News
How ‘The Young and the Restless’ Mark Grossman Almost Became ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Thomas Forrester

As initially reported by Michael Fairman TV, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation recently held a live daytime drama casting directors panel which featured: Greg Salmon (The Young and the Restless), Marnie Saitta (Days of Our Lives), Christy Dooley (The Bold and the Beautiful), and Kim Coleman (Beyond the Gates).
The four soap opera casting directors traded behind the scenes stories, their process to help actor’s in the audition process, the most difficult and important recasts to their respective shows during their tenure, and the challenges of casting under-five roles, which surprisingly can harder than finding the series regulars.
When the talked turned to a major recast that Greg Salmon had to find it was to fill the shoes of Justin Hartley who exited the CBS soap to star on the NBC drama, This Is Us. The role of the black sheep of the Newman clan was previously played by Chris Engen and Michael Muhney, before Hartley. Salmon knew they found their man to be the fourth Adam when Mark Grossman entered the picture.

Photo:JPI
THE SEARCH FOR ADAM NEWMAN
Salmon explained, “That was a really tough role to recast. Before Justin, there were two other people who played the part. Adam Newman is central to the show. This is Victor Newman’s son, so it’s an incredibly important character. I remember Mark came in and read with Eric Braeden (Victor Newman) and a few other members of the Newman family. His energy was just off the charts. It felt like this is how Adam should be. Eventually, I think the audience really accepted him. Mark has playing the role for several (7) years now and he’s completely made the role his own.”
However, in an ironic twist, it appears that Grossman came very close to joining Y&R’s sister soap, The Bold and the Beautiful in the part of Thomas Forrester played most recently by Matthew Atkinson, and before that Adam Gregory and Drew Tyler Bell.
THE SEARCH FOR THOMAS FORRESTER
Responding to Salmon, The Bold and the Beautiful ‘s casting director Christy Dooley revealed that Mark Grossman was once in the running for the role of Ridge and Taylor’s son. “He tested for us,” she recalled. “Mark came in and read for the role of Thomas Forrester, and he was my choice for the role,” Dooley shared.
Dooley added, “The role wound up going to Matthew Atkinson. But then Mark came down (the hall) to read for The Young and the Restless.”
Fans of The Young and the Restless know that during his 7-years as Adam Newman, that Mark Grossman has become one of the most popular stars on the show. So it’s difficult to wrap you head around that B&B might have nabbed his first as Thomas, and if so, we wouldn’t have gotten to see him turn out those stellar performances in Genoa City .
So, what did you think of this casting tidbit? Could you have seen Mark Grossman as Thomas Forrester? Glad that Y&R had him firmly as their Adam Newman? Let us know via the comment section and you can check the full daytime drama casting director panel below.
Honestly, I just don’t see Mark Grossman as Thomas, even though he does resemble Adam Gregory. But, for me, Pierson Fode is still the gold standard for that role.
Very glad B&B didn’t get him!! Their loss is Y&R’s gain.
Both actors are currently my favorite in their roles and my favorite s on the show!
I thought Thomas was supposed to be coming back to Forrester as a designer. What happened?!
It seems Mark got the better end of the deal as Thomas has been a no show for some time.
Thomas has been a no show for some time.
A choice by Matthew Atkinson.
Some of us have lives outside of watching soap operas.
News
‘The Young and the Restless’ Alum Brenda Dickson Accused of Hitting Young Girl in the Face

The legal woes continue for Brenda Dickson, the OG Jill Foster Abbott of The Young and the Restless. As we previously reported, Dickson was arrested for battery assault back on July 8, but by July 9, she was released by the LAPD.
Next, Dickson shared her side of the story back on July 30, and insists this is all a part of an issue with where she resides and the tenants. In an updated item from TMZ on Monday, August 3, it now appears that the man who is accusing Dickson of the assault, claims that Brenda struck his young daughter in the face and is seeking a restraining order against her in the courts.
According to the documents obtained by TMZ, a man named Richard Chamberlin filed for a civil harassment restraining order against the Y&R alum for hitting his daughter, Isabella, in the face and chest. He also claims Dickson bumped Isabella with trash bags, made threats, and verbally harassed her and others during the July 8 incident before her arrest.

