News
Jennifer Landon Reportedly OUT at The Young and the Restless!
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
Multiple sources (including CBS Soaps In Depth, Daytime Confidential and industry insiders) have been reporting that three-time Daytime Emmy winner, Jennifer Landon (Heather Stevens) has all been let-go from the number one soap, The Young and the Restless!
Landon’s pink-slip comes on the heels of Genie Francis and Debbi Morgan (both Daytime Emmy winners, too), and Marcy Rylan’s walking papers, all whom were informed by the series last week of their upcoming departures from Genoa City.
The role of Heather Stevens sure has been a quandary for the writers and the producers of Y&R! First, Vail Bloom took on the role, followed by Eden Riegel. and finally Landon, who just took over the role this past May.
So does this mean, Heather Stevens will finally be gone from the canvas? Or, do you think the show will recast it yet again?
And, who do you think was the best Heather Stevens of them all? Weigh-in! And then let us know who you think might be next in the line of fire from the cast of Y&R?
News
Christel Khalil Reveals She Almost Quit Acting After ‘That’s So Raven’ Audition, But Then Came ‘The Young and the Restless’
The Young and the Restless fan favorite, Christel Khalil (Lily Winters) is the special guest on this week’s edition of Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart which dropped today on Tuesday, June 23rd.
During the interview with Rebecca and Greg, Khalil who had played Lily Winters on-screen since August of 2002, nearly 24 years with the CBS soap, shared how early on her teenage acting career, she was ready to call it quits in show business, after a heartbreaking audition for the lead of a new Disney Channel sitcom, which later turned out to be the hit seres, That’s So Raven, starring Raven-Symoné which ran for four seasons from 2003-2007.
Christel recalled what happened. “I was 14 and I had always auditioned for all these Disney projects. So I auditioned for That’s So Raven, it was between me and Raven-Symoné and it was called at the time Absolutely Psychic,” explained Khalil. “The character was this girl who had psychic ability, but then when Raven got the role, they named the title of the show after her.”
Photo: CBS
HOW A BROTHERLY TALK CHANGED THE COURSE OF CHRISTEL’S CAREER
Reliving the disappointment to Greg and Rebecca, Christel explained, “I lost that part and I was just so devastated, because for the network call there were 20 people in the room watching me, and I just have always had such performance anxiety. I just completely bombed the audition and it was terrible. So, I was just devastated. I was actually going to quit acting and then I got the final call for The Young and The Restless and I wasn’t going to go.”
It was Khalil’s brother, who actually got her to reconsider, and if he hadn’t, we would not have our Lily Winters in Genoa City! Christel recounted, “I was like, ‘You know what? I’m done. I don’t want to do this anymore. I’m just going to hang out with my friends.’ I was just devastated. My brother, who is seven years older than me, and he had quit acting at the same age that I was at that time. He said to me, ‘I promise you, I actually really regret quitting. Just go on this audition and if you don’t get it, you can quit.'”
Christel’s screen-test for the role of Lily was actually with the late, great, Kristoff St. John who would play her father Neil (Later it was revealed to Lily, that Neil’s brother, Malcolm Winters was her bio-dad).
Photo: CBS
ACTING WAS EASY WITH THE LATE KRISTOFF ST. JOHN
“So, I went (to test for Lily) and I remember the screen-test was with Kristoff St. John. It was just so easy to act with him because he’s just so there. I remember just being on set, and that was my first time there for a screen-test where you were actually on set. I had never experienced that before. It was my first time being with an actor and having makeup done, which just helps you really be able to do your best work.”
Recalling the screen-test with the St. John, Khalil, “It was where I had to be emotional ( in the scene) and I always had issues being emotional at auditions. But I was there with him, it just came, and it happened. It was natural and I felt so good and it was amazing. It stands out in my mind a lot.”
You can check out the full Soapy conversation with Christel Khalil where she also discusses juggling motherhood, marital life, and the demands of soap operas.
Fan can listen to weekly episodes of Soapy on Audacy or wherever podcasts are available, and can watch full video episodes weekly on the CBS =Brand YouTube Channel. Whether a lifelong fan or discovering the genre for the first time, SOAPY offers a fresh, fun behind-the-scenes look at the stories – and storytellers – that define daytime drama.
Now let us know, over the years what had been your favorite Lily Winters story on Y&R as played by Christel Khalil? What did you think of of Christell’s recollection where she was up for the lead of “That’s So Raven” as a teenager, before it was even titled that? Let us know via the comment section.
This summer beginning on July 21, Netflix streams the return of WWE: Unreal for its third season. The behind the scenes docudrama series gives fans a glimpse of life in WWE and inside the writers room, as injuries, last-minute pivots, and career-defining decisions reshape WWE’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania 42.
