News
Vail Bloom Returns to Y&R as Heather Stevens; Lily Brooks O’Briant Cast as Lucy Romalotti
More returns and casting news out of The Young and the Restless as the show continues to celebrate its 50th anniversary season.
Look for Vail Bloom to reprise her role as Heather Stevens. The actress was last seen in the role back in 2010.
In addition to Heather making a visit to Genoa City, she will bring with her daughter with Daniel (Michael Graziadei), Lucy Romalotti.
Lucy will be played by young actress Lily Brooks O’Briant.

Courtesy/LilyBrooksOBriant
Lily’s previous credits include: as a series regular in the Netflix comedy series, The Big Show Show (2020), starring opposite WWE heavyweight fighter Paul Wight, The Tick, an Amazon Prime Original series, and the TV film Crash & Burn.
Heather and Lucy will return to Genoa City next month in February.
What do you think of Vail Bloom reprising her role as Heather Stevens? Are Heather and Lucy coming to tell Daniel they are leaving him forever? Stay tuned and share your thoughts in the comment section, and in case you missed it, check out our recent interview with Michael Grazaidei below where he touches on Daniel’s current state of his relationship with Heather and Lucy.
I, for one, am shocked that Vail Bloom is returning as Heather Stevens. Admittedly, I never thought she or Michael Graziadei had any budding chemistry, but maybe time has changed for the both of them. Admittedly, I loved Graziadei’s chemistry with Jennifer Landon, and thought their time together was too short.
I know Bloom has struggled in the past, but can see she’s turned her life around and, am welcoming this return, despite not being a shred of hope for Josh Griffith as sole executive producer & head writer. I am not familiar with Lily Brooks O’Briant, however, am wishing her luck on tackling daytime!
Love Vail Bloom! The best and only real Heather. Her character is not limited to Daniel as she originally was a love interest with Adam. Plenty more story possibilities! I can even picture her with Chance! The next Paul and Christine!…here’s hoping she sticks around. Jennifer Landon and Eden Riegel were horribly miscast
I agree, Damien. And Jen Landon is doing great work on YELLOWSTONE now, so all is well.
VB was long gone before they threw Heather & