Connect with us

News

Y&R's Christian LeBlanc sad over Maura West's dismissal!

© JPI Studios

Three-time Daytime Emmy winner, Christian LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin) of The Young and the Restless spoke with CBS Soaps In Depth at this week’s Dancing with the Stars finale revealing he was very sad at the dismissal of two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Maura West as Diane on the number one soap.

According to SID, “LeBlanc confessed that he was just as sad as the rest of the daytime world. “Maura told me,” shares LeBlanc of his co-star, who was given her pink-slip last Friday, May 20.”

LeBlanc went on to say, “I stalked Maura most of these last few months trying to sneak into scenes with her. I wanted to work with her. I know I will work with her again because that’s how it works in this business. I will miss her. Maura’s a wonderful, wonderful actress. I cannot tell you how amazed I am at her skill. She knocks my socks off. I know the best will happen for her.  I’m trying to be nice to her so she’ll put me in her movies!”

Click to comment

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

nice to hear maura west get support from other y&r actors.

however, no one has the guts to speak out against hack maria arena bell, who is responsible for mw’s firing and for not writing for her in the first place. no one has the guts to talk about the character assassination taking place all over genoa city.

One thing is certain, there is no job security at all in the Soap world. I had never seen Maura act before but was truly enjoying her as Diane. Guess you are at the mercy of Maria Arena Bell on that show. No more Diana, let’s try Genie. Well good luck Genie when all the actors from AMC and OLTL become available.

I watched maura on atwt and she is a good actress and this is sad as she brought out the mean and dirty in diana.

I knew I like Christian LeBlanc for a reason. Class act, man! It is refreshing to see that support. Maura West is gifted. (Yes, I am a fan!) And it is sad that she was let go. I do worry about the characters on the Y&R landscape and their evolution without regard to history, not to mention said characters clogging through repetitive plots.

I am stunned by this news about Maura West leaving Y&R. She is a wonderful actress who is so distinctive in her role as Diane.The writers gave her impossible material making her the most conniving bitch of all time. But, she took that role and knocked it out of the park.. And you were made to hate her. I don’t think she will have any trouble finding work day or night time. She would be perfect for Desperate Housewives, better than Lucci. Christian Le Blanc is a true gentleman to root for her. And he should know, being a multi Emmy winner. I’m not going to hope Y&R is going to reconsider. Stupid!!!!!!!

I beleived the Maura West played the role Very well,In fact i enjoyed watching her. Too bad they couldn’t see it that way…Good Luct

She should have been brought on as a totally new character. Thirty year difference between her and Eric Braeden, they have a problem over there. Eden Riegel is all wrong for the part of Heather the character of Malcom all wrong the recast talk to the casting Dept!!!!

I totally agree with you!! Eden Riegel and Malcolm’s characters are all wrong.

I absolutely love Maura West! She was my favorite character as Carly on ATWT. I think that she should have been cast as a totally new character. However, she couldn’t have played it any better. She is just a phenominal actress. Best of luck to her; although, she won’t need it.

Oh I certainly agree with you Emily. What a shocker & a shame to see what they did to Maura West. CBS are such Idiots!! I just love Maura West also. Nothing like her AMAZING Talent .. and I so miss ATWT and our CarJack. What a Magnanimous team with Maura West and Michael Park.

I agree with you, they should have cast her as a new character & I think, should have teamed her in a romance with Nick. They can’t replace Carly & Jack, but the Sparks certainly would have flew. I really thought at time’s that they were going in that direction.

They would have heated up the Y&R to a sizzle .. sadly they missed the boat on that one. The writer’s were just so indecisive that they blew a great twist and Love story … and sadly the amazing talents of Maura West!

CBS does it again .. right in the toilet.

Glad she’s leaving, not pretty at all.

well you must be blind then…

I can see perfectly and just because you think she’s attractive doesn’t mean that I have too, different strokes for different folks. Being blond doesn’t automatically make you attractive.

I’m a heterosexual woman, married with kids. I agree with Samalcis .. YOU MUST BE BLIND. MAURA WEST IS GORGEOUS.

not a bad actress but she didnt fit well with cast members.

