News
REPORTS: Jean Passanante Leaving GH To Be Named New Co-Head Writer at Y&R!
Since the exit of Josh Griffith as the head writer of The Young and the Restless, there had been a report from CBS Soaps In Depth that Shelly Altman, who is currently on the Y&R writing team would be upped to co-head writer and that show was looking at Jean Passanante, (the former head writer of As the World Turns, who is currently a breakdown writer under Ron Carlivati’s team at General Hospital) to become the other co-head writer at the number one soap!
Tonight, noted soap journalist Carolyn Hinsey took to Twitter to announce that indeed Passanante, and Altman are IN as the new scribes of Genoa City. In her tweet, Hinsey said “Congrats to my #OLTL pal Jean Passanante @PFossil & Shelly Altman on ur new head writing gigs at #YR. U have ur work cut out for u, ladies!”
Soap Opera Digest has also ran an item tonight saying that multiple sources have also told them that Passanante and Altman are on board at Y&R!
A spokesperson from Y&R related to On-Air On-Soaps there was no official from the show itself at this time confirming the reports of Passanante and Altman to the head writing position. Besides ATWT and GH, Passanante has written for OLTL, AW and AMC.
So what do you think of Passanante coming over to Y&R? Do you think her storytelling ability will fit well with the legacy of the CBS soap? Weigh-in!
THIS IS GOOD 😉
I hope this will bring Drucilla home and Sharon back in love with Adam and they finally have a storybook romance they deserve. The old writers changed the love they had. I never like Chelsea and she was a hired hooker for Victor and bores me and why Avery is still on the show is also crazy. Lets hope better days ahead for the show I watched over 30 yrs 🙂
Im worried about the constant changing. Best headwriter(s)…Kay Alden and Bill Bell. No one has done it quite like them ever since. Lynn Marie Latham almost destroyed Y&R…and killed Drucilla! Maria Arena Bell almost rescued Y&R and was redeeming Sharon…and then boom. Josh Griffith decides to blow up Y&R with JP. Now that he’s gone, thank god, it’s time for Jill to go back to ABC and let someone worthy take the reins of Y&R.
Love love love Sharon! I loved ATWT Brad and Katie and I see Adam and Sharon like them . Please write Sharon and Adam back in love. I agree with the other comment to bring Drucilla back for Neil. Those were the days 🙂 i don’t like Chelsea and do not like Avery! Time for Sharon to be happy like we were promised!
ok!!
A GH writer at Y&R perhaps now I will stay awake while watching YR, which has been a snorer for the past year..
The Y&R stories, hopefully now will hold my attention for more than 5 minutes..
I am a fan of both Y&R and GH and the 2 soaps are as different as a party and a nap..
Like almost all Y&R fans, I would prefer head writers who were familiar with the characters and their history. That being said, the new co-head writers do have their work cut out for them as was mentioned above and a not always patient fan base. I wish them luck.
At this point, i really scare for Y&R’s future.
I gonna have to agree! This is a little worrying!
Do you think her storytelling ability will fit well with the legacy of the CBS soap?
Easy answer. Based on what I saw through years of watching what Passanante did to poor ATWT, I quickly can say that she is ABSOLUTELY NOT the right choice for this job.
Passanante’s writing for ATWT was horrible. This woman does not appear to have the insight or the writing ability for this type of work. Three of the past four soaps upon which she was writer (AW, ATWT, and OLTL), were cancelled while she was there or very shortly after she left. With her track record of poor writing and these types of results, exactly who would let this woman anywhere near their show?
With decisions like this, you have to wonder: Do the owners of the surviving soaps and their networks WANT them to be cancelled? It really is difficult to continue to watch and support these shows, when those in charge make repeated, inane decisions like this one.
They are not looking for a writer with storytelling ability. They just want the person to have the ability to say “yes” to whatever JP says.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. JFP is a tyrant, and Jean Passanante is her newest minion.
