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Fred Willard and John McCook Discuss The Arrival of John Forrester On The Bold and the Beautiful!

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

This week, perennial funny man and character actor, Fred Willard makes his debut on CBS’ The Bold and the Beautiful as John Forrester … the never-before-seen brother of Eric Forrester (John McCook).  John is also the dad to the beautiful Ivy (Ashleigh Brewer). So what brought this talented man, remembered for a myriad of roles including in the motion picture Best In Show, and for guest spots on Modern Family to the daytime soap opera?

On-Air On-Soaps caught up with Willard and his on-screen bro John McCook for a dishy discussion on just what is a “John Forrester” and what to expect when he hits the airwaves in episodes beginning this week on Thursday, October 2nd and Friday, October 3rd, and continuing next week on Monday, October 6th! Here are some excerpts below from these gents on the latest addition to the Forrester clan!

Willard on what brought him to B&B: “They asked me to do it, and I said ‘yes’, and then they sent me the script, and then when I got the script, I loved it.  I loved the character.  I wasn’t sure what it was going to be.  First they said, ‘Would you like to come in and work with us on a character?’ And I couldn’t do it at first.  I’d done a pilot earlier for NBC and I was under contract. So then when I called I talked to B&B executive producer and head writer, Brad Bell, and he said, ‘Oh, this is a perfect time, because we’re writing in Ivy’s (Ashleigh Brewer) father, who’s come over from Australia, and it might be a two or three show arc.‘  I said, ‘That sounds wonderful.’ And they explained the character to me, and I said, ‘That sounds great.’ And they said, ‘Slowly, we’ll move John McCook out of the picture!’ (Laughs) They told you that  … didn’t they John?  Oh, I’m sorry!” (Laughs)

Courtesy/CBS

McCook on having a quite interesting on-screen brother:  “I thought it was great and clever casting.  It was funny and wonderful.  I just hope that it works out that there is some substantive story in there too, because John is a wonderfully quirky dad for Ivy, and a brother for Eric.  I would love for it to evolve into something really precious for our show.  Who knows? We will see.”

Willard on how he views the character of John: “John is quite a colorful character to play. He seems to be kind of a world traveler, but with a lot of bologna! So I’m sure he makes up half the stories, and he’s probably in love with my own life, and he’s seem to be very fond of his own wife.  He speaks of her very fondly, and his daughter. So I don’t see any bad side. It’s kind of humorous. He’s kind of a harmless guy.  I don’t think it’s a laugh out loud part, but I think there’s a funny scene in the third episode I have. I don’t think it’s turned into a comedy. I play a quirky, kind of strange character.”

Willard on how John views the very successful Eric:  “He probably envy him quite a bit, because he’s got a real job! He try to discourage him from coming down to Australia, but I think when I see the models he works with, and the place he works in, and his friends, I’m quite envious.”

Courtesy/IMDB

McCook on the brothers back-story: “It would be interesting if we got into their history and what was their sibling relationship like when they were young men.  Did Eric get right into his over-achiever mode back then, or not?  We don’t know!”

Willard on what John thinks of daughter Ivy: “She is very attractive, and a very nice daughter.  There is a discussion in a scene I have about her that references ‘coconuts’!  I am assuming it’s an endearing term to his daughter that she is a bit ‘nutty’ and not meant lasciviously.” (Laughs)

Willard on if he wanted to ever work on a soap opera, and if he ever watched any prior to B&B: “I’ve always wanted to be on a soap opera, because as an actor, I love the way they work! They work fast and each scene is like a little quick one-act play; they don’t beat it to death. The atmosphere was wonderful. The actors who have been on the show couldn’t have been nicer. John McCook kind of showed me through the ropes and all and made me feel right at home.  You know, I watched How to Survive a Marriage, which was a long time ago, and most recently, started watching B&B.  I started watching this when I found out I was going to be on it, and I got interested in the storylines. I got to talk to Scott Clifton (Liam)!  I saw him going to Paris, and I thought, ‘Well that’s nice!’” (Laughs)

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

McCook on the chance to work with the oh-so-funny Willard: “Here is the blessing: if you are in this business long enough, you get to work with really lovely people, not with everybody.  The longer you are around the more likely it is that you get to work with wonderful people that you admire, and that’s a real blessing for … him! (Laughs)  I don’t know I feel about it!” (Laughs)

Willard on if he would come back to the soap again after his first experience: “They said if I enjoy it, then we could do it again. And I’m sure that means if they enjoy it I could do it again!” (Laughs)

And it looks like Willard is indeed coming back to B&B later this year in more episodes!  So, what do you think of Fred and John’s comments on John Forrester?  Are you looking forward to seeing John on your screens this week?  Share your thoughts below!

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I love Fred Willard, he’s so funny and very unique with his approach to comedy. He’s a straight man and funny man all rolled up in one package. He’s been a favorite of mine ever since I saw him in Christopher Guest’s mockumentary, Best in Show.
He’s also a very sweet and kind person in real life.
His appearance on Bold and the Beautiful deserves a look see. I will watch.

How do Maggie Forrester and her daughter Jessica fit into all of this? Was John Forrester the former husband of Maggie and the father of Jessica? If so, I would find it VERY hard to envision a character played by Barbara Crampton being paired with one played by Fred Willard.

Where are Maggie and Jessica? Does anyone ever mention them??

I’m looking forward to the scenes.

General Hospital

Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

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Maura West and Kelly Sullivan

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!

 

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General Hospital

Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

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Steve Burton

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.

Steve Burton

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.

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Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027

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Jess Walton

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.”

Jess Walton

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 AbbottTwo 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.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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