News
Rebecca Budig Joins the Cast of The Bold and the Beautiful as the New Dr. Taylor Hayes
Look who’s come back to daytime! Rebecca Budig has signed on with CBS’s The Bold and the Beautiful as the recast Dr. Taylor Hayes.
Budig’s first episode is today on the August 6th episode of the series. As viewers saw on Monday’s episode, a woman was lurking watching Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) together while they were in Monte Carlo for the relaunch of “Brooke’s Bedroom” lingerie line.
Soap fans know Rebecca well foher work as Guiding Light’s Michelle Bauer (1996-1998), All My Children’s Greenlee Smyth (1998-2011) and most recently as General Hospital’s Hayden Barnes (on and off from 2014-2019).
Photo: CBS
In story, Taylor is best known for being a compassionate psychiatrist, and mother to Steffy and Thomas Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood and Matthew Atkinson), plus her on-and-off romance with Ridge Forrester and longtime rivalry with Brooke Logan.
Coming to B&B will bring Budig back together in scenes with Kaye who played Zach Slater when both appeared on All My Children together.
Photo: CBS
Rebecca follows Krista Allen in the role of Taylor. Daytime fans learned Krista was no longer at B&B during Daytime Emmy week in December of 2023. Allen told Deadline, that she was told back in October that her contract wouldn’t be renewed. and that she was moving to Atlanta, Georgia.
Now, it looks as though B&B is set to renew the Taylor/Ridge/Brooke triangle or are they? Stay tuned! Budig is a four-time Daytime Emmy nominee and one of the most popular actresses to appear in the daytime drama arena.
So, what do you think about Rebecca coming to B&B as the recast Dr. Taylor Hayes? Comment below.
Too young for Taylor?
Only two years younger than Krista Allen
This puzzles me. Budig is talented and will no doubt do well in the role, but what was wrong with Krista Allen? She slipped beautifully into things and I thought fit very well as Steffy’s mom and Ridge’s … whatever, so if Taylor was still needed in story, why didn’t they hang on to her?
(Not that anything makes a whole lot of sense at B&B. But still.)
Love the actress but this is a horrible recast.
The trend of hiring great actresses as mothers to way-too-old children has to stop. There are too many actresses that are looking for work that would be age appropriate. Examples are Jordan/TJ on GH, Taylor/Steffi on B&B. But, with RB being an excellent addition to the cast, can B&B add Michael Easton?!?
Interesting but odd choice Krista Allen was fine in the role but than again thorsten wins Emmy awards but he could be recast he’s the weakest link
Agree I loved Krista Allen as Taylor. They fired Krista why she was a wonderful actress. This recast is a huge mistake. Rebecca is a wonderful actress, but she is miscast as Taylor Hayes. Sorry but this is my opinion. Regarding Thorsten he is miscast as Ridge. They should have hired Grant Alexander ex Phillip Spaulding Guiding Light as the new Ridge. Thorsten is a good actor, loved him on OLTL and AMC.
I SAID THIS YEARS AGO! Grant Alexander(ex- Philip Spaulding), would’ve slipped RIGHT INTO the role of Ridge Forrester and he is daytime royalty. Great kinds think alike! Grant would’ve gave Ridge some acting depth and chops! I don’t mind Thorsten as Ridge but Grant would’ve killed it!
Not sure if I can see Rebecca playing a woman who’s supposed to be the mother of Jacqueline’ character? Are the two actresses that far apart in age?
If you that that’s bad, how about putting Thomas along side her? Also , Rebecca is more than 10 years younger than KKL/ Brooke, which is unfair to both actresses.
James…in real life, Rebecca Budig is around 15 years older than Jacqueline MacInnes Wood. To me, that alone is BEYOND AWKWARD!!!!! No.
She is only two years younger than last Taylor. Just looks good
I like her. When Michael Easton was on GH, I was hoping Rebecca would return because I loved the chemistry between Hayden and Finn. Now that he’s gone from GH (bad decision GH) I’m just happy to see her return to daytime somewhere if not GH. And I hope someone hires Micheal Easton too because he’s great.
Poor Violet ! A missing mother and a father in rehab!
Is r she about a decade too young Fabulous actress But two young fit the character
Too young. Makes zero sense
I love Rebecca Budig, I wish she was returning to GH, GH dropped the ball big time, she fit in perfectly at GH, its strange to see her play the mother to an actress who looks like she could play sister to, but it is what it is, like I said GH dropped the ball.
