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OLTL's Hillary B. Smith on Bob Woods, Daytime Emmys, as her Auction Continues!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC

Courtesy/ABC

It’s a start of a brand new week which means a new One Life to Live/Hillary B. Smith auction item is up for bids on ebay to support the Willee-Coppee Fund.  As previously mentioned, the fund discreetly assist pet owners who may be struggling with overwhelming veterinary bills for man’s best friend.

Make sure to bid this week on an adorable wood-framed cartoon by Anita Massimini Brown  from the personal collection of Hillary.  It was presented to her in 1998 by the “One Life to Live” Fan Club when Bo and Nora (Robert S. Woods and Hillary) were voted that year’s “Best Couple.” The cartoon depicts Hillary in her dressing room, smiling out at us from the comfort of her make-up chair.  Posters of New York and Hollywood are on the wall to her left.  To her right, with an appropriate star, is her dressing room door, which reads “One Life to Live Fan Club.”  Above her on the make-up mirror are the words “1998 Best Couple – Bo & Nora.”  In anticipation of this auction Hillary and Bob personally autographed the back of the drawing, with Hillary adding the words “Live, Love, Donate.”  The cartoon, including its very simple wood frame and blue matte, measures 11.25″ x 9.25″ and has been in Hillary’s “One Life to Live” dressing room since she received it twelve years ago.

And now, the next installment of our exclusive interview with One Life to Live’s, Nora and Venice’s, Guya.  And since tonight’s item up for bids has to do with Bo and Nora, we thought we would talk Daytime Emmy submissions, (since Bo and Nora had some amazing scenes with each other this past year) and Hillary’s thoughts on working with Bob Woods again after the couple (Bo and Nora) were split apart for ten years!

Hillary on what episode she is submitting for her Daytime Emmy Pre-Nom for Lead Actress:  “It was tough to choose, and I did not realize I had as much material as I did.  I had wonderful scenes with Bob Woods when Bo and Nora went to England but they were really his scenes.  I am referring to where he confesses and apologizes for the ten years of icky bitchiness that happened with Bo and Nora, and it melted away, and he confesses he still loves her.  I thought about that.  I hope Bob Woods uses those scenes for his pre-nom. Bob is so beautifully understated, and so subtle and funny.   But for me, in the end, I narrowed it down to two shows revolving around Matthew’s accident.  The one I am going with is when we are finding out that Matthew has no feelings in his legs, and dealing with the doctor and trying to figure out what does this mean. Then Nora has to go back in and be upbeat for Matthew.  Then I have a moment when I am alone and can let it all out. Marty comes in and I ask about Cole and then I find out Cole was doing drugs that night.  And, I go to Cole and I let him have it and I end up shaking him. Then I leave his room and I find out that the three kids knew he was doing drugs and I let them have it, and then Bo comes up to me, and he then has Cole arrested.  I love the scenes where I am kind of all over the hospital and moving things and as a mother, its totally relatable. It’s all her mothering instincts that kick in on all the levels. 

Courtesy/ABC

Hillary on finally re-teaming and working with Bob Woods again: “I am so happy working with him again, and we did that remote recently where we were doing the bridge scenes, and all of us in the cast were freezing, and we stayed a night at a hotel and it was fun. Bob and I were at the bar and I lifted my drink and I toasted him. I said, “It is so great to work with you again,” and Bob said, “I forgot how easy it is.” That was so sweet, and we have been trying to do the material that comes to us and try to honor it as best we can. Ten years ago we were split up in the most ridiculous fashion.  (Nora sleeping with Sam to get pregnant) I even called the President of ABC Daytime, and back then it was Pat Fili.  I said, “Are you kidding me? You can’t have me do this. This makes no sense at all.” But, I had to do it because that is what I am paid to do.”

Hillary on if years ago she truly wanted Bo and Nora to split: “There were plenty of things we could have done staying together.  I think that probably it’s exciting to work with other people and trying to make those things work with other characters.  There was a lot that got played in those ten years, but to be perfectly honest, I just want to do a scene on a soundstage with someone I can count on, and that person is Bob Woods.”

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Great interview, I love HBS she is such a wonderful actress and a gracious person!
I am hoping the Bo and Nora will be getting their own storyline soon

Thank you Michael. That was lovely. I agree with Hillary on which scenes RSW should use. He had some good scenes with Matthew’s accident and before the wedding, but those London scenes were really special.

