related to whom and other dynamics. I knew all of that. However, the downside was because I was such a fan of the show, I was so nervous. On my first day, I didn’t talk to anybody. Even though people were very nice and welcoming, I just said my lines and left. It took months for me to finally feel, ‘Okay, I have my footing here.’ But if you watch those first episodes, you can tell I was super-nervous.”

Reflecting on her 10th anniversary with the show in 2023, Ordway told Digest, “I can’t imagine my life without Young and Restless. It would just break my heart to live without my Y&R family…. The show has provided a great life for me.”

Eric Braeden Talks Retirement & How ‘Y&R’ Fixed ‘One of the Dumbest Decisions Ever’

The set, which burned down as part of a 2012 story, was not a popular choice at the time or in the years since. “It was an outrage and one of the dumbest decisions ever,” declares Eric Braeden, who plays Victor Newman, the ranch’s owner.

Nevertheless, the actor was surprised by his own sentimental reaction to seeing it brought back to life. “To be frank with you, when they asked me to take a look at it, I thought, ‘Oh, well,’ ” Braeden shrugs. “And then I sat there and I was a little overwhelmed. I really was touched because the old set meant so much to the Nikki/Victor relationship. And they did a wonderful job. I was just flooded with emotions because it’s stepping back into a milieu that we’ve almost forgotten about. It touched me. It really did.”

Braeden joined Y&R in 1980, intending to stay for a short spell; 44 years later, he is the face most associated with it. “I signed for three months and that’s all I wanted to do,” he explains. But a conversation with the show’s co-creator and former head writer, William J. Bell, changed the course of Braeden’s life and career.

“I was asked if I would extend,” he recalls. “And I thought about that for a while and said, ‘OK, make it a year.’ After about a year, I really didn’t want to continue and I went to Bill and I said, ‘Bill, unless you ascribe a background to this character that justifies who he is or explains who he is, I don’t want to play bad guys anymore. I’ve done it for too many years on nighttime and I’m burned out. It’s dehumanizing. I can’t do it anymore.’ And two months later, he came up with the brilliant storyline. Once I had done that, where Victor explained to Nikki that he had grown up in an orphanage, I went to my dressing room, called home, and said, ‘I’m staying.’ Because I realized that from then on, the character would assume enormous complexity and that’s what attracted me to it. And that’s why I’m still here because you don’t get that kind of character, certainly not on nighttime. It was a brilliant stroke and that’s really the only reason that I’m here. I would have left, period.”

Now, the Newman family is one of the driving forces on the 51-year-old soap. “It means everything to me; I’d be a phony if I said that it doesn’t mean anything,” Braeden shares. “To get affirmation of what one has done is a wonderful feeling.”

Braeden’s favorite episodes are ones that have touched upon Victor’s roots. “Very simply, the time that Victor’s mother showed up [in 1984],” he relays. “Dorothy McGuire played my mother [Cora Miller]. It is one of the most memorable scenes for me, and it explains so much of Victor’s character, and the deep hurt and the deep pain in him and anger in him at a mother who had abandoned him when he was seven years old. That all came out in that scene, in one take, and that’s arguably my most favorite scene. Another scene was with George Kennedy, who played my father [Albert Miller], when I finally confronted him [in 2003] for the first time in my adult life. That was fraught with enormously deep emotions. Those are two of my most memorable scenes. There were others, obviously, with Mel [Thomas Scott, Nikki Newman] and Peter Bergman [Jack Abbott], but the scenes that really encapsulate who Victor Newman is are those two scenes with the mother and the father.”

Regarding Scott, the actor appreciates the endurance of Nikki and Victor’s romance, which Braeden feels has a lot to do with their real-life dynamic. “Mel and I get along,” he explains. “We get along very well and Mel knows how to deal with me. There is chemistry between people, and if there isn’t, you can’t manufacture it, you can’t write it. It’s there or it isn’t and we’re lucky that it is. It’s really as simple as it is and as complicated as it is. You can’t foresee that, you really can’t. It’s a confluence of what the writers did and what the two personalities bring to the scenes and to each other.”

Braeden also enjoys that the show has mined so much drama out of Victor’s complicated rivalry with Jack. “Peter [Bergman] and I work well together as adversaries, and that’s another thing that either works or doesn’t work, and it works,” he points out. Jack is currently in Victor’s crosshairs once again. “Victor gets even with people, and he has not forgiven that night of debauchery between Jack and Nikki [in May],” sniffs Braeden. “He thinks hanky panky went on and Victor doesn’t forgive or forget that.”

With Victor still front and center in the story, the 83-year-old Braeden has no plans to retire anytime soon. “I will not, I don’t want to,” he insists. Especially with his health in a good place. “I feel very well. I really do,” he reports. “The [bladder] cancer is under control and I will have another cystoscopy in about a month, and if that is negative, then I’ll be free for a while. It’s never gone completely. You have to always watch, but signs are very good. The new knee is fully repaired. I do squats again and power cleans again and all that.”

As the show is set to mark 13,000 episodes on November 13, Braeden says he has a lot to be thankful for. “I am deeply grateful,” he reflects. “We have complaints about this or that; that’s inevitable in the creative process. But very often on the way to work, I look around as I drive through town. I remember the place where I first walked in L A, and I cross it every day, but I had barely a penny in my pocket. At this point, I’m very, very fortunate, and rarely has a writer created something that fits me so well. I disagree with a lot of what Victor Newman does, but the emotional components are there and I agree with them completely. It’s easy for me to play. I love it. I have wonderful coworkers in Melody, Peter Bergman, Joshua Morrow [Nick Newman], Amelia Heinle [Victoria Newman], Melissa Ordway [Abby Newman], Mark Grossman [Adam Newman], Jason Thompson [Billy Abbott] and Michelle Stafford [Phyllis Summers]. All wonderful actors. I feel really good about it. We’re still number one.”

Talk Show Appearance

Daytime Drama Actors Unite To Support Kamala Harris In Social Media Video: “We’re Turning The Page With Our Vote”

Several actors from General Hospital, along with popular players from The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives, participated in a video that showed them turning the page — a reference to Harris’ recent call to voters that it’s time to “turn the page” on Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

The video ends with GH mainstay Nancy Lee Grahn declaring, “We’re daytime actors for democracy. And we’re turning the page with our vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.”

The rest of the participants in the video that was shared online Sunday are General Hospital‘s Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Finola Hughes, Kristina Wagner, Laura Wright, Rena Sofer, Elizabeth Hendrickson, Kate Mansi, Dominic Zamprogna, Van Hansis, Brook Kerr, Tabyana Ali, Eden McCoy, Jeff Kober, Bradford Anderson, Vernee Watson, Lisa Locicero, Kristen Vaganos and Ric Hearst, along with The Bold and the Beautiful‘s Annika Noelle, The Young and the Restless‘ Eileen Davidson, and Days of Our Lives‘ Tina Huang.

Grahn has been particularly outspoken during the election and routinely uses her X account to show her support for Harris. But she’s not the only soap star who likes to vent on the platform: Y&R‘s Eric Braeden, for instance, has been particularly fired up during the election, posting missives about Trump and his rallies.

@EBraeden: To listen to the ORANGE MAKEUP GUY talk about how to treat LIZ CHENEY IS SIMPLY OBSCENE!! The biggest coward talking tough, is a joke!! That guy has NEVER BEEN CHECKED! By that I mean he has never played honest sports, never fought an honest fight IN HIS LIFE! He’d shit in his pants if anyone had ever challenged him to a fight!! He is a classic BLOWHARD!!

Eva Longoria Reveals Her “Only Mistake” In Investing $6 Million In ‘John Wick’

After making “more than double” her $6 million investment on John Wick after it debuted in 2014, the Golden Globe nominee admitted she wishes she would have continued on with the wildly successful franchise that recently marked its 10th anniversary.

“What I’m pissed off about is I wasn’t connected to the rest of them,” Longoria told Business Insider. “This was a one-time thing. That was the gamble. But that was my only mistake, not being attached to all of the films.”

John Wick (2014) grossed more than $86 million worldwide, with the franchise crossing the $1 billion mark last year with John Wick: Chapter 4.

Longoria’s interview comes after producers Chad Stahelski and David Leitch told the outlet about her crucial role in bring the film to the screen after funding fell through on the Keanu Reeves-led action flick at the last minute.

“By the way, I was in my infancy,” she said of her producing career, noting: “My bankroll was very new, and it was a lot of money, and I was like, ‘So how does it work?’ I had no idea. I would love to say I was an investment genius and I just knew and I calculated my risk. No, none of that.”

It was Longoria’s agency CAA that brought her the opportunity while pulling together funding for the project. “An agent, and he wasn’t even my agent, he called me and said, ‘You got money, you should put your money here,'” she added. “And I didn’t even know how a movie was made. I was like, ‘What do you mean gap financing?'”

Noting she still gets checks for her investment on John Wick, Longoria said, “My husband is friends with the head of Lionsgate, and he’ll say to him sometimes, ‘I see we wrote a check to Eva this week.’ But the geniuses were Chad and David and the star that was Keanu. I just wrote the check.”

The franchise will continue with From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, starring Ana de Armas and premiering June 6, 2025 in theaters. Meanwhile, Donnie Yen is set to reprise his role as the highly skilled, blind assassin Caine in an upcoming Lionsgate film. A prequel anime film is also in development.

In addition to last year’s Peacock prequel limited series The Continental, the sequel series John Wick: Under the High Table is in the works.

Rebuilt Newman Ranch Returns To Coincide With Y&R's 13,000th Episode

As viewers will soon learn, Nikki’s husband Victor (Eric Braeden) made the decision to secretly rebuild their original home after it was burned down in 2012 by that crazy Sharon. Victor’s plan all along was to spring the completed house on his unsuspecting wife. (Apparently, the construction was easy to hide since the Newman ranch is so dang big).

That surprise reveal is set for Friday, Nov. 8 on the CBS sudser. Everything was restored back to how viewers should remember it, including that comfy center couch, Nikki’s corner desk and those wooden set of stairs.

“The Newman Ranch burning down was an emotional story for the Newmans, but it was not lost on us that the Newman family and Genoa City just weren’t the same without Victor and Nikki’s original home,” said Josh Griffith, Executive Producer and Head Writer. “We’ve discussed bringing the set back for many years, and decided that its return around Y&R’s 13,000th episode would be perfect timing to help celebrate this incredible milestone as well as the legacy of Victor and Nikki. I must give special thanks to Y&R’s art department and stage crew who went above and beyond in executing the return of one of Y&R’s most iconic sets.”

The Young and The Restless will celebrate its 13,000th episode today at Television City. Airdate for the milestone episode is Nov. 13.

Ana and Harmony Return to The Young & The Restless!

Lawson first appeared as Yolanda Hamilton back in June 2005 and exited in January 2006. When the character returned to the canvas in October 2011, she was going by the name of Harmony and played by Debbi Morgan until October 20212. When Devon’s mother came back again in May 2023 for the dedication of the Jazz Lounge in Neil’s memory, Lawson was back in the role.

Devon’s sister, Ana Hamilton, came to Genoa City back in 2008 played by Jamia Simone Nash on a recurring basis until 2012. In November 2014, Y&R recast the role with Loren Lott, who played Ana until July 2019.

Currently, Lawson is the co-creator, executive producer, director, and cast member of the award-winning sci-fi scripted podcast All Things Undone. Lott recently guest-starred on the CW series All American: Homecoming, starred in the film Praise This, and will also be appearing in the second season of the Peacock series Based on a True Story which starts streaming next month.

Make sure you RSVP for Abby and Devon’s wedding because it’s shaping up to be quite the event that no one is going to want to miss!

Michelle Stafford Reveals How Losing ‘OLTL’ Role Brought Her ‘Y&R’ and the Secret to Phyllis’ Longevity

“I had a succession of getting close to jobs and then not getting them,” she explains. “A couple of weeks prior to the Young and Restless audition, I had created a flower business with a friend of mine because things weren’t going well for me as an actor. We started to do big gigs, so I wasn’t going to give up on acting, but I was considering putting my attention elsewhere.”

One of those memorable gigs she didn’t get was for a soap on the East Coast. “I got very close to a role on One Life to Live and the feedback that came back as to why I didn’t get it is because they wanted to go with someone who was pretty,” she recalls. “Those were the exact words. I said, ‘Oh, you mean prettier than me?’ And my agent said, ‘No, they really just want someone pretty.’ So, I always just felt like I wasn’t pretty enough for daytime.”

Though Stafford wasn’t feeling positive after her Y&R audition — “I got in the elevator and cried,” she relays — she did get feedback quickly. “If you do an audition and an hour later you get a call from your agent, it’s a good sign,” she explains. “There were no cell phones. This was the time of pagers, so I got a page from my agent and ran to a pay phone to call him back. He said, ‘You got the job. They love you. You start in two days.’ I couldn’t believe it. It was really nice.”

Stafford credits Lauralee Bell (Christine Blair) and Michael Damian (Danny Romalotti) with helping her find her way in Genoa City. “Lauralee and Michael were extraordinary,” she praises. “And Doug [Davidson, Paul Williams], too, but I didn’t work with him as much. I worked with Michael right away, and I’m telling you, I will love him forever because he couldn’t have been lovelier or more charming. I mean, we all know Michael Damian is the loveliest, but that was just a saving grace for me because sometimes you go into these new jobs and you don’t always get that. It goes such a long way to just be kind to somebody. And they were both incredible. Lauralee? We all say this, but she had every normal reason to not be that way. This is the boss’s daughter, right? [Bell’s father, William J. Bell was the show’s co-creator and head writer.] But she was amazing. I’m so lucky that I worked with the two of them. It was a dream for me.”

Shortly after her debut, Stafford got a sense the role was catching on. “I think it was when [former TV Guide Magazine soap columnist] Michael Logan chose to write an article about me,” she reflects. “It is a very respected publication, and it has been all these years, and he didn’t want to do a little box on me. He wanted to do a whole article. I think the article said something like, ‘We’re not even done with the year, and I’ve chosen my favorite character of 1994.’ That was in, I think, November, and I started airing in October. At the time, I remember the show publicist saying, ‘This is a big deal that he’s asking to do an interview with you.’”

Despite the positive feedback, Stafford still hadn’t given up her side gig. “I didn’t know how long this job would last, so I was selling Rollerblades on the weekends at swap meets,” she shares. “I would put them on and rollerblade around in my short shorts to get people’s attention to come buy Rollerblades. I was still doing this through December of that year and one woman came up to me and said, ‘Oh, you look like a character on my soap opera,’ and I said, ‘Oh, it is me,’ and she went, ‘Yeah, sure.’ ”

Because of her scheming ways, Phyllis wasn’t the most popular character with the fans. “They were hating me!” Stafford recalls with a laugh. “I was in Louisiana at the Mardi Gras parade in 1995. You’re on the car and you’re waving to people and throwing beads, and they had security around me. Everybody kept saying, ‘Get away from Danny! Get away from Danny,’ and one of the security guys said, ‘I don’t know who this Danny guy is, but apparently you should not be around him.’”

Stafford didn’t mind the backlash. “I loved it,” she muses. “You know, I never took offense at all. That was the job and she was hateful. This is before social media. I didn’t care what people said. I still don’t.”

In time, Stafford found Phyllis’ softer edges. “I really felt like she was so broken and there was so much pathos there,” she explains. “I think that Bill [Bell] saw that and started writing more to that as time went on. And I think the secret to the longevity of the character is that it became less of a caricature and more of a character that you could relate to or could have empathy for.”

On October 18, the show will mark the 30th anniversary of Stafford’s debut with a flashback-filled episode dedicated to Phyllis. In it, Phyllis will rally her family together as evidence is mounting against son Daniel for Heather’s death and reflect on her past relationships and experiences in Genoa City. “One of [the flashbacks] is my favorite scene I’ve ever shot with Peter [Bergman, Jack Abbott],” she previews. “It perfectly communicates the demise of the Jack/Phyllis relationship, and I was so excited that that is in it. I love the shows where we see that she messed up and she’s trying to overcome it.”

As she looks back on what getting the Y&R job meant to her, Stafford notes, “It completely changed my life because I had a paycheck. Going to the grocery store and being able to buy whatever I wanted was huge for me. Being able to buy the nice peanut butter, not the generic one, was phenomenal.”

Thirty years later, it’s her connection to the cast and crew that is especially meaningful. “I’ve spent more time with those guys than I have my actual family,” Stafford points out. “I’m stopping myself from crying right now, but people get sick or lose a family member and we’re supporting each other and we’re there for each other. It’s meant a lot. These people are very, very important to me and always will be.”

Talk Show Appearance

Monday, Oct. 21 – JUSTIN HARTLEY stops by to talk about the new season of “Tracker”

Make or Bake Christmas

Stars: Vivica A. Fox, Jackée Harry, Jasmine Aivaliotis, Landon Moss, and Corin Nemec

With Christmas fast approaching, Leslie (Vivica A. Fox), known for her expertise in all things domestic and top lifestyle brands, is looking to expand her business. She sets her sights on the bakery, Sugar Bakers, owned by Denise Sugarbaker (Jackée Harry) and run by her son, David (Landon Moss). Determined to make a deal before the end of the year, Leslie sends one of her top employees, Emma (Jasmine Aivaliotis), to go undercover as a seasonal employee in order to convince them to sell. Emma unexpectedly finds herself falling in love with the quaint bakery with its Christmas spirit, staff and especially, David. ‘Tis the Season to make or bake Christmas and discover everything sweet during the holidays, including love.

Make or Bake Christmas is produced by Hybrid, LLC. David DeCoteau directs from a script by Dana Verde.

‘The Bold and the Beautiful’: Joshua Morrow and Real-Life Son Crew on Working Together!

‘The Young & The Restless’ Brings Back Edward J. Scott As Senior Producer

Scott will serve as a senior producer at Y&R. Josh Griffith is the executive producer and head writer.

Scott is a seven-time Daytime Emmy winner who has played a pivotal role in the development of the soap opera genre for nearly five decades. He began his association with the Bell family and Bell-Phillip Television Productions in 1976 when he joined The Young and The Restless as an associate producer. He quickly moved up the ranks and served as the show’s executive producer until 2007.

He then joined Days of Our Lives as a co-exec producer before returning to Bell-Phillip in 2010 to serve as a supervising producer for B&B from 2010-2024.

Scott and his wife, Y&R star Melody Thomas Scott, were the joint recipients of the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in June.

“Daytime TV is hard work,” said Thomas Scott at the 51st Annual Daytime Emmys. “I salute all of you here tonight for your contributions to our industry. Edward and I are eager to do our part to carry on the proud tradition of the great American soap opera.”

Scott Reeves Returning to ‘General Hospital’ After 11 Years: ‘It Was Like Coming Home’

Though it had been over a decade since he last filmed, heading back to Port Charles felt very familiar for Reeves, who now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. “It was like coming home,” he says. “I got to work the first day and it was early in the morning. It was just so weird driving up to Prospect [Studios] and going through the guard gate. Literally, from the moment I drove in, I was like, ‘Wasn’t it just a week ago that I left and I was pulling out of here?’ ”

Reeves, who appeared on the soap from 2009-13, had his first reunion before passing through the doors. “I was walking through the parking lot and I hear, from a distance, ‘Scotty Reeves!’ ” he shares. “And I turn around and there’s Rick Hearst [Ric Lansing]. I said, ‘Dude, this is like old home week!’ Rick and I have remained very close over the years.”

Entering the studio brought back its own set of memories. “I started walking down the halls and it was so surreal and strange because it did not feel like more than a week to a month had gone by,” he reflects. “There were so many things that were the same yet so many things had changed. So much life has happened in the past 11 years for everybody, and with the passage of time, we lose people, the faces change, so that was bittersweet.”

Reeves notes that it was hard not to think about the cast and crew that had passed away since he had been there last. “It was like, ‘Oh, this is so great,’ but there was a hint of sadness and longing for people that aren’t there anymore, like [Producer] Nneka Garland and Sonya Eddy [Epiphany Johnson] and Tyler [Christopher, Nikolas Cassadine],” he explains.

Stepping back into character “was like riding a bike,” Reeves reports. “Steven did his time, he’s been out of prison for a few months now and has been living in Sedona, Arizona trying to start over and figure out what life is supposed to look like at this point. He lost his medical license, obviously, when he went to prison [for killing a comatose patient, who was a murderer, to save a child] but he felt justified in it.”

The actor worked with Alley Mills, who plays Steven’s mother, Heather Webber, for the first time — Robin Mattson played the role the last time he was on the soap. “It was great to meet and work with Alley Mills. She is so hilarious and plays that role to the hilt,” he praises. Steven will also cross paths with on-screen sister, Elizabeth Webber, played by Rebecca Herbst, among others. “It was so great to see Becky again,” he enthuses. “That was like reuniting with family because Becky and I are close outside of GH. She really was like my younger sister.”

He also connected with good pal Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and spent time with him behind the scenes. “Steve and I sat in his dressing room when we weren’t on stage,” Reeves shares. “We were just reminiscing and telling old stories, making new plans together, and talking about possible Port Chuck [their band] reunions. We have known each other since 1988 when we met on Days of Our Lives [Reeves played Jake Hogansen; Burton played Harris Michaels], so we’ve known each other through living in different states, kids, grandkids and more. You can’t take that for granted.”

Another high point of his comeback was sharing it with his wife, Melissa Reeves, who was filming at the same time as Days of Our Lives’ Jennifer Deveraux. “It worked out perfectly because we got to be out in LA again together,” he smiles. “She was going to work and I was going to work over at GH, which was our whole life for decades. It was like a time capsule and it felt like it did before we had kids. We felt so blessed to get to be able to do that and experience that together again and then get to bring it home and tell the stories to our kids again.”

Reeves thoroughly enjoyed being back and would welcome another chance to return. “I told Frank [Valentini, executive producer], ‘I forgot how much I loved it,’ ” he says. “I’ve been doing other things, but this was like putting on a really, really comfortable pair of jeans. It was so comforting to get to work with everybody again and fall back into the lives of those characters. I would be totally open to coming back because I think there’s so much potential with Steven. Anytime they want me back, I’m there.”

Sofia Pernas Returns to Tracker

Jensen Ackles Returns to ‘Tracker’ — to Save Colter?!

As we’ve known since the summer, Jensen Ackles is returning to the CBS drama as Russell Shaw, Colter’s (Justin Hartley) previously estranged brother; the two began fixing things during his first appearance near the end of Season 1. Now, we have details for when Russell’s back in Season 2 Episode 2, “Ontological Shock”: Reenie (Fiona Rene) recruits him for help after Colter suddenly disappears during his search for a missing father.

Colter previously thought Russell had been involved in their father’s death when they were younger, but after they reconnected and talked, they parted on better terms. Russell insisted he didn’t have anything to do with their dad’s death but did know someone else was in the woods that night—and had seen their mother with that man.

“[Colter’s brother and sister will] be coming in and out of the show,” executive producer Elwood Reid told TV Insider. “If we can drop a few bombs into Colter’s life with those characters and then see how he wrestles with those, then we’ll earn them coming back to sort of sort out— because, I mean, the evidence we have in the show right now is his sister definitely has a point of view about what he should do, which is just forget about it and leave it. And then you look at Jensen’s character Russell, he seems to have sort of put it all away in a box in some way and kind of just dealt with it. But you’ll learn in Episode 2, he’s got very different memories of something that happened in their past that Colter has no memory of.”

And hey, maybe with Reenie calling him in, there will be more of that flirtation we saw in Season 1. “I think she wants to have a little bit of fun, especially since Colter pissed her off so much,” shared Rene with us. “Russell is a great opportunity to have a little payback, but at the same time, we don’t want to use anyone, right? So I think she’s going to have a little bit of fun. And I noticed that in Episode 12 when Russell came into play, although he was so forward with her and she was like, back off, I think there were moments where she was rethinking maybe some of her thoughts. So we’ll see maybe if there’s more of that in Season 2. I don’t know.”

Teyana Taylor And Sasha Calle Join Matt Damon And Ben Affleck In Netflix Thriller ‘RIP’

Carnahan also penned the script, with Affleck, Damon, Luciana Damon and Dani Bernfeld producing for Artists Equity.

The plot follows a group of Miami cops whose trust begins to fray after they discover millions in cash in a derelict stash house. As outside forces learn about the size of the seizure, everything is called into question — including who they can rely on. Michael Joe and Kevin Halloran of Artists Equity will executive produce.

After launching Artists Equity in November 2022, Damon and Affleck released the company’s first film, Air, in spring 2023 to strong reviews and a solid box office performance. Since then, it has produced the documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told for Amazon MGM Studios and Small Things Like These, which opened this year’s Berlin Film Festival and won the Silver Bear for supporting actress Emily Watson. Recent releases include Apple’s The Instigators starring Damon, while the Amazon MGM pic Unstoppable is gearing for a December premiere after its debut at TIFF.

Taylor is coming off the drama A Thousand and One, which bowed at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and earned her strong reviews for her performance.

Calle is best known for her breakout role as Supergirl in the DC Studios pic The Flash. She was also recently seen in On Swift Horses.

Calle is represented by CAA and attorney Sloane Whiteside. Taylor is repped by WME and Taylormade Management Group.

Brytni Sarpy Teases Her Return to Y&R!

A brief video clip showed her standing outside of her dressing room at the studio showing her name on the door with a message saying “Welcome back — we miss you!” On the video, Sarpy added a caption that said “Missed you, too.”

The actress also shared a selfie with Hayley Erin (Claire), with whom she worked back when they were both on ABC’s General Hospital as Valerie and Kiki, respectively.

Sarpy exited GH back in 2019 after four years of playing Valerie Spencer and quickly joined Y&R in the newly created role of Elena Dawson. She had rocky romances with Devon and Nate but hasn’t been seen on screen since November 2023 when she treated Chance after he was shot in the line of duty. Though presumably, she’s still been toiling away at the hospital off-camera.

The sign on Sarpy’s dressing room door also notes that Y&R is celebrating its 13,000th episode, so it’s likely that she’s going to be part of that landmark show, currently scheduled to air on Wednesday, Nov. 13. Perhaps some other familiar faces will be returning to Genoa City to help celebrate?

‘Young & the Restless’: Vail Bloom on Heather’s Shocking Death — And Possible Return

Bloom, who first created the role in 2007, left in 2010, and reappeared in early 2023, was grateful to get another shot at playing Heather after 13 years. “The return was a million percent a blessing,” she begins. “It was fun for the show, and I’m so happy that I was received well and that fans were excited to see me again. But personally, it was a blessing because it felt like home and family. The first time I played Heather, I was young and I just moved to LA and you’re not a fully grown, operating adult when you’re just starting out. So, it was so beautiful to have the experience of what I had in my early 20s and then be able to see it through the lens of someone who’s older and wiser and 10 years deeper into the industry. I was just so thankful for it. I felt so lucky.”

While she didn’t know how long her return would last, she was understandably thrown when she heard about Heather’s death. “I had about three weeks’ notice,” notes Bloom. “It’s always surprising when you get that news, but you’re aware that that can happen. That’s just the world of soaps. But any time you get news like that, it’s shocking because you love the character and it was such a beautiful, long run woven in and out through a couple decades.”

But the actress says she quickly came to terms with the twist. “You can understand and appreciate that for a storyline, it’s gonna get a lot of bang for your buck,” she adds. “You’re going to pull on the heartstrings of the audience, you’re going to engage them, you’re going to offset and uplift a different storyline. But there’s sadness because change is always hard. I love Heather, and I love what she’s done this year and it’s fun playing her. But as an actor, you know this show is not just about you. You’re fitting into a larger story with a lot of people.”

A highlight of her second time around in Genoa City was being paired again with Michael Graziadei’s Daniel Romalotti. “Graz is my favorite to work with,” Bloom declares. “My absolute favorite. He’s just so full of life and he’s funny and a really nimble, talented actor, but he’s also hard-working. He doesn’t wing it, he does the prep work and he’s always making jokes so he makes it fun on set. I think that’s probably a large part of why my experience was so positive.”

She also appreciates the meaty material she was given, especially in her final scenes. “They were intense,” she recalls. “There was a lot of dialogue and mostly it was a lot of blocking. I saw the episode the other day and I thought that the blocking played really well with all the movement and the activation in the scene. It was really fun to do all of that interesting stuff the last couple of weeks. Any time there are those dynamics when the stakes are that high, it’s a joy to act.”

Working with Case made it a breeze. “We had a lot of fun,” Bloom enthuses. “Sharon is extremely relaxed in between scenes, and she’s very go-with-the-flow. There are certain actors that are not as go with the flow and there are certain actors that are neutral. She rolls with it and she really brings a lot to play with. She doesn’t have an ego that you sometimes see in acting. She’s really humble and so chill in between scenes. At the end, we were like, ‘Oh, no. What are we going to do now? Ok, let’s link up outside of work.’ ”

Playing dead was new for Bloom, and Heather’s body was on the floor for most of the fateful episode. “It was difficult staying in a contorted position for so long, I can tell you that,” she muses. “The next day, I was like, ‘Oh, I think I gotta get a little massage or a stretch.’ It is surprising how difficult it is to lay there still in an awkward position. I was like, ‘I’m not a diva; I’m totally fine,’ and the next day, I was like, ‘Ouch, I’m stiff!’ So that was funny to me.”

