News
Jon Briddell Slated To Make Y&R Debut As Eric Vanderway
On The Young and the Restless, looks like more intrigue is on the way now that that Theo Vanderway (Tyler Johnson) could be a member of the Abbott clan. The recent revelation discovered by Jack (Peter Bergman) and Traci (Beth Maitland) that their mother, Dina Mergeron (Marla Adams) had a fling with Stuart Brooks which resulted in a child has led the siblings to tell Theo that Jack could be his uncle, and his arch-rival, Kyle (Michael Mealor) could be his cousin. Jack wants Theo to take a DNA test to which Theo agrees to do; claiming he understands why Dina gave up her baby because she didn’t want to be shamed.
Photo: JPI
And, it looks like the story gets juicier from there with the slated arrival of the character of Eric Vanderway late next week on the CBS Daytime drama series. Enter actor, Jon Briddell who has been cast in the role. But who is Eric to Theo?
Originally, Theo claimed his father was dead. Is that a fabrication, or will we learn more of the Vanderway back-story and how it ties into the Abbotts through flashbacks … or could Eric come to town with Intel about the true parentage of Theo?
Briddell once appeared for a short time on All My Children, but has had a successful primetime career appearing in series including: Fashion House, Army Wives, American Crime Story, and Doom Patrol.
So, what do you think is the connection of Theo and Eric Vanderway? Could these two be duping the Abbotts, or is Theo the real deal? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
My goodness they just get more stupid over there as the days keep going I thought they had stopped this nonsense after MY left ? If they are saying this Eric is Dina’s son he would have to be older then Jack and this actor is 51.
Shouldn’t Eric Vanderway be olderthan Jack? Late 60s? Also,if you’re going to go there with this story shouldn’t the Brooks sisters be involved?
This would be a GOLDEN opportunity to re-focus on the Genoa City Chronicle, the newspaper helmed by Stewart Brooks, and bring Lori Brooks back to the show on a permanent basis. Have Lori reappear as the CEO of a family publishing company (explaining that she had been building her father’s interest into a media empire while she was off-screen) and, learning of the existence of Theo, decides its a prime opportunity to refocus her effort on the Chronicle, which like most newspapers, has been struggling and to bring him into the family business. This would make sense since you could explain Theo having a natural “gift” for the news industry and marketing it due to his “social influencer” background.
You also could add some other younger Brooks relatives. We don’t know what Peggy has been up to for decades. Maybe she reconnected with Paul’s brother, got married and has a child who is in his early 30’s. The guy could clash with Theo and would allow Paul to appear more often as a sounding board/advisor to him.
On this halloween i ask the spirits to make Eric, Theo and Josh Griffith disappear or whatever the ghosts can conjur up. The halloween.episode was scary alright. Painfully scary that this show is soo bad and about to get worse with this mess of a storyline
Pitiful
Amen and I agree 100% I can never remember fast forwarding through Y&R, but I can say I do now.
Jost needs to go, he’s is stupid, to let go Gina T for Michelle S was he’s biggest mistake and to those at CBS who let him are just as dumb! Gina T made Y&R awesome with her great acting and skills. The show as gone to craps since summer, dumb dumb dumb, bring back Gina
Agree, Halloween show was terrible.
Soap Gawds!! PLEASE MAKE IT STOP. One Illegitimate Abbott is enough.
Gotta have a laugh on Jack.
He is an overkill of wussy, he is beyond sniffy…
Poor Jack, he is so jello, no wonder Victor has had Jack under his heel since day one.
Jack and Tracy, both, have become quite annoying.
and this supposedly ”mystery” is lacking intrigue, drama, and suspense.
the 3 things of a great mystery.
It will be fun to watch Jack get his hinny handed to him, once again, and he will be handed it..
[ Gullible Jack ]
GO Theo !
put some life into this sappy sleeper.
Theo will be the only spark.
Soon, Theo will be in bed with Lola, sigh- who hasnt seen that coming lol.
I want Summer & Kyle, so no problem with that happening.
Recently, I only like Adam and am waiting for him to attempt to take daddy down and sit in Victor and Victorias’ chair at Newman Enterprise.
Go Adam !!
and– Victor needs to get his game on.
OMG, Theo thinks/says his father is dead. Are Eric and Theo really related or are they con- men out to get the Abbott fortune? I hate Theo, and wouldn’t trust him until I saw the DNA. This Eric guy at only 53 , is way too young to be Jack’s OLDER brother. I wish they could make these SL more believable, but the writers just keep shoveling the stuff at us, and we are supposed to accept it all without question,
Keep bitching and it won’t just be Josh who leaves. Y’all have been bitching about every writer for the past 8 or so years. TPTB will be putting their heads together and start looking for a game or talk show to replace y&r since they are unable to please viewers. I say keep quiet and see what happens, not just with this s/l but with all of them. Y&R is still the best show left but it will be gone in a blink.
