News
Jason Thompson Talks With ET Canada About His New Y&R Gig, Playing Billy Abbott, and Upcoming Fatherhood!

Courtesy/ETCanada
The Young and the Restless Jason Thompson (Billy Abbott) received a visit from ET Canada, when they stopped by the set of the number one American soap opera to catch up with the Canadian-born soap star!
During their video segment, Thompson shared his enthusiasm in stepping into the role of bad boy- gambler-drinker-father-businessman-lover, Billy Abbott, and all that comes with that. Jason also shared that in a short amount of time he is already learning from his new A-list Y&R castmates.
Jason expressed that what he is loving about playing Billy thus far is that he has a really big heart, and that the guy, “doesn’t always make the right decisions sometimes, but he tries to come from the right place.”
As soap fans know, Thompson and his beautiful wife Paloma Jonas are expecting their first child. ET Canada asked Jason if he is ready to be a dad to which Jason replied: “It’s something I have always wanted, and I have an amazing woman to do it with. This kid has already hit the jackpot with her.”
Watch the ET Canada visit with Jason Thompson here.
So, what did you think about Jason’s thoughts on the character of Billy Abbott, and that he is happy in his new soap home? Are you excited for him that he will soon be a first-time real-life dad? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
General Hospital
Could Justin Bruening Join ‘General Hospital’? Set Visit with Wife Alexa Havins Stirs Fan Hopes

Several famous couples met on All My Children; one of which is Justin Bruening (ex-Jamie Martin) and Alexa Havins (ex-Babe Carey, now Lulu Spencer, GH). The two met on the soap and married back in 2005 and share four children together. Fast forward to 2026 and Havins, who is currently in the middle of Lulu’s legal battle with Willow (Katelyn MacMullen), received a visit from her hubby on the set of the ABC soap opera.
Bruening took to his Instagram to share his visit to Port Charles with a series of very cute photos of the couple, which then lead fans to hope that a Justin sighting could potentially lead to a role on the show!
Taking to his social media, the first photo was captioned, “I’m lost….Can someone point me in the direction of a good hospital?” Next, Justin selected a pic with himself and his wife, sharing, “Oh! Here’s someone! Lulu, you say? Hmmm….That’s weird…you look familiar. Have we met?” In a follow-up photo, Bruening commented, “You’re cute….. What are you going to do with the rest of your life? I’m thinking……… 4 kids? House in the burbs? 1,001 pets?”

Photo: JPI
FROM PINE VALLEY TO PORT CHARLES
Then, Bruening included a photo of himself in front of the photo of his former on-screen brother, Michael E. Knight (ex-Tad, AMC) who now plays Martin Grey on General Hospital.
Taking to the comment thread was Alexa Havins’ on-screen son, Finn Carr (Rocco Falconeri) who shared, “This is amazing!” In addition to many fans who now hope that Justin might one day soon join the cast of GH.
“Does this mean you’re coming on GH or just visiting your beautiful wife,”expressed one fan. Another wrote, “Ooh, any chance we’re getting a cameo? Tell Alexa she’s my fave on the show.” Another had a casting idea, “Make Justin Bruening a Dillon Quartermaine recast!”
Alexa Havins played Babe from 2003-2007 on the beloved ABC soap opera, while Bruening played Jamie from on and off from 2003-2011 when the series was canceled by ABC.
Since his days in Pine Valley, Bruening has appeared on primetime in series including, Ravenswood, Grey’s Anatomy, and Sweet Magnolias.
Justin recently wrapped The Other Side of the Window, a thriller where the loglines share: “CEO Elise Dufoe must work with unconventional allies to clear her name after her husband dies mysteriously and she is framed for financial crimes.” The feature is said to be in post-production.
So, did you love seeing Justin and Alexa together in the new pics? Would you like to see Justin land a role on GH? If so, who should he be cast as? Weigh-in via the comment section.
News
Erika Slezak Fan Club Celebrates 55 Years with Special Note from Six-Time Daytime Emmy-Winning Icon and Expanded Website Content