Bloom does concede that the way Heather’s exit was filmed, the possibility for the show to script a reversal of fortune exists. “I think resurrection is always cool,” she says. “I’m a huge fan of resurrection. I think what’s really fun about daytime as opposed to maybe other formats is you can experience things beyond your wildest dreams. I would be open to it if the fans really wanted to see more of Heather again.”

And one person who may just see Heather again is Sharon. “I don’t think it’s the last time you’ll see Heather,” Bloom teases. “You really never know in the wonderful, wild world of soaps.”

As for what’s next for the actress, she offers, “My plans now are to enjoy driving my children. I’m pretty much a child Uber driver now. I’ll take a little break — the kids just started school again — and then I’ll get back to working. I love CBS. I love The Young and the Restless. I also still have a really good relationship with Bravo [she appeared on Season 3 of Vanderpump Rules]. I’ve got two movies set up this year. I’m excited to see where I end up.”

‘Chucky’ Canceled By Syfy & USA After 3 Seasons, Leaving Creator Don Mancini “Heartbroken” But “Grateful” Amid NBCU Cable Scripted Shift

Chucky creator/executive producer Don Mancini had been looking to continue the series. He revealed in April that he had pitched a fourth season, saying at the time that “it’s something I really like to do.” His enthusiasm helped spring the #RenewChucky fan campaign, which has been rallying support for Season 4.

Needless to say, today’s outcome is not what he had hoped for, but Mancini, who also created and wrote movie franchise, remained graceful in his reaction, vowing that this is not Chucky’s last spree.

“I’m heartbroken over the news that Chucky won’t be coming back for a fourth season but am so grateful for the killer three years we did have,” he said. “I’d like to thank UCP/Syfy/Peacock/Eat the Cat, our awesome cast and Toronto-based crew — the best in the business — and finally, to our amazing fans, a big bloody hug. Your incredible #RenewChucky campaign really warmed Chucky’s cold heart. Chucky will return! He ALWAYS comes back.”

This marks an end of an era for Syfy — Chucky was the last higher-end, UCP-produced original scripted series on the network. The other one, Resident Alien, recently moved to USA with a significant budget reduction.

Amid the sobering reality of the ad-supported cable business in the cord-cutting era, Syfy is now relying on Canadian (SurrealEstate, the upcoming Revival) and modestly budgeted independent productions, like Electric Entertainment’s The Arc, for its original scripted offerings.

Chucky was one of the signs for what was to come — originally greenlighted by Syfy, it ended up being shared with USA so the two networks could shoulder the cost.

As for USA, after phasing out its scripted originals in the last couple of years, the network is back in the game with budget-conscious “Blue Sky” procedurals harkening back to the network’s heyday of hits like Monk, Psych, Suits and White Collar. The first series under the initiative is the upcoming The Rainmaker, based on the John Grisham novel.

Chucky, the series, follows the murderous escapades of the notorious killer doll. Chucky crosses paths with archenemies, old allies and new prey, as he seeks to inspire fear and mayhem wherever he goes.

In Chucky’s unending thirst for power, season 3 saw Chucky ensconced with the most powerful family in the world — America’s First Family, inside the infamous walls of the White House. How did Chucky wind up here? What in God’s name does he want? And how can Jake (Zackary Arthur), Devon (Björgvin Arnarson), and Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind) possibly get to Chucky inside the world’s most secure building, all while balancing the pressures of romantic relationships and growing up? Meanwhile, Tiffany faced a looming crisis of her own as the police close in on her for “Jennifer Tilly’s” murderous rampage last season.

Chucky was produced by UCP and exec produced by Don Mancini, Nick Antosca, Alex Hedlund, David Kirschner and Jeff Renfoe.

Talk Show Appearance

Alicia Coppola on KTLA Morning News (Video)

Sharon Case Still Loves Doing ‘Y&R’ After 30 Years — Even If She’s ‘Always Crying’

Nevertheless, she agreed to cut her trip a little short, auditioned for Y&R, and landed the role. But having already appeared on General Hospital as Dawn Winthrop and As The World Turns as Debbie Simon, she didn’t think she’d be sticking around. “At the time, I was thinking it would probably be shorter term,” Case shares. “Soaps tend to be a revolving door. Also, as I started to work at Young and Restless, I was still on hold for the next season, potentially, of Valley of the Dolls. By December of that year, we heard that Valley was not getting picked up, so I could stay at Y&R. I didn’t have any super high expectations for how long the role would last but I liked working there.”

The fact that she was the third actress to play Sharon also gave her pause. “That added to my thinking that this might not last a long time,” Case explains. “I mean, if they’ve gone through three actresses, they could very potentially hire someone else beyond me or maybe even get rid of the character because that’s a bit unstable. But it turned out it wasn’t unstable, they were just taking their time hunting for the right actor, one they were satisfied with, and I guess that turned out to be me.”

Fans were quickly taken by the newcomer, and Sharon’s on-screen pairing with Joshua Morrow’s Nick Newman was a hit with the audience. “I liked working with him from the first day,” Case shares of her longtime acting partner. “I did my screen test with him, and he had only worked there a few months. I immediately got along quite well with him and just loved him. He’s such a great guy to this day. I think so highly of Joshua.”

After a decade together, the pair split following the death of their daughter Cassie in 2005, which completely changed the trajectory of their characters’ paths. “Sharon and Nick are the main throughline of Sharon’s romantic life and I don’t think Sharon would’ve dated or married or had other romances had Sharon and Nick not gotten thrown off course when Cassie died,” Case observes. “That was a big and poignant story, because it broke up this couple who had been together for 10 years and spun them both out into a variety of other romances, and they haven’t been able to find their way back yet in a solid way that lasts.”

That was just one of the many emotional tales Case has tackled over her 30 years in Genoa City. “Sharon is always crying over something,” she points out. “I do a lot of sad stories. Not to be too shallow or anything, but my first reaction to reading that in my script is, ‘Oh, no! More waterproof makeup?’ And you’ll notice sometimes in my crying scenes I’ll have a lot more black makeup rolling down my face and that’s just because I don’t want to wear the waterproof. I hate it. I get over it quite quickly but that’s my knee-jerk reaction [Laughs].”

Something she loves, however, are the sets her character frequents, like Crimson Lights, the coffeehouse Sharon owns. “There’s a few good things about the coffeehouse,” she notes. “One is that she’s out of the house. Two, it’s a classic set that’s been there since the Bill Bell [co-creator] days, so I love that about it. Three, she meets all of these other characters and actors because they come there. And it’s probably a little more selfish, but we have two stages and the coffeehouse is on the second stage, so it’s likely to shoot in the afternoon and I love rolling into work at noon or one. I’m not a morning person.”

Her feelings about Sharon’s house are more complicated. “I walk into that set and I feel so at home,” she smiles. “It’s been in my life for decades. I will add that it’s on the first stage. When I see that set go up, I’m like, ‘OK, my life is about to change. I’m going to have early mornings, getting up at 4:30 now.’ ”

On September 27, Y&R will air a special episode devoted to Sharon. “I don’t want to spoil it for, people, but it was a long day,” she teases of filming it. “There were a lot of scenes and I had a lot of dialogue to memorize. I was in a time frame where I was in a lot of shows and doing a lot of work and long hours and that was one of those moments of terror. I didn’t think I’d be able to do it, but the crew and the people I work with are right there with you. We all work together as a group so well. My stage manager, Fritz [Brekeller], and my director, Sally McDonald, really were key in getting me through that and making it so that I could accomplish that show. It was a big show, so thank you to them.”

Expect flashbacks aplenty that illustrate Sharon’s three-decade journey and tie into her current drama. “They used flashbacks that were relevant to what is going on in that episode for Sharon,” Case previews. “It is a Sharon-centric episode, but it isn’t a one-off or a separate day. It makes sense within the storyline that we’re doing. It isn’t an episode where we’re just going to air all my favorite flashbacks.”

As she looks back on her time on the No. 1 soap, Case marvels, “It’s really unbelievable. It’s not something you see every day and you certainly don’t expect. How lucky am I? It’s an honor to be a part of something that long-running and successful. This has just been amazing. For me, playing Sharon becomes more interesting all the time. Not less.”

“TRACKER” STAR JUSTIN HARTLEY TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERACTIVE CBS LIVESTREAM EVENT FOR FANS, HOSTED BY “ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT’S” NISCHELLE TURNER, FRIDAY, SEPT. 20

Friday’s virtual event will feature Hartley’s inside scoop and answers to fans’ questions, all moderated by Turner, who will also introduce sneak peek footage of season two and guide the audience through TRACKER trivia games and polls. Turner will also announce details about an early chance to sign up for one of two sweepstakes for a TRACKER/AutoCamp overnight experience taking place in AutoCamp’s Joshua Tree, Calif., (Oct. 2-3) and Catskills, N.Y. (Oct. 20-21) locations. Three lucky winners from each market, along with one guest each, will be immersed in the world of TRACKER, alongside media and influencers. (**Winners are responsible for travel to/from the AutoCamp locations, and all participants must be 21 or older. Follow @trackercbs and @autocamp on social for more details.)

An overnight stay at the highly acclaimed AutoCamp, known for its upscale outdoor-focused accommodations in breathtaking natural settings. With their guest, each winner will be hosted in a sleek, modern Airstream, combining the comforts of a luxury hotel with the serenity of the great outdoors. AutoCamp’s signature blend of nature, mid-century modern design and communal spaces – such as fire pits – offers the perfect setting for the TRACKER experience.

An exclusive under-the-stars preview screening of an upcoming episode from TRACKER’s second season.

Justin Hartley returns in TRACKER as Colter Shaw, a trusted lone-wolf survivalist who, driven by the troubles of his past, uses his instincts to find the missing and collect rewards. Supported by lawyer Reenie Green (Fiona Rene), his business handler Velma Bruin (Abby McEnany) and tech expert Bobby Exley (Eric Graise), Colter will stop at nothing to get the job done. The second season premiere of TRACKER kicks off CBS Premiere Week, Sunday, Oct. 13 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs).

‘The Young & The Restless’ Casts Valarie Pettiford As New Amy Lewis

Deadline has learned that veteran TV actress Valarie Pettiford will take over the role that was first created by Stephanie E. Williams in 1983. Details on why Amy is returning are being kept under wraps for now.

Pettiford’s first air date as a recurring character is Tuesday, October 29. This marks her return to daytime after portraying Sheila Price on One Life to Live from 1990-94.

Pettiford is currently a series regular on the BET+ series The Family Business and has a recurring role on CBS’ The Equalizer. She’s also set appear in the upcoming holiday movie, Too Many Christmases.

Her extensive TV credits include The Mandalorian, The Blacklist, The Baxters, A Discovery of Witches, and Half & Half for which she received three NAACP Image Award nominations for her role as Dee Dee Thorne.

In 1999, Pettiford received a Tony nomination for her role in the Broadway production of Fosse. She’s directing and creating new works with business partners Mary Ann Lambs and Marissa Palley for live theater, and is developing for television and film under her Scared Flight Productions banner.

‘Tracker’ Season 2 Trailer: Jensen Ackles’ Return, Colter in Danger & His Love Life

Colter travels the country as a reward-seeker, but he only collects if he’s successful in finding the missing person, as he explains to a client in the video above, which offers a look at some of the jobs coming his way this season. The one in the premiere, which airs on Sunday, October 13, features the strange disappearance of a missing family whose car was found abandoned on the side of the road in the backwoods of Arkansas. Colter then makes a shocking discovery about the mother’s past that leads him into the world of organized crime.

At one point, his business handler Velma Bruin (Abby McEnany) warns him not to do anything stupid, and let’s just say that what he’s doing counts. Oh, his love life is going to be complicated this season, with bounty hunter Billie Matalon (Sofia Pernas) back and whatever he may have one day with lawyer Reenie Green (Fiona Rene). In fact, Reenie notes at one point that she didn’t ask him about Billie. “Can we just focus on work?” he asks.

Jensen Ackles also returns as Colter’s brother, Russell in the second episode. “Colter’s got a couple of questions for him about this Dory [their sister, played by Melissa Roxburgh] situation and the box that she has and does Russell know where it is? Russell’s also pretty heroic in Episode 2 and they get involved in this really black ops, kind of strange thing,” Hartley told us as part of our Fall Preview of Season 2.

“These government officials start asking about our dad out of the blue, and you’re like, ‘Whoa, what’s this all about?’ So, in every episode, Dad is becoming a little more vindicated maybe, or just maybe completely nuts,” Hartley continued. “We don’t know. We dive a little bit deeper into that.”

‘General Hospital’ star shares unusual second job he takes on when he’s not acting

The 59-year-old actor, known for his character Ric Lansing in the popular soap opera, took to social media to reveal his double life.

“I’ve been on break from ‘GH’ for a couple [of] weeks now,” he explained in an Instagram post.

“About to head back in a couple of days. Going to get on a plane. I’m in Jersey, currently, New Jersey where I live. I just kind of wanted to show folks what New Jersey looks like.”

The actor continued to explain how visitors may misinterpret New Jersey for mostly being industrial but shared that there is more to the Garden State than what travelers see outside of Newark International Airport.

“General Hospital” actor Rick Hearst is sharing a glimpse into his second job when he’s not working in Hollywood.

The 59-year-old actor, known for his character Ric Lansing in the popular soap opera, took to social media to reveal his double life.

“I’ve been on break from ‘GH’ for a couple [of] weeks now,” he explained in an Instagram post.

“About to head back in a couple of days. Going to get on a plane. I’m in Jersey, currently, New Jersey where I live. I just kind of wanted to show folks what New Jersey looks like.”

He added, “There [are] different parts of New Jersey… The part that I live in, South Central New Jersey, which is a beautiful place. I also happen to be a real estate agent here. I love helping people find homes here, sell their homes here. It’s really a great lifestyle out here.”

The soap opera actor went on to give fans a preview of his backyard and explained how he grew up on the East Coast.

“There’s a lot of green… that’s more green than I want to have, it’s a lot to mow,” Hearst shared. “And yes, I do mow my own lawn. I know, nuts.”

While he showed his lush and “spacious” green backyard, Hearst said, “All those trees back there are going to be turning colors by the time I get back from Los Angeles.”

In Hearst’s video, he panned the camera to his mother’s vegetable garden and displayed his luxurious in-ground pool to his fans.

He accompanied his video with the caption, “A little view of the ‘garden state’ from my back yard.”

“We’re very happy here. It’s very peaceful, it’s very tranquil,” Hearst remarked. “I love being here.”

Hearst then reminded his fans of his real estate business and said, “So if you happen to be looking to come to New Jersey, give me a shout. I can find you a place. Or if you are in New Jersey and would like to get an estimate on your home, see what the options are available to you, and would love to be able to work with you as well.”

He returned to “General Hospital” this year after being on hiatus for eight years. He’s won two Daytime Emmy Awards for his work on the show.

His other television credits include roles on “Days of Our Lives,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.”.

CBS ANNOUNCES PREMIERE DATES AND MILESTONES FOR #1 LINEUP IN DAYTIME

The longest consecutively running game show in television history, Emmy Award-winning THE PRICE IS RIGHT, is back for its 53rd season beginning Monday, Sept. 23. The show will celebrate its milestone 10,000th episode in February 2025. Host Drew Carey, now in his 18th season, and announcer George Gray, will continue inviting contestants to “come on down!” Specially themed episodes this season include Halloween (with some surprise guest stars), Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, “Galentine’s Day” and a unique “redemption episode” with former contestants returning to get another opportunity to play. In addition, December marks model James O’Halloran’s 10th anniversary on the show. Rachel Reynolds, Manuela Arbeláez, Amber Lancaster, James O’Halloran, Devin Goda and Alexis Gaube are the models.

Emmy Award-winning host Wayne Brady brings you more deals when LET’S MAKE A DEAL season 16 begins on Monday, Sept 23. This season, dealers have the potential for even bigger winnings with the return of “Mega Money Mondays” and “Fabulous Car Fridays” throughout the season. Upcoming special episodes include Halloween and Mardi Gras and an episode in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. The cast’s signature improvisational and musical stylings, trademark games, and of course, dreaded Zonks, will continue. The show also features announcer Jonathan Mangum, model Tiffany Coyne and musician Cat Gray.

CBS’ longest-running scripted series, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, continues with its 52nd season on Thursday, Oct. 3, its 37th year as Daytime’s #1 drama. This fall, suspense, romance and rivalries take center stage as Victor (Eric Braeden) hits Jack (Peter Bergman) where it hurts the most when his plan of attack divides the Abbott family. Sharon (Sharon Case) is haunted by her past, leading her to visit her dark side, while Abby (Melissa Ordway) and Devon (Bryton James) face an unexpected obstacle as they plan their November wedding. On Nov. 13, the show will mark its historic 13,000th episode and in addition, this fall, cast members Sharon Case and Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers) will both celebrate their 30th anniversaries with special episodes dedicated to their characters.

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, the most-watched daily drama series in the world, marks its 38th season beginning Monday, Sept. 16. In the upcoming episodes, fans can expect a mix of emotional confrontations, romantic twists and lively musical moments. Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Taylor (Rebecca Budig) face off after Hope (Annika Noelle) continues making a play for Steffy’s (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) husband, Finn (Tanner Novlan). But when Steffy threatens to end the Hope for the Future fashion line, Hope sets her sights on a new man. Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) discovers Taylor’s shocking reasons for returning home, while Will’s (Crew Morrow) return could lead to a reunion for his parents, Bill (Don Diamont) and Katie (Heather Tom). Guest star Tom Arnold returns as Captain Deuce Stevens, and musician Jökull Júliusson from the Icelandic band Kaleo rocks out at the Brooke’s Bedroom fashion campaign. Also, in season 38, Don Diamont celebrates 40 years on CBS Daytime.

What’s Next (and Who’s Arriving) on ‘General Hospital,’ ‘DAYS,’ ‘Y&R’ & ‘B&B’ This Fall

Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Taylor (Rebecca Budig) face off after Hope (Annika Noelle) continues making a play for Steffy’s (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) husband, Finn (Tanner Novlan). But when Steffy threatens to end the Hope for the Future fashion line, Hope sets her sights on a new man.
Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) discovers Taylor’s shocking reasons for returning home.
Will’s (Crew Morrow) return could lead to a reunion for his parents, Bill (Don Diamont) and Katie (Heather Tom).
Poppy (Romy Park) is committed to continuing her relationship with Bill. Li makes a grand gesture towards her sister to help Poppy heal from the devastating fallout of Luna’s (Lisa Yamada) murderous actions and kidnapping of Steffy.
Casting News! Guest star Tom Arnold returns as Captain Deuce Stevens. Musician Jökull Júliusson from the Icelandic band, Kaleo, rocks out at the Brooke’s Bedroom fashion campaign.

John (Drake Hogestyn) puts the pieces together regarding the accident that caused Sarah’s (Linsey Godfrey) paralysis. An unexpected treatment for Sarah’s paralysis is on the horizon.
Chad (Billy Flynn) finally accepts that Abigail is back and they prepare to get remarried.
Johnny’s (Carson Boatman) jealous side comes out when he questions Chanel’s behavior on the set of Body & Soul.
Once again, Victor’s (John Aniston) will is contested and a tug-of-war ensues for control of Titan.
Tate (Leo Howard) finds himself caught between Sophia (Madelyn Kientz) and Holly (Ashley Puzemis).
Casting News! Nancy Wesley (Patrika Darbo) returns to Salem to introduce someone she thinks is perfect for Body & Soul. Gabi (Cherie Jimenez) and Rafe’s (Galen Gering) cousin comes to town.

Alexis’ (Nancy Lee Grahn) plan to protect Kristina (Kate Mansi) hits a snag.
Molly (Kristen Vaganos) takes matters into her own hands to save Alexis.
Ric (Rick Hearst) finds another reason to stick around Port Charles.
Tracy (Jane Elliot) works through her complicated feelings about Cody (Josh Kelly) and Sasha’s (Sofia Mattsson) romance.
Lucky (Jonathan Jackson) dreams of Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst).
Hoping to clear his mind about Willow, Drew (Cameron Mathison) has a proposition for Nina (Cynthia Watros).
Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) and Rocco (Finn Francis Carr) visit Lulu.
Jordan (Tanisha Harper) and Isaiah (Sawandi Wilson) get to know each other.

Victor (Eric Braeden) makes a deal with Lily (Christel Khalil) to take down Billy (Jason Thompson) once and for all while also dedicating his time to pushing Jack’s (Peter Bergman) buttons as he continues to mentor Kyle (Michael Mealor) at Glissade.
Cameron (Linden Ashby) remains a dangerous presence in Sharon’s (Sharon Case) life as he encourages her to visit her dark side leading Nick (Joshua Morrow) and Mariah (Camryn Grimes) to work together to help Sharon.
Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) is presented with an unexpected professional opportunity while also supporting Summer (Allison Lanier) and Daniel (Michael Graziadei) through some challenging times.
Victoria (Amelia Heinle) rekindles her romance with Cole (J. Eddie Peck).
Claire (Hayley Erin) sees a new side to Kyle as they take their relationship to the next level.
Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) and Adam (Mark Grossman) seek forgiveness for their night of passion while Billy and Sally (Courtney Hope) find themselves forming an unexpected bond.
Abby (Melissa Ordway) and Devon (Bryton James) face an unforeseen obstacle as they plan their November wedding.
Diane (Susan Walters) goes to great lengths to repair her relationship with her son, Kyle.
Audra (Zuleyka Silver) and Nate (Sean Dominic) navigate the waters of their new normal.

SEASON PREMIERE OF “TRACKER,” SUNDAY, OCT. 13

The Girl Who Wasn’t Dead

The movie is produced by NSM Productions with Tim Johnson serving as executive producer. Simone Stock directs from a script by Yuri Baranovsky and Angela Gulner.

Tyler Hynes & Hunter King Play to Win the Game of Love in ‘Holiday Touchdown’ First Look

Tyler Hynes and Hunter King, who play Derrick and Alana, get decked out in their Chiefs gear and share a heartfelt moment in the stands at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The first look photos also give a glimpse at the star-studded cameo appearances, including Diedrich Bader, Christine Ebersole, Richard Riehle, and Donna Kelce (aka Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce‘s mom).

The holiday movie follows Alana Higman, who comes from a long line of Kansas City Chiefs superfans. She thinks her family is the frontrunner in winning the team’s Fan of the Year contest. Derrick, the director of fan engagement, is tasked with evaluating how Alana and her family stack up against the other two finalists. The more Alana and Derrick spend time together, the more it becomes clear that there’s a spark between them.

Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, Movie Premiere, November 30, 8/7c, Hallmark Channel

‘Dancing With the Stars’ Is Back in the Ballroom With an All-New Celebrity Cast

This season’s celebrities and professional dancers are as follows (in alphabetical order):

Super Bowl Champion Danny Amendola with partner Witney Carson
Notorious ankle bracelet fashionista Anna Delvey with partner Ezra Sosa
From “The Bachelor,” Joey Graziadei with partner Jenna Johnson
NBA Champion Dwight Howard with partner Daniella Karagach
TV star Chandler Kinney with partner Brandon Armstrong
Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher with partner Alan Bersten
Model and cover girl Brooks Nader with partner Gleb Savchenko
Olympic gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik with partner Rylee Arnold
Reality royalty Phaedra Parks with partner Val Chmerkovskiy
Movie star Eric Roberts with partner Britt Stewart
TV icon Tori Spelling with partner Pasha Pashkov
From “The Bachelorette,” Jenn Tran with partner Sasha Farber
Sitcom and movie actor Reginald VelJohnson with partner Emma Slater

The pairs will be judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts, including Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.

“Dancing with the Stars” is produced by BBC Studios Los Angeles Productions.

DANNY AMENDOLA – Danny Amendola is a former NFL wide receiver who played 13 seasons and is a two-time Super Bowl Champion as a member of the New England Patriots. Amendola was recently inducted into the Texas Tech Red Raiders Hall of Fame in 2024. His professional football career in the NFL began when he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 2008. After one year on the practice squad with Dallas and Philadelphia, he got elevated to the active roster with the St. Louis Rams in 2009. He became a breakout star in St. Louis before signing a five-year contract with the New England Patriots in 2013. While in New England, Amendola became a trusted receiver of quarterback Tom Brady and a fan favorite known for making his biggest plays and having his best games when the stakes were highest in the NFL playoffs. Amendola retired from the NFL in 2021.

ANNA DELVEY – Anna Delvey is an artist, fashion icon and infamous NYC socialite who gained international attention after Netflix purchased the rights to her story and developed it into the 2022 miniseries “Inventing Anna.” Delvey’s life story has been the subject of several other television shows, interviews, podcasts and theater productions. Some view her as a cunning scam artist, while others see her as a charismatic and ambitious entrepreneur who took advantage of New York City’s social elite in an effort to open a prestigious art studio. Her case has also sparked discussions about wealth, privilege and social climbing in modern society. Her story continues to captivate the public’s imagination.

JOEY GRAZIADEI – A 29-year-old teaching tennis pro from Collegeville, Pennsylvania, Joey Graziadei is most well known as the Bachelor from season 28 of the ABC hit show of the same name. With his loyalty, thoughtfulness and compassion, Graziadei won the hearts of America and, ultimately, his fiancée, Kelsey Anderson. Now that finding love has been checked off his to-do list, Graziadei keeps busy spending time with family, traveling the world, and raising awareness for causes he’s passionate about like cancer research.

DWIGHT HOWARD – Dwight David Howard II is one of the NBA’s most charismatic veteran players. Playing basketball 19 years professionally as one of the greatest players in the NBA, he has made a global impact across the lives of people around the world. He is an NBA Champion, eight-time NBA All-Star, eight-time All-NBA Team member, five-time All-Defensive Team member and a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. He holds the record for having the most dunks in NBA history along with being the only player in NBA history to earn the honor of Defensive Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons.

Howard is also an entrepreneur, filmmaker, community leader, media figure and philanthropist. Expanding his focus over the past few years, he is currently the co-owner of a professional basketball league in Asia with plans to go global. He is an avid traveler, dedicated father and global ambassador of basketball internationally bringing smiles to everyone he encounters around the world.

CHANDLER KINNEY – Chandler trained at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy and the Los Angeles Ballet Academy, and discovered acting at age 9. Currently, Kinney can be seen starring in the HBO Max series “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin” and “Pretty Little Liars: Summer School.” She also portrays Willa in the Disney Channel musical film franchise “Zombies.” Previously, she was in FOX’s “Lethal Weapon,” FX’s “American Horror Story: Asylum,” the CW’s “90210,” Amazon’s “Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street,” “The Haunted Hathaways” for Nickelodeon, and Disney’s “Girl Meets World” and “K.C. Undercover.”

ILONA MAHER – Ilona Maher is a Team USA Rugby Sevens bronze medalist and two-time Olympian, having represented the United States in Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2020. Maher is a viral sensation across social media for sharing her authentic and witty journey as a professional female athlete to help grow the game of rugby and promote body appreciation. An ambassador for ChildFund Rugby, an organization that uses integrated rugby and life skills to help young people from vulnerable communities across the world overcome challenges, Maher traveled to Laos to help in their mission of inspiring positive social change.

BROOKS NADER – Brooks Nader is a supermodel and actress, known for her impeccable style and captivating presence. Through campaigns, runway shows, branded partnerships, strategic collaborations and more, Nader’s career has continued to skyrocket since she made her debut in the 2019 edition of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. Throughout her career, Nader has worked with esteemed brands and fashion houses. Most recently, in May 2024, she was named a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Legend and featured on the cover of the magazine for the second time in celebration of the magazine’s 60th anniversary.

STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK – Stephen Nedoroscik, more popularly known as the “pommel horse guy,” is a distinguished American gymnast. At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, he captured America’s heart by helping the U.S. Men’s Gymnastics team secure their first team medal (bronze) in 16 years. He also won an individual bronze medal on the pommel horse. Beyond his athletic achievements, Nedoroscik is a passionate advocate for men’s gymnastics and works to raise awareness for the sport. He is also dedicated to supporting individuals with low vision, using his platform to promote inclusivity and accessibility in the gymnastics community and beyond.

PHAEDRA PARKS – Phaedra Parks is a successful attorney, businesswoman, author, mortician, television personality, motivational speaker, social activist, certified reiki master healer and mother to two young sons. As managing partner of The Parks Group, Parks practices law in the areas of entertainment, intellectual property rights, and civil and criminal litigation. Parks has been an on-air legal analyst for media outlets including NBC, Fox, CNN, truTV, EXTRA and Entertainment Tonight. As a television personality, she has appeared on “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” “Ultimate Girls Trip,” four-time Emmy® Award-nominated and People’s Choice Award-winning series, “The Traitors” as well as “Will Trent.”

Parks earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Wesleyan College, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia as well as a degree in mortuary sciences from Jefferson State College.

ERIC ROBERTS – Eric Roberts is a Georgia native, whose first professional acting job in front of a camera was “Another World” at age 19 in New York. He entered into features in “King of the Gypsies” at 21 and earned multiple Golden Globe® nominations and an Oscar® nomination. One of his favorite jobs was the portrayal of Junior in Danny McBride’s “Righteous Gemstones.” He has also made proud appearances in music videos from The Killers, Keaton Simons, Akon, Ja Rule, Mariah Carey, Rihanna and numerous artists from around the world.