I agree. Did anybody involved in this decision WATCH the last two or three years of As the World Turns? It wasn’t just bad, it was painfully bad. I know there was all sorts of backstage turmoil and I’m sure that did not help–but that doesn’t change the overall poor quality of the writing.
(However, CLH may have a point: if all they want is someone to do exactly what JFP wants, then for all I know, Passanante may be perfect. The show will still be dreadful, however.)
Well….. maybe her departure from General Hospital is good news for us GH fans!
You are absolutely right. While I am generally willing to give people a chance (like I did with JFP when she took over EP duties at Y&R), I’ve heard enough about Jean Passanante to know she isn’t right for Y&R – or any soap for that matter.
I didn’t watch ATWT but from what I hear from pretty much everyone is that she systematically destroyed that show the way JFP has been doing to Y&R since last year. I gave her a chance, and look where that got the show. I sincerely hope Jeannie P impresses (though I highly doubt she will), otherwise Y&R will be the next show on an already crowded shelf of cancelled soaps.
This is the beginning of the end of Y&R. It’s time to boycott this show and in droves and show Angelica McDaniel and Steve Kent that we are none too happy with these recent additions to the show. This show will now become even more unwatchable than it is now. Mark my words!
Don’t know her, but they do have their work cut out for them. Even though soap is still number 1 (puzzles the mind how this is), there are lots of things wrong with it. At least they cut Melanie. She never caught on. Maybe with the Kay story, things will get better. And of course, they need to fix Sharon. It was a waste to bring Camryn back for this.
Don’t know whether this is good news or not!? All I can say is, the writing BETTER be good!
Another friend of Phelps from GH? Remember that, although they won best drama Emmy, this team also drove GH to near cancellation.
I don’t think Passanante was a writer for GH when JFP was there. I think she came over from OLTL when Valentini took over as EP. So although she has many strikes against her, that isn’t one of them.
Well I was having a good day until I read this news. Worst possible choice ever. How many soaps have died or suffered greatly under her reign as HW? Don’t understand how Sony and CBS can look at her track record and not understand experience doesn’t make you good. Right now I rather someone who never wrote a soap in their lives take over maybe then they will stop making the same mistakes over and over. if their goal is to destroy Y&R once and for all– then by all means JP and JFP are the duo do it. I feel sorry for SA because she will be co-head writer for a day, because once Jean is there she will be made sole HW in no time flat. Uggggh
This is horrible news. YR does NOT need anyone from GH…especially a writer trying to pen her way through GC.
I can’t stand that Phelps is trying to turn this great show into GH 2.0 with people who don’t know and don’t care to keep the tradition of the show going.
I really have to agree with you there because I’m now a bit concerned about this!
I maybe worried but I’m gonna see what’s in stores before I start judging!
It’s hard for me to hope for the best.
Both Phelps and Jean’s reputation precede them, and everything I’ve read or heard has or is coming true.
I think there is a small segment of people who are wanting the show to fail. What those folks fail to realize is that both Days and GH would be cancelled before YR. The ratings have a long way to fall before they reach those levels.
I COULD see BB overtaking YR someday if these writers can’t write the show as it should be. People will be alienated.
I don’t see that Josh did drive any viewers away. Actually the opposite.
I agree with you 1000% on both your comment and your reply to Derrick. Josh Griffith is not responsible for the decline in Y&R’s quality this past year, JFP is the one responsible for that. And now, she’s bringing in a puppet she can play with to continue her reign of terror. Jean Passanante will be nothing but Jill’s minion, carrying out her “creative” vision for the show.
Jeannie P is the complete opposite of what the show needs right now. Y&R needs to bring back Kay Alden & Jack Smith as co-head writers, get rid of all the people JFP hired and rebuild the old Y&R writing team. Fire JFP and rehire David Shaughnessy and Ed Scott. When that happens, then we’ll start to see major and desperately needed changes to the show.
What pisses me off most is that Josh took over as head writer and exec-producer during the WGA strike in 2006, and this is how he’s treated? He’s teamed up with a tyrant and then fired for no explainable reason, only to be replaced by someone who isn’t familiar with Y&R’s history. Josh deserved better, and we as viewers do too.
