News
Ray Wise Joins The Young and the Restless As Dylan's Father Cult Leader Ian Ward!
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
Now this is actually good casting if you look at the eyes of Ray Wise and Steve Burton! In a move that could potentially spark the story of Dylan (Steve Burton) being Nikki’s (Melody Thomas Scott) biological son from her younger days as part of a cult, according to TV Line, the CBS number one soap, The Young and the Restless, has cast veteran actor Ray Wise in the role of Ian Ward, the cult leader from the New World Commune who got Nikki pregnant some 30 years ago!
TV Line goes on to say, “Wise will begin shooting this Friday the 13th, with an eye on a January 23 debut. His character, will play an integral role in the lives of several Genoa City residents.” The role is recurring. Could Ian be the new Mitch Laurence of daytime?
Wise is well remembered by soap fans for his role on Twin Peaks and Love of Life! His other credits have included: How I Met Your Mother, Chuck, Reaper and Mad Men!
So what do you think about the casting choice of Ray Wise as Dylan’s father? Do you think Ian will cause havoc in Genoa City? Comment below!
have to say 1rst, i do not watch y and r at this time, i gave up when genie francis was let go,,,but i do keep up with the show through sites like this,,btw,,micheal you are by far the best at what you do,, but back to y and r,,its unfortunate but in 2 years now i have not seen one article or casting news that would even ignite the smallest interest in returning to this show, untill the vets get great storyline and they correct some of the people they have let go,,,,like omg can we say billy miller…and show some respect for the actors and the audience i will not go back,,,general hospital is where its at..
Wasn’t Genie just cut again from GH? And they lost Tristan as well?
honestly not sure,,,i thought it was just temporary she was off ,,but if she is off permanently ill tune out…they swore genie was back to stay,,,long term,,so if they lied just to woo back viewers ill be gone again
I’m so glad I’m not the only one… (fan) who thinks as much.
I’ve never – left – a soap… stopped watching… cold turkey! and I did… GH and DAYS are thee soaps.
as for Y&R … for the love of Jeanne Cooper… Michelle Stafford, Billy Miller, All the Abbotts… gotta still love my Victoria
blah, blah, blah
I don’t mind agreeing with the latest SOD issue… the best and worst of
Drum Roll!
ladies and gentlemen…. !!!!
for the 3rd year in a Row!
Thee young and the Restless…. “Most Dissapointing Show”
Bam!
And what’s funny SOD voted that because I just read an article, Y&R doubled in ratings during November sweeps.
I’m tempted to give up since the show is just a tool to further prompt Dullan. Wish Steve Burton had landed a gig on a soap I DON’T watch. 🙁
I don’t understand what the court case is about. We know that Paul is the father, why go to court now?
Some 30 years ago? Hmmmmm….looks like Nikki has been de-Sorased.
I know soaps play with ages all the time but it really irks me that someone the same age (or REALLY close) to Nick is supposed to be the child Nikki had at approximately 17. He should be years older than Victoria.
Sorry, nothing is going to make Dylan grow on me….
… if he was the cult leader… he’d be any where from 13-20 years older… ?
seduced
Steve Burton has to act? ! ? ! No!
all he did on GH was machismo, stud muffin it up….
I don’t think he’s getting away with his act this time around…. on Y&R he doesn’t have one
I was referring to Dylan being approximately the same age as Nick. It is preposterous considering that Nikki was supposed to be 17 at the time of the cult story (and I definitely recall her saying she was that age a few months ago in a conversation with Paul), plus the fact that Victoria is the older sibling. Dylan would need to be older than Victoria. Nikki’s “lost” son would need to be mid-forties, at least.
Just another way to shove Dylan at us and make Burton appear essential to the show. Ain’t gonna happen.
Do not get me started on this totally circling the wagons around Steve Burton to give this guy front and center storyline so I for one am not the least interested in Ray Wise’s character no matter how good of an actor he is .And the fact certain actors on Y&R who have become instant pals with him to remain on the show disgusts me. Why does he not just sell his juice and get off my favorite show.
I actually think Steve Burton is doing a good job–he was heart breaking when he found out that the baby wasn’t his. Being on Y&R has allowed him to stretch a bit as an actor, plus he gets to wear color.
well,
David Koresh was 32.. when he died
Jim Jones was 47.. when he died
Ian ??????
This show is so completely out of whack with ages that it is disconcerting and actually sucks any emotional investment out of the characters for me. This is all thanks to the needless and ridiculous aging of summer and their insistence that she was born after cassie died. For that to add up, Nicholas has to be at least 50. Which would make Victoria older than that, and Dylan pushing 60. That makes Nikki at least 75. Well…she looks damn good for her age! We just have to accept that two regimes have monumentally screwed with these characters ages…and they exist in some sort of weird time warp.