It’s a big week for fans of One Life to Live star Erika Slezak (ex-Viki). The six-time Daytime Emmy-winning star’s fan club turns an amazing 55-years-old under the constant care and development from Walter Miller.
To celebrate, there is so much more to see at ErikaSlezak.com, which includes a very heartfelt message and thank you’s from Erika herself; recalling how she met Miller and more and the start of the fan club back in 1971.
Erika expressed, “Hello to all my friends who have been with me now over 55 years. It’s absolutely amazing. A charming and very young man approached me as I was leaving the studio during my first year on OLTL and asked me if he could start a fan club for me. I was very young as well and really knew nothing about fan clubs, etc., but he was so nice and sweet, so I thought, why not?”
The iconic actress went on to say, “And that was the beginning of a wonderful long friendship with Walter Miller, who has been so incredible in being in charge of the fan club and all that that requires. I am so grateful to him for all that he has done over the past 55 years and for our enduring friendship all these years.”
Overwhelmed by her loyal fans, who have been with her for decades, Slezak added, “I never dreamed that the club would last so long, and it is solely due to Walter and all the others who have contributed to the club and website — Angie Schneider, Kit Williams, Stephen Schofield, Vivian Mora-Robaina, Martha Julian, Mike Poirier, and so many others. Can’t quite believe that it has been so long — seems like yesterday. Thank you all for staying with us. And God bless!!”

Photo: ErikaSlezak.com
Now, ErikaSlezak.com has added dozens of new and updated links to rare videos, historical photographs, original newsletters, and treasured Fan Club memorabilia which includes:
Watch Erika Through the Years! The expanded Media section features decades of television appearances, interviews, rare videos, and special moments. Visit Emmy Awards to enjoy acceptance speeches and performance reels celebrating all six of Erika’s historic wins. And don’t miss Erika on General Hospital — 2025, featuring 61 video clips of her scenes as Ronnie Bard, plus photographs and interviews.
Rediscover One Life to Live! Explore Victoria Lord’s memorable storylines, including newly added links to original Fan Club newsletters covering Family Feud, Viki in Heaven, the Old West, Eterna, Viki’s Stroke, and Viki’s Heart. Visit Erika in Her Own Words for Erika’s own recollections preserved in the newsletters, and discover Agnes Nixon’s heartfelt messages in our Congratulatory Booklets.

Photo: JPI
Photographs, Clippings & Fan Memories! The reorganized Photo Gallery features improved decade collections, additional Lord family photographs, and wonderful new finds. The Clippings archive has grown to more than 500 newspaper and magazine items spanning six decades. Super Soap Weekend brings together Vivian Mora-Robaina’s memories, photographs, and ten video links! Our Fan Club Gatherings and Erika with Her Fans — Through the Years collections are now connected, making decades of memories easier to explore.
We Love Hearing From You! Visit the Comments page to tell about your favorite Erika or One Life to Live memory, and more.
A special thank you from Michael Fairman TV to Walter Miller for including some of our wonderful video interviews with Erika over the years! Make sure to check them out.
So, let us know, have you been a member of the Erika Slezak fan club throughout its 55 years? Have you checked out Erika’s website with all of its updated content? Miss seeing the iconic star on daytime? Hope she returns to GH as Ronnie one day soon? Let us know via the comment section.
News
Y&R Adds Tetona Jackson as a Recast Roxanne and Fareed Ward as New Doctor in First Casting Hires Under Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor Writing Regime

There will be some fresh faces in Genoa City this fall when the character of Roxanne Barrington returns to town now played by Tetona Jackson, and Fareed Ward takes on the new role of Dr. Andrew Bishop.
The castings are the first revealed from The Young and the Restless’ new co-head writers, Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor, whose material begins airing November 11 on the CBS daytime drama series. TV Insider first broke the news.
The timing of a Roxanne return is intriguing since the original portrayer, Tatyana Ali is back in the pop culture zeitgeist currently competing for the Len Goodman Mirror Ball Trophy on Dancing with the Stars.