WWE Unreal is taking fans deeper than ever inside World Wrestling Entertainment’s creative process, The hit docuseries will once again pull back the curtain on some of the biggest moments, boldest decisions, and unforgettable storytelling with some of the WWE’s greatest legends who’ve shaped the industry and new stars who are emerging as prominent parts of the future.
In the new season of ‘Unreal’ which consists of 5 episodes at 50 minutes each: John Cena says goodbye, a fan favorite returns, and the next generation of Superstars rise to the occasion.
Photo: WWE
The cast and WWE superstars featured include: the aforementioned Cena, plus Cody Rhodes, Liv Morgan, CM Punk, AJ Lee, Trick Williams, Lash Legend, Stephanie Vaquer, Oba Femi, Bron Breakker, Chelsea Green, Matt Cardona, Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.
As previously reported AJ Lee revealed on General Hospital star Maurice Benard’s (Sonny Corinthos) mental health series, State of Mind, that she was part of the cast of WWE: Unreal.
WWE: Unreal production credits include: Directors/Showrunners: Chris Weaver and Erik Powers Executive Producers: Peyton Manning, Jamie Horowitz, Ross Ketover, Keith Cossrow, Ken Rodgers, Jessica Boddy, Lee Fitting, Ben Houser, Marc Pomarico Sr. Producers: Harley Glantz, Brian Decker, Michael Flynn Producers: John Galiani, Dan Gati, Jeremy Lundblad Production Companies: Omaha Productions, NFL Films, Skydance Sports, WWE.
So, what do you think of the loglines for the new season of WWE: Unreal? Who are you most excited to see featured in the behind the scenes drama from the list of WWE superstars and the twists and turns leading into this past April’s WrestleMania 42? Let us know via the comment section below.
If you have ever tuned-in to the soap opera genre over the last 50 years, and witnessed some of the greatest romances, drama, classic and outlandish storylines of all-time, you would have seen Deidre Hall smack dab in the middle of it as longtime Salem heroine, Dr. Marlena Evans.
It was 50 years on this date, June 21, 1976 that Hall first appeared on DAYS on NBC which was its home for 57 years before it moved to its current streaming platform on Peacock in September of 2022.
In Hall’s first episode she was introduced as a psychiatrist treating Mickey Horton (John Clarke) at Bayview Sanitarium after he suffered a complete mental breakdown. Mickey learned that his brother Bill Horton (Edward Mallory) was the biological son of Mike Horton (Wesley Eure) with his wife Laura (Susan Flannery) and that he had been lied to for years and years. From that moment on, the rest is television and soap opera history. Days of Our Lives put Hall front and center.
Photo: NBC
There were so many heartbreaking and shocking story twists involving the beloved Marlena. One of the first was the historic crib death of baby DJ (Don Jr.) in 1980, Marlena’s infant son with Don Craig (Jed Allan). The story had never been told on daytime television and Hall’s performances received accolades from TV critics to fans when Deidre received thousands of letters from grieving mothers who had gone through the same thing in their own lives.
DAYS also brought Deidre’s twin sister, Andrea Hall Lovell to the show as her on-screen sister Samantha, who had a grudge and even locked Marlena up in a sanitarium and took her place! Fast-forward and in 1982, DAYS launched the Salem Strangler story where everyone believed Marlena was his next victim, only it turned out to be Samatha. Jake Kositchek (played by Jack Coleman) was revealed to be the actual serial killer.
Later, Deidre would assume the role of Marlena’s look-alike, Hattie Adams in 2004, once played by her sister, Andrea. Over the years, Hattie has come back to Salem and caused trouble giving Hall a chance to play a different type of character, then the always upstanding Marlena.
Photo: JPI
THE LOVES OF MARLENA
Deidre Hall struck gold with all her leading men: from the late Jed Allan, to Wayne Northrop as Roman Brady, and of course, her enduring love story with the late John Black played by the iconic Drake Hogestyn. In fact, Marlena’s 1986 wedding to John (who was believed to be Roman at the time) remains a favorite of fans to this day.
TOP MARLENA STORYLINES OF ALL-TIME
While the list is long, here are several that were some of the memorable during Deidre’s five decades in Salem!
The Possession (1994- 1995)
Considered one of the most ambiguous, outlandish and unforgettable story arcs in soap opera history, then Days of Our Lives head writer, James Reilly went there! Marlena was possessed by the devil! That included; the demonic eyes, hissing at father John (Black) the priest, morphing into creatures, and the classic levitating in her bed! It became a cultural phenomenon and cemented Deidre Hall’s status as a daytime television legend. Just ask Ryan Gosling!
Photo:JPI
The Affair with John Black (1993)
John and Marlena’s forbidden love could not be denied and they had passionate affair, while she was still married to the real Roman. Problem was her daughter, Sami (Alison Sweeney) caught her mother having sex with John on a desk that changed Sami forever.
