News
Burgess Jenkins Shares Parting Y&R Sentiment: "Farewell GC, Thanks For The Memories!"
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
Burgess Jenkins, who wrapped his run back in November as Billy Abbott on The Young and the Restless, but whose last episode aired this week, took to Twitter on Friday to say his final goodbye to the number one soap opera. Jenkins tweeted: “Farewell GC, Thanks for the memories.”
His departure makes way for GH fan favorite Jason Thompson who will takeover the role on-air on the Wednesday January 13th episode. Jenkins leaves the show after only a year and half when he debuted back in June of 2014. The actor’s casting came about after Daytime Emmy winner David Tom was let-go following the series bringing him back to the role he originated. Tom returned after Daytime Emmy winner Billy Miller opted out of the part, and eventually headed to GH.
Back in November, Jenkins made this statement publicly: “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.”
So, what do you think about Jenksins parting words? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
General Hospital
RATINGS: ‘General Hospital’ Shows Most Gains in Total Viewers Week-Over-Week and Up in Key Demo
The ratings are out for the week of August 24-28 for your favorite broadcast television soaps, and it was ABC’s General Hospital which added the most total viewers and planted itself firmly in third place in its battle with Beyond the Gates in the key demos of women 18-49 and 25-54.
According to Soap Opera Network, all daytime dramas were up year-over-year, and General Hospital was joined by The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful with gains in their total audience viewership, while Beyond the Gates was only slightly off pace for the ratings week.
Let’s take a look at what had viewers tuning-in, starting with General Hospital, who added +79,000 viewers. While still under the 2 million viewers mark (which they can hopefully return in the coming weeks) their overall tally was an average of 1, 935,000 tuning-in, while still up year-to-year +136,000.
GENERAL HOSPITAL
In addition, GH while actually down from the previous week in the 18-49 ratings share, they still out performed Beyond the Gates for third place. However, GH was firmly in third place for the 25-54 ratings share.
The stories that were featured for the week included: Anna’s (Finola Hughes) PTSD and struggle with painful memories tied to Cesar Faison, and her concocting a plan to get rid of Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) recording Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) threatening her, and later running into a severe threat from Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) regarding Kai (Jens Austin Astrup) and Drew’s (Cameron Mathison) shooting, and Drew enlisting Ava (Maura West) to gain leverage over Jack, which resulted in Ava drugging him, while Drew went snooping for the evidence Brennan had against him.
Photo: JPI
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
Y&R remained in the top spot amongst all the soaps once again with 3,062,000 tuning in, and up +35,000 for the week, while year-to-year still showing strong gains at +231,000 viewers. However, while Y&R remained #1 for the 25-54 ratings share, it fell to #2 in the 18-49 ratings share behind The Bold and the Beautiful.
In story for the week, Nick’s (Joshua Morrow) sobriety in rehab was a focus, as was Victoria (Amelia Heinle) and Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) hitting the Jabot office couch and having sex for the first time, and Lily (Christel Khalil) and Billy (Jason Thompson) battling over control and ownership of Chancellor Industries.
Photo: JPI
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
B&B is continuing to be inch closer to Y&R for the top spot, separated by a little more than 300,000 viewers. For the ratings week, the series posted a total audience of 2,719,000 adding +31,000 eyeballs overall, and like Y&R, is up year-to-year in its performance.
The CBS soap now , now in its 40th season is +217,000 from the same time last year. In the key demos, The Bold and the Beautiful was in the top spot for the women 18-49 ratings share and number two for women 25-54.
In story, the major threat to Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and Finn (Tanner Novlan) and Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) and Daphne’s (Murielle Hilaire) marriages continued as Steffy and Carter swore they would not tell their spouses that the two had a drunken hook-up. But as viewers know now, Steffy is pregnant!
Photo: CBS
BEYOND THE GATES
Beyond the Gates tallied an average of 1,611,000 total viewers for the week, up +72.000 year-over-year and down slightly in tune-in for the week losing just -36,000 viewers. The CBS soap came in fourth place in the key demos for the week behind General Hospital, with whom they are often trading places for the third spot.
In story, after Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) was released from the hospital, Hayley (Marquita Goings) stuck to her plan, doubling down on poisoning him and even getting caught in a major lie or meeting with Randy (Maurice P. Kerry), as Vernon (Clifton Davis) may be on to her machinations.
