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Judith Chapman Confirms She Is Back On DAYS And As Leo’s Mom

Photo Credit: JPI STudios

Exciting news DAYS fans, those rumblings were true! Judith Chapman will be playing the trouble-making Leo Stark’s (Greg Rikaart) mother on Days of our Lives.  And that reunites Chapman with Rikaart as mother and son.

As soap fans know, they played Gloria and Kevin Fisher on The Young and the Restless for many years together.  Now they will be playing a new mother/son dynamic duo in Salem. But, just what kind of twisted relationship might they have, since Leo has given clues that she was a bad mom?

Soap Opera Digest revealed that Judith will play Diana.   Her first airdate will be on January 29th.  DAYS fans know Judith from her time as Angelica Deveraux from 1989-1991, and most recently when she returned to the show for the 2018 Halloween episode doing a guest-turn as Angelica AKA Satan in Hattie’s (Deidre Hall) nightmare.

Chapman confirmed her arrival on the Salem scene in a tweet today, stating “And I don’t have to keep the secret either Mitch Sandusky! What a GREAT way to start 2019… More articles to come in TV Guide Magazine and Soap Opera Digest… and to be reunited with my TV son.

Diana will have a past with John Black (Drake Hogestyn), which could cause trouble for John and Marlena’s wedded bliss.

So, excited to know Judith will once again tear up the soap-screen, but this time back on DAYS? Comment below.

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Love that Judith is returning to Days, doesn’t matter her role – she is outstanding!!

Same here Nicole, Judith and Kevin already have played mother and son so well on Y&R, they are going to really chew up the scenery together on DAYS!

Connection to John Black? Diana? Is this Diana Colville?

Hmmmm–WOW, Scot!! Yes, could very well be Diana!!

And then Leo is Johns other son

Yes, and maybe she is John’s Other Wife. Sorry, couldn’t resist the reference to a very old Soap, that only old timers like me will know.

Rons a idiot….recasting her….Diana was a big character for 3years. They probaly couldnt afford Genie francis back.

[Mic drop]

Yas!

I’ll begin the discussion by saying that it’s a great idea using Judith as Leo’s mother. The best choice the show could make.On another topic, Why Ron are you writing Zander as a person who can’t fight? There is no way that Eric should have been able to pen Zander against the wall without him defending himself. Don’t allow this show to become one sided. Plus, I agree with everything DA Trask said about the police in Salem; there’s too much favoritism in that town. I would love for her to become the mayor ; not for just a few months, but for a while. I’m tired of them railroading Ben , allowing Gabi and Kate to walk without consequences , and whatever other crimes that exist.

i’m hoping Xander is really trying to toe the line.. keep his cool… remain under control… at all times… ie: Celia N JimH.. that Xander is wanting to prove to Victor that his allegiance will bring down Leo… who by all accounts tongue wagging Leo has a crush on. there are so many interesting plot points that this could all play out. Xander saves Sonny case closed … argh !?!?

I am already smitten and WANT Paul Tolfer’Xander on the show. he’s zany … dastardly… OK every physical attribute ON… etc from day 1 I saw the chemistry with the best of the best Victor Kiriakis… who wants nothing more than HIS FAMILY at the helm .. first family indeed… w/Xander PUHLEASE

also the fan following of the best mother/son duo .. is back on the air… legions of following… three actors who are beguiling so much hoopla and town mayhem could should and will ensue with this twosome… so.. no one truly wants either of them to take the fall. they are beloved enough…acting class stand in line. dang it

three misfits… three fired up presence… savor all of it

Xander / Leo / Diana – the grand dame of highest order Judith Chapman….

I LOVE THEM

The whole Leo hitting on Xander thing is basically yet another ReRon rewrite, in this case it’s just like when he had Brad trying to sleep with Mikey on GH. Mikey was completely hetero and not remotely interested, so eventually Brad gave up and went after Mikey’s uncle Lucas.

Of course Xander isn’t Mikey, so of course he’s going to find a way to play this thing to his advantage. I’m guessing he won’t actually go through with sex with Leo, but he will be able to make Leo think he did. Which probably means drugs of some sort will be involved.

I agree, I am ready for Xander, Leo and Diana in the mansion!