The time is a mess and I have given up ages ago trying reconcile all the damage SORASing has done over the years. I think even the wardrobe, make up and hair people on the show are confused– has anyone else notice that all the young women are dress to look like matrons and all the older ladies are dressed to look like they are 30 years younger than they are supposed to be?
Harry: Steve Burton chose to wear black t-shirts all the time on GH! He said it in numerous interviews. Him being able to wear color just proves what a hypocrite he’s turned out to be since joining YR.
Great choice! Now this could be interesting, and trust me, Y&R could use some spice with the milk toast it has been serving with all the young blonde chicks, their boyfriends, Lilly of the Duh Valley Girl, Lurch (AKA as Vile Kyle), Neil and his son whose name now escapes me because he is so damn boring. Why Katherine gave her millions to that walking void sign I will never understand.
Ray Wise will be a most welcome addition.
Lurch that’s soooo good!!
LOL… especially about Devon: he’s devoid… just simply lacking interesting… right?
it escapes me… but, whatever.
the nunuKyle… is definately lurch…. and is another walking zombie
Oh yes, that’s the name Devon–thank you. Let’s call him Deyawn.
But I love Peter Bergman, just wish they’d give him a new storyline instead of making him replay Victor vs. Jack with Jack always losing for the millionth time. Bergman deserves better than that.
He plays an excellent psycho. I remember him from Twin Peaks. So yes he’ll be a welcomed addition to the Y& R .
I remeber when he was Jamie Rollins on Love Of Life…he was involved with a drug addict named Sally 4get last name…the had a young daughter who tragically died…then Jamie…after Sally left him had an affair with the married and older Diana Lamont. Good to see him back in daytime!
He looks like he could rock the role.
Don’t watch Y&R, but love Ray Wise, Twin Peaks & loved, loved loved him on Psych, The Closer and Reaper. he is an awesome actor. Should be great in the role!
I loved, loved, LOVED Twin Peaks….
Me too!!!! Fantastic, fabulous show….and Ray Wise will forever be “Leland-Bob!!!!”
Hum…….Jason gets a father
Sam gets a father
I’m good!!!!
I know, its like JFP watches her old show GH and then gathers the Y&R writers and lets them know she JUST had a brainstorm!
I’m really looking forward to this. Great casting.
This is great casting. Can’t wait. I hope he gets a good story to play.
Ray Wise is a great actor and in the right hands could indeed be the new Mitch Laurence but I don’t trust the current writing team to do anything more than introduce Ian Ward and then kill the character off within a matter weeks sparking a “mystery” story to put Dylan front and center.
Yeah, these writers seem to drop the ball a lot? They had this DD story line, popular or not, it was a hot iron and now it just drags and you just lose interest and want it to be over with. Take your hat off twice for the writers over at GH. They had the Robin story line out there for almost two years and the pay off was Emmy worthy.
lmao!!!
A guy from a Commune Cult how lame can Y&R get !!
And Nikki was a stupid hippie.. what a dim-witted back story..
Anyways I hope ”Ian” will be a real badazz , Y&R needs one, desperately!
I FF through so much of the boring sludge that I am hardly watching, actually.. 🙁
I am remarkably… sad… distraught even: for Melody Thomas Scott
#1. she’s in a cult… at 17… gets pregnant
#2. she’s a stripper/prostitute… gets pregnant… marries Victor
and the rest is lame, tired, I digress… over… resting… Nikki’ stupid
the writers’ have so ruined… the character… till she just takes it upon herself…
perhaps… when they know … the show is over…
Nikki… chops victors balls off
Me with some other fans, want Paul to be Dylan’s real dad.. Would make great storyline opportunities, would show case, Mel, Eric and DOug more and would piss off Victor. 🙂
That is what I was hoping for myself, when it first came out that Nikki had a child long ago. I think it would have been like you said a story filled with potential, but as usual they are going in a direction that isn’t nearly as interesting as it could have been.
thank you! especially… for thee actors themselves… acting chops on fire…
Doug Davidson and MTS… Paul and Nikki… to REEL!
It would be SO much better if it could be rejiggered to make Paul the father. They make believable parents of Dylan…all so blonde and blue. And it would give Paul a son after killing his own.
Paul would have been a good choice and a popular one. Him and Victor have the tension needed between them but Paul is a good guy. Ian will roll into town and Victor will want to take his head off just because of what he did to Nicki many years ago.