I’m about done with this show and I’ve watched since day one.
This is a horrible recast. This actress is way too young to play a mother and grandmother.
Krista Allen did such a great job and this makes no sense.
Why bring Taylor back? For what reason? She isn’t needed on the show. Sorry just was never into her character.
This feels like a major miscast, just like Ingo Rademacher as Thorne… Rebecca Budig is a great actor, just like Ingo was, but she does not fit this part at all. Krista Allen was much better suited as Taylor. If she couldn’t return, Alicia Minshew would fit the part much better. And Rebecca should be back on GH! Hayden is needed now more than ever to be there for Violet.
way too young ,did she have Stephanie when she was 5
A few things…
To me, Krista Allen was clearly THE BEST Taylor that B&B ever had!!!!! Then, later on in December of 2023 aka last year, she was let go from the show. WHY?!?!?
In real life, Rebecca Budig is only 14 or 15 years older than Jacqueline MacInnes Wood. DUMBEST CASTING CHOICE EVER!!!!!
In recent years, Mr. Bradley Bell & Co. have done some really LAMEBRAINED things…but this is clearly the most LAMEBRAINED of them all!!!!!
Later.
Rumor was someone got jealous of her chemistry with TK and her getting a emmy nomination first year on the show. KA also has chemistry with SK /Deacon I thought that was where we were going to take the character.
Do you think B&B is reviving the Ridge- Brooke-Taylor love triangle? That would be a dramatic twist!… Sigh… B&B missed the mark when it minimized the girl power friendship of Brooke and Taylor. I hoped the two women might have shown they didn’t need Ridge, have rattled the Forrester business, and mentored younger women… maybe be involved in a mystery with new men.
She is a great actress but I can’t picture her as Taylor. I Loved her on All My Children. She is too young to be the mother of Thomas and Stephanie. She is more the age to be their Sister
Also, can we see her cuddling up to Ridge, that grizzled old man that he’s become. Maybe , if he shed some of that hair, facial included, it wouldn’t be so bad.
I’m very happy Rebecca Budig is returning to daytime, however, she is horribly miscast in the role. It baffles me the continued stunt casting Bradley Bell insists on doing, when we all now in a year or two (if that) she will be out of a job.
In additional, I continue to be baffled at how well Bradley Bell continues to just destroy the Legacy his parents left him. I am sure they are both rolling in their graves at the crapshow their son has made this soap.
Scott… I always enjoy your posts. Always a bullseye! It’s notice enough to hire top talent. The actors need purpose and story. I don’t need to watch 60somethings with money and power and freedom play love triangle games like they were kids.
Thank you Iakovos, I really appreciate it, especially since I know my opinions and viewpoints can be jarring at times. So it’s nice knowing my posts are appreciated. And honestly: this soap should just be re-named Love Triangles. At least that would be true to its stories now, because nothing about this soap⏤based on what I continue to read⏤is Bold or Beautiful.
A note to Brad Bell, Josh Griffith, Frank Valentini and Ken Corday…
Please stop hiring actresses that are too young for their intended characters. There’s plenty of age appropriate underutilized soap veterans or non-soap actress’s that can fill these roles.
Budig is a great performer, but can she pull off Taylor?
GH is looking for new Lulu, with the specs being 34-40. Both previous actresses are 40 or over.
Can anyone name an instance where a much younger recast was successful long term? Usually we get situations like Jamie Luner’s Liza or Kelly Sullivan’s Connie.
I am going to date myself here. When Maeve McGuire left the Edge of Night for the second time, they decided to replace her. Maeve was a great actress and in her 40s. They replaced her with two actresses who were twenty years younger and not as impressive. The dumbest casting move!
I loved the show and adored Maeve but can’t remember who replaced her. Does that count for anything?
Nothing stupider than Joan Crawford replacing her daughter on a soap. THAT was insane.
I remember it well. It was The Secret Storm, with Crawford. replacing her 30 something daughter and it was ridiculous., almost as much as Liz Taylor portraying Helena Cassadine on GH years ago, no one was any better than Constance Towers. Sorry, I could never see Ms. Taylor as Ms. Cassadine.
