News
Tonya Lee Williams Says Y&R Should Recast the Role of Olivia Barber Winters, But Leaves Door Open For a Possible Return
Fans of The Young and the Restless have known since comments made last year, that Tonya Lee Williams had no plans of ever returning to her popular role of Dr. Olivia Barber Winters. However, Williams is in the news again in her home country of Canada, where over last weekend she was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame.
Williams is a known trailblazer with the work of her company Reelworld. Now, in a new interview with TV Watercooler, at first Williams doubled-down that returning to Y&R is not in her cards in the future, but then seemed to leave the door open, maybe 10 years from now to coming home to Genoa City, especially after the initial social media and fan reaction to her remarks.
Tonya expressed, “I figured after ten years of me not going (back to Y&R), that it wasn’t going to be a too hard of a blow, but it was! I love the show, but I don’t even know how to get into the headspace of that character that I’ve not played in so long. It’s just the way I work. It’s not like I would start saying lines and turn up.”
Photo: JPI
When asked if she thinks The Young and the Restless should finally recast the role of Olivia, Tonya said, “I think they should recast!” Then, she weighed-in on who might be her successor to which she replied, “Oh, no – I have no idea! Zero idea but the character was really wonderful, and I think it would be great.”
As for a possible return herself for a short arc on Y&R, Williams clarified that when she has been asked about it before, she is usually in the middle of the Reelworld festival or something else where she is extraordinarily busy.
Photo: JPI
However, Tonya finally admitted, “Who knows? Maybe in the years to come, I’ll go back and have time in my life that I could, you know, retrieve that character in some way.” Williams appeared on The Young and the Restless for two runs- 1990-2005 and 2007-2012. Her last appearance was in February of 2012 where she left Genoa City go to work for Doctors Without Borders in Africa.
You only need to look at the following accomplishments of Tonya to know that she keeps herself extremely busy in her professional life in Canada since her exit over 13 years ago. Williams is as an active board member at the Canadian Artists Network, the Telefilm Diversity & Inclusion Group, the Telefilm Authentic Storytelling sub-committee, the Canadian Media Fund Racialized Advisory Group, the Ontario Creates Advisory Industry Committee, Canadian Creative Industries Coalitions Group and the Canadian Racial Screen Leaders Collective, and as the co-founder of the Black Screen Office, where she been a board member for its first two years.
Photo: JPI
Note to Canadian Y&R fans, you will be able to catch Tonya’s induction during the 2025 Canada’s Walk of Fame Gala on July 1st, when it airs on the CBC.
So, what actress could you see playing Olivia Barber Winters in 2025-2026 on The Young and the Restless? Do you think the part shouldn’t be recast in the event, years down the line, Tonya is available to make a return? Share your thoughts and picks via the comment section below.
I find it interesting the interest in reviving families that were once so at the fore. Nostalgia is a powerful storytelling element in daytime drama, yes, but sometimes a characters’ story is just done. And more than not, a character’s or actor’s return is ballyhooed, short-lived, and then caught in a lesser story… as if the idea of coming back was more exciting than the actual comeback. And sometimes so many years go by, even loyal viewers have a difficult time trying to recall how everything played out once upon a time. I still find the Clare Never Died storyline preposterous and dumb, especially if producers/writers are killing off Cole. Through the years, I think even Victoria forgot that part of her past. Do we ever hear of Reed? If Drusilla ever walks into Crimson Lights, I may be done. :- /
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.
Rosie O’Donnell revealed that she plans to head back to a seat at the table of ABC’s morning talk show The View.
The announcement came during Monday’s episode of The Tangle Podcast where she shared she will participate in “in whatever way they want” her or “just as a guest” for its upcoming 30th season.
The View’s season 30 will kick-off this fall in September. O’Donnell explained, “They’re bringing back all the hosts, I think. And, you know, I’m pretty proud of that show, what it’s become and how it really speaks to the people and to politics.”
Photo: ABC
ROSIE ON HER PREVIOUS GO-ROUNDS ON THE VIEW
As fans of The View know, O’Donnell famously had two different one-year stints on the talk show in 2007 and again in 2014- 2015. She often feuded with then co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck.