Yes
I was hoping they wouldn’t go down this road. I have zero interest in seeing Nikki deal with this guy who abused her as a teenager, nor to see him go toe to toe with Victor. The only thing that might make it somewhat interesting if this guy was Sharon’s father too– which would make Dylan and Sharon siblings on the father side of things, which was the rumor ages ago. And wouldn’t mind if they explored Sharon’s unresolved “Daddy” issues—but that’s about the only thing that might save it.
Because I can see where this is going, the guy will end up threatening Nikki’s life in some way and Dylan will be the only one who can save her. Mother and son will end up bonding over dealing with him. Victor will get put out that Nikki has “new ” hero to turn to and they will break up again. Unless they suddenly get a creative streak and completely surprise me, I cannot see this story being anything but predictable.
and… once again… MTS Nikki… takes, the fall
and, Victor.. grandstands!
I don’t even know what to say… it’s over!
after all these years… would it be so bad… for Victor… and Y&R to befall… and debilitate.. Victor… with some thing… any thing ???
he has no credibility… left
so what??? who? f’n care’s, at this point
Nikki… is the fallen goddess… amazon… LOL
Oh well… she’s missed
Ray Wise is great, I might start to watch again because of him.
So…actor Ray Wise is being cast on Y&R as that totally sadistic and evil cult leader Ian Ward from long ago, huh??? SAY W-H-A-T??? Anyway, Ray Wise being cast on Y&R has so many ENDLESS storyline possibilities. Aw, HELL TO THE YEAH!!!!! RW is a perfect choice to give Y&R a badly-needed-shot-in-the-arm. Yep. Here’s what I think that Ray Wise could bring to the Y&R table:
1. I would LOVE to see that Ian Ward dude to head-to-head and toe-to-toe with that stuffy, insufferable and fire-breathing Victor. That would TRULY ROCK!!!!!
2. I think that Y&R should put Ian and Jill together as a couple. And, besides, I think that Ray Wise and Jess Walton would have AMAZING CHEMISTRY together on-screen. HOLLA!!!!!
3. I think that Ian and Jack should meet by chance (or whatever), compare notes and TEAM UP to bring down that grumpy old Victor. H-E-L-L-O!!!!!
4. Most of all, that Ian fella would bring a MUCH-NEEDED REALISM to that Nikki And Dylan Are Long-Lost Mother And Son nonsense. D-U-H!!!!!
We shall see………..
Ian and Jill, good call. Then when Colin comes back you have a triangle.
Tim…dude…I forgot that Colin (aka Tristan Rogers) is coming back to Y&R. My Bad. And, a Colin/Jill/Ian love triangle sounds really interesting…LOL!!!!!
Great choice. He looks like a cross between Victor and Dylan?
Y and r is really really pissin me off. I have been watchin this show since the day paul and lauren eloped, long time. If they dont do something about adam hittin dd and get rid of victors obvious “im better than anyone” bull crap stupid attitudes, im gonna stop watchin this mockery of a soap! The stalkin and drugs and sharon, that poor woman,I know shes done some mean things on the show but she had a good reason, what was phyllises excuse? Nothin, just a home wrecker. I will quit this show and go back to gh!!!!
It will be interesting especially with victor in the mix
Lol…funny just reading the comments, let alone the lameness of y n r writers!
Ian is a very bad man just waiting for someone to kill him but a few more beatings first lol
Must say he is a good actor but evil in this rol thanks for a great soap love the soaps
Please, please, please either get rid of Victor or at least let him get his butt kicked, his business ruined and land him in jail. The most hated character ever!!! Hope Ian can stir something up to get it started.
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
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus Talks Humble Beginnings, Test and Albert, WrestleMania 22 with Mickie James, Current Women’s Roster (Exclusive)
DAYS Stephen Nichols Remembers Drake Hogestyn as the ‘Most Vital, Enthusiastic, Committed Man I Ever Knew’ Ahead of the PanCan PurpleStride Walk
DAYS Stephen Nichols and Co-Stars Walk in Honor of Drake Hogestyn at PanCan PurpleStride LA, ‘I Felt Him With Us’
Brandon Barash Granted Restraining Order Against ‘General Hospital’s’ Kirsten Storms
‘Days of Our Lives’ Rob Scott Wilson Talks ‘Turning Heel’ as Necktie Killer, Ben Weston
Paige Herschell Marks One-Year as ‘General Hospital’s’ Jacinda Bracken
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WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus Talks Humble Beginnings, Test and Albert, WrestleMania 22 with Mickie James, Current Women’s Roster (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Michael Reveals His Plan to Set Up Chase and Willow to Have an Affair
Judith Light Talks Her Role in ‘The Terror: The Devil In Silver’ Dropping on AMC+ with Co-Star ‘Downton Abbey’ Alum, Dan Stevens
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