Blake, oh, Blake!!… so happy I’m not the only one who doesn’t like Sarah!!
Not a good match for Eric, at all….she seems desperate, if you ask me. That’s the problem with these shows….as soon as one of the characters has been hurt; feels used; has a cold ( LOL), he/she has the need to ‘do’ someone else…..
Sarah is not sticking to me—-I wish she’d go away.
What will happen when Nicole comes back? Been there; done that–
Eric needs to mourn. Leave the guy alone…..

Exactly, Patrick…..Xander needs to do something drastic to prove himself and be accepted by unkie.
He’s a wily one….so, he needs to play his cards right. Leo is smitten. Xander can use this to his advantage–question is; will he go through the bed “tumbling”?
Knock, knock ….who’s there? Unkie Vic?….or, will Sonny simply walk in? Coitus interruptus? LOL.

I thought Eric pinning Xander against the wall was stupid also. Plus we’re not cheering for Eric lately, he’s wrapped up with the horrible Sarah lately and they are annoying AF.

Blake, am agreeing with all you say, especially Sarah. She’s the same twit she was on B&B. She’s like a pesty gnat, you’d like to swat away. Also, its hard to believe she’s Maggie’s daughter. I think the best one was the gal, Brady found on the beach in L.A. I don’t know the other daughter. She doesn’t seem like much of a doctor either. Probably got her license off of the internet.

Ugh….

Never liked her

And uh…. “Diana will have a past with John Black”??

Is this to imply that this character is supposed to be Diana Colville, the character played by Genie Francis in the late 1980s? Because that would be a completely ridiculous excuse for a recast (ReRon strikes again)

Diana was also pregnant when she left Salem, if a Devil remembers correctly. So that implies that Leo would be John’s kid?? John has two long lost sons, both of them turn out to be gay and both interfere with Will & Sonny’s relationship?? What are the odds of that actually happening??

To be fair (and of course, the Devil is never fair), what are the odds of just about anything that takes place on a soap happening in real life? 🙂

Love your name, SonniSolita! I’ve been watching Guiding Light clips on youtube. What a great character and actress!

LOVE THIS!

Diana’s last name wouldn’t happen to be Colville, would it? As for Leo, he is such a scum that i bet Diana will turn out to be a sweetheart and it was always Leo who treated her badly. I’m just glad Judith will be on our screens again. She is one actress who should always be employed because she is so good.

Judith Chapman really does need to stay on soaps. Y&Rs lost is Days gain.

Always like Judith glad to see her back on Days.It was just awhile ago I saw her on the Young and the Restless boring show.I usually dont watch it but Judith was on that day.She makes a great villain .I can’t wait to see what is going to happen when she comes back.Always been a fan of hers.Welcome home Judith

Awesome news! I love Miss Chapman, have for years. And always a big fan of Mr. Rikaart too. They work so well together. Y&R’s loss and DOOL’s gain. Please DOOL, keep the two vital and in the Salem mix. Don’t let DOOL turn into GH, bloated with too many characters and repetitive tropes.

Uh, you do realize who it was who bloated GH with “too many characters and repetitive tropes.”, right?

Yep, it was ReRon. And he did so, by doing exactly what he’s doing now in Salem… bringing in a bunch of new people from other soaps and making THEM the focus of the show, rather than the actual Days characters.

I do. My hope though is DOOL learned from GH and uses the excitement of new people and familiar actors to propel stories for legacy characters. It can be done. But you are very wise, Satan (!), in your assessment. We could be traveling the same wonky Port Charles highway to nowhere now in Salem. I just hope not.

Ron isn’t bloating Days, in the year and a half he’s been with the show he’s great at keeping all characters on the air and in a story. And like all soaps have done in the past when characters, especially contract players leave is when he brings on other characters. Example is Abby and Chad are leaving the show in a few weeks, and that’s when Diana and Jordan are returning to the show. Plus we know Jordan is just for a short term visit, not sure about Judith Chapman though. I’d love for her to be on contract. Plus a lot of actors are on one year contracts: Greg Rikaart, Kyle Lowder, the actor who plays Ted.

Nice to see Judith working…what a loss for Y&R though. Wish she AND Greg were back. Y&R has lost SOOOOOOO many of the greats. Hard to watch these days.

But not hard to watch these DAYS!

So excited to have Judith back on my soap!! She’ll be divine with Greg.

