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Greg Rikaart Wraps His Run As DAYS Leo Stark Expressing: “Playing This Role Has Been A Gift.”

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

He took the Salem canvas by storm, earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for his role as dastardly Leo Stark and now following Tuesday’s airshow of NBC’s Days of our Lives, finished his run.  Greg Rikaart played Leo for all his worth and then some, a gay villain something truly not seen on daytime, previously.

With great zippy dialog and zingers from DAYS head writer Ron Carlivati and his writing team, Rikaart lit up the screen every time Leo trounced in to cause trouble in the lives of Sonny (Freddie Smith) and Will (Chandler Massey), and anyone else in his path in his quest for money and power (and flirting with a plethora of “straight” male characters in Salem).

However for Leo, every scheme ended up backfiring on him, complete with learning his evil mother, Diana (Judith Chapman) lied to him about John Black (Drake Hogestyn) being his bio-dad.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Rikaart said a public goodbye to the role by stating: “That’s a wrap on Leo. Thanks for all the love. Playing this role has been a gift. An absurdly fun and delicious gift.”

Courtesy/NBC

In story, after finally having no choice but to sign Sonny’s annulment papers of their bogus marriage, Leo gives the ‘Evil Eye’, a curse, and stares down and puts in on Will.  Later, Will develops a terrible headache and is not feeling well, setting the stage for the next leg of Sonny and Will’s attempts to finally be together once and for all, problem free.  But this is a soap after all, right?

So, sad to see Rikaart’s Leo exit the canvas? Do you hope they write the character back in somewhere down the line?  Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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Leo was so much fun to watch. Greg is a fabulous actor. I truly wish him well and hope against hope that Kevin comes back to Genoa City sooner rather than later.

He was fantastic in this role, especially the scenes shared with Judith Chapman “Dianna”. I hope they both return to Y&R.

Wouldn’t thst be fantastiv,Toscanti?!…Two of the best actors!!
Greg is so authentically versatile. We have seen him act the infuriating maniacal menace transforming into this really good guy ( Kevin, Y&R).
Both brought drama, comedy and hope to DOOL—-
My interest has been piqued regardless of their exiting the show….
Is Rafe Jordan’s baby’s father ( if there really is a child)?
And, is Melissa Haley’s mother? Not her sister?

Y&R is rebuilding and Greg is a block that it could use!

I am so sorry to see him go. I love Greg. He’s terrific in that role. I loved seeing him leap across the table to strangle his mother. That was priceless. They should keep Leo around. After seeing the horrible person his mother has become, Leo could slowly reform. I’m really shocked to hear this. I expected him to stay and Diana to go off to prison. Maybe they aren’t finished with her yet since she has a connection to the rotten snake Ted. Whatever happens, I wish Greg much success in his future.

Yes, what is going on with Diana and Ted? I thought her connection to him would mean she would get off. I was not expecting them to leave now. I want them on forever!!! Kinda disappointed they made John not Leo’s dad.

I have to say this kinda sucks because it was fun watching a gay villain on a soap. I think Greg was hilarious when his character would go after the straight men in Salem.

HOWEVER…I wouldn’t mind seeing him back on Y&R and Genoa City. His other character, Kevin Fisher, was alot of fun to watch too. Maybe there’s a certain soap god listening to me?…

And Leo with Gabi! Priceless. So many good scenes.

Am sorry for Mr. Rikaart to leave DAYS but could it mean a return to Y&R? Look, if a return of Adam is in the works as many here speculate, then the whole reason for Chole’s underground life is unnecessary. Like the course correction that seems to be playing out currently — JT is alive! Brain tumor caused his evil actions? Do over? — Adam’s return would nullify all that stupid story about Kevin and Chloe.

Also, DAYS does gay right. Y&R could take a lesson here.

I liked Leo Stark and the pairing of Mr. Rikaart with Judith Chapman on DAYS. Kevin and Gloria were favorites of mine on Y&R even when written poorly. You need some troublemakers with sense of humor. you need some actors who are watchable and engaging!

I would like to see Leo stay in Salem and on a road to redemption. I will miss seeing Greg Rikaart on the canvas.

I didn’t know yesterday was his last show. I’m super sad to see Greg and Leo go. He brought humor and fun to the show. And an awesome wardrobe and fun dialogue. “I”m half Black.” Calling his mother Meryl Streep. LOL

He was a bright spot on the canvas. You could tell he was having fun.

He did a great job, sorry to see funny Leo go, he was an interesting character

I can almost tolerate Leo if they give him something else to do besides come between Sonny & Will. But for Hell’s sake his bug eyed lunatic mother has to GO!

Good! Now Kevin can come back to Genoa City!

Maybe he’ll return to Young and the Restless ; however, I hope not because I’ve never liked him on that show.

They keep rotating characters on this show so when some leave it doesnt mean the end…also rumored to return is Bo Brady!!!!

Greg had a good run, making us laugh as well as hate him. I hear good old mom will be sticking around for a while. Can’t believe we will have to see this crazy curse thing continue with Will. So disappointed that he would be so susseptable, if that’s the right word, to something like that. Anyway, hope Greg finds his way back to GC, minus Chloe. Bad enough seeing her in PC. Thought she was leaving soon.