Well said Jimmy!
God help us.
In my opinion, Y&R has DOOM written all over it now.
Y&R has to be rigged as far as ratings go..
It will never be canceled and no matter how terribly bad it is, and it and has been terribly bad, Y&R will always be #1, why? something wrong with that is all I know.
It has been #1 with double the viewers as all the other great soaps like GH, for decades without one fail.
So, no matter how awful a writer it will have there will belittle no effect on Y&R ratings..
yeah…rigged.
If you go back to the year that YR hit number one (beating that great soap GH) and then follow the ratings up through present, you’ll see that most of the shows lost about the same percentage of viewers over time.
So with your logic GH should already be cancelled and also has less viewers since “something is wrong”.
I felt much more comfortable with Jean Passanante remaining as a #GH first lieutenant to Ron Carlivati.
Shelly Altman does not have the skill set to be a head writer. So, it is good to have a more seasoned writer with her. However, I dont believe the writing staff as it is being laid out will be able to write in the tradition of Bill Bell. Jill Farren Phelps is not the producer for a Bell serial.
Sony & CBS had the opportunity to bring on trained, seasoned and mentored writers form B&B. And engaged Brad Bell with Ed Scott in producing #YR. Steve Kent, Anjelica McDaniel and company will regret allowing this leadership team to control #YR.
It is a sad day for #YR, soap genre and the fans. So much potential and opportunity now wasted.
It all comes down to the bottom line.
They really don’t care what the fans or viewers say.
Phelps strikes again!!!! Pretty soon all you long time viewers won’t recognize your show at all. Its just sad….
Whos next bob guza to y and r? I see cancellation in the future
Oy!!!!!!!!!!!!,
The last decade has generated so much discussion about writers and producers on our daytime dramas, much of it bad. I wonder if there are men and women who are like Bill Bell, Douglas Marland, and Agnes Nixon anymore. These are the kind of writers who knew their characters and listories as though they were family, and had outlines of story to extend well into the future. Now it seems each new team shakes and stirs and we as fans are disappointed. I do not mind changes, Mr. Bell did a lot of that when his original actors and characters needed a changeout after the first 10 years or so, but he did it without upsetting his apple cart. I hope Ms. Altman and Ms. Passanate are allowed the time to study and to deliver some continued reparative work to Y&R as well as develop new directions. I remain positive even though I know during the last years of my beloved ATWT that plots were weak (yet I believe so many more factors were in play than the writing).
Agnes is the last of the legendary great writers. Thank goodness she is consulting on the AMC. The show definitely has her stamp on it. I feel bad for y&r, Jean P ruined Atwt..
I can’t fault the headwriters of the last 10-15 years for not having a long-term story vision; at some point, the model changed, and the shows stopped paying for long story, so the writers stopped coming up with it.
I don’t think it’s just that the plots were weak during the last few years of ATWT (though they often were): the day-to-day execution was also really poor. It just wasn’t interesting or entertaining. Even characters I liked (and in some cases had known for years) could not hold my attention because the stories, the dialogue, the situations were all incredibly lackluster.
I think there are certainly still writers like Bell, Marland, and Nixon around, but many writers of high caliber simply will not work in daytime anymore. I think Claire Labine has said “never again,” as have the Dobsons and Nancy Curlee (and I’m sure there are others). I sometimes do feel sorry for the writers who are still around on the soaps; I think their job has become nearly impossible.
There are writers like them still out there somewhere, and some as close as across the street – where B&B is filmed. Kay Alden and Jack smith, as well as other veteran writers who know and care about Y&R’s history should be the ones getting hired! Not Jean Passanante who has a horrid track record of destroying shows she’s worked on.
And as for Jill Farren Phelps, she does not and never will belong on Y&R. Ed Scott, David Shaughnessy, and others like them, who know how to execute the show appropriately, should be the ones in charge, not they tyrannical JFP who is systematically pealing apart Bill Bell’s beloved show. He must be rolling in his grave right now thinking about the travesty that is about to befall Y&R.