Ron C has a way of tying the show’s history into new characters he introduces well. He did that on GH (to varying degrees of effectiveness) and he’s already proven his ability to do that on DAYS. So Diana having a past with John, meaning she will likely be revealed as Diana Colville, jives with his writing style.

But the real goldmine here is that Judith and Greg will be playing mother and son again! Gloria and Kevin were a highlight of Y&R, and a dynamic that has been sorely missed since both characters were written out. Leo has already caused so much chaos for the Kiriakis family, and if Judith really is Diana Colville, her past with Victor is sure to continue the chaos for months to come!

But Dianna as played by Genie Francis was a heroine, not a bitchy type that Judith does so well. In the same way that Rex was a stand up guy and not a cad as he’s played now by Kyle Lowder. I don’t think I like that they are returning characters in with actors who had previously been in different roles. It sure gets confusing. I would have liked Angelica to come back from the dead and turn out to be Leo’s mother. Her initiials were on one of those doors AD…but I guess that will be Andre Dimera instead.

AD should be Alexandria DiMera(Lexie Carver)!

That actually would be an interesting twist. But Renee Jones retired from acting. And the last thing we need is yet another ridiculous ReRon recast.. Who would ReRon cast as Lexie? I’m guessing some blonde actress from OLTL??

DAYS must do everything possible to get Renee Jones to return, but if she says no a thousand times, Victoria Rowell. If that can’t happen, leave Lexie linger.

If they still did recast announcements on the show they could say “the role of Diana Colville is being recreated by Judith Chapman”, the way they did with Marj Dusay on Guiding Light when she was recast as Alexandra Spaulding.

Ive wanted to see Diana colville back since she left in 1989….rons ruined it by recasting…he might aswell just bring her in as some random new character. Total fu**ed up ron

Judith Chapman! What a treat!

Great to hear the rumors are true. I think Judith will be wonderful on Days right now, especially as Leo’s mother. Imagine her going at it with Adrienne, Maggie and Marlena. And hopefully flirting with Victor and John. Can’t wait for this!

This is fantabulous!! Mother and son re-unite!! Yeayyyy! Love both these actors….in the hope that their connection as mother and son will be as strong and entertaining as “Gloria” and “Kevin”….this I “gotta” see!
Also, I am soooo enjoying Xander and Leo–hilarious!!

We now need Doug Davidson as David Banning

Was hoping when he opens the door, she will say “hello angel”, Gloria’s name for Kevin. Never thought a character I’ve liked so much, could become one, I can’t stand watching. Guess it shows what a great actor Greg Rikaart is. Hope I spelled that right.

Hi, Violet,
If you remember, we all detested Kevin when he first came to GC…..he was truly a devious meanie–then, he ‘grew’ into a good guy….with an edge. The same may happen with Leo and Xander. I love both these actors, so I hope they stick around.
You spelled the name right…..Greg has become such a household name for Y&R watchers, the spelling comes naturally…..especially for me; I butcher every newcomer’s name ….especially the character-name. I’m still not sure about Jack’s new love ( he’s almost forty years older—-sad, sad state of affairs!!–I don’t get it). Carey? Carol? LOL.

AWESOME NEWS!!!!!!!!!!

Judith Chapman is one of the best actresses out there. Why she has not been cast in more movies and primetime is beyond me. She delivers her lines with charm, wit and trueness. But her acting is not just the words and the emotions. She uses her body as we would with hand gestures, winks, turns, sauntering in and out of a room, etc.

For me that’s a true actor/actress. Right now too many on daytime specifically are being praised for speaking their lines beautifully but there is no emotion in their body language. You see it because while they say the words they are just standing there. They show emotion but don’t move with it. Ms Chapman does. She comes in, points her finger and calls you out as Gloria on Y&R. She dismisses you with a twist of an arm. She encourages you with a wink of the eye.

All those things make the simplest of lines effective. Any actor can scream. Any can cry. Some can preach. Few can make a statement perfectly with body language.

Y&R and the just left Mal are missing out on the amazing talents of people likeChapman who aren’t on contract and move on. While the chance to come back to Y&R because days isSony as well. We saw it with Eileen Davidson.

Days, use this actress to the benefit of your show. Don’t make her caricature. Have a plan that last longer than one story. It will only benefit days and the fans. And PLEASE don’t just make her Greg’s character’s sidekick. Let ms Chapman shine bright!