I just adore HBS. What a wonderful interview. I agree with the episode she submitted– she was AMAZING in those scenes— and with everything she said about Bob and her. I hope Bo and Nora will be getting more screentime. They’ve been my favoriate couple for years. LOL.

i love hbs…great actress and so down to earth..she deserves an emmy especially after those scenes!!!

I love Hillary, but she will ALWAYS be MARGO HUGHES ( ATWT ) to me!

I am so happy to see Bo and Nora together again. They are such great actors and a great team!
Also, Thank you Hillary for the fund you have set up to help animals in need in honor of you r own dog. The auction is a great idea thanks Michael for bringing us the info and opportunity to help.

HBS IS THE GREATEST…I ENJOY HER ACTING SO MUCH AND IM THRILLED TO SEE BO AND NORA REUNITED AND TOGETHER ON MY SCREEN AGAIN EVEN IF THE CURRENT STORYLINE SUCKS….

I am a big fan of bo and nora. I am so glad that they are back together. Any storyline is great when they are in it. Hope they are together as long as the show is on TV and online. Great Actors.

General Hospital

Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

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Maura West and Kelly Sullivan

It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.

The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.

Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.

Photo: JPI

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST

Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”

Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”

Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”

Photo: JPI

KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL

Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”

You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.

So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!

 

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General Hospital

Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

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Steve Burton

The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.

TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.

That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.

Steve Burton

Photo: ABC

STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES

GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.

Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).

Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.

GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS

Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.

Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.

Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.

So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.

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Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027

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Jess Walton

The Young and the Restless enduring favorite and two-time Daytime Emmy-winning actress, Jess Walton (Jill Foster Abbott) is set to release her memoir!

Kensington Publishing has revealed on their website that Walton’s book The Young and the Rest of Us is now available for pre-order while listing an April 27, 2027 release date. In addition, in June of 2027, Walton will mark her 40th anniversary with The Young and the Restless and her debut as Jill.

The official log lines for the memoir share, “Emmy Award-winning actress Jess Walton, known to millions as the iconic Jill Abbott on the #1 soap opera The Young and the Restless, shares her extraordinary journey to stardom, sobriety, true love, and self-discovery in this startingly candid, intimate, and star-studded memoir.”

Jess Walton

Photo; Kensington Books

CAKE FIGHTS AND CORPORATE INTRIGUE

The book description for The Young and the Rest of Us adds,  “In June 1987, Jess Walton walked through the artists’ entrance at CBS for her first day on The Young and the Restless,where she had just been hired to play the recast role of Jill AbbottTwo Emmy awards, four decades, and countless onscreen affairs, marriages, corporate takeovers, and cake fights later, she’s a beloved icon with an astonishing tale to tell.”

“In her refreshingly candid style, Jess shares her journey as a young actress from Toronto theaters to Los Angeles, where she found herself at the center of a Laurel Canyon circle that included the likes of Neil Young, David Geffen, Laura Nyro, and Joni Mitchell. Landing a Universal contract and a steady stream of guest starring roles, Jess embraced everything 1970s L.A. had to offer—including Hollywood parties fueled by limitless booze and drugs, and trysts with stars. She recounts with candor and gratitude the surprising path that eventually led her to sobriety, true love—and ultimately, to fictional Genoa City, Wisconsin, and the role of a lifetime.”

“Brimming with behind-the-scenes drama and celebrity cameos to delight fans, The Young and the Rest of Us is also rich in personal, relatable truths about marriage, motherhood, empty-nesting, self-discovery, and finding the courage to start over—as often as it takes. In a voice as fearless and frank as Jill’s, but with, humor and grace all her own, Jess Walton looks back on a life as unpredictable, and adventure filled as anything she has portrayed on screen.”

WHO ELSE PLAYED JILL FOSER ABBOTT?

Fans of The Young and the Restless know that Walton became the fourth actress to take on the role of Katherine Chancellor’s original nemesis Jill Foster back in 1987. The OG Jill was played by Brenda Dickson, also Deborah Adair, Bond Gideon and Melinda O. Fee played the part.

This year, Days of our Lives star Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts) filled-in for several episodes for Walton who was unavailable to travel from her home in Oregon to Los Angeles where Y&R was taped. Walton is still with the long-running soap opera as Jill.

So, excited to learn of Jess Walton’s upcoming memoir, ‘The Young and the Rest of Us?’ Will it be it a must-read for you? Drop a comment below.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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