The Salem Stalker Mystery (2003-2004)
In a shocker, Marlena was revealed to be a serial killer who bumped off several Salem favorites residents who were all alive on the island of Melaswen (spelled “New Salem” backward). Turns out, she was manipulated and gaslighted by Andre DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) to do the “killings” and had no memory of her actions.
The Pier Scene (1991)
This remains Michael Fairman TV’s all-time favorite Deidre Hall moment, which featured some of the best acting in the storied careers of both Hall and Drake Hogestyn.
In the story, a presumed-dead Marlena returns after four years. One foggy night on the pier, John is alone, and Marlena steps out of the fog to reveal herself, and is reunited with the love of her life. You can watch it any year, any decade, and in any moment, and it will have you reaching for the hankies again and again. (best music score fo a soap scene of all-time too!)
Photo: NBC
Kristen’s Secret Room Reveal (1997)
Marlena was caught in Kristen Blake’s (Eileen Davidson) elaborate web of lies, when she was held hostage in a secret wine cellar/room until John managed to track her down, leading to an iconic on-screen reunion. The classic catfight between Hall and Eileen Davidson was one for the ages.
It should be noted that Maison Blanche, Queen of the Night, Possession, Aremid and Lady in a Cage were all a part of classic DAYS storyline and all featured Hall at the epicenter of it from 1993-1996.
THE RECENT YEARS OF MARLENA
In recent years, DAYS brought back the possession 2.0 storyline under then head writer Ron Carlivati in 2021 where the devil leapt back in Marlena after taking advantage of a frail Doug Williams (the late Bill Hayes)
In 2025, viewers watched the end of the love story of John and Marlena, as John succumbed to injuries sustained in an explosion saving a vial of medication needed to bring Bo (Peter Reckell) back to life. Marlena has been a widow on-screen since June of 2025 as Hall as portrayed the good doctor struggling with her grief and to move on with her life since his death.
Photo: JPI
One story that never goes away is Stefano DiMera’s (the late Joe Mascolo) obsession with Marlena, his “Queen of the Night.” Even in death, Stefano is toying with her from the great beyond with the mysterious chess set and the missing “pawn,” that he had gifted John and Marlena in his will. The mystery is currently unfolding on all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives.
Tune-in to Days of our Lives on the Monday, June 22 episode as Marlena looks back at her 50 years in Salem.
Share your congratulations to Deidre Hall for this incredible 50-year milestone as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives in the comment section. Then let us know, what is your all-time favorite storyline or moment in the life of Marlena over the past 5 decades? And, just for kicks, and to celebrate this amazing milestone, here is Marlena levitating below circa Christmas Eve 1994.
Christel Khalil Reveals She Almost Quit Acting After ‘That’s So Raven’ Audition, But Then Came ‘The Young and the Restless’
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Marlena Looks Back at 50 Years in Salem
‘WWE: Unreal’ Season 3 Premiere Date, Cast of Superstars, Announced by Netflix
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Carly and Lulu Make Plans to Rescue Their Children; Anna Looks Determined to Secure Her Freedom
Deidre Hall Marks 50 Years as ‘Days of Our Lives’ Dr. Marlena Evans
Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric
‘General Hospital’s’ Controversial Luke and Laura Rape Episode: Writer Sheri Anderson Reveals Behind the Scenes Decisions and Admits ‘I Was Wrong’ to Defend It (Exclusive)
‘Days of Our Lives’ Eric Martsolf Recalls Moment He Learned He Was Cast as Brady Black, and Last Scenes with Drake Hogestyn (SOAPY Exclusive Preview)
‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Weighs-In on Dante and Elizabeth Pairing and Sharing Scenes with Rebecca Herbst (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL Promo: Rocco’s in a Panic as Britt’s Health Takes a Turn, Chase is Called to the Carpet
Christel Khalil Reveals She Almost Quit Acting After ‘That’s So Raven’ Audition, But Then Came ‘The Young and the Restless’
‘WWE: Unreal’ Season 3 Premiere Date, Cast of Superstars, Announced by Netflix
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Carly and Lulu Make Plans to Rescue Their Children; Anna Looks Determined to Secure Her Freedom
Deidre Hall Marks 50 Years as ‘Days of Our Lives’ Dr. Marlena Evans
Y&R Preview: Matt Clark Asks Phyllis on a Date, Would You Be Down for the Pairing? Roger Howarth & Michelle Previously in GH’s Franco/Nina Romance
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They’re letting a wonderful actress go. I hope they do not recast. This character has been recast too many times in such a short period. Take the character off the canvas.
I think Jennifer is the best Heather! If it’s a salary problem, they should consider the quality of the show’s actors, that’s where the viewers come in. we want good actors to keep us watching.
