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Greg Rikaart Confirms Departure From Y&R Via Heartfelt Post: "I Am Sad To Leave A Place I Hold So Dear But Also Really Excited About What The Future Holds"

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

After Thursday’s devastating news for longtime Y&R fans, Greg Rikaart took to his Instagram to confirm that the reports were indeed true, and he is leaving the place he has called his “home away from home” for the last 14 years.  Through his character Kevin Fisher’s transformation from the dark side to loving good guy with an edge, Rikaart made what ever material he was given soar.

In his heartfelt post, along with a collage of memorable Kevin Fisher moments, Rikaart wrote the following message: “Fourteen years ago, I booked a two-week long gig on The Young and the Restless. In my wildest dreams, I could never have imagined what it would turn into: a career-defining experience that has brought me so much happiness and fulfillment.

Playing Kevin and watching him evolve over the years has mirrored my real life in so many ways.  We both found love, both became dads and we both have more gray hair now than we did in 2003. I have such love and fondness for the cast and crew of Y&R that when I watch Kevin enjoying himself in scenes, it’s hard to know where he ends and Greg begins.

At the moment it is unclear what lies ahead for Kevin and I, as we will be saying goodbye to Genoa City for a while. I am sad to leave a place I hold so dear but also really excited about what the future holds.

I cannot overstate how much gratitude I have to all of you who have been such loud cheerleaders for me. You’ve all enriched my life. So stick around. The journey is just beginning. :)”

Share your thoughts on Greg’s message to his fans and colleagues in the comment section below, as we now have to prepare to say our farewells to Greg and Kevin in the months ahead

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I’m so sad to see Greg leave the role of Kevin. We basically watched Kevin grow up on the show. I wish him luck, and hopefully Kevin will be back in Genoa City in the future.

Y&R loses too many of their good veteran actors. They are making a mistake by letting him go. I wish him the very best, maybe a role on General Hospital? Best of all would be for Y&R to reconsider, and to keep him on.

Thank you, Dr. HELEN, I’d love to see Greg reunited on GH with Michelle Stafford and Billy Miller, both of whom were great scene partners for Greg. I loved when Billy used to squeeze Kevin’s cheek and call him “my little chipmunk”. Imagine the sour, humorless Jason Thompson doing that and you get a reality check on all the major talent this show has lost in the past 3 or 4 years. A sad announcement indeed!

You’re welcome. That is an excellent point about the humor that we’ve lost on Y&R.

Billy Miller, Michelle Stafford, Greg Rikaart, all added their upbeat personalities to the characters.

This is sad, he is very talented. Unfortunately his character has been poorly written over the last several years. I wish him Good Luck both personally and professionally.

What a shame, Greg is one of the better actors on Y&R. Writers making a huge mistake, will lose even more fans than they have lately with stupid story lines. Example Reed? Instead of Greg? Just trying to garner the younger viewers for the summer, then what when summer ends, BIG MISTAKE, HOPE TPTB READ THESE COMMENTS.

& Mariah. Perhaps he’ll take Mariah with him.
I understand your frustration with the Reed character. The onslaught of teenagers during the spring and summer months is unbearable. Today’s teenagers do not watch daytime television. Why do TPTB continue to write these boring, stupid, ridiculous teen driven storylines as “filler” that loyal viewers do not care about?

Yuppers, Teenagers do not watch TV, they are mobile.
And, the teenagers parents are of the internet not so much sitting in front of a TV during the daytime hours to get their at home children hooked on soaps. That era is long gone.

Reed is not like any teenager guy I ever knew. He is a mama’s boy and being portrayed as a Beaver Cleaver a PSA guy. YUCK .. LOL

Perhaps Kevin could take Mariah, Devon, Hilary, and Chelsea with him while he heads out of town? Please?

Kevin is a great character. A loss for Y&R, for sure.
I wonder where and when we will next see him .

I would not like to see Kevin recast, nope … that would be too weird and wouldn’t work out.

I think he is talented enough that he will land on his feet just fine and perhaps will benefit from being free to do other things– my only question is now that Dylan is gone and soon to be Kevin who is poor Paul going to talk to at the police station– Christine? — LOL

Okay seriously, Y&R missed the boat they could have made Kevin and Scott a couple raising Bella together– and I suspect that might have been the plan, but someone upstairs got nervous and when Greg was told the story was being nixed he decided to leave—

If it was a money issue– then they should have gotten rid of Cane– how this once heroic and interesting character turned into this whiny neurotic jerk is beyond me– but watching him on screen is like nails on a chalkboard— I know when they killed the character off years back there was a big push to get him back, but honestly, if fans knew what they would do to the character I think they would have let the character RIP

tptb decided not to renew greg’s contract – this was not his decision to leave y&r………..

I am not a fan of Cane either. I really liked Lily with Daniel.

Good luck. I’ll miss you. Y&R will definitely miss you.

Continued success to you and your family.

I totally agree dmr. Devon, Hillary, Mariah are boring as heck. Now that Chloe has admitted killing Adam I just don’t care for Chelsea with Nick. I was watching it for a couple of reasons 1-Billy/Phyllis/Jack/Victoria was my favorites 2- I was hoping Sharon would end up with Scott. I think it’s a shame for months every T.V. magazine would say “Is Adam alive” ” Adam to return” etc. all to keep the fans watching. They knew Justin Hartley had another show and would not be able to do both and they wouldn’t bring back Michael Muhney because of a few seniors that should be on call.

