News
Burgess Jenkins Makes Statement Confirming His Departure From The Young and the Restless!
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
The Young and the Restless and Burgess Jenkins (Billy) confirmed on Monday that he is indeed exiting the number one daytime drama series.
Jenkins, in a statement related to the fans: “It”s been a terrific time, but after a lot of thought I have made the difficult decision to leave The Young and the Restless. Commuting back and forth from the East Coast where my home and family are based has been challenging. I’ve had a great ride in Genoa City and I will miss our talented cast and crew tremendously. I would like to thank all of the amazing fans for their support, Jill Farren Phelps and Chuck Pratt for their excellent leadership and everyone at Sony and CBS for this opportunity.”
In addition, there is no word yet or official confirmation that Y&R will be recasting the role at this time. Stay tuned as developments warrants, if there will indeed be a new Billy Abbott in Genoa City, or not.
So, what do you think of Burgess’ statement? Do you think the series should recast this once pivotal role to the canvas? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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So was it his “difficult decision” to leave or was he given his “walking papers” as reported by Daytime Confidential?
I wondered the same thing as I read this. Did he leave or was he fired??
I know that Jenkins is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I even saw a video (maybe on Entertainment Tonight?) in which Jenkins discussed flying back to North Carolina every weekend as the Y&R filming schedule gave him 3-day weekends. Thus, what he says here about “commuting back and forth to the East Coast” appears to me to be accurate.
Often when a show wants to ‘fire” someone they will give them the option of quitting first–it causes less back lash with the fans toward the show if it sounds like the actor wanted to leave instead of being shown the door. Whether this was the case in this instance I don’t know, but whenever I heard the standard I needed more time with my family line, it sounds like spin to me.
Did you read this>>>>Jenkins, in a statement related to the fans: “It”s been a terrific time, but after a lot of thought I have made the difficult decision to leave The Young and the Restless. Commuting back and forth from the East Coast where my home and family are based has been challenging.
He should have been featured in more shirtless scenes.
A lot of people complained that he looked “too old,” well maybe the sight of his muscular arms and chiseled abs would put that to rest. The guy was 10x hotter than Billy Miller and David Tom combined.
Carolina, what show have you been watching?! Burgess Jenkins is NOT that attractive and I’m gay! I’d rather take Billy Miller and David Tom over Burgess any day of the week!
Now, having said that, Burgess just wasn’t working as Billy Abbott. He’s just an “okay” actor whereas Billy Miller and David Tom could act circles around Burgess big time! Between those two actors, they have 4 Emmy’s and Burgess, well, he’s got none.
No one questioned Steve Burton when he used this excuse when he left GH. On the other hand, working on a soap is a privileged and I’m not sure many would walk away from a decent paycheck?
Everybody knew Burton was going to Y&R just a matter of how quick after he left GH.
Aww Hate to see you go . You are a great actor. I believe they should bring in another Billy For what will happen to Victoria if you don’t Bring in another Billy?
I never bought him as a replacement for billy Miller. Too preppy. Kinda hated him.
If he wants to act, a lot of jobs are in California so does he think he can get another job closer to home? Don’t understand. Regardless, glad he is gone. He never caught on and should never have been hired.
Very nice
There is still some (though not much) filming in North Carolina and a lot in Atlanta. Those could be closer flights for him. Theater is huge, obviously, in New York so their is that acting option too. Billy Miller was huge shoes to follow, and David Tom was all wrong. I can think of so many people that could have made a descent Billy if Miller was not coming back. I personally don’t think Burgess is a “bad” actor, just not right for the role. Though, I tolerated him A LOT better than Tom’s adult version.
Billy Miller has been hard to replace!
Now what another Billy Abbott recast?! – What the hell is going on at Y&R?!
Oh so he left the role! Good for him! Just like the lady that played Avery, they wanted to get off the mess of a show.
The “Mess of a Show” is the #1 daytime drama and I bet lots of out of work actors from OLTL and AMC would lineup to be on it!
Yes …. but honestly if you were an actor, would you want to work with Jill Farren Phelps as a boss?