TORI SPELLING – Tori Spelling is best known for playing Donna Martin on the long-running hit show “Beverly Hills 90210,” which she also executive produced. She created, executive produced and starred in the long-running series “Tori and Dean,” the spinoff series “sTORIbook Weddings,” as well as “True Tori,” HGTV’s “Tori & Dean: Cabin Fever” and “At Home With Tori.” Spelling is also a five-time NY Times bestselling author with her first (of six) memoirs, “sTORI Telling,” reaching No. 1 and being named the best celebrity autobiography of 2009. She has also authored the children’s book “Presenting Tallulah,” as well as the coffee table, party planning book “CelebrTORI.” Spelling has had multiple product lines and she currently hosts two podcasts on iHeart, “90210MG with Jennie Garth,” and her own podcast “MisSPELLING,” which she also executive produces.

JENN TRAN – Jenn Tran is a sweet and compassionate woman who has dedicated her life to helping others and is currently studying to become a physician assistant. The bilingual Vietnamese beauty currently resides in Miami; and when she’s not studying, the 26-year-old Bachelor Nation fan favorite loves reading, paddleboarding and traveling whenever she has the chance.

REGINALD VELJOHNSON – Reggie VelJohnson is the iconic TV dad from the sitcom “Family Matters” and well known as Al Powell in “Die Hard” and “Die Hard 2.” He was recently the TV dad on five versions of Progressive’s national commercial campaign and sings on the Planters Christmas commercial. He recently costarred in the indie feature “Roswell Delirium,” played the lead in the TV movie of the week “Ghost of Christmas Always,” had a recurring role on Disney+ “Turner & Hooch” and was featured in the leading role in the indie feature “Christmas Lottery.”

He also appeared in the mega successful feature “Avengers: Endgame,” “The Prayer Box” and “The Very Excellent Dundee.” Additionally, VelJohnson guest starred on CBS’s “Mom,” ABC’s “Station 19,” “Sydney to the Max,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Ryan Hanson Solves Crimes on Television” and “Ray Donovan; was the lead in the Lifetime movie “Pride and Prejudice: Atlanta”; and was a recurring character on “Hart of Dixie.”.

Charise Castro Smith Inks 20th TV Overall Deal, Sets Jessica Alba Starrer ‘Confessions’ At Hulu With Eva Longoria Directing

Castro Smith has Confessions On The 7:45, a series adaptation of Lisa Unger’s international bestseller, in development at Hulu with Jessica Alba attached to star and Eva Longoria set to direct the pilot. Castro Smith and Alba originally set the series up at Netflix for development two years ago. It is now being redeveloped for Hulu under Castro Smith’s deal at sibling 20th TV, a part of Disney Television Studios.

Based on Unger’s novel, Confessions On The 7:45 is a psychological thriller in which a working mom (Alba) meets a stranger on a train as she is commuting home who upends her life. As her life unravels and betrayals are revealed, she questions whether we can ever truly know the people closest to us.

Castro Smith is writing and executive producing. Alba is executive producing via her Lady Metalmark Entertainment, along with Longoria via Hyphenate Media Group, Unger and 3 Arts.

“We have been enamored by Charise’s captivating storytelling, unique world-building and authentic point of view for years,” said Karey Burke, President of 20th Television. “She’s not only an acclaimed playwright and television writer, but her incomparable work on Encanto was simply spectacular. She has the rare ability to capture the human condition across multiple genres, she brings characters to life, and her words literally leap off the page, and the entire team at 20th Television is thrilled to officially welcome her into the studio fold.”

This marks Castro Smith’s return to the Disney fold after serving as co-writer and co-director of the 2021 Oscar-winning animated feature Encanto. Prior to the Disney-Fox merger, she worked on the 20th TV drama series The Exorcist for Fox and saw her ABC Studios drama script The Death Of Eva Sofia Valdez go to pilot at ABC with Gina Torres starring.

“Having been a part of the Disney family for many years now, this feels like coming home,” Castro Smith said. “I’m so grateful to Karey Burke and Eric Schrier for welcoming me into the fold at the most writer friendly studio in town. I’m so looking forward to making excellent television with this incredible team.”

Confessions On The 7:45 also marks Alba’s return to 20th Television more than two decades after her breakout lead role in the studio’s 2000 James Cameron drama series Dark Angel, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

At the time Confessions On The 7:45 was sold to Netflix in 2022, Alba spoke of her reaction to Unger’s novel that led to her involvement in the project.

“I could not put this book down. The moment I read the line, ‘If you want to keep a secret you must first hide it from yourself,’ I was hooked,” she said. “This book is about trying to bury secrets and the shame we carry until the truth exposes us. I can’t think of a more exciting person to partner with on this project. Charise is so ridiculously talented and truly gets every nuance under the skin of these characters and their web of lies.”

Alba has made more than 25 feature films, including Fantastic Four and Sin City, that have earned a combined box office total of $800 million-plus. She most recently starred in and executive produced the Netflix action thriller Trigger Warning and, along with Gabrielle Union, she headlined and exec produced the action drama series, L.A.’s Finest. Alba’s Roku series, Honest Renovations, which she created, exec produces and hosts with Lizzy Mathis, was just picked up for a third season. She is repped by 3 Arts Entertainment, UTA and Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern.

In TV, Castro Smith most recently staffed on Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House and Starz’s Sweetbitter. A prolific playwright, her work includes El Huracán (Yale Repertory Theatre), Estrella Cruz: The Junkyard Queen (Ars Nova/Halcyon Theatre), The Hunchback of Seville (Washington Ensemble Theatre/Trinity Repertory Company), Washeteria (Soho Rep), and Boomcracklefly (Miracle Theatre). Castro Smith is repped by UTA and attorney Scott Whitehead.

Longoria stars in Season 4 of the hit Hulu/20th TV series Only Murders in the Building and in Hyphenate’s Apple TV+ series Land of Women. Her TV directing credits include Gordita Chronicles, Devious Maids, Telenovela, Grand Hotel, Empire, Jane the Virgin and The Mick. She also directed the 2021 Sundance feature documentary La Guerra Civil, and the film Flamin’ Hot, which became Searchlight Pictures’ biggest streaming debut ever. Longoria is repped by WME, Linden Entertainment and Yorn Levine.pn

Allison Williams & Mckenna Grace To Star In Adaptation Of ‘Regretting You’ From ‘It Ends With Us’ Author Colleen Hoover

The news comes amid the theatrical release of Sony’s It Ends With Us adaptation, starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, which is expected to be a big hit, opening in the mid $40 million-range.

Written by Susan McMartin, with Josh Boone (The Fault in Our Stars) aboard to direct, Regretting You centers on the complex relationship between Morgan Grant (Williams) and her daughter, Clara (Grace). Morgan became a mother at a young age, putting her own dreams on hold to raise Clara. As Clara grows into a teenager, their relationship becomes strained, especially after a tragic accident claims the life of Chris, Morgan’s husband and Clara’s father.

The project hails from Constantin Film, whose Robert Kulzer is set to produce, along with Brunson Green and Anna Todd.

Most recently seen in the horror hit M3GAN and Showtime’s Fellow Travelers, Williams’ upcoming projects include M3GAN 2.0 and Kill Me with Charlie Day.

In addition to a pair of recent Ghostbusters films, including Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Grace has starred in Malignant, Annabelle Comes Home, Captain Marvel, Troop Zero, I, Tonya and other titles. Recent TV credits include Young Sheldon, A Friend of the Family and The Handmaid’s Tale, to name just a few.

Best known for directing an adaptation of John Green’s beloved YA title The Fault in Our Stars for Fox which grossed over $307M worldwide, Boone’s other directorial credits include Stuck in Love., The New Mutants, and Paramount+’s The Stand.

Released in 2016, Hoover’s It Ends with Us centers on Lily, who overcomes a traumatic childhood to embark on a new life. A chance meeting with a neurosurgeon sparks a connection, only for Lily to begin to see sides of him that remind her of her parents’ troubled relationship. Directed by Baldoni, the feature adaptation also stars Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate, and Hasan Minhaj.

Primarily known for her work in the romance and YA spaces, Hoover has thus far put out four book series, including It Ends with Us, along with 12 standalone novels. Currently, an adaptation of her 2018 novel Verity, from writer Hillary Seitz and producers Nick Antosca and Alex Hedlund, is in development at Amazon MGM Studios. She was named one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world just last year.

News of the Regretting You film was first reported by Jeff Sneider of The InSneider.

Lauralee Bell and Michael Damian Tease 'Drama'-Filled Bold and the Beautiful Crossover and 'Amazing' Reunion

Lauralee and Damian are set to appear in two episodes of the popular soap airing Aug. 13 and 14, where Lauralee will reprise the beloved role of Christine "Cricket" Blair, and Damian will once again play Danny Romalotti. According to a synopsis, “Danny and Christine are invited to the Forrester Estate for a party celebrating the success of the relaunch of Brooke Logan’s (Katherine Kelly Lang) 'Brooke's Bedroom' fashion line… or so they think."

"Little do Danny and Christine know, Brooke and Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) have invited them to pitch a new business venture,” the synopsis continues. “Not to be outdone, Danny decides to give a surprise performance of his own to share with the partygoers."

Lauralee, 55, tells PEOPLE the idea came from her brother Bradley Bell, an executive producer and head writer on The Bold and the Beautiful.

“We got this invitation from the Forresters to come to their launch party,” she says of the premise. “Danny gets this great offer, and then we plan to leave LA the next day because we're on tour, baby.”

Damian, who says the crossover will deliver a "lot of drama," will perform a new, remixed version of his 1989 Billboard chart-topping single Rock On. While the original track featured a mid-tempo sound emblematic of 80s rock, this new contemporary remix will take a “groovier dance groove” approach, according to the actor.

“It was the first time I've ever performed this [remix],” he explains, adding, “So, it was really personally very special for me.”

Filming their scenes with Lang, 63, and Kaye, 58, proved to be a hoot. “Michael and Thorsten became instant buddies. It was so freaking funny. People don't know that we're such jokers,” Lauralee says. “We had so much fun with them. … It was bizarrely fun to look around the room and just see everybody full-on dancing.”

Cricket and Danny's initial reunion on The Young and the Restless in November 2023 was a long-held dream by many viewers, Bell previously told PEOPLE. “We have fans that have been saying in the last couple weeks, I've waited 30 years for Cricket and Danny to get back together. Waited 30 years!” she said at the time.

Damian, for his part, says reuniting with Lauralee onscreen has been an “amazing” reminder of how seamlessly the two work together.

“We have a shorthand,” he explains. “I’ve known her longer than anybody in my life, besides my brothers and sisters. I met her with she was 15, so we have this incredible history … This journey we’ve had for so many years has been extraordinary. … I just know that the fans really enjoy the chemistry.”

Lauralee, meanwhile, acknowledges the actor is one of the best scene partners she’s ever had.

“I do usually know what he's going to say before he says it. There's something, even though that sounds like a negative, it is a positive,” she explains. “If it's a certain scene that's emotional, I know that I don't have to do a lot of prep work. We know how to kind of internally communicate through eyes and stuff like that. You either have that with people or you don't.”

Their onscreen chemistry helps explain viewers' decades-long devotion to Cricket and Danny. (The duo even hosted Skype calls in March and June with fans.)

To that end, Lauralee and Damian hope viewers get a kick out of their latest onscreen appearance together. “I hope they smile. I hope they realize that was fun, and I hope then they download [Michael’s] single, because I get a percentage,” Lauralee jokes.

The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays at 1:30 p.m. ET on CBS and is available for streaming on Paramount+. Lauralee and Damian's episodes are set to air on Tuesday, Aug. 13 and Wednesday, Aug. 14.

'General Hospital' star Steve Burton finds new love after wife cheated, got pregnant

The General Hospital actor found happiness with chef Michelle Lundstrom following his split from wife Sheree Gustin in June 2022 after more than 20 years of marriage after she got pregnant by another man.

It seems the couple have been dating for a few months but have managed to keep their romance under the radar.

They stepped out together at the Daytime Emmy Awards in June, with the Barbecue Showdown 2 contestant sharing some photos of their “first red carpet together” on Instagram.

“Our first red carpet together,” she gushed in the caption. “It was a dream of a night from beginning to end. Thank you for all the beautiful kind comments + messages. I’m truly grateful [heart and prayer emoji] (sic)”

Later that month, Lundstrom, 43, shared a reel of her favourite times with Burton in honour of the soap star’s 54th birthday.

“Happiest birthday my love @1steveburton,” she wrote. “It’s a better place with you in this world. Anyone that has you in their life in any capacity is truly blessed.

“I think I’ll forever be in awe of what an incredible man and human you are. Thank you for wearing the largest fanny pack in Disney + sharing your beautiful life alongside mine. Wishing you a million more special memories smiles, you deserve it all!”

Burton and Gustin, who have Mackena, 20, Jack, 18, and 10-year-old Brooklyn together, finalized their divorce in December 2023.

They agreed to joint legal and physical custody of their younger children, with Burton agreeing to pay Gustin $12,500 a month in child support, which works out as $10,000 for Brooklyn — until she turns 18 — and $2,500 for Jack.

In April, Burton’s payments were reduced to $10,000 a month after Jack turned 18.

The former couple waived their right to spousal support “now or at any time in the future, regardless of the unforeseen circumstances that may exist in the future.”

But Burton is paying Gustin $50,000, in $2,500 per month instalments, as retroactive support.

The marriage cratered after Burton found out that his now ex-wife got pregnant by another man.

In May 2022, Burton shared an update about the couple to his followers on Instagram Stories.

“I wanted to clear something up,” he wrote, according to Page Six. “Sheree and I are separated. She recently announced that she’s expecting her 4th child. The child is not mine.”

Courtney Thorne-Smith & Stella Gregg To Lead New Lifetime Movie ‘He Slid Into Her DMs’

Alicia Coppola (Jericho, Why Women Kill) will make her directorial debut with the project premiering Saturday, September 28 at 8/7c as part of Lifetime’s Fall Ripped from the Headlines movie slate.

Inspired by actual events, 17-year-old Berni’s (Gregg) life seemed perfect from the outside; she’s popular, dating the captain of the basketball team, heading to NYU in the fall, and is a burgeoning social media influencer. However, it all is a façade. Berni’s life is a complete mess; her best friend is betraying her behind her back, she’s struggling to gain more followers. She needs to hit her social media goals to potentially financially help her single mother, and her boyfriend Zak (Parks) breaks up with her because she spends more time on her phone than with him.

Before eventually getting back together with Zak, Berni strikes up a friendship with Mason, an online fan, and agrees to sell him private photos. However, things turn deadly when Mason shows up on her doorstep, causing her mom Leah (Thorne-Smith) to make a tragic decision that ends up destroying Berni’s carefully crafted public image.

He Slid Into Her DMs is produced for Lifetime by Cartel Pictures. Stan Spry and Eric Woods serve as executive producers. Alicia Coppola directs from a script written by Erica Lane, Christina Kelly Holmes and Lydia Genner.

Thorne-Smith is repped by Paradigm Talent Agency and Joel Rudnick. Gregg is repped by Reel Talent Management and LA Talent. Coppola is represented by Leslie Allan-Rice Management and attorney Derek Kroger. Parks is represented by CGEM Talent, Artists United Agency and Attorney Mark Temple.

CBS PROGRAMMING ADVISORY FOR “TRACKER” AND “THE EQUALIZER”

The fifth season premiere of THE EQUALIZER will now also air as part of CBS Premiere Week on Sunday, Oct. 20 (9:30-10:30 PM, ET/PT). The series will move to its regular time period time on Sunday, Nov. 3 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT).

Below is the updated CBS primetime schedule for TRACKER and THE EQUALIZER (all times ET/PT):

7:00-8:00 PM: 60 MINUTES
8:00-9:00 PM: TRACKER (second season premiere)
9:00-11:00 PM: BIG BROTHER (season finale)

SUNDAY, OCT. 20
7:00-8:30 PM 60 MINUTES (special 90-minute episode)
8:30-9:30 PM TRACKER
9:30-10:30 PM THE EQUALIZER (fifth season premiere)

SUNDAY, OCT. 27
7:00-7:30 PM: NFL ON CBS doubleheader
7:30-8:30 PM: 60 MINUTES
8:30-9:30 PM: TRACKER
9:30-10:30 PM: THE EQUALIZER

SUNDAY, NOV. 3
7:00-8:00 PM: 60 MINUTES
8:00-9:00 PM: TRACKER
9:00-10:00 PM: THE EQUALIZER (regular time period premiere).

Brad Furman’s ‘People Not Places’ Adds Seven To Cast

As previously announced, Shirley MacLaine, Stephen Dorff, Julia Mayorga and Allegra Leguizamo also star.

People Not Places watches as Clare (MacLaine), an elderly widow living in Atlantic City, meets an erratic homeless man (Dorff) who sleeps in cars. Their shared loneliness causes them to bond, as they find the courage to face his regrettable past and her shortened future.

Furman and Jess Fuerst (Tin Soldier, City of Lies) are producing the film under their Road Less Traveled Productions banner. Jim Seibel (Nyad, The Grey) and Kyle David Crosby (Mending the Line, Bring On the Dancing Horses) are also producing.

Best known for her Oscar-winning performance in The Fisher King, Ruehl has also been seen in films like Hustlers, Last Action Hero and Big, among many others. She’s also been seen on series like New Amsterdam, Bull and Power, to name just a few.

Currently starring on MGM+’s Hotel Cocaine, Vazquez will next be seen in the Paul Greengrass film The Lost Bus for Apple TV+. Other recent credits include Parish, White House Plumbers, Godfather of Harlem, Promised Land, and Severance.

Part of the cast of Furman’s upcoming action thriller Tin Soldier, Mason’s past feature credits include Furman’s City of Lies and The Lincoln Lawyer, Ali, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Hackers, The Crow and True Romance, among others. He’s also been seen on shows like Prison Break and The Shield.

Currently starring on CBS’s S.W.A.T., Babatundé also been seen on Dear White People, I’m Dying Up Here and other series. Feature credits include City of Lies, The Manchurian Candidate, The Notebook, That Thing You Do! and Philadelphia.

Also part of the cast of Tin Soldier, Bicicchi has been seen in indies like Rudderless and series like Apple TV+’s Black Bird.

Camp has appeared in numerous classic films, including Apocalypse Now, Valley Girl, Clue, the Police Academy series, Wayne’s World, Election and more. Recently, she’s been seen in titles like Father Stu and Amsterdam from David O. Russell, who previously cast her in his films Joy and American Hustle.

Ruehl is represented by Sue Leibman/Barking Dog Entertainment and Peikoff Mahan Law Office; Vazquez by Gersh and Untitled Entertainment; Mason by Vanguard Management Group; Babatundé by Artists & Representatives; Bicicchi by HG5 Entertainment; and Camp by Gersh.

‘FBI: International’ Star Luke Kleintank Signs With Gersh

Kleintank recently completed three seasons as the lead of CBS’ drama FBI: International, also appearing as his character Special Agent Scott Forrester in the franchise’s 2023 global crossover event and the 2021 crossover with FBI and FBI: Most Wanted that launched the franchise.

Prior to that, Kleintank starred Amazon’s Emmy-winning drama series The Man in the High Castle, from executive producer Ridley Scott.

Kleintank has also had recurring roles on the series Pretty Little Liars, Bones, Gossip Girl, Person of Interest and No Ordinary Family. His recent film credits include Roland Emmerich’s 2019 World War II epic Midway, The Goldfinch and Crown Vic.

In addition to Gersh, Kleintank remains represented by Robert Stein Management and attorneys Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox.

‘Welcome To Wrexham’s Rob McElhenney & Ryan Reynolds Team With Eva Longoria On Series Following Mexico Soccer Club Necaxa

The untitled project, currently referred to as Bienvenidos a Necaxa, follows Mexico’s Club Necaxa, who were relocated to Aguascalientes, a working-class city known as the “land of good people,” after struggling for several seasons in their original home in bustling Mexico City. The Spanish/English language series will be led by club owner Longoria, who, alongside co-owners McElhenney and Reynolds, will help breathe new life into “Los Rayos” as they focus on reclaiming the team’s place as one of Mexico’s top.

Production is set to start soon, which makes sense given that Liga MX, the top professional soccer league in Mexico kicks off its season in July. The show won’t, however, follow promotion and relegation, as Welcome to Wrexham does given that Liga MX has scrapped both until at least 2026 due to financial problems with lower league teams.

Welcome to Wrexham was a new concept for actors and producers McElhenney and Reynolds that not only boosted their profiles but also interest in the titular team and soccer all over the world, specifically in the U.S. where the sport isn’t as popular as in Europe and South America.

The FX series recently concluded its third season, which followed the team as they landed back-to-back promotions, having been promoted out of non-league to the fourth-tier league. The docuseries was recently renewed by the network for a fourth season, which will follow their journey in League One, which confusingly is the third tier of English soccer.

The new series is executive produced by Eva Longoria, Cris Abrego, Rachelle Mendez, Nick Frenkel, Jackie Cohn, George Dewey, Rob McElhenney, Ryan Reynolds and Alex Fumero. Fumero will serve as the series’ showrunner which is produced by Hyphenate Media Group, More Better Productions, Maximum Effort Productions and 3 Arts Entertainment.

The Magic of Lemon Drops (Hallmark Channel)

Synopsis: “When Lolly’s (Fonseca) Aunt gives her three magical lemon drops, she gets to experience what her life would have been like if she had made different choices and lived those unfulfilled dreams.”

Lorraine Toussaint Joins Jessica Biel & Elizabeth Banks In Prime Video’s ‘The Better Sister’

Hailing from Tomorrow Studios, which will co-produce with Amazon MGM Studios, The Better Sister meditates on the terrible things that drive sisters apart and ultimately bring them back together. Biel leads the cast as Chloe, who moves through the world with her handsome lawyer husband Adam and teenage son Ethan by her side while her estranged sister Nicky (Banks) struggles to stay clean and hustles to make ends meet. When Adam is brutally murdered, the prime suspect sends shockwaves through the family, laying bare long-buried secrets.

Toussaint will play Catherine Lancaster. Grand dame of publishing, New York City queen-maker, Chloe’s (Biel) mentor and boss, Catherine is always thinking about the long-game.

Corey Stoll, Bobby Naderi, Maxwell Acee Donovan, Kim Dickens, Gabriel Sloyer, Matthew Modine, and Gloria Reuben also star.

Olivia Milch (Ocean’s 8), who wrote the pilot, and Regina Corrado (Mayor of Kingstown) serve as executive producers and showrunners. Craig Gillespie (Pam & Tommy) will direct the series and exec produce alongside Annie Marter through Fortunate Jack Productions. In addition to Milch and Corrado, EPs include Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, and Alissa Bachner through Tomorrow Studios (One Piece), a partnership with ITV Studios, as well as Banks, Biel and Michelle Purple. Author Burke is set as a consultant.

Toussaint also currently co-stars opposite Queen Latifah in CBS’ The Equalizer, which is heading into its fifth season. Due to an unprecedented agreement between Amazon, ITV and CBS, Toussaint is able to take on the series regular role in The Better Sister. Her other credits include Selma, Fast Color, The Middle Of Nowhere and Orange Is The New Black. She most recently voiced Queen Valerin in animated feature Nimona, and also voiced roles in Big City Greens, She Ra and the upcoming Disney Channel series StuGo. She’s repped by Frontline Management, The Artists Partnership, and Myman, Greenspan et al.)

The Young and the Restless’ Cricket and Danny Crossing Over to ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’: Details

Us Weekly can exclusively reveal that Lauralee Bell and Michael Damian, who play Christine “Cricket” and Danny, respectively, on Y&R are filming two episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful on Thursday, June 27.

“We’re all so excited,” Bell, 55, exclusively told Us of the crossover. “What we’re doing is so authentic to the story.”

Lauralee explained that her brother, Bradley Bell, who is an executive producer and head writer on B&B “saw we were doing something on Y&R and he thought this would be great for B&B.”

She revealed that since musician Danny is touring with his band on Y&R, “Of course he would have a concert in L.A. and that’s how the idea came about.”

In the two-episode crossover, which will air in August, “Danny and Christine are invited to the Forrester Estate for a party celebrating the success of the relaunch of Brooke Logan’s (Katherine Kelly Lang) ‘Brooke’s Bedroom’ fashion line … or so they think,” according to the logline.

“Little do Danny and Christine know, Brooke and Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) have invited them to pitch a new business venture. Not to be outdone, Danny decides to give a surprise performance of his own to share with the partygoers,” the synopsis teases.

Lauralee told Us that the cast and crews of both shows have been “downright giddy” about bringing Cricket and Danny into the B&B world.

“We’re all so excited about this,” she said, recalling, “Six months ago there was a rumor of me coming to B&B and I was like, ‘If I am no one has told me!’ This is such a perfect reason.”

Soap opera fans may remember that Lauralee’s Cricket crossed over to B&B back in 2007, but she said that time was “100 percent legal. It was just a court case.”

This time around, Lauralee told Us that it’s going to be the “complete opposite” because she gets to “dress up and have fun.”

When Cricket returns to Los Angeles for her Bold and Beautiful cameo, she will be coming in support of Danny’s world tour. The actress teased that viewers will see Cricket in a “very rockstar’s girlfriend” outfit, telling Us that a “short black dress” is part of her costume.

The story line will also be focused on the rockstar element of Danny’s character. “We haven’t done a concert of that magnitude,” Lauralee explained.

The crossover also comes as Lauralee and Damian are “celebrating our 40th anniversary as Cricket and Danny,” she told Us, revealing, “So you pick up right where you left off. We’re doing a remix of a big song from before, but you’ll have to wait and see what it is!”

Cricket and Danny tied the knot on The Young and the Restless in 1990 after meeting in 1984. They eventually split after Danny cheated. (He later learned that he actually wasn’t unfaithful, but was drugged by a woman who made him think they slept together.)

The soap opera couple dated on and off for years — in between other romances and marriages. During a March episode of Y&R, Danny asked Cricket to go on tour with him and she said “yes,” signifying that they are back together.

“What’s great is we’re coming to L.A. just as our personalities back in the day, smiling and goofing along and being together,” Lauralee told Us of the upcoming B&B episodes. “When you’re in a deep storyline, there’s tears and drama and now we are at our happiest.”

Cricket and Danny’s appearances on The Bold and the Beautiful will air on CBS Tuesday, August 13, and Wednesday, August 14, at 1:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT.i

Hallmark Teams With Kansas City Chiefs On A Holiday Movie

Production stars next month on the movie that will star Tyler Hynes (Shifting Gears, Three Wise Men and a Baby), Hunter King (Two Scoops Of Italy, The Santa Summit) and Ed Begley Jr. (Young Sheldon, Better Call Saul). It will film entirely in Kansas City, Mo., including at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Skydance Sports, a newly formed venture between Skydance Media and the NFL, will executive produce.

“With Hallmark and the Kansas City Chiefs both homegrown, rooted in values, tradition and community, there is a special alchemy between these two iconic organizations,” said Lisa Hamilton Daly, Executive Vice President, Programming. “By blending the warmth of Hallmark storytelling with the excitement of professional football, we are thrilled to give audiences a front-row seat to this community’s spirit, rich traditions and passionate fans that define Kansas City, all wrapped up in the comforting and uplifting Hallmark way.”

“We are honored to partner with Hallmark on a project as unique as this,” added Chiefs President Mark Donovan. “As a club, we pride ourselves on exploring new ways to grow our brand, as well as connect with new audiences. This partnership unites two passionate fanbases and gives us an opportunity to show Chiefs Kingdom’s energy and tradition on one of the most-watched channels during the holiday season.”

In Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, Alana Higman (King) is sure that her family’s lifelong history as Kansas City Chiefs superfans makes them a frontrunner to win the team’s “Fan of the Year” contest. Derrick (Hynes), Director of Fan Engagement, is tasked with evaluating how Alana and her family stack up against the other two finalists. As the pair spends time together, it’s clear there’s a spark between them but when her grandfathers (Begley Jr.) vintage Chiefs, good luck winter hat goes missing, Alana begins to doubt everything she believed about fate, destiny and even questions her future with Derrick – unless, that is, a little Christmas magic can throw a Hail Mary. Script is by Julie Sherman Wolfe.>

Lily Santiago & Wilson Bethel Join Eric Bana & Rosemarie DeWitt In Netflix Limited Series ‘Untamed’

Written by Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, Untamed is a character-driven mystery-thriller that follows Kyle Turner (Bana), a special agent for the National Parks Service who works to enforce human law in nature’s vast wilderness. The investigation of a brutal death sends Turner on a collision course with the dark secrets within the park, and in his own past.

Santiago will play Naya Vasquez. An ambitious young, former Los Angeles cop, Vasquez is the newest addition to Yosemite’s ranger squad. She came to the park to find a new life with her 4-year-old son, Gael. Despite being a little green when it comes to a landscape like Yosemite, her strong will, astute investigative skills, and big-city homicide techniques become useful tools in a murder that is distinctly human.

Bethel will portray Shane Maguire. A former army ranger, Maguire now uses his skills as the park’s Wildlife Management Officer. Maguire’s a loner, preferring to live by himself in the wilderness where it’s easier to follow his own rules.

Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith serve as co-showrunners and executive produce alongside Bana, John Wells and Erin Jontow via John Wells Productions, Todd Black and Tony Shaw for Escape Artists Entertainment, Steve Lee Jones for Bee Holder Productions, and Cliff Roberts for Syndicate Entertainment. Warner Bros. Television is the studio.

