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Y&R’s Michelle Stafford Celebrates 30 Years of Phyllis During On Set Gathering with Cast and Crew

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: CLeBlancIG

Michelle Stafford kicked-off her celebration for 30 years as the one and only Phyllis Summer with an on-set gathering on Friday, October 11th in her honor at the soundstages of CBS’ The Young and the Restless.

The character was created and introduced by Y&R co-creator and legendary head writer, William J. Bell in an episode airing on October 18, 1994 with Stafford in the role. Now 30 years later, Y&R also plans to honor Michelle and “Phyllis” with a special episode next week on exactly Friday, October 18th, 2024!

Before that, cast and crew gathered to salute Michelle on a job well-done and for leaving an indelible make on daytime audiences with her performances. Along the way, Stafford has won three Daytime Emmy Awards including this year in 2024 at the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Previously, she had picked up the gold in the Lead category in 2004 and the Supporting Actress categories in 1997. She has been nominated 13 times, overall.

Courtesy/IG

On social media, some snaps have emerged of Michelle’s 30 year celebration including from Stafford herself standing at a podium with her good friend, Christian LeBlanc seated behind her who presided over Michelle’s tribute. Michelle shared: “We had a thing. More pics to come ❤️🖤 #YR”

In addition, Christian LeBlanc posted a snap of himself with Michelle, Lauralee Bell (Christine) and Sean Carrigan (Stitch) which simply said, “HAPPY 30th ANNIVERSARY”

Stafford originated the role from 1994–1997, then returned for another run 2000–2013 and has been in the part from 2019–present. She was replaced by Sandra Nelson for a few years from 1997–1999 and then Gina Tognoni from 2014-2019.

Share your congrats to Michelle for a job well-done and the Phyllis 30-celebration, via the comment section below. Then check out our red carpet winner’s walk interview with her, immediately after she won the Daytime Emmy earlier this year.

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Congrats and give us back the real Phyllis! She used give a frightful stare, that let you know she had targeted you!

Phyllis never ages! Amazing!

This is all Y&R has now….anniversaries. This one had an anniversary and that one had an anniversary….there is more coverage of anniversaries than the show itself. Nothing on hot story lines, nothing on fantastic performances, because right now, they simply do not exist on Y&R. I hope CBS makes a real effort with their next soap…and it forces Y&R to make changes to keep up.

Stafford is a great actress and deserves all the accolades!

James…oh I agree. To me, 30 years is quite an accomplishment. TOTALLY!!!!!

Have a good one, Brother.

I miss Gina…

Yes! Like big time

I think this is awesome. She has brought so much to the role over all this time.

That said. Not here for the disrespect of calling her the “one and only” Phyllis. Two actresses have had the thankless task of coming into the popular role after Stafford voluntarily left the show, Sandra Nelson and Gina Tognoni (a soap legend in her own right) and both played key stories that kept the character alive and present in the viewers’ imagination, keeping the role relevant and the seat warm for Ms. Stafford to step right back in, and on to the front burner again.

So glad to see MS hit 30 years. Phyllis is a delight and she is the main reason why. But lets show some respect to the other actresses who had to follow AND precede her in this epic role over that same 30 year period. It’s their journey too, and they helped make it possible.

Gina T played the role 100% better, never been a fan of this actress.

I gotta say…that Sean Carrigan fella (AWESOME LOOKING and curly-looking gray hair and all) is EVEN MORE RUGGEDLY HANDSOME!!!!! YEAH!!!!!

I cannot believe people go on about Gina being better as Phyllis Michelle stafford always has been and always will be the standout Phyllis Gina is a great actress but I’m sorry Michelle is to be celebrated she is a daytime standout as Phyllis

General Hospital

Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

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Maura West and Kelly Sullivan

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!

 

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General Hospital

Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

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Steve Burton

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.

Steve Burton

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.

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Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027

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Jess Walton

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.”

Jess Walton

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 AbbottTwo 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.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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