Photo: JPI
In story, Devon (Bryton James) and Roxanne were on-again off-again for several years from 2007-2013 until the character left town. Tatyana Ali actually picked up three consecutive NAACP Image Awards for her work on Y&R.
While a newcomer to daytime, Jackson has been a series regular on BET’s Boomerang, the CBS comedy series, Poppa’s House and had a recurring role in Freeform’s Good Trouble that also featured former General Hospital star, Bryan Craig (ex-Morgan Corinthos).
As for Fareed Ward, his new character of Dr. Andrew Bishop happens to be a medical colleague of Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic) and Stephanie Simmons (Vivica A. Fox). While Stephanie serves as chief of staff at Genoa City Memorial Hospital, Nate recently returned to medicine after undergoing surgery to repair a debilitating hand injury from an altercation with Devon.
Ward has appeared in several primetime series including: CBS’s CIA, FBI and S.W.A.T, the comedy series Will & Grace and Netflix’s Graveyard. He also had a stint on All My Children as a character named Larry.

Photo: CBS
Expectations are high for the the new co-head writing regime of two-time Daytime Emmy Outstanding Writing Team nominee, Jamey Giddens (for his work on Beyond the Gates and Days of our Lives), and for Dan O’Connor who at one time was the co-head writer of General Hospital and also known for his lengthy tenure at One Life to Live and more recently as part of the writing team at Days of our Lives.
It was back on July 29 that CBS and Y&R announced their replacements for the head writing gig after Josh Griffith decided to step down from the position he held since 2019.
So, what do you think about Y&R bringing back Roxanne and introducing us to a new doctor? Excited to see how they fold into Jamey and Dan’s stories? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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He was probably licking his chops AND shaking in his boots to play Billy Abbott. First, as an actor, how fun would it be to play Billy with so many quirks? His character on GH became stale. They just didnt have anything for him to do until he and his family sadly left the show. Now he gets to play a character where there is always something going on and his cast of characters are legends. Thats the shaking in the boots part! Not only being recasted as a popular character but he has to act with Jess, Eric, Peter,ect. That had to be nerve racking BUT Jason is a pro and he MAY just end up being better than Billy Miller. Give him some time but MAYBE?
I agree.
And actually, I know it is early and all, but I already
do like Jason better than Billy Miller in the role.
Billy Miller was great as Billy BUT Jason Thompson is a way better actor. Sometimes that doesnt matter, sometimes you are successful because of the character but JT’s strength is working with kids and you saw, day one, him and Delia’s scene was great!
Me,not so much.Where,all of a sudden,did he get that deep voice!Nope,don’t like him
I think JT’s already better than Miller as Billy Abbott. JT is a really good actor and he’s charming. Miller also is charming, but his acting skills are fairly limited. In fact, Miller has really been struggling since the Jason reveal and it’s painful to watch him.
I’m happy for JT that he has such a juicy role, and happy for me that I get to see him in a role that already gives him more to do than he had at GH.
Trudy, I was going to go there about Billy Miller over at GH but I didnt. BUT, since you brought it up, I agree, Billy Miller has been sleep walking though his scenes. I dont know if he is bored or what but it has been tough to watch. Maybe its a writing issue? I do know that this has turned out as bad as the whole Fluke fiasco!
hi Timmm..
I feel bad for Billy Miller under the snooze writing of J&S of the Jason character..
He has been written into a coma, he can only act/do what they give him and the material J&S have written for Billy/Jason is horribly dull/lackluster..
At times I can imagine RC writing for Billy/Jason and it would be total high suspense drama not this snore fest he has been given..
Poor Billy probably falls asleep on set, and I don’t blame him, I fall asleep too..
Timmm