Santiago is coming off a lead role in La Brea, which aired for three seasons on NBC. She most recently made her Broadway debut in Amy Herzog’s Tony-nominated Mary Jane. She’s repped by Innovative Artists, Kipperman Management and Sloane, Offer, Weber, and Dern.

Bethel, who played Benjamin Poindexter/Bullseye on Netflix’s Daredevil, is reprising his role on Disney+‘s upcoming Daredevil: Born Again. He most recently starred as Mark Callan on legal drama All Rise, which ran for three seasons on CBS. He’s repped by Gersh, Vault Entertainment and Yorn, Levine, Barnes, et al..

‘Only Murders In The Building’ Reveals Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis & Eva Longoria’s Season 4 Roles

While the overall plot for the season had mostly remained under wraps, it was revealed in mid-May via a teaser trailer why the core trio Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) would be headed to Los Angeles.

Charles, Oliver and Mabel will wrestle with the shocking events at the end of season three surrounding Charles’ stunt double & friend Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch). Questioning whether Sazz or Charles was the intended victim, the trio’s investigation leads them to Los Angeles where a Hollywood studio is readying a film about the Only Murders podcast. As our amateur sleuths race back to New York, they embark on an even more epic journey — traversing their building’s courtyard to delve into the twisted lives of the Arconia’s West Tower residents.

Returning series players Meryl Streep, Michael Cyril Creighton and Da’Vine Joy Randolph will also be joined by Melissa McCarthy, Molly Shannon, Kumail Nanjiani and Richard Kind.

Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building premieres on August 27 via Hulu. A new photo of the doubles can be found here.

‘Young and the Restless’ star Eric Braeden blasts fan who called three co-stars ‘slaves’

Braeden, who is just as fiery as his character on soap opera The Young and the Restless, is also fairly active on social media.

So when a post on Instagram from a fan surfaced that took aim at three of Braeden’s co-stars, he didn’t hold back.

A woman named Kerry, username @ghyrbbfan1974, shared a promotional photo of three of Y&R’s Black actors with the caption: “The three faces that are destroying the show.”

She added: “They all think their high and mighty when they’re not, can’t wait for someone to put these slaves in their place. #YR”

The longtime fan of Y&R, General Hospital and The Bold and the Beautiful, may have gotten the surprise of her life when Braeden shared her post.

“These three actors are dear colleagues of mine; they have more class than you LOW LIFE can imagine!” the daytime TV veteran wrote in defence of Sean Dominic, Christel Khalil and Bryton James.

Actress Yvette Nicole Brown first brought the user to Braeden’s attention, noting she had already been blocked by General Hospital’s page “for this same level of racism.”

Other fans didn’t hold back either, with one person writing, “Victor Newman ain’t playin’!”

A second user wrote: “There’s a reason he’s THE Man of Y&R! Thank you, Eric, so much for speaking up. I hope others follow your lead.”

Another added: “I didn’t think it was possible to love you more. You are a singular treasure, Sir!”

The news comes after General Hospital was forced to issue a statement about racism after one its actors, Tabyana Ali, was attacked online by racist trolls.

Ali, who plays Trina Robinson on the ABC show, took to X to address the hatred, Entertainment Weekly reported.

“To anyone that hates me. That’s absolutely fine. I don’t know you and you don’t me but regardless I’m sending you peace, safety, and prosperity,” the actress posted on June 9.

In a follow-up message, she added, “We cannot be feeding into people’s hate. We cannot be giving it back. We cannot stoop to rude/racist people’s level. It doesn’t help. We are fighting too many wars as it is.”

On the show’s Instagram page, they shared, “General Hospital does not tolerate hatred or bigotry of any kind. Racism has no place in Port Charles. #GH is for everyone.”)

‘Blue Bloods’ Cast Marks Final Day Of Filming: Donnie Wahlberg, Marisa Ramirez & Vanessa Ray Share Moment As Series Wraps Shoot

Donnie Wahlberg, Marisa Ramirez, and Vanessa Ray shared a moment on social media where they were seen embracing each other.

“Last day feels,” read the Instagram post Ray re-shared, adding, “I love them so much it hurts.”

The long-running series will wrap in December after the second half of Season 14 airs on CBS.

Wahlberg also took to Instagram to share his thoughts after he finished filming the last episode.

“Last day of Blue Bloods. Not sure I have the words to describe how I feel about today, or the last 14 years on this special Blue Bloods journey, but I do know how incredibly thankful I am for every moment of it,” he shared. “To the cast, the crew, the guest cast, every background actor, writer, producer and every member of every single dept — thank you.”

Wahlberg continued, “To the people of New York, in every neighborhood and borough, thank you for always showing your love. To the NYPD, thank you for your support and sacrifice, I hope we did you proud.”

The actor also dedicated some words to his fans saying that without them, making 14 seasons of a show wouldn’t be possible.

“Your love and support for this show has been one of the great blessings of my life. Thank you,” he concluded.

Earlier this year, while making an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Wahlberg expressed he was “upset and sad” over Blue Bloods ending.

‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ Reveals Voices Of The Dark Knight, Harley Quinn, Catwoman & More

In the series, the corrupt outnumber the good as criminals run rampant and law-abiding citizens live in a constant state of fear in Gotham City. Forged in the fire of tragedy, wealthy socialite Bruce Wayne becomes something both more and less than human—the Batman. His one-man crusade for justice attracts unexpected allies within the GCPD and City Hall, but his heroic actions spawn deadly, unforeseen ramifications.

The series comes from EPs J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves and Bruce Timm. Based on DC characters, Along with Abrams, Reeves and Timm, Batman: Caped Crusader executive producers include Ed Brubaker, James Tucker, Daniel Pipski, Rachel Rusch Rich and Sam Register.

Batman: A cold, remorseless avenger of evil, seemingly more machine than man. Forged in the fire of tragedy, every fiber of his being is dedicated to the eradication of crime.

Bruce Wayne: To the public at large, Bruce Wayne is a shallow dilettante, apparently wasting his parents’ vast fortune on frivolous pursuits and hedonistic pleasures. In fact, he’s an elaborate facade, carefully constructed to divert attention from his activities as Batman.

Selina Kyle/Catwoman: Selena Kyle is a blithe and pampered heiress whose family lost their fortune after her father was imprisoned for embezzlement. Despite having the silver spoon yanked from her mouth, Selina refuses to quit living in the lap of luxury and becomes Catwoman as a “fun” way to maintain her lavish lifestyle.

Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn – Despite a personable and bubbly demeanor, Dr. Harleen Quinzel is a brilliant psychiatrist who treats some of Gotham’s elite. However, as Harley Quinn, she is a different person, entirely. A creepy, quiet, calculating menace who secretly dispenses her twisted justice to the truly despicable among her elite clientele.

Harvey Dent/Two-Face: Talented, great-looking, and charismatic, D.A. Harvey Dent is also ruthlessly ambitious, arrogant, short-tempered and a dangerous person to cross. After a vengeful criminal disfigures half his face with acid, the two sides of his nature are separated… and exaggerated. The scarred half of his face comes to represent his compassion, sorrow and decency, while the handsome half now represents his rage and sense of entitlement.

Trevor St. John Leaving ‘The Young And The Restless’

In a series of posts on X, the actor who took over the role of Tucker McCall explained to fans that it was his turn to give up the role on the CBS sudser.

“As you well know, Tuckers come and Tuckers go, and so the cycle continues… this Tucker is in his go phase…” he began the X thread. “I thank each and every member of the wonderful cast, the crew, the directors, the producers and production staff, and CBS/Sony for the great experience from day one to the last. I feel so fortunate to have played such a terrific role.”

Before joining Y&R, St. John was best known for his 10-year run as Todd Manning/Victor Lord, Jr. on ABC’s One Life to Live. He was most recently seen on ABC’s Promised Land and his past credits include a series regular role on Roswell, New Mexico and Patrick Wang’s critically acclaimed independent drama films, In the Family and The Grief of Others.

Young and the Restless star Joshua Morrow's son Crew lands role on The Bold and the Beautiful

As first reported by Deadline and confirmed by Entertainment Weekly, Crew Morrow, the son of Joshua Morrow, who's played Nicolas Newman since 1994 on long-running soap the Young and the Restless, is getting into the family business. The younger Morrow is joining The Bold and the Beautiful as Will Spencer, whose parents are Katie Logan (Heather Tom) and publisher Bill Spencer (Don Diamont). Audiences last saw the character in 2020, when he wasn't yet a teenager, portrayed by actor Finnegan George. Morrow's first episode — which is being billed as his first acting role — is scheduled to air Thursday, Aug. 1.

Interestingly, Morrow's new onscreen mother, Tom, once played Y&R's Victoria Newman, the sister of the Joshua Morrow's character.

Morrow is not the only offspring of a celebrity that viewers will see on the show in the coming weeks. Jamison Belushi, whose dad is Jim Belushi, will appear in an episode on Monday, July 15. Her role is that of a lab technician named April, who works with the physician characters Dr. Li Finnegan (Naomi Matsuda) and Dr. John "Finn" Finnegan (Tanner Novlan), who are part of the soap's summer mystery story arc.

Belushi's previous work includes roles on Freevee's 2022 movie Hotel for the Holidays, which starred Madelaine Petsch, and an unnamed role in The Last Summer, a 2019 movie for Netflix that starred K.J. Apa and Tyler Posey. According to IMDb, she appeared on six episodes of her dad's sitcom According to Jim, which costarred Courtney Thorne-Smith and Kimberly Williams-Paisley, between 2005 and 2008. The younger Belushi's mother is the Curly Sue actor's wife, Jennifer Sloan.

Talk Show Appearance

Black Reel TV Awards Unveils 2024 Nominees

Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy Series
Erika Alexander | Run the World – Starz
Tatyana Ali | Abbott Elementary – ABC
Garcelle Beauvais | Survival of the Thickest – Netflix
Jordan E. Cooper | The Ms. Pat Show – BET+
Keegan-Michael Key | Abbott Elementary – ABC
Sanaa Lathan | Curb Your Enthusiasm – HBO
Da’Vine Joy Randolph | Only Murders in the Building – HULU
Phylicia Rashad | Diarra From Detroit – BET+
Cree Summer | Abbott Elementary – ABC
Robert Townsend | The Bear – FX on HULU

Outstanding Guest Performance in a Drama Series
Michael Braugher | The Gilded Age – HBO
Michaela Coel | Mr. & Mrs. Smith – Amazon Prime Video
Loretta Devine | Kingdom Business – BET+
Taye Diggs | All American – CW
Lisagay Hamilton | Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty – HBO
Rashida Jones | Silo – Apple TV+
Rob Morgan | Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty – HBO
Wendell Pierce | Power Book III: Raising Kanan – Starz
CCH Pounder | 3 Body Problem – Netflix
Susan Kelechi Watson | Will Trent – ABC

G-Flip teases second wedding ceremony, baby plans with ‘most beautiful princess’ Chrishell Stause

The “Drummer” artist, 30, — who uses they/them pronouns — made their Governor’s Ball debut on Sunday where they caught up with Page Six and exclusively teased their plans for a second wedding with the “Selling Sunset” star, whom they first wed in May 2023, and potential baby plans for the future.

After celebrating one full year together, G-Flip called their first year of marriage “amazing.”

“Chrishell is the greatest, most beautiful princess human being that has ever graced the planet,” they gushed. “She’s just so fun and easygoing and makes my life so much better having her in my life. It’s been absolutely fun.”

In June 2023, the couple revealed they planned to celebrate their love by hosting a wedding every year. In keeping with those plans, G-Flip teased they’re already planning their “cheeky” second ceremony in Australia this summer.

“My family’s in Australia, she’s got family in Saint Louis — everyone’s all over the place. Our friends are on tour and all over the place. So we like doing a little ceremony every year,” they continued. “That way we eventually can have everyone attend a wedding.

The musician also tells Page Six they would “definitely” love to start expanding their family.

“Obviously being queer, there are a few more challenges,” the “Get Me Outta Here” hitmaker said, adding that they’re currently “working through” some of those issues.

“But it’s definitely on the cards. We would love to be parents and we’d be good parents,” they continued.

The reality star realtor told her followers last year that she and G-Flip were looking to have children together last August as she shut down any fans’ hopes of her rekindling her romance with her boss, Jason Oppenheim.

“I met my forever partner with G and we are planning a family,” she wrote at the time. “Everything happened the way it was supposed to.”

Kate Linder on Her Double Life as a Flight Attendant for United Airlines

Kate Linder, 76, opened up to PEOPLE about her second job as a flight attendant on Friday, June 7, at the 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, where her television series The Young and the Restless was nominated for several awards.

The actress, who works for United Airlines, describes the experience as “crazy” and “amazing.”

Recalling a recent interaction with a fan whose travel plans got delayed, Linder says, "She looked at me and she said, 'Kate Linder?' And I went, 'Yeah.' She goes, 'No, you're not.' I go, 'I was when I woke up, so I don't know [if] something's wrong.'"

The actress says the woman then asked her: "What are you doing? Why are you wearing that?"

"She didn't know," Linder says. "So anyway, she had had all these things happen [due] to bad weather. She got diverted. She was in LA. She wasn't even supposed to be there. All these things happened."

"And then she said, 'Oh my gosh, if that hadn't happened, I wouldn't get to be with you on the flight,'" the soap star continues.

Linder explains that she mostly works her extra job on the weekends, although she maintains a flexible schedule due to the nature of her acting career. "Some will pick up my trips or then I'll pick up something," she says of her coworkers.

For now, Linder says her preferred routes are "Denver turns, San Francisco turns, even Hawaii turns so that if I have something that night, I can still make it and still do it."

She credits meeting new fans while working as a flight attendant as her favorite part of the job. "I get to hear what they like and I see in their eyes how happy they are. They get to tell me about how they watch Young and the Restless, and I think that's just really great. I so enjoy that," she says.

But sometimes the fan interactions turn into photo-op sessions, which she is able to balance with her responsibilities. "I'll say, 'I'll be right back. Let me just take care of that person. I'll be right back.’ But then I get to take extra good care of them too. We take extra good care of everyone,'" Linder says.

Thinking back on the early days, she shares, "When I first started, I became a flight attendant because I needed a job that would give me enough time off so I could pursue my career. And then I was hired. I was only hired for one day, so I kept going. And then I thought, 'Well, if I can keep doing them both, well then I'll do them both.'"

"You can't forget who you are that way. I'm telling you, one day I get to be on set, I get to speak with you here at the Emmys, [and] then I'm serving coffee at 35,000 feet. I mean, you can't forget,” she says.

Linder has starred as Esther Valentine on The Young and the Restless since 1982. She reprised her character in The Bold and the Beautiful in 2023. Additional acting credits include the 2016 movie Mother’s Day and the 2022 movie A Little White Lie.

In 2022, she opened up to Closer Weekly about working as a flight attendant, saying, “In the beginning, I didn’t tell anyone because I thought they would take me less seriously as an actress. But then, as the years went by, I would meet viewers on the plane and have these wonderful stories. I thought that as long as I keep doing both jobs well, I would keep doing them.”

Ratings: Daytime Emmys Audience Grows 39% to Mark 4-Year High

The audience for this year’s kudoscast was up +39% from last year (where it didn’t air until December, due to the Hollywood strikes) and up +1% from June 2022.

Over on Paramount+, live streaming of the Daytime Emmys reportedly was up some 87% to mark the event’s largest live streaming audience to date.

During Friday night’s tight, two-hour telecast, ABC”s General Hospital grabbed gold four times, including its fourth straight Outstanding Daytime Drama win.

Daytime Emmys host CBS’ The Young and the Restless followed with a pair of wins, including for lead actress Michelle Stafford, while CBS’ The Bold and the Beautiful and Peacock’s Days of Our Lives each picked up a singular statuette.

Among the daytime talkers, The Kelly Clarkson Show took best show honors, while Live!‘s Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos won for hosting.

And quite notably, Dick “Spry for a 98-Year-Old Guy” Van Dyke became the oldest Daytime Emmy winner,m for his guest-starring performance as Days of Our Lives‘ Timothy Robiocheaux.

Young and the Restless Star Kristoff St. John’s Struggles Are Examined in New Documentary

Directed by Bobby Razak, Kristoff, which premieres in early 2025, will examine the life of St. John, who died in February 2019 from heart disease at 52. The actor, who received two Daytime Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Neil Winters on The Young and the Restless, a role he originated in 1991, also shared three children — Paris, Lola and his late son, Julian — with ex-wife Mia St. John.

The trailer provided exclusively to PEOPLE offers a glimpse at St. John’s difficult journey, including his success as a child actor, his sexual assault as a child by the late Sathya Sai Baba and Julian’s suicide in November 2014 at age 24 following a lifelong struggle with mental illness.

The trailer opens with a previously recorded voiceover of St. John professing a love for his “Hollywood life." Growing up as a successful child actor, he lived in the suburbs of Los Angeles and lived what he liked to call the “all-American middle-class dream."

“As a child actor, he never really got to know who he was or to learn how to be a normal child,” Mia says off camera.

Next, the trailer shows Baba, an Indian guru and spiritual leader followed by Kristoff’s family for 10 years, whom Kristoff claims sexually assaulted him when he was young.

“With shame and embarrassment, I told my dad in Baba’s private room, Baba had fondled me and sworn me to secrecy, claiming that he was giving me divine purification,” he recalls.

Cutting to Kristoff's onscreen work in projects like The Young and the Restless and footage of him receiving a Daytime Emmy Award, Kristoff explains he was “hellbent” on “resurrecting” his acting career.

“I was working with the best, starring on television shows and films. I was back,” he continues.

“After Sai Baba and the sexual abuse, he started with crack. It became an obsession,” she explains.

As intimate footage shows St. John drinking and lighting up a pipe, he says via voiceover he was “full of shame, adding more fuel to an already raging fire.”

“What most people didn't know about Kristoff was that he was bipolar,” Mia adds. “He was suffering from a mental illness.”

While the actor admits he was “completely confused” at the time, he was “not alone,” eventually tying the knot with Mia, a five-time world boxing champion, who remembers how she met the actor at an Alcholics Anonymous meeting.

“I stayed sober throughout the entire relationship,” she says. “Kristoff continued [drug use] off and on throughout his life. One day before I gave birth, Kristoff started back on crack cocaine.”

While Kristoff continued to land roles and went on to star on The Young and Restless for two decades, he struggled when the cameras weren’t rolling.

“He would come to the set with delirium tremors — the shakes,” Mia remembers. “He couldn't remember his lines. He just could not work.”

“When Julian started developing mental health issues, it became very difficult on Kristoff,” she continues. “He just didn’t know what to do.”

Julian’s death in 2014 was devastating for the actor, who said getting notified by phone was “the worst call I’d ever had in my life,” “It’s every parent’s nightmare,” he added.

While Julian’s death was officially ruled a suicide, Kristoff “remained adamant” until his own death in 2019 that his son was actually murdered. In the years that followed, the actor sought solace once again in alcohol.

“He [Kristoff] couldn't find a way out. He couldn't save himself. Nobody could save him,” Mia contends.

As the trailer winds down, zooming in on a portrait of Kristoff slowly dissolving, the actor himself offers a haunting sign-off.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.

‘The Traitors’ Season 3 Cast: ‘Big Brother,’ ‘Real Housewives,’ ‘Survivor,’ & ‘Vanderpump Rules’ Stars Set For Peacock Competition

In a video announcement on the Today show, Alan Cumming revealed who will be part of the third season of Peacock’s competition series. Reality TV star vets from shows like Big Brother, Survivor, The Real Housewives, Vanderpump Rules, and The Bachelor will participate in the competition.

“Well, there you have it, dearies,” Cumming said. “This is sure to be the most treacherous season yet.”

• Rob Mariano (Survivor)
• Dorinda Medley (The Real Housewives of New York City)
• Chrishell Stause (Selling Sunset)
• Britney Haynes (Big Brother)
• Danielle Reyes (Big Brother)
• Bob the Drag Queen (RuPaul’s Drag Race)
• Wells Adams (The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise)
• Chanel Ayan (The Real Housewives of Dubai)
• Gabby Windey (The Bachelorette)
• Dylan Efron (Down to Earth with Zac Efron)
• Tony Vlachos (Survivor)
• Jeremy Collins (Survivor)
• Dolores Catania (The Real Housewives of New Jersey)
• Robyn Dixon (The Real Housewives of Potomac)
• Bob Harper (The Biggest Loser)
• Ciara Miller (Summer House)
• Lord Ivar Mountbatten (British royal)
• Carolyn Wiger (Survivor)
• Sam Asghari (Britney Spears’ ex)
• Tom Sandoval (Vanderpump Rules)
• Nikki Garcia (Former professional Wrestler)

Earlier this year, Cumming teased Season 3 of the competition series at Deadline’s Contenders TV: Documentary + Unscripted event.

Executive producer Sam Rees-Jones added, “There are some exciting things planned; we want to keep the players on their toes, and we look forward to them keeping us on our toes. As far as Season 3 … this murder mystery is going to take lots of twists and turns, and we’re excited to see where it goes.”

2024 Kids’ Choice Awards Nominees

Anna Kendrick (Poppy, Trolls Band Together)
Anya Taylor-Joy (Peach, The Super Mario Bros. Movie)
Ariana DeBose (Asha, Wish)*
Awkwafina (Zhen, Kung Fu Panda 4)
Ayo Edebiri (April, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem)
Hailee Steinfeld (Gwen Stacy, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse)
Kristen Bell (Janet, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie)
McKenna Grace (Skye, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie).

Eva Longoria-Led ‘Land Of Women’ Drops Trailer & New Photos

Inspired by Sandra Barneda’s best-selling novel La tierra de las mujeres, Land of Women follows Gala (Longoria), a well-to-do New Yorker who has her life turned upside down when her husband fails to repay a debt to the wrong people. With dangerous criminals searching for her family and now vanished husband, Gala is forced to leave the city with her aging mother Julia (Carmen Maura) and teenage daughter Kate (Victoria Bazúa) to her mother’s hometown in northern Spain—a place that Julia fled 50 years ago—to start life anew and hope their identities remain hidden. But gossip in the charming wine town quickly spreads, unraveling their deepest family secrets and truths.

The dramedy is created by Ramón Campos, Gema R. Neira and Paula Fernández and is directed by Carlos Sedes. Bambu Producciones produced the series which is executive produced by showrunner Campos, Neira, Sedes, Teresa Fernández-Valdés, Ben Spector, Sandra Condito and Longoria via her award-winning production company UnbeliEVAble Entertainment.

Patrick J. Adams, Alyvia Alyn Lind & Patrick Gallagher Among Five Cast In ‘Wayward’ Netflix Limited Series

In addition to Martin, the quintet join previously cast series regulars Sarah Gadon and Brandon Jay McLaren.

The eight-episode Wayward is a thriller set in a bucolic but sinister town that explores the insidious underbelly of the “troubled teen industry” and the eternal struggle between one generation and the next.

Topliffe and Lind are playing best friends Abbie and Leila; Adams plays a high school counselor, I hear.

Martin serves as co-showrunner with Ryan Scott, who also is an executive producer. Ben Farrell executive produces through his Objective Fiction, along with Hannah Mackay, Jennifer Kawaja and Bruno Dubé. Sphere Media is producing.

Terrence Beasor Dies: Veteran Character Actor Known For ‘Walk Hard’ & ‘The Middle’ Dies At 89

A rep said Beasor died May 28 at his home in Santa Monica with his wife of 55-plus years, actress Muriel Minot, by his side.

Beasor appeared on dozens of TV shows during his 40-year career, including The Incredible Hulk, The Greatest American Hero, The A-Team, Hardcastle and McCormick, Hill Street Blues, Cheers, L.A. Law, Dynasty, Hunter, Knot’s Landing, Simon & Simon, Police Squad!, Chicago Hope, The Office, Parks and Recreation, Scandal, Angie Tribeca, The Grinder, Hot In Cleveland, Scrubs, Gilmore Girls, The District, Suddenly Susan, Days of Our Lives and Murder, She Wrote.

He also did voice work on several Star Trek series and video games and offscreen announcing on movies and TV shows including Jaws: The Revenge, Winchell, Coupe de Ville, Remington Steele and Runaway.

Beasor was born on February 2, 1935, in Omaha, NE. His family moved to L.A. when he was 7. He attended Garfield High, did four years in the Navy and in 1953 entered the Pasadena Playhouse for that years. At age 30 he went to New York.

He met Minot in 1968 doing back-to-back shows at Equity Library Theatre. Beasor was very proud that Actors’ Equity Association had been his first union.

The duo moved to Concord, MA, for seven years and co-directed numerous shows in the greater Boston area. He got his MFA at Brandeis University in 1976, after which they moved to L.A.

They performed together on Days of Our Lives, Gangster Chronicles, The Practice and several commercials as well as plays.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a in his name be made to Entertainment Connections (new name of the Actors Fund). Anything that helps actors would be his wish.

Daytime Emmy Presenters

Hosted by ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT’s Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner, the lineup of presenters from daytime’s biggest names includes: Kristos Andrews (“The Bay”), Lidia Bastianich (“25 Years with Lidia: A Culinary Jubilee”), Lauralee Bell (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Eric Braeden (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Steve Burton (“General Hospital”), Derrick Camana (“Wizard of Paws”), Kelly Clarkson (“The Kelly Clarkson Show”), Stefan Dennis (“Neighbours”), Zooey Deschanel (“What Am I Eating with Zooey Deschanel”), Scott Evans (“Access Hollywood”), Jackée Harry (“Days of Our Lives”), Amelia Heinle (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Annie Jones (“Neighbours”), Star Jones (“Divorce Court”), Christel Khalil (THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL), Eric Martsolf (“Days of Our Lives”), Kiara Liz Ortega (“The Bay”), Danielle Pinnock (GHOSTS), Melvin Robert (“Extra”), Lawrence Saint-Victor (THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL), Jonathan Scott (“Backed by the Bros”), Laura Wright (“General Hospital”), and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant (“Wild Kingdom”). In addition, THE TALK hosts Amanda Kloots and Jerry O’Connell will make a special appearance.

As previously announced, Daytime Emmy® Award nominated and multi-award-winning actress Melody Thomas Scott and Daytime Emmy-winning producer Edward J. Scott will receive Lifetime Achievement honors for their contributions to the world of Daytime television.

THE 51ST ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY AWARDS is produced by NATAS and Associated Television International (ATI), which produced Daytime Emmy Awards ceremonies on The CW in 2009 and on CBS in 2010, 2011, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Adam Sharp and Lisa Armstrong are executive producers from NATAS, while David McKenzie is executive producer from ATI.

*Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on-demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the episode airs.

Shirley Chen & McKenna Grace To Topline Amy Wang’s Satirical Drama ‘Slanted’

Cast for the pic, due to begin production in Atlanta next month, includes Shirley Chen (Dìdi), Emmy nominee McKenna Grace (The Handmaid’s Tale), Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever), Amelie Zilber (Grown-ish), Vivian Wu (The Afterparty) and Fang Du (The Haves and the Have Nots).

Slanted centers on Joan Huang (Chen), a desperate to fit in, insecure Chinese American teenager who undergoes experimental trans-racial surgery to become white and secure her chances of being named Prom Queen and winning the acceptance of her peers. Wang, Mark Ankner and Trevor Wall (Ponyboi) will produce, with Fernando Szew, Pillemer, Tony Vassiliadis and Ani Kevork serving as executive producers.

“I am so excited to be able to bring this movie to life with the support of Tideline and Mountain Top Pictures, who have championed this hilariously dark and piercing movie from day one,” said Wang in a statement to Deadline. “This is a deeply personal film that digs into your insecurities and exposes the twisted realities of a fractured identity. I am making this movie in the hopes that by exposing my wounds as a Chinese Australian woman, I can help others heal their own self-doubt.”

Stated Hannah Pillemer, Executive Vice President and Head of Creative & Production of Tideline, “We’ve been longing to work with Amy for quite some time and are thrilled to now partner with her on SLANTED. This envelope-pushing film, headlined by a stellar cast of up-and-coming stars, daringly cuts to the chase on some of the most relevant and provocative issues young society faces today in a sardonic, yet meaningful, way.”

Producer Ankner underscored that “partnering with Tideline, knowing their commitment to pushing the boundaries of audience expectations, perfectly aligns with Amy’s bold vision for SLANTED.”

Soon to be seen starring in Sean Wang’s acclaimed coming-of-age pic Dìdi, which won multiple awards in its Sundance debut and is slated for release by Focus on July 26, Slanted‘s lead Chen has previously been seen in the 20th/Hulu comedy Quiz Lady, as well as such series as The Resident, Speechless and Parenthood.

Most recently tapped to pen a sequel to the pop culture phenomenon Crazy Rich Asians for Warner Bros and Color Force, Wang was a producer on the Michelle Yeoh starrer The Brothers Sun from Brad Falchuk and Netflix, staffing prior to that as a writer on the limited series From Scratch from Netflix/Hello Sunshine. A graduate of AFI who won Gold at the Young Director Awards at Cannes Lions 2018 for her acclaimed short Unnatural, she also previously directed five episodes of The Birch for Facebook Watch before being selected to participate in The Ryan Murphy Half Program, as well as Starz Directors Program.