Agree, I loved Vail but Jennifer ROCKS espec. w/Daniel. Can’t believe this.
I agree with both of yall, jennifer is awesome heather and vail was very good.
As Nelson reported in his web magazine, Y&R is in the red and none of these actors came cheap. This can’t be put on JFP, but instead has to rest solely on the shoulders of Maria who went wild hiring actors and out of work sitcom stars in her effort to draw in viewers. All she did was drive YR into the ground and into debt. If YR is to remain on the air and have the vets solidly working and having the salaries they deserve then it’s going to have to come from somewhere. While I feel bad for the actors being cut, I’m not not sorry to see them go. They were pointless and not needed on the canvas. Maybe later after YR has its legs again and is thriving, then we can see Abby or Heather again. As of right now, I agree with all of these cuts and expect and hope to see more. Goodbye Anita, Chelsea, Jeffrey, Carmine and Tucker. None of those characters are needed to keep the show moving or driving story line.
Yup clearly MAB was also bad at managing the budget costs
Carmine I think is def out. I hope not with Chels and Jeff. Anita can come on occassionally.
Tucker seems to be a major player though. It all depends on what Jill has planned. That said, I wouldn’t be sad to see him go.
Teri said the following, “This can’t be put on JFP, but instead has to rest solely on the shoulders of Maria who went wild hiring actors and out of work sitcom stars in her effort to draw in viewers. All she did was drive YR into the ground and into debt.” THIS is what fans need to realize. JFP is NOT the one that is doing all of the firings. This is coming from upon high, meaning Sony Pictures and CBS. She is only doing what Sony and CBS ask her to do, which is deliver the news to the cast member that they have been pink-slipped. Sony/CBS gave Maria Arena Bell complete autonomy (meaning she was free to do whatever she wanted) when she was the Head Writer/Executive Producer of Y&R. That was a mistake that Sony does NOT intend on making again and they have told Jill Farren Phelps that she will NOT have complete autonomy while she is the Executive Producer of Y&R. Sony and CBS are both watching JFP like a hawk. Fans are screaming “Fire JFP, Fire her!” Uh folks, she just started there AND she is not the one that is firing the actors/actresses! That is Sony/CBS doing it!
Sony/CBS’ first firing was Kevin Schmidt who was playing the role of Noah Newman. JFP hired Robert Adamson to take over that role. He begins airing on October 1. That wasn’t a huge cast firing. Kevin was barely on the show to begin with and I think Josh Griffith and Jill Farren Phelps have huge plans in store for the character of Noah (I’m thinking it will be Noah’s coming out storyline that Kevin Schmidt was supposed to start on but it didn’t get anywhere).
Then last Thursday is when the Y&R bloodbath began with Genie, Marcy and Debbi’s firings and then that was followed up by Jennifer Landon being let go and Michael Grazaidei (Daniel) and Billy Miller (Billy Abbott) both not renewing their contracts and will be leaving on their own. Expect Billy to depart in the coming week to four weeks. Expect Michael to exit the canvas sometime after October 12 (Daniel will end up taking Lucy with him), which is the date that Phyllis’ trial begins for the attempted murder of Christine and Paul (which is the reason why Y&R hired James Avery of Prince of Bel-Air fame as Uncle Phil). I’m also guessing that Phyllis will be convicted and then she’ll be sent to back burner status for a long time to come so that fans can come down from the overdose of Phyllis that’s been shoved down our throats for the last 3 years.
Like Teri also said, we can easily say good-bye to Anita, Jeffrey, Carmine, Gloria, Tucker, Cane and a whole slew of other dead weight that do not belong on the show and are costing Y&R too much money. I suspect that now it’s a new week, we will begin seeing more cast cuts being made this week.
I also think that JFP will be giving Sharon Case (Sharon Newman) and Eric Braeden (Victor) extended vacations as they have been front and center for far too long (however, IMO, JFP should just fire Eric Braeden anyway. That role can easily be recast with an actor who knows how to be a part of an ensemble cast and doesn’t have a huge ego. Fans are sick of his egotistical attitude and thinking that he can just run roughshod over the writing team and tell them he will only do or say things that he wants put in the scripts……..whether he admits it or not, Eric did do this to Maria and it won’t be happening with Josh Griffith as he’s not about to take any crap from Eric and neither will JFP).
Okay, that’s my ramble for the day.
I’d like whatever it is that you’re smoking, or your brand of Kool Aid, because clearly you have no clue who Jill Farren Phelps is nor her track record on destroying other soaps. JFP is doing the firings; notice she’s picking and choosing women so far, this is her MO. Sony should have gotten a better EP to replace MAB, that’s the bottomline. Converting a telenovela to English vs producing a soap, two VERY different things. She has done a good job with Hollywood Heights, and that is precisely the type of thing JFP should be doing, most certainly NOT producing ANY soaps, unless of course the plan is to kill this soap along with the genre. If that’s Sony’s end game, well then Bravo fellas, you’re off to a GREAT start on that!
