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BREAKING NEWS: Genie Francis joins The Young and the Restless!

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Holy cow! We did not see this one coming, but soapers, Y&R has just announced exclusively at EW.com that soap legend and Daytime Emmy winner, Genie Francis (Ex-Laura, GH) is coming on to the number one soap!  Genie is set to play the mother of Cane Ashby and joining the soap as a series regular in May! Holy May Sweeps!

According to the post, “Francis will play the mother of Ethan Cane Ashby (Daniel Goddard), who was declared dead outside his dad’s wedding last month and is now appearing as a ghost on the show.  His sudden “passing” lathered up the fans, so the addition of Francis should reignite speculation that Cane will remain an integral part of Genoa City. (His ghost is expected to continue appearing throughout the spring).  Francis will begin taping at the end of the month.”

And wait for it! Doesn’t this mean that Francis would reunite with her former Port Chuck co-star Tristan Rogers (Colin, and former, Robert Scorpio of GH) as the parents of Cane?

So, what do you think? Excited by the news?  The future of Francis? Goddard? Rogers?  Let us know.

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WOW! This is awesome but I want DG back as Cane too.

Yeah, I want Cane back, too, but I am wondering if he’s really dead! We all know that it is possible that people return from the dead and he may be faking it with the help of the FBI to keep the Aussie Mob off his family’s back. I am thrilled to no end to see Genie Francis returning to TV. General Hospital writers and “rulers” must be nuts to have let such a great and beloved talent escape them but Maria Bell and the Powers That Be @ Y&R have the good sense to recognize the wonderful talent and beauty of a brilliant actress. I cannot wait to see Genie!

Love GF, and thrilled she is coming to Y&R, but if Cane is dead, what is the point of him having parents…not intrested in a look a like Cane or a twin Cane, I want Cane Ashby back with his kids Mattie and Charlie and his wife Lily..If he doesn’t come back as Cane Ashby, they can keep it…

I’m happy for Genie and Y&R. GH’l’s loss is Y&R’s gain. Genie will rock Y&R. Guza looses yet again.

I agree completely.

Damn GH! Just when Lucky needs his Mother! Good for Y n R though. Francis n Rogers together again

As a Spencer family fan, I’m disappointed that Genie will not be returning to GH in the near future. However, I admire her determination to NOT play a victim. Many of us 21st century women watching these shows want to see more strong, independent women on daytime dramas – women who, like us, live, love, and manage marriages and children and careers. Bets of luck to Genie – the Spencers will miss you.

I am not happy at all about this news. Y&R already has too many characters, and there is no room for more newbies. I am sick of the fan favorites who have been on the show for yrs are continually being pushed to the back for stunt casting. I want to see my favorites not the likes of Genie Frances, Maura West, or Tristian Rogers. Time for Y&R to quit hiring the castaways from other soaps.

I’ll bet she’s going to end up being Katherine’s daughter- they would look EXACTLY like mother and daughter.

Excited? I am beyond that!! The Young and the Restless just got a new fan. I’ve been barely hanging on with GH. Now, I think I am done!! Go Genie!

What is GH’s loss is Y&R’s gain! I am so glad a soap hired this beloved vet. Y&R seems to have been stale for quite a while. This is a change for the better.

I can’t believe gh had Luke run over baby Jake. Laura is already catatonic I’m sure if she came back they would finish her off. She’s better off trying a completely new soap. LoL

I cant wait genie francis is my Favorite i liked her on G.H.cant wait to see her on the Y &R.

Wow! What a shocker. I’m not sure I’m happy about this. I know Y&R needs some new blood, but what is the purpose? Is she going to shake Jill’s world? At this moment when Luke and Lucky need her on GH, I think I would rather she was there and not Brenda. I don’t know why GH brought her back. She is so boring and taking down Sonny with her. Well, it will be intersting to see what the story will be for Genie. It better be really good. Otherwise, why bother.

I love this. It’s great news!

omg!!!! this awesome awesome news – i am so thrilled!!
i know genie will be knocking every scene out of the park!!

Y&R is the show to watch now. So excited that Genie is back and even more excited that she does not have to go back to the horror show that is General Hospital. Take that Frons and Guza! Go Genie and kudos to Y&R for this fantastic move. Now Maria Arena Bell it is on you to write for this incredibly talented actress and daytime icon.

I’ll watch – cannot wait to see GF in a new role!