Launched earlier this year, Tideline’s projects range from features at a range of budgets to limited series, made-for-platform content and other cross-genre formats. Previously backing Chelsea Peretti’s directorial debut First Time Female Director and the Sundance title Ponyboi, written by and starring River Gallo, the company’s upcoming slate also includes The Dress Up Gang Movie (wt), centered on the comedy troupe of the same name, and the thriller Beacon, starring Demián Bechir and Julia Goldani Telles, which will make its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival next month.

Wang is represented by Verve and Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment; Chen by Arise Artists Agency and Echo Lake Entertainment; Grace by CAA, Entertainment 360, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller; Ramakrishnan by CAA, Premier Artists Management in Canada, and Felker Toczek Suddleson; Zilber by UTA, Atlas Artists, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; Wu by Realm Talent, AFA Prime Talent Media, and Stankevich Law; and Du by Wolf Talent Group and Station 3.

Chrishell Stause Joins Neighbours

The Selling Sunset star will return to her soap-opera roots when she joins the Australian drama Neighbours as a guest star, TVLine has learned.

Stause, who had long runs on All My Children and Days of Our Lives, will play Yasmine “Yas” Shields, who is described as “a glamorous and successful businesswoman in pursuit of an exciting new opportunity.”

The show airs daily Monday through Thursday on Amazon Freevee in the United States and the United Kingdom. Stause is slated to begin filming in Australia in July.

“I am honored and excited to join such a beloved and iconic show!” Stause said via statement. “Coming from the world of soaps in the U.S., it’s back to my first love in the entertainment industry. They pitched me an idea for a character, and I was immediately excited to figure out a way to make it happen. Ramsay Street here I come!”

Added Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison via statement: “We are thrilled to welcome Chrishell to the cast of Neighbours. We created a character especially for her and we can’t wait for her to bring the storyline alive. Expect intrigue and surprises — and many implications for the residents of Ramsay Street.”

Neighbours follows the residents of Ramsay Street in Erinsborough, Australia, a fictional suburb of Melbourne. It recently nabbed two 2024 Daytime Emmy nominations: Outstanding Daytime Drama Series and Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series for Guy Pearce’s stint. The nods are the show’s first in the United States. h

Issa López, Harvey Guillén, Fede Álvarez & Tatyana Ali Among 2024 NHMC Impact Awards Honorees

Annie Gonzalez (Flamin’ Hot) and Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs. Lopez) will host the celebration. The Impact Awards is a part of the NHMC’s overall mission to spotlight the importance of accurate, fair and positive representation in media. Each year, the organization honors individuals who are truly making an impact, shifting societal narratives and setting an example for Latine communities.

Issa López, a multihyphenate who most recently co-wrote and directed HBO’s True Detective Season 5 starring Jodie Foster. NHMC will recognize López’s achievements with the Trailblazer Impact Award.

Harvey Guillén, star of the hit FX series What We Do In The Shadows which is gearing up to premiere its sixth and final season. He will receive the Outstanding Performance in a Series Impact Award.

Fede Alvarez, writer, director and executive producer of the upcoming feature Alien: Romulus, the seventh installment of the Alien franchise. NHMC will give him the Outstanding Film Director Impact Award.

Tatyana Ali, who most famously portrayed Ashley Banks in the hit comedy series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, will receive the Advocacy Impact Award for her advocacy and policy work in maternal health and reproductive justice.

The Los Angeles Football Club will be honored with the Community Impact Award for their commitment to multiculturalism and creating change for marginalized communities

Tubi will be honored with the For the People Impact Award for its diverse programming providing a platform for Latine series showcasing authentic representations of our communities.

“We are honored to celebrate these powerful figures who represent the present and future of the entertainment industry. This year’s honorees embody where our community is headed and are pushing their industries forward simply by taking up space and using their platforms to uplift other Latine creatives.,” said Brenda Victoria Castillo, President & CEO of the NHMC. “This year more than ever, it is imperative that we continue to celebrate our Latinidad in all aspects of our society, and NHMC is committed to ensuring that our community is recognized – not just at our gala, but in every space.”.

Darryl Hickman Dies: Actor In ‘The Grapes Of Wrath’ And ‘Leave Her To Heaven’ Was 92

Hickman appeared in more than 40 films, having been a contract player at Paramount and MGM.

He portrayed the youngest member of the Joad family, Winfield, in John Ford’s 1940 adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath, as well as a role as the younger version of Van Heflin’s character in the 1946 noir, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers.

In 1945’s Leave Her to Heaven, Hickman played Danny, younger brother to Cornel Wilde’s Richard. Danny was disabled by polio and when he comes to live with Richard and his wife, Ellen (Gene Tierney), he drowns by Ellen’s hand in the middle of a lake due to jealousy of Richard’s affection for the boy.

In 1951, he briefly retired from acting to enter a monastery, but returned to Hollywood a little over a month later.

Hickman was born July 28, 1931, in Hollywood, California, and signed to a contract at Paramount after being discovered by a dance school director. His first film was 1937’s The Prisoner of Zenda as Ronald Colman’s son.

Among his many films was The Star Maker, Untamed, Men of Boys Town, Mob Town, Joe Smith, American, The Human Comedy, Rhapsody in Blue, Two Years Before the Mast, Boys’ Ranch, Alias Nick Beal, and The Set-Up.

When he grew to adulthood, his opportunities diminished. He played a supporting role as Al in 1956’s Tea and Sympathy, and appeared on television on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, The Untouchables, Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Climax!, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, General Electric Theater, among others.

His younger brother, Dwayne Hickman, was the star of CBS comedy The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis from 1959 to 1963. Hickman appeared in three episodes of the first season alongside his younger brother, portraying Dobie’s older brother, Davey.

From there, he moved to Broadway, taking over for Robert Morse as J. Pierrepont Finch in the original production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

He later became a screenwriter and television executive. He served as the head of CBS daytime programming for nearly five years.

After a lengthy hiatus from movies, he returned to film to play a West Coast television executive in 1976’s Network.

Daytime Emmy Hosts Will Once Again Be ‘Entertainment Tonight’ Anchors Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and CBS were set to announce the news, which Variety has exclusively learned, on Thursday morning. Frazier and Turner previously hosted the Daytime Emmys in 2022 and 2023. The duo is also nominated this year in the outstanding daytime personality – daily category, while “Entertainment Tonight” is nominated in outstanding entertainment news series.

Frazier has been co-host of “ET” since September 2014; before that, he was co-host and managing editor of “The Insider” and a correspondent and weekend host of “ET.” Turner has been co-host of “ET” since 2021, first joining the show as a correspondent in 2014. She preciously served as a contributor for CNN.

Also on Thursday, NATAS revealed that Rachel Schwartz has been named head of daytime and children’s & family at the org. The landmark promotion makes Schwartz the first woman to ever lead the Daytime Emmys.

NATAS has additionally announced its 2024 Gold and Silver Circle Honorees, recognizing “admired individuals who have made enduring contributions to daytime television. Inductees are exceptional professionals who have performed distinguished service within the television industry, setting standards for achievement, mentoring, leadership and professional accolades for 50 or 25 years, respectively. They represent the best and brightest in the industry.”

Jerome Dobson (writer, “Guiding Light,” “As the World Turns,” “General Hospital,” “Santa Barbara”)

Patricia Denney (former hair and makeup department head, “The Young and The Restless”)

Rolonda Watts (talk show host, actress and voiceover talent, “Sherri,” “Curious George,” “Divorce Court”)

The 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards is produced by NATAS and Associated Television International. Adam Sharp and Lisa Armstrong are executive producers from NATAS, while David McKenzie is executive producer from ATI.

“TRACKER” WAS TELEVISION’S #1 SHOW IN 2023-24

CBS’new breakoutdrama TRACKER is the#1 non-sports show on television for the 2023-2024 season. This marks the first time a new series has ranked as the #1 show since CBS’ SURVIVOR series premiered in the 2000-2001 season. Season-to-date the series is averaging 11.58 million viewers per episode and has reached more than 81 million viewers since its February debut.

The series adds an average of +3.4 million viewers with live plus 7-day viewing, more DVR playback than any other primetime series.

It is the most-watched new series since “Desperate Housewives” in the 2004-05 season (23.7m viewers).

TRACKER averages 19 million multiplatform viewers across broadcast and streaming with live plus 35-day viewing (for the first seven episodes)

More viewers than top original streaming series including the first seasonsof Netflix’s “Avatar the Last Airbender” (15.5m), “Baby Reindeer” (12.8m) and 3 Body Problem (11.0m).

Since its February premiere, TRACKER has reached more than 81.6 million viewers.

TRACKER has improved its regular Sunday, 9:00 PM time period by +55% year over year.

CBS has launched the #1 new series each season since the 2016-17 season. All of these have been long-running series (most still on):

BULL (2016-17), YOUNG SHELDON (2017-18), FBI (2018-19), FBI: MOST WANTED (2019-20), THE EQUALIZER (2020-21), GHOSTS (2021-22), FIRE COUNTRY (2022-23) and now TRACKER (2023-24)

Source: Nielsen, Most Current Data. Reach figures based on 1+ Minute qualifier includes across linear and streaming. Multiplatform data includes 35 days of viewing through 03/31/24. Streaming based on Internal Data and includes co-view factor for CTV viewing.s

Eric Braeden Pays Tribute to “Old Friend” Dabney Coleman

Coleman, who was 92, had an impressive acting career that spanned over six decades. Among his most memorable roles were the chauvinist boss Franklin Hart in 9 to 5, nasty TV director Ron Carlisle in the soap-within-a-movie hit film Tootsie, and Merle Jeter on the satirical primetime soap Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.

“My old friend, Dabney Coleman, just passed,” Braeden wrote on Instagram, sharing two photos from when Coleman attended the Daytime Emmy winner’s 40th-anniversary party on the Y&R set back in 2020. “Upon his recommendation did I decide to do Y&R! Dabney was 92. A great actor, great friend, and tennis player! Rest in peace, my friend!”

As Braeden had shared during the set-side celebration in his honor four years ago, he had turned to Coleman — with whom he frequently played tennis — for advice when the soap was interested in meeting him back in 1980. In the early 1970s, Coleman played Dr. Tracy Graham on the NBC daytime drama Bright Promise (created by General Hospital creators Frank and Doris Hursley), and he urged his friend to meet with Y&R co-creator William J. Bell. The rest, as they say, was history.

Over the course of his career, Coleman earned six Emmy nominations for his various television roles in the series Buffalo Bill, Columbo, and The Slap Maxwell Story, as well as the TV movie Sworn to Silence (for which he won his one and only Emmy Award) and the mini-series Baby M. Additionally, he won two Screen Actors Guild awards for his work in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. In film, besides his comedic turns in Tootsie and 9 to 5, Coleman starred in Cloak & Dagger and On Golden Pond, and played Tom Hanks’ father in You’ve Got Mail. Most recently, he appeared as patriarch John Dutton Sr. in a 2019 episode of Yellowstone.

‘Lioness’: Thad Luckinbill Upped To Series Regular For Season 2

The Taylor Sheridan drama starring Zoe Saldaña and Laysla De Oliveira was renewed for a second season by Paramount+ earlier this month. Season 1 is available to stream in its entirety via P+.

Lioness is based on a real-life CIA program and follows Cruz Manuelos (De Oliveira), a rough-around-the-edges but passionate young Marine recruited to join the CIA’s Lioness Engagement Team to help bring down a terrorist organization from within. Saldaña plays Joe, the station chief of the Lioness program tasked with training, managing and leading her female undercover operatives.

The series also stars Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton and Hannah Love Lanier.

Taylor Sheridan, David C. Glasser, Zoe Saldaña, Nicole Kidman, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, Jill Wagner, David Lemanowicz, Geyer Kosinski, Michael Friedman and Keith Cox executive produce Lioness. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Luckinbill most recently starred in and produced the Netflix movie Reptile, which follows a hardened detective who uncovers a complex web of deception as he digs for the truth behind the brutal murder of a young real estate agent. Additional recent credits include main supporting roles in Granite Mountain opposite Josh Brolin and Miles Teller and Horse Soldiers alongside Chris Hemsworth and Michael Pena. Luckinbill is also a producing partner at Black Label Media having Produced such feature films as Demolition starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Sicario with Emily Blunt.

For TV, his credits include a recurring role on the HBO series Ballers as well Nikita, CSI, Major Crimes, Criminal Minds and Rizzoli & Isles. He is repped by Mosaic.

Polish Brothers Re-Team To Make Innovative Movie ‘There There’ Starring Gretchen Moll, Shannon Sossamon & More

The film has begun principal photography and the duo are hopeful it will premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. This would be the sixth Polish Brothers film to premiere at the festival.

On There There, each of the twin brothers will write and direct one half of the movie without the other knowing anything about the other, resulting in two separate storylines that will be interwoven into a single feature-length film. This approach will enable each brother to explore the nature of the twin relationship from their own unique perspective without being influenced or constrained by the other’s vision.

The cast includes Gretchen Mol (Yellowstone), Shannon Sossamon (The Rules of Attraction), Corbin Bernsen (Major League), Zack Pearlman (The Intern), Logan Polish (The Mosquito Coast), and D.W. Moffett (Friday Night Lights).

The movie will chart the story of two brothers who have spent 40 long years apart, unaware of each other’s existence. As fate would have it, their paths cross and they are forced to confront the truth that has been hidden from them for so long.

“By allowing each of us to create our own storylines, we hope to capture the complexity, honesty and richness of the twin relationship in a way that has never been seen before on screen,” said Mark Polish. “This is a journey that will tug at audience’s heartstrings and leave people inspired by the incredible resilience of the human spirit.”

Michael Polish added: “We took painstaking measures to keep all details of our respective halves from each other. This has never been done before in the history of cinema and will in many ways be reflective, we think, of the relationship between the two of us.”

The Polish brothers are known for movies including Twin Falls Idaho, Northfolk and Jackpot. Michael Polish most recently directed Sylvester Stallone movie Alarum.

Convergence is the company set up by Randall Emmett and Joel Cohen in 2022. Recent credits include Savage Salvation (2022), starring Robert De Niro, John Malkovich and Jack Huston, and Gunner (2024) starring Morgan Freeman..

Eva Longoria To Return To CNN With ‘Searching For Spain’ Series

Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain was announced at today’s Warner Bros. Discovery upfront in New York, with plans for a premiere in 2025. Per CNN, the series will feature “a gastronomic pilgrimage across the rich tapestry of Spanish cuisine.” Longoria “will enjoy some of Spain’s most iconic traditional dishes and explore how innovative Spanish cuisine is propelling the future of fine dining.”

Longoria previously partnered with CNN on Searching for Mexico. The series order is a signal that the network, after announcing a cutback in original series and films from outside suppliers, is returning to an emphasis on such longform projects under new CEO Mark Thompson. Searching for Spain comes from Hyphenate Media Group.

Eva Longoria, Cris Abrego, Rachelle Mendez and Shauna Minoprio are executive producers for Hyphenate Media Group. Amy Entelis and Lyle Gamm are the executive producers for CNN Original Series. Banijay Rights will handle international distribution of the series. Episodes of Searching for Mexico have been available on Max.

Eva Longoria Campaigning for Biden-Harris in Arizona to Mobilize Latinas

The Biden-Harris campaign tells TMZ ... the actress-director's holding an event in Phoenix on Monday where she plans on speaking to moms and young Latinas about the importance of voting -- specifically, voting for JB and KH to keep the White House.

We're told the event will place a particular emphasis on stopping Donald Trump, who the campaign says has demonized Latinos throughout his political career and is pursuing an agenda that would be particularly devastating for Latinas and their families.

It's just the latest campaign effort at mobilizing the Latino vote in AZ ... the campaign team put on events with CA Congressman Robert Garcia just last weekend for a similar purpose.

EL's been a long-time supporter of President Biden, BTW ... remember, just last year she screened her feature-length directorial "Flamin' Hot" at the White House -- so they're tight.

This will be one of the first major celeb cameos on the Biden campaign trail ... and we imagine more will follow soon enough as we approach November ... which will be here sooner than you can blink.

Eva's event takes place tonight ... and, we're sure it'll be a flaming hot affair!!!

Lacey Chabert To Topline Netflix Holiday Rom-Com ‘Hot Frosty’; Dustin Milligan, Joe Lo Truglio & Craig Robinson Among Others Set

Others set to star include Dustin Milligan (Schitt’s Creek), Craig Robinson (Killing It), Joe Lo Truglio (Brooklyn 99), Katy Mixon (Mike & Molly), Lauren Holly (Dumb and Dumber) and Chrishell Stause (Selling Sunset).

Written by Russell Hainline (The Santa Summit), the film picks up with Cathy two years after losing her husband, as she magically brings a handsome snowman to life. Through his naïveté, the snowman helps Cathy to laugh, feel and love again, as the two fall for each other just in time for the holidays…and before he melts.

Joel S. Rice (Single All the Way, A Tourist’s Guide to Love) and Michael Barbuto (Never Too Late to Celebrate, Catch Me if You Claus) are producing for Muse Entertainment. Aren Prupas and Jonas Prupas are exec producers on the project, which is part of a 2024 holiday slate at the streamer also including the Lindsay Lohan starrer Our Little Secret and Meet Me Next Christmas starring Christina Milian.

Best known for her role as Gretchen Wieners in Mean Girls, Chabert has most recently been seen starring in numerous holiday films, most of them for Hallmark, including Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up and A Merry Scottish Christmas, along with the franchise The Wedding Veil. Securing her involvement in Hot Frosty was considered a coup for Netflix, sources tell us, given the actress’s cachet in the holiday space. This year, she’ll also be seen starring opposite Kristoffer Polaha in The Christmas Quest for Hallmark.

Perhaps best known for directing episodes of series like My Life with the Walter Boys and Schitt’s Creek, Ciccoritti has also helmed TV movies like Turkey Drop and Angel Falls Christmas, among many other projects.

Chabert is repped by Innovative Artists and Thruline Entertainmen; Milligan by Gersh, Red Management, and McKuin Frankel Whitehead; Robinson by UTA, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Ziffren Brittenham; Lo Truglio by 3 Arts, Andy Corren Management, and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum; Mixon by Verve and Principal Entertainment LA; Holly by Mavrick Artists Agency, The Characters Talent Agency, and Gilbertson Entertainment; Stause by UTA; and Ciccoritti by OAZ..

'This Is Us' star Justin Hartley thrilled by 'Tracker' success

Adapted from Jeffrey Deaver’s novel The Never Game, Hartley plays Colter Shaw, a lone-wolf survivalist who roams America as a reward seeker using his expert tracking skills to help private citizens and law enforcement find missing persons.

Colter travels around in a truck, lugging an airstream in back as he embarks on a new mystery each week.

“This is my whole life now,” Hartley, 47, laughs in a video call from Vancouver where Tracker is filmed. “I work these like 16, 17 hour days, I’m outside all the time. So it’s like, you know, you better like it, bud … (former This Is Us executive producer) Ken Olin always says, instead of carrying babies, he’s carrying a gun, which is kind of the truth.”

After appearing on NBC’s Emmy-winning This Is Us, Hartley wasn’t sure what he wanted to do next. But he knew he was interested in making compelling television and appearing on a show that would have people tuning in week after week.

“I think the opportunity of my life was This Is Us. I still cherish every moment of that show,” says Hartley, who played Kevin Pearson for six seasons. “Even when I was on it, I understood what it was. I was like, ‘I can’t believe I’m part of this fantastic thing.'”

Following the series end in 2022, Hartley took a bit of a breather, but he was immediately hooked when he got the script for Tracker, which airs Sunday nights on CBS and CTV.

As Hartley puts it, Colter’s troubled childhood “shaped the man that he is” and made for rich storytelling.

His father moved his family off the grid, he’s estranged from his siblings and can’t trust his mother. “I love the fact that he took all of that trauma from his childhood and is now using it to do good,” he says.

After Colter’s sister appeared last Sunday (played by Manifest’s Melissa Roxburgh), this week, Colter’s brother Russell shows up to seek his help tracking down an old Army buddy. He’ll be played by Supernatural and The Winchesters star Jensen Ackles.

“It’s intense,” Hartley says of the episode. “We learn a lot of the backstory about their family and we have a lot of action, some buddy comedy stuff … it’s great. We had been wanting to work together for a long time and this was just a great opportunity.”

Hartley’s wife, Sofia Pernas, whom he met when they starred together on The Young and the Restless, has also made an appearance this season as Colter’s ex. She’ll turn up later this month as well.

“She’s going to be back by popular demand,” Hartley says laughing. “We had this really great opportunity to work together. It was a really cool episode for her where she got to come in and be a badass like she is. That’s what she is. That’s what she does. And she crushed it. And I can’t tell you how many times people have come up to me and said how much they liked the episode she was in, which makes me so happy.”

Hartley will also have a mini This Is Us reunion when Jennifer Morrison makes a cameo in the season finale on May 19.

“Guest stars are a huge part of our show,” Hartley says. “We have had a lot of people that have come on who helped us out in a really good way. I look at the cast now and I’m like, ‘Wow, we got a bunch of TV stars on our show.’ It’s incredible.”

Tracker scored an early Season 2 renewal with CBS saying that the primetime show is its most watched new series since Big Bang Theory prequel Young Sheldon debuted in the 2017-18 season. It was the first series to be greenlit for the 2024-25 broadcast cycle.

Getting a chance to star in two back-to-back TV hits is like lightning striking twice, Hartley says.

“There are a lot of people in this business that work really hard and don’t sniff this kind of opportunity that leads into this kind of success,” the Screen Actors Guild Award-nominee says. “With the combination of the people we have, we had a chance to make a successful show and we’ve done that with the show … But you never know. I’ve seen really great shows with really great acting before that go four or five episodes and they’re cancelled. For some reason, they never find an audience. So the fact that we found an audience feels good. It’s a relief when you put in all that effort and people are actually enjoying what you’re doing.”

It’s not bad for a guy who packed his car and headed from his native Illinois to Los Angeles in the early 2000s with a dream to become an actor.

“I caught the acting bug that people talk about in college. And I thought, well, you don’t have anything to lose right now. I didn’t want to be the age that I am now and regretting things, but I’ve been lucky … because time flies by when you’re doing something that you love, it flies by … It’s hard to imagine.”

Young and Restless Boss Opens Up About OCD Story, Previews ‘Emotional’ But ‘Gratifying’ Journey Ahead

“We’ve gotten emails, and we’ve seen social media posts where [viewers] have said, ‘Now I have a name for it, now I understand what’s going on with my loved one,'” Y&R executive producer and head writer Josh Griffith tells TVLine. In telling this story, “That was really the biggest goal for me — to be able to show this to people so that they go, ‘Now I know what I’m dealing with,’ and know what to do moving forward.”

Griffith participated on Tuesday at “Changing the Narrative: Children’s Mental Health in Entertainment & Media,” a panel presented by The Kids Mental Health Foundation and the Mental Health Storytelling Coalition. The discussion, moderated by Ashley Kolaya (director of the Mental Health Storytelling Initiative), also featured Dr. Whitney Raglan Bignall (associate clinical director of The Kids Mental Health Foundation), Noopur Agarwal (VP of social impact for Showtime/MTV), Ross Szabo (wellness director at the Geffen Academy at UCLA) and Kids Mental Health Foundation celebrity champion Alexandra Daddario.

In discussing the genesis of Y&R‘s OCD storyline, Griffith shared during the panel how his own daughter struggled with the disorder for years, yet was not actually diagnosed until age 26.

OCD, per the Mayo Clinic, presents itself via patterns of unwanted thoughts and fears known as obsessions, which in turn lead you to do repetitive behaviors (called compulsions). Obsessions and compulsions get in the way of daily activities, and can cause great distress.

“It was really important to me” to tell this story, Griffith told TVLine after the panel, “because there’s been such a misunderstanding of what OCD is — it’s often the brunt of a joke, ‘Oh, my OCD is acting up today!’ — when it’s so much more complex and terrifying than that.”

Griffith shared how as he breaks the OCD story, he runs it by The Kids Mental Health Foundation to vet. If there are notes, “More than anything it’s about, ‘Here’s how the clinician would react….’ ‘This is a more appropriate way to speak to the parents or to the child in the therapeutic environment…,'” he shared. But for the most part, “I had firsthand experience I was drawing from, so it was gratifying to get feedback from them saying, ‘This is very realistic.’ And I’m like, I know, I’ve lived it.”

In the CBS serial’s storyline, Judah Mackey plays tweenage Connor, while nine-time Daytime Emmy nominee Melissa Claire Egan and Daytime Emmy nominee Mark Grossman play his loving, concerned parents, Chelsea and Adam.

“Fortunately the parents are very well-situated on the canvas, so we were able to not only explore the ramifications for Connor and Adam and Chelsea, but for their friends and family, too,” Griffith noted. “Their dealing with this affected the way they dealt with the other stories, so there was a wonderful ripple effect.”

All three of the involved actors have availed themselves of resources, Griffith said, to best and most accurately approach the storyline.

“This is the second mental health story we’ve told with Missy — we did an attempted suicide for [Chelsea], two years ago — so she’s very, very into doing the research,” the EP said. “And Mark has done so, too. They’ve been working with [The Kids Mental Health Foundation], as has Judah.”

“It’s a privilege to tell this story,” Egan shared with TVLine. “Mental health affects so many children, it’s been important to shed a light on that and help not only children feel seen, but their parents as well. I applaud Josh and our writers for always wanting to dig into real issues, and help real people.”

“It’s going to be a very emotional and ultimately gratifying journey to a better place for Connor psychologically,” says Griffith. “But it only started in March, and we’ve got a good ways to go.”

NATAS Announces Melody Thomas Scott and Edward J. Scott To Receive Lifetime Achievement Honors At “51ST Aannual Daytime Emmy Awards”

Adam Sharp, president and CEO, NATAS said, “We’ve long wanted to honor the legendary daytime duo of Melody Thomas Scott and her husband Edward J. Scott. With a combined 93 years of contributions to our community, they are true institutions in the world of Daytime television. In addition, Lidia Bastianich’s astounding success combines her love of cooking while simultaneously entertaining millions each day. It is an honor for us to say ‘grazie’ for the many fine meals borne from her TV kitchen and cookbook pages.”

Melody Thomas Scott and Edward J. Scott said, “We are honored and humbled to receive this recognition from NATAS. Throughout our decades-long careers in front of and behind the cameras, we have had the opportunity to work not only with each other, but also with an incredibly talented pool of people who excel in their crafts and are passionate about the art we create in daytime television. We are grateful to have worked side by side with them and to be included with such esteemed recipients who have made their mark in our industry. We look forward to spending another wonderful evening celebrating the Daytime community!”

Lidia Bastianich said, “It is a tremendous honor to be recognized and receive the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award for having shared my passion for food with TV audiences for over 25 years. Cooking together and sharing food remain a common denominator of all cultures. Food nurtures, it connects diverse people and it brings families, friends and strangers together. There is no better place to be on this earth, especially in these trying times, than sharing food at a table with others. That simple idea has been the basis of my life’s work. Hence, as I say in my shows, ‘Tutti a Tavola a Mangiare!’ Mille Grazie to NATAS for this honor.”

The 51ST ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY AWARDS is produced by NATAS and Associated Television International (ATI), which produced Daytime Emmy Award ceremonies on The CW in 2009 and on CBS in 2010, 2011, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Adam Sharp and Lisa Armstrong are executive producers from NATAS, while David McKenzie is executive producer from ATI.

NATAS celebrates excellence in TV through various prestigious awards programs, including Children’s & Family Emmys, Sports Emmys, Technology and Engineering Emmy Awards, News and Documentary Emmy Awards, Primetime Emmy Awards, and its renowned Daytime Emmys competition. This showcases its ability to adapt to the evolving television industry and remain at the forefront of the awards competition landscape

Melody Thomas Scott stars as Nikki Newman on THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS. She recently celebrated 45 years in the role, having joined the show in February 1979. Scott’s character has matured from the girl from the wrong side of the tracks to the serial’s luminous and resourceful leading lady. After garnering a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in 1999, she went on to win in the same category for the Soap Opera Digest Award in 2001 and received four Soap Opera Update Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress (1992, 1993, 1995 and 1996). Scott began her career at age three. She studied singing, tap dancing, ballet and jazz and became one of the world-famous “Meglin Kiddies,” performing in USO shows as she started booking national commercials and guest spots on such series as “Wagon Train,” “My Three Sons,” “Ironside” and a recurring role on “The Waltons.” Scott made her motion picture debut at age eight when she was cast by Alfred Hitchcock as the young Tippi Hedren in the thriller “Marnie.” She has co-starred with legendary actors Clint Eastwood, Geraldine Page, John Wayne and Kirk Douglas. Scott has worked on stage and in numerous television shows and was the subject of Lifetime Television’s “Intimate Portrait.” As a lifelong fan of “I Love Lucy,” Scott served as a founding member of the Board of Directors for the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center in Jamestown, N.Y., which is committed to preserving the legacy of the great comedienne. In 2020,

Scott released her memoir, Always Young and Restless. Married since 1985 to Edward J. Scott, the couple have three daughters and five grandchildren.

