News
Greg Rikaart Confirms Departure From Y&R Via Heartfelt Post: "I Am Sad To Leave A Place I Hold So Dear But Also Really Excited About What The Future Holds"
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
After Thursday’s devastating news for longtime Y&R fans, Greg Rikaart took to his Instagram to confirm that the reports were indeed true, and he is leaving the place he has called his “home away from home” for the last 14 years. Through his character Kevin Fisher’s transformation from the dark side to loving good guy with an edge, Rikaart made what ever material he was given soar.
In his heartfelt post, along with a collage of memorable Kevin Fisher moments, Rikaart wrote the following message: “Fourteen years ago, I booked a two-week long gig on The Young and the Restless. In my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined what it would turn into: a career-defining experience that has brought me so much happiness and fulfillment.
Playing Kevin and watching him evolve over the years has mirrored my real life in so many ways. We both found love, both became dads and we both have more gray hair now than we did in 2003. I have such love and fondness for the cast and crew of Y&R that when I watch Kevin enjoying himself in scenes, it’s hard to know where he ends and Greg begins.
At the moment it is unclear what lies ahead for Kevin and I, as we will be saying goodbye to Genoa City for a while. I am sad to leave a place I hold so dear but also really excited about what the future holds.
I cannot overstate how much gratitude I have to all of you who have been such loud cheerleaders for me. You’ve all enriched my life. So stick around. The journey is just beginning. :)”
Share your thoughts on Greg’s message to his fans and colleagues in the comment section below, as we now have to prepare to say our farewells to Greg and Kevin in the months ahead
I’m so sad to see Greg leave the role of Kevin. We basically watched Kevin grow up on the show. I wish him luck, and hopefully Kevin will be back in Genoa City in the future.
Y&R loses too many of their good veteran actors. They are making a mistake by letting him go. I wish him the very best, maybe a role on General Hospital? Best of all would be for Y&R to reconsider, and to keep him on.
Thank you, Dr. HELEN, I’d love to see Greg reunited on GH with Michelle Stafford and Billy Miller, both of whom were great scene partners for Greg. I loved when Billy used to squeeze Kevin’s cheek and call him “my little chipmunk”. Imagine the sour, humorless Jason Thompson doing that and you get a reality check on all the major talent this show has lost in the past 3 or 4 years. A sad announcement indeed!
You’re welcome. That is an excellent point about the humor that we’ve lost on Y&R.
Billy Miller, Michelle Stafford, Greg Rikaart, all added their upbeat personalities to the characters.
This is sad, he is very talented. Unfortunately his character has been poorly written over the last several years. I wish him Good Luck both personally and professionally.
What a shame, Greg is one of the better actors on Y&R. Writers making a huge mistake, will lose even more fans than they have lately with stupid story lines. Example Reed? Instead of Greg? Just trying to garner the younger viewers for the summer, then what when summer ends, BIG MISTAKE, HOPE TPTB READ THESE COMMENTS.
& Mariah. Perhaps he’ll take Mariah with him.
I understand your frustration with the Reed character. The onslaught of teenagers during the spring and summer months is unbearable. Today’s teenagers do not watch daytime television. Why do TPTB continue to write these boring, stupid, ridiculous teen driven storylines as “filler” that loyal viewers do not care about?
Yuppers, Teenagers do not watch TV, they are mobile.
And, the teenagers parents are of the internet not so much sitting in front of a TV during the daytime hours to get their at home children hooked on soaps. That era is long gone.
Reed is not like any teenager guy I ever knew. He is a mama’s boy and being portrayed as a Beaver Cleaver a PSA guy. YUCK .. LOL
Perhaps Kevin could take Mariah, Devon, Hilary, and Chelsea with him while he heads out of town? Please?
Kevin is a great character. A loss for Y&R, for sure.
I wonder where and when we will next see him .
I would not like to see Kevin recast, nope … that would be too weird and wouldn’t work out.