I only wish Paul Williams, Geonoa City’s whipping boy, could be allowed to have one decent family tie! And I do love Jennifer Landon. She is very good. I thought Eden Riegel and Vail Bloom, too, were capable portrayers of the character. Unfortunately, I am nto sure writers knew what to do with Heather, who she should be. that happens when plot drives character instead of the other way around.
But Teri writes some realities and money does talk. Maria Arena Bell did not do Y&R well, it seems. And so, we will endure a stripping down and rebuild of this daytime drama. And we can hope it will be better and remain a fixture on CBS for years to come.
Bingo!
i agree y and r has not been the same in a couple of yrs, eric braden is the star
and we want victor back front and center to clain newman enterprises
and kick that *itch sharon to the curb to be honest all my friends have said she
could be written out and would not be missed
sorry however for debbie morgan and the others but y & r had to do something
to save the show and money
its sad and unfortunate for the actresses here, so much talent and havveto admit i enjoyed all these characters especially abby and genevieve, so with all the female cuts are they planning to make this a all male gay soapopera,,lmao,,who will be leftfor them to play against,,oh yeah right phylis ,,
The all female cuts is one of Jill Farren Phelp’s MO. Yes, someone else noticed not a single male cut; 2 men decided not to renew. It’s obvious from the comments here that most don’t have a clue about Jill Farren Phelps as a producer. Ask any GH fan why they won the Outstanding Drama Series Emmy. It was due to one storyline, Luke’s intervention. Ask the GH fans all about JFP at the helm and what the show looked like before she became the EP of the show. Her support of Brian Frons alone is enough to make me question her judgment. I will say, she has done a good job with Hollywood Heights: taking a telenovela and converting it to English is just her speed: not too much creativity involved there. THESE are the types of projects that JFP should be doing, not taking on yet another soap opera and destroying it.
I have been a fan of Jennifer Landom since she first appeared on AS THE WORLD TURN. Nobody can save this show. The producers and writers have took the fans for granted for years and refursed to listen when we got upset over all of the twisted story line and now you have lost fans that are not coming back.
I’m not sure that nobody can save this show, but I most certainly do NOT trust Jill Farren Phelps to do it. Look at her track record for pete’s sake! Another World, Santa Barbara, Guiding Light — ALL GONE. GH is still standing because it is ABC’s pet soap; it is not standing because of her but rather in spite of her. Get ready for some brutal murders of women and let’s get anyone who’s African-American off the show too. The Winters family has pretty much been obliterated. They’re going to bring back Shemar Moore (LOVE him!), who I’m sure will command big bucks. I guarantee, we will not see him on the canvas for very long, unless he just loves soaps so much that he’s willing to take a major paycut. Wake up and smell the coffee for those of you who think JFP is the answer: she’s not.
Get her over to GH as Elizabeth’s older sister Sarah!
EXCELLENT IDEA!
Nobody can stand Elizabeth or her brother Steven Lars let alone another Webber! JFP is gonna ruin this soap! Maria may have almost tanked it but JFP is going to torpedo it! Watch and see she did it to GH she will do it here.
Exactly Remedy. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you who is the lesser of the 2 evils: MAB or JFP.
Not totally surprised if she has to make cuts. I don’t really understand Daniel and Heather.
I didn’t fully appreciate Vail until Eden arrived and she bombed. Jen has been doing a good job. I think my fave Heather is Vail though.
If Jen is out, let Heather stay gone for a while.
Sad to see her go. She really grew on me these last several months. Wishing her well!
Getting rid of Genie Francis, Debbie Morgan and Jennifer Landon make sense. Getting rid of a legacy character like Abby doesnt, I also hope they dont recast her with a cheaper actress. Ditching Chloe would have made more sense.
Now, get rid of Anita, Bonnie Franklin, Tucker, Sarge and Ronan….
They also need to save the character of Micaheal who went from dynamic character to insufferable bore.
Rob, Bonnie Franklin as Sister Celeste is pretty much done now that Victor has moved on from where he was at. Also, Stephen Nichols, Darnell Williams are two of the top male actors that were brought on by MAB that I can see Sony/CBS cutting easily.
Vail Bloom can not act.Eden Riegel is one of the most ,if not THE most,irritating and overrated actresses in the history of daytime.Therefore Ms. Landon wins by default.
I’m with you 100%.
I do like her as an actress but when they paired her with daniel they ruined the character. Daniel’s character still reminds of a teenager especially the way he dresses and they just didn’t have any chemistry. Nicholas or Cane would have been a better match for her.