Would rather see Jean writing for OLTL !
This makes me very nervous. I did not like Josh Griffith’s tenure, by any means, but being a As the World Turns fan I saw what JP did to my favorite characters on that show, especially in its last few years, and it was horrible. However, I am cautiously optimistic that perhaps her time at GH has improved upon her writing abilities and working with Ron Carlivati, maybe she picked up some ways of weaving characters together and creating intriguing, soapy storylines.
However, Y&R needs to address there biggest issue and that is Jill Farren Phelps being executive producer.
Your last statement about the biggest issue being JFP’s post as executive producer is 1000% spot on. If Jeannie P repeats what she did on ATWT at Y&R, the show will be gone in a few years, guaranteed. I’m all for hopeful optimism, but I can’t be much more optimistic after seeing what JFP’s done to Y&R in the past year. And now she’s bringing in a yes-woman to do what she wants done.
I completely agree, Jimmy. I almost wonder between JFP and now JP, if CBS WANTS to ruin Y&R. Its very sad and I don’t see this ending any way but badly. This past year has been the absolute worst I’ve ever seen of Y&R and adding someone who already ruined another soap? It’s a shame.
Lord, Bill Bell please do your magic up in heaven and get these soap hacks and soap killers away from your Y&R! It looks like Sony and CBS want to cancel their #1 daytime show!!!
Now nobody in charge at Y&R will be thinking of loyal longtime fans or of the shows rich history or veteran actors.
Well Jean, along with Goutman, destroyed ATWT so why not hire her? I’m glad I don’t watch Y&R because if I did I would start boycotting the show. I’ll never support Passanante or Goutman with anything they do. Y&R fans have my sympathies.
Alas, Ann, I watch Y&R and watched ATWT for years. I know exactly what you are saying. I will go to my grave thinking that Passanante and Goutman butchered ATWT in its final years. It still bothers me what they did to that show.
As a Y&R viewer, I am bracing myself for what Passanante is going to unleash on this show. I really had hoped that I had suffered through all of her writing when she finally helped shove ATWT into its grave. I cannot believe that she is resurfacing with this show!!! Thankfully, she cannot bring her beloved (but despised by fans!) Janet to Y&R!
I’m betting that Eric Braeden (Victor) will become the “Eileen Fulton of Y&R” — the unhappy veteran actor who dares to complain about the poor quality and direction of the writing and, as reward for speaking out, is reduced to a breathing prop on the show.
For the life of me I don’t understand why these writers, especially Altman, go home to GH and leave YR to capable hands. Jean is only slightly better….this is mind numbing.
They should never have lost Kay Alden The transition from Bill Bell to Kay Alden may have been the most seamless in soap history.
i agree i want kay alden back too.i found many videos from 1999 to 2003 when she still was the head writer, dam you can feel the difference.
BIG mistake. JP’s writing ruined ATWT at the end. The show was barely recognizable at the end . If Sony is bringing her on kiss Y & R goodbye. Another daytime drama bites the dust.
I really hope that there will be another event like the one in November 2010 in Raleigh, NC. I had so much fun! Is there any chance of that happening?
Y & R is no where near as good as it used to be. I’ve watched it for a long time and it used to be the gold standard of daytime drama. But now, I just stopped watching because none of the storylines intrigue me. I can remember watching everyday to see Sheila Carter or David Kimble after Nina shot him. But the problems with Y & R are evident on all the soaps. I was a huge OLTL fan until it was cancelled. Then I started watching GH because Roger Howarth, Kristen Alderson and Michael Easton were there. I got kind of hooked on it but once they left then came back as new characters I just lost interest. I think many of the comments about the network execs not caring is right on the money. What can you do but complain or stop watching.
I had to weigh in on this..I have to admit i’m not looking forward to this either. I know Passanante’s record and it ain’t good. I suffered through some horrible times waiting for the day a replacement was announced for ATWT and OLTL. She’ll start off strong and slowly but surely go the way of that awful woman who wrote the Indiana Jones treasure saga with the Newmans. It’s going to be bad bad bad.
