Connect with us

News

Burgess Jenkins Opens Up About The Reason Behind His Decision To Exit The Young and the Restless!

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

As fans of The Young and the Restless know, late last year Burgess Jenkins departed his role of Billy Abbott, and wss eventually replaced by Jason Thompson.

Back in November of 2015, soap fans were informed in a statement by Jenkins that he chose to leave  the CBS Daytime drama citing one of the main reasons for his decision:  “It”s been a terrific time, but after a lot of thought I have made the difficult decision to leave The Young and the Restless.  Commuting back and forth from the East Coast where my home and family are based has been challenging.”

Now in the Winston-Salem Journal, Jenkins revealed more details about why he chose to exit the primo role.  It had to  do with wife, Ashlee Jenkins who was battling breast cancer:  “I departed the show because my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer back in November, and continuing to travel back-and-forth from the East Coast to the West Coast every week would have made it impossible for me to take care of her.

Jenkins addressed why the couple chose not to make any public announcements until they got a better idea of her prognosis. “At this point, however, we know that she is going to be OK … just in for a long and grueling battle with chemotherapy and radiation. Which stinks, but it’s a real blessing just knowing when we wake up in the morning that she’s not fighting for her life…. It’s great to see her back to normal.”

Burgess also addressed how touched he has been by the fans support from his work on Y&R: “The fans have been tremendous, a great outpouring of folks either asking me to stay or wishing me well, which is appreciated. It’s nice to know that you’ve told a good story and left an indelible mark.”

According to the Winston-Salem Journal, the actor is currently back w0rking with Actors Group, an acting school he started in Winston-Salem that helps prepare students for film and television work. “It’s a studio I’ve had going for nine years and something that I love dearly, so it is good to be back in the saddle with my other instructors and students. Frankly, nothing is more thrilling than watching the students grow and succeed and book work.”

Share your thoughts on Burgess opening up about why he left Y&R in the comment section below!

Click to comment

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Burgess…glad to see your priorities were in the right place. And good news to hear about the improvement in your wife’s health problem.

Good for him, putting his family above all else. Hope she becomes a cancer survivor.

I completely understand Burgess and Ashlee’s decision to not go public at first about her breast cancer diagnosis until they had a much better idea of what they were dealing with. That’s a very private issue and should be dealt with accordingly and only shared with others when the affected parties are ready to share the details of what’s really going on.

I wish Ashlee a speedy recovery and it is refreshing to see a husband give up a very good paying job to spend more time with his ailing wife and family.

Good luck and best wishes Burgess and Ashlee!

I’m happy for the Jenkins family. I wasnt a big fan of his Billy Abbott BUT warmed up to him and thought he was finding his way. I’ve often said, if Jack Wagner DOES NOT want to return to GH, I think Burgess could play that character.

What a good man to put his wife’s care above his career. All the best wishes for them and their family.

You were a great Billy…..wishing you the best !

I applaud him for putting family first before work, but he was very miscast as Billy Abbott from the get-go.

Best wishes to him and his wife in the days ahead.

Unfortunately at some point everyone faces health issues, either their own or someone they love..even people we watch on TV to sometimes escape our own problems.

Wishing the best for rhem.

Happy to hear that your wife is doing much better now. I loved watching you on The Young and The Restless ❤️.I was so sorry that you left but we now know why. You are a wonderful husband to have made the decision that you did. Family comes 1st. My best to you and your wife. Ashlee is a lucky woman to have you support her through this. Hope to see you back on tv one day soon. Best Wishes❤️ Good Luck to Ashlee

This demonstrates what a well ground person he is. I applaud his decision and wish the very best for Burgess, Ashlee, and their entire family.

THIS IS A REAL MAN WHO PUTS HIS WIFES HEALTH AND FAMILY BEFORE HIS JOB…..MISS YOU….. WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GOOD HEALTH AND MUCH SUCCESS….

As a husband and father you done good!!! I do miss you playing Billy but you are where you should be. Praying for the best for your wife and family. I’m also a 16 year breast cancer survivor.

May God heal her body! I’ll pray her strength in The Lord!

I am happy that his wife is doing so well. What a good man, to put his wife first.

I would love to see him back in the role of Billy Abbott now.

Love watching Y & R, your role as Billy & love all the actors in the show. We are so far behind in episodes her in Australia, I have watched Y & R for many years now. Wishing your wife all the best for a positive and speedy recovery, she is very lucky to have such a wonderful and caring husband, family always comes first. God bless you all.

Wishing all the best with love, hugs, healing, prayers and blessings.

Oh my gosh, way to go BJ, being the leading man in your own life. What a wonderful man. My prayers go out to his wife going through this battle. I found a lump recently and it is terrifying just dealing with your own thoughts and imagination. , so I’ll be praying for peace for her through this battle. Praise the Lord they are a team. Support is such a wonderful gift in marriage. He seems like a real gentleman from what I’ve heard out of him in interviews.

Wishing the best to you and your family! Happy to see your priorities are in the right place. Happy to hear the good news about the improvement in your wife’s health. God bless!

Another wishing the best to you and your family.

You have better things to think about, but I had fallen into your Billy.

I gotta say…as time went on, Burgess’s, uh, take and all on Billy Abbott ended up boring me. But, the fact that Burgess is so HANDS ON in taking care of his wife as she’s battling breast cancer…to me, that is an example of A REAL MAN!!!!! BRAVO TO YOU, BURGESS!!!!!