Great news!!! Big coup for Y&R to have both Tristan Rogers and Genie Francis on the show. GH’s loss is Y&R’s gain. So many ABC soap stars are being picked up by Y&R, while ABC is hiring newbies that are only driving down their ratings…..case in point, AMC. I am looking forward to TR and GF together again on my TV screen!!!!

Well, Guza dropped the ball AGAIN. Genie Francis is an icon with a huge fanbase. I am glad Y&R nabbed her up. Talk about a great May Sweeps. Guza is not that smart. They ignored Genie and the Laura character for years by having her in France. Guza’s writing is all about 4 characters and the long time Vets who saved GH from cancellation years ago have been killed off, written off and Guza just refused to let Genie return to the show even though Genie Francis had a huge fanbase begging for her return. I am thrilled that Y&R recognizes the huge following of Genie and the other vets now on canvas at Young and They Restless–The Number One Soap..Go Genie!!

Ok, I am not a big Laura fan, but I am a Cane fan, I just love Cane Asby and Lily Winters..And if that mean they are getting back together, I am all for it…

Cane and Lily and Jason Morgan and sam Mcall are my #1 Couple, Cane and Lily are my second

The only thing I like about Y&R Is Cane and Lily
The only thing I like about GH is Jasam, but if GV comes back as a new character I would like to see Kelly and Gregf working together….

But Congrats To Ms.Francis

OK! Let’s take the ball and run with it ! Y&R treat her with respect and I love the pairing with Tristan Rogers! You Go Genie!!!!!

If Frons & Guza keeps slapping GF in the face and treating her like nothing while bending over backwards for Geary – I don’t blame her for going to another soap. She hinted when she was on Oprah that she was willing to come back to daytime but not as a victim. Apparently ABC did not take the bait, so why not try another show. Daytime may not be around 5 years from now so go Genie!

Oh yay! I’m an ABC girl, but I might check Y&R out for Genie Francis. 😀

I’m thrilled about this news for Y&R, but sad for GH. Now the great Luke & Laura story will never end as it should. However, seeing Genie Francis with Tristan Rogers will make me tune in to Y&R every day! And I love Cane! I refuse to believe that he is really dead. Like Lily, I’m looking for him in every scene.

Big Hurray For Genie. Go Girl! 😉 😉

I am with you. I love her as Laura. I love Luke and Laura together. I want her to come back and help Luke and their family though this crisis. But, it seems that ABC/GH doesn’t think enough of her to bring her back to help her family. They don’t respect Genie. If they can’t respect her enough to treat her the way she deserves then it is definitely their loss. Guza losses another outsanding actress to Y&R/CBS.

Just wounderful. Can´t wait till Genie gets on the show. Maybe since she may have faked her death, she swooped in and faked Cane´s too to finally get rid of the father.

Very glad to see Genie back on the screen -she’s been away too long.
Kudos Y and R.

I like Genie but honestly I don’t see the point of this unless it’s just to reveal Cane is not actually dead. Who is she going to interact with, I’d like to see more of my regulars on screen who don’t get enough airtime then newbies… i’m waiting for Cane’s dad to go and now his mom is showing up too. The only way I will enjoy this is if it is to reveal Cane is not dead. Plus she never stays around too long, she’ll wait until her story gets good and then up and leave the way she always does.

General hospital should be canceled and bryan frons should be fired I hope CBS will pick up a few more great actors from abc soaps Genie Francis will be great on Y&R !!

It will be difficult to watch Genie Francis portray a rather dark and sinister character, when she has always portrayed pure sweetness and light on General Hospital. I think that her fans will be sad to see her as such a cold and heartless character. We will be longing for the sweet and gentle Laura of long ago. However Miss Francis appears to be comfotable in this new and rather grim portrayal of a rather emtionless and determind womam. Perhaps her somber character will fall inlove with Jack or Victor, and maybe then she will become softer, and more loving, and more like Laura Spencer.However Miss Francis is great

I am so excited to see Francis back on Soaps, especially Y&R. She’s always been my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE female soap star, Eric Braeden is my favorite male star, and I believe she will be a great asset to the program. As for others on the show, I really do not like the current Heather. She is no where near as pretty as Paul’s first “daughter” who was a blond just as his daughter would be since he and his wife are blond and she cannot act. I do wish Chloe could find a better love interest rather than Kevin. They don’t have chemistry… Maybe she could hook up with one of the cops on the show. Also, I like Ted Shackleford best as Gloria’s punching bag. Love Nick with Sharon and for my part, it will always be Victor and Nickie forever.