Friday show was a Friday AND its sweeps and the show was terrible! Mariah is great BUT with the wrong cast members. Devon is as exciting as a root canal! This guy Scott is horrible! Tess is a snore! I guess now Nikki is Shirley Partridge? DUMB! Reed sucks and Ravi looks out of place! Cane is a pain! Victoria is a sad sack. Never like Chelsea. What is there to like?

I am so saddened to hear greg/ kevin is leaving Y & R.. perhaps they will write him back in the near future…. I have enjoyed watching Kevin grow up.. Good Luck to you Greg With you Nothing but the best.. Canada

Love you as Kevin Fisher watched you grow as an actor and how your character changed I will miss you but wish you all the best . I am sure you will succeed in all you do .Hopefully I will see you again on screen. Best of Wishes Greg from one of your many fans Angela

Gone miss you please change your mind and stay..will not be the.same without you.no can replace you

Well, as usual am seven episodes at least behind. Wanted something special with Kevin and Mariah; even just the friendship maintaining. Sorry to see him leave but wish the best.

I was just beginning to move into the new flow of Y & R. Depending upon how one looks at things, it was better than wanting to throw my pillow at the set for the past year. No couples seem to click. One couple always needs to hold the show. I don’t seem to mind letting so many days go by without watching. Wish the news were something I wanted to run to the set and view.

Things feel disjointed.

Big mistake letting him go. For what? The repulsive Billy, the irritating Hilary story, the sparkless Nick & Chelsea non-romance, the charmless Ravi? I barely recognize a show I’ve watched since 1974 and it’s becoming heartbreaking. Greg is talented beyond the norm, incredibly sexy, smart, and never “phones in” a performance. For more of Reed and that asinine guitar I suppose. Shame on you!

Well said, Soaphound!

Well if they didn’t want to renew his contract I don’t believe they deserve him! If true another stupid move on their part. Oh.. well maybe they should just get rid of all Emmy worthy actors!!

General Hospital

Is FBI Agent John “Jagger” Cates on the Level? GH’s Finola Hughes, Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson Weigh-in

When John “Jagger” Cates resurfaced on General Hospital in recent months in the form of Adam J. Harrington taking over the role originally played Antonio Sabato Jr,. know one knew quite sure just what side of the law is Cates really on? And, is he back in Port Charles to settle old scores with Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Jason (Steve Burton)?

What viewers have learned is that when Jason was taken captive two and half years ago, back in November of 2021, he was taken to Quantico, where Agent Cates had multiple RICO violations on Jason and was going to send him to prison for years, unless he worked for Cates and his team, in which Jason has been an informant working on the inside on the Pikeman arms deal case, or so it appears.

Now on the latest episode of Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson’s Daily Drama podcast, Finola Hughes (Anna) stopped by to chat with her GH co-stars and all three weighed-in on just what they think maybe going on with John Cates.

Photo: ABC

Bradford Anderson brought up that maybe Agent Cates isn’t working on the level. Hughes responded, “I don’t know, I’m not sure.” Burton added, “Yeah, we’re not sure. There’s some unknowns coming, so we’ll figure that out. But, it’s been a fun story to play for sure. I really like it. A lot of layers to it. I’s been excellent stuff to be back with for sure.”

Finola added, “I think we’re gonna be going through finding out who certain people are that are coming on canvas, like John Cates and Brennan (Charles Mesure) and where do they all fit in?”

Courtesy/ABC

Steve added, “You’ve got Pikeman and what their real motives are. “Jagger” obviously. And then, Pikeman is not facing on-screen.” The question of if Pikeman is a person also got brought by Anderson, to which his co-stars added, they believe it’s a company.

Courtesy/ABC

Explaining more about Brennan and what he was up to was answered by Hughes,”That’s a sort of throwback, perhaps back in the day at WSB. He just came on the canvas briefly. Nobody knows if he’s goo (or bad). I (Anna) got him put in prison, so he’s off, and out of the way right now.”

You can check out the latest edition of the Daily Drama podcast below.

Now let us know, who do you think John “Jagger” Cates is working for? FBI, Pikeman, himself, or some other unknown entity or enemy? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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News

Robin Strasser Meets Kristen Alderson’s Baby Kiera in a One Life to Live Reunion

For years, Robin Strasser (ex-Dorian) and Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) have been the best of friends and the best of co-stars. On One Life to Live, Kristen was only six-years-old when she began her journey as Todd and Blair’s daughter and met the iconic Strasser.

Now in 2024, Kristen is a new mom to her baby girl, Kiera. Strasser, who lives in New York, along with her best friend, John, traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just a few days ago to visit the Alderson family and spend the day with Kiera.

Taking to her Instagram a very happy Kristen shared, “Look at who came to visit today! Robin & her bestie John! Robin and I got all misty eyed when she met Kiera today!”

Photo: JPI

In a very touching part of her post, Alderson expressed, “Robin is such a special person in my life, it means so much to me that we’re as close as we are. She’s just the best❤️ A great day of laughs & a great brunch spread😍”

Robin added, “I’ve been smiling since I met her. I’m a big softie for babies, but what a doll Kiera is!” The Daytime Emmy-winning star, also shared, “I’m so grateful for my ongoing friendship with Kris and Kathy. Amazing women and loyal friends!”

What do you think about Kristen and Robin’s enduring friendship and recalling their time on One Life to Live? Comment below.

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General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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