Well that was quick, the poor woman didn’t even get a chance to get her feet wet and they are dumping her. I think of all the Heathers I like the way the first actesss played her. She more like lady who played April, Heather’s mom. She more like the right age for the character. She played Heather tough when she needed to be but vulnerable like when Adam dumped her. The second actress played her to weak and this one a bit too tough for my liking, so unless they can bring back the orignal Heather I rather see the character go.
I hope this isn’t true. Why the bloodbath of all the female actors? I can think of a few of the males we wouldn’t miss. Also, they bring Daisy back but let all these others go!? Think they’re making a mistake in getting rid of all of these actresses at once.
Karen,
Maria Arena Bell was the one that brought Yvonne Zima (Daisy) back. EVERYONE needs to remember that we are still seeing the scripts that Maria Arena Bell wrote. We will not start seeing Josh Griffith’s material until October 12th. I suspect that Daisy won’t be around much longer. She will be the key to getting Paul off the hook for killing his son.
As for these actresses, like I said in an earlier post, these decisions are coming from Sony/CBS, NOT JFP! JFP is only doing what Sony/CBS are asking her to do which is to deliver the message that Sony/CBS is letting them go due to budget reasons (Y&R is in the red big time, which is the reason why a lot of these big name actresses are being let go).
Michael Fairman, could you help out here!? Obviously these fans are not getting the bigger picture here and are obviously not understanding who is doing the firing and all. A comment or blog what have you from you would go a long way in settling everyone down!
JFP has a say believe me. Its like a repeat of GH.
Exactly!! Gotta love how the MAB “haters” are STILL trying to blame her. Jill Farren Phelps IS the person who is doing the firing; THAT’S HER RESPONSIBILITY AND IT IS ON HER!!! LMBO, I wonder for how long we’re going to have to hear this is Maria Arena Bell’s fault: 3 months after Josh/Jill’s episodes air? 6 months? A Year? Congratulations to all you idiots who were giddy at JFP being placed at the helm. They don’t call her the soap killer for nothing. Look up her credentials and see just how many soaps she’s destroyed. And she was Brian Frons’ biggest cheerleader, a misogynist, racist, ageist, chauvenist pig who destroyed ABC daytime soaps. Sure, I’ll agree, MAB’s time had come to an end, but really Sony? Jill Farren Phelps was the best you could come up with? Another nail in the final coffin for the soap genre.
Why the bloodbath of all the female actors? Pure and simple: this is Jill’s MO. Check out what’s she’s done with other soaps. And I’m not buying the Kool Aid that Sony is hand picking who should be fired. Again, this is Jill’s MO, get rid of women (by a brutal murder storyline is her preference). Keep drinking that Kool Aid Michael. This has Jill Farren Phelps written all over it. I watched soaps for decades, I’ve seen what she’s done. This is no different.
yeah that’s jill for ya getting rid of the best!
Michael, I agree with you that it’s really frustrating to see some fans already asking for the JFP and Josh to be fired when they haven’t even really had a chance to do anything. They are being blamed for this, when it all goes right back to Sony doing what they need to do now that Maria is gone. If YR is to survive they have no choice and some viewers really need to understand that just like any business, it take money to keep something going and Maria just spent and spent not bothering to look at the bottom line or her budget. Fans need to stop whining and ranting about their faves and look at the big picture which is YR as a whole. The other thing is just because Debbi and Darnell and Genie worked on their prior soaps doesn’t mean they were going to be a hit or ratings draw at YR; and if anything they were a huge fail. Why should Peter, Melody and Jess (who could possibly come back now that Maria is gone) be put on back burner or have their salaries cut, just to make room for new big name soap stars who will require huge money? Jack, Nikki and Jess are a sure thing, they have the history and the fan bases of years and years of loyal YR fans. Most of those loyal viewers don’t care about Genevieve, Yolanda or Sarge and they aren’t going to stick around and wait for them to be fleshed out, while Jack, Nikki and Jill are MIA. These were poor choices on Maria’s part and another reason she should have never been put in charge. YR never needed a huge cast to be successful and Bill Bell knew that it was about balancing all your core characters. Thank goodness that Sony has stepped in and is taking over. It’s just unfortunate that JFP is being blamed because of something that Maria caused.
Sony knows the budget not Actors talent. JFPs doesn’t like females that are middle age or talented Like her long standing grudge with Genie. She is a very envious women.
Exactly Remedy! Anyone who knows anything about JFP knows she doesn’t like middle aged female actresses. Apparently some folks only have seen Y&R and haven’t seen what JFP has done to other soaps, most of which are now cancelled BTW.
If Sony wanted to take over, they really should have gotten a different EP. JFP is not the answer.
SOMEONE PROMISE ME TRICIA CAST WILL STAY!
I worry with all the let-go’s we may lose Ms. Cast who is so so so so so so good. She is so genuine as Nina. You cannot help but root for her.