I am not upset at all. I dreaded all her scenes. I understand how fellow actors may feel, but as a viewer, I thought she was an awful. I mean I am a long time viewer of Y&R, and she just was all wrong for that character. She had NO chemistry with anyone on that show! Her scenes with Nick made me want to gagm so I am so relieved that I will not be tortured anymore. She is better off. I also agree that Eden R. is terrible as this Heather. Some of these soap people should stick with their original roots! Adios Diane!

Really?? Wow, I’ve watched her on ATWT since the day she lit up the screen 16 -17 years ago .. meeting Jack ..her G-Man. There’s never been a more Magnetic & Sensual couple then Maura West & Michael Park ..Never So Many SPARKS.. and I’ve watched every soap out there. I’ve NEVER seen a better actress on a Soap, and sadly I know the IDIOTS at CBS & Y&R have made yet another huge mistake by letting her go. Maura a Two Time Emmy Winner & 2010 Most Outstanding Actress.
Where have you had your head burried??
With the garbage that the writers wrote for her, she still managed to flip that soap on it’s ear, and was the most exciting actress on that BORING Soap. I used to watch the Y&R .. boring .. the only reason I went back to it was to watch Maura West. …and I know by the Petitions that thousands of her fans followed, so Y&R just lost those thousands of fans, along with myself, as the Y&R gears back down to boredom after the wake of Diane. It’s the writer’s .. Terrible!! Alot of Talent on the Y&R .. the writer’s are the one’s who should be fired. Yawn!
I must give a HUGE Kudos to Christian LeBlanc. What a class act you are! Very Talented yourself .. and you certainly know talent when you see it. Maura is the Queen of talent. The only thing that I WAS praying for was the love angle between Diane & Nick .. I really thought at times that they were going to turn it into another (Carly & Jack ..aka CarJack) That show would have sizzled .. You can’t replace CarJack .. but they certainly could have had the hottest romance that the Y&R has EVER seen. It’s just shocking and sad .. Now the Y&R is turning back into the old boring soap. Christian Leblanc certainly saw how Maura West can be absolutely Electric. The Writers just had her all over the place .. crazy. When you’ve got a talent like that, you are Morons to ever let that slip away!
Maura will always hit the ground running .. her talent Unfathomed & Uncontested. Two Time Emmy Winner!!! Only CBS & Y&R execs can be stupid enough to let that kind of talent get away. CarJack forever!!!

Nice words from CLB. I thought he and Maura West shared strong chemistry in their few, brief scenes. Maura West is a great actress and I am sure she will land on her feet. She was horribly miscast as Diane and I agree that she should have been cast as a new character, ideally, a savvy businesswoman that shared an attraction with Michael and tried to intervene in Michael and Lauren’s marriage. That way, Michael and Lauren would get story that elevated the characters from the backburner. I am amazed by the writers’ inability to write decent story for last year’s Lead Actress at the Daytime Emmys. MW’s kind of talent should inspire writers.

Why is it that Maura West who is a real beauty, and a wonderful actress has not become a major motion picture star? She is every bit as good an actress as any of the top actresses of the big screen . And she is certainly more beautiful than any of them as well. First of all regarding Y&R, a new character should have been created for her, one that would have allowed her extraordinary talents to shine through. She is a great actress and one day she will land where she is suppose to be. One day, I believe that her short stay on Y&R was meant to be,simply because bigger and better things are instore for her great talent.

I love Maury West. I think that they should create a new role for her as Diane’s lost twin sister. Put her and Jack together, that would be great. If not, heads up any way Maury. You are a great actress and remind me of Mae West. I look forward to seeing you in other roles and I’ll follow you wherever you go.
Your loyal fan—-Marilyn

I agree Maura is my all time favorite regardless who she plays as,none better,I wish The Y&R would get rid of that nasty woman that plays as Phillis,now that woman is totally gross and the scenes of her and Nick really make me ill.

I would love to see Maura West at least do a Good Wife episode, Mad Men episode, or one of those new primetime dramas. I think she can do procedurals, which I don’t watch but she’s much craftier than a lot of the actresses on them right now. I can also see her doing a Sci-fi show. Those eyes of hers needs to used properly. She has the face for making Sci-fi even cooler.