I think that Billy Miller just isn’t a good fit for Jason Morgan. Billy has a lot of charm and energy, so much energy that he’s often jittery on camera. All of that worked reasonably well as Jake Doe, but doesn’t work at all as Stone Cold Jason Morgan.
I think that the writing doesn’t help – dragging out the reveal and still dealing with his memory loss more than a year into his tenure is just painful. He needs more story. They could start with him finding himself as a father with both boys and looking for the truth about what happened to Jake on Cassadine Island and to himself, as well.
It looks like it’s painful for him, too. He just hasn’t found a way into this role, but I don’t think it’s a lack of trying. He seems like he’s trying hard to me, but just not finding his character. I think soap acting is a very tough job: lots of lines to learn; one or two rehearsals, one or two takes; and a new director every episode. Reading JT’s exit interview on this site gave me a new appreciation for hard these actors work. So I feel sorry for Miller and wish that the GH writers would just start writing him as Jason 3.0 and target the character to Miller’s strengths as an actor.
@Timmm… I’m in complete agreement with you in regards to Jason’s
stellar performance on Y&R, his character Billy is multi faceted.. He’ll
be juggling quite a few balls at the same time, which will keep it interesting
& Jason interested. Unlike Billy Miller on GH who has been dialing in his
performances of late…
really nice post, Timmmm
1. i’m just so happy to see the Abbotts in front row seats again… Jason Thompson has brought game on… The Abbotts are in full force! I LOVE IT. dang the tired Newman
2. just seeing the pedigree and high brown from which to cull;
Jess Walton : Jill Foster Abbott Chancellor….. whodathunk! ? ! ? her alone is more than enough energy for Jason Thompson acting chops
LOL… I still can’t believe it tho… he’s been awake … since??? last Wednesday … and still no sign of Jill?
Y&R has to rectify this…. so damaging to their own show
otherwise… I’m loving the excitement this is generating… and Y&R needs this
they are #1 by default….
* high brown ; HIGH BROW
Thanks Patrick. They do this on GH to. You;ll see a character and then for no logical explanation they are missing and NEED to be there! Get Jill on set!
Timmm, Nanci, Trudy, su, Fanny,
I have been saying basically the same since the Jason reveal that Billy Miller is not even being Billy Miller on GH (that was when many were saying no one could touch his performances as Billy Abbott). I went back to GH because he was there, but I gotta tell ya, as much as I love Emme (went there for her too), Billy, and of course Maurice, they just can’t keep me tuning in. They have completely ruined any potential that Roger Howarth and Michelle Stafford had for any kind of characters as their characters currently are deplorable at best and horrible together.
I love GH but if ABC was looking to get out of the soap business, now is the time! There is not ONE story that I need to follow now or would be eternally scratching my head wandering how it ended if the show went off the air. THAT is a crime!
I disagree. Nina and Franco are doing just fine for me. I don’t care if I’m in the minority. Michelle is ‘doing’ much better as Nina than Gina as Phyllis. However, no one complains about that…..matter of opinion, I guess. I would much rather see Sam disappear than Nina. But, that would be unreasonable. In my opinion, Stafford is a much better actress.
As far as Jason Thompson, I was one of the first to sing his praises. But, he is not the Billy Abbott we knew. And, that’s fine. Jason Thompson is ‘tops’! Love his acting, in any role. Whereas, Billy a Miller is drowning as Jason Morgan. He is a different person, with a different personality and attitude. He will, therefore, bring his own kind of ‘WOW’.
I feel the same, Chrystie. The ones who have gone to GH just seem
so wrong there…never would have imagined before now that Billy Miller
could literally lull me to a nice catnap while watching him. But on GH,
the times I tuned in ( never watch GH), to see him or Michelle Stafford
for that matter, I am totally bored.
Timmm, Nancy, Trudy, Su, Danny and Christie,
I think that Jason did a good job as the nuBilly. I still don’t see him as Billy. I still see him Dr Patrick Drake. The scenes that Billy Miller had with Michael Muhney, during the time leading up to Delia’s death, were amazing. Of course, we agree to disagree. Cheers!
