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BREAKING NEWS: Darnell Williams joins the cast of The Young and the Restless!
Courtesy/ABC
Got to hand it to Y&R for knowing how to obtain some of the biggest names in daytime. And now, you can add Daytime Emmy winner, Darnell Williams (Ex- Jesse, AMC) to the list.
Word out this afternoon from Soap Opera Digest is that Williams had been hired on the number one CBS soap opera and will join longtime on-screen acting partner, Debbie Morgan (Harmony, Y&R). We hope with the addition of Williams that it might spark a better story for the uber-talented Morgan as well!
This will be the fourth time that this popular duo will be appearing on the same soap together, counting: Loving, The City, All My Children and now Y&R. We will keep you informed of more details as they become available as to what character Darnell will play in Genoa City and his on-screen debut.
So are you happy to see Darnell again? Or, are you concerned at how Y&R might utilize his talents based on the other key talent acquisitions that have been part of the canvas in the past several months? Let us know!
It looks like the current run of Lucas Adams (Noah) and Tamara Braun (Sienna) on The Young and the Restless is coming to an end, after the Monday, August 3 edition of the CBS daytime drama revealed that Noah and Sienna are leaving Genoa City and heading back to Los Angeles.
In the storyline, Noah informed his mother, Sharon (Sharon Case) and half-sister Mariah (Camryn Grimes) that he and Sienna made the decision to move back to the West Coast to put distance between themselves and Matt Clark (Roger Howarth). Although Noah did not say it was a permanent move, he did assure his mom that once Matt is hopefully gone from Genoa City they could return.
However, as previewed already on the video teaser for this week’s episodes of Y&R (see below), it appears Noah left Genoa City’s The Shadow Room to be run by a returning Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian). So with that, coupled with today’s episode, it would appear the move could wind up being more permanent.
Photo: JPI
COMINGS AND GOINGS
Adams made his Y&R debut on November 4, 2025 as the successor to Rory Gibson who last played Noah on-screen in April of 2023. Earlier in 2025, Gibson took over the role of Michael Corinthos on Genera Hospital replacing Chad Duell, who stepped away from the part after 15 years.
Braun who played Adam’s mother on Days of Our Lives when she was Ava Vitali and he was Tripp Dalton, first appeared on Y&R back on October 14, 2025, where we soon learned she had become Noah’s lover as the new character, Sienna Bacall. It should be noted, Adams was on contract with the number #1 soap, while Braun has been on recurring status.
With Josh Griffith now exited as head writer of The Young and the Restless, and the newly announced co-head writing team of Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor having taken his place and starting their new tenure this week, it will be interesting to see how the duo resets the show, and if a Noah and Sienna return is in the cards for the future or not.
So, what do you think about the seeming departures of Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun from The Young and the Restless? Weigh-in via the comment section. But first, check out our recent live chat with Tamara and Lucas on the Michael Fairman Channel.
Rosie O’Donnell revealed that she plans to head back to a seat at the table of ABC’s morning talk show The View.
The announcement came during Monday’s episode of The Tangle Podcast where she shared she will participate in “in whatever way they want” her or “just as a guest” for its upcoming 30th season.
The View’s season 30 will kick-off this fall in September. O’Donnell explained, “They’re bringing back all the hosts, I think. And, you know, I’m pretty proud of that show, what it’s become and how it really speaks to the people and to politics.”
Photo: ABC
ROSIE ON HER PREVIOUS GO-ROUNDS ON THE VIEW
As fans of The View know, O’Donnell famously had two different one-year stints on the talk show in 2007 and again in 2014- 2015. She often feuded with then co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck.
However, during her discussion with host, Kyle Ridley on The Tangle Podcast, O’Donnell also noted she often had tense moments with longtime moderator and anchor, Whoopi Goldberg.
O’Donnell also expressed, “Many, many people got the short end of the stick there. It was, you know, it was a factory where people were being churned in and out and their tenuous security, nobody got to be calm. It also was a show at the time that was run by a man. A show created by a woman, for women, about women, and the man was deciding what we should talk about. And that didn’t sit right with me, you know.”
Back in 2023, Brooke Shields had asked Rosie on her podcast, Now What? with Brooke Shields, about how she felt on her two stints at The View and all the controversy that surrounded it. Rosie at that time, stated, “I know this, it’s not the best use of my talent to get in a show where I have to argue and defend basic principles of humanity and kindness. It was not something I’d ever do again.”
You can check out the clip with Rosie and Kyle Ridley discussing her return to The View in some form for its upcoming 30th season below.
Then weigh-in: Would you be excited to see Rosie, even for a one-day or a week guest stint on the upcoming celebratory season of The View, or not so much? Let us know via the comment section.
