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SONY TV President Steve Mosko's Speech at Y&R 40th Celebration & How The Soap Genre Has Turned Around!
Courtesy/SonyPicturesTelevis
On Tuesday, the cast and crew of The Young and the Restless, executives from Sony and CBS, and invited press, gathered to honor the accomplishment of the number one soap, it’s 40th anniversary! With the stars in attendance, Sony Pictures Television President, Steve Mosko addressed the room, and related what an accomplishment 40 years truly is, how much the reinvigorated support of CBS Daytime had meant to the show, and how in a very dark climate just a few years ago, soaps are having a resurgence, while Mosko clearly pointed out what happened to another network that did not support their soaps.
Here now below is the main portion of Mosko’s speech, that we thought fans of Y&R, and fans of the genre in general, would appreciate!
Steve Mosko: “I want to say, this is the hardest working group here at Y&R. I always laugh in a good way, by the way, when I go and talk about network shows and go, “Oh by the way, we have 22 episodes of it.” But its unconscionable, how hard all of you work. Both the writing, the crew, and the cast … it’s absolutely amazing that you did it five days a week, 52 weeks a year, for 40 years. My hats off to you, because it’s astounding. I can’t thank you enough from all of us at Sony for all your hard work. Lee (Phillip Bell) who would have thought after 40 years, we all would be standing here talking about how great the show is, but it’s not just surviving, but thriving. This show is still kicking ass!
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
What gives me chills today, in a great way, is the fact that a couple of years ago, there were a lot of people in the industry who didn’t believe in this genre. I know all of you did, and I know for sure, we did. We have fought, and fought, and fought, which is why today is a great day for all of us, because you know what? We hung in there. We did great work and this genre is thriving. This show is doing fantastic. And, what I want to say is; I want to thank these two people over here, Nina Tassler, President CBS Entertainment and Angelica McDaniel, Sr. VP Daytime CBS Entertainment. Through Nina and Angelica, the support we get from CBS is amazing. I know there was a day, and a time, when I was involved with these shows, and it was like there was the “network” and it was sort of spoken under your breath. I will tell you that they are amazing partners and great supporters of the genre. Just look across the street at another network that didn’t support the genre, and look at what happened. CBS has passion about this and is supporting us, and again, if it wasn’t for you, we would not be here as well. It’s just great, because we know how we are being taken care of. Another 40? What do we think? (Laughs) Anyways, congratulations to everybody!”
So soap fans, what do you think about Mosko’s comments on how soaps are doing now? How Y&R is being supported by CBS? Do you feel a difference in the climate on how soaps are perceived, after fighting hard for its survival? Weigh-in!
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
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!
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.
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.
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.”
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 Abbott. Two 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.
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
‘General Hospital’ to Rebroadcast Special Episode in Tribute to Anthony Geary
‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali Song ‘Pray’ Now Available on Major Streaming Platforms with Music Video Forthcoming
‘General Hospital’ Icon Genie Francis to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards
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
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’
‘Beyond the Gates’ vs. ‘The Young and the Restless’ in a Soap Opera Showdown on ‘Flip Side’ Season 3 Premiere
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom Talks Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and What’s Behind Katie’s Deep-Seated Issues with Dylan (Exclusive)
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CBS has nothing to say about ABC… they also cancelled two classic soaps…Guiding Light and As The World Turns with the latter being the one i miss the most, and like OLTL on ABC was still good to the very end!
I was thinking the same thing before I even read any posts. If they really supported the genre they would have come up with a creative solution to keep GL and ATWT on the air. And the only reason they care about Y&R is because it has been the number one soap for 24 years- it would be pretty difficult explaining cancelling it to their many sponsors at this time slot. But trust me if the ratings dived and expenses kept soaring they would cancel it quicker than you can say hypocrites.
Guiding Light and ATWT were cancelled by Proctor and Gamble, NOT CBS. CBS does not own any show except B&B. Y&R (and DAYS) is owned by SONY.
AMC and OLTL were owned by the network ABC, which is why they had the say on whether to cancel them or not.
Jules, your post doesn’t make any sense at all.
ATWT/GL were owned by P&G but it is is CBS that cancelled these soaps, not P&G.
Secondly, B&B is not owned by CBS. It is owned by Bell Philip Television.
Even so, CBS could have took them over if they truly supported the genre`. They purchased The Secret Storm in the late 60s but unfortunately they mishandled that one and had to cancel it, however they still could have done something to save ASWTs.
What is the famous saying? Common sense isn’t so common?
1) P&G owned, produced, sponsored ATWT. They pulled out, so CBS pulled the plug.
2) I was always under the impression Bell Phillip Television Productions Inc. was a subsidiary of CBS.
In any event, right or wrong, being rude just makes you seem so small, and not just to me but to the other poster you addressed as well. Lighten up.
Hi Jules- I Googled the topic and everything I read said it was CBS and not P&G that pulled the plug on both shows. ATWT was their last scripted drama on the air and with its cancellation they no longer produced soaps, but they didn’t pull out of that show- the network cancelled it due to “low ratings”. The suits at P&G at the time came out saying there were going try to find a new home for the show, but in the end could not. Of course this is the official story- there might have been a back story that you are referring to, but on paper it was a CBS decision.
CBS did not support ATWT’S. That soap had been on TV for almost 54 years and we still miss it terribly. Bring back Jack and Carly and Holden and Lily. We miss our CarJack.
I miss them all!
I totally agree. However, I miss Lucinda and Lisa the most. Why Y&R or B&B have not hired the talented Elizabeth Hubbard for a role is beyond me. I would KILL to see her as a recast Dina Abbott Mergeron on Y&R.
With the constant talk about the “death” and revival of AMC and OLTL, I grit my teeth that everyone seems to have forgotten ATWT. GL was in very bad shape when it left the air but ATWT really could have (and should have been “saved”).
Oh yes Barbara, Liz Hubbard would be great as Dina or on any soap. Would love to see Colleen Z. ex Barbara Ryan on any of these soaps too. I have that Upstairs/Downstairs holiday special they did and i play it every Christmas. They were all so good in that, especially Liz as the cook and Barbara as the propriertress of the Barbara Ryan Home for Unwed Mothers…a hoot!
!
This is exactly why Y&R has been #1 for 24 years, they have the support from CBS, they are interactive with the fan on Twitter.. ABC gave no support to their soaps at all.
Where was CBS support of As The World Turns? So i wouldnt blame ABC 4 everything!
I don’t think Jewell knows what he/she is talking about. GH actors interacts all the time with the fans on Twitter.
Of course CBS will support Y&R; it is the highest rated soap opera for crying out loud. The moment Y&R and/or B&B start doing real bad in the ratings, CBS will drop them like a bad habit.
AGREED!!!
Congradulations to CBS.This is why I only watch GH on ABC.They didn’t support there soap fans and said they could train us to watch whatever they put on.I wish all soap fans would do the same.Don’t support a network that brung down two soaps on purpose.Frons tore down the writing and ABC wanted them to drop and blame it on the soap fans.Anne Sweeney said she did not want any daytime scripted shows on ABC.I will boycott ABC for the rest of my life and only watch GH..day and night.
CBS let P&G drop ATWT&GL with no attempts to find a way to save them…Support the genre m.a.!!!
You are partly right. CBS did not want to carry those two shows anymore because the ratings were low. P&G as the producer of those shows could have market them to another network, but either could not find a new home or didn’t try. Yet, P&G still owns those two shows as well as Another World, perhaps if PP experiment of reviving cancelled soaps on the web is successful, P&G will follow suit and either sell their rights to those shows or produce their own web version.
But for the original network cancellation, everything I read on the topic yesterdays said it was a CBS decision to no longer carry those shows on their network. If they had renew them P&G would have produced them; it was only after their last soap on air was not renewed they decided to get out of the daytime scripted drama in the States- I think I read they still help produce some Spanish novella’s in the Latin America market
Lets Go for 40 more Y & R Congratulations! GH ets go for 50 more!
Love it!!!
Y&R lives on!
Glad they are supporting Y&R. He has alot of nerve to be oquoted as saying they support the soaps and to be saying anything about the other network not supporting theirs! They cancelled the oldest of them all just a few years ago which was Guiding Light it predated television as it was on Radio for decades before!! Guiding Light had 70 combined years of Radio and TV, CBS gave it no respect and swept it under the rug along with As The World Turns with 50 or so years. Viewers also tried to stop that from happening by mail, email etc… but they did not listen. Prospect Park has at least worked to restore the beloved Daytime drama, aka, scripted drama, aka Soaps in a new form. Fans have the chance to again see what they want to see. Good Luck Y&R and B&B for many, many more years. Welcome back to AMC & OLTL on April 29. Long live the Soaps.
They cancelled those two old soaps because they were OLD. Nobody was watching them anymore except my grandmother and her friends. At least AMC and OLTL have a young audience and were still relevant today.
Their were many young people watching ATWT and GL, and i use to have local fan club meetings to discuss them. More than 1/2 who attended out of the 47 to show up were 19 to 32 years old and they loved these shows. AMC and OLTL too were also part of the discusion with some admitting they taped one while watching the other. Just because those two soaps were ‘old’ didnt mean they didnt have young viewers. Maybe if you got out of grandmas house you would know this. ATWT and GL ratings werent much higher than the two younger soaps, so if they had such a youthful audience and are so revelent how come they werent doing so much better?
one more thing GH is only a few younger than the OLD ATWT, and a few years older than OLTL and AMC so watch out OLD age is catching up to them so sooner or later theyll need to be cancelled too!
Nice that the suits are seeing the value of Soap Operas finally, but there is no “turn around” going on here…
Daytime Dramas or Soap Operas have never lost their appeal….no not ever!
They still stand as the most consistently watched programs as they continue to serve as the arch-type that set the standard on which all prime time dramas or night time soaps such as Grey’s Anatomy, Castle, Body Of Proof and all the others draw from.
Anyway….Congratulations on your 40th Y&R.
And General Hospital: You are looking so nifty at 50 ! Congratulations!
well it is nice..but he seems to forget how CBS cancelled Guiding Light and As the World Turns not so long ago..so Steve..maybe Sony support its daytime soaps (well for now) but CBS…not so much…
CBS didn’t cancel those shows. CBS never owned them. Proctor and Gamble did. And they wanted out of the soap business…..not hand washing or dishwashing soap, they’re still deep in that business, but the soap opera business.
CBS couldve saved them if the really wanted to…
ABC is totally supporting GH, now..
All the sets and on site/location, shots payroll for the vets returns etc is a huge financial investment, ..
I feel GH will go on now that there is actually team work between ABC and the peoples of GH..
One can see that ABC realizes its’ daytime mistake and showing the value in soaps by producing their prime-time soaps that have become hits.. They do know soaps are addictive and loved.
GH is safe ..
We will see if their support and investment continues after they milk the 50th Anniversary cash cow to death. If they are doing the same in 2 years I might believe it, but for now- call me skeptical.
we will see…
ABC has not learned anything. I think you are going to be disappointed.
I agree with Mary SF except I say they cancel it before the end of the year.
I hope what he says about the support from the CBS president and senior VP is true. Too bad the same cannot be said out the jug headed executives at another outfit.
Congratulation to everyone at Y&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL.. the ”he other jug headed executives” are 100% supporting GH..
GH would not be where it is and on screens if it were not being supported by ABC who has invested a great amount of money into GH this past year.. 🙂
Fronz is gone, it is a new day at ABC for GH ..
su0000 Erica S said in an interview that Brian Frons did not cancel the shows he did not have that power. She said it was ABC & Disney.
CBS is no different then any other network…these jugheads at CBS cancelled two of its soaps GL and ATWT so they do not 100% support the genre or they wouldve have at least found a way to save them or replaced them with a new soap.
It’s nice to hear something positive about my old employer, Sony, for once.
Sony gets a bad wrap, but they really do not back losing horses. They want to make money and they have quality programming. They could have easily decided to stop producing Y&R like other production companies and struck a deal with CBS for a cheap talk show or game show. However, they seem to have an investment in Y&R and DOOL.
Y&R has been under the Sony umbrella since 1973. They are proud of that show and it is evident on the lot and in the plaza with their marketing.
It’s easy for them to say the believe in the genre when the ratings are up and the shows are getting publicity. But if those ratings drop …
Couldn’t agree more what he said about ABC. Although CBS cancelled soaps in the past it seems they care a lot more about them now.
Soaps fans are the most loyal of any TV genre. It would be nice if Sony & CBS could acknowledge that there are thousands & thousands of fans that live all over the world that have watched & loved Y&R, B&B etc & who go to extreme lengths to track down up to date episodes online. We would like to be able to gain access via CBS from our countries & not feel like we are being penalised for living outside of Nth America. We are just as loyal a fan base as viewers in The US & Canada & have been watching theses shows for decades too.
CBS should hire back Victoria Rowell. Please.
Several of you people sound less supportive of soaps than ABC!!! All i hear from some of you is that you believe ABC will cancel GH by the end of the year as if you hope it happens just to prove a damn point!!! First of all they may announce its cancelled but the show would still air to 2014! But it almost seems like you think itll end before then! NBC and CBS both cancelled soaps over the years such as
AW, PASSIONS, ATWT, &GL ect but almost everyone acts as if only ABC cancelled low rated soaps! Sure they could have found ways to save them but not just ABC! OLTL ratings were up but that mostly happen after its cancellation notice…same thing happen to DS in 1971! I love watching soaps and hope all of them survive. Dont stop watching just because theres a few things you dislike about them unless you feel the whole show is bad. Lets prove to all the networks there is viewer support for the genre and that they still entertain us by watching them…its the least you could do. Otherwise without your viewership they will be cancelled and YOU’LL be more to blame than the networks that show them.!!!
i loved drucilla winters. but victoria rowell is a diva. she was a trouble maker on the set of the young and the restless. she never got along with some of her co workers. i say recast the role soon. victoria rowell is a brat. grow up and get some coucelling victoria.