Give him time, give him time. BUT, you may never see Jason as Billy and thats okay to. I just know this, you will enjoy his acting. He is really good!
Abruzzfan – Before I forget, my Italian roots are in Abruzzo (Pescina)!!
I still see him as Patrick Drake – how could you not after his being on there for 10 years, but I see him as a BETTER Billy Abbott then the last two. I was just warming up to David Tom as Billy again and then they yanked him, but I never warmed up to Burgess Jenkins. I see Jason Thompson taking Billy Abbott to new heights (if the soaps continue). I know with Jason Thompson that he can play multi-faceted and that is what we are getting. It will be good. Just give it some more time.
I agree the final scenes with Billy Miller and Michael Muhney were incredible. Billy Miller was so good at playing Billy Abbott because he was able to be charming and naughty yet be a good father. He bores me to tears on GH.
Hi Timmm – Yes, I agree that Jason Thompson is a great actor, and I will eventually adjust and love watching him on Y&R.
Chrystie – Wow! My roots are from L’Aquila… neighbors and hard headed. LOL 🙂
I was starting to warm up to David Tom too just before they yanked him. It was very sad to see them yank the original. I thought that Burgess did a good job playing the darer Billy. Billy Miller won 2 Emmys for Billy Abbott in 2010 & 2013. He was such a great Billy! Even though I think we need new writers at GH, I could watch Billy Miller anyday, regardless of the slow writing.
I love my soaps. Hoping for a turnaround. It is so nice to share with fellow soap friends. 🙂
HE’S A GOOD GUY AND DESERVES NOTHING BUT THE BEST. Y&R definitely hit the jackpot with him!
That was a cute little video. I am HOPING that Y&R will live on for years to come so that we can see Jason Thompson sink his teeth into the character of Billy Abbott. Billy has been on this merry-go-round for a few years now. He is kind of a loafer that does not have a steady job. One of the worst storylines was burning down Gloworm (thereby ejecting the fabulous Judith Chapman from our screens) in favor of that stupid On the Boulevard restaurant that Billy bought and then it just kind of disappeared.
Add to the fact that we used to have Victor refer to Billy as “Billy Boy” every once in awhile, but now it is just about every freaking scene. The time is WAY overdue to let Billy Mature into a gainfully employed father/brother/husband and stop with the gambling. Or if they are going to continue with the gambling then at least show him getting therapy for it otherwise Billy just becomes Sharon (who never heals) and Kevin (who never grows up). Y&R it is time for some character development!!
I agree Chrystie – (thereby ejecting the fabulous Judith Chapman from our screens). We also don’t get to see too much of Michael now either – very sad indeed! Y&R it is time for some character development!!
Jason Thompson is a fantastic multi faceted actor. He will make Billy his own and will be so memorable.
I agree with you, Michele. We all, I would think, had our doubts. Mine have been dispelled, after waiting and watching with trepidation. Jason’s reception has been positive, indeed. This proves that an actor/actress needs to connect with the audience, as do cast members. Jenkins did not….never would have, regardless how much he tried. Too languid for my taste…just my opinion.
Another character who needs to take a hike is Dr. Anderson. Now, I understand that her villainy does not help her much, however, even the most diabolical character, sometimes (Faison; Dr O) find a little place within us, if not our hearts. But, this Anderson woman offers nothing redeemable. Again, this is another nonsensical storyline, where the viewer is treated as an idiot. Why did Nick and Sage have to go through such lengths to delve into the doctor’s past? Golly Gee, in this day and age, where everyone’s life is public knowledge, they cannot find the doc’s maiden name? Ask Dylan…he’s a cop now, right? Ask Victor….the guy can swim both the Red and the Black Seas, reaching the other side hale and hardy……Victor can do anything; has the world at his disposal; he’s invincible ….C’mon!!!! I think Nick and Sage have bitten more than they can chew. Enough of this, please!!
He’s at the mercy of the worst head writer currently writing for daytime. Good luck Jason.