Diana Colville left Salem thirty years ago. A lot can happen to a person in that time. If Diana Cooper is Diana Colville, I’m all for it. Why would anyone have a problem with John Black having two gay sons? My partner comes from a family of four boys and three of them are gay. Real life is often stranger than fiction.

Two gay sons wouldn’t be all that unusual. Both of them being used as dopey plot points to break up Will & Sonny is the ridiculous part.

Love Judith Chapman she was fantastic as Gloria on Y&R, that is their loss and Days gain, so sorry I will not be seeing her on Y&R anymore.

I read somewhere that she’ll be back eventually. Probably when Jack needs her most.

Breaking News

Haley Pullos Receives 90-Day Jail Sentence Following DUI Charge And Wrong-Way Car Crash

Former General Hospital actress, Haley Pullos (ex-Molly Lansing-Davis) is going to be doing time in jail, exactly one-year after her arrest from a hit and run wrong-way car collision.

The crash resulted in bodily harm and damages to the other driver, and now Pullos who pleaded “no contest” to the charges and will serve 90 days in jail. She was taken in custody on Monday, April 29th, after the ruling.

According to Haley’s attorney, Mark Daniel Melnick, the 25-year-old actress struck a plea deal and after her three months in jail will be sentenced on July 29th. As part of that sentencing, she must serve five years probation, 200 hours of community service and pay $8,260 in restitution to Courteney Wilder, the other driver in the crash and her driver’s license is revoked for a year.

Courtesy/ABC

According to TMZ, the plea deal for Pullos has the “no contest” to one DUI, while the judge dropped the felony DUI causing bodily injury and misdemeanor hit and run charges.

Melnick said in a statement to PEOPLE, “Haley is very grateful to the court for a minimum sentence and for recognizing her remorse and the strides she has made in her sobriety.”

Pullos had played the daughter of Alexis Davis (played by Nancy Lee Grahn) on the ABC soap opera since 2009, but after her car crash and DUI she was replaced by three different actresses until the show finally settled on the current Molly, Kristen Vaganos.

Photo: Pasadena PD

Back in April 29 of 2023, and at the scene of the crash, the police found edibles and mini-bottles of tequila in Pullos’ vehicle and that she was intoxicated. As it turned out, this was to be the second hit and run in the evening for Pullos who had an earlier collision with another car.

The courts decision follows a year-long legal battle with Haley’s pleas changing throughout it, ranging from “not guilty” to “no contest”. She sought treatment for her drinking at a rehab following the crash.

Nancy Lee Grahn, who portrayed Pullos’ on-screen mom took to X on Monday night, April 29th and shared on the sentence and the specific jail, Haley will be serving time: “As Haley’s TV mom I can tell some truths about her as I’ve loved her since she was little girl. She made a HUGE mistake, knows it, owns it & has spent the last yr doing EVERYTHING imaginable to take responsibility 4 it. It’s not that I oppose jail. It’s that I oppose this jail.” The jail in question by Grahn is the L.A. county jail.

So, what do you think about Haley Pullos serving a 90-days jail sentence, and the other rulings that will be part of her sentencing? Comment below.

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Breaking News

Marla Adams, The Young and the Restless’ Dina Mergeron, Dies at 85

Marla Adams, best known for portraying matriarch, Dina Abbott Mergeron on CBS’ The Young and the Restless for 37 years, died on April 25, 2024, in Los Angeles. The news came from Y&R’s Director of Media and Talent, Matt Kane.

Throughout her veteran soap opera career, Marla appeared had appeared on Secret Storm (in her other longest running soap role as Bell Clemens from 1988-1974), The Bold and the Beautiful (ex-Beth Logan), Days of our Lives (ex-Dr. Claire McIntyre), Generations (ex- Helen Mullin), General Hospital (ex-Mildred Deal) and Capitol (ex-Myrna Clegg).

However, it was her role as Y&R’s upper crust Dina, who abandoned her children and her marriage to John Abbott (the late Jerry Douglas) that was her most memorable role. Throughout the years, Dina would have several romantic reunions with John, but in 2017, the character returned to Genoa City to reunite with her estranged family. Dina was the on-screen mother to Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson), Traci Abbott (Beth Maitland) and Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman).