I love Maura West. She is a great actress. Loved her on ATWT also. The reason most of you hate her is because of her character…hello??? That’s why she is a great actress because you see her as that character because of her talent.

Maura West is one of the most gifted actresses out there in daytime or primetime, and I think its a joke that she’s let go, and Julie Pace Mitchell (Sofia) is retained, she cant even cry convincingly!!…Everyone on the set of ATWT used to say school was in session when Maura and Ben Hendrikson (Hal) had a scene together…shame on the writers of YnR for dropping the ball on this one, but she’ll land on her feet!!

Shame on you at Y&R Miss West was very good for your show. She will be miss. She put new life back in the story line.

young and the restless have gone to hell. get a new writer please. all the women characters r being degrated. wont tune in anymore

Thank you, Christian LeBlanc, for having the insight and class to speak out on behalf of Maura West. Aside from being a hugely talented actress, she is stunningly beautiful and had great chemistry with every actor in the series but I would especially have loved more Diane/Michael scenes. Sad to say, Maura’s release only puts one more nail in the Soap coffin. The incompetence displayed by whomever made this egregious error should not be overlooked nor go unpunished. Shame on you!

My sentiments EXACTLY.
Maura is an amazingly talented actress, beside’s absolutely gorgeous!!
I would have loved to have seen her with Michael, but I really like Michael & Lauren .. they just need to both start showing their darker sides like back in the day. I would have liked to have seen her have a onetime long love with Nick .. we know how Maura can make those scenes sizzle, and the longing looks that go back to her G-Man Jack on ATWT.
Y&R made a huge mistake with that one. Seems like they were testing it .. and they let it go. The writers were and still are all over the place. They don’t seem to know what they are doing next??
It’s just horrible sad because I feel exactly the same as you .. just one more of our beloved Soaps headed for the axe, until there aren’t anymore left.
People need to Boycott CBS execs wife Julie Chen .. she is the one who made sure hubby gave ATWT the axe just to get the 2pm slot for her new show “The Talk” If people don’t start protesting all of these talk shows & reality shows taking over the afternoons .. then soon all the Soaps will be gone. Just Sad

I must give a HUGE Kudos to Christian LeBlanc. What a class act you are Christian! Very Talented yourself .. and you certainly know talent when you see it. Maura is the Queen of talent. Y&R certainly had plenty of opportunity to spice up your character with Diane, or in many ways. You’re an amazing talent, and Y&R is not writing for those talents at all. Not only with you Christian, but with all of the cast at Y&R .. They’ve written the show into the boring doldrums.

Christian Leblanc certainly saw how Maura West can be absolutely Electric. The Writers just had her all over the place .. crazy. When you’ve got a talent like that, you are Morons to ever let that slip away!

Maura will always hit the ground running .. her talent Unscathed & Uncontested. Two Time Emmy Winner!!! Only CBS & Y&R execs can be stupid enough to let that kind of talent get away.

Gosh do I hate Maria Arena Bell. I really do.

What is Maura West doing now? She was such a great actress.
Maura really kept everyone on their toes.

News

‘Tracker’ Star Justin Hartley Reveals Melissa Roxburgh to Debut as His On-Screen Sister

Justin Hartley took to his Instagram this week, and introduced the latest cast member to his hit freshman drama, Tracker on CBS.

The former Y&R star where he played Adam Newman, now plays Colter Shaw on Tracker and in a few weeks time on the May 5th episode, viewers will be introduced to Colter’s sister, Dory.

Actress Melissa Roxburgh takes on the key role. Roxburgh is most-known for his role in Manifest. She has also appeared on Quantum Leap and Supernatural to name just a few of her other TV credits.

Photo: Gregorio Campos

In the episode entitled, “Beyond the Campus Walls”, the CBS series previews, “When a grad student goes missing after a house party, his friends and family believe he buckled under the pressure of his research grant. But, after consulting with his sister Dr. Dory Shaw (Roxburgh)— a professor at the school — Colter discovers a trail of explicit photos and messages that lead him to uncover a dangerous (and deadly) conspiracy on campus.”