He was a breath of fresh air. I do hope they bring him back. With all the build-up, I thought he and Judith (Diana) would be in Salem a lot longer. They sizzled as son and mother.

Oh no not another one.I liked Leo he was so funny and those loud suits he would wear are something else.I thought this actor would be on the show for awhile.Everyone keeps leaving Days.Why?I really enjoyed watching him even though he could be a pain in the a-s.He made me smile something I so needed.Hope he will come back soon.

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Kim Kardashian, Emma Roberts and Marlene King Land ‘Calabasas’, a Soap in the Vein of the ‘O.C’ and ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, at Netflix

There has been lot of soapy projects coming to life and in the works of late, and now comes word that Kim Kardashian is executive producing a new series in development for Netflix called Calabasas.

After a bidding war last week, it looks like Netflix cemented the development deal from Kim, and her producing partners American Horror Story co-star Emma Roberts (pictured below) and Pretty Little Liars creators Marlene King and Alexandra Milchan.

The concept of Calabasas is based on the book If You Lived Here You’d Be Famous By Now by Via Bleidner.  King set to write the adaptation and will serve as the series showrunner.

Photo: JPI

According to Deadline, Calabasas is said to be in the vein of primetime young teen and young adult soaps the O.C. and Beverly Hills 90210. The story follows “Via, a 16-year-old sheltered Midwestern Catholic school girl whose world is turned upside down when her family moves and she’s forced to transfer to the fast world of Calabasas High where nothing is as it appears and where everyone is trying to be someone else. It’s a place where dreams come true … but not without complications and sometimes unforeseen consequences.”

Photo: Hulu

As fans of the Kardashians know, Kim and her family made the town of Calabasas a household and worldwide name. Kim being attached to this project helped make its sale. This marks her fourth project to sell since the writers and actors strikes concluded at the end of last summer.

So, would you be interested to see a teen soap called ‘Calabasas’ on Netflix from Kim and company? Comment below.

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The Young and the Restless and General Hospital Actress and Writer, Meg Bennett, Passes Away at 75

Meg Bennett, who had played Julia Newman and later became a writer for the top-rated daytime drama, The Young and the Restless has died at the age of 75.  The news comes from her family who shared that she lost her battle to cancer back on April 11th.

Daytime fans remember fondly, Meg’s portrayal of Victor’s (Eric Braeden)first wife. Bennett joined the show in 1980, after her first soap stint for two years in the role of Liza Walton on Search for Tomorrow.

Impressed by her story notes, the late Bill Bell, then head writer of Y&R, had Meg doing double duty acting and writing on the show from 1983-1987. When he decided to write off the character of Julia, he also wanted Meg to stick around as a writer.  Not only did this begin a whole other daytime career for Bennett, but she was not done playing Julia either. Throughout the decades, Julia would still come back to Genoa City for a visit. Most recently, Y&R fans saw Julia in 2018, and again in 2020.

Photo: JPI

Bennett also appeared on Santa Barbara and was a writer on that show as well from 1991-1993. She played the role of Megan Richardson. It was next that Meg had her longest writing stint coming to ABC’s General Hospital. Meg wrote for GH from 1993-2011.

In 1995, Bennett won her first Daytime Emmy for writing and her personal life changed after falling in love with nine-time Daytime Emmy winner, former GH head writer, Bob Guza Jr. In addition, GH also utilized Bennett for her acting skill when she was cast as the villainess Allegra Montenegro.  Meg and Bog Guza were officially married in 2004 and purchased a home once owned by Boris Karloff and Gregory Peck.

Photo: JPI

Additionally, Meg wrote for The Bold and the Beautiful 1987-1989 and later served as a executive story consultant to Brad Bell from 2002-2004.  She also wrote for Sunset Beach, Generations and GH: Night Shift throughout her writing career. She went on to win five WGA Awards for GH and Santa Barbara.

Meg is survived by her husband of 19 years, Robert Guza Jr., two stepdaughters, four grandchildren, a brother and a sister.

Share your remembrances and condolences for Meg Bennett via the comment section below.

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Breaking News

Steve Kent Reportedly OUT as Sony Pictures Television VP in Charge of DAYS and Y&R

On Friday, reports surfaced that Steve Kent, Senior Executive Vice President of Programming at Sony Pictures Television, is no longer with the company and overseeing the Sony soap operas, Days of our Lives and The Young and the Restless.

According to Soap Opera Digest, a set side source reported that Kent’s last day was last Friday, April 12th, which was one day after what would have been his final appearance in his Sony VP role at the Days of our Lives 15,000th episode on set celebration.

During that ceremony, Kent gave a brief speech giving kudos to DAYS for its incredible milestone. Days is a co-production of Sony Pictures Television and Corday Productions, while Y&R is produced by Bell Dramatic Serial Company in association with Sony Pictures Television.

Photo: JPI

Kent started his soap opera career as a producer for CBS’ defunct Capitol and then as the supervising producer of NBC’s Santa Barbara from1984 to 1993.

Photo: JPI

At Sony, before his role overseeing the soaps, Kent was Senior Executive Vice President of International Productions for Sony Pictures Television International department.

If reports are true, the question becomes who has taken over his position, and would oversee DAYS and Y&R from the Sony side? Share your thoughts on this developing story via the comment section below.

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