Connect with us

News

174

Michelle Stafford's Heartfelt Message On Her Final Day Of Taping At Y&R!

By Michael Fairman

Published

on

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

One of the most most sensational actresses ever to appear on daytime is finishing up her run today after 16 years on The Young and the Restless!  Daytime Emmy winner Michelle Stafford, who recently made the decision to depart the number one CBS soap after portraying one of the best female characters on daytime, Phyllis Summers Newman, is moving on to new career adventures.

In a statement just a short time ago on her facebook page, Stafford related to her colleagues and friends: “Today i finish my 15 year gig at my job… Wow!! I’m excited and sad.I   so LOVE the people I work with! I suppose if I was a person who didn’t believe in future I would think that this was it for me…but i don’t feel that way.  There is SOOOO much out there. I am very excited to live a new life.  I am so grateful that these guys employed me for so many years. Honored and humbled that Bill Bell hand picked me to play this crazy,funny,damaged woman by saying in the meeting “I want the one in the red dress” I suppose i should thank Calvin Klein as well…It’s been a wild ride that has finally come to a stop.I feel nothing but love man. Nothing but love…”

In addition, Michelle also took her Twitter page to relate to her fans:  “Getting ready to do my last day at work!! I will be posting pics for you so y’all can be a part of it! Have LOVED this job SO much! I will air on the show through July into the beginning of Aug! There is much more to see!! VERY fun story with many twists!! Trust me.”

So soap fans, what would you like to say here to Michelle for 16 years of playing the heck out of Phyllis with each storyline and each scene she has had? Share your thoughts!

174 Comments

174 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

I am really going to miss Michelle portraying Phyllis, the character will never be the same. Good Luck on your future endeavors. Hope to see you soon on our TV screens.

Michelle’s acting is superb. Why is she leaving Y&R? It will leave a big hole on the show and would be hard to replace her.

Y&R just killed the “Golden Goose”

You have lost the show! No one can take Michelle’s place the show is declining. With all baby daddy drama! Now crazy Sharon get’s away with this. Now we won’t have Michelle I love her as a actress ! First, Jeanne Cooper’s death then,Michelle leaving who’s next? Michelle I so enjoyed you as Phyllis.I wish you and your daughter the best,thank you for 16 years!

I’m going to miss Michelle/Phyllis too…she’s such a spirited and great actress! Good luck to whatever she wants to do in the future. It’s going to be weird not seeing her again!

phyllis/michelle will be back…one day soon i hope

I HAVE LIVED THROUGH THE UPS AND DOWNS OF PHYLLIS ROMALOTTI,NEWMAN,ABBOTT. SORRY TO SEE HER LEAVE AS HER DEPARTURE WILL IMPACT THE SHOW IN NUMEROUS WAYS. NO ONE PLAYS PHYLLIS LIKE MICHELLE. BUT IN LIFE, WE MUST CHOOSE DIVERSE PATHS THAT ALLOW US TO GROW. WITH EACH STAGE OF LIFE ITS A LEARNED EXPERIENCE. I WISH MICHELLE ALL THE BEST AS SHE TRAVELS TO NEW HORIZONS. YOU WILL BE SORELY MISSED.

Best of luck in all your future endeavors – you will be sorely missed.

This is going to be a MAJOR loss for Y&R (not to mention us fans).
Her scenes with Josh Morrow on the June 12 show how incredibly powerful she can be.

ITA- those scenes on June 12th were powerful and both her and JM did a great job with it. I am glad that she was around for this reveal and some of the fallout, because I can’t imagine a recast doing the job she could do with it. I wish her well, but I have seen enough soap stars come and go over the years to know that a loss of any one actor rarely affects the show. She left the show before and came back, so if the show continues fingers crossed here’s hoping MS will return some day.

I say good luck on GH because that’s exactly where she’s headed.

Benny I hope you are wrong but I have heard rumblings to!

MS DISAGREES! But, I guess everyone needs a dream.

i hope so .she`s great

as long as she is on the small screen or big screen, I will be happy.

I took her as Phyllis for granted and now I am really going to miss seeing her sassy, spunky character. I am glad Michael Graziadei agreed to come back to escort her off.

so did I – take it for granted… that she’d forever remain with.

it’s touching that her son… Michael Graziadei is coming home to see her off in to the stars… as it were.

I wish her ALL the best… personally and professionally.

She”ll be back home in Geneo City again.

Talk about sexy, sultry, and men charmed by…. That’s a lot of Woman.

GH is making the same mistake that MAB did on Y and R. If Stafford is going there, and I’d wish her well, these types of moves continue to alienate longtime viewers who have to make room for yet another “big name” on their show.

That cast is larger than Y and R, and the fans are rumbling about it.

We should only be so lucky……..from your lips to Gods ears! Fingers crossed…..