If what we’ve seen on Y&R in the last decade is the “best show left,” that is a very sad comment about the current situation with these shows. I also don’t think the cancellation of Y&R would be sudden, or to use your term, “in a blink.”
I spent decades watching Y&R and ATWT. For over 5 years before ATWT was cancelled, I remained a loyal viewer even though the quality of what was on the air was horrible. I did not enjoy what I watched. Rather than relishing ATWT, my loyalty to the show began to feel like a choir. On the one hand, I was beyond sorry that ATWT was cancelled and would have no future. On the other hand, the ATWT that I loved really had disappeared years before it got the ax. The ATWT that was cancelled was not the ATWT that attracted me. To be candid, while I mourned ATWT leaving the air, I also felt some degree of relief that I did NOT have to continue watching it in the sad state that it had become.
I sadly think Y&R is in the same position. It WAS a fantastic show — great plots that kept me interested and in suspense, well defined characters, a focus on long-term rivalries between characters that drove storylines for decades. Like ATWT, what I’ve loved about Y&R slowly has been chipped away. It really has become a chore to watch and, save the presence of a small core group of veteran characters played by dedicated, talented actors, bears little resemblance to the Y&R I’ve loved.
The “dream” Halloween episode that aired just this week is a prime example. It was ill conceived and poorly written. I NEVER remember Y&R, in the first 35 years it was on the air, ever resorting to this type of fantasy episode. It was pure storytelling, pitting one character against another in plots that continued to build for years and pulled nearby characters into the mix. Ironically, this “dream” Halloween episode is just the type of garbage that we had to watch in the final 5 years ATWT was on the air.
I’ve been a devoted soap watcher for over 50 years. I’ve supported the genre by remaining a loyal viewer (even when the quality of a show drops and watching is no longer fun). I do NOT wish that the daytime serial vanishes. However, if Y&R and the remaining shows can’t be better than the poor state they’ve all occupied for a decade, it may be time for them to go.
Surely, someone somewhere is talented enough to turn the ship at Y&R and make it compelling television again. None of the folks who helmed Y&R over the past decade clearly were it.
In short, this long-time loyal viewer is EXHAUSTED by the sub-par condition Y&R has occupied for a decade. Y&R either needs to seriously “shape up” or, if that can’t be done, “ship out.”
Agree!!!
I totally disagree. You have the option of NOT turning on the TV. Why wish it gone for those of us who need an hour a day to escape with Y&R? Just turn it off, be happy, and let the rest of us enjoy it. Soaps are in a constant state of flux. It will change over time. Fans need to relax and enjoy, and support soaps.
I totally disagree with your observation. If you read my post, I do NOT (to use your word) “wish” Y&R gone. I am lamenting that the quality of the show has been so poor for so long (over a decade). After that span, I think it is unlikely that (to use your phrase) “will change over time.”
You like it. I loved it in the past and, due to its decline over the past decade, loyally tolerate it these days.
We have different opinions on the show. Neither is right; neither is wrong. You’re entitled to your view. I’m entitled to mine.
Excellent point. Thank you for saying it.
This is suppose to be Jack’s OLDER half-brother??
I’m thinking that Eric Van Der Way’s scenes will all be in the past, before his death. It will allow for story to go back a decade prior to when Kyle and Theo were hanging in NYC in the elite partying crowd. It makes room for Theo to have his mother’s role enter the picture, and possibly become a love interest for Jack. Would love for it to be Beth Chamberlin (pretty please!!!). And it allows for the age difference between Eric and Jack to be realistic. Seems that Y and R may be attempting a bit of This Is Us, jumping from present to past, to recreate storylines that involve our beloved Y and R families, especially since the Winters/Ashbys are declining. We can’t only have the Newmans and Abbotts. And Chance Chancellor is returning soon…
I don’t like this. They have really made Dina to be a tramp. How many times did she cheat on John?
I was hoping Theo would just be a temporary character. I find him to be uber annoying. Hopefully he is not related. I’m sure there is more than one Eric Vanderway in the world.
the halloween show was a disaster, the Theo character could be interesting if they keep from making him a cartoon
Y&R is writing its own ending and it’s not a good one. The Halloween episode was terrible.
It was 100% superior to any other soap on Halloween. If you want a fantasy murder fest, try DOOL. Y&R was pleasantly refreshing.
Looks younger than Jack.
What gets me is the way they are making Kyle look. I agree with his reservations and distrust of Theo, who knows him better than anyone. I know Kyle can be a primadona , but now even Lola is seemingly taking Theo’s side and making Kyle look like a schmuck. I guess we need Summer back for him to commiserate with. I think her love and loyalty lie with Kyle.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
Many things are coming up roses for Jonathan Bennett! On the heels of the news that he is set to debut this month in the role of Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital, who is rumored to be a new love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), comes the news that Bennett’s reality series, Finding Mr. Christmas has received 3 nomination for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.
