When the nominees were revealed for the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series for the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards, a fresh face was in the running for the first time as The Young and the Restless Allison Lanier (Summer Newman) scored her very first Emmy nod.

Lanier took over the highly-coveted role of Nick (Joshua Morrow) and Phyllis’ (Michelle Stafford) daughter from two-time Daytime Emmy-winner Hunter King, who won gold for this role in the now defunct Younger Actress in a Daytime Drama Series category.

During the Michael Fairman Channel’s 2024 Daytime Emmy Nominations Special on Friday night, April 19th, Allison was one of the nominated guests, who shared her reaction to the news that she was a first-time Emmy nominee earlier in the day.

Photo: JPI

When speaking of how challenging it can be to be a recast on a soap, and in particular on the top-rated drama, The Young and the Restless, Lanier filled us in how she dealt with it.

Photo: JPI

Allison related, “I’m decent at compartmentalizing, but yes, it was daunting. Being a recast is daunting. Going on a show, especially, one where we work the way that we do, that’s just daunting in and of itself. I do think that when you’re sort of having to follow in somebody’s footsteps, they’re (the audience) automatically going to compare you to somebody else. That’s daunting. But I do think that I was able to hold that was happening for me, but also I have to ignore that and I do have to make it my own thing, because we’re different people. We’re bringing different things to the character and that was really the only way forward for me.”

Photo: JPI

When speaking of the nominees along with her in the Supporting Actress category, of course, she is close with Y&R co-stat and fellow nominees, Courtney Hope (Sally Spectra): “I’m not as familiar with everybody from the other shows quite yet, but I can’t wait to get to know them and to see what they’re putting out there and watch their episodes and their scenes. However, I am so glad that Courtney Hope is nominated in this category. Her storyline was so heartbreaking and the way that her and Mark Grossman (Adam Newman) played that, it just like shot me straight in the heart.”

Photo: JPI

As far as what scenes were on her nominated-reel, Allison shared she first had a reel of 30-minutes in length, just to see how all the scenes played out she was considering, before whittling it down: “So, what ended up on my reel was Summer confronting Diane (Susan Walters) directly after the gala after Phyllis “died.”  It’s this kind of heartbreaking moment of anger mixed with pain and grief. I included the scene where Kyle (Michael Mealor) informed Summer that it is time for a divorce in her hotel suite. There was also one scene with Daniel (Michael Graziadei) after Summer knew Phyllis was alive, and I also had another scene with Michelle Stafford when Summer found out that her mother was alive.”

Photo: JPI

To check out the full interview with Allison, watch the Daytime Emmy Nominations Special below featuring ten of this year’s nominees chatting live.

Now let us know, do you think Allison has made the part of Summer her own? Happy to see her nominated? Comment below.

For those who were holding out hope that Daytime Emmy winner and fan favorite, Nicholas Chavez would be returning to General Hospital after filming his leading role in Ryan Murphy’s Monsters anthology, it looks like those hopes have been dashed.

According to a report from TV Line, although unconfirmed from General Hospital or a representative for Chavez, the actor will not reprise his role as Spencer Cassadine on the long-running ABC soap opera and continue the love story of Sprina opposite Tabyana Ali (Trina, GH).

Chavez was cast as Lyle Menendez over the the summer of 2023 for the second season of Murphy’s limited Monsters series on Netflix. In the upcoming season, the series will focus on the the case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, the two well-to-do Beverly Hills brothers accused of murdering their parents in 1989.

Photo: ABC

After word from Chavez casting was revealed, GH fans were concerned over the fate of the Sprina story, a spokesperson for GH shared,  “We support Nicholas’ endeavors and look forward to having him return to General Hospital once this project is wrapped.”

In story, the series “killed off” Spencer when he went overboard with Esme to the steely waters below after being injected with a drug, thanks to Esme and falling into the Seine River in France. However, his body was never recovered, and believed to have drowned or washed away. Thus, leaving an opening for Spencer to return in the form of Chavez or be recast down the line.

Photo: ABC

TV Line shared that ‘multiple sources’ are confirming that Chavez is not returning to the ABC soap opera, which is what many had suspected might be the case once he left for this major starring role in a Ryan Murphy project. Chavez has been relatively quiet on social media for months.

Photo: ABC

The Michael Fairman Channel spoke with Nicholas Chavez for a virtual interview when he first joined the show in 2021, and spoke to him right after when he won the Daytime Emmy in 2022 – you can see those below.

No word yet on when Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story will debut on Netflix, but it is assumed later this year.

So, what do you think about the news of Nicholas Chavez not returning to his role as Spencer Cassadine on General Hospital? Comment below.

Look who’s joining Justin Hartley’s hit freshman drama, Tracker! None other than another soap alum, former Days of our Lives and Supernatural favorite Jensen Ackles.

In a reveal via Hartley’s Instagram on Thursday, Ackles is set to play Hartley’s on-screen brother on the CBS procedural drama. In Tracker, Colter Shaw is estranged from his brother, Russell, which has been a big part of the mystery of season one.

Ackles is best known for his long run as Dean Winchester in The CW’s Supernatural, a role he reprised in the prequel of the series The Winchesters. He also recently starred in ABC’s Big Sky as Sheriff Beau Arlen and in The Boys as Soldier Boy.

Photo: CBS

Jensen was the original Eric Brady on Days of our Lives, a role he played from 1997-2000, before departing for the world of primetime and film.  Eric was in love with Nicole played by Arianne Zucker. The part of Eric was recast with Greg Vaughan taking over the role in 2012.

Photo: JPI

In his Instagram post, Justin thanked everyone for watching Tracker, and then revealed Ackles as the surprise casting announcement in the role of Russell, while Jensen was playing pinball in the video! No word yet on when Jensen’s first episode as Russell will air. Stay tuned.

Check out Justin’s casting post featuring Jensen Ackles below.  So, what do you think of Justin and Jensen playing brothers on Tracker? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

 

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