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Burgess Jenkins Opens Up About The Reason Behind His Decision To Exit The Young and the Restless!
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
As fans of The Young and the Restless know, late last year Burgess Jenkins departed his role of Billy Abbott, and wss eventually replaced by Jason Thompson.
Back in November of 2015, soap fans were informed in a statement by Jenkins that he chose to leaveĀ the CBS Daytime drama citing one of the main reasons for his decision:Ā “Itās been a terrific time, but after a lot of thought I have made the difficult decision to leave The Young and the Restless.Ā Commuting back and forth from the East Coast where my home and family are based has been challenging.”
Now in the Winston-Salem Journal, Jenkins revealed more details about why he chose to exit the primo role.Ā It had toĀ do with wife, Ashlee Jenkins who was battling breast cancer:Ā “I departed the show because my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer back in November, and continuing to travel back-and-forth from the East Coast to the West Coast every week would have made it impossible for me to take care of her.
Jenkins addressed why the couple chose not to make any public announcements until they got a better idea of her prognosis. āAt this point, however, we know that she is going to be OK … just in for a long and grueling battle with chemotherapy and radiation. Which stinks, but itās a real blessing just knowing when we wake up in the morning that sheās not fighting for her life…. Itās great to see her back to normal.ā
Burgess also addressed how touched he has been by the fans support from his work on Y&R: āThe fans have been tremendous, a great outpouring of folks either asking me to stay or wishing me well, which is appreciated. Itās nice to know that youāve told a good story and left an indelible mark.ā
According to the Winston-Salem Journal, the actor is currently back w0rking with Actors Group, an acting school he started in Winston-Salem that helps prepare students for film and television work. āItās a studio Iāve had going for nine years and something that I love dearly, so it is good to be back in the saddle with my other instructors and students. Frankly, nothing is more thrilling than watching the students grow and succeed and book work.ā
Share your thoughts on Burgess opening up about why he left Y&R in the comment section below!
It looks like the current run of Lucas Adams (Noah)Ā and Tamara Braun (Sienna)Ā 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.Ā 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 āin whatever way they wantā her or ājust as a guestā for its upcoming 30th season.
The View’s season 30 will kick-off this fall in September. OāDonnell explained, āTheyāre bringing back all the hosts, I think. And, you know, Iām pretty proud of that show, what itās become and how it really speaks to the people and to politics.ā
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 didnāt sit right with me, you know.ā
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, itās 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 Iād 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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Burgess…glad to see your priorities were in the right place. And good news to hear about the improvement in your wife’s health problem.
Good for him, putting his family above all else. Hope she becomes a cancer survivor.
I completely understand Burgess and Ashlee’s decision to not go public at first about her breast cancer diagnosis until they had a much better idea of what they were dealing with. That’s a very private issue and should be dealt with accordingly and only shared with others when the affected parties are ready to share the details of what’s really going on.
I wish Ashlee a speedy recovery and it is refreshing to see a husband give up a very good paying job to spend more time with his ailing wife and family.
Good luck and best wishes Burgess and Ashlee!
I’m happy for the Jenkins family. I wasnt a big fan of his Billy Abbott BUT warmed up to him and thought he was finding his way. I’ve often said, if Jack Wagner DOES NOT want to return to GH, I think Burgess could play that character.
What a good man to put his wife’s care above his career. All the best wishes for them and their family.
You were a great Billy…..wishing you the best !
I applaud him for putting family first before work, but he was very miscast as Billy Abbott from the get-go.
Best wishes to him and his wife in the days ahead.
Unfortunately at some point everyone faces health issues, either their own or someone they love..even people we watch on TV to sometimes escape our own problems.
Wishing the best for rhem.
Happy to hear that your wife is doing much better now. I loved watching you on The Young and The Restless ā¤ļø.I was so sorry that you left but we now know why. You are a wonderful husband to have made the decision that you did. Family comes 1st. My best to you and your wife. Ashlee is a lucky woman to have you support her through this. Hope to see you back on tv one day soon. Best Wishesā¤ļø Good Luck to Ashlee
This demonstrates what a well ground person he is. I applaud his decision and wish the very best for Burgess, Ashlee, and their entire family.
THIS IS A REAL MAN WHO PUTS HIS WIFES HEALTH AND FAMILY BEFORE HIS JOB…..MISS YOU….. WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GOOD HEALTH AND MUCH SUCCESS….
As a husband and father you done good!!! I do miss you playing Billy but you are where you should be. Praying for the best for your wife and family. I’m also a 16 year breast cancer survivor.
May God heal her body! I’ll pray her strength in The Lord!
I am happy that his wife is doing so well. What a good man, to put his wife first.
I would love to see him back in the role of Billy Abbott now.
Love watching Y & R, your role as Billy & love all the actors in the show. We are so far behind in episodes her in Australia, I have watched Y & R for many years now. Wishing your wife all the best for a positive and speedy recovery, she is very lucky to have such a wonderful and caring husband, family always comes first. God bless you all.
Wishing all the best with love, hugs, healing, prayers and blessings.
Oh my gosh, way to go BJ, being the leading man in your own life. What a wonderful man. My prayers go out to his wife going through this battle. I found a lump recently and it is terrifying just dealing with your own thoughts and imagination. , so I’ll be praying for peace for her through this battle. Praise the Lord they are a team. Support is such a wonderful gift in marriage. He seems like a real gentleman from what I’ve heard out of him in interviews.
Wishing the best to you and your family! Happy to see your priorities are in the right place. Happy to hear the good news about the improvement in your wifeās health. God bless!
Another wishing the best to you and your family.
You have better things to think about, but I had fallen into your Billy.
I gotta say…as time went on, Burgess’s, uh, take and all on Billy Abbott ended up boring me. But, the fact that Burgess is so HANDS ON in taking care of his wife as she’s battling breast cancer…to me, that is an example of A REAL MAN!!!!! BRAVO TO YOU, BURGESS!!!!!