Can not see her mothering Steffy, they are too close in age.
What a misstep for BB. She’s is not old enough to make this believable. I know we are in the daytime arena but RB as Taylor cannot be a mother to MA and JMW. Not to mention since this is the 3rd actress to play the role they can’t recreate Tridge scenes with her and TK yet again. BB needs to just let this character go. No Tridge vs Bridge anymore.
Too young to play Taylor
The writers need to have an imagination stale story line. Back and forth with Brooke and Taylor for RIDGE give it a break.
Bad choice for Taylor
I loved Krista
Adrianne Zucker is available, can you bring her into be the next Hope? She would be more fitting as femme fatale, then girl next door amazing actress currently playing here.
Besides being too young she is very short, like 5’1. Steffy & Thomas are tall & so are Brooke & Ridge. She’s gonna look like a little kid surrounded by them. I think Lisa Rinna would be the best Taylor ever. She & Steffy would surely be a force to be reckoned with!
I think Kassie DePaiva would be the best recast for Taylor though I do think that Lisa Rinna would be a great recast of Felicia Forrester, and that would allow Rebecca to return to GH as Hayden.
Absolutely too young for Taylor and as a constant watcher of the show I don’t think your decision is correct. We’re not stupid but you are treating us as watchers as we don’t count. Maybe I’m getting tried of the show as many that I talk to about it.
I like Budig but she is not a good choice for Taylor. Taylor should be a brunette like Steffy. Also, too young to be Taylor. Don’t like Budig as Taylor.
All I know I am tired of this story line with Taylor and Brook as though Ridge is the only man for them.
That’s why the other lady left she was tired of playing the weak woman role and I don’t blame her.
I guess if ridge and Taylor get back together the Bill and brook get back together.
This show is sickness and the writer ducks they need new writers with new vision.
News
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom on Working with TV Son Crew Morrow: ‘I’ve Always Wanted to Play an Overprotective, Overbearing Mother’ (Exclusive)
In an ironic twist of fate, and only in the soaps, The Bold and the Beautiful’s Heather Tom’s (Katie Logan) on-screen son is played by Crew Morrow (Will Spencer), the now 21-year-old son of her former TV brother on The Young and the Restless, Joshua Morrow (Nick Newman).
For those who have followed the six-time Daytime Emmy-winning actress’ career, Tom began on Y&R back in 1990 as Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) and Victor’s (Eric Braeden) daughter Victoria Newman. She played the role until 2003. Four years later, she joined the cast of The Bold and the Beautiful and has been there ever since.
Next month, at the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards, Heather might add two gold statuettes to her collection with nominations for Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series (which would be her record-breaking 7th for an actress), and one for being a part of B&B’s writing team.
Photo: JPI
WHICH MORROW IS IN THE ROOM?
In a new livestream conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel, Heather recalled her reaction to seeing Crew Morrow on set when he started on B&B over two years ago, and pointed out the uncanny similarities between her TV son and her former TV brother.
“I just can’t even tell you how genetics is weird,” explained Tom. “Because it’s like they are the same person; the cadence and his voice and the way he laughs. When Crew was on the shows for the first couple of months, it would take me out of the scene. I would be like, ‘Oh, my God! It’s Joshua.’ It’s crazy. It’s so wonderful to have him. I love having him there. We’re so lucky to have Crew. I think he’s a wonderful addition to the Spencer family. I love that Bill (Don Diamont) and Katie’s son is on the canvas in a real way.”
In recent weeks, fans of The Bold and the Beautiful have seen a different side of Katie in regards to her son, Will. She simply does not approve, and does not trust Melissa Dylan (Sydney Bullock) as far as she can throw her. That puts a wrinkle in the mother/son relationship.
Photo: JPI
HEATHER TOM IS THRILLED THE CHARACTER OF WILL SPENCER IS ALL GROWN-UP
“Honestly, I’ve been waiting for this story since Will was born,” exclaimed Heather “To be like the overprotective, overbearing mother, momma bear, I love it!”
As for Katie’s attitude. which many feel may need an “attitude adjustment,” Tom has it all figured out on just how she is tackling her scenes! “I have all kinds of justifications for it,” reveals the multi-talented star.