Photo: JPI

As for Adams, she joined Y&R in 1982, but left the soap three years later her contract expired. She returned to Genoa City for stints in 1991, 1996 and 2008 before being asked by then Y&R head writer-producer Sally Sussman to return in 2017, which would begin the top-rated daytime drama telling the story of Alzheimer’s disease. Through Dina, the show shed light on a person going through the perils of the illness, and how the family copes and tries to come to terms with its fate.

In fact, Marla took home the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series in 2021 for her work in the storyline, She had previously been nominated in 2018.

Photo:JPI

Speaking with Michael Fairman TV, Marla shared on her final scenes on Y&R when Dina passed away and was reunited with John Abbott, “It was heart-wrenching for me.  In the story, Dina died when she went outside and to the front door of the Abbott home.  They did not tell me before-hand, and that’s why it was so wonderful.  I hope they came in for a closeup of that because I had no makeup on, it was beautiful, and then, Dina said, “Oh, John.”  I’ve done everything from movies, to daytime, to nighttime, to Broadway, but that was the iconic moment for me, to do this gig with wonderful, wonderful actors and friends, and to do this particular storyline.

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 and finishing as a runner-up in the Miss New Jersey pageant. She also fondly remembered being 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 and starred as June in the 1961 feature film, Splendor in the Grass

Over the span of her decades long career, Adams starred in more than 40 productions including television’s: The Golden Girls, Hart to Hart, The Love Boat, The New Dick Van Dyke ShowHarry OAdam-12Starsky and HutchMarcus Welby, M.D.Barnaby Jones, and the feature film, Beneath the Leaves.

Photo: CBS

In a statement, Y&R’s current head writer and executive producer, Josh Griffith expressed, “On behalf of the entire company of The Young and the Restless, we send our deepest sympathies to Marla’s family. We’re so grateful and in awe of Marla’s incredible performance as Dina Mergeron as both Marla and Dina made an unforgettable mark on Y&R.

Marla is survived by her daughter, Pam Oates, son, Gunnar Garat, grandchildren, Gefjon and Stone, and her great-grandson, Remi.

Photo: JPI

Michael Fairman TV sends our condolences to Adam’s family, friends and co-stars. Now below, share your remembrances of Marla Adams, and watch a few of our interview with Marla from the set of Y&R during the show’s 45th anniversary celebration and on the red carpet at the Daytime Emmys below.

 

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REPORT: Nicholas Chavez Not Returning to General Hospital

For those who were holding out hope that Daytime Emmy winner and fan favorite, Nicholas Chavez would be returning to General Hospital after filming his leading role in Ryan Murphy’s Monsters anthology, it looks like those hopes have been dashed.

According to a report from TV Line, although unconfirmed from General Hospital or a representative for Chavez, the actor will not reprise his role as Spencer Cassadine on the long-running ABC soap opera and continue the love story of Sprina opposite Tabyana Ali (Trina, GH).

Chavez was cast as Lyle Menendez over the the summer of 2023 for the second season of Murphy’s limited Monsters series on Netflix. In the upcoming season, the series will focus on the the case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, the two well-to-do Beverly Hills brothers accused of murdering their parents in 1989.

Photo: ABC

After word from Chavez casting was revealed, GH fans were concerned over the fate of the Sprina story, a spokesperson for GH shared,  “We support Nicholas’ endeavors and look forward to having him return to General Hospital once this project is wrapped.”

In story, the series “killed off” Spencer when he went overboard with Esme to the steely waters below after being injected with a drug, thanks to Esme and falling into the Seine River in France. However, his body was never recovered, and believed to have drowned or washed away. Thus, leaving an opening for Spencer to return in the form of Chavez or be recast down the line.

Photo: ABC

TV Line shared that ‘multiple sources’ are confirming that Chavez is not returning to the ABC soap opera, which is what many had suspected might be the case once he left for this major starring role in a Ryan Murphy project. Chavez has been relatively quiet on social media for months.

Photo: ABC

The Michael Fairman Channel spoke with Nicholas Chavez for a virtual interview when he first joined the show in 2021, and spoke to him right after when he won the Daytime Emmy in 2022 – you can see those below.

No word yet on when Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story will debut on Netflix, but it is assumed later this year.

So, what do you think about the news of Nicholas Chavez not returning to his role as Spencer Cassadine on General Hospital? Comment below.

 

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