And having Chuck Pratt be the man who writes all the stories?!?
I think the role of Billy Abbott should be given a loooooong rest.
I would rather see that too, su—it’s ok to recast Billy but give us some time to get Burgess’ portrayal out of our systems because the new guyis going to have his own spin on who Billy is and it would be too confusing. That’s where the problem was when they went from Billy Miller to Burgess Jenkins in less than the blink of an eye.
James people will forget Burgess in no time! I think people are putting Billy Miller behind to. They just need to find THE guy and dont rush it!
Suoooo Do you remember when Blake Hood played Kyle Abbott? I think if this guy is free he would make a fantastic Billy Abbott. He would fit right in and fans already liked him. He’s been gone long enough that he wont be connected as Kyle.IMO
Your a genius! Love it!
Yeah I think a rest is needed, especially if they are going to screw the recasting up like they did before. But I hope that at some point they do bring the character back. I actually think Brandon Barrash (Johnny, GH) would make a good Billy. Remember the hot guy who played Lucy’s husband on 7th Heaven? I saw around the time they hired Burgess that he posted an Instagram saying he was auditioning at YR. He’s not and could be Billy. Agree with Nikki that we all like Blake Hood. Wish he had never exited or would be brought… Read more »
Yeah, Blake Hood would be too young as Billy and besides, he was Kyle Abbott and to bring him back as Billy would be way too confusing.
AGREED!
Some roles are difficult to recast…Ryans Hopes Mary Ryan after Kate Mulgrew Left and Jacquie Courtney who played Alice on Aw but Susan Harney did a fine job but the three actresses that followed did not!…many shows had horrible recast too numerous to mention here and there have been some good ones where the recast were better than the original but here with so many obsesssed with BM as Billy no recast stands a chance…best to either kill off Billy or wait a year or two to recast!
Jim, I think you and I must be the only two people in the world who thought Susan Harney did a good job as Alice. I agree with you that the remaining three recasts were not nearly as successful. I thought all three of the replacement Marys on RH were good actresses, but none of them had that “something extra” that Mulgrew had. Billy Abbott should theoretically be recastable, but I don’t think it’s just people’s obsession with the previous actor—it’s another Kate Mulgrew situation in which they’ll need to find someone who has that extra factor, not just someone… Read more »
I missed Jacquie but i liked Susan just as much that the recast was barely noticeable…this was perfect case of recasting…i did like NG as the last Mary Ryan and i consider her an almost perfect replacement…Kathleen Turrner who played the 2nd Nola on the Doctors and Kim Zimmer who repaced her are good examples for perfect replacements…i think Kathleen Turner wouldve made a perfect Mary Ryan on Ryans Hope had they got her instead of the Doctors…on AW i believe Tina Sloan as Alice after Susan Harney wouldve worked and Ron Tomme ex-Love Of Life wouldve made a fine… Read more »
I remember when he first took over the role he wasn’t interested in watching how Billy Miller made the role his own. Justin Hartley handled the Adam role like any professional actor he gave MM a nod for making the role his own. He also realized how central Adam is both onscreen and to the diehard fans MM still has MM communicated to his fans to treat Justin well and that meant a lot to me. I already knew Justin from Revenge so it’s not hard to adore him. Although we can’t have MM back, I think Justin has staying… Read more »
i really don’t think it would have mattered if burgess jenkins researched the roll or not because tptb/writers wrote the character so different from when billy miller was playing the roll………………..
I am okay with him not watching how a predecessor did the role. That wasn’t the problem. The problem is Burgess can’t act and this role never fit him. I don’t know why he was hired. It has been very painful to watch him in the role. Whether it was his choice or not, I’m glad he’s gone. I hope the role is recast and with a credible actor. Y&R made a successful recast with Adam (twice) so it can be done.
Your right, Chris Egan was really good as Adam before Muhney came along.
Does anyone know whatever happened to Chris Egan? Met him years ago at a Kate Linder Charity Tea in Vancouver and such a nice guy. Was so sorry when he left the show. Do know he is a musician too. Maybe working at music now instead?