Iakovos, Tricia Cast is supremely talented and worthy of a story line, but unfortunately Maria was more interested in giving into the demands of Michelle Stafford to be a heroine. Michelle isn’t unlike Eric in that way and these two made demands not caring what the ripple affect would be on their cast mates. I wouldn’t mind one bit if Eric or Michelle both had their characters bumped to recurring for at least six months to a year. It’s been an embarrassment to watch the assassination of many characters all to give Michelle her glory story line with all the characters coming to Phyllis defense time and time again. The story with Ronan should have always been about what Bill Bell set up years ago which is Nina finding her stolen baby and their relationship. Instead we got Ronan being turned into a dirty cop all for his love of the great Phyllis while he continuously shuns and rebels against his mother. Jeff Branson deserved better and Tricia Cast as a true veteran should have never been put behind Michelle Stafford who imo is a ham fisted scene chewer at best. If there is any justice at all Tricia and Jeff will at least get a great storyline that redeems Ronan while Phyllis rots in jail the way Sharon Case’s character had to for something she didn’t do. Phyllis is at least guilty and then some.
Teri,
You said the above so perfectly! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Hoping Tricia Cast stays too!
Really was warming to Jennifer Landon!! Hope Y&R change their minds!
As a Y&R viewer from the beginning, one of the show’s legacies was grooming new talent never before seen on daytime TV: William Gray Espy, Brenda Dickson, Julianna McCarthy, Jaime Lyn Bauer, Tom Hallick, Trish Stewart etc. Even the show’s early 1980s remake brought out more: Jerry Douglas, Terry Lester, Eileen Davidson, Beth Maitland, Doug Davidson, Carolyn Conwell. In recent years, the show’s hijacking of “big name” daytime stars underminded that unique tradition. As much as I love Debbi Morgan, Marcy Rylan and Genie Francis, they are not “Y&R” classics. That said, I think the show unfairly dumped Vail Bloom for bigger-name replacements. Given time, she would have worked out quite fine.
It’s too bad that everyone is going like a fire sale … if only Y&R had the money.
The ones with the talent are the ones going while we are left with the ones (Kyle, Eden, Fen) that really need to go, but I am sure they are less expensive. It’s just not fair.
Jennifer Landon did the best as Heather since Vail Bloom. To me, she brought the sexiness and feminism back the way Vail did. Nothing against Eden Riegel, but she just did not have it as Heather. She was a great Bianca on AMC, though.
You are right on the money.
Cast trimming was absolutely necessary in order for the show to survive. Heather was, and has been, a difficult character to cast because she was disconnected from everyone, including Paul. JFP needs to concentrate on rebuilding core families. This is the formula that always worked for soaps. (No doubt ABC is smarting over it’s decision to cancel One Life to Live, it was the family drama that kept us tuned in).
I always WANTED to like Jennifer Landon but never could.
Even when she was on “As the World Turns,” the actress always reminded me of a cat. You know how cats have that attitude about them as if they are saying, “I am so much better than you!”
That’s always the way I felt about Landon and her type of acting: as though she feels she is a better person than everybody else.
I think she was really making Heather a viable character for the first time in quite a while. And personally, it’s a shame that she’s lost her job so soon after acquiring it.
MAB was a disaster, but JFP makes me nervous.
to answer the original question, I was a fan of Vail Bloom and loved her emmy nominated performance as Heather. It all seemed to go downhill for the character after she quit. ER was a disaster and JL?, what was she in, like 20 shows before they fired her? Put Heather to rest please you guys really f*cked up here.
And JFP, if u are listening, send whiny Kevin, Chloe, Gloria, Tucker and talentless nu-Abby away too. And PLEASE backburner schitzo Phyllis so we don’t have to hear her repeating the same likes over and over ” what am I gonna do, what am I gonna do, you gotta help me, you gotta help me, listen to me, listen to me ” it’s enough to drive a man to drink!
The best thing to happen Y&R is JFP, thanks for letting Genie Francis go, we at GH will happily welcome her back. good luck Y&R.
Gh did not genie right and why heck would like to return?
Like Jennifer Landon alot. Wish her all the best.
Loved JL in the role of ‘Heather’! If they are trying to change Y&R so drastically, though, may I suggest what so many people are chatting about online: rehire Victoria Rowell as Drucilla and bring back Stacy Haiduk as ‘Patty/Emily”. Two phenomenal actresses who made such an impact on the show! Viewers would eat that shit up!!! Listening CBS?
BIG MISTAKE!!!!!
Jennifer Landon is an asset to the series as Heather Stevens. I loved Jen’s characterization of the character. This is truly the biggest casting shocker for me, and is truly a screw up on Jill’s end. But I guess it’s the politics of the soap business. I understand it. I truly do!