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General Hospital Fan Club Weekend brought out many of your favorites to the four day event; with the main cast gathering on Saturday, August 1. Fans near and far attended the weekend held this year at the Burbank Marriott Hotel. Whether it be the main cast event or the smaller more intimate events featuring two or three cast members a great time was had by all.
Some of the cast participating in the main cast event included: Cyrus Hobbi (Yuri), Gary James Fuller (James), Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), Viron Weaver (Wiley), Paige Herschell (Jacinda), Chris McKenna (Brennan), Josh Kelly (Cody), Kayden Brenna Tokarsi (Scout), Cassandra James (Terry), Laura Wright (Carly), Dominic Zamprogna (Dante), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane), Rick Hearst (Ric), Adrian Anchondo (ex-Marco), and Chloe Lanier (ex-Nelle).
In addition to, Van Hansis (Lucas), Cameron Mathison (Drew), Ryan Paevey (ex-Cassius), Easton Rocket Sweda (Leo), Maurice Benard (Sonny), Kristen Vaganos (Molly), Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis), Kate Mansi (ex-Kristina), Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth), Cynthia Watros (Nina), Kristina Wagner (Felicia) and more.
Take a look at some of the snaps from the main event arrivals below:
Photo: HutchinsPhoroi
GH’s Rick Hearst with on-screen daughter, Kristen Vaganos, plus Nancy Lee Grahn, and Kate Mansi.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
GH’s Maurice Benard on-hand to meet the fans.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto.com
Jack Brennan in the house … Chris McKenna.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Adrian Anchondo, Van Hansis and Anchondo’s boyfriend, Days of Our Lives, Colton Little.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
GH’s Josh Kelly and his gal, the former Nelle Benson of Port Charles, Chloe Lanier.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Who is James’ father? Not Cassius or Spinelli, actually. Actors Gary James Fuller, Ryan Paevey and Bradford Anderson!
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
One of General Hospital’s newest cast members, Kayden Brenna Tokarski attends her first GHFCW event.
Check out some more arrival images featuring: Laura Wright (Carly), Cassandra James (Terry), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) and more in the gallery below.
Michael Fairman TV will be adding more images to this post in the day ahead.
So, were you glad to see so many of your GH favorites attending this year’s General Hospital Fan Club Weekend? Let us know via the comment section.
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Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun Written Out of The Young and the Restless
Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun Written Out of The Young and the Restless
Rosie O’Donnell Says She Will Return to ‘The View’ During its Season 30
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OH NO,every one is leaving my soaps ,one buy one .I am happy for him.I love jessie and angie ,how I miss all my children,I want it back ,If there is a miracle and the soaps are saved by pp, everyone will be gone ,it will never be the same.you cant go back to pine valley and landview ,and be on the other side of the tracks with all new names ,It wont work.
All My Children is over. It is not coming back.
I would love to see Williams and Morgan reunited on Y&R. If Maria Arena Bell has a one quarter brain left, she should dump that stupid Harmony character and bring Angie and Jessie to Genoa City. They could say that “Harmony” had amnesia, got her memory back and found out that she is actually Angie Baxter. But it probably wouldn’t be possible because ABC probably own the rights to the Angie and Jessie characters.
Join us in sending soap bar’s to ABC studio’s in NYC to show our disappointment and disgust. PASS THIS ON.
Post it on the abc.com blog, and on FACEBOOK. We are Bombarding the ABC studio with bar’s of soap.
A winner, for once they got it right.
Darnell and Debbie are such a magical pairing – they would work well together in anything…..I do hope they will work together on Y&R.
I hope and pray Y&R treats Williams and Morgan better than they treated Maura West, Tristan Rogers, Eden Riegel, etc, etc. Otherwise, fans won’t bother.
I am happy for him because he is a great actor, but Young and Restless don’t even know what to do with the cast they already have.
i never saw what the big deal was about darnell williams, he really didn’t impress me as jessi on amc, his character always seemed bother by everyone else problem yet the character was always doing the wrong thing too, an darnell always overacted, yet everyone acted like he was one of the great talents of daytime, sorry but not for me, as for him joining the y&R hope he gets a better storyline then Genie Francis or Debi Morgan are, because all i hear is them being stunt casting whose talent is being wasted.
Could he be a recast for the character of Malcolm?
My first thought was exactly that. Would be much better than that guy from Family Matters.