Pat I totally agree I see Jason now owning a coffee shop in Genoa City and Carly from Oakdale wandering around in the Q’s mansion. It completely turns me off !There is no room for her over there go do other projects please!

As much as most people probably hated Phyllis’s character for the horrible things she has done to some people, she was a great actress and will definitely be missed.

as a Y & R fan I am sadden at the loss of Ms Chancler now Phyllis ,!!! Thank you Michelle for 15 years of work and blessings on your new adventures

I will miss her every day she’s not on. She is a wonderful actress and made me love her role in it, even if I didn’t always agree with the character, I always loved the performance. It’s a sad day for us but I know she will be amazing in whatever she does. Go Michelle!

wow, Im so not in the loop been watching Y&R for over 30 yrs, and I did not know Phylllis was leaving (Michelle) sad to see her go, what will happen to her character? will she be replaced? good luck trying to find someone to fill that role, Michelle did an excellent job doing it. Good luck in your future travels

She is a fabulous actress and will be missed.

I so agree, Daisy! No matter how bad Phyllis could be… Michelle always made her performances “must see” TV.

I wish MS the best, but will miss her so much on Y&R.

I am so saddened to see you go. I have ALWAYS loved Phyllis. I can’t imagine Y&R without you. You are an amazing actress and I’m sure you’re future will be bright. It is definitely OUR loss. Good luck in all your ventures..;-)

I have watched the Y&R since it’s inception day, and will definitely feel the loss of Michelle (as well as Jeanne Cooper). But, in order to grow sometimes we must move on so best of luck in all your future endeavors and just know there will never be another crazy Phyllis Summers R A N. Thank you Michelle!!

Michelle… I have 2 facebook groups of you because I LOVED YOU as Phyllis. Or “Red” as Jack affectionately called her. One group is “Phack 4ever friends” for Jack and Phyllis. The other is “Ryl Phonan” for Ronan and Phyllis. Just telling you so you’d know! Michelle I HATED that Phyllis broke up Danny and Cricket. BUT it didn’t take long for me to LOVE you more than I loved those 2! Y&R WON’T be the same without you. And Jack certainly won’t, either! Good luck… Hope to see you on the silver screen again if not in prime time. Last… get on Criminal Minds & Say Hi to Shemar Moore!!!!!

I will really miss you!! You were one of my favorite people on the show. I never knew what was coming next with you; so unpredictable but always well done, no matter what the scene called for. I wish you all the best in whatever you endeavor to do in your future!!. I’m certain you will always shine brightly! Much love, hugs and prayers for you Michelle!!

One of the best actresses on the show – just got addicted to the Young and Restless about 2 years ago – but Phyllis has always been my favorite character – enjoy your next adventure

She was always riveting on the screen. I wish her well and am sorry to see her go but know she will go on to other great adventures.

I love Phyllis I love Michelle. I am going to miss her so much and I really hope they dont rrecast. It didnt work last time they tried. Thank you for 15 years of laughs and tears. You and Josh are great patners. I wish all of the best that life has to offer.

In spite of the fact that Phyllis Summers Newman is a crazy, funny, damaged character, Michelle has portrayed her BRILLIANTLY! Phyllis has been my favorite female character on Y&R ever since the day she came to GC. She’s passionate, driven, funny & feisty. I had the honor & pleasure of meeting Michelle at a charity event once. She is truly one of THE nicest, warmest, most fan friendly actresses I’ve ever met. I thank her for 15 years of Phyllis & wish her ALL the best! I can’t wait to see her in her next role, whatever & wherever it may be!

Bet she’ll show up at General Hospital in no time !

So nice to have known you,and so sad that you are leaving the show. thanks for being with us this long.. good Luck to you…

I am so sorry that you are leaving the show. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching you on the show. Michelle you made it so interesting we never knew what would happen and you made it so interesting. I sincerely hope to see you on the tube whether in a movie, TV show, or back on Y & R. Please take care of yourself.

I am so sorry Michelle is leaving. She will be really missed. However I wish her all the luck in her future.

I wish her all the best, but I sincerely hope she does not go to GH. That show has a plethora of awesome females that are not being used…Finola Hughes, Genie Francis, Kristina Wagner, Lynn Herring, etc.

You will be so missed. With all the changes going on (most not for the best), I can understand your reasons for leaving. Please consider coming back someday. Without you & Mrs. C, Y&R just isn’t worth watching anymore. Much Luck in the future, & God Bless…..

LI hope she gets a prime time role.

First Jeanne, now you, we were either loving or hateing you, now we are going to miss you a lot. good luck on your new adventures:)

She’s one of those actresses that could do it all.

Often criticized for some of her choices on screen…I was always spellbound and thoroughly enjoyed every second she was on.

A lot of people had trouble separating her acting from her character, and that to me is also a true sign of talent.