Edward J. Scott is a six-time Daytime Emmy® Award-winning producer who has played a pivotal role in the historic development of the soap opera genre for nearly five decades. Scott is currently supervising producer for THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, the #2-rated daytime drama in the U.S. and the most-watched daily drama in the world, which is nominated for 12 Daytime Emmy Awards this year. Scott began his association with The Bell Family and Bell-Phillip Television Productions when he joined THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS as an associate producer in 1976. He quickly moved up the ranks and served as the show’s executive producer for decades. Scott’s legendary 48-year producing partnership and creative collaboration with THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS and THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL creators, the late William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell, and their son, Bradley P. Bell, has helped create he two most popular daily American television series. Today, both daytime dramas are syndicated internationally. Before joining “B&B” Scott was executive producer for the NBC daytime drama “Days of Our Lives.” Born and raised in Santa Monica, Calif., Scott earned a B.A from California State University at Northridge with a double major of anthropology and broadcasting journalism. He has been married since 1985 to actress and author Melody Thomas Scott. The couple have three daughters and five grandchildren.

Lidia Bastianich is a Daytime Emmy® Award-winning public television host, best?selling cookbook author, successful restaurateur, celebrated chef and owner of a flourishing food and entertainment business. She has created Daytime Emmy® Award-winning cooking programs over the last 25 years, including “Lidia’s Kitchen,” “Lidia’s Family Table,” “Lidia’s Italy” and “Lidia’s Italy in America, as well as the three-time James Beard Award-winning series “Lidia Celebrates America.” Along with her television series, Bastianich has published numerous cookbooks, co-authored with her daughter Tanya. Her most recent book is Lidia’s From Our Family Table to Yours which was released in October 2023, a companion to her new 26-part public television series, Lidia’s Kitchen. She is also the author of the English and Italian version of her memoir: My American Dream: A Life of Love, Family, and Food. Together with Tanya and son-in-law Corrado, she also developed a line of all-natural sauces called LIDIA’S. In March 2023, she released a line of cookware with HSN. Bastianich is a member of Les Dames D’Escoffier and founding member of Women Chefs and Restaurateurs, two non-profit organizations of women leaders in the food and hospitality industries. She is also a champion for the United Nations Association of the United States of America’s Adopt-A-Future program, in support of refugee education. Among the numerous awards and accolades Bastianich has earned include seven James Beard Awards (Outstanding Chef, Television Food Show, Best Chefs in America, Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America, Specials 2016, Special 2017 and 2018) and two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Culinary Host (2013 and 2018). In 2022 Bastianich received the Silver Award from APT for 25 years on public television.

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) is a service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television with the coveted Emmy Awards for News & Documentary, Sports, Daytime, and Children’s & Family programming, as well as achievements in television Technology & Engineering. NATAS membership consists of more than 18,000 broadcast and media professionals represented in 19 regional chapters across the country. Beyond awards, NATAS has extensive educational programs including regional student television and its Student Award for Excellence and the National Student Production Awards for outstanding journalistic work by high school students, as well as scholarships, publications and major activities for both industry professionals and the viewing public.

*Paramount+ Premium subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service as well as on-demand. Essential-tier subscribers will have access on-demand the day after the special airs.aU

Talk Show Appearance

Steve Kent Exits As Senior EVP Of Programming At Sony Pictures TV, Will Continue To Oversee ‘The Young And The Restless’

Deadline has confirmed that Kent will no longer be Senior EVP of Programming but will become executive in charge of production on CBS’ 50-year-old daytime soap.

He has been overseeing daytime dramas The Young And The Restless and Days of Our Lives since 2007, along with being in charge of development and production of original local language productions such as Outlander, Nikola and As If as well as scripted and unscripted formats like Dragons’ Den.

SPT’s Senior EVP Programming role is being eliminated and Kent’s responsibilities will be covered by other members of the SPT production team going forward, we are told. He is the second senior exec we have revealed to be leaving their role in the past week. Global scripted boss Nina Lederman is exiting the company next month amid the slowdown. Kate Gill was revealed to be joining as SVP Comedy Development yesterday.

Kent joined Sony in 1996 as VP of Production for then-Columbia TriStar Television, working on such series as Dawson’s Creek and Early Edition. He has since played a key role in the oversight of The Young And The Restless and Days of Our Lives. Created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell, the former has been airing since 1973 and focuses on two core families, the wealthy Brooks family and the working class Foster family. Made famous globally by its representation in Friends, Days of Our Lives moved from NBC to Peacock two years ago and is one of the longest-running scripted TV shows in the world.

Prior to Sony, Kent was a supervising producer on NBC soap Santa Barbara from 1984 to 1993, for which he won three Daytime Emmys.

Daytime Stands Up: A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer - We All Have a Story

Tune-in live on Thursday, May 16th from 8 p.m-11 p.m ET / 5 p.m - 8 p.m. PT. as favorites from As the World Turns, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives, General Hospital, Guiding Light, One Life to Live, The Young and the Restless and more, come together for this worthy cause. Hear inspiring stories of courage, resilience, and hope as guests share their personal connections to cancer, or the impact they have made portraying characters battling the disease. Watch moving tributes to beloved daytime favorites we lost: Andrea Evans, Jackie Zeman, Kamar de Los Reyes, Jerry verDorn, Elizabeth Hubbard and more. In addition, look for special musical performances and segments during this one-night only virtual event. The show will stream simultaneously across Michael and Alan's YouTube channels, as well as the Stand Up To Cancer website.

Featuring: Eddie and Kristen Alderson, Brandon Barash, Carson Boatman, Eric Braeden, Jeremy Bennett (Elizabeth Hubbard's son), Elia Cantu, Sharon Case, Eileen Davidson, Kassie DePaiva, Don Diamont, Michael Easton, Linsey Godfrey, Lacey Gorden (Jackie Zeman's daughter), Leo Howard, Lesli Kay, Liz Keifer, Wally Kurth, Cassidy Macleod (Jackie Zeman's daughter), Cameron Mathison, Eric Martsolf, Eden McCoy, Stephen G. Rodriguez and Kylie Rodriguez (Andrea Evan's husband and daughter), Kin Shriner, Erika Slezak, Tina Sloan, Michelle Stafford, Trevor St. John, Beth verDorn (Jerry's wife), Colleen Zenk and Kim Zimmer.

Is Obba Babatunde Joining The Gates?

@ObbaBabatunde: Tis the season and I am reminded of how 8 years ago today I was recognized for my work on ?@BandB_CBS and I am just as proud today as I was the evening I took this photo #excellence

@ObbaBabatunde: Yes and you were there and now together we have a chance to once again make magic.

Does this mean Obba is joining CBS' The Gates, we'll have to wait for official word.

‘Blue Bloods’ Future Is Sealed: The Long-Running Series Will Wrap For Good In December

During a press conference Thursday to discuss the fall schedule, Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach conceded that while they will miss the series at CBS, the drama will still wrap after the second half airs this fall.

The first half of Blue Bloods‘ 14th season kicked off February 16. The second half of the season will return in October.

“We really want to thank the cast and crew, everyone involved in the show,” Reisenbach told reporters. “We absolutely will miss the family dinners. It is important to give show the sendoff it deserves.”

When reminded that the cast has made personal pleas to the CBS brass to reconsider the cancellation, Reisenbach added, “We love this cast, we love their passion for the show. All shows have to come to an end. It’s important to us to refresh the schedule. We are going to end the show come December.”

The police procedural drama has been airing on CBS since September 24, 2010. Its main characters are members of the fictional Reagan family, an American Irish-Catholic family in New York City with a history of work in law enforcement.

When the show’s final season was announced, star Selleck released this statement to fans. “For the past 13 years, it has been an honor and a privilege to work on a show that not only celebrates the men and women who protect and serve in New York City, but also displayed the importance of family,” he wrote. “Working alongside these incredible actors, writers, producers, directors, and crew has been a dream come true and I’m grateful to have been a part of this extraordinary group for over 275 episodes.”

Eva Longoria and husband José Bastón temporarily moving to Spain

“She’ll be spending a ton of time there working for the second half of this year,” a source tells Page Six, noting that the move is not permanent.

We’re told the “Desperate Housewives” star is a Spanish resident and owns a home there.

As Longoria, 49, and Bastón, 56, prepare to move abroad, they already have their vacation home in Marbella, Spain, which they snatched up in early 2023.

“It’s my oasis, my paradise,” the actress gushed during a January 2024 interview with Hello!. “When I’m not here, I work non-stop.”

At the time, she showed off glimpses of the mega-mansion, which is filled with “lots of bedrooms” for when her entire family visits.

“It’s a holiday home and my mother, my sisters and their kids all come,” she explained. “And, of course, a big kitchen.”

“In all my homes, I have a kitchen with a huge island, where everyone can sit together and have a glass of wine and nibbles while I cook. I love the kitchen – it’s always the heart of the house. And the one here is the best of all.”

The “Eva’s Kitchen” author added that the property also includes a garden and swimming pool for her and Bastón’s 5-year-old son, Santiago.

However, her favorite part of the home might just be her dressing room, which she admitted now holds her entire wardrobe.

“It’s amazing, with loads of space. I thought: ‘I won’t need many outfits; I’ll just be wearing swimming costumes and kaftans.’ But Marbella has masses of social life,” Longoria told the outlet. “So I’ve ended up with all my clothes here.”

Longoria explained she purchased the property after spending “five years” looking for the perfect place for her family to live part-time.

“The first time I came to Marbella, two decades ago, it was love at first sight. I said to myself: ‘Some day I’ll live here,'” she said.

When she first saw the property come on the market, it was just what she was looking for aside from needing a bit of refurbishing.

After purchasing the property, she elegantly decorated her home with beige, cream and white furniture to match the light-colored exterior and interior.

Morning Show Appearance

Marla Adams Dies: ‘The Young And The Restless’ Daytime Emmy Winner Was 85

Born in Ocean City, New Jersey, on August 28, 1938, Adams’ love for the stage was ignited after winning the Miss Ocean City and Miss Cape May pageants. She also finished as a runner-up in the Miss New Jersey pageant and was the Miss Diamond Jubilee Queen during the 1954 celebration of the 75th anniversary of Ocean City’s founding.

A student at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Adams appeared on Broadway in the 1958 production of The Visit at the Morosco Theatre with Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. She also starred as June in the 1961 feature film, Splendor in the Grass.

Adams starred as Belle Clemens on The Secret Storm from 1968-1974¸and joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in 1982 as the Abbott family matriarch, Dina Abbott Mergeron, who returned to Genoa City to reunite with her estranged family.

She appeared on and off in the role though the years, returning full time to Y&R in 2017. She won a Daytime Emmy Award for her work on the show in 2021 and was previously nominated in 2018.

Adams also appeared on The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives, Generations, General Hospital, and Capitol. Over the span of her career, Adams starred in more than 40 productions including The Golden Girls, Hart to Hart, The Love Boat, and the feature film, Beneath the Leaves.

She is survived by her daughter, Pam Oates, son, Gunnar Garat, grandchildren, Gefjon and Stone, and her great grandson, Remi. No information on memorial plans has been revealed.

Sydney Lemmon & Romy Reiner To Topline Dark Fashion World Satire ‘The Philosophy Of Dress’

Shooting this month in New York City, pic’s ensemble also includes Eric Roberts (Inherent Vice), Marcia DeBonis (Sometimes I Think About Dying), Jake Weary (Animal Kingdom), Lou Liberatore (Burn This), Jonathan Higginbotham (Slave Play), Clara McGregor (Bleeding Love), Vera Bulder (About That Life), model Jake Lively, fashion icon Amy Fine Collins and NYU Tisch freshman Gabriella O’Reilly.

The Philosophy of Dress is an examination of female friendship and viral ambition set in NYC’s cutthroat downtown fashion scene. Part American Psycho and part Devil Wears Prada, the film follows two young designers as they test the limits of obsession, creation, and betrayal. Jz Tinneny will produce, with Lemmon and Potash exec producing.

Previously seen in Todd Field’s Oscar-nominated drama Tár, as well as films like Firestarter and Velvet Buzzsaw, Lemmon has additionally appeared on such series as Succession, Fear the Walking Dead and Hulu/Marvel’s Helstrom.

Past credits for Reiner include Kenya Barris’s starry Netflix rom-com You People and HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Lemmon is repped by Paradigm, Sugar23, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman; Reiner by Hyperion Talent Agency and Luber Roklin Entertainment; Roberts by Sovereign Talent Group; DeBonis by Innovative Artists; Weary by Gersh; Liberatore by Talent House; Higginbotham by Gersh and Anonymous Content; McGregor by Paradigm, Elevate Artist Management in Paris, Range Media Partners, and Yorn, Levine, Barnes; and Bulder by Luber Roklin Entertainment and Yorn, Levine, Barnes.

‘FBI International’ Surprise: Luke Kleintank Leaving CBS Drama After Three Seasons

Kleintank plays the head of the FBI fly team unit. His last episode as Scott airs May 7.

“After much thought and consideration, I’ve made the difficult decision to leave FBI International,” the actor said. “This decision is driven by my unwavering commitment to my family, whose love and well-being are paramount in my life. I’m profoundly thankful for the extraordinary cast and crew of the show, who have not only been colleagues but also a family away from home. Their unwavering dedication and remarkable talents have made every moment on set an unforgettable journey that has enriched my life in countless ways. Lastly, I would also like to extend my thanks to the fans who have supported us through the first three seasons.”

Kleintank was tapped in July of 2021 to serve as one of the leads of FBI: International, the third series in Dick Wolf’s hit FBI drama franchise. The drama follows the elite operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s International Fly Team that’s headquartered in Budapest.

In February, Kleintank’s co-star Heida Reed left the drama after playing Special Agent Jamie Kellett since 2021. In her final episode, Kellett revealed she is “leaving this, the Fly Team,” and transferring to the Washington, D.C. field office. She explained to Scott that after her sister died by suicide, she had promised to “live my life for the both of us,” adding “I have served my country, fell in love, I ran away from my grief” and now, “it’s time to go back home.”

Dick Wolf, Matt Olmstead, Michael Katleman, Ernesto Alcalde, Arthur W. Forney and Peter Jankowski serve as executive producers of FBI: International. It is produced by Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with CBS Studios.

Earlier this month, the series — as well as FBI and FBI: Most Wanted — were renewed by CBS.

Kleintank is repped by Robert Stein Management, Innovative Artists and attorney Stewart Brookman.

Meg Bennett Dies: ‘The Young And The Restless’ Star Who Played Julia Martin Was 75

Bennett grew up in Pasadena began her career in 1975 on Search For Tomorrow, playing the role of Liza Walton on several episodes.

From there, she segued to The Young and the Restless, where she played Julia Martin, a role that was featured on the long-running soap in appearances over four decades.

She also contributed to the soap industry as a writer, becoming the associate head writer at General Hospital and penning 197 episodes.

Survivors include her husband, Sunset Beach co-creator and writer Robert Guza, Jr., two stepdaughters, four grandchildren, and two siblings.

Talk Show Appearance

Kunal Nayyar, Eva Longoria & Billy Porter Among Ensemble Of Gurinder Chadha Musical ‘Christmas Karma’

Nayyar will star as Scrooge in pic alongside an expansive cast, including Eva Longoria, Boy George, Billy Porter, Hugh Bonneville, Leo Suter, Charithra Chandran, Pixie Lott, Danny Dyer, Bilal Hasna, Allan Corduner, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Rufus Jones, Eve, and Nitin Ganatra.

Chadha wrote the pic and is producing alongside directing, with music by Take That alum Gary Barlow alongside Shaznay Lewis and Nitin Sawhney. Financing for Christmas Karma is from Civic Studios. Gurinder Chadha, Celine Rattray, Trudie Styler, and Amory Leader will produce. Zygi Kamasa, Anushka Shah, Paul Mayeda Berges, Sophia Pedlow, and Hannah Leader will serve as executive producers.

Christmas Karma is the fifth scripted project from British distributor True Brit Entertainment, which was formed in November 2023. The feature also sees Chadha’s return to the big screen following her time working on the Indian historical television series Beecham House. Her last feature film, Blinded by the Light, inspired by the music of Bruce Springsteen, debuted at Sundance in 2019. Warners Bros acquired the pic for multiple territories.

“Just as I have enjoyed Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life for many years, my aim with Christmas Karma is to create a festive classic for our times and for generations to come,” Chadha said. “I’m over the moon to be working with Zygi Kamasa who has supported me on this film from the onset – and True Brit, which truly celebrates British cinema. I am blessed with such a great diverse Cast and eclectic Music team – the soundtrack will be banging, influenced by Gospel, Bhangra, Carols, and classic pop songs. You will not be able to sit still.”

Kamasa added: “Gurinder has an incredible ability to tell such interesting contemporary British stories. It’s been over 20 years since we made Bend It Like Beckham together and this film has all those hallmarks of heart, comedy, drama, and an incredibly feel-good ending. It will be a celebration of multi-cultural London set to an incredible set of songs written by Gary, Shaznay, and Nitin, using musical genres from Rap, to disco to Bhangra, and will be the ultimate Christmas movie which we will release in December 2025. It really is the perfect fit to the range of British films we will release at True Brit.” p

Y&R Casts Christopher Cousins

CBS TO OPEN “THE GATES” IN JANUARY 2025

CBS today announced the series order for the new daytime drama THE GATES for broadcast on the Network in January 2025. The specific time period, launch date and other series details will be announced at later dates.

THE GATES follows the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community. Michele Val Jean, who has written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime dramas and won multiple Daytime Emmy and WGA Awards for her work on THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL and “General Hospital,” will serve as writer and showrunner. Val Jean will also be an executive producer alongside Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.

THE GATES was developed from the joint venture between CBS Studios and the NAACP. The series will be produced by the CBS Studios/NAACP venture in partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble.

The CBS Studios production venture and development deal with the NAACP was established to help elevate a diverse range of voices as well as increase the visibility of Black artists on broadcast and streaming platforms in an ever-evolving media landscape.

‘The Talk’ Renewed For 15th And Final Season, Sets December End Date On CBS

“The Talk broke new ground when it launched 14 years ago by returning daytime talk to CBS with a refreshing and award-winning format,” according to a joint statement from Amy Reisenbach, President, CBS Entertainment, and David Stapf, President, CBS Studios. “Throughout the years, it has been a key program on CBS’ top rated daytime lineup as it brought timely, important and entertaining topics and discussions into living rooms around the globe.”

“It goes without saying that hosting and producing a year-round talk show is no easy task, and we express our sincere gratitude to our amazing hosts Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, Jerry O’Connell and Sheryl Underwood, our Executive Producer/Showrunner Rob Crabbe and the hardworking producing team and crew,” the statement continued. “We also want to acknowledge our former show hosts and colleagues who contributed throughout the seasons. We truly appreciate the skill, creativity, and dedication everyone involved brought to the show every day. And of course, we thank the numerous guests who appeared, and the millions of viewers who tuned in daily. For the final season, we plan to celebrate the show and give it the proper sendoff it deserves when it concludes in December 2024.”

No decisions have been made yet about how CBS will fill the daytime time slot after December.

As Deadline first reported, the future of The Talk was cast in doubt in March when CBS announced plans to develop The Gates, a new sudser that would follow the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community. The network didn’t reveal where (or when) it would go on the schedule, should it earn a series pickup.

Canceling The Young and the Restless is out of the question since the Bell/Sony drama ranks No. 1 in daytime and just earned a four-season pickup. Same goes for The Bold and the Beautiful, the Bell serial that is the No. 2-ranked soap in daytime and has been renewed through fall of 2025.

Killing Let’s Make a Deal or The Price is Right doesn’t make sense, either, since both game shows have solid ratings, sound budgets, and frequently contribute much-needed specials for CBS primetime.

That led to speculation about the future of The Talk, which remains the lowest-rated show in the CBS daytime lineup. Produced by CBS Studios and now in its 14th season, The Talk recently underwent change by hiring Crabbe, the former executive producer of The Late Late Show with James Corden, to replace longtime EP Kristin Matthews.

Even though Crabbe made much-needed improvements, like extending the first act of the show and injecting more intimate interview segments, The Talk remains down double digits in persons and women 18-49, though it remains the third most-watched talker in daytime behind The View and Live! With Kelly and Mark. And most recently, CBS let go of The Talk‘s current executive, Laurie Seidman, as well one of the show’s PR reps as part of the company’s widespread layoffs.

The Talk, developed by actress and host Sara Gilbert, was first launched in 2010. Like The View, it was filmed in front of a live audience and programmed to air five days a week. The original panel featured Julie Chen Moonves as the chief news reader, along with Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Leah Remini and Holly Robinson Peete. Marissa Jaret Winokur also had a turn at The Talk table.

The panel would evolve over the years as some of the originals moved on. Aisha Tyler joined the show in 2011, followed by Eve in 2017 and Carrie Ann Inaba and Marie Osmond in 2019. The two men joined the show in 2021, along with Kloots and Morales.i

SURPRISE! CBS RENEWS HIT DRAMA SERIES “S.W.A.T.” FOR THE 2024-2025 SEASON

“Here at CBS, we always ‘stay liquid’ and love a good dramatic twist, especially when it leads to an eighth season of S.W.A.T.!,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “The show continues to resonate with viewers thanks to our talented cast led by Shemar Moore and our amazing writers and producers who keep the show relevant and action-packed. We’re very pleased to renew it again and incredibly grateful to our partners at SONY, CBS Studios and Shemar for working so closely with us to bring it back for next season.”

“Led by the unstoppable Shemar Moore, S.W.A.T. has captivated viewers since its premiere in 2017, and with every renewal, we are amazed at how passionate and dedicated the fans of this show are,” said Katherine Pope, president of Sony Pictures Television Studios. “Thank you to Amy Reisenbach and our partners at CBS for continuing to believe in the show and the incredible work of the cast and crew. Everyone here at Sony Pictures Television is so proud of the world that Shawn, Aaron, Andy and the entire S.W.A.T. team have created, and we congratulate them on coming back for another year. Roll SWAT!”

“It’s a privilege to get to deliver more S.W.A.T. stories to our incredible fans. This season eight pickup is a testament to our showrunner Andy Dettmann, Shemar Moore, the rest of our talented cast and our dedicated crew who continue to produce television that resonates with so many people,” said executive producer and co-showrunner Shawn Ryan. “We’re grateful to CBS, Sony Pictures Television and CBS Studios for the opportunity.”

“All of us at S.W.A.T. are thrilled by the news of a season eight. Shemar and I had many conversations throughout the production of season seven, confident that if we continued to tell great stories punctuated by SWAT’s signature action, our amazing fans would stay with us, giving us a good shot at another season,” said Andrew Dettmann, co-showrunner and executive producer. “At the end of the day, this is the well-deserved payoff for all the time, energy and effort put in by an incredible cast and crew working with the constant support of our partners at Sony Pictures Television and everyone at CBS. We look forward to an exciting season eight.”

“S.W.A.T. IS BACK! BELIEVE IN MIRACLES! I am so proud of this show and the people and variables it has taken to make this show what it is and has become,” said Shemar Moore, series star and executive producer. “I am so grateful to the fans around the world who have supported, watched, enjoyed and rooted for S.W.A.T.! It is entirely because of this support that S.W.A.T. will continue to shine! This is still a dream job for me … I love my S.W.A.T. crew, cast and writers and producers – we have made an incredible, fun, exciting, provocative and heartwarming show for the world to enjoy. Thank you to CBS and SONY for believing in S.W.A.T. and giving us this opportunity to shine!”

S.W.A.T. is a time period winner in viewers and a top 20 primetime broadcast drama, ranking #17 overall season to date with 6.1 million in Nielsen Most Current data. With live +35-day multiplatform viewing, S.W.A.T. delivers 8.8 million viewers an episode and is up +11% year over year.*

Shemar Moore, Jay Harrington, David Lim, Patrick St. Esprit, Rochelle Aytes and Anna Enger Ritch star. Shawn Ryan, Andrew Dettmann, Justin Lin, Neal H. Moritz, Marney Hochman, Pavun Shetty, Billy Gierhart, Shemar Moore and James Scura serve as executive producers. S.W.A.T. is produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with CBS Studios.

In its seventh season, S.W.A.T. airs Fridays (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after it airs). A new episode will be available Friday, April 12.

S.W.A.T. joins the previously announced renewals of THE NEIGHBORHOOD, NCIS, FBI, FBI: MOST WANTED, FBI: INTERNATIONAL, GHOSTS, FIRE COUNTRY and NCIS: SYDNEY.d

'Young and the Restless' Star Eric Braeden Shares Health Update After Being 6 Months Cancer-Free

It's all good news for Eric Braeden these days. The 83-year-old The Young and the Restless star is offering a health update to ET after announcing that he was cancer-free back in August.

"My cancer diagnosis right now is on hold, as it were, and [I'm] very grateful for very good doctors and very good modern cancer treatment which has improved enormously," Braeden told ET's Cassie DiLaura during a February visit to the set of his soap opera. "People shouldn't be afraid of it, you know. Just go and have your cystoscopy, have your colonoscopy, have you heart checked out. Do all that, do it in time."

The celebrated, German-born soap legend -- who has starred as Victor Newman in over 4,000 episodes of The Young and the Restless since he joined the cast in 1980 -- revealed his cancer diagnosis in April 2023. At the time, he told ET that he was sharing the news in an effort to "inform people" about managing their own health.

In August, after undergoing a series of treatments, Braeden announced that his cancer was gone.

"It's funny, I don't react immediately to things. I react afterwards," he recently told ET. "On the way home, I thought, 'Keep on looking at it step by step.' That's good advice for anything you do in life. Don't anticipate the result, don't think way ahead. No, take it step by step."

Fans can look ahead to many new episodes of The Young and the Restless, as CBS renewed the beloved daytime drama in February for a whopping four seasons. That puts the series, which debuted in 1973 and is CBS' longest-running program, firmly on the air through the year 2028.

"I was very happy because it's obviously a testament to the fact that people still watch it," he said of the renewal. "Very lucky considering there are so many unemployed people in Hollywood. Very, very lucky."

He also offered a heartfelt "big thank you" to the fans who continue to support the show and its cast.

Now, Braeden and co-star Melody Thomas Scott are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first wedding between their characters.

"When I came here, I signed for three months. I said, 'I won't do any longer than that,'" Braden recalled. "And the rest is a 44-year history. Isn't that something?"

Braeden admitted he was initially wary of the "enormous amount of dialogue" he was tasked with learning for the show but "learned to love it."

As for what has kept him hooked, he said, "The challenge of making the stuff real.".

Eva Longoria’s Apple TV+ Dramedy ‘Land Of Women’ Gets Premiere Date

The Apple Studios series, inspired Sandra Barneda’s bestselling novel La tierra de las mujeres and shot in both English and Spanish, stars Longoria as Gala, a New York empty-nester whose life is turned upside down when her husband implicates the family in financial improprieties, and she is forced to flee the city alongside her aging mother (Carmen Maura) and teenage daughter (Victoria Bazúa).

To escape the dangerous criminals to whom Gala’s now vanished husband is indebted, the women hide in the same charming wine town in northern Spain that Gala’s mother fled 50 years ago, vowing never to return. They seek to start anew and hope their identities will remain unknown, but gossip in the small town quickly spreads, unraveling their deepest family secrets and truths.

The cast also includes Amaury Nolasco, Santiago Cabrera, Gloria Muñoz and James Purefoy.

Ramón Campos, Gema R. Neira and Paula Fernández created the series, which is directed by Carlos Sedes. It is produced by Bambu Studios, and executive produced by Campos, Neira, Sedes, Teresa Fernández-Valdés, Ben Spector, Sandra Condito and Longoria via her UnbeliEVAble Entertainment.

Andrew Keegan To Star In Soapy PR Drama Series From Horror Actress Devanny Pinn

He will play an entertainment titan in The BLVD, which is being worked up as a six-part series set in LA’s hottest boutique public relations agency during awards season.

Keegan’s character will be Jake Flynn, head of a rival PR firm that is poised to depose longstanding celebrity publicist Persephone Reed (Kinmont).

Also starring in the indie production are Chelsea Gilson (Hawaii 5-0, Black Mass), Jordi Vilasuso (The Young and the Restless, Guiding Light), Vincent Irizarry (Bold and the Beautiful, All My Children), Nichole Tom (The Nanny, Beethoven), Adam Huss (Power, General Hospital), Candace Kita and Eric Himel.

The show is currently in production in LA, with Pinn (Camp Lake Pleasant) producing through her Jaguar Motion Pictures imprint from a script from Brandon Slagle and Eric Pereira. Sonia Blangiardo (Days of Our Lives) and Brian Beacock are serving as consulting producers with Michelle Romano (Escape From Ensenada) co-producing. Miranda Mariposa (The Black Mass), David Zagorski, Kimberly Cole, Robin Cote, Heather Cusick and Eleanore Sunchild are executive producing.

Keegan is rep’d by Deanda Management and Pinn is rep’d by Sheila Legette Entertainment.

Sandrine Holt & Corbin Bernsen Join Apple’s ‘Your Friends And Neighbors’ As Recurring

The duo’s roles are under wraps. As previously announced, Jon Hamm leads the cast, which also includes Amanda Peet, Olivia Munn, Lena Hall, Hoon Lee, Mark Tallman, Aimee Carrero, Isabel Gravitt and Donovan Colan.