Who cares what MM told his fans. Justin Hartley certainly did not need a nod from Muhney. He is a far superior actor both prime time and big screen.
It was a class act move by Muhney. It doesnt happen much in Hollywood!
Classy is as classy does. No one said JH “needed” MM’s blessing, but it was a classy move given the controversies and the upset from MM’s very passionate fans (which clearly you are not one, and that’s okay, but they do exist) for MM to say “support this guy!” and walk away with dignity and no shade. Similarly, JH acknowledging what MM did to take the character to another level when he took over the role–creating a popularity that allowed JH to even have the job, was sheer classy move. It’s not about comparing the actors anymore or throwing shade… Read more »
Billy Miller’s Billy and Burgess’s Billy were two completely different characters. If Billy A was played like the Care free playboy after Delias death it would not have been believable. Billy A had to nature into an adult grieving the loss of a child. There was nothing for Burgess to research.
How do we know that Milly Miller would not have grieved his daughter as a parent should have? He is the most expressive actor….his face is an open book. Carefree? We never got the chance to really see how far Billy’s pain would have taken him. Instead we got emotionless Burgess who could not even squeeze a tear out of his eyes. Someone dared to even suggest that he was better looking than Miller and Tom put together? Wow!!!! He is not a handsome guy…below average in looks, as I see it. Besides, looks should not matter if the acting… Read more »
I agree. Plus, an actor must have charisma/simpatia. Burgess is not easy on the eye either; however, personality and savior faire would have compensated for that. He is just colorless. I do not think that the comparison to Billy Miller should matter; a good actor should be able take over any role. Look at Hartley. I think Burgess came in with a chip on his shoulder, trying his damndest to be Billy-like. Burgess took his anger with the world, and his cockiness too far. Thus, he connected with neither the audience nor ( I think) his cast members. I think… Read more »
My above comment was directed to Geri L.
Correction–SAVOIR FAIRE; not savior faire….I do not understand who decides to change perfectly spelled words into misspelled ones . …..One would think these invisible people had a more than a decent vocabulary, yes?
Justin is doing a great job but I still miss Michael Muhney! I wish him well. I hope he continues to find success. I hope he has a great attorney to continue to defend his reputation. I will always feel he is a class act and a person treated unfairly.
GOOD LUCK TO BURGESS…HE TOOK A ROLE THAT NO ONE CAN FILL AND HE IS PROBABLY SICK AND TIRED OF ALL THE RUDE COMMENTS FROM MANY FANS….HE FOUND HIS WAY IN THE MATURE BILLY ABBOTT ROLE AND DID A GOOD JOB……GOOD LUCK TO HIM IN ALL ENDEAVORS…..
i can only imagine how difficult it is to travel back & forth from the east coast to the west coast – i read an article the other day where thorsten kaye (ridge forrester on b&b) was saying the travel back & forth is really tiring because he also lives on the east coast……. it took me a while to get used to burgess in this role but i have come to adore his interpretation of the infamous billie abbott – i have also seen him in other projects & he is actually a pretty good actor…. at this point… Read more »
Men and women fly back and forth all the time for their jobs and their spouses and children suffer and they dont usually make half the money an actor makes!
that is so true but i believe that there are some people who value their family time more than the money they make……………………
Wow – you need boots to read this guy’s PR release!!
Face it, dude – you were sh**-canned!!
Nice try though!!
It just shows, ALL these characters we are critical of are human beings and he is a classy human being and I wish him well. It never really clicked him being Billy but I’m afraid it may be impossible to replace Mr. Miller? Of course the same thing could have been said about Jack. Terry Lester was AMAZING as Jack but Peter Bergman came in and I couldnt imagine anyone ever playing Jackie again! So we wait and see.