I don’t want a recast. I’d like them to write her off, and if she ever decides to come back, I know she’ll be welcome.

Such a loss!

I think that the role should definitely be recast. Phyllis has too much of an impact on this show to not have the character on this show. Secondly, I think the role should be filled by an unknown. Any other well known actress will come with stigmas from their former roles. Thirdly, I will miss Michelle so very very much! Wish her the best in life.

I will def miss seeing u on YnR! U r a great actress! Looking forward to seeing you in future tv! 🙂 best of luck to u!

She will be missed and no one can replace her. Maybe she’ll change her mind and come back soon. Gosh Brian if she goes to General Hospital gonna have to start watching that show since so many of Y&R people has gone there.

Good now we can forget Phick ever happened, Sharonand Nick can reunite, Jack can start building a relationship with Summer, Avery can alao move on now to Michael or Dylan!!! Bue Bye Phyliss!!! Now can somebody kill off Carmine ( maybe Lauren so she can go to jail and ve saved by Paul) …Finaly, with Michelle finaly leaving, Victoria Rowell can come back ( new girl’s mama?;Neil’s child?) … This show could be so good…

I enjoyed the character you played and the way in which you portrayed the many different faces of Phyllis Summer Newman. You made the character soooooooooo
interesting although there were times when I thought “Phyllis, how could you?” but the many aspects of the roles you were given to portray, I must say, you did each and everyone of them justice. I will certainly be one of the millions of people who have followed you on the “Y & R” who will miss you. I do wish you all the best for your future endeavours whatever they maybe.

I cannot imagine Y&R without you. You have been Phyllis since forever and we all appreciate your talent and dedication to this soap opera. Wishing you the very best and I know we will be seeing a lot of you in the future. God bless you and your family……

Michelle-thank you for being the BEST BAD GIRL in all of Soap World for the past 15+ years! Y&R is on daily at my house-sometimes I watch it twice if it is a really special episode ! My family and I will continue to watch, although it just won’t be the same without you! Best of luck in your future endeavors !!

Michelle, I have watched from the very beginning and you are truly an astonishing actress, one of kind, good luck in whatever you do. Will miss you!

Haven’t always liked Phyllis, but Michelle is great. Loved her on that Spelling show, Pacific Palisades I think it was.

People have to move on……..So sorry and very sad to see you go Michelle!

michelle, you will be sadly missed. have so much enjoyed watching you for the last 15-16 years. you are a wonderful actor. loved you whether you were sweet or that firey side of you. good luck to you and never forget I Love You. best of luck in your new adventures & hope you come back to y&r someday. 🙂

My whole life a character on television named Phyllis was either someone’s dull mother inlaw or a goofy misfit. MS brought glamour and delicious deviousness to that name. Since that is also my given name, I would like to thank her. Maybe more characters will have that name and they won’t always wear a matronly two piece suit and pearls.

Michelle sure do hate to see you go..I think beside Jeanne Cooper you made this show..I have been a fan of Y&R for so many years And have seen so many good ones leave..Good Luck in whatever you do and maybe someday you will come back to see us own Y&R,,May God walk with you in your new path along the way…God Bless…..Hazel a fan ..

So sad to hear you r leaving the show I don’t think they will find another to fill your shoes. You are a great actress and the show won’t be the same now two great actresses r no longer on the show that made a great impact on this soap. Best of luck in your next endeavor!! I will miss seeing you everyday!!

Well Bill Bell made the right call with you Michelle..BKA Phyliss. You are one of the reasons I watch the show. I have rooted for you in EVERY situation. NO ONE can play this part like you. Congratulations on a job well done and blessings on every new venture you choose. You are a great actress and will be missed.

I so appreciate all the work Michelle has done on Y&R their loss. She is a great actress. I wish her and her daughter well. Will miss her. Noone can fill her shoes as Phyllis. I look forward to seeing her in other ventures, maybe GH?

Hands down the BEST actress on TV in general (not just daytime ) I just hope you ,Michelle pop up soon another show , any show SOON!!!

I started watching Y&R about 10 yrs ago because my wife always had me tape it for her daily for past 30 yrs, and when I ended up watching it some days by myself, I tended to fast forward through the DVR to only those scenes that included Victor, more recently Adam and always Phillis, so many others are boring or poor storylines, Phyllis definitely will be missed, such a sexy redhead to boot, but a very believeable actress too.

As much as I hate to see Michelle leave Y&R I also understand that she wants to explore her options. She is a phenomenal actress that has a lot to offer. I honestly do not believe no one can take her place as Phyllis but a good replacement for her is needed. I heard she was heading to GH, which I have watched for 30 plus years. I hope Y&R does not kill her off.