The show centers on Coop (Hamm), a recently divorced hedge fund manager who, after being fired, resorts to stealing from the wealthy residents in his tony upstate New York suburb in order to keep his family’s lifestyle afloat. These petty crimes begin to reinvigorate him until he breaks into the wrong house at the wrong time.

Hailing from Apple Studios, the series’ showrunner is Tropper, who exec produces under his overall deal with Apple TV+. Hamm also exec produces alongside Connie Tavel (Confess, Fletch). Craig Gillespie, the Emmy nominee in talks to helm DC’s Supergirl, as we were first to report, will direct the first two episodes, with Greg Yaitanes and Stephanie Laing to helm three apiece.

A series regular on The Crossing, Hostages, and MacGyver, Holt has previously recurred on series including American Gigolo, Better Call Saul, The Expanse, Homeland, House of Cards, The L Word and 24, among many others. Up next, she’ll be seen starring in David Cronenberg’s horror thriller The Shrouds.

Most recently recurring as Emma Stone’s father on Showtime’s The Curse, Bernsen’s also recurred on series like Showtime’s City on a Hill, CBS’s Tommy, Marvel’s The Punisher, Showtime’s Billions, CBS’s Magnum P.I., and Fox’s The Resident. Up next, he’ll be seen recurring on Max’s Duster and FX’s Donald Sterling series Clipped opposite Ed O’Neill.

Holt is repped by IAG, Agence Adequat in France, and Strand Entertainment; Bernsen by Paradigm and Randy James Management.

‘Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black’: Netflix Reveals Cast For New Series Under Creator’s First Look Deal

The pact calls for Perry will write, direct, and produce feature films and series under a multi-year first-look deal.

Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black follows two women leading very different lives. While Kimmie is struggling to make a living after her mother kicked her out, and Mallory is running a successful business, they find themselves entangled in each other’s lives.

The cast includes Taylor Polidore Williams (Divorce in the Black; Snowfall) as Kimmie; Amber Reign Smith (Outlaw Posse; Wu-Tang: An American Saga) as Rain; Crystle Stewart (Tyler Perry’s The Oval; Acrimony) as Mallory; Ricco Ross (A Husband for Christmas; Aliens) as Horace; Debbi Morgan (Power; Power Book II: Ghost) as Olivia; Richard Lawson (Black Hamptons; For Colored Girls) as Norman; Steven G. Norfleet (Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire; Ruthless) as Charles; Julian Horton (National Champions; Tyler Perry’s Bruh) as Roy; Terrell Carter (Empire; Diary of a Mad Black Woman) and as Varney.

Other cast members are Shannon Wallace (Diarra from Detroit; City on a Hill) as Calvin; Bryan Tanaka (Entourage) as Officer Alex; Joy Rovaris (Saint Clare; The Neighborhood) as Gillian; Xavier Smalls as Angel; Charles Malik Whitfield (The Temptations; If Loving You is Wrong) as Jules; Tamera “Tee” Kissen (House Party; White Men Can’t Jump) as Body; Ursula O. Robinson (Hightown) as Delinda; Ashley Versher (This is Me… Now; Law and Order) as Lena; and George Middlebrook (The Final Play; McGraw Ave H-Block) will play Officer Trackson.

In February, Perry struck a first-look series deal with Netflix, adding to his pact with the streamer on movies. That’s on top of Perry’s BET deal for TV, which is ongoing with more than 10 series at the company.

‘The Weight Of Darkness’: Angus Macfadyen, Jaime King, Doug Jones, Corbin Bernsen & Angus Benfield Sign On For Indie Thriller

Sean Rainwater and Furmie penned the script, with Benfield and Simone Bonser aboard to produce. LAMA Entertainment Studios will arrange financing and represent U.S rights. The film marks the first collaboration for LAMA Entertainment and Furmie’s Rezistor.

The film centers around Mark Besson (Benfield), a psychiatrist trying to encourage reform in the public health system. He is offered a helping hand from John Gatlin (Jones), a favorite mayoral candidate, with an interest in supporting Mark’s vision. But Mark’s world is soon rocked by tragedy when his young daughter Emma goes missing at a social event for victims of PTSD. Despite the efforts of the Sheriff Eli Watson (Bernson) and his deputy, Emma remains missing.

Mark’s estranged brother, Jim (Macfadyen), a church pastor, agrees to help an undocumented mother find her missing daughter, leading him to unravel a shadowy conspiracy that may lead to Emma’s whereabouts. The Besson brothers are soon forced to face the demons of their past, reconcile their differences and unite to find both children, uncovering a sinister underworld of unspeakable evil in the process.

Tracey E. Bregman Returns To BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL

One of Y&R’s most frequent travelers, Tracey E. Bregman, is making yet another return trip to BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL. She will appear as her Genoa City alter ego, Lauren, on April 4 and 5, and worked opposite John McCook (Eric) and Jennifer Gareis (Donna).

The actress, whose most recent visit to B&B took place in last October, has been crossing back and forth between the sudsers for years. Her first appearance on B&B took place in 1992, and she later became a contract player there. After returning to Y&R full-time, she continued to drop in on B&B, with Lauren popping up in 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2022. When she visited last year, Bregman enthused to Digest, “I’m honored that [Y&R and B&B Co-Creator] Bill Bell chose my character for the first Y&R/B&B crossover and so happy that both shows are continuing the tradition. The crossovers are not only great fun for the viewers but for the cast and crews of both shows.”

Jennifer Leak Dies: ‘Yours, Mine And Ours’ Actress And Soap Star For ‘The Guiding Light’, ‘The Young And The Restless’ And ‘Another World’ Was 76

Leak was dealing with progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurological disease, in her final years.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of Jennifer Leak’s passing. She wasn’t just my screen sister in ‘Yours, Mine and Ours,’ but also my beloved first wife. Jennifer was a remarkable woman, strong, lovely, and incredibly talented. My deepest condolences go out to her husband of 47 years, James D’Auria, and their multitude of friends.”

Yours, Mine and Ours featured Matheson as Mike, the son of Henry Fonda’s Frank Beardsley, while Leak portrayed Colleen, the daughter of Lucille Ball’s Helen North. The movie was about a blended family of 18 children.

Leak was born in Cardiff, Wales, in 1947, and started her screen career with the Mike Nichols-directed pilot for Wojeck in the mid-1960s. She later was cast in Nichols’ The Graduate, but had to drop out because of immigration complications.

Leak’s was also a soap operas regular. She played Gwen Sherman on The Young and the Restless, Olive Springer Gordon Randolph on Another World, and Blanche Bouvier on Guiding Light.

Leak had largely retired from screen acting by the mid-1980s, working as a sales agent for a real estate company.

She was married to Matheson from 1968 to 1971, and wed D’Auria in 1977. She is survived by her husband and brother.

Justin Hartley's Wife Sofia Pernas Shares Her First Impression of Him

Sofia Pernas Says She Was 'Very Honest' With Husband Justin Hartley About Not Watching This Is Us

While speaking to PEOPLE about her upcoming guest appearance on husband Justin Hartley’s new CBS drama Tracker, Pernas, 34, admitted that his six-season stint on This Is Us was just too much for her to take in.

“I was very honest with him. I saw the first season, and I don't know how people binge-watch that show,” she says. “I don't really like to emote much, so I couldn't do it.”

The Young and the Restless alum, who will play a rival of Hartley’s character on Tracker Sunday night, explained that she has more of a tendency to keep her feelings inside rather than “wear them” on her sleeve (or watch them on TV).

“It pulled too many heartstrings for me. [Creator] Dan Fogelman is too good and the cast is too good. I couldn't,” she says. “I was just like, "I need something [else]... I can't cry every day. I can't!"

Hartley, 47, spent all six seasons on This Is Us playing Kevin Pearson, one of three siblings in a family touched by tragedy. The series was famous for its gut-wrenching plot twists — including the death of patriarch Jack Pearson (Milo Ventimiglia) in a house fire and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease in matriarch Rebecca (Mandy Moore).

Now, a year and a half after wrapping the beloved NBC series, Hartley is enjoying a new role as Colter Shaw on Tracker, where he plays a “rewardist” who traverses the country looking for people to help (and, as the job title begs, rewards to collect).

Pernas’ appearance on the show will see her character Billie go head-to-head with Shaw, but in reality, Pernas says working with her husband again (the two also co-starred on NBC's Quantum Leap) is like “riding a bike.”

“We get asked all the time, like, 'You guys don't take a break from each other?' I'm like, 'I love him.' Thankfully that's reciprocated because how often do you get that?" she says. "I'm just really thankful that we both feel that way about each other and that we're able to take that to work and not need extended breaks from each other because we're so absorbed.”

The pair originally met while they were costars on The Young and the Restless after Pernas joined the soap opera in 2015 — though, she admits she doesn’t remember their first meeting.

“When Justin's in work mode, and I think anyone who's ever worked with him would say this, he is like a Terminator. He has one goal, he has one focus. Also, he's a man, so he doesn't multitask very well,” she quips of being on set with her now-husband. “I mean, we were strictly, strictly co-stars. I might have had one, two conversations with him in the middle of some scenes because he wasn't really a big scene partner of mine.”

Though, when the two eventually did begin to date before they wed in 2021, Pernas was surprised by how much they had in common.

“I always say it's so cliche for everyone who's with someone to obviously be obligated to say, 'This is my best friend.' But he truly, truly is," she says. "We get along in so many ways, we're so, so compatible, and even when we were dating early on, it was just, I was like, 'Oh, you like that? Oh, that's weird. I feel like I'm dating myself!"

Chucky Season 3 Part 2 Trailer

Premiering Wednesday, April 10 at 10/9c on USA Network and Syfy, the back half of the season will feature a guest turn from auteur John Waters as Good Guy dolls’ reclusive creator Wendell Wilkins, who gets caught up in the titular killer doll’s antics in an upcoming episode.

Also glimpsed in the trailer: Brad Dourif (the voice of Chucky) appears in the flesh, and it seems that Tiffany has escaped prison and reconnects with the dying Chucky doll.

‘The Boondock Saints’ Are Back; Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flanery Return As Boston Vigilantes As Thunder Road & Dragonfly Films Take Reins

In the current configuration, Troy Duffy will step aside as director after creating and helming the original and the 2009 sequel The Boondock Saints: All Saints Day. Both films starred The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flanery as the MacManus brothers, with Billy Connolly playing their father.

Reedus and Flanery will reprise their roles, and the search is on for a new director. Duffy plans to write a series of books about the Saints, continuing their story that way.

There might be a renaissance going on for these action franchises, with Amazon expecting big streaming returns beginning today on a Doug Liman & Joel Silver reinvention of Road House with Jake Gyllenhaal.

Producing are Thunder Road Films’ Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee; and Dragonfly’s Todd Myers and Peter D. Graves, along with Shaun Redick and Yvette Yates Redick for Impossible Dream Entertainment. Troy Duffy & Don Carmody also produce. Reedus, Flanery, Charlie Morrison, and JoAnne Colonna will be exec producers. Nat McCormick of The Exchange is also an exec producer.

Thunder Road produced the John Wick films and prequel series The Continental, and just opened Dev Patel’s action film Monkey Man to rapturous reaction at SXSW. Next up is Wick universe spinoff The Ballerina, directed by Len Wiseman and starring Ana de Armas and Keanu Reeves.

There was an attempt several years ago to pre-sell at AFM a Saints sequel, one that had Duffy as director, but this is the way they’ve decided to go. The original film had a backstory as rich as the film; Duffy was a bartender with a hot script and Harvey Weinstein famously offered to buy the bar, J Sloans, as part of the deal. It never actually happened. The project became a free agent, but attempts to set it up were hobbled by the Columbine High School shooting.

“When we were given the opportunity to help bring the MacManus brothers back to the screen, we jumped at the chance. The unique possibility of building on the iconic mythology and characters for all the long-time fans of the series, as well as opening it up to a whole new generation, is one that we couldn’t be more excited about,” said Iwanyk.

“From the moment I saw the first film, it has been my dream to be able to add to the amazing story of the Boondock Saints. I’ve been in discussions with Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus for over ten years to bring this dream to a reality,” said Dragonfly’s Myers.

Said Reedus: “I’m thrilled to be working alongside Basil Iwanyk’s Thunder Road Films and Todd Myers’ Dragonfly Films to bring more of the story of the Boondock Saints to audiences. I can’t wait for everyone to see what we have long been working toward. We are pressing on without our longtime friend and Captain, Troy Duffy on this one. He has decided to write a Boondock Saints book series and I can’t wait to read it.”

Said Flanery: “Basil and Todd are the perfect partners to bust the brothers out of prison. With Basil and Todd at the helm, this will be the best Saints yet. So now it’s time for the brothers to break out the pea coats, re-load, and get back to work.”

Y&R’s Christel Khalil Reveals Her New Son’s Name!

The actress quietly announced her pregnancy back in June 2023 by showing off her baby bump in a video she posted to Instagram. Then, in October, Khalil and fiancée Sam Restagno celebrated her baby shower, revealing that they were expecting a boy. And in February 2024, she reported that her maternity leave was over and she was back on set at Y&R.

While Khalil is still keeping her new baby boy off social media, she did reveal in a March 19 post that her son’s name is Remy when she shared a video showing off the beautiful nursery they decorated for him. “Nursery reveal!” she wrote .”So in love with the peaceful vibes for our baby Remy thanks to Babyletto!”

In the video, set to “So This Is Love” from Cinderella, Khalil opens the door to the nursery and steps inside, panning around to show off the softly-lit cream-colored room, including the Yuzu crib and Yuzu dresser that she loves so much. A flag emblazoned with the letter “R” hangs above the crib and wooden block letters spell out Remy’s name on the bookshelf opposite.

After adjusting the curtains, Khalil picks up the camera again and sits down in the nursery recliner, a glowing smile on her face. Clearly, mother and son are doing just wonderfully and are very happy. And perhaps one day, she’ll share Remy with the world.

Talk Show Appearance

George Cheeks, the president and CEO of CBS and chief content officer for news and sports at Paramount+ on new Soap Venture

It’s super real. And just to give you a little bit of the backstory, when we hired Sheila Ducksworth to run the NAACP venture, she and I had multiple meetings talking about what different genres she was going to lean into, and we talked a lot about daytime. One of the things that the data made very clear to both of us is that daytime soap operas over index with Black women, and yet when you look at soap operas, it’s usually sort of a white-led family with supporting characters that reflect more of our society. So we just thought, wouldn’t it be interesting to flip that and make the core anchor family a Black family, and then make the other characters reflect more the broader scope of society?

She found this great writer, Michele Val Jean, who’s been in the soap opera space for 30 years. She came up with a pitch, and we loved it. We brought Procter & Gamble into it as well, because if there were going to be [product] integrations, we could do it more holistically and organically. All of that is to say, we did a lot of work on the front end to put this together. So while yes, it’s development, it’s accelerated development.

When do you think you’d move forward with a formal greenlight then, and how long until it’s on the air?

The actual timeline and when we’re going to do it is still uncertain, because we want to get this right. I mean, there hasn’t been a new soap opera launch since I can’t even begin to tell you when. But we have great success with Bold and the Beautiful and Young and the Restless, and so we think we’re the right folks to be launching a new soap. I wish I could tell you more about exact timing, but we’re so focused on getting it right, and that will dictate when we’re ready to launch it.

It’s been being developed as an hour, but I can’t say for sure. I don’t know yet.

Is CBS Daytime Poised For Shakeup? Soap ‘The Gates’ In Works Raises Questions For Future Of ‘The Talk’

Dubbed The Gates, the serial is from Michele Val Jean, who has written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime dramas and won multiple Daytime Emmys for her work on The Bold & The Beautiful and General Hospital. She will serve as writer and showrunner and will also executive producer alongside CBS Studios NAACP Venture President Sheila Ducksworth, along with Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.

What CBS didn’t say, however, is how long each episode of the soap would be — though it’s looking to be an hour a day — and where (or when) it would go on the schedule should it earn a series pickup. Dropping The Young and the Restless is out of the question since the Bell/Sony drama ranks No. 1 in daytime and just earned a four-season pickup.

Same goes for The Bold and the Beautiful, the Bell serial that is the No. 2 ranked soap in daytime and has been renewed through fall of 2025.

Killing Let’s Make a Deal or The Price is Right doesn’t make sense, since both game shows have solid ratings, sound budgets, and frequently contribute much-needed specials for CBS primetime.

That leaves The Talk, which remains the lowest-rated show on the CBS daytime lineup. Produced by CBS Studios and now in its 14th season, The Talk recently underwent change by hiring Rob Crabbe, the former executive producer of The Late Late Show with James Corden, to replace longtime EP Kristin Matthews.

Crabbe has already made some much-needed improvements, like extending the first act of the show and injecting more intimate interview segments. But this is only Crabbe’s first season and he needs more time to make his mark. For now, The Talk is still down double digits in persons and women 18-49, though it remains the third most-watched talker in daytime behind The View and Live! With Kelly and Mark.

Most recently, CBS let go of The Talk‘s current executive, Laurie Seidman, as well one of the show’s PR reps as part of the company’s widespread layoffs.

The network has yet to announce a 15th season pickup for The Talk and for now, has no further information about the new soap’s timeline — much less where it would go should it earn that pickup.

The decision by CBS Studios to develop a new soap is the result of a partnership with the NAACP and P&G Studios. If picked up to series, The Gates, which Ducksworth has wanted to do since the NAACP formed the partnership with CBS, would mark the first time since 1989 that a daytime drama revolved around a Black family; the last time was the short-lived Generations on NBC.

There are only four soaps still in existence. Besides CBS’ winning lineup, ABC has General Hospital and Peacock has Days of Our Lives.t

Jeff Bezos Gives $50M Each To Eva Longoria And Admiral Bill McRaven

This year’s recipients of $50 million each are actor and entrepreneur Eva Longoria, and Bill McRaven, a retired Navy admiral and former chancellor of the University of Texas System.

The Bezos Courage and Civility Award is given to people who try to find solutions to complicated problems, attempt to be uniters, and embrace civility.

The first recipients of the prize were Van Jones, a lawyer and CNN commentator, and chef José Andrés, who each received $100 million in 2021. Entertainer and philanthropist Dolly Parton was the 2022 recipient. There was no 2023 award.

In a statement, McRaven said he wants to use the gift to focus on three areas: educating the children of deceased veterans, particularly in the special operations community; the mental health and brain performance of veterans; and helping to develop future military leaders through education.

Longoria, who starred in ABC’s drama Desperate Housewives as trophy wife Gabrielle Solis, has focused on education and entrepreneurship in Latino communities. The Eva Longoria Foundation aims to connect Latinos and Latinas in lower-income areas with peer mentors, and Longoria has a start-up fund for Latino-owned small businesses.

“Of course, I am honored and thrilled personally, but I am even more excited about the impact I think we can have on this country through/by investing in the strength of the Latino community,” Longoria told CNN. “Latinos in the US are a rapidly growing group with extraordinary potential, but we disproportionately lack the infrastructure opportunity we need and I’m excited to invest in that opportunity.”

‘The Young And The Restless’ Star Melody Thomas Scott On Her 45th Anniversary & Why Soaps Continue To Survive – Guest Column

Melody Thomas Scott first joined the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless in 1979. To mark her 45th anniversary, Scott writes about her time on TV’s most-watched soap and why she thinks the genre remains important to viewers.

Having recently celebrated my 45th year playing Nikki Newman on The Young and the Restless, I’m often asked how both Y&R and the daytime drama genre have changed since I first joined the show.

When I started playing Nikki in 1979, there were 13 daytime dramas on the air. Y&R was No. 3 in the ratings and would claim the top spot in December of 1988. There was a certain excitement for someone watching their soap live long before VCRS, DVRs, streaming and the ability to go online to read a recap of the episode. Fan mail was delivered by the truckload to the studio with cards and notes filled with commentary. Many of the actors required the help of an assistant to keep up with the volume of incoming mail; now viewers have the ability to post about the show’s storylines in real time using hashtags and handles to get an actor’s attention.

Viewing habits have changed since then thanks to the invention of cable television, DVRs, and streaming. The audience has an abundance of choices so the fact that Y&R continues to maintain and cultivate a loyal and dedicated fan base is something that is never taken for granted as it’s the sole reason for the show’s longevity. Anytime the genre has tried to adopt characteristics of other forms of programming (such as extreme pacing), it has learned a painful lesson not to veer too far from the recipe of success for the daytime drama: compelling storytelling with captivating characters who viewers want to invite into their homes five days a week.

An unforeseen curveball was thrown at daytime television in 1995 when a famous trial dominated the airwaves. During that time, viewers were deprived of their favorite soaps for months as this real-life courtroom drama played out in front of our eyes. Unfortunately, all of the soaps lost a significant amount of their audiences when viewing habits were broken. However, the experience reminded the genre of the importance of being at the top of their game in both production and promotion.

Today, four daytime dramas remain, with three of them standing on the shoulders of Bill Bell’s influence and the genius of his wife, Lee Phillip Bell who co-created both Y&R and B&B. I’m proud that Nikki is among the handful of characters created by William J. Bell who are still on the Y&R landscape today. There is no other medium that would have given me the opportunity and good fortune to have the same scene partner, the extraordinary Eric Braeden, for four decades!

Luckily, all of the daytime dramas are fortunate to have actors who have captivated audiences for decades such as Days’ Deidre Hall, James Reynolds and Suzanne Rogers, General Hospital’s Genie Francis and Maurice Bernard and Bold & the Beautiful’s Katherine Kelly Lang and John McCook.

The relationship that a viewer forms with the characters of a daytime drama is unparalleled to any other medium. This bond between the audience and the show lends to Y&R being able to entertain and educate its audience while exploring relevant social issues such as substance abuse and mental health. The trust and stability a viewer shares with a daytime drama is the reason they will not only survive but thrive for years to come.

“THE 51ST ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMY AWARDS” TO BE BROADCAST FRIDAY, JUNE 7 ON CBS

The ceremony is set to take place at the historic Westin Bonaventure Los Angeles. The Lifetime Achievement honoree, nominations, host and additional information will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We eagerly anticipate our return in June as we once again partner with CBS to recognize the exceptional and talented individuals who make daytime television great,” said Adam Sharp, president and CEO of NATAS. He added, “We’re thrilled to kick off our second half-century of the Daytime Emmys.”

The Daytime Emmy Awards have recognized outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts since 1974, honoring work in a variety of categories, including daytime dramas, talk shows, instructional programming, hosting, culinary and legal/courtroom programs. In 2021, NATAS and the Television Academy jointly announced plans to realign the Daytime and Primetime Emmy Awards to be organized by content genre, as opposed to program airtime.

Sofia Pernas Guest Stars on Tracker 3/24/24

“Lexington” – Colter reluctantly teams up with his nemesis, fellow reward seeker Billie Matalon (Sofia Pernas), to track down a missing racehorse, on the CBS Original series TRACKER, Sunday, March 24 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs).

‘Abbott Elementary’: Lana Condor, Keegan-Michael Key, Cree Summer & More To Appear In Already Star-Studded Season 3

After a surprise cameo from 2024 Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper during Sunday’s special episode of Abbott Elementary, ABC is keeping up the momentum.

Lana Condor, Keegan-Michael Key, Cree Summer, Tatyana Ali and Karan Soni will all be guest stars/recurring guest stars in various upcoming Season 3 episodes.

No details yet on how each of these actors will come into contact with the teachers at Abbott.

Audiences won’t have to wait much longer for them to start rolling through, though. Summer is set to appear in her first episode on Wednesday. Here’s the logline for that one:

Janine spearheads a pilot program that brings a librarian to Abbott; however, when friction arises with one of the teachers, it strains Janine’s relationships with both parties. Meanwhile, both Melissa and Jacob deal with some big changes at home.

Season 3 kicked off in February on a high note with guest appearances from Philadelphia Eagles players Jalen Hurts, Brandon Graham, and Jason Kelce.

The series has also previously had guest appearances from Taraji P. Henson, Ayo Edebiri, Vince Staples and Leslie Odom Jr.

Abbott Elementary takes place in a predominantly Black Philadelphia public school. Quinta Brunson, who created the series, plays Janine Teagues, an optimistic second-grade teacher who makes it her mission to help enrich her students’ lives while also managing her own personal life.

Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis and Sheryl Lee Ralph also star.

Morning Show Appearance

CBS Studios NAACP Venture To Develop New Daytime Drama For CBS Called ‘The Gates’

Dubbed The Gates, the new daytime drama is from Michele Val Jean, who has written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime dramas and won multiple Daytime Emmys for her work on The Bold & The Beautiful and General Hospital. She will serve as writer and showrunner and will also executive producer alongside CBS Studios NAACP Venture President Sheila Ducksworth, along with Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.

“The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective,” said Ducksworth. “This series will salute an audience that has been traditionally underserved, with the potential to be a groundbreaking moment for broadcast television. With multi-dimensional characters, juicy storylines and Black culture front and center, The Gates will have impactful representation, one of the key touchstones of the venture.”

“I’m excited to develop this project with CBS and P&G, two of the longest and most passionate champions of broadcast and daytime television, and the NAACP, whose enduring commitment to Black voices and artists is both powerful and inspiring,” continued Ducksworth. “I also want to thank CBS’ George Cheeks, NAACP’s Derrick Johnson and P&G’s Marc Pritchard for their personal involvement and support to take our next step forward with The Gates.”

It’s been years since one of the broadcast networks launched a new daytime sudser. There are only three still existence between CBS and ABC — B&B and The Young and the Restless on CBS, and General Hospital on ABC.

CBS continues to rank No. 1 in daytime with its dramas but all three of the soaps are down in the key demos versus last year. Days of Our Lives is now streaming on Peacock — having moved from NBC to the the platform in 2022.

The CBS Studios’ production venture and development deal with the NAACP was established to help elevate a diverse range of voices as well as increase the visibility of Black artists on broadcast and streaming platforms in an ever-evolving media landscape.

Juliette Lewis, Sasha Calle, Kathryn Newton & Erin Moriarty Join Woody Harrelson & Owen Wilson In ’84 Olympics Thriller ‘Lips Like Sugar’

It’s a nice cast on this one as Juliette Lewis (Yellowjackets), Sasha Calle (The Flash), Kathryn Newton (Big Little Lies) and Erin Moriarty (The Boys) have joined the movie which is set against the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Harrelson and Wilson will play detectives John Carr and Phil Harris, a pair of homicide cops working to solve a possible serial killer case while police and city officials demand that all murders in LA be labeled Missing Persons until the Olympic torch is doused and the international media has left town. The detectives’ paths cross with Tracy Anderson and Andi Campos (Newton and Calle), a pair of teenage girls that have formed a fast and intense friendship, with Montana transplant Tracy recently arrived in town with her mother (Lewis) and enamored of all things Hollywood. When Tracy disappears, Carr, Harris and Andi race a ticking clock to find her.

The project returns Harrelson to the homicide beat after his acclaimed turn in True Detective.

Music video director Brantley Gutierrez (Paul McCartney: Who Cares) is helming. Script comes from Anthony Tambakis (Warrior). Oscar nominee Will Butler of Arcade Fire fame is set to compose the score.

Producers are Thomas Fanning, Kevin Chinoy, Francesca Silvestri, Jeremy Plager, Kyle Schember, Zac Reeder and Teashop Productions, with LA Studio Group financing the project. XYZ Films and Interstellar Sales Agency are co-repping sales.

Wilson is repped by UTA and by Bob Wallerstein at Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof + Fishman. Harrelson is repped by 7 Deuce Entertainment and Steve Burkow at Ziffren, Brittenham. Newton is repped by WME, Entertainment 360 and Hansen Jacobson. Calle is repped by CAA and Anonymous Content. Lewis is repped by UTA and Untitled Entertainment. Moriarty is repped by CAA..

Danny Trejo To Excavate Lost Civilizations For History Channel

The UnXplored with Danny Trejo (working title) is an 8-part series seeks to unearth “what the human eye cannot easily detect, as objects, structures and creatures concealed under earth, ice and water are suddenly, and sometimes accidentally, revealed,” History says. “From ancient animals uncovered as permafrost melts to excavations that make international headlines, each episode explains the significance of these discoveries and offers surprising information.”

Mckenna Grace To Star In & EP New Psychological Thriller ‘Straight Lies’ From Mandalay Pictures

The film is set in 1990 surrounding the hysteria of the war on drugs. Written by Ren Trella and inspired by true events from her life as a teenager, the script was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Academy Nicholl Fellowship in screenwriting.

In Straight Lies, a teen girl falsely accused of drug use is held against her will and must escape a cult-like drug rehab that is backed by the US Government, while her covert CIA agent father becomes so lost in political influence that he is unaware of the danger his daughter is in.

“I am so honored to bring this compelling story to the screen. After speaking with our amazing writer Ren and hearing her true story of what she endured and based the script, I knew this was going to be a heartbreaking, but necessary project to make,” Grace said in a statement to Deadline.

“I am so honored to be directing this haunting and compelling story inspired by true events and I’m thrilled Mckenna Grace will be leading us through this shocking and emotional nightmare of one girl’s fight to survive STRAIGHT,” said director Kalymnios.

Mandalay Pictures and Valor Media Group are producing. David Zelon will produce for Mandalay. Mandalay’s latest movie Air starred Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Zelon recently produced Big George Foreman for Sony Pictures. Grace executive produces. Financing is provided by Unity Entertainment and Princess Gates Entertainment.