I will jump in here. Y&R happens to be the only soap I know. However it stood out clearly in my years of viewing, to repeat what has already been said, Peter Bergman transformed Jack from Terry Lester’s presentation slowly and effectively into what is seen today. It is easy to criticize. Surprising to read how many came out of the wood-work when hearing about losing Burgess. I seems a lot of viewers felt Burgess was easing into a new role, creating a new character, and some like it. Perhaps more than “some.” We just didn’t tell you. It took… Read more »
Tani, I thought the same thing. Where was the Burgess Jenkins fan club before? Perhaps people are just being nice? Your right, Peter didnt just say “Here I am!” He developed Jack. Burgess never did that. It was tough because he was smack in the middle of a major story. Billy should be sidelined for a year. Maybe Miller will return by then?
Really surprised by all the hatahs throwing Burgess under-the-bus!! (Miller left the role 17 months ago, and he’s happy over at #GH … he ain’t coming back, so losing Jenkins is a good thing, how exactly?!) I think he did a GREAT job as Billy (…far better than originator and prior-cast David Tom!) So if Miller isn’t returning, what exactly is your suggestion? Getting to settle-in (allegedly) for yet ANOTHER “Friend-of-Jill” to waltz in, like say, recently-released Jason Thompson from #GH?! Yeah, THAT’S a believable recast as Billy! This show is careening off-the-rails, and those of you enabling Pratt/Phelps to… Read more »
AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID…..HE MADE THE MORE MATURE ROLE OF BILLY ABBOTT HIS OWN…IT IS AMAZING TO READ THE DRIBBLE THESE SO CALLED FANS WRITE ON HERE…..
Glad he’s on his way out, he never fit the role of Billy and was wildly miscast. As a new character, he may have done better, but he was very stiff and not charismatic enough to play Billy, especially following in the footsteps of Billy Miller and David Tom, who both did well in the role. Worse, he had very little chemistry with anyone, even Melissa Claire Egan, who has phenomenal chemistry with most everyone. As for a recast, I think they should give Billy a rest for a little while, the way they did with Adam. If they don’t… Read more »
Billy Miller is a hard act to follow. He really made Billy Abbott so integral to Y&R. Loved how he and Peter Bergman seemed as brothers. Burgess Jenkins did a fine job and the role seemed tailored to his personality. Billy cannot go away. He, more than most Genoa City folks, needs to be forefront and engaged in strong stories. Surely Y&R can cast someone to fill the part. I miss Avery! (Just had to add that!) The character had such opportunity to be the goodness in a show that seems to lack an awareness of such traits as selflessness… Read more »
They really ruined Avery!
This is what amazes me about all of this: the powers that be at Y&R seem to be listening to the fans when it comes to cast members who aren’t making the grade according to them but when it comes to story line and bad character representation they ignore EVERYTHING. I was no fan of Burgess Jenkins but I have to say that he was starting to grow into his character. David Tom never did in his short period. Let’s be honest, there will NEVER be another Billy Miller portrayal of Billy Abbott. That is just a sad truth but… Read more »
There should be another Billy. Please recast the roll.
I agree Maire – Billy is a special character.
I bet he will be one of tbose that die in the fire.
Perhaps if the powers that be were to continue the actor swapping, maybe he could be a possible recast for Lucky Spencer of GH?! It would be nice to see more Spencer’s on GH
Too old and thats just the beginning!
It’s always sad when actors get fired because the nature of the business is so unpredictable. It’s always a relief when actors voluntarily decide to leave instead.
I will miss you Burgess, I have loved you on Y & R and you rocked as Billy. We will miss you and I hope we get to see you again soon.
I agree Summerfire63! Burgess did a great job portraying the mature Billy Abbott who lost his daughter.
i think billy will get trapped in the fire at newman,,trying to help adam out,,so i think their gonna kill him off or be very badly injured and go away till they recast him,, if they do
0oohh ……………..
When I first saw Burgess Jenkins (Billy) I immediately saw Odo, Deep Space Nine..
And most every time there was close up I saw Odo ..