I absolutely love all the personalities and how Michelle has played them. Having met this lovely lady in Windsor I think she is more beautiful in person. Even though she will be terribly missed I totally understand her saying ‘there is soooo much out there’. Break a leg with your new venture Michelle (that’s theatre lingo for good luck)

oh boy! will miss “RED”i love Phyllis and i will miss her,but no one can play phyllis and i mean no love.All the best to her in whatever she does.

Congratulations Michelle!!! You are venturing out to explore new opportunities and I hope you have many!!!! You are an extremely talented and beautiful lady and anyone will be ecstatic to work with you!!! You will be missed… but I am excited and happy for you and wish you all good things!!! Thank you so much for 15-16 years of fabulous performances!!! Come back sometime!!!

Michelle and her character onY&R show what a truly great actress she is. She stands High above any other acttress on TV. Anyone who can make you swear at your TV over some scene that realy moves you and makes you angry and is volatile, is the personification of the word ..actress. I believe we will be seeing Michelle again and again and again. Wherever she goes I, like muriad of others will be watching. Best of wishes ….luck,you won’t need.

Michael, judging by her tweet to you, I don’t think Michelle was too happy about you posting this from her personal facebook account. I don’t blame her. That being said, I will miss her on Y & R.

Days Of Our Lives

‘Brilliant Minds’ Officially Canceled After 2 Seasons at NBC; DAYS Alum Al Calderon, OLTL Alum Teddy Sears and Zachary Quinto Among the Cast

Published

on

By

After languishing on the bubble for months, on Friday, NBC handed down the decision and canceled the medical drama Brilliant Minds after two seasons.

Brilliant Minds stars Zachary Quinto as neurology physician Oliver Wolf, who’s character and the series is inspired by the life and books of neurologist. Oliver Sacks. The series focuses on the medical mysteries of the mind, as Wolf a larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns explore the last great frontier, the human mind, while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.

The final six episodes of what will now be the end of its second and final season were already set to air beginning on May 27, after being pulled off the network schedule in February as viewership saw a steep decline. Brilliant Minds second season became the lowest-rated drama on linear TV viewing, which didn’t bode well fo a network renewal, although it had its hard core fan base.

Photo: NBC

There are some exceptional notables in the cast along with the talented Quinto that includes Days of Our Lives alum, Al Calderon (ex-Javi Hernandez) who joined the series in its second season as Nurse Nico Silva, and One Life to Live alum, Teddy Sears (ex-Chad Bennett) who plays Wolf’s love interest and fellow physician, Dr. Josh Nichols.

The rest of the talented cast includes: Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Donna Murphy, John Clarence Stewart, and Brian Altemus.

In an ironic twist of fate on Thursday, April 30, Days of Our Lives finally revealed the actor who was Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Javi, when they announced that actor Jacob Martinez had now stepped into the role. Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming new episode, Calderon left in the spring of 2025, but will be seen in the part for the final part this month, and then on June 20, Martinez debuts as Salem’s new Javi.

Taking to his Instagram with a sorrowful and heartfelt post on the Brilliant Minds cancellation was Teddy Sears who wrote, “Thank you, Brilliant Minds. I got the call today and I didn’t want to hear, but I knew that it would come, You have to be a particular vintage to quote Don Henley from memory, but that’s the line that came to mind earlier today after I got off the phone with our inimitable showrunner Michael Grassi who delivered the news that NBC has cancelled the series”.

Photo: NBC

Sears continued, “To say that I feel sad to be moving on from these stories, this character, and this cast and crew just doesn’t paint the entire picture. I’m sad, sure. But I’m also deeply grateful that I got hired to play this part, so proud of the stories we told, and the other actors I got to play alongside. I’m excited to see what comes next, what adventures await, and terrified to be without a professional home. A quick and heartfelt thank you to everyone, all over the globe, who found us and found themselves in us, in our characters and in our stories. We wouldn’t have been able to tell them without you. And we still have 6 fresh episodes yet to air, and I do hope you tune in enjoy the remainder of the series. They’re the best we’ve done.”

As he wrapped up his sentiments, Sears signed off with, “The more I know, the less I understand. All the things I figured out I have to learn again. I’ve been trying to get down to the heart of the matter. But everything changes…Thank you, Brilliant Minds.”

The medical drama was created and executive produced by Michael Grassi alongside Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Lee Toland Krieger, DeMane Davis, Jasmine Russ, Henrik Bastin, Jonathan Cavendish, Andy Serkis and Shefali Malhoutra.

So, what do you think of NBC’s decision to cancel Brilliant Minds after two seasons? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’

Published

on

By

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.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jonathan Bennett (@jonathandbennett)

Continue Reading

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?

Published

on

By

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.

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

CBS unveils Beyond the Gates season 2 promo and Jordi Vilasuso joins the cast. Leave A Comment

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Giovanni Mazza as Gio

General Hospital

Airdate: 12-8-2025

Popular

174
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x