Breaking News

Kim Kardashian, Emma Roberts and Marlene King Land ‘Calabasas’, a Soap in the Vein of the ‘O.C’ and ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, at Netflix

There has been lot of soapy projects coming to life and in the works of late, and now comes word that Kim Kardashian is executive producing a new series in development for Netflix called Calabasas.

After a bidding war last week, it looks like Netflix cemented the development deal from Kim, and her producing partners American Horror Story co-star Emma Roberts (pictured below) and Pretty Little Liars creators Marlene King and Alexandra Milchan.

The concept of Calabasas is based on the book If You Lived Here You’d Be Famous By Now by Via Bleidner.  King set to write the adaptation and will serve as the series showrunner.

Photo: JPI

According to Deadline, Calabasas is said to be in the vein of primetime young teen and young adult soaps the O.C. and Beverly Hills 90210. The story follows “Via, a 16-year-old sheltered Midwestern Catholic school girl whose world is turned upside down when her family moves and she’s forced to transfer to the fast world of Calabasas High where nothing is as it appears and where everyone is trying to be someone else. It’s a place where dreams come true … but not without complications and sometimes unforeseen consequences.”

Photo: Hulu

As fans of the Kardashians know, Kim and her family made the town of Calabasas a household and worldwide name. Kim being attached to this project helped make its sale. This marks her fourth project to sell since the writers and actors strikes concluded at the end of last summer.

So, would you be interested to see a teen soap called ‘Calabasas’ on Netflix from Kim and company? Comment below.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital

If General Hospital’s Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) nuptials are on, you didn’t think Grandma Gloria Cerullo would miss out on the festivities, now did you?

Casting news from Soap Opera Digest reveals that Ellen Travolta is back taping scenes that will air the week of May 13th on the ABC daytime drama series.  When viewers learned that Carmine Cerullo, was also on his way back to Port Charles, now in the face and body of actor George Russo, it only made sense that Grandma Gloria would join Grandpa Cerullo. Look for them both mid-May.

As most people know, Ellen is the older sister to John Travolta. She first make appearances as Gloria back on GH in the mid-90s. Most recently, she returned to the Quartermaine mansion to meet up with daughter, Lois (Rena Sofer) and granddaughter Brook Lynn for Thanksgiving in Port Charles in 2023.  Michael Fairman TV interviewed Rena Sofer and Amanda Setton late last year where they shared what it had been liking working with Ellen, who remains very close to Sofer in real-life.

Photo: JPI

Amanda shared: “We fell in love immediately. What’s crazy is my maternal grandmother was Grandma Gloria. I had her till I was 30 and we were so close. She was really like a second mom to me. So, when I got this script and I’m reading “Grandma Gloria”, it was so bizarre. And then in meeting Ellen, she looks like my grandma – same haircut, same high cheekbones. It really did feel like I had a few days with my grandma. It was very, very special for me. Ellen is sweet, prepared, professional, talented and funny to boot. So, it was one of the best weeks I’ve had at work. I hope she comes back. My fingers are crossed.”

Photo: ABC

Now, we can’t imagine Brook Lynn and Chase’s wedding day to be smooth sailing, in fact, expect just the opposite, but could it be Grandma Gloria who is ultimately the hero or the calming voice of reason for any pre-wedding jitters? Stay tuned.

So, glad to know that Ellen Travolta will be back for Brook Lynn and Chase’s big day? Comment below.

Continue Reading

Days Of Our Lives

Kristian Alfonso Returns to Days of our Lives for Tribute to The Late Bill Hayes

After a few weeks of Days of our Lives fans being upset that Kristian Alfonso (Hope Williams) was not on the first list of initial returns for Doug Williams’ funeral and episodes honoring his portrayer, the late Bill Hayes, comes word that the popular star is back and taping scenes.

Kristian reported to work on the Peacock streaming soap opera on Monday, April 22nd. She shared how important it is for her to be back for this particular return to the show that made her a household name.

“My return is very bittersweet,” Alfonso told TV Insider,  “because it is the end of an era with Bill gone. So to return to Days is very sad. I am appreciative that they came to me to include me in their series of shows honoring Doug and I’m very happy to see everyone, but I’m entering the studio with a heavy heart.”

Photo: JPI

It was back in 1983 that Kristian first debuted as Doug’s daughter, and now 41 years later looking back at it, and her time with Bill Hayes is very emotional for her.

“I remember my first scenes with him/ He was very loving, very welcoming. That he was very talented and an incredible actor and an icon, that all goes without saying, but my personal relationship and my working relationship with Bill, it was home,” expressed Alfonso. “Doing the scenes with Bill, I felt like I was with my dad because there was so much warmth and reality.”

Photo: JPI

Alfonso did express some deep regret, in that she had wanted to work with Bill Hayes during her last appearance on the soap back in 2023, but according to the iconic actress, there was something in the works but it never materialized.  “I’m sad that I did not get the opportunity to do the storyline that Ron (Carlivati, head writer) had planned/ It was great; we returned to Salem to reunite with our families and I would have had father/daughter scenes with Billy. What Ron had written was beautiful and emotional and it was a fantastic story. I was 100 percent for it and the fans would have loved it.”

Photo: JPI

As for if Bo (Peter Reckell) and Hope will be back on-screen together anytime soon, Kristian would only say, “What I will say is don’t give up hope.” Doug’s passing and memorial episodes will stream later this year come late November into December.

So, are you happy to learn that Kristian Alfonso is back taping episodes surrounding Doug’s memorial episodes? Comment below.

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Eileen Davidson as Ashley

The Young and the Restless

Airdate: 4-12-2024

Popular