News
Doug Davidson Cleans Out His Dressing Room at The Young and the Restless and Shares, “It Was Sad for Several Reasons”
Over the last few years, Daytime Emmy-winner, Doug Davidson (ex-Paul Williams, The Young and the Restless) has been very vocal on how he had been the longest-running actor in the cast, how he had been bumped to recurring status, and then how he was never utilized again.
Davidson began his Genoa City run back in May of 1978. In the early spring of 2021, a longtime Y&R fan noticed that Doug hadn’t been on Y&R since an episode that aired back in November 2020. That’s when he tweeted, “I think I am done. After 43 years, I am treated like a day player. No bueno.”
Fast-forward, after lack of communication with the Y&R brass, and his social media updates on how he felt the CBS soap had disrespected him, to Sunday, July 23rd. Now, Davidson tweeted what would appear to be closure on the matter. For Doug, had gone back to CBS Television City last weekend and gathered what was left of his time Paul Williams.
Courtesy/CBS
Doug shared, “Well, I cleaned out my dressing room a week ago Saturday. Yes it was sad for several reasons. 1. It was my home for over 40 years and it was like a ghost town. ‘Price’ has left, and the new owner of TV City isn’t really keeping it up. The sets were all small and a bit tired.”
After receiving an outpouring of support from fans, Doug added in another tweet, “Thank you all for all the kind messages! Sending lots of love right back to you all!! And of course I’m eternally grateful to Bill and Lee Bell and CBS for EVERYTHING.”
To clarify, what Davidson was referring to in his tweet. The Price is Right is moving to new production digs for its fall season in Glendale, California called Haven, while another CBS game show, Let’s Make a Deal, will also make the move to Haven. The show has been currently shooting episodes in Sylmar, California. Both shows used to shoot at CBS TV City where Y&R and B&B are currently taped.
So, what do you think about Doug Davidson finally clearing out his Y&R dressing room? From the sounds of it, this just reemphasizes, that the character of Paul Williams will not be part of the on-screen canvas.
Well, I cleaned out my dressing room a week ago Saturday. Yes it was sad for several reasons. 1. It was my home for over 40 years and it was like a ghost town. Price has left, and the new owner of TV City isn’t really keeping it up. The sets were all small and a bit tired. ☹️
— Doug Davidson (@DougDavidsonYR) July 23, 2023
Question – Why is Josh Griffith still there???? Totally shameful!
After almost 3 years, it’s kind of surprising it wasn’t cleaned out earlier. Be weary of biting the hand that feeds you. GH has recurring veteran actors heavily involved in storylines (right now Wally Kurth, Lynn Herring). Shame Y&R can’t adjust.
And Tristan Rogers, who was once THE leading man. He was a super soap star. Tristan understood that the torch had to be passed and he he wanted to continue working. Davidson sounds like an immature prima Donna.
Doug was on recurring status and most likely receiving money from CBS so the dressing room would remain his? but recently he was let go so———-
dunno..
Recurring performers only get paid for episodes in which they appear. He would not have received any money since 2020.
There is something going on here that is bigger than any of us know. The fact that Paul was not brought back for the 50th when his daughter and granddaughter were is very telling. We have NO knowledge of what went down … we have no idea who is at fault. This show has a long history of firing people for backstage dramatics … Brenda Dickson as Jill, Victoria Rowell as Drucilla … Michael Muhney as Adam…now this. Doug Davidson seems like a nice chill guy like his character Paul was but who knows. We have NO idea what goes on backstage and which bridges have been burned. For the show to just so willingly wipe a beloved character like Paul from the canvas … that says that Doug himself may have been the problem.
Indeed, we do not know what happened; it’s such a shame that someone who was with the show over 40 years had to leave on bad terms. Someone posted on a board that she read he was invited to attend the 50th but declined to do so. Who knows.
I agree 100%! We only know his side of the story so of course his fans are going to jump to his side/defense…IMO, talking $hit about the show isn’t the wisest thing to do, especially if you want your gig back. Whatever happened behind the scenes that the general public isn’t privy to probably is a totally different bowl of soup then the one he’s serving. Imjustsaying…
I agree we don’t know the full story; there’s no way we could, of course. But to offer another perspective on the same theme: For 40 years an actor gets along fine with all sorts of PTB (including some notoriously difficult ones), and then TPTB change and the incoming ones can’t work with him? That suggests that current PTB may be the problem, not the actor. (I’m not saying that that’s necessarily the case, mind you, just that I can come up with an equally plausible scenario in which the same logic points to a different culprit. Most of the time, we never really find out/know for sure, even years later, what went on in situations like this one.)