You are so right
With fly members going what is going to happen to those left behind? Billy leaving & Victoria is on her own. Debbie Morgan leaving & the current Devon is being recast….why bother? Paul’s son is dead & now dgtr., Heather is leaving so Paul if he hasn’t been axed has no family. If Summer is being replaced/leaving & Daniel & Lucy is leaving , Phyllis may not have any kids to worry about if she isn’t sent away to prison. Noah is being replaced …these actors have aged accordingly…now you want someone more mature & sexy or whatever…but they are going to look to old for their parents. Abby is a Newman & she is gone. Thought Victor was out the door…must have quite a contract to keep him. Wish you could have kept Billy he is the highlight of that show….Hope to see him again in prime time. These new writers come in & clean house instead of just write the scripts.
disgusting…ONLY reason I tuned into YR was cause JL was ‘Heather’….took that character and did an amazing job w/ crappy writing….What a waste to dump her….SO many others (Abby, yay! gone, Eden, Chloe, really…all of ’em ‘cept a few (NOT Eric Braeden/Michelle Stafford….can we say, ‘overrated’? vets….Loved the relationship btwn ‘Paul’ and ‘Heather’, as portrayed by Jen Landon…..she needs to stay or I’m done w/ YR for good!
I would got rid jessica heap( eden) way before jennifer landon.
I say get rid of the Winters clan, except Devon. Neil no longer serves a purpose without Drucilla. Lily and her silly twins can be killed off. Bring Jess as Jill. Bring in a love interest for her. How abuot John Wesley Shipp or Robert S. Woods or Walt Willey? It seems that JFP is getting rid of the good actresses (Jennifer, Debbi and Genie) and keeping on the dead weight (Sofia, Anita, and the aforementioned Winters clan). Lindsay Workman stunk as Summer Louise Newman. Not a great loss.
i would not get rid of neil winters. Big fan blacklash
I like Jennifer, esp. W/Daniel. She is the best Heather. If they take her off, they will probable lose a lot of viewers. Next we’ll hear Y&R will end. Please reconcider.
Letting jennifer landon was stupid and cutting three other actress was dumb. I would have fired daisy, sofia, anita, kyle, carmine and even sarge. They cut some talented female actresses.
Next to Vail Bloom, Jennifer Landon is the BEST Heather! I love the chemistry between Heather & Daniel. I also loved Jen on ATWT. What’s next for Daniel? Poor Guy. Pls don’t tell me his psycho wife/baby Momma will be returning. Ahhh, yes the infamous disappearing act of Daisy and the women who broke her out of the asylum (possibly a reincarnated Sheila? Really?). Please let that storyline DIE! I will also miss Genie Francis–her storyline was never fully developed. She went from the ultimate psycho to Jack’s double crossing fiance. Let’s not forget the remorse she felt about how she treated Jack and Ethan (Cane). Then the script moved to the story behind her and Tucker. Then Tucker hired her to keep Victor away from GC so Newman Ent. could be his. To the Piece de resistance Collin framing her for murder. No wonder she was let go–she probably ran from the set. It’s like trying to act in a bag full of smoke. No direction and no chance for survival. Hmmmm.
i think it’s pretty sad y&r’s letting jen landon go. in the first place, getting her was a coup; second, this could be an avenue worth exploring for daniel, another FINE young actor but who languishes on the sidelines most days, wasted. do they not have a CLUE? they let eileen slip thru their fingers…now willingly punting this gem of an actor? or are they trying to shut the show down….slowly and painfully? if that’s it, then get it the hell over with; don’t fritter away the best actors, though. i genuinely believe the writing has improved 100% with this new team; i’ve read some dissenting views, but i’m not yawning and figuring it all out a week ahead or predicting who’s at the door. in the period since the new blood arrived, i find myself fooled now and then….wrong about who’s on the phone or at the door….and that, sony corporation, is a GOOD thing!!! just keep the core group and quit shuffling. you already have a full house AND a royal flush. these people are the best of the best, top to bottom!
mf, i would love it if you could fwd my comments to sony , y&r and jennifer landon. i could find her on twitter– (it would take two or three tweets anyway.)
p.s. to email above-i could NOT find jennifer on twitter. i wanted to send her a note of praise to her abilities, sad she’s gone AND bitch about how STUPID her bosses/sony are/is. really sad. she just got the character developed and is the best of the three portraying “heather” in two years…..she’s defining it, making it her own and doing a wonderful job; not to mention she actually resembles the “daughter” of “paul” — silly, silly decision. i feel the same way about debbi morgan and genie francis; why bring them on for 10 min? still, jennifer will leave a bigger hole to fill in my mind.
I remember the days when Y&R had a limited cast and you saw most of them frequently. What happened to that idea? That said, I will miss all of those leaving. Probably Billy and Jennifer most.