Would be great if he is recast as Malcolm Winters. The writers at the Y & R need to utilize the cast they have. They seem to get really good talent ie: Tristan Rogers, Maura West, Jeff Branson & then just throw them out in the wind. The established talent they have now ie: Eric Braeden, Melody Thomas Scott, Michael Muhney, Greg Rikkart, Michelle Stafford, etc. have been reduced to reciting recycled storylines and have been unrecognizable as the fabulous characters they portray. I hope that the writers are not trying to commit daytime suicide and write the best daytime drama into oblivion
I think Darnell Williams is a great actor, but Y and R is no longer a great soap. MAB has totally ruined it! He deserves better, along with Genie Francis, Debbi Morgan, Jeff Branson, Jess Walton, Judith Chapman, Eileen Davidson, Christian LeBlanc and Tristan Rogers. Ignoring the fans and outrageous storylines are killing our shows. Writers: OPEN YOUR EARS!!!!!!
Harmony’s dealer or perhaps Anna’s dad? Coming to GC to cash in on Devon’s family fortune? I wish TPTB would focus on the core characters instead of all of this stunt casting. Are the AMC actors more important than the Y&R actors? It does not seem to me that they want to make the show better for the Y&R fans.
As much as I hate to say it, Y&R writers won’t know what to do with him. They have misused and discarded great talented actors this year, not to mention treated a few of their own very popular cast members like dirt…. They don’t need new cast members, they need new writers!
Your post to God’s ears!
Agree 100%. They need some fresh ideas at Y & R. Same old, same old.
Don’t have a great feeling about this. Y&R has a horrible track record of getting great talent and not knowing what to do with them. Recreating the magic of Jesse and Angie won’t work. It never does, from Alice and Steve on ‘Another World’ becoming Pat and Tony on ‘One Life to Live,’ to the mess of Genevieve and Colin on Y&R. Great acting needs great writing and Y&R is sorely lacking in that department.
I am thrilled! I started watching Y&R when Genie Francis came onboard, was delighted when Debbie joined and now Darnell? Couldn’t be happier.
Totally! But do you remember when Darnell was on GL? He was uber evil.
Amen to everything from the previous posts. And Darnell is to old for a recast. Here is a list of the characters that were previously on AMC and now on Y&R. Billy,Victoria,Chloe,Heather,Ronan,Chance,Harmony,Chelsea,(Jack and Genieve) though Genie Francis and Peter Bergman were long ago. Darnell Williams is 56 and Kristoff St.John is 45 so I was way off on thinking he was a Malcom recast. Bottom line MAB is ruining this show.
Chance was from GL.
Amelia Heinle has been with Y&R for at least 10 years. You can HARDLY indicate that she is new to Y&R by saying she was previously on AMC. And Billy Miller has been on for a few years now before the demise of AMC.
I guess he’s the rapper they were talking about today…
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for both Darnell & Debbi on Y&R! 😀
I think Darnell is a very talented actor but Y&R needs a major change in the direction of their storylines. The show is unwatchable to me and I’m putting it mildly. I recently heard someone say that they thought the Y&R was great and the writing was great– clearly this person never watched the show when it was truly good. I wish Y&R would have the courage to release MAB from her duties and trust the creative work to someone who is truly passionate about writing good thorough, heartfelt storylines and fully formed multidimensional characters, instead of cardboard cut outs.
That being said, I hope the writing magically improves (somehow) and by the time Darnell’s character (some think he will be Ana’s daddy) arrives on the GC landscape, hopefully his talents won’t be wasted.
Join us in sending soap bar’s to ABC studio’s in NYC. PASS THIS ON to abc.com blog/comments. Also post on Facebook. Help to pass this on to this site and other’s, so ABC can be BOMBARED with soap at their prized studio for their other shows.
Thanks David I realized that after I posted but we will trade him for the character of David Chow. Thanks!
The rumour is he is coming in as a rapper so he will be sterotyped as Debbi Morgan with her characters ain’t usage all the time. This woman MAB is a racist for years she had Esther wearing a maids uniform like old planatation days. I guess she forgot a little thing called Civil War being fought & Civil Rights. Ever since she came on she has been portraying African Americans as 2nd class citizens. So think the Lord she has left a gay storyline alone. Anyone who comes on this show as a new character needs to know it is short term under MAB.
Im not happy at all about this casting. Harmony is already in many story lines. Stunt casting for her is the dismissal of those already in her story and frankly I resent it.
If Darnell takes the place of characters on board and those intricately related to core families I have had it. Harmony is in between two existing families. I have no use for this abuse of AMC casting with a AMC casting director now in charge belittling those who were not on AMC
NO APPLAUSE
I hope everything works out for Darnelll at Y&R…before
He was annouced I was hoping for Debbie be paired with
Stephen Nicholas…..I think Tristan Rogers was giood.with
Jess Walton..Y&R dropped the ball with them..
They need to ask the sexy and talented IR to come
To.Y&,R and cast him as a wealthy businessman…
I think TR was good on Y&R…
I would love to see IR on Y&R