Oh it’s sooo good to have Genie Francis on TV again and acting with GH Tristan Rogers again is a gorgeous comination that really sticks together.
There is a big fangroup of GH from the earlier times (79-81) that loved the incredible magic of the Luke & Laura (Lovers on the Run) Scenes. Genie and also Tristan guarantee the same wonderful depth and quality to bring now in the story of Y&R. I just love em and wish all the best to Genie for her start!!

@tonia and all those other GF-Fans above there: I agree absolutly with you:
Guza did destroy a legend on GH!! I’m German and unfortunately in Germany GH was only aired between 1980-1982. Thankfully a true GH/L&L Fan (Sue….) put great playlist on youtube for anybody to watch the old stuff and so since February 2011 I startet from the very begin in 1977 watching Genie Francis alias Laura Webber-Baldwin and became one of her biggest fan. I like her humanity and sweet style so much but I also have a lot of understanding for Genie Francis wish to act in different style (stronger and opaquer) than in her former victim-like-role. Well, I hope my German-English didn’t bugged you too much. Wish Genie and all of the people on the set and specially Maria Bell all the best and millions of additionally viewers!!! XXX TinaLaura

Days Of Our Lives

‘Brilliant Minds’ Officially Canceled After 2 Seasons at NBC; DAYS Alum Al Calderon, OLTL Alum Teddy Sears and Zachary Quinto Among the Cast

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After languishing on the bubble for months, on Friday, NBC handed down the decision and canceled the medical drama Brilliant Minds after two seasons.

Brilliant Minds stars Zachary Quinto as neurology physician Oliver Wolf, who’s character and the series is inspired by the life and books of neurologist. Oliver Sacks. The series focuses on the medical mysteries of the mind, as Wolf a larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns explore the last great frontier, the human mind, while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.

The final six episodes of what will now be the end of its second and final season were already set to air beginning on May 27, after being pulled off the network schedule in February as viewership saw a steep decline. Brilliant Minds second season became the lowest-rated drama on linear TV viewing, which didn’t bode well fo a network renewal, although it had its hard core fan base.

Photo: NBC

There are some exceptional notables in the cast along with the talented Quinto that includes Days of Our Lives alum, Al Calderon (ex-Javi Hernandez) who joined the series in its second season as Nurse Nico Silva, and One Life to Live alum, Teddy Sears (ex-Chad Bennett) who plays Wolf’s love interest and fellow physician, Dr. Josh Nichols.

The rest of the talented cast includes: Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Donna Murphy, John Clarence Stewart, and Brian Altemus.

In an ironic twist of fate on Thursday, April 30, Days of Our Lives finally revealed the actor who was Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Javi, when they announced that actor Jacob Martinez had now stepped into the role. Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming new episode, Calderon left in the spring of 2025, but will be seen in the part for the final part this month, and then on June 20, Martinez debuts as Salem’s new Javi.

Taking to his Instagram with a sorrowful and heartfelt post on the Brilliant Minds cancellation was Teddy Sears who wrote, “Thank you, Brilliant Minds. I got the call today and I didn’t want to hear, but I knew that it would come, You have to be a particular vintage to quote Don Henley from memory, but that’s the line that came to mind earlier today after I got off the phone with our inimitable showrunner Michael Grassi who delivered the news that NBC has cancelled the series”.

Photo: NBC

Sears continued, “To say that I feel sad to be moving on from these stories, this character, and this cast and crew just doesn’t paint the entire picture. I’m sad, sure. But I’m also deeply grateful that I got hired to play this part, so proud of the stories we told, and the other actors I got to play alongside. I’m excited to see what comes next, what adventures await, and terrified to be without a professional home. A quick and heartfelt thank you to everyone, all over the globe, who found us and found themselves in us, in our characters and in our stories. We wouldn’t have been able to tell them without you. And we still have 6 fresh episodes yet to air, and I do hope you tune in enjoy the remainder of the series. They’re the best we’ve done.”

As he wrapped up his sentiments, Sears signed off with, “The more I know, the less I understand. All the things I figured out I have to learn again. I’ve been trying to get down to the heart of the matter. But everything changes…Thank you, Brilliant Minds.”

The medical drama was created and executive produced by Michael Grassi alongside Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Lee Toland Krieger, DeMane Davis, Jasmine Russ, Henrik Bastin, Jonathan Cavendish, Andy Serkis and Shefali Malhoutra.