I think he is talented enough that he will land on his feet just fine and perhaps will benefit from being free to do other things– my only question is now that Dylan is gone and soon to be Kevin who is poor Paul going to talk to at the police station– Christine? — LOL
Okay seriously, Y&R missed the boat they could have made Kevin and Scott a couple raising Bella together– and I suspect that might have been the plan, but someone upstairs got nervous and when Greg was told the story was being nixed he decided to leave—
If it was a money issue– then they should have gotten rid of Cane– how this once heroic and interesting character turned into this whiny neurotic jerk is beyond me– but watching him on screen is like nails on a chalkboard— I know when they killed the character off years back there was a big push to get him back, but honestly, if fans knew what they would do to the character I think they would have let the character RIP
tptb decided not to renew greg’s contract – this was not his decision to leave y&r………..
I am not a fan of Cane either. I really liked Lily with Daniel.
Good luck. I’ll miss you. Y&R will definitely miss you.
Continued success to you and your family.
I totally agree dmr. Devon, Hillary, Mariah are boring as heck. Now that Chloe has admitted killing Adam I just don’t care for Chelsea with Nick. I was watching it for a couple of reasons 1-Billy/Phyllis/Jack/Victoria was my favorites 2- I was hoping Sharon would end up with Scott. I think it’s a shame for months every T.V. magazine would say “Is Adam alive” ” Adam to return” etc. all to keep the fans watching. They knew Justin Hartley had another show and would not be able to do both and they wouldn’t bring back Michael Muhney because of a few seniors that should be on call.
Friday show was a Friday AND its sweeps and the show was terrible! Mariah is great BUT with the wrong cast members. Devon is as exciting as a root canal! This guy Scott is horrible! Tess is a snore! I guess now Nikki is Shirley Partridge? DUMB! Reed sucks and Ravi looks out of place! Cane is a pain! Victoria is a sad sack. Never like Chelsea. What is there to like?
I am so saddened to hear greg/ kevin is leaving Y & R.. perhaps they will write him back in the near future…. I have enjoyed watching Kevin grow up.. Good Luck to you Greg With you Nothing but the best.. Canada
Love you as Kevin Fisher watched you grow as an actor and how your character changed I will miss you but wish you all the best . I am sure you will succeed in all you do .Hopefully I will see you again on screen. Best of Wishes Greg from one of your many fans Angela
Gone miss you please change your mind and stay..will not be the.same without you.no can replace you
Well, as usual am seven episodes at least behind. Wanted something special with Kevin and Mariah; even just the friendship maintaining. Sorry to see him leave but wish the best.
I was just beginning to move into the new flow of Y & R. Depending upon how one looks at things, it was better than wanting to throw my pillow at the set for the past year. No couples seem to click. One couple always needs to hold the show. I don’t seem to mind letting so many days go by without watching. Wish the news were something I wanted to run to the set and view.
Things feel disjointed.
Big mistake letting him go. For what? The repulsive Billy, the irritating Hilary story, the sparkless Nick & Chelsea non-romance, the charmless Ravi? I barely recognize a show I’ve watched since 1974 and it’s becoming heartbreaking. Greg is talented beyond the norm, incredibly sexy, smart, and never “phones in” a performance. For more of Reed and that asinine guitar I suppose. Shame on you!
Well said, Soaphound!
Well if they didn’t want to renew his contract I don’t believe they deserve him! If true another stupid move on their part. Oh.. well maybe they should just get rid of all Emmy worthy actors!!
Days Of Our Lives
Patrick Muldoon and Jennifer Taylor Cast as Mike Manning’s Conservative Parents on ‘The Bay’
The ever-expanding cast of the streaming soap opera, The Bay, has announced two new additions for its upcoming 9th season, including Days of our Lives favorite Patrick Muldoon (ex-Austin Reed). TV fans also know Patrick Muldoon from his role as Richard Hart on Melrose Place.
In story, The Bay will bring Caleb McKinnon’s parents into the mix. Caleb is played by Daytime Emmy-winner and Outstanding Supporting Actor nominee this year, Mike Manning.
According to Deadline, Muldoon, along with Jennifer Taylor (Two and a Half Men), will play Caleb’s ultra-conservative parents. When Caleb married Daniel Garrett (Eric Nelsen), they all but abandoned him. The season looks to bring a major story for Manning and hopefully and eventually love and acceptance from Caleb’s parents.
