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Judy Blye Wilson Steps Down As Casting Director Of The Young and the Restless!

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

Noted and beloved casting director, Judy Blye Wilson, who has to be given so much credit for bringing some of the most talented faces to daytime drama has decided to depart The Young and the Restless, where she has been their casting director since 2012.

In an facebook post late Friday, Wilson shared the news with her friends and colleagues stating: “Today is officially my last day at The Young and The Restless.  Yes – I made the decision weeks ago. After thirty years of casting daytime, I feel I need to pause. I am not retiring, just stopping to catch my breath. I have had many wonderful experiences and have made many lifelong friends along the way. I look forward to what the future brings. Love, Judy P.S. Thank you to all for the terrific going away party last night.”

Wilson will be terribly missed by all, as she takes a break from her career in daytime and her some time to herself.  Judy has served as casting director on One Life to Live, Another World, Ryan’s Hope, and her longest tenure at All My Children from 1995-2011.

On-Air On-Soaps wishes Judy all the best, and here’s to what the future brings! 

Share your thoughts and well-wishes to Judy as she ends her run at Y&R in the comment section below!

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Mal Young’s first step as EP is the hire a new casting director!

Good! Perhaps, when Justin leaves, they’ll rehire Michael as Adam.

My fingers are crossed so hard they are bleeding!

I hope so too, he was the best Adam and was their best actor.

I hope not, sorry , he was awful, just awful. If Justin leaves which he probably want, but if he does I wished the bring back the the Adam before Michael, he was good.

sad to see her go. she casted a lot of good people at Y&R. recasting Billy and Adam couldn’t of been easy. Y&R needs to hire a good replacement that will bring in good actors

After 30 years, she deserves a break. Congrats.

Judy was a gift. Known her for 30 years. A real class act. Loved actors and fought for them. She will be missed. M

She has quite the record. Reading this news item, I realized Miss Wilson cast shows I watched and followed closely. If Y&R is changing up, casting is not the issue. I like the actors, but not the writing.

While the woman clearly is experienced, look at the history of her employment.
She was only with Y&R starting in 2012 (roughly a year after Phelps came to the show) and previously worked on at least one soap where Phelps worked (Another World).

I’m wondering if Judy’s leaving is related to Phelps’ exit? The timing is interesting.

I know nothing about the guy replacing Phelps but, for once in the past 5-6 years, I’m not cringing about the choice. This guy is a “blank slate” for me. I’m interested in seeing what he’ll do. Phelps came to the show with a lot of “baggage” about how people viewed her, so did Charles Pratt, so did Jean Passante.

If nothing else, we see something new on the screen in the next few years. I hope the viewers and the network give this guy time to prove himself. In my opinion, there is a LOT of debris on this show that needs to be cleaned up and he won’t be able to do it over night.

Yeah if she is one of Jill’s friends then it’s best she’s gone too.

well

4 soaps are “ailing” debris for each show is suspect

I haven’t been excited, lately

it’s always a rough patch… going on

argh! I love DAYS… I want

bottom barrel I igive

I truly have to think… about each show… and think about coming up with good

and… it’s fruitless

I swear

I adore… this triangle of : GH Kiki/Dillan/Morgan

dang it!

Morgan will forever more… be the Corinthos TUNE IN

I’m telling you the honest truth… I never really thought about Dillan… until he started his job @Crimson

then he met Kiki… all hell break loose

this is steamy

add in Morgs… and he stud muffins

no two ways about it

so… you add… in Ava daughter / Ava son / and… A QuarterMAINe

you have magic stir in and whet

the Corinthos factor in with the best
Kiki… melts me
Dillan is quantifiable HIT

it takes my breath away… and that’s hitting it out of the park

Kristina Parker Aaron roll

i’m caught… Aaron is the best… swimming or shirtless … HOT

Lexie is ALIVE

you know… another huge trio…. Kristina / Parker / Aaron

I’m more caught with… the potential and huge cast… ( not the best.. DAYS gets that NOD )

it’s catch how GH does write… Franco and Liz

SOD issue is in it

Franco and Liz get HEAT

LOL

I love RH

Liz is my heart

this is something

I want this

I was watching Dante… w/ Lulu celebrating their “new” home

I realize I’ve seen Dante in a TUX… and his police garb

but…. he caught me… in that “suit” he’s danged handsome

he could go corporate… and tough it

for new role… Dantes worth it

argh ! I cant even go their… Sonny / Carly – Jason / Sam – Julian/Alexis

IT seems like Julian is written in to a corner… it wonders me… William DeVry has always worked

