News
GROUNDBREAKING SOAP MOMENT: ‘One Life to Live’s’ Billy Douglas Comes Out (June 26, 1992), Remains a Touchstone for Ryan Phillippe
Pride month on the soaps also featured the unforgettable and heartbreaking angst of a young teenaged Billy Douglas (Ryan Phillippe) who finally came out to his pastor, Andrew Carpenter (Wortham Krimmer), back on this date on One Life to Live, 33 years ago.
The episode aired back on June 26, 1992 with now motion picture and television star, Ryan Phillippe, getting his first big break playing the first gay teenager on a daytime soap opera. In the story, Marty Saybrooke (Susan Haskell) seeking revenge against Andrew, saw him comforting Billy with his arm around him. She went and told Billy’s parents, William and Virginia, that Andrew was making sexual advances toward their son.
Next, William called for Andrew’s resignation from the St. James Church. When Andrew would not come forth to clarify his sexual orientation it only fueled the plot, until eventually, Billy told his parents he was gay. This was also tied-in with One Life’s emotional storyline of the AIDS quilt and the death of Sloan Carpenter’s (Roy Thinnes) other son, William, who he would not acknowledge as gay, and who died of the disease.

Photo: ABC
As far as LGBTQ+ storylines through the years, this one made a tremendous impact as Ryan Phillippe remembered in his recent interview with PEOPLE. After revealing his initial apprehension in the role, then 17-year-old Ryan remembered that the feedback he got after Billy admitted he was gay was, “instantaneous.” Phillippe played the role of Billy Douglas from 1992-1993.
“I think there were some fears associated with the point in time that we were at and it being before so many walls and ceilings have been broken in that regard,” Phillippe said. “But I know that any fears that anyone had about me doing it immediately went away once I saw the reaction that it got from the people who viewed it.”

Photo: AP
Phillippe received fan mail that said, “I’ve never seen someone represent me in any entertainment before in my life,” and from parents who said, “Watching this show on my lunch break gave me a way to connect with my LGBTQ child. As that job progressed, I realized how important it was to some people. And I was only 17 years old, so you don’t really have a sense of that. It was such a different time, but I very much matured through having had that experience and seeing the impact that it had for others.”
Ryan’s portrayal and the importance of the coming out story continues to hold a very special place in television and soap opera history. You can watch some of the moments from the story below. Now let us know, did you watch One Life to Live when the story initially aired? What do you think of the moment and Ryan’s performances? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
I remember that story so very well. Young Ryan Phillippe was so moving as Billy Douglas. Everyone at One Life to Live did an outstanding job telling this ground breaking story. It’s another example of the many reasons why One Life to Live should be on the air today.
The entire Billy Douglas storyline was so well done. It meant a lot to me to see it played out. The way they wove in the Carpenter family was brilliant. Then the display of the AIDS quilt outside of Andrew’s church was such a monumental event for Daytime TV at the time.
It is part of the legacy that Agnes Nixon created with socially relevant stories. I got hooked on OLTL in 1970 when Cathy Craig (then played by Amy Levitt) was battling addiction and they filmed group scenes at Odessey House in NYC with real people interacting with Cathy. Then when Cathy (as portrayed by Jane Alice Brandon) went to work writing for The Banner and did a series of articles on STD’s that the producers made available to viewers.
Those are just a few early memories of a show that is in the top 5 of my favorite TV shows ever.
During Ryan’s story I was having a very difficult time dealing with wanting to come out. The storyline really affected me deeply.
I was so touched with his portrayal that I wrote him a letter telling him what I was going through. I wasn’t sure if he ever did see it.
Because of his work I was able to come out a few months later. It was tough but it went much better than I could have hoped. I owe him the courage he gave me to do it and the life I have had since. Had it not been for his work on the show I truly don’t know if I ever would have had the courage to do it.
Fast forward to earlier this year. I decided to go on Youtube to see if Ryan has spoken much about his time on OLTL. I checked out the first video that popped up about him speaking about the show..
He mentioned that the letters he received really made him realize he was doing something that had an impact. The camera then pans to a picture of a letter he received. Then he began reading it. As they showed a closeup of the letter I realized it was MY handwriting! he is shown reading my letter!! What a mindblower! I have showed the video to everyone I know and they are so amazed.What were the chances out of all the letters he received that he not only has saved my letter but I can see him reading it. A once in a lifetime experience for me which I will always treasure!
News
Susan Flannery and Ian Buchanan Visit the Set of ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’; Daytime Emmy Winners Reflect on Show Then and Now

The one and only Susan Flannery (ex-Stephanie Forrester) dropped in to see her former co-stars on The Bold and the Beautiful at their Sunset Las Palmas Studio in Hollywood, along with her good friend and another B&B co-star Ian Buchanan (ex-James Warwick) on Tuesday October 20.
It was the first time in a very long time that The four-time Daytime Emmy winning actress was reunited with Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy), executive producer and head writer, Brad Bell, Jennifer Gareis and even her TV sister, Alley Mills (Pam, B&B now Heather, GH) showed up for the day too!
Flannery played the Forrester matriarch from 1987 until 2012. It was then that after playing the part of Stephanie for 25 years that Susan made the decision to retire from acting and in one of the most heartbreaking sendoffs, passes away from lung cancer in Brooke’s arms in November of 2012. During her B&B tenure, Flannery won 3 of her 4 Daytime Emmys, the other being for her first soap role as Laura Horton on Days of our Lives back in 1975.