The ratings report is generated from Nielsen (Live+Same Day Big Data + Panel) for the week of August 24-28, 2026
So, what did you think of the performance of General Hospital for the ratings period? Which daytime drama has you most likely to tune-in each day? Which has you tuning-out? Let us know what’s working, or not working for you in story, via the comment section below.
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.
The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.
Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.
Photo: JPI
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST
Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”
Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”
Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”
Photo: JPI
KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”
You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.
So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!
The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.
TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.
That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.
Photo: ABC
STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES
GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.
Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).
Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.
GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS
Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.
Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.
So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
RATINGS: ‘General Hospital’ Shows Most Gains in Total Viewers Week-Over-Week and Up in Key Demo
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
‘General Hospital’ to Rebroadcast Special Episode in Tribute to Anthony Geary
Vivica A. Fox Exits ‘The Young and the Restless’ For Now to Film Netflix’s ‘Women Like Us’
Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
‘General Hospital’s’ Braedyn Bruner Reveals Her Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and How Emma is Getting Her ‘Edge’ Back
‘General Hospital’s’ Bluesy Burke Marks 1 Year as Charlotte Cassadine: ‘It’s The Best Gift I’ve Ever Received’
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
‘Beyond the Gates’ vs. ‘The Young and the Restless’ in a Soap Opera Showdown on ‘Flip Side’ Season 3 Premiere
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom Talks Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and What’s Behind Katie’s Deep-Seated Issues with Dylan (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Did Brook Lynn Deserve Chase Walking Out on Her?
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General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’ to Rebroadcast Special Episode in Tribute to Anthony Geary
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News1 week agoVivica A. Fox Exits ‘The Young and the Restless’ For Now to Film Netflix’s ‘Women Like Us’
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News2 days agoJess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
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General Hospital7 days ago‘General Hospital’s’ Braedyn Bruner Reveals Her Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and How Emma is Getting Her ‘Edge’ Back
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News5 days ago‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Drops First Look 40th Anniversary Opening Title Sequence
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Interviews6 days ago‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Kelly Sullivan Talks Becoming Darcy Dylan, Who’s Melissa’s Dad, and Future Love Interest (Exclusive)
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News3 days agoY&R’s Co-Head Writer Jamey Giddens, Ahead of November Stories and Scripts Debut with Dan O’Connor, Explains How Fall Tees Up Their Plans for Genoa City
He has star qualities…
I agree. I think he is very good looking & did a fine job with the repetitive material he was given. He came in at a bad time & never got out from under it (the Delia grief/Adam vengeance. He had to play sad/angry the whole time. One thing I know, Patrick Drake would never have left Emma alone in a car with a puppy at night! For that reason alone he will be a better father/Billy than Billy Miller, ha.
See ya. It was painful watching you.
What a nice person you must be.
Your right Mo, he just never seemed comfortable with the role. He did do some of his best stuff at the end but he just had impossible shoes to fill.
But he’s a damn fine actor and he gave it his all. I do think giving him some respect as he makes his final bow is warranted.
Also, these last few weeks he put in an emotionally compelling and winning performance.
He was damned from the beginning trying to fill Billy Miller’s shoes. To many, Miller WAS Billy Abbott. Hell, even David Tom who originated the role of Billy Abott as a young adult was lambasted and fired after a short month. He did a great job and I wish Jenkins all the best.
wow – no mention of the fans or anything – hmmm………….
that speaks volumes but that is just my opinion
Well, he was lambasted from day one. We are passionate about our soaps and we all judge harshly. We did give him a chance but it was impossible to fit into Billy Miller’s shoes. JT was terrific on GH and I just think he has more abilities and will pair up with Victoria quite well.
yes a lot of soap fans do judge harshly & sometimes too harshly – i love jt and i think he is a fabulous actor – i just hope the y&r fans give him a fair chance
I just wish he had punched Victors smug face just 1 good time before leaving!
From your mouth to God’s ears. I’m not even interested in this new development that Billy, Kevin & Billy are involved in. It’s gotten so unreal. Victor finds out and he’ll win again. Victoria makes me sick as well. He goes to the hospital pretending to support her and pumps her for information about the project that Billy has been trying to get the money for and still she just hugs him and sucks up to him. I wish she’d tell him where to go. Now Adam id trying to bring him down, and we already know it wont work. It’s really getting boring.