Photo: JPI
KATIE SEES ALL SORTS OF RED FLAGS WITH DYLAN
“So. it’s not just Katie being the b-word,” proclaims Tom. “It’s that Will, her son, whom she loves and supports so much, has been constantly saying about Electra (Laneya Grace), ‘This is the love of my life. She’s broken my heart. I love her. All I want to do is get her back.'”
“So I think Katie could be like, ‘Okay, well, Electra’s a little flighty, but my son loves her, so I’m going to try to support that relationship,” explains Heather. “In addition, Will has never told his mother, ‘I love Dylan,’ at all. I think Katie is thinking of telling Will, ‘You should run, not walk, from this girl who seems somewhat obsessed!’ I don’t know where they’re going with the Electra/Will/Dylan triangle, but I think Katie’s very focused on Dylan for a multitude of reasons.”
So, do you like seeing Heather Tom as Katie going into overprotective momma bear-mode, now that the series has a major young triangle between Electra/Will/Dylan? What do you think about the fact that Heather has been a long-running scene partner with father/son across two different soaps in Joshua Morrow and Crew Morrow? Let us know in the comment section, and in case you missed it, check out our full conversation with Heather below.
There was never any doubt that in watching the riveting and emotional scenes on General Hospital which featured Finola Hughes as a PTSD-driven and mentally tortured Anna Devane, that when the climatic moments in Anna’s story aired, that we would not be singing the praises of Hughes. Once again, Finola showcased why she is one of the soap opera genres greatest assets and actresses.
In the key scenes, Anna has had a complete breakdown as she has lured and cornered Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) on Mount Emerson, and even thought through how she would kill her and cover it up, all thanks to hearing the voice and seeing a dead man, Peter August (Wes Ramsey). It’s visions of Peter that keeps egging Anna on to pull the trigger on Britt while in her delusional state.
Before Britt realizes that Anna trapped her in meeting her in Mount Emerson, she is very confused as to why she was all the way out in the boondocks to talk about what happened to her brother, Cassius Faison. However, Britt soon learned that what Anna was about to do is personal, and not professional, as she pulls the gun on her.
Courtesy/ABC
ANNA FIRES HER GUN IN GAME-CHANGING MOMENT
When Jason (Steve Burton) shows up to save the say, he tries to talk Anna off the ledge, begging her to not shoot Britt and make one of the greatest mistakes of his life. When Jason figured out Anna felt she needed to kill anyone related to Cesar Faison, he made her think twice, because that would mean, she also would need to end the lives of two of Maxie’s children, James and Bailey Lu.
Anna can’t stop seeing hallucinations of Peter pushing her to shoot Britt. Suddenly and completely overcome, Anna fires bullets straight in the direction of where she sees Peter as she declares this all must end tonight.
After the shots are fired, Anna realized what she had done and just sobbed and shook. It was a devastating and heartbreaking moment for longtime General Hospital fans to see the beloved Anna Devane, super spy, so lost. Anna explained to Jason, after he was able to disarm her, how she was being pushed to kill Britt by her visions of Peter.
EMMY-WORTHY SCENES FOR 2027
In another hankie-inducing moment, Anna just grabs Jason and breaks down in his arms. If these weren’t Emmy-worthy scenes, we don’t know what is, and it must be remembered by Hughes, General Hospital, and hopefully the voting body of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) when Emmy submissions and voting get underway in 2027 for the 54th annual Daytime Emmys.
From everything we noted above, to the sheer brilliance of her work, Michael Fairman TV names Finola Hughes, this week’s Power Performance of the Week.
Now let us know, do you agree with our pick of Finola? Were you moved to tears during the gut-wrenching scenes? Should Finola include these scenes in an Emmy submission in 2027, should she decide to compete for Lead Actress gold? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
General Hospital
RATINGS: ‘General Hospital’ Shows Most Gains in Total Viewers Week-Over-Week and Up in Key Demo
The ratings are out for the week of August 24-28 for your favorite broadcast television soaps, and it was ABC’s General Hospital which added the most total viewers and planted itself firmly in third place in its battle with Beyond the Gates in the key demos of women 18-49 and 25-54.
According to Soap Opera Network, all daytime dramas were up year-over-year, and General Hospital was joined by The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful with gains in their total audience viewership, while Beyond the Gates was only slightly off pace for the ratings week.