Seriously, how ridiculous was the plot?! If I remember correctly, it was centered around Brad’s past and true identity as George Kaplan, and then the introduction of Nazis came into the storyline, as they were responsible for Brad’s family being slaughtered, save his mother. Then, as if the story wasn’t ridiculous enough, the Nazis were after the Kaplan family reliquary, which was famous artwork I believe… It turned into a daytime Indiana Jones adventure, and it was completely plot-driven. Horrible. If Jeannie P does something this outlandish, Y&R is doomed.
@Jimmy why oh why did you have to dredge up every nuance of that mess? LMAO that story was so bad it can’t ever be forgotten. By the time they got to that underground cave or where ever it was i suddenly started thinking of ETERNA and just threw my hands up in frustration. I can guarantee that JFP is planning on patting herself on the back by completely tossing out Bill Bells tried and true formula for one she thinks works better. And just as sure as sh*t we’ll be looking at a whole new regime come this time next year. Never mess with sucess. This soap has always been set apart from all others in production and writing. All I can say is..HERE WE GO AGAIN!!!
JP, the evil, heartless monster who butchers every soap she is associated with, Will open a bottle of champagne when Y & R bites the dust.
News
‘The Bachelor’ Names NFL Quarterback Sam Hartman as Lead for Season 30

ABC has named their ‘Bachelor’ for the upcoming 30th season of the reality series. Sam Hartman, a 27-year-old NFL quarterback who plays playing for the Washington Commanders, will be handing out the roses as he searches for love.
The upcoming season of The Bachelor will premiere in 2027 on Sunday, March 21 at 8 p.m ET. on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S.
The announcement was made, and Hartman’s first interview was on the Friday, November 13 edition of Good Morning America, where he shared with cohosts Sam Champion and Rebecca Jarvis: “I’m excited but also very nervous, I have a tough time holding conversation with one girl. 30 is going to be pretty tough.”

Photo: NFL
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS QB WRESTLED WITH THE NOTION OF BECOMING THE BACHELOR
Hartman also revealed his initial thoughts on appearing on The Bachelor: “Honestly, at first, I was like ‘no way. The connotation of it − I don’t know.” Ultimately the QB was swayed to take on the reality franchise lead for its upcoming season.
A Charlotte, North Carolina, native, Hartman played for Wake Forest and Notre Dame in the college ranks. It was there he set ACC records, including most career touchdown passes and 300-yard passing games. Sam was also featured in the documentary series QB1: Beyond the Lights. Currently, on the NFL’s Washington Commanders, he serves as a quarterback on their practice squad.
FORMER ATHLETES THAT ALSO GAVE OUT THE FINAL ROSE
The pick of Sam Hartman aligns with pro athletes who have appeared on the show in the past including: now ‘Bachelor’ host, NFL quarterback Jesse Palmer, former soccer player Juan Pablo Galavi, ace car driver Arie Luyendyk Jr. and former NFL practice squad player Colton Underwood.
The Bachelor is executive produced by Scott Teti, Jason Ehrlich and Andy Frank serve as executive producers.
You can check out Sam Hartman talking about being cast as the series lead for the upcoming season 30 of The Bachelor with GMA below.
Now let us know, will you be checking out the 2027 season of The Bachelor featuring Sam looking for love? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Cynthia Watros Honors Former ‘Titus’ Co-Star Stacy Keach Following His Passing

General Hospital star Cynthia Watros, who can currently be seen in on the ABC soap opera in the role of Nina Reeves, has had a enduring career in television. That included her time on the 2000-2002 Fox sitcom, Titus.
In Titus, Watros starred along with Stacy Keach as Erin Fitzpatrick and Ken Titus, respectively. After the November 10th news that Keach had passed away at 85 while living in Poland, Cynthia took to her Instagram on Thursday, November 12 to pay tribute to the great actor.