Photo: CBS
TENANT SEEKS RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST THE FORMER JILL FOSTER ABBOTT
Chamberlin also noted and claims that Dickson has been stalking and harassing himself and his daughter for the past two months. In his court request, he wants Brenda to stay at least five yards away from him, his daughter, the other renter, and his dog. TMZ also notes Chamberlin does property maintenance and is a renter in the building where Brenda resides.
However, the Los Angeles courts have denied his request for now. They shared that his papers didn’t sufficiently show that Brenda had been violent, threatened violence, or caused substantial emotional distress. There is a hearing scheduled for August 24.
Previously, Brenda took to her Instagram with a video message on the matter and expressed to her fans why she initially did not respond to TMZ’s request for comment, because she knew that Chamberlin was going to take this to the next level. “I knew this was going to happen,” explained Dickson. “I’m still heavily involved in my trial and trying to get my property (this is related to her other ongoing legal issue), and it’s not over with yet. That’s why I haven’t touched base with you. I just wanted to thank you all for helping me and standing behind me (because) I know a lot of you heard this rumor. One of my fans said, ‘Oh, good. I hope you gave him a good ‘Joan Crawford’ slap.’ I’ve never slapped anybody in my life. Love you all and I’ll be back with good news, I’m sure, about my case.”
BRENDA DICKSON WAS ONE OF THE BREAKOUT STARS IN THE EARLY YEARS OF Y&R
Soap fans first came to know Brenda when she made her mark on The Young and the Restless back in 1973 when the show debuted. In story, Jill and Katherine Chancellor (the late Jeanne Cooper) battled for the love of Katherine’s husband, Phillip Chancellor (Donnelly Rhodes) and his death took their long-running feud to new depths that lasted decades.
Dickson’s initial run as Y&R’s Jill lasted until 1980. Later, she returned for another run from 1983-1987. The part was recast with Deborah Adair, Bond Gideon and eventually, Jess Walton.
So, do you think the man accusing Brenda of hitting his daughter and claiming the former Jill of Genoa City was stalking him and other tenants for the past few months is embellishing the story? Or is this all some kind of tiff between everyone residing in the building? Let us know your thoughts on the matter via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Star Emily O’Brien Ties the Knot With Longtime Love Ken Barnett

Congratulations are in order for Days of Our Lives schemer, Emily O’Brien (Gwen Rizchech). The actress said “I do,” over the weekend in a wedding ceremony on Saturday, August 1 at the CaliPaso Winery in Paso Robles, California.
Emily married her longtime boyfriend, Ken Burnett. The couple have been together for 12 years before the big day. Taking to her Instagram with some exquisite photos which includes a look at Emily’s spectacular wedding dress, O’Brien announced the couple’s union.
As it turns out, the dress was worn by Burnett’s grandmother in 1956! Making the whole feel of the nuptials so special. Emily expressed, “I married my best friend this weekend… Ken, this life is more colorful, more adventurous & so much more beautiful with you in it. You make every dream a reality. Wearing your grandmothers heirloom wedding dress from 1956 was just the cherry… Cheers to Pickles & Neens”

Photo: EOBrienIG
DAYS AND Y&R STARS SHARE EXCITEMENT FOR EMILY
The comment thread quickly filled up with congratulations from many of Emily’s present Days of our Lives co-stars and those from her former soap, The Young and the Restless where she played Jana Hawkes.
Tamara Braun (ex-Ava, Days and ex-Sienna, Y&R) shared, “The day was everything you two embody. Absolutely beautiful.” Greg Rikaart, who played Emily’s on-screen husband, Kevin Fisher on Y&R, and is now her bff Leo on DAYS shared, “Spectacular and beautiful. Zero notes. Congrats you two!!”Al Calderon (ex-Javi, DAYS) chimed in with “perfection,” while current DAYS co-star Linsey Godfrey (Sarah) added, “Perfect perfect perfect. Both of you.” Abigail Klein (Stephanie, DAYS) shared, “Storybook!” Y&R’s Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) expressed, “Gorgeous!!!!!”
It was back in March of this year that Barnett made his own tribute to the love of his life via his Instagram with a series of photos of the couple adding, “12 years later and we’re still up to our same shenanigans 😜 joyeux anniversaire, ma chérie.”
Share your congratulations for Emily and Ken via the comment section below, and wish the newlyweds all the best on their union!
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News
Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun Written Out of The Young and the Restless

It looks like the current run of Lucas Adams (Noah) and Tamara Braun (Sienna) on The Young and the Restless is coming to an end, after the Monday, August 3 edition of the CBS daytime drama revealed that Noah and Sienna are leaving Genoa City and heading back to Los Angeles.
In the storyline, Noah informed his mother, Sharon (Sharon Case) and half-sister Mariah (Camryn Grimes) that he and Sienna made the decision to move back to the West Coast to put distance between themselves and Matt Clark (Roger Howarth). Although Noah did not say it was a permanent move, he did assure his mom that once Matt is hopefully gone from Genoa City they could return.
However, as previewed already on the video teaser for this week’s episodes of Y&R (see below), it appears Noah left Genoa City’s The Shadow Room to be run by a returning Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian). So with that, coupled with today’s episode, it would appear the move could wind up being more permanent.

Photo: JPI
COMINGS AND GOINGS
Adams made his Y&R debut on November 4, 2025 as the successor to Rory Gibson who last played Noah on-screen in April of 2023. Earlier in 2025, Gibson took over the role of Michael Corinthos on Genera Hospital replacing Chad Duell, who stepped away from the part after 15 years.
Braun who played Adam’s mother on Days of Our Lives when she was Ava Vitali and he was Tripp Dalton, first appeared on Y&R back on October 14, 2025, where we soon learned she had become Noah’s lover as the new character, Sienna Bacall. It should be noted, Adams was on contract with the number #1 soap, while Braun has been on recurring status.
With Josh Griffith now exited as head writer of The Young and the Restless, and the newly announced co-head writing team of Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor having taken his place and starting their new tenure this week, it will be interesting to see how the duo resets the show, and if a Noah and Sienna return is in the cards for the future or not.
So, what do you think about the seeming departures of Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun from The Young and the Restless? Weigh-in via the comment section. But first, check out our recent live chat with Tamara and Lucas on the Michael Fairman Channel.
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