Let’s take a look at what had viewers tuning-in, starting with General Hospital, who added +79,000 viewers. While still under the 2 million viewers mark (which they can hopefully return in the coming weeks) their overall tally was an average of 1, 935,000 tuning-in, while still up year-to-year +136,000.
GENERAL HOSPITAL
In addition, GH while actually down from the previous week in the 18-49 ratings share, they still out performed Beyond the Gates for third place. However, GH was firmly in third place for the 25-54 ratings share.
The stories that were featured for the week included: Anna’s (Finola Hughes) PTSD and struggle with painful memories tied to Cesar Faison, and her concocting a plan to get rid of Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) recording Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) threatening her, and later running into a severe threat from Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) regarding Kai (Jens Austin Astrup) and Drew’s (Cameron Mathison) shooting, and Drew enlisting Ava (Maura West) to gain leverage over Jack, which resulted in Ava drugging him, while Drew went snooping for the evidence Brennan had against him.
Photo: JPI
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
Y&R remained in the top spot amongst all the soaps once again with 3,062,000 tuning in, and up +35,000 for the week, while year-to-year still showing strong gains at +231,000 viewers. However, while Y&R remained #1 for the 25-54 ratings share, it fell to #2 in the 18-49 ratings share behind The Bold and the Beautiful.
In story for the week, Nick’s (Joshua Morrow) sobriety in rehab was a focus, as was Victoria (Amelia Heinle) and Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) hitting the Jabot office couch and having sex for the first time, and Lily (Christel Khalil) and Billy (Jason Thompson) battling over control and ownership of Chancellor Industries.
Photo: JPI
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
B&B is continuing to be inch closer to Y&R for the top spot, separated by a little more than 300,000 viewers. For the ratings week, the series posted a total audience of 2,719,000 adding +31,000 eyeballs overall, and like Y&R, is up year-to-year in its performance.
The CBS soap now , now in its 40th season is +217,000 from the same time last year. In the key demos, The Bold and the Beautiful was in the top spot for the women 18-49 ratings share and number two for women 25-54.
In story, the major threat to Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and Finn (Tanner Novlan) and Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) and Daphne’s (Murielle Hilaire) marriages continued as Steffy and Carter swore they would not tell their spouses that the two had a drunken hook-up. But as viewers know now, Steffy is pregnant!
Photo: CBS
BEYOND THE GATES
Beyond the Gates tallied an average of 1,611,000 total viewers for the week, up +72.000 year-over-year and down slightly in tune-in for the week losing just -36,000 viewers. The CBS soap came in fourth place in the key demos for the week behind General Hospital, with whom they are often trading places for the third spot.
In story, after Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) was released from the hospital, Hayley (Marquita Goings) stuck to her plan, doubling down on poisoning him and even getting caught in a major lie or meeting with Randy (Maurice P. Kerry), as Vernon (Clifton Davis) may be on to her machinations.
The ratings report is generated from Nielsen (Live+Same Day Big Data + Panel) for the week of August 24-28, 2026
So, what did you think of the performance of General Hospital for the ratings period? Which daytime drama has you most likely to tune-in each day? Which has you tuning-out? Let us know what’s working, or not working for you in story, via the comment section below.
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: An Arrest is Made in the Disappearance of Jack Brennan
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Kyle and Victoria, Stephanie and Nate, Sally and Billy: Do Any Couples Have a Chance at Lasting Happiness?
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom on Working with TV Son Crew Morrow: ‘I’ve Always Wanted to Play an Overprotective, Overbearing Mother’ (Exclusive)
‘General Hospital’s’ Finola Hughes Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
RATINGS: ‘General Hospital’ Shows Most Gains in Total Viewers Week-Over-Week and Up in Key Demo
Vivica A. Fox Exits ‘The Young and the Restless’ For Now to Film Netflix’s ‘Women Like Us’
Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
‘General Hospital’s’ Braedyn Bruner Reveals Her Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and How Emma is Getting Her ‘Edge’ Back
‘General Hospital’s’ Bluesy Burke Marks 1 Year as Charlotte Cassadine: ‘It’s The Best Gift I’ve Ever Received’
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Drops First Look 40th Anniversary Opening Title Sequence
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: An Arrest is Made in the Disappearance of Jack Brennan
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Kyle and Victoria, Stephanie and Nate, Sally and Billy: Do Any Couples Have a Chance at Lasting Happiness?
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
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