Photo: Bell-Phillip TV
As for Ian Buchanan, he played Dr. Warwick, psychiatrist, from 1993 to 1999. He returned for other runs in 2014 and 2017. Buchanan took home his Daytime Emmy in 1997 for his work as James. Soap fans also remember, Ian as mobster Duke Lavery on General Hospital, and Dr. Greg Madden on All My Children,
Both Susan and Ian shared their thoughts on coming back to The Bold and the Beautiful, for Susan 14 years later since he exited and for Ian close to 9 years since his last appearance below.
Susan said, “It’s definitely like coming home in a way, even though it’s not the same studio. It’s really lovely to see old faces and old faces with new faces. It takes you back mentally. You start remembering what it was like back then, even things like how much your feet would ache at the end of the day from wearing six-inch heels. It was just lovely to be back and see everybody.”

Photo: Bell-Phillip TV
Ian expressed, “It’s a mind trip, you know. When I was sitting looking at the big Forrester set, it was like stepping back in time, almost. It takes you back mentally, and you start remembering what it was like when you were here before.”
“It’s lovely to see all these people again, even if you don’t know everybody,” explained soap vet Buchanan. “There’s something really special about coming back and seeing the show and the people who have been part of it for so long.”
So, happy to see Susan and Ian with some of their former castmates? Do you think Stephanie and Brooke is one of the greatest frenemy stories in daytime history? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Beyond the Gates
Tabitha Brown and Kandi Burruss Guest Star on ‘Beyond the Gates’ for Dani’s ‘Welcome to Your Life’ TV Special; What Could Go Wrong?

As previously announced, Beyond the Gates is bringing chef, author and actress Tabitha Brown and Grammy Award-winning songwriter, singer and actress Kandi Burruss to Fairmont Crest in a special episode of the CBS daytime drama airing Thursday, October 22.
In the episode, Dani’s (Karla Mosley) best friend Pamela Curtis (Cady McClain), arranges a “Welcome to Your Life” television special for her. As it turns out, Brown will play the show’s host, Tia Allen, while Burruss takes on the role of Dani’s first modeling agent, Kalista Kilroy, who turns the celebration of her life into a bad trip down memory lane.
Dani’s parents Anita and Vernon (Tamara Tunie, Clifton Davis), sister Nicole (Daphnee Duplaix), and daughters Chelsea (RhonniRose Mantilla) and Naomi (Arielle Prepetit) all join the show to celebrate and support her but also witness how things so south. Also appearing in the episode are Molly Figueroa as Tatum Stewart and fan-favorite Anita Williams (Tunie) impersonator Jackie Tyree!

PhotoL JPI
THE 411 ON TIA AND KALISTA
Speaking with TV Insider, about their soapy experience in Fairmont Crest, Tabitha Brown previewed about her host with the most, “Tia is very professional, but she’s a girl’s girl. She is a protector of women and wants to tell their stories in a beautiful way, but she also wants to make sure they’re seen in a very good light.”
However, Burruss previews that Kalista arrives with a score to settle. “She’s spicy,” shared the recording artist. “I always love playing somebody that has come to start trouble. It’s always fun to play a villain of sorts, but Kalista feels like she’s been done wrong and she’s hurt by what she feels has been done to her. So Kalista is stirring up trouble, but she feels justified putting Dani on blast. Kalista is ready for some payback.”
Beyond the Gates is produced by CBS Studios, as part of the CBS Studios/NAACP Venture, in partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble. Created by head writer Michele Val Jean, executive producers include Val Jean, Sheila Ducksworth, Julie Carruthers, Tracey Thomson, Leon W. Russell, Derrick Johnson, Anna Saalfeld and Lela Coffey.
Beyond the Gates is broadcast weekdays on CBS (2:00-3:00 PM, ET/1:00-2:00 PM, PT) and is available to stream on Paramount+**.
So, looking forward to this special episode of Beyond the Gates when Dani is put on a blast during a blast from her past and Welcome to Your Life TV special? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of our Lives’ Reveals Kyle Pryor Cast as Dominic Marino

For months now, Days of our Lives has teased the character of Dominic Marino. In recent weeks, viewers learned that Marino is on the down low working with Sami Brady’s (Alison Sweeney) apparent fiancé ‘Dante Vitali (Franco LoPresti), and that he is the never-before-heard-of child of Stefano DiMera (the late Joseph Mascolo) and Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall)!
Up until now, the Peacock streaming soap opera has never revealed his face, but that all seemed to change on the Tuesday, October 2o episode of DAYS. In story, Dante met Sami’s parents for the first time, Roman (Josh Taylor) and Marlena.
He shows them a photo of Dominic, which he happened to have on his own phone and even commented he kind of looked like he could be Marlena’s son. The photo, which has quickly made it around Soap Twitter/X, revealed that British-born actor Kyle Pryor is the man in the photo and eagle-eyed viewers actually located said photo on Pryor’s Instagram.

Photo: Peacock
Deadline revealed Pryor started taping at the end of 2025 and will first be seen in the role, on air Monday, November 2. In addition, Days will celebrate its 61st Anniversary with two special episodes featuring Dominic’s arrival, as well the returns of Tony and Anna DiMera, played respectively by Thaao Penghlis and Leann Hunley, on Friday, November 6 and Monday, November 9.
Those in the know, are are that Pryor previously held series regular roles on Australia’s Home and Away, and the UK’s Hollyoaks and guest starred on Emmerdale. In an ironic twist, Pryor appeared in the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand which is the same action series his apparent TV brother, Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera), once appeared in before coming to DAYS.
So excited to see Kyle Pryor take on the role of Dominic Marino as Days of our Lives sets its anniversary story to kick-off with is arrival in Salem? Share your thoughts in the comment section. And in case you missed our latest conversation with Conner Floyd (Chad DiMera) he weighs-in on how Dominic’s appearance will shake things up in Salem. You can check that out below.
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