So, what do you think of NBC’s decision to cancel Brilliant Minds after two seasons? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’

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Many things are coming up roses for Jonathan Bennett! On the heels of the news that he is set to debut this month in the role of Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital, who is rumored to be a new love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), comes the news that Bennett’s reality series, Finding Mr. Christmas has received 3 nomination for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.

Bennett’s Hallmark Channel series finds itself in tough competition alongside fellow nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), Survivor 50 (CBS), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Traitors (Peacock). In addition, Jonathan himself is nominated for Best Show Host and the series participants as the Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series.

The Critics Choice Association (CCA) revealed the nominees for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Thursday, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.

Photo: Hallmark

Taking to his Instagram to celebrate the nominations, GH’s Bennett, enthused, “3 Critic Choice Nominations! I’m so proud of the FINDING MR CHRISTMAS and to be in the company of all the legends in all these categories is so surreal! Congrats to Hallmark Channel and to our nominated cast and nominated show and everyone who made this magical show possible. This is crazy! This gives FMC 6 Critics Choice nominations in 2 years. Not bad for a little show on Hallmark Channel. What are your thoughts on our show?” Jumping first into the comment thread was one of his new GH co-stars, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) who expressed, “Yeah buddy!!!🔥🔥”

In the series, Bennett, the host and co-creator spends eight weeks guiding 10 aspiring actors through a series of “festive face-offs” and acting challenges alongside actors like soap opera notables, Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R) and Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS). Along the way, they develop their skills and a bond with one another. The show, which is available on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus, highlights LGBTQ+ representation with openly gay contestants vying to be the next Hallmark star.

It should be noted that Traitors received the most Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations with 6 nods, followed by Dancing with the Stars with 4.

Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans having started his career as JR Chandler on All My Children in 2000-2001, before landing the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout performance.

You can check out the full list of Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations here.

So, excited for Jonathan Bennett’s General Hospital debut this month? Have you ever watched Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark? Let us know via the comment section below.

 

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?

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On the April 30 episode of General Hospital, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had some choice words and warning for her brother Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) who has been masquerading as his twin, the very dead, Nathan West.

As the story has unfolded, viewers learned that Britt knew all along that when “Nathan” showed up in Port Charles seemingly resurrected with a missing 7 years of his life unexplained, that Cassius was taking his place.

Now in developments on today’s GH, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is figuring out that this guy pretending to be Nathan is someone else, and Cassius learns from Britt, that Joss is not just a ditzy sorority girl as he claimed, but a WSB agent! The moment stuns Cassius. Are the walls about to close in on him and his charade?

Courtesy/ABC

Daytime Emmy winner, Kelly Thiebaud spoke to Soap Opera Digest, about the story point and getting the opportunity this time back at GH to work with Ryan Paevey, when she hadn’t had the chance to before.

BROTHERLY LOVE?

Thiebaud expressed on sharing scenes with Ryan Paevey, “It’s just been so wonderful to have him back and to actually work with him! When he first came onto the show (as Nathan at the end of 2013) I was kind of heading out — it was right towards the end of my contract, so we didn’t actually work together a ton. It’s been really refreshing and so much fun to really spend time together and get to know each other and work together. I think we have really great on-camera chemistry and banter with each other. I really enjoy working with him.”

With the stakes at an all-time, Thiebaud explained how she views her on-screen alter-ego’s involvement with her more hot-to-temper sibling and why Britt revealed the truth about Josslyn to him. “People finding out about Cassius would expose what she’s involved in and what she agreed to do,” explains Kelly “And now Josslyn is digging around, and she’s connected to Carly (Laura Wright) to Jason (Steve Burton) and that whole dynamic! It’s messy!”

BRITT’S MURKY FUTURE

Britt has currently also reached her breaking point with Jason being carted away by the WSB, Rocco (Finn Carr), the child she gave birth to, shooting Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) to protect her and Jason, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) being killed after trying to help her, and Cullum holding over her head getting her Huntington’s disease medication to control her symptoms, while blackmailing her into finishing the research on her father, Cesar Faison’s, final project. Thiebaud summed it up best for Britt right now, sharing, “It’s been a really tough time for her.”

So, who do you think will be the person to blow Cassius’ cover? Will it be Britt herself? Josslyn? Liesl? Brennan? Nina? Lulu? Rocco, Maxie, Cullum or someone else? Let us know your pick in the comment section.

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