Hartley’s post shared, “Colter finally reunites with his little sister Dory in the coming weeks. Join me in welcoming the lovely and talented @MRoxburgh to the @TrackerCBS family!”

Photo: JPI

The story of Colter Shaw’s family is a throughline throughout Tracker. We know from flashbacks, that Colter, Dory and their brother Russell had a not-conventional upbringing. Their parents Ashton and Mary were professors at Berkeley until something happened to Ashton. When his paranoia gets the best of him he leaves his family, but Russell went after him, and then later on Ashton is found dead, where all indications look like Russell pushed him.  Now in 2024, Russell contacted Colter telling him there is something he “needs to know.” However, Colter’s mom, Mary did not want her son engaging with Russell in any conversation and that was back earlier in the season after the second episode.

Intrigued to see Melissa Roxburgh plays Justin Hartley’s sister on ‘Tracker’? Comment below.

Continue Reading

News

B&B’s Sean Kanan, Heather Tom and Lawrence Saint-Victor All Had Creative Hand in Sheila’s ‘Ten Toe’ Reveal

Bringing it from the page to the stage is the actor’s job on any theatre, television or motion picture project. In the case of The Bold and the Beautiful, longtime soap MVP, Sean Kanan, has been delivering some powerful performances as Deacon has become increasingly freaked out and obsessed with the fact, that in the crematorium, he saw that “Sheila’s” (Kimberlin Brown) body had ten toes, not nine.

Deacon now believes Sheila might be alive somewhere (given she only has 9 toes), and especially after seeing the communications between Sugar and Sheila on her laptop.

Then, on Monday’s April 15th episode of the CBS daytime drama series, Deacon says to himself (as he pours himself a drink), “Maybe Finn’s right. Maybe I’m losing it.” He flashes back to the crematorium, saying “Sheila had nine toes, but I saw ten on those feet.” He then utters, “Why Sheila? Why did you go to Steffy’s that night? And who the hell is sugar?”

Photo: JPI

While Kanan has played the only guy in town who thinks something is off here, he was ably assisted by two of his castmates. First, six-time Daytime Emmy-winner, Heather Tom (Katie) directed the episode where it was revealed that the woman’s body in the crematorium had ten toes.

Second, Lawrence Saint-Victor (Carter), wrote that ‘ten toe’ reveal episode, and he took to Kanan’s instagram and expressed, “I had a lot of fun writing this episode. (Sean Kanan) killed it!!!!”

Photo: JPI

Coming up later this week, Tracey E. Bregman (Lauren) is back from Genoa City and The Young and the Restless and gets into a heated conversation about Sheila with Deacon. Stay tuned.

So, what do you think of Sean, Heather and Lawrence all using their creative talents to make the ‘ten toe’ reveal come to life? Comment below.

Continue Reading

Breaking News

CBS Orders Michele Van Jean Soap Opera ‘The Gates’ to Series; Set to Debut January 2025

Great news! Soap fans are getting the first new daytime drama in 25 years with the news today that CBS has moved Michele Van Jean’s The Gates to a series order.

In addition, the show is set to bow in January 0f 2025, which means that it appears that the new soap will replace The Talk, which was just canceled and will end after its upcoming 15th season in December of 2024.  No specific time period, or exact premiere date has been set as of yet.

In the premise of the The Gates it follows lives of a wealthy Black family who live in a luxurious gated community.

Photo: CBS

The Gates has Val Jean as its writer, showrunner and one of its executive producers. Soap fans know Val Jean’s work best for her work on the writing teams of General Hospital and The Bold and the Beautiful.  Taking to X, Michele shared: “It’s go time” citing the news on the show coming to CBS in 2025 via Deadline.

Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner will serve as executive producers on The Gates production team. The soap has been in development through a the joint venture between CBS Studios and the NAACP, which was established to help elevate a diverse range of voices and increase the visibility of Black artists.

The series will be produced by the CBS Studios/NAACP venture in partnership with P&G Studios, which is a division of Procter & Gamble, who used to be very big in the soap opera game.

Are you excited to know that we are truly getting the first new soap opera in over two and a half decades added to a network TV line-up? 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