I will point out that Sony seems willing to let the producers have their way in cases like this; they apparently let JFP drive Michelle Stafford away (and Billy Miller too), although there again, it’s hard to know exactly what went down.
It’s because he is a conservative and the brass are super liberal.
Then how do you explain Christian LeBlanc ( Michael Baldwin) and Greg Rikaart( Kevin Fisher) being put on reoccurring status? They’re both ultra liberal. There’s a whole litany of actors from Y&R being put on reoccurring status and most of them are liberal. It’s not politics it’s just the current status of the soap genre.
I agree the sets look a bit tired.
Y&R is bursting with millionaires and billionaires, belonging to a high fortune 500 high list, and yet, only 3 main families have homes/mansions of one small room lol..
GH– most all have homes and BIG room(s)..the GH hospital is huge as are the other establishments….
Y&R sets are tinny, usually a small room..
Newman mansion…A table with a chess game..a couch, a coffee table, a fireplace, and Victor’s chair all squished into a very small area….aha that’s it for a multi-billionaire’s mansion lol
GH apartment’s living rooms are huge in comparison to Victor’s mansion’s tiny living room..
Plus, the Quartermaines have multiple sets:
– Foyer/stairwell/living room
– Den/terrace
– Kitchen/patio
– Solarium (new)
– Gatehouse
– Stables
– Boathouse/dock
And that beige hotel room Sally is always in has seen more action than Grand Central Station. It’s the same damn room being used for Sally, Adam, Phyllis, Victoria, Nate, Summer and where Michael and Lauren spent their anniversary. I know I’m missing someone. When Victoria and Nate were naked in bed, I fully expected Sally to pop up from the covers.
If there is bad blood between show and star, ok… but don’t just let the character evaporate. That is poor storytelling. I think Paul Williams can be vital as a recurring character. I would accept a new actor in the role although I have enjoyed Mr. Davidson’s work through the years.
I loved Paul they need to bring him back especially with the Phyllis thing being revisited when she hit him and Cricket. He seems like a nice guy but who knows what he’s like behind the scenes.
I am sad and disgusted the way CBS and The Young and the Restless treated Doug Davidson. He was on the show for 40 years and was a faithful cast member plus he was a great actor. I watched him from the time I was 11. I hope that Bradley Bell will bring him to the Bold and the Beautiful and if not General Hospital needs to hire him. He would be a great addition to either show
Except we don’t know the actual details of how he was “treated” — or how he treated the show and its cast/crew — only what Mr Davidson has said. Y&R will not be able to comment on personnel matters for legal reasons so we will likely never know the actual truth. It seems odd he still had anything in his dressing room when he hasn’t been on the show literally in years. Finally, semi-related, the last thing General Hospital needs is another senior citizen in its cast. The vets on that show, and there are a lot of them, get plenty of air time for senior representation.
And it may very well be that Doug is Y&Rs Ingo, they are just quieter about it all around. Just speculating, btw.
the story lines are as tired as the sets. All they do is eat, drink and change high level jobs that always seem so readily available.
What a drama queen! He was offered the same deal as Laura Lee Bell, and she accepted it, and she’s still on the soap. It’s been five years. He needs to stop his bellyaching. No wonder he’s a MAGA.
Laura bell is the highest paid actress only because she is by their daughter! That’s bull and she isn’t a very good actress either!
Where are your resources coming from ” Pennywise” on highest paid actress.How ignorant.
Josh Griffith WAKE UP CBS/SONY get rid of this idiot – he’s had runied this show, I am sure Bell’s are turning in their graves.
Why does CBS keep him?
Letting Doug Davidson go after 40yrs is shamefull, CBS shame on you, but you keep Josh Griffith there with the storylines that are repeats that NO BODY CARES about seeing.
We need Gina G back, we need fire on the show, its boring!!!
The Phyllis vs Diane we’ve seen this before its’ old. Who cares……..
A show that has lasted this long will be buried soon!
Agree 100 percent
I agree.
Doug had 43 years–
Nothing lasts forever…
Is Y and R studio moving also? Where?
I think he would do real well at General Hospital . They should create a character for him there.
Missed you, “Paul”—one of my favorite characters, who unfortunately was given a heavy burden to bear—Sainted Holy Christine—
While the writers are waiting for David to clean out his dressing room, they should clean out Sharon’s character and bring her up to speed to this century. Mama bear should look for a Papa bear to lay-herself-down…..Not bear cubs!!
This is not only stupidly redundant but also disappointing. I feel that Summer and Chance had vibes between them. All Sharon has is probably more experience in the boudoir.
I did not feel the sexual tension between this mother-and-son kind of relationship—Gimme a break!!