Totally agree. I know I’m in the minority in most quarters, but I absolutely hate the character Victor Newman. I used to love to hate him, now I just hate him. There is not one single redeeming quality about this character and I at least need something to like about any character, especially “villains”. Agree about Victoria, as well. Just ONCE, could she insist that he STOP insulting Billy in her presence? Stop calling him “Billy Boy” to her face? There is nothing but disrespect coming from his mouth. It makes me sick that no one can win against him. I am so bored with the whole thing and the Victor character could be killed off tomorrow and I’d cheer; wouldn’t miss him one bit. I always fast forward thru his scenes and never miss a thing because all he ever does is repeat himself, ad nauseum. I always wonder, doesn’t EB get sick of saying the same words over and over for years & years? How boring. Gah…
Ok, that makes me feel better to get that rant off my chest. Thanks for listening! 😉
Tough role to fill, but he did an awesome job. Wish he didn’t leave. Best of luck!
I wish him luck. I had finally accepted him as Billy. He did a good job taking over the role after much upheaval. I hope he finds new roles quickly.
Sad to see him go but family always comes first. Looking forward to seeing Jason Thompson as the new Billy.
At least he got a fair shot playing the role of Billy. David sure as hell didn’t get a fair shot.
Well, I hope the best for BJ. It was an admirable job. Peace out.
They were smart enough to realize early on David didnt grow with the character, Billy. Nothing personal but they needed him to grow older and he didnt. They really hoped Burgess would work but he was too wooden. They were patient but in the end it didnt fly and JT was available. He will be great!
Although David originated the role ( and I loved him in the role, as much as Miller), he never lost his baby-face looks. I think that’s what did it. David was perfect in the role, as a teen, but as an adult, Billy Abbott needed that mischievous charm-quality only Miller could deliver. And, he flew with it. Billy Miller perfected the role.
I may sound mean and unappreciative, but, in my opinion, Burgess had neither the finesse nor the personality to gift us with a true representation of Billy Abbott. The stage is yours, Jason Thompson…..now DANCE!!
David was great as a teenage Billy but pathetic as an adult Billy with hard knock experience. It was a correct and resounding NO from fans of the character.
HE DID A GREAT JOB…….HE MADE THE ROLE HIS OWN AND HE BECAME VERY LIKEABLE……..NO ONE IS BILLY MILLER AND I SERIOUSLY DOUBT JASON THOMPSON IS GOING TO WORK OUT. GOOD LUCK TO A HANDSOME, GOOD ACTOR…….
JT will work. He and Jill look like mother and son, he will mega bond with Victoria and JT is a proven 10 year vet coming over from GH and had a great deal of success playing a diverse character. THATS why I know he will do well is because he has great range. Watch and see.
I agree with you, Timmm.
I cannot wait until he is on. Y&R needs him desperately. He is not only an actor, but one that makes you feel things. He can be heartbreaking, funny, sexy, mean, etc. He is everything that Billy Miller brought to Y&R. It’s time for a shakeup!
Billy Miller is not even Billy Miller. He made Billy Abbott fun and heartbreaking to watch, but now on GH, ugh, he is soooo boring. That is because the character of Jason Morgan is so boring.
I agree Chrystie, Billy Miller had a chance to add character and dimension to Jason. He should have been a cross between a Q and a Morgan. He acts in limbo most of the time and it is almost FF worthy! You keep waiting for him to breakout and remember who he is. People complained about Fluke, to me, this is getting to THAT point where they are wasting our time! EVERYONE knows he is Jason. Bring back his memory NOW! We need doctors so I’m leaning towards him being a Q. Make him a bad ass Q! Who cares, pick a side and lets go with it!
I think the writers don’t know what to do with Jason anymore. The character should have been left dead and Billy Miller should have come on as an entirely new character. These writers don’t know when to let go of a character. (Paging Franco.) Roger Howarth is great and should have been allowed to create an entirely new character of his own. And Robin should have stayed dead, in my opinion, which would have allowed Jason Thompson to move on a lot faster and perhaps into more meaningful story lines. And when the writers do bring in new characters, often it’s a fail because it’s with newbie actors who don’t yet have the experience or reputation capital to really make a character their own. (Valerie and Kiki for example). Look at Hayden and Eva — seasoned actors + new characters = success.
Jenkins job was not to portray Billy Abbott as a younger version of Jack Abbott. For this reason alone, Jenkins succeeded. The character of Billy Abbott is important to Y&R regardless of who portrays him. As St. John said: “I don’t care what the other guy did. That’s his time.”