Photo: JPI
The casting news doesn’t stop there. Rhonda Ross has been tapped to play Colleen Givens, the biological mother of Pete Garrett’s (Kristos Andrews) wife Vivian (Karrueche Tran) in the new season.
Coleen is brought into the mix when Pete searches for Colleen after Vivian becomes ill. In the backstory, Colleen is a jazz singer who gave Vivian up for adoption at birth. Now she may be Vivian’s only hope to stay alive.
Photo: LANY Entertainment
The series is up for 5 Daytime Emmy nomination at the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards on June 7th including: Outstanding Drama Series, Writing, Directing, A Martinez (Nard0) for Supporting Actor and the aforementioned Manning.
What do you think of the casting of Patrick Muldoon and Jennifer Taylor as the on-screen parents to Mike Manning on The Bay? Comment below.
Days Of Our Lives
Kennedy Garcia on Joining the Cast of Days of our Lives: “For a Role to Come up for a Teenager with Down Syndrome was Just Amazing!”
Days of our Lives has made a groundbreaking move for the soaps, by casting Kennedy Garcia in the new role of Felicity. Viewers of the Peacock streaming soap opera will first see the character beginning the week of May 20th,
Garcia has previously appeared on primetime including on 9-1-1, This Is Us and more. Speaking to TV Insider, Kennedy shared: “I have wanted to be on a soap opera for a long time, so for a role to come up for a teenager with Down syndrome was just amazing!”
In real life, Kennedy who has Down syndrome is also a cancer survivor, and becomes he first teen with Down syndrome to land an ongoing role on the soaps. “It’s really such a special thing. I am so proud of Days of our Lives for taking this step and taking a chance on me. Inclusion in this industry is so important and I am proud to help move it forward.”
Photo: JPI
As to a little insight on her new role of Felicity in Salem, Garcia shared. “She is sweet, funny and kind. She is also very smart and she never misses anything. Most of all, she loves her family more than anything else. I think that viewers will love her and see the beauty she brings to everyone in her life.”
The actress added, “I hope that everyone will love Felicity and see that even though she has Down syndrome, she is cherished by her family and friends, she is capable of great things, and she’s a hard worker. I’m pretty sure she bakes better than I do. She is also a typical teenager who has real feelings and fears that people will see as her story goes on. I hope no one underestimates Felicity as a character, or actors with disabilities like me. Representation is so important and I’m so thankful for this opportunity to become Felicity and let you all get to know her, and me!”
What do you think of Days of our Lives casting of Kennedy Garcia and the importance of inclusion and representation on streaming and daytime dramas? Comment below.
General Hospital
Giovanni Mazza On Contract at General Hospital: What Are Your First Impressions?
This week, General Hospital introduced newcomer Giovanni Mazza in the role of Giovanni Palmieri, who apparently is Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) second cousin, one removed or so the story goes.
The character of Gio showed up at Brook Lynn’s wedding to Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard) and played the violin at the ceremony. As has been previously reported, Mazza in real-life is a professional violinist and actor.
Upon making his first appearance on the ABC daytime drama series back on May 15th, fans wondered if Gio will be sticking around and that was confirmed by the closing credits of the May 17th episode where Mazza’s name is included along with other contract players.
Photo: ABC
When the news of Mazza’s casting was announced, the talent young man took to his Instagram and shared the good news, expressing, “I am so honored, grateful, and ecstatic to announce the big news! The biggest thank you to General Hospital for bringing me.” He closed his sentiments with “So much love and joy to my new fam! YAY!!! ”
Commenting on his post included new castmates Evan Hofer (Dex) saying, “Happy to have you brother,” plus Tabyana Ali (Trina), Eden McCoy (Joss) and ABC executive Nathan Varni who said, “Congratulations! Welcome to GH!
Photo: ABC
During the May 17th episode, Gio had an exchange with Dex, where he mentioned that his father was in the military back in early 2000’s. Previously, Gio revealed to Chase that his father died in the military when he was young. So this begs the question, who is Gio’s dad?
What were you first impressions of Giovanni Mazza in the role of Gio? Who do you think he might be romantically involved with and might be also related to other than the Cerullos? Comment below.
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Patrick Muldoon and Jennifer Taylor Cast as Mike Manning’s Conservative Parents on ‘The Bay’
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