Bennett’s Hallmark Channel series finds itself in tough competition alongside fellow nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), Survivor 50 (CBS), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Traitors (Peacock). In addition, Jonathan himself is nominated for Best Show Host and the series participants as the Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series.
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) revealed the nominees for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Thursday, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.
Photo: Hallmark
Taking to his Instagram to celebrate the nominations, GH’s Bennett, enthused, “3 Critic Choice Nominations! I’m so proud of the FINDING MR CHRISTMAS and to be in the company of all the legends in all these categories is so surreal! Congrats to Hallmark Channel and to our nominated cast and nominated show and everyone who made this magical show possible. This is crazy! This gives FMC 6 Critics Choice nominations in 2 years. Not bad for a little show on Hallmark Channel. What are your thoughts on our show?” Jumping first into the comment thread was one of his new GH co-stars, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) who expressed, “Yeah buddy!!!🔥🔥”
In the series, Bennett, the host and co-creator spends eight weeks guiding 10 aspiring actors through a series of “festive face-offs” and acting challenges alongside actors like soap opera notables, Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R) and Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS). Along the way, they develop their skills and a bond with one another. The show, which is available on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus, highlights LGBTQ+ representation with openly gay contestants vying to be the next Hallmark star.
It should be noted that Traitors received the most Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations with 6 nods, followed by Dancing with the Stars with 4.
Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans having started his career as JR Chandler on All My Children in 2000-2001, before landing the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout performance.
You can check out the full list of Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations here.
So, excited for Jonathan Bennett’s General Hospital debut this month? Have you ever watched Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark? Let us know via the comment section below.
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General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?
On the April 30 episode of General Hospital, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had some choice words and warning for her brother Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) who has been masquerading as his twin, the very dead, Nathan West.
As the story has unfolded, viewers learned that Britt knew all along that when “Nathan” showed up in Port Charles seemingly resurrected with a missing 7 years of his life unexplained, that Cassius was taking his place.
Now in developments on today’s GH, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is figuring out that this guy pretending to be Nathan is someone else, and Cassius learns from Britt, that Joss is not just a ditzy sorority girl as he claimed, but a WSB agent! The moment stuns Cassius. Are the walls about to close in on him and his charade?
Courtesy/ABC
Daytime Emmy winner, Kelly Thiebaud spoke to Soap Opera Digest, about the story point and getting the opportunity this time back at GH to work with Ryan Paevey, when she hadn’t had the chance to before.
BROTHERLY LOVE?
Thiebaud expressed on sharing scenes with Ryan Paevey, “It’s just been so wonderful to have him back and to actually work with him! When he first came onto the show (as Nathan at the end of 2013) I was kind of heading out — it was right towards the end of my contract, so we didn’t actually work together a ton. It’s been really refreshing and so much fun to really spend time together and get to know each other and work together. I think we have really great on-camera chemistry and banter with each other. I really enjoy working with him.”
With the stakes at an all-time, Thiebaud explained how she views her on-screen alter-ego’s involvement with her more hot-to-temper sibling and why Britt revealed the truth about Josslyn to him. “People finding out about Cassius would expose what she’s involved in and what she agreed to do,” explains Kelly “And now Josslyn is digging around, and she’s connected to Carly (Laura Wright) to Jason (Steve Burton) and that whole dynamic! It’s messy!”
BRITT’S MURKY FUTURE
Britt has currently also reached her breaking point with Jason being carted away by the WSB, Rocco (Finn Carr), the child she gave birth to, shooting Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) to protect her and Jason, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) being killed after trying to help her, and Cullum holding over her head getting her Huntington’s disease medication to control her symptoms, while blackmailing her into finishing the research on her father, Cesar Faison’s, final project. Thiebaud summed it up best for Britt right now, sharing, “It’s been a really tough time for her.”
So, who do you think will be the person to blow Cassius’ cover? Will it be Britt herself? Josslyn? Liesl? Brennan? Nina? Lulu? Rocco, Maxie, Cullum or someone else? Let us know your pick in the comment section.
Breaking News
Jacob Martinez is ‘Days of Our Lives’ New Javi Hernandez Replacing Al Calderon in the Role
Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.
As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.
Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.
Photo: JPI
Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.
Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”
Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.
So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.
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THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Has Dylan’s Mystery Caller/Stalker Been Revealed to Be an Alive Luna Nozawa?
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Nick Confesses His Drug Problem to Victor; Joshua Morrow, Mark Grossman, Eric Braeden Bring the Newman Bond
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Sophia Seemingly Plans to End Her Life, But Not Before Setting Fire to Johnny’s Apartment With Him Trapped Inside
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