Mr. Fairman, please forward this idea to CBS. I dont want any compensation JUST an onset tour! Heres what CBS should do with the vacated role of Billy Miller. For one month, every Monday at the end of the show have an audition on air for the role of Billy Abbott. Four different actors running the same scenes with Jack the first week, Ashley the second week and so on with Victoria and Victor. Let the viewers vote and after four weeks reveal the winner by simply airing the new actors daily scenes. The benefit for the network is exposure… Read more »
“I like your well-laid-out, idea, Timmm. However, what do you think of Colin Egglesfield? I love him. He really would make any potential ‘Billy Abbott’ a run for his money. And, his eyes….so very similar. He’s so beautiful, with a personality to match. Full of vitality!
Your husband has his hands full! Colin is handsome and kind of psycho to. I dont see him as Billy. I would rather see Jason Thompson than Colin. Why? I think what they missed in recasting Billy are two things. Sense of humor and charm. Not drop dead sexy charm that knocks your socks off you but a look of handsomeness but hey, I might have a chance scoring with this guy. JT seems to have that quality. He doesnt look like an Abbott but he is soft around the edges like Miller. Burgess wasnt and Colin doesnt appear.
@Timmm. Lol, my husband loooves to have his hands full of moi. I have plenty to offer. He has known me since I was six years old, so….. JT, as you stated, does not have the Abbott look, yet, he does have Billy’s softness, as you also pointed out. I just find him way too sofisticated, for lack of a better word. I actually think Hartley would have made a betterBilly Abbott and Jason T as Adam. Then, again, an over-the-top-fantastic thespian, such as Justin H is able to assume any role, as we have seen him do. I never… Read more »
I wish him all the best. It’s never easy I’m sure 4 any actor to assume a role that had a favored original. He has done a good job and I wish him all the best for him and his family. 40+ yr viewer of soaps.
True, Dawn…it’s just too bad….though, he did crack a joke today, in the burning stairwell, when Victor was trying to revive Adam by lightly slapping him……while, as he woke, Adam said, “The devil”. Billy/Burgess’s retort was, “Yeah, he just slapped you”. Lol. The dry humor in that sentence simply slated me. More importantly, Burgess’ delivery was impeccable.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch (chapel) Nikki is praying for that same devil. Ha!
Slayed, not slated…auto correct is for the birds.
Well, as said before, this is the only soap I know. Wish Burgess were staying. There have been too many “shockers.” My set is fast-forwarding more than one would wish.
Just to add a odd thought had a long time ago when Stitch arrived; he looked like a Billy.
I seem to be one of the few who thought Burgess was doing a very good job. It took a while for me to get used to him in the role, but he eventually won me over, and I’m sorry that he won’t be staying on as Billy Abbott. From what I’ve been reading (above) many fans thought Burgess ought to have tried harder to be Billy Miller in the role, but a professional actor knows that he (or she) must do their own interpretation of any role, especially if they’re filling the shoes of a much-loved just-departed actor. I… Read more »
Reading through all the comments, there was not one recognizing the fact that Amelia Heinle has now had multiple Billy actors to try and seamlessly blend her background relationship in scenes to make it believable. No one seems to give her any credit for the skill this has taken in her own acting both close or not close to Billy depending on the scenes and current plot. As acting is so much more than just saying memorized lines, it’s often more about reacting to what is being said by the other actor. For Amelia to be able to bring her… Read more »
I’m sorry to see him go..he really made Billy a more grown up Billy….he’s a handsome man & good actor & I wish him well….I can imagine the commute must be terrible but in this day & age it just seems foolish to leave a soap with a steady pay check & a good part. I hope it was his choice…it just seems he would have relocated his family if he thought his job was secure….This is just my opinion….Y&R has too many recasts…this will not help that show at all! 🙁
im so sorry you are leaving,I think you are a great actor.
Burgess will be missed as he did a terrific job of playing Billy Abbot.
It took me a while to get used to Burgess Jenkins in the role of Billy, but he did a fine job at the difficult task of adjusting to a new role while the character himself was in the middle of adjusting to his new role of grieving father. That’s a life-changing thing! I’m sorry to see Burgess leave and I wish him all the best. I do hope that the writing for Billy Abbott and ALL other characters on Y&R will improve. The writer clearly has some kind of problem with women, as he writes every female character to… Read more »
bring back Billy Miller
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