Watros expressed, “My first prime time show was along side Stacy. I loved him instantly. What an amazing talent and man.❤️”

Photo: ABC
In Titus, Stacy played stand up comedian Christopher Titus’ heavy-drinking, chain-smoking, five-times-divorced father who frequently pulled cruel pranks and tried to toughen his kids up. Cynthia played by Christopher’s level-headed, big-hearted girlfriend trying to build a normal life with him. In fact, Cynthia’s role on the sitcom was first series regular role after her Daytime Emmy run of Annie Dutton on Guiding Light which ran from 1994-1998.
STACY KEACH’S WIFE ON HIS PASSING
Keach’s wife, Malgosia shared the news of the actor’s death publicly in a statement with PEOPLE. Malgosia expressed, that Stacy had, “a long and difficult battle with a serious heart condition and heart failure.”
She added, “Stacy peacefully departed this world. He fought for so long, with extraordinary courage, determination and strength. He was a true warrior, facing his illness with the same remarkable spirit and resilience that defined his life.”
Małgosia continued, “Stacy was not only a legendary actor, admired and loved by audiences the world over, but also my beloved husband, my companion and the heart of our family. His passing leaves an immeasurable emptiness in our lives. But his extraordinary spirit, his unforgettable voice and the love he gave so generously will remain with us forever.”
Now, let us know do you remember when Cynthia made her sitcom debut in Titus? Share your thoughts via the comment section on Cynthia’s many TV roles and the passing of Stacy Keach in the comment section. But first, check out the very first episode of Titus with Cynthia Watros below!
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Emmy Winner Ambyr Michelle Wants to Compete on ‘Dancing with the Stars’: ‘Pick Me’ (Exclusive)

Soap opera fans are always clamoring for when Dancing with the Stars reveals their cast each season, that they would include a familiar face from daytime drama, but it rarely happens, if ever, anymore.
Over the last several years, the series has leaned heavily into casting celebrities with massive TikTok or Instagram followers, which in turn, have helped this season and last have their best ratings numbers in years.
But, how about for next season’s cast of Dancing with the Stars, that it could include newly-awarded Daytime Emmy winner, Ambyr Michelle (Eva Thomas) of Beyond the Gates?

Photo: CBS
LOVE OF DANCE TO LOVE OF ACTING
Michael Fairman TV spoke to Michelle about her dance background and if she would love a shot at lifting the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy during Wednesday’s November 11, livestream chat on the Michael Fairman Channel.
Ambyr explained to fans (who joined in on the live chat), how she began her show business career. “I started off as a dancer, first and foremost. Acting wasn’t really something I wanted to go after. I did plays when I was younger, but it was just something we did in school, but I really wanted to be a dancer. I moved out to LA to dance, and I fell out of love with dance, which was so weird.”
This year’s Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series winner, added, “I was like, ‘What is going on?’ I moved all the way out here for dance. I found I was forcing myself to go to dance class, and I just didn’t have the passion for it. I was working at this restaurant at the time, and one of my coworker was like, ‘What about taking an acting class out here?'”
Next, Ambyr took the coworker up on the idea. “So, I took an acting class and I fell in love with it that day,” shared Michelle. “I was like, ‘I want to do this for the rest of my life.’ I thought, I would love to book a role, of course, as a dancer, but I think acting has a little bit more longevity.”

Photo: ABC
A SHOT AT THE LEN GOODMAN MIRRORBALL TROPHY
When the talked turned to if Ambyr would consider or be interested in appearing on the ballroom dance competition series, she piped up with, “I would love to do Dancing with the Stars! Pick me!”
As those in the live chat rallied around this idea, it made us think, Ambyr could be the first contestant from Beyond the Gates, and someone representing the soaps. It checks off so many boxes! To which Ambyr replied, “That would be beautiful.”
You can check out the full conversation with Ambyr below.
So, what do you think soap fans? Can we make sure Ambyr’s name gets in front of the producers and casting director for next season’s Dancing with the Stars? Would you like to see her in the competition? If so, who would be your dream pro professional dance partner for her? Let us know in the comment section.
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