Hi, Lillian,
Be that as it may, Jenkins did NOT succeed. Rejection from fans does not fall under ‘success’. I feel that the majority of us did not accept Jenkins because of his aura or lack thereof.
Hello CeeCee,
The majority of opinions does not erase the minority of opinions. Too much focus on soap actors have been placed squarely on their physical appearance. Billy Abbott was a more responsible adult under Jenkins. The writers have reversed course with the gambling and drinking. Unless Billy Abbott has zero dollars to his name, there is no logical reason for a multimillionaire many times over to be beaten up and in the hospital.
@Lillian.
I stand corrected with the majority comment. You make more sense than I do. LOL. I just never accepted him as Billy. So, I should not have generalized.
I couldn’t understand why Billy’s behavior made a U-turn suddenly. Obviously, in hindsight, it was to prepare him for his exit. And, yes, some of these scenarios are hard to swallow. As you say, why is Billy broke?
So passionate about our soaps! Wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’m sorry to see him go. He made Billy his own. Much success in the future.
I liked him as Billy Abbott. I thought that he made the role his own. And as great as Billy Miller was as Billy Abbott, I’m not sure that his charm would have been enough to play the never-ending grief that Burgess (and David Tom) had to play.
I think Jason Thompson will do well, because he’s such a gifted actor. But this is a tough role with a tough audience.
Best of luck to Burgess in his new endeavors and to Jason on YR.
I feel.
out of all the Billy recast fail, that Jason will bring it home..
He has so many acting levels and if nothing else, his handsome good looks will put him in the slot..
I could simply look at the man and he would make it good for me..
I betcha he will grab the golden ring 🙂
Range, He has a lot of range and that will be his strong suit in being the next great Billy Abbott!
Who knows why he left and who made the decision. This is CBS, they never speak up about casting decisions. Remember the Michael Muhney disaster! But anyway, Burgess, you had huge shoes to fill and you were coming into your own but I think everyone will be better off just wrapping this experiment up and welcoming Jason Thompson. So long Burgess, I hope you find another gig for you and your family.
Too bad, he was hot. Not sure about this new guy playing Billy.
I finally got to really like him as a more mature Billy….he’s a great actor & I’m sad to see him go.As much as I like Jason Thompson I will always think of him as Patrick on GH…a character I loved…..I know Burgess said it was because of the commute but I just wonder if there’s more to this story than we’re hearing…..it’s hard to believe that in the world of acting when parts can be ages between jobs that someone would leave a secure job for the unknown….Michael Fairman what’s your take on this? whatever the case, good Luck Burgess Jenkins …..I wish all good things to come your way!
I wish you the best, Burgess! May God keep you!
Those who say the physical appearance of an actor doesn’t matter if one is a good actor are, perhaps, too secure in their thoughts. Burgess diverged too much from the previous Billy.
However, I enjoyed the change and evolution; wish he could have stayed. I haven’t watched this week, but am not liking another departure of a very good actor subsequent to being beat up by the mob. Nor, was the demeaning death of Kelly deserved by a very fine actress who was lead down an awful road by the writers.
To Burgess here is wishing you the best.
Burgess, did a fine job. Much more believable than Thoms.
Miss the old Phyllis can’t be replaced!!
For those saying Burgess Jenkins made the role of Billy his own, I agree. Yeah, he made him lose his pizzazz. He was nasally,, rather one dimensional, said “Vic” one too many times and did not hold my interest. But now Billy Miller does not hold my interest as Jason Morgan on GH either.
I can’t wait for Jason Thompson. He will kill it as Billy Abbott. Mark my words.
I loved Burgess Jenkins in the role of Billy! In my opinion he was more believable in the role than the last two actors. Good luck, Burgess. Such a good actor should have no problem finding work. God bless….
Jenkins was the best thing on the show! I’ve watched Y&R since almost the first episode and Jenkins is adorable and the only lovable actor on this fast-aging show. They should get rid of Chelsea (thank God they got rid of Chloe) Those aren’t actresses, they are geese squawking. They talk in their throats instead of projecting their voices. Send them to a voice coach for everybody’s sake. I hope to see Jenkins soon again. Bill Bell needs to be let go. He’s lost his marbles.
I loved you as Billyand will miss you but, family first. I wish you success.
I hate to see him go. I feel he was the perfect guy for the role. I hope he changes his mind and soon. Not sure I like his replacement.