PS—To be fair? The Nick and Sally “saga” is just as pathetic.
I actually like Adam with Sally—-Everyone has slept with each other over and over—-and the discordant best goes on—
I know I’ve said this before—all remaining soaps should just get one big gigantic bed and have all the characters share it. Nothing original . Nothing inspirational.
Haha really!!
Real total crap…not even an exit story from an actor who gave decades to the show.. Y&R has the worst environment out of all the soaps. This nver would have happened if Bill Bell had been there still helming the show. That man has to be turning in his grave seeing how his legacy is being shown today.
It is not the same show DD had some great storylines over the years . Enjoy your retirement Doug.
Except Doug Davidson didn’t “give decades to the show.” It’s not a charity. He was paid for his work — and he was extraordinarily fortunate to have a steady paycheck for decades in an industry where job security is fleeting at best.
We don’t know what actually went down behind the scenes, but Doug was vocal in publicly criticizing the show and that’s a big no-no not only in showbiz but most businesses where employees are not allowed to talk poorly about their employer.
And Bill Bell was all about bringing in new generations, new families and knowing when a character had run its course, so I’m not sure it’s fair to speculate on how he would have handled this.
The problem started when the show offered him a recurring status and not a contract which has been happeing with many veteran actors on the soaps. He made his feelings very public and the show decided not to use him. Lauralee Bell and others accepted that offer and still appear on the show. He took a chance and thought he could win by criticizing the show in public and lost that battle. I also remeber the story of him physically attacking Nelson Branco at an awards event.
I’m sure the decisions made on actors and set are all because of the bottom line. Money. Years ago the budget was limitless, now, their budgets have tight purse strings, and they’ve cut down on everything and anything they can.
I’ve watched you from day 1, it pretty hard when some people leave, and ar no longer cast on the show.youu are greatly missed, I pray you find some comfort, being with your wife and your new journey in life.., Not forgotten.
I thought Doug did an excellent job and should have been on the show more than what he was really is going to be missed bad mistakes CBS
The Young and the Restless enduring favorite and two-time Daytime Emmy-winning actress, Jess Walton (Jill Foster Abbott) is set to release her memoir!
Kensington Publishing has revealed on their website that Walton’s book The Young and the Rest of Us is now available for pre-order while listing an April 27, 2027 release date. In addition, in June of 2027, Walton will mark her 40th anniversary with The Young and the Restless and her debut as Jill.
The official log lines for the memoir share, “Emmy Award-winning actress Jess Walton, known to millions as the iconic Jill Abbott on the #1 soap opera The Young and the Restless, shares her extraordinary journey to stardom, sobriety, true love, and self-discovery in this startingly candid, intimate, and star-studded memoir.”
Photo; Kensington Books
CAKE FIGHTS AND CORPORATE INTRIGUE
The book description for The Young and the Rest of Us adds, “In June 1987, Jess Walton walked through the artists’ entrance at CBS for her first day on The Young and the Restless,where she had just been hired to play the recast role of Jill Abbott. Two Emmy awards, four decades, and countless onscreen affairs, marriages, corporate takeovers, and cake fights later, she’s a beloved icon with an astonishing tale to tell.”
“In her refreshingly candid style, Jess shares her journey as a young actress from Toronto theaters to Los Angeles, where she found herself at the center of a Laurel Canyon circle that included the likes of Neil Young, David Geffen, Laura Nyro, and Joni Mitchell. Landing a Universal contract and a steady stream of guest starring roles, Jess embraced everything 1970s L.A. had to offer—including Hollywood parties fueled by limitless booze and drugs, and trysts with stars. She recounts with candor and gratitude the surprising path that eventually led her to sobriety, true love—and ultimately, to fictional Genoa City, Wisconsin, and the role of a lifetime.”
“Brimming with behind-the-scenes drama and celebrity cameos to delight fans, The Young and the Rest of Us is also rich in personal, relatable truths about marriage, motherhood, empty-nesting, self-discovery, and finding the courage to start over—as often as it takes. In a voice as fearless and frank as Jill’s, but with, humor and grace all her own, Jess Walton looks back on a life as unpredictable, and adventure filled as anything she has portrayed on screen.”
WHO ELSE PLAYED JILL FOSER ABBOTT?
Fans of The Young and the Restless know that Walton became the fourth actress to take on the role of Katherine Chancellor’s original nemesis Jill Foster back in 1987. The OG Jill was played by Brenda Dickson, also Deborah Adair, Bond Gideon and Melinda O. Fee played the part.
This year, Days of our Lives star Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts) filled-in for several episodes for Walton who was unavailable to travel from her home in Oregon to Los Angeles where Y&R was taped. Walton is still with the long-running soap opera as Jill.