I liked one of my posts… when I posted…

“Monica and the audience” she – never – misses a beat

she’s timeless…. I don’t notice her work done

she’s beaconing for the rich past

my wish list… I like Sabrina… I truly do… do you look at her figure… shes amazing… gobsmacks me

she’s in love with Carlos and has Michael… that’s big

I love Jeffrey Vincent Parisse…

I want two or more hires

Jax on contract
Skye w/ lila Rae and Lorenzo
Carlos my man main man

DAYS

to this day… I can’t get over the rape story… it catapulted DARKER than fathomed

I will not erase DAYS dvr

I dont’ have much to say… about DAYS cause i’d rather hide my disappointment

Y&R stinks just as well… I hate Victor… the show would catapult OTHER characters if he were gone.. it’d be easy to get in to everyone else… because they kowtow… to character Victor

WHATS THE POINT… blah blah blah… it’s a big piece of ruined pie

DAYS… dag! it captures my heart

I look at all that caught me up… I will not let DAYS go

Salemite be
Leslie Charleson… I thank you… I’d buy you cruises for life

I said… Ava son

triangle… Ava daughter / CARLY son / any quarterMAINe

MEANT Carly son

My main point was

Ryan Quan… who starts features and full time… on the REEL

before and after Olympic

it pains me… as posted… it’s been dire mode

I hang in

Please go to “DOOL” and help the teen scene.

No kidding!

Good first move. Her time at YR has mostly been lackluster and there have been some big duds. Mal Young needs to do more to right the ship!

I celebrate the departure of anyone brought on board by Jill Farren Phelps! Best of luck Judy.

I would love to read… who she all hired on AMC… 1995-2011.

always admit… AMC… was my first real soap

Weren’t those some pretty strong years with the discoveries of Josh Duhamel, Cameron Mathison, Rebecca Budig, Alicia Minshew, Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos & Eden Riegel? If she did the casting during that era, she had some real finds IMO.

This is not Amc this is bells soap

Read Patrick’s comment & the article. Ms. Wilson spent most of her career @ AMC from 1995-2011. She was only @ Y&R for 4 years.

News

Robin Strasser Meets Kristen Alderson’s Baby Kiera in a One Life to Live Reunion

For years, Robin Strasser (ex-Dorian) and Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) have been the best of friends and the best of co-stars. On One Life to Live, Kristen was only six-years-old when she began her journey as Todd and Blair’s daughter and met the iconic Strasser.

Now in 2024, Kristen is a new mom to her baby girl, Kiera. Strasser, who lives in New York, along with her best friend, John, traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just a few days ago to visit the Alderson family and spend the day with Kiera.

Taking to her Instagram a very happy Kristen shared, “Look at who came to visit today! Robin & her bestie John! Robin and I got all misty eyed when she met Kiera today!”

Photo: JPI

In a very touching part of her post, Alderson expressed, “Robin is such a special person in my life, it means so much to me that we’re as close as we are. She’s just the best❤️ A great day of laughs & a great brunch spread😍”

Robin added, “I’ve been smiling since I met her. I’m a big softie for babies, but what a doll Kiera is!” The Daytime Emmy-winning star, also shared, “I’m so grateful for my ongoing friendship with Kris and Kathy. Amazing women and loyal friends!”

What do you think about Kristen and Robin’s enduring friendship and recalling their time on One Life to Live? Comment below.

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General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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