With breakout performances in Marc Webb’s feature Gifted opposite Chris Evans, and Amazon’s Troop Zero alongside Viola Davis, Grace has amassed a variety of credits including the Hulu series The Handmaid’s Tale, in which she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

She will next be seen on March 22 as one of the leads in Sony’s Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire alongside Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon and Finn Wolfhard, and directed by Jason Reitman. Additional film credits include I, Tonya, Malignant, Captain Marvel, Anabelle Comes Home, Amityville: The Awakening and Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House.

Kalymnios is an established director working both in the UK and the USA with recent credits including The Recruit starring Noah Centineo for Netflix and Three Families for the BBC and the BAFTA-nominated Becoming Human. She has directed episodes of Titans, Impulse, S.W.A.T., Timeless, The White Princess and The 100.

TELEVISION’S #1 SERIES, “TRACKER,” RENEWED FOR SECOND SEASON ON CBS

CBS announced the first-year series TRACKER, starring Justin Hartley, has been renewed for the 2024-2025 season.

TRACKER is the #1 show on television according to Nielsen’s Most Current Data. The series premiere, which debuted on Feb. 11 following the Super Bowl, has now been seen by 30 million multiplatform viewers and is Paramount+’s #1 show in February. Since its post-Super Bowl debut, TRACKER is averaging nearly 16 million multiplatform viewers and is the most-watched new series since YOUNG SHELDON in 2017/18 (16.49m viewers) and the most-watched new drama since 2014/15’s EMPIRE (17.33m viewers). TRACKER has improved its regular Sunday, 9:00 PM time period by +83% year over year.

“TRACKER kicked off our premiere week with a ratings bang and has kept the momentum going,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “We knew we had something special when we saw the very first cut of the series and the overwhelming audience response confirms it. We couldn’t be more grateful to Justin, the talented cast, the incredible writing and producing teams and our partners at 20th Television for such compelling episodes. And, of course, we’re also so thankful to the millions of viewers tuning in each week.”

The series stars Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw, a lone-wolf survivalist who roams the country as a reward seeker, using his expert tracking skills to help private citizens and law enforcement solve all manner of mysteries while contending with his own fractured family. The series is based on the bestselling novel The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver.

Justin Hartley, Ken Olin, Elwood Reid and Ben Winters serve as executive producers.

TRACKER airs on the CBS Television Network and is available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after it airs).

Eva Longoria, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Jack Kesy & Marshawn Lynch Join Amazon MGM’s ‘The Pickup’

Details as to their roles are under wraps, as is the plot of the film. Others set for roles, as previously announced, are Pete Davidson, Keke Palmer and Andrew Dice Clay.

Tim Story (The Blackening) is directing from a script by Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows. Producers include John Davis and John Fox for Davis Entertainment; Murphy and Charisse Hewitt-Webster for Eddie Murphy Productions; and Story for The Story Company. Executive producers are Davis Entertainment’s Jeremy Stein, The Story Company’s Vicky Mara Story, Burrows, Ross Fanger, and Mider.

Recently making her feature directorial debut with the dramedy Flamin’ Hot, which brought Searchlight its biggest ever streaming premiere as the first title ever to debut simultaneously on Hulu and Disney+, Longoria’s most recently appeared on screen in the TIFF drama Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, as well as the Oscar-nominated anthology Tell It Like a Woman. Up next, she’ll be seen starring on the Apple TV+ series Land of Women, based on Sandra Barneda’s bestseller, as well as the fourth season of Hulu’s hit comedy Only Murders in the Building.

Best known for his role as Silvan Elf Arondir on Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which is expected to return for its second season this year, Cordova prior to that was seen in notable roles on HBO’s The Undoing, Epix’s Berlin Station, Showtime’s Ray Donovan and CBS’s The Good Wife. His feature credits include Finestkind, Mary Queen of Scots and Sony’s remake of Miss Bala.

Soon to be seen playing the title role in Hellboy: The Crooked Man, Kesy’s most recent prior credits on the film side include Lionsgate’s Dark Web: Cicada 3301, opposite Alan Ritchson, and Paramount+’s Sheroes. Additional credits include David Fincher’s The Killer, Prime Video’s Tom Clancy pic Without Remorse, Deadpool 2, TNT’s Claws and FX’s The Strain, to name a few.

A former NFL running back who played for 12 seasons, winning a Super Bowl and much more, Lynch is coming off an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, for a role in MGM/Orion teen comedy Bottoms. Past screen credits include 80 for Brady, Murderville, Westworld, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and The League.

Longoria is represented by WME, Linden Entertainment, and Yorn, Levine, Barnes; Cordova by Anonymous Content, UTA, and Peikoff Mahan Law Office; Kesy by Paradigm and Range Media Partners; and Lynch by WME and Ziffren Brittenham.

CBS RENEWS TELEVISION’S #1 DAYTIME DRAMA, “THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS,” FOR FOUR MORE SEASONS

“The YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS has been a staple of daytime television for over 50 years, and it is with great pleasure that we will continue that legacy at CBS,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “The talented cast and writers deliver compelling performances and stories on a daily basis and have provided iconic moments that have kept the show on top of the ratings and thrilled generations of fans for over five decades. We look forward to seeing what new creative twists and turns they have planned for the folks of Genoa City.”

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS has been transporting viewers into the lives of the residents of the fictitious Midwestern town of Genoa City for over five decades and follows the romances and rivalries between the Newman, Winters and Abbott families. In March 2023, the show celebrated its 50th anniversary on the air, having premiered March 26, 1973.

Y&R is averaging 3.50 million viewers this season and has been the #1 daytime drama on TV for the last 36 consecutive years. The series is also the #1 daytime program among African American viewers. Full episode streaming of the series is available on Paramount+ and CBS TVE (CBS.com / CBS app).

Y&R is celebrating many notable anniversaries, including Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman) being on the show for 45 years and Eric Braeden (Victor Newman) being on for 44. In April, the show will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Nikki and Victor’s wedding, which aired in April 1984 and was one of the highest-rated episodes in the history of the show. Other notable cast anniversaries in 2024 include: Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott) at 35 years and Joshua Morrow (Nicholas Newman), Sharon Case (Sharon Newman) and Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers) all at 30 years.

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS is broadcast on weekdays (12:30-1:30 PM, ET/11:30 AM-12:30 PM, PT) on the CBS Television Network and is produced by Bell Dramatic Serial Company in association with Sony Pictures Television. Josh Griffith is the executive producer and head writer. d

Morning Show Appearance

Actors Vanessa Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Mekhi Phifer and Michael Beach ("Soul Food")

Talk Show Appearance

Eva Longoria Joins ‘Only Murders In The Building’s Season 4 Cast

Details regarding the new season’s plot and character descriptions remain under wraps. However, we do know the new episodes will focus on unraveling the murder of Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch), Charles-Haden Savage’s (Steve Martin) mind-bogglingly identical stunt double from his years on the series Brazzos and its 2020 revival.

Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich revealed in a recent Deadline interview that the Only Murders In the Building trio: Charles, Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez), will kick off the new season with a trip to Los Angeles before returning to The Arconia in their search of Sazz’s killer.

Longoria’s character becomes integral to the twists and turns of this season’s investigation, sources close to production reveal. She joins Molly Shannon, the first new cast member announced for Season 4, we confirmed, in the role of a high-powered LA businesswoman who finds herself drawn into the world of the investigation in NY.

Meryl Streep recently set her Season 4 return reprising the role of Loretta Durkin. In the Season 3 finale—following her highly praised performance in Oliver’s Broadway hit Death Rattle Dazzle— Loretta received two offers in productions that would require her to relocate to Los Angeles. Her new beau Oliver is into this idea as it would allow him to visit the City of Angels. Mabel’s new love interest Tobert (Jesse Williams) is also headed west, and surprisingly, she’s also keen on taking a little break from New York.

The Emmy-nominated comedy, produced by 20th Television, is co-created and co-written by Steve Martin and John Hoffman who also executive produce alongside Short, Gomez, Dan Fogelman and Jess Rosenthal.

Longoria recently kicked off promotions for her new Apple TV+ series Land of Women in which she executive produces and stars opposite Carmen Maura. The six-episode dramedy series is inspired by Sandra Barneda’s best-selling novel of the same name and will be presented in both Spanish and English.

In addition to her work directing, acting and producing through her production company UnbeliEVAble Entertainment, Longoria partnered last fall with Cris Abrego to form the new media holding company and premium content studio, Hyphenate Media Group. Land of Women is the company’s first project.

Up next, she is set to star in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Longoria will also produce and star in the TV adaptation of Isabel Allende’s bestselling novel The House of the Spirits for FilmNation Entertainment. The series is a family saga following the extraordinary lives of three generations of women in the Trueba Family, Longoria will portray Blanca Trueba, one of the passionate and courageous women leaders.

Other upcoming projects include the Disney+ original series, from 20th Television, Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, currently in development. The series is inspired by the legend of La Llorona (the weeping woman) and follows teenage Paola on a quest to save her best friend from a different world steeped in Latin folklore that defies logic and legend; and the HBO film A Class Apart, which tells the incredible true story of a group of Mexican Americans fighting for their civil rights during a landmark case that leads to the Supreme Court.

Longoria is represented by WME, Linden Entertainment and Yorn, Levine, Barnes, et al.e

'Young and The Restless' Star Joshua Morrow Lists L.A. Home For $5.2M

The actor has put his extraordinary 6-bedroom, 6.5-bathroom Westlake Village estate on the market for a whopping $5,250,000 ... and you can imagine, at that price, the new owner will be getting a whole lotta perks.

First, it's all location, location, location ... the 5,900-square-foot private property sits on a sprawling 1.21 acre at the end of a cul-de-sac ... nestled within the guard-gated North Ranch Country Club Estates.

The two-story floor plan boasts a super lavish kitchen with a new center island that opens seamlessly to the family room -- and that's not all, it also comes with a media and a separate bonus room for all your entertainment needs.

JM's acclaimed interior designer wife, Tobe, who owns Morrow & Co. designed the whole inside ... so, it's no surprise every inch of this home is adorned with the finest finishes.

It's not just the breathtaking inside; the grounds are something else ... there's a detached pool-house, custom pool and spa, fire pit, and massive manicured lawns. That's luxury Southern California living right there!!

Josh, who's played Nicholas Newman on "The Young and the Restless" since 1994, and his wife Tobe lived there together with their 4 kids.

Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Award Winners

But Best Make-Up for Daytime eventually was presented to Swanthula Boulet and Dracmorda Boulet for The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula.

Best Hair Styling
The Young and the Restless
Lauren Mendoza, Justin Jackson, Michelle Corona, Diana Santana

Y&R's Trevor St. John Interview - "A Good Enough Day"

"A Good Enough Day" which dropped this week, is now available to stream on both Amazon, Apple+ and Tubi. St. John stars, directs, and is co-writer of the film, which also stars daytime notables: Sherri Saum (ex-OLTL, Sunset Beach, The Fosters) and Josh Wingate (ex-GH).

In story, St. John plays photographer Tyler Hamilton, a workaholic who finds out that he’s terminally ill. To prepare himself for death, he decides to heal old wounds and reach out to those he’s neglected.

Make sure to tune-in to this very candid and insightful chat on the making of this incredibly moving portrayal and film.

POST-SUPER BOWL “TRACKER” PREMIERE AMASSED 18.4 MILLION VIEWERS, EXPECTED TO SURPASS 25 MILLION VIEWERS BY END OF THE WEEK

TRACKER (11:14 PM, ET/8:14 PM, PT) posted the largest debut (18.4m) for any new series since the 2021 post-Super Bowl premiere of CBS’ THE EQUALIZER (10:39 PM, ET). Note: TRACKER’s start time of 11:14 PM, ET is the latest start time for a post-Super Bowl program ever.

The new drama was up +16% from last year’s post-Super Bowl program, “Next Level Chef” (15.85m on FOX, 2/12/23).

General Hospital Casts All My Children Vet as Blaze’s Mother

All My Children vet Eva LaRue — who played neurologist Dr. Maria Santos Grey on the now-defunct ABC soap off and on over the course of 18 years — is joining General Hospital as Blaze’s (Jacqueline Grace Lopez) mother.

LaRue’s character, Natalia Rogers-Ramirez, will make her first appearance on Feb. 26

Natalia arrives at a critical time in her singer-daughter’s life: Blaze is in the early stages of a romance with Kristina (played by Daytime Emmy winner Kate Mansi). It’s been previously established that one of the reasons Blaze has kept her sexual orientation under wraps is because she fears her coming out could have negative career implications. She also hinted that there could be blowback from her family.

LaRue, whose TV credits also include a series regular role on CSI: Miami as well as a stint on The Young and The Restless, will reunite with several of her former AMC co-stars on GH, most notably Cameron Mathison and Michael E. Knight.

In 1997, LaRue received a Daytime Emmy nomination for supporting actress for her work as Maria on AMC.

LaRue’s casting comes as GH is navigating a major change behind the scenes. Last month it was announced that head writers Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor had stepped down, replaced by current GH script editor Elizabeth Korte and celebrated soap vet Patrick Mulcahey (GH, Santa Barbara, Guiding Light). The new material from Team Korte/Mulcahey will begin airing in mid-to-late March.

Morning Show Appearance

Talk Show Appearance

Jordi Vilasuso’s Baby Girl Is Home From the Hospital!

“Lucy is home!” Kaitlin shared on Instagram. “Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of love and every single prayer lifted up for our sweet baby. We are so happy to have her home and healthy (Lord, please help us keep her healthy) and for us to be back together under one roof. I missed that so much.”

Vilasuso has earned many fans from his various daytime roles (Rey on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS, Dario on DAYS OF OUR LIVES, Griffin on ALL MY CHILDREN, and Tony on GUIDING LIGHT) and they were all kept up to date on Lucy’s progress via social media posts. The parents posted positive updates like when Lucy was able to bottle feed again and as they weaned the infant off the oxygen so she could finally breathe on her own.

“Children’s Hospital L.A., we are forever grateful for how well you took care of our girl,” Kaitlin added. “More on that when I’m a little less PTSDish, but forever grateful for the intelligence and compassion of each person who cared for her — especially her ICU nurses who are angels taking care of baby angels day in and day out. I have so much more to say about that, but for now, holding each and every child and family within those walls (and each and every person taking care of them) in our hearts.

“Thank you again, friends,” she concluded. “For loving on us like you do and loving this baby girl! Praying things are boring around here for a while and I am just posting happy baby/family updates.”

‘General Hospital’: Steve Burton Reveals Return Date

Steve Burton has revealed when he’s returning to General Hospital to reprise his role as Jason Morgan. It’s March 4.

“I got to talk to the head writers, this story is going to be sick. It’s gonna be awesome,” he says in the video posted to Daily Drama. “So, make sure you keep watching, because the pieces of the puzzle are gonna be fit for when I return.”

Burton’s return to the show that made him a household name was revealed at the end of GH‘s 60th Anniversary special.

Burton left the ABC sudser in 2021 after failing to adhere to its Covid vaccine policy. He ended up joining the second installment of Beyond Salem, Peacock’s Days of Our Lives spinoff, before hopping over to DOOL earlier this year. He played Harris Michaels, a role he originated on Days in 1988.

Burton depicted Jason Morgan on and off on General Hospital from 1991 to 2012, then from 2017 to 2021. His departure from the soap came three weeks after it drop-kicked Ingo Rademacher (Jasper Jacks), who had been a vocal critic of Covid 19 mandates. He subsequently sued ABC for religious discrimination.

Last July, Burton talked to Deadline about leaving the ABC soap. His character departed at an awkward time: he married his longtime pal Carly (Laura Wright).

“Look, the circumstance [of his GH departure] was tough and you know, that’s just the way it is,” he told Deadline. “I’ll always be grateful for my time there. It was my family for so long. I grew up there and the fans have always been awesome to me.”

Cuba Gooding Jr., Vivica A. Fox, Vernon Davis & Quinton “Rampage” Jackson Join Thriller ‘Break The Cycle’

Others in the cast include Loretta Devine (Waiting to Exhale) and Kym Whitley (Next Friday). Production kicks off in Memphis in March.

Directed by Josh Webber (Never Heard), Break the Cycle delves into the lives of two brothers whose childhood is marred by a horribly tragic incident. Raised by their loving but stern grandmother, the brothers take radically different paths as they come of age in the gritty streets of Memphis.

Jay, a gifted basketball player with dreams of making it to the NBA, is a beacon of hope for his grandmother and a potential ticket out of their harsh reality. However, the allure of his charismatic yet troubled brother, Eddie, who’s deeply entrenched in the world of street crime, casts a shadow over Jay’s future.

“This film is a heart-pounding journey through the world of streetball that explores themes of family, ambition, and the moral complexities of urban life. It tells the story of navigating a treacherous path, an unfortunate reality for far too many young boys in our urban communities,” said Stokes. “I’m so excited to have written my first film and honored to be working with such a tremendously talented group of actors to bring this project to life.”

Said producers Goodrich and Armstrong: “What excites us about the script is its terrifying plausibility. It’s essentially a true story. We’re thrilled to be working with Jarnell, Josh and the entire team to bring Break the Cycle to the big screen for what will no doubt be a gripping thriller.”

Added Fox: “I’m so proud to have the opportunity to work on such a meaningful film with an incredibly passionate group of people. I’m excited for ‘Break the Cycle’ and the impact I truly believe it will have. If it can motivate change or even a conversation in just one person’s life, we’ll have achieved something important.”

In addition to Stokes, producers on Break the Cycle are Rob Goodrich and Jason Armstrong of Walk Like A Duck Entertainment. Henry Penzi is exec producing.

Gooding is repped by manager and attorney Peter Toumbekis; Fox by Sheila Legette Entertainment; Davis by UTA, manager Henry Penzi and Fox Rothschild; Jackson by Golden Foo Entertainment, Penzi Management and attorney Robert Galarza; Devine by Innovative Artists and Essential Talent Management; Whitley by Innovative Artists, 111 Media and Untitled Entertainment; and Webber by Penzi Management.n

Daytime Emmys Eliminate Outstanding Younger Performer Category, Split Up Daytime Host Race

That means no more awkward competitions between kids and young adults. This year was particularly odd, since McCoy, 20, was competing against two boys — Henry Joseph Samiri, 10, of The Bold and the Beautiful and Cary Christopher, 7, of Days of Our Lives.

Other changes announced by NATAS include merging Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Non-Fiction Series and Outstanding Writing for Daytime Non-Fiction Special into Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Non-Fiction Program. The Daytime Program Host category has also been split into two categories – Daytime Personality Daily, and Daytime Personality Non-Daily.

“Programming is always changing, and NATAS continues to adapt its competition rules to reflect these shifts in the television landscape,” said Adam Sharp, President of NATAS. “We’re looking forward to gathering again at the 51st Daytime Emmys to celebrate all the nominees and the entertaining and enlightening programs they create.”

Hosts, Co-Hosts, and Correspondents from Entertainment News and Legal/Courtroom Programs (e.g. the judges and bailiffs) are now eligible within the Daytime Personality – Daily or Daytime Personality – Non-Daily category depending on airing/streaming schedule. They also remain eligible in their respective Program categories but cannot win two Emmy statuettes for the same function, e.g. if a Program wins Outstanding Program and the Hosts win Outstanding Daytime Personality, the statuette defaults to the Host entry. Hosts from the same Program will be included in a single entry with all Hosts, Co-Hosts, Anchors and Correspondents on the same submission and the reel must contain footage that highlights all entrants.

For Daytime Hosts, the Talk Series Host and Culinary Host categories remain unchanged.

In terms of those who petition for off-list credits, Late Credit additions are still permitted, as per the parameters above, but ONLY for on-list credits. Off-list credits must be submitted at the time of entry to allow for Awards Administration to seek a full petition if warranted. Off-list credits cannot be submitted late.

For categories identified as Music Categories (these are Music Direction and Composition and Original Song in the Daytime Emmys), nominees will be required to provide complete publishing information and sign an additional NATAS-issued licensing agreement allowing NATAS to use the music featured in the Ceremony Clip(s). The information will be distributed to nominees only. Failure to provide adequate information AND proper contact information for a legally authorized signer will result in a different clip being selected or replacement of the music with rights-cleared music at NATAS’ discretion.

NATAS will be offering weekly webinars every Tuesday at 3 PM ET/12:00 PM PT during the entry process to explain the process and answer questions. After the submission window is completed, the administration team will send out further information regarding Zooms dedicated entirely to judging.

Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Tuesday, March 5, 2024

February 1, 2024 – Open for submissions/Judging Sign Ups
February 22, 2024 – Entry Deadline
March 7, 2024 – Late Entry Deadline
March 21-April 11, 2024 – Judging for all Entries
Week of April 15, 2024 – Nominations Announced
Five business days after nominations announcement: Gratis credit card changes deadline and program deadline

Entry fees for program categories are $425 with a late fee of $500. Performer, host and craft category fees are $350 with a late fee of $400. Additional details for the 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be announced in the coming weeks/months.eo

Talk Show Appearance

NAME THAT TUNE - TUESDAY FEBRUARY 13 ON FOX

Tony Award winner Jane Krakowski hosts, and Grammy Award-winning producer Randy Jackson serves as band leader. Actor/Producer/TV Host Vivica A. Fox, playing for Best Buddies International vs. Actor/Humanitarian/Documentarian Ravi Patel, playing for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in a highly competitive game of Blank That Blank, tensions run high but who’s firing blanks and who’s filling in the blanks as they try to win big money for charity? It’s the Bid-A-Note showdown that proves got the music knowledge to win big in the Golden Medley. In the second battle, Grammy Award winning Singer/Songwriter/Author/Podcast Host Michelle Williams, playing for Compassion International vs. Actor/Producer Rachael Leigh Cook, playing forOxfam. This Blank That Blank match is a close competition, but it’s Bid-A-Note that decides their ‘destiny’ leaving only one with a shot at the big bucks in the Golden Medley. Each one-hour episode of Name That Tune is comprised of two stand-alone half-hour contests, each pitting two players against each other, as they race against the clock to test their knowledge of songs, performed by the live band. The contests feature a rotating variety of games from the original format, before the iconic Bid-a-Note round. Pulling no musical punches, a true battle unfolds and the player with the most money at the end of Bid-a-Note wins the game and takes his or her bank into the final Golden Medley round, for a chance to win additional cash and potentially the $100,000 grand prize for their charity in the all-new “It’s Destiny!'' episode of Name That Tune airing Tuesday, February 13 (8:00 - 9:00 ET/PT) on FOX. (NTU-321) (TV-PG D, L)

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

Facts

Submit Comments

Current Cast

This Week On The Young & The Restless

Options

Other Shows

Non-Soap Polls

Other Sites

Sponsors

Showdown Poll Question

News, Cast Updates and Scoop

2025 Daytime Emmy Nominations

STAR-STUDDED LINEUP SET TO PRESENT AT THE “77TH EMMY AWARDS,” SEPT. 14 ON CBS

Talk Show Appearance

CBS ANNOUNCES FALL SEASON PREMIERE DATES FOR #1 DAYTIME LINEUP

‘Die, My Love’ Trailer: Jennifer Lawrence & Robert Pattinson Shine In Lynne Ramsay’s “Brutal But Beautiful” Drama

Supernatural alum Matt Cohen joins The Young and the Restless as detective investigating a major case

‘Young and the Restless’ Taps ‘DAYS’ Alum Lucas Adams to Play Noah Newman

‘The Girl Who Survived’ First Look: ‘B&B’ Star Ashley Jones Is Mom of Teen in Peril

‘The Young & The Restless’ Recruits Former ‘General Hospital’ Star Roger Howarth For Mystery Role

Love-struck fan duped by AI videos of popular soap star in shocking $81K scam

Soapy Episode 8 | Christian LeBlanc and Tracey Bregman Join Hosts Rebecca Budig & Greg Rikaart

‘The Young And The Restless’ Casts Tamara Braun

Tristan Rogers to Make Final TV Appearance on ‘Y&R’ Following His Death

‘Celebrity Weakest Link’: See Star-Studded Lineup, Trailer & More

‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test’ Season 4 Trailer: Jussie Smollett & Teresa Giudice Among Recruits Enduring Extreme Urban Warfare Training

‘Family Matters’ Alum Reveals He “Got Pretty Far Along” With Animated Reboot Featuring Original Cast: “I’m Still Trying To Pursue It”

Tristan Rogers Remembered by GH’s Finola Hughes: ‘Wish I Could Play One More Scene With You, My Friend’

Tristan Rogers, aka Robert Scorpio on General Hospital, Dead at 79

Tristan Rogers Dies: ‘General Hospital’ Star Was 79

Tristan Rogers Dies: ‘General Hospital’ Star Was 79

Lorna Raver, “Drag Me to Hell” and “Young and the Restless” actress, dies at 81

Soapy Episode 6 | Heather Tom and Lawrence Saint-Victor

Bryton James reflects on Beyond the Gates tribute to his late Young and the Restless dad, Kristoff St. John

Young and the Restless star Bryton James reveals what made historic Beyond the Gates crossover feel like a 'homecoming'

Eva Longoria Joins Maia Reficco In Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘The Last Sunrise’

‘Young and the Restless’ Shake-Up! Details on the Behind-the-Scenes Change

'Special Forces: World's Toughest Test' Season 4 cast: Jussie Smollett, Shawn Johnson

‘Regretting You’ Trailer: Allison Williams & Mckenna Grace Star As Mother And Daughter In Paramount’s Colleen Hoover Adaptation

Interview with Peter Bergman | Questions for Cancer Research

Billy Flynn Explains Move From 'Days of Our Lives' to 'The Young & the Restless'

‘Young & the Restless’ Star Michelle Stafford Shocks Steve Harvey with NSFW ‘Family Feud’ Answer

What’s Next for Soap Couples on ‘GH,’ ‘DAYS,’ ‘B&B,’ ‘Y&R’ and ‘Beyond the Gates’ in August

Soapy Episode 4 | Lauralee Bell Joins Hosts Rebecca Budig & Greg Rikaart

Eric Roberts Among Cast Of Indie Comedy ‘Run Amok’ From Truman Hanks & William Bonnell

Conner Floyd Talks Chance’s ‘Y&R’ Ending and Becoming ‘DAYS’ New Chad DiMera

Entertainment Tonight: Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart Reveal Sexy Soap Opera Secrets

Chrishell Stause and G Flip Say 'I Do' Again in Fairytale Castle Wedding

Finding Mr. Christmas Adds Guest Judges

Ice Cube & Eva Longoria’s ‘War Of The Worlds’ Reimagining Gets Prime Video Release Date; Watch The Trailer

The Young and the Restless' Lauralee Bell Reveals What She Really Thinks About Her Character's Bug Nickname

Joshua Coates’ Faith-Based Feature ‘Divine Direction’ Sets Cast

Inside Tristan Rogers’ Surprise ‘General Hospital’ Return After Cancer Diagnosis

‘General Hospital’ Star Tristan Rogers Reveals Cancer Diagnosis

Jermaine Rivers Confirms He’s Out At Young And Restless As Damian: ‘It’s Been an Honor’

Celebrity Family Feud: General Hospital vs The Young and the Restless (7/31)

Eva Longoria To Direct & Produce ‘Anita De Monte Laughs’ Feature For Searchlight Pictures

‘Duster’ Canceled — What Would Have Happened in Season 2

Nominees For The 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Revealed In Three Major Categories

‘Y&R’ Star Michael Damian Teases Danny’s Surprise Proposal to Cricket: ‘This Time, It’ll Be Even Better’

‘Charles in Charge’ alum Josie Davis admits she struggles to find dates in Hollywood: ‘It’s so hard’

Daytime Emmy Nominations Announcement Date

J. Eddie Peck Out At Young And Restless As Cole Succumbs To Legionnaires’ Disease

Hollywood Walk of Fame invites 35 famous names to become part of the historic sidewalk of stars

Y&R Vet to Days

Eva Longoria’s ‘Necaxa’ Docuseries From ‘Welcome To Wrexham’ Team Gets Premiere Date At FXX

Justin Hartley’s ChangeUp Productions Inks New Deal With 20th Television

Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart

‘Days Of Our Lives’ Casts Conner Floyd As The New Chad DiMera

Christel Khalil Urges ‘Y&R’ Fans to Give the New Lily & Cane a Chance

Jack Betts Dies: ‘Spider-Man’ Actor Was 96

Lynn Hamilton Dies: ‘The Waltons’ & ‘Sanford And Son’ Actress Was 95

‘Y&R’ Reveals Its New Cane Ashby! Billy Flynn Talks the Surprise Recasting

Billy Flynn Confirms He’s Playing Aristotle Dumas on ‘The Young and the Restless’

Fallen Giant Films Prepping Doc On Late Soap Star Kristoff St. John

‘Celebrity Family Feud’ Announces Star-Studded Season 11 Lineup & Premiere Date

Eva LaRue Stalking Documentary Gets Paramount+ Greenlight

Set Decorators Society Of America TV Awards Nominations

‘Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence’: Cult Classic Reborn With David Koechner, Eric Roberts, Dan Bakkedahl, John Astin & More

The Bold and the Beautiful's Don Diamont Lets Loose on Taking Down Victor Newman and That Tiny Red Speedo

Shanna Moakler Reveals New Update About Greg Vaughan Relationship

Wilson Bethel, Keith Carradine & Jackson Kelly Cast In Apple’s ‘Imperfect Women’