So, excited to learn of Jess Walton’s upcoming memoir, ‘The Young and the Rest of Us?’ Will it be it a must-read for you? Drop a comment below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Heated Rivalry’ Star Franco LoPresti Opens Up About ‘Days of our Lives’ Debut as Dante Vitali
Next week on Monday, September 14 will mark the first appearance in Salem of Franco LoPresti in his new Days of our Lives role of Dante Vitali.
Heated Rivalry fans now LoPresti very well from his part as hockey player Cliff Marleau in the series first season. (No word yet if Cliff appears in season 2).
Now in a conversation with TV Insider, DAYS fans will learn that LoPresti is on the soap for a limited run. No timetable was given.
Photo: Corday Productions, Inc
When LoPresti does burst onto the scene come Monday, Dante makes quite the impact as Franco LoPresti explains. It seems that viewers will first see him in scenes in Monte Carlo at a poker table with none other than Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) and Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier). However, Dante will come to Salem to talk to the Brady family about his supposed fiancée Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney).
Franco shared, “Dante was born and grew up in Italy and educated at this pretty top-tier English boarding school. He then went on to build his own dynasty in finance, all the while trying to distance himself from the Vitali name (as viewers know Tamara Braun played his cousin Ava Vitali).”
“But at the core of Dante, there’s definitely an old-school quality to him”, continued LoPresti. “He’s super passionate, he’s sincere and incredibly generous, but he’s also someone that you probably shouldn’t underestimate. Loyalty is something that means a lot to him. As Dante enters Salem, I think the audience will get to slowly peel back those layers and discover what’s really driving him. So, I’m excited for Days fans to go on that ride with Dante.”
Photo: Almay
As it turns out, LoPresti taped his episodes of DAYS starting back in November 2025 which happened to be weeks before Heated Rivalry became a smash hit.
Franco recalled, “It’s so funny because I thought my episodes would air in a month (on Days of our Lives). But I found out it was nine to 10 months and I was like, ‘I gotta wait that long?!’ So, I’ve been biting my nails, trying not to think about it, and I think it’s actually kind of helped because now it’s here and it’s all coming at me from all different angles. I’m nervous. I’m excited, and I just can’t wait to see it all come together. It’s one of the best jobs I’ve ever had for sure.”
In his personal life, Franco just had his first child with wife, actress Emily Alatalo, just a weeks ago on August 23rd when they welcomed their daughter, Stella into the world.
So, looking forward to seeing Franco LoPresti’s debut come Monday? What do you think about the fact that it’s being reported as a limited run? Do you think Dante and Sami have a chance on-screen or off-screen to be a happy couple? What do you really think brings Dante to Salem sans Sami? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ vs. ‘The Young and the Restless’ in a Soap Opera Showdown on ‘Flip Side’ Season 3 Premiere
CBS daytime dramas, Beyond the Gates and The Young and the Restless go head-to-head when two featured cast members from each show compete on the syndicated game show, Flip Side for its season 3 premiere.
Hosted by Jaleel White (best known as Steve Urkel from Family Matters) and filmed near Atlanta, Georgia, daytime drama fans should circle Monday, September 14th when you can catch: representing Team BTG, Colby Nixon (Kat Richardson) and RhonniRose Mantilla (Chelsea Hamilton), and Representing Team Y&R, Bryton James (Devon Hamilton) and Lily Winters (Christel Khalil).
In the upcoming soap opera showdown, the competing teams will win prize money for the charities of their choosing, when White tests both teams on how they think opposite groups of people feel about the same topic, and to see which team will make it to the final round.
Photo: CBS
Flip Side’s loglines shares that it’s “an original, laugh out-loud survey-based game show that pits two teams of contestants against each other, testing them on how they think opposite groups of people feel about the same topic. The teams compete for a shot at $10,000 by guessing the top answers based on anonymous surveys – which can be provocative, surprising, and often humorous. Throughout each episode, host Jaleel White brings a fun and comedic energy to the show while also guiding the contestants through the questions.”
Season three leans deeper into exploring relationships, dating, social behaviors and everyday life situations that viewers can relate to. Season three also features multiple celebrity episodes benefiting charity kicking off with the CBS soap showdown.
In addition to airing Monday to Friday in syndication on stations across the country, Flip Side has a second run on Game Show Network. So, check your local listings for times in your area, or catch Flip Side on GSN.
So, who do you think wins the soap opera showdown between BTG’s Colby and RhonniRose vs. Y&R’s Bryton and Christel? Make your picks in the comment section. But first, check out a bit of the action from the episode below.
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