News
B&B’s Don Diamont Recalls His Soap Start on ‘Days of Our Lives’ and Confrontation with Exec Prod Al Rabin (Exclusive ‘Soapy’ Preview)

Before Don Diamont was The Bold and the Beautiful’s Dollar Bill Spencer, or even The Young and the Restless’ Brad Carlton, he started his over four decades in soap operas over in Salem on Days of Our Lives as Carlo Forenza from 1984-1985. Now Diamont will talk about it all, when he is the special guest on the newest edition of Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig (Taylor, B&B) and Greg Rikaart (Leo, DAYS) dropping this coming Tuesday, August 18.
In this exclusive preview clip from Michael Fairman TV, Diamont recalls his humble beginnings at DAYS were pretty rocky, especially butting heads with then executive producer Al Rabin.
In story, Carlo was connected to the mob, and eventually was the business manager and friend to Liz Chandler (Gloria Loring). Liz was married to Dr. Neil Curtis (Joe Gallison), and became stranded on a deserted island with Carlo. Neil thought they had an affair, but then one night Carlo took advantage of Liz. Eventually Neil Curtis, accidentally shoots and kills Carlo with Carlo’s own gun during a mob confrontation (Neil had ties to the mob too).

Credit: Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch
ENTRY INTO SALEM GONE WRONG
Recalling his audition and first day on the set at DAYS, Diamont shared, “They’d gone through hundreds of people and they couldn’t find the guy to play this part, Carlo Forenza. I end up getting it. I go through the screen test and the whole bit. So, my first day, Al Rabin, the executive producer at the time, wanted to sit down and talk to me before I started shooting. I thought, ‘great.’ Now, I am beyond green at this point, and in our conversation, I asked him about publicity.”
Diamont says from there, things took a nosedive between the novice actor and the longtime producer: “That didn’t really sit well with him. I thought, ‘you’re the executive producer, you’re the person to ask.’ I probably should have talked to my agent before then about it, but I didn’t. So, Al said, ‘How about we just learn what we’re doing here first and then you can worry about that.”
In the moment, Don had a realization: “I think that kind of rubbed him the wrong way. Understandably. Fair enough. On my first day on the set, my character was being introduced in a party scene. So, all the stars of the show were on the set. I was very nervous. I walk in, and say whatever my lines are, and they stop tape. Al comes out of the booth onto the set, and calls me off the set about this. I will never forget it. He said, ‘I can take an actor who’s nervous. I can’t take an actor without energy. Get it together!”
GLORIA LORING ON WHAT HER RELATIONSHIP WITH DON DIAMONT MEANT TO HER
Days of Our Lives fans will recall that Gloria Loring and Don Diamont were also a couple in real-life for awhile. Loring told Michael Fairman TV back in 2012, that they were together for three years after her marriage to Alan Thicke fell apart, expressing, “Don came into my life and treated me with such kindness and respect, and paid attention to everything I was thinking or doing.”
Gloria added,”Don is a really nice man, and family is number one with him. He has really great qualities. I have been very blessed to have him and others in my life. When we parted, because he knew he had to go off and have a family of his own, because family was so important to him after the passing of his own father, I said, ‘What is the most important thing he gave me?’ I realized it was the respect and the attentiveness.I knew I had to start doing that for myself. It’s taken me a long time. I could still do better, but Don was an important person in that process.”

Photo: JPI
DON DIAMONT’S SOAP RESUME
After leaving Days of Our Lives in 1985, the late Bill Bell cast Diamont on The Young and the Restless as poolboy-turned-executive, Brad Carlton. Diamont had two runs on the soap from 1985 to 1996 and from 1998 t0 2009, before the character was killed-off. Next, Bill’s son, Brad Bell (executive producer and head writer of The Bold and the Beautiful) cast him in what would be his defining role on daytime television, that of Bill Spencer. It’s a role that he has played since 2009.
For past episodes from the ‘Soapy’ audio/video podcast series, find them via the Audacy app and the CBS brand YouTube channel. The podcast is produced by the Paramount Multiplatform Production Group, with Mike Benson serving as executive producer.
Now below, check out Don recalling his first meeting with Al Rabin, and first day on the set of Days of Our Lives when he was just 21-years-old.
Then let us know, did you watch Days of our Lives when Don played Carlo? Do you remember the Liz and Carlo storyline? What has been your favorite Don Diamont role of all-time: Carlo? Brad, or Bill? Let us know via the comment section below.
I don’t watch The Bold and Beautiful but long ago I watched Y& R. I think it’s pretty safe to say that Don is ageless.
I’d still like to see him in a Speedo . Bet he could still rock it
I agree, Pippa. how about a beach getaway for Bill and Katie?!?!
YESSS !! Me too! He’ll always be Brad Carlton❣️
General Hospital
Wil Traval Talks His ‘General Hospital’ Debut and Being Paired with Kelly Thiebaud

The Friday, October 16 episode of General Hospital marked the on-screen debut of the mysterious Jude, played by primetime vet and Australian-born Wil Traval.
While not much has been revealed just yet, Traval spoke to TV Insider in his first conversation since joining the iconic ABC soap opera in a new interview out today.
As GH fans witnessed, Jude was introduced in scenes at a bar with Dr. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud), and it would seem this may be her new leading man after things went south between Britt and Jason (Steve Burton). Traval said of working with the Daytime Emmy-winning Thiebaud, “I can’t speak more highly of her. I think she’s fantastic. It’s the biggest delight in my life to be working with her.”