However, during her discussion with host, Kyle Ridley on The Tangle Podcast, O’Donnell also noted she often had tense moments with longtime moderator and anchor, Whoopi Goldberg.
O’Donnell also expressed, “Many, many people got the short end of the stick there. It was, you know, it was a factory where people were being churned in and out and their tenuous security, nobody got to be calm. It also was a show at the time that was run by a man. A show created by a woman, for women, about women, and the man was deciding what we should talk about. And that didn’t sit right with me, you know.”
Back in 2023, Brooke Shields had asked Rosie on her podcast, Now What? with Brooke Shields, about how she felt on her two stints at The View and all the controversy that surrounded it. Rosie at that time, stated, “I know this, it’s not the best use of my talent to get in a show where I have to argue and defend basic principles of humanity and kindness. It was not something I’d ever do again.”
You can check out the clip with Rosie and Kyle Ridley discussing her return to The View in some form for its upcoming 30th season below.
Then weigh-in: Would you be excited to see Rosie, even for a one-day or a week guest stint on the upcoming celebratory season of The View, or not so much? Let us know via the comment section.
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General Hospital Fan Club Weekend brought out many of your favorites to the four day event; with the main cast gathering on Saturday, August 1. Fans near and far attended the weekend held this year at the Burbank Marriott Hotel. Whether it be the main cast event or the smaller more intimate events featuring two or three cast members a great time was had by all.
Some of the cast participating in the main cast event included: Cyrus Hobbi (Yuri), Gary James Fuller (James), Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), Viron Weaver (Wiley), Paige Herschell (Jacinda), Chris McKenna (Brennan), Josh Kelly (Cody), Kayden Brenna Tokarsi (Scout), Cassandra James (Terry), Laura Wright (Carly), Dominic Zamprogna (Dante), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane), Rick Hearst (Ric), Adrian Anchondo (ex-Marco), and Chloe Lanier (ex-Nelle).
In addition to, Van Hansis (Lucas), Cameron Mathison (Drew), Ryan Paevey (ex-Cassius), Easton Rocket Sweda (Leo), Maurice Benard (Sonny), Kristen Vaganos (Molly), Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis), Kate Mansi (ex-Kristina), Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth), Cynthia Watros (Nina), Kristina Wagner (Felicia) and more.
Take a look at some of the snaps from the main event arrivals below:
Photo: HutchinsPhoroi
GH’s Rick Hearst with on-screen daughter, Kristen Vaganos, plus Nancy Lee Grahn, and Kate Mansi.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
GH’s Maurice Benard on-hand to meet the fans.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto.com
Jack Brennan in the house … Chris McKenna.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Adrian Anchondo, Van Hansis and Anchondo’s boyfriend, Days of Our Lives, Colton Little.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
GH’s Josh Kelly and his gal, the former Nelle Benson of Port Charles, Chloe Lanier.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Who is James’ father? Not Cassius or Spinelli, actually. Actors Gary James Fuller, Ryan Paevey and Bradford Anderson!
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
One of General Hospital’s newest cast members, Kayden Brenna Tokarski attends her first GHFCW event.
Check out some more arrival images featuring: Laura Wright (Carly), Cassandra James (Terry), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) and more in the gallery below.
Michael Fairman TV will be adding more images to this post in the day ahead.
So, were you glad to see so many of your GH favorites attending this year’s General Hospital Fan Club Weekend? Let us know via the comment section.
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‘General Hospital’ Fan Club Weekend 2026 (Photos)
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GH Alum Nicholas Alexander Chavez Lands Role in Paramount’s Remake of ‘Possession’
‘General Hospital’s’ Steve Burton Reveals His Lead Actor Daytime Emmy-Nominated Reel Did Not Contain Monica’s Funeral
‘General Hospital’ Ethan Lovett Recast: Christian Howard Replaces Nathan Dean
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Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun Written Out of The Young and the Restless
Rosie O’Donnell Says She Will Return to ‘The View’ During its Season 30
WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night Two: Top 5 Takeaways
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Serena Sets Her Sights on Michael; Jason’s Emotional Exit from the Mob
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Preview: Katie is Suspicious of Dylan and Warns Will, Steffy Takes Off to Monaco
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