Courtesy/ABC
FROM BROKEN BACK TO PORT CHARLES
As it turns out, Wil was supposed to be on board for a very short visit to Port Charles. However, as he revealed, things didn’t go the way he planned and his stay got extended!
“Originally, it was going to be a short guest role, I believe, and at the end of the week I got a call saying they might want to offer me a contract on the show, which was a real surprise and delight.” the actors shared. “And the rest is history from there.”
The road to General Hospital was not an easy one in some other respects. Traval was in the middle of recovering from a car accident that broke his back when he got the call to submit a self-tape for the role of the mysterious stranger back in June. Suddenly, he found himself getting a callback which in turn led to a chemistry read with Kelly Thiebaud.
WHO IS JUDE?
In the week to come, General Hospital viewers will learn Jude’s connections to the residents of Port Charles and his true identity.
With an Australian contingent on the canvas, and its tentacles throughout GH history including: Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer); Robert Scorpio (the late Tristan Rogers); and Josslyn’s father Jax (last played by Ingo Rademacher), and Jerry Jacks (last played by Sebastian Roche), one would think Jude HAS to be tied to these characters from down under, or does he?
So, what did you think of Wil Traval’s on-screen debut as Jude? Who do you think he will be revealed to be connected to? Do you think Jude will make a solid leading man for Kelly Thiebaud’s Britt Westbourne in story? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
Beyond the Gates
Kandi Burruss and Tabitha Brown to Guest Star on ‘Beyond the Gates’

Beyond the Gates is continuing to bring special guest stars to the DMV and Fairmont Crest. Next week, viewers can be on the lookout for none other than singer/songwriter and reality-star, Kandi Burruss and host/actress/author and cook, Tabitha Brown to make appearances and in new roles!
Burruss is taking on the role of Kalista Kilroy, while Tabitha Brown arrives on the scene as Tia Allen. Eagle-eyed viewers noticed this week that both of their names were revealed in the CBS soap opera’s closing credits.
Best known as founding member of the multi-platinum R&B vocal group Xscape and a prominent songwriter in the music industry Kandi Burruss spent fifteen seasons on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, won season three of The Masked Singer, starred in Showtime’s The Chi, and received a Tony Award nomination as a producer for Broadway’s The Piano Lesson.
REALITY STARS IN FAIRMONT CREST
The CBS soap is already known for featuring ‘Real Housewives’ franchise stars who happened to show up at Fairmont Crest and mix it up with the Dupress and Richardson clans. Previously, The Real Housewives of Potomac star Karen Huger made an appearance followed by Gizelle Bryant and Dr. Wendy Osefo.
Tabitha Brown is known by millions on social media as “America’s Mom.” She is the host of Food Network’s plant-based cooking competition It’s CompliPlated and is an Emmy winner for her YouTube series Tab Time.
Look for the two to first appear on the Thursday October 22 episode of Beyond the Gates where according to the series official spoilers on the episode, The family celebrates Dani’s life (Karla Mosley) and career, but a surprise guest brings old wounds to the surface, leaving Naomi (Arielle Prepetit), Chelsea (RhoniRoseMantilla), and Andre (Sean Freeman) to deal with the fallout.
You can check out the official BTG video preview for the action next week featuring Burruss and Brown in action below.
So, what do you think about Beyond the Gates continuing to bring some of the most notable reality and music stars to their storylines? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Stars Lami and RhonniRose Mantilla Cover Raye’s ‘Nightingale Lane’ in New Music Video

The mighty cast of CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates is proving once again that they may indeed have the most musically talented cast in the history of soaps, with the just released music video featuring Lami (Izaiah Hawthorne) and RhonniRose Mantilla (Chelsea Hamilton).
The two stars perform a duet cover of Raye’s hit “Nightingale Lane” from her hit album, “This Music May Contain Hope” which is being highly-regarded to be a frontrunner in several categories at the upcoming Grammy Award nominations.
In this soulful take on the Raye track, Lami and Mantilla deliver and you can check it out now on You Tube. “Nightingale Lane” is said to be about Raye’s single greatest past heartbreak, grief, and quiet healing that comes with time.
Taking to Instagram on Friday, October 16, Lami explained, “IT’S FINALLY OUT! Let us know what you think!! We had so much fun covering RAYE’s “Nightingale Lane.” The talented musician also shared the video credits to videographer: Keith Nixon Jr. and colorist Charles Isaiah Lemons.
Several Beyond the Gates co-stars jumped into the comment thread with excitement over loving the video and the performances including: Jasmine Burke (June), Najah Jackson (Samantha), Ambyr Michelle (Eva), Jaden Lucas Miller (Tyrell), Mike Manning (Smitty), Lauren Buglioli (Vanessa) and more.
Watch below as RhonniRose and Lami perform “Nightingale Lane!”
Now, let us know what you thought of the performances and the video and if you agree that Beyond the Gates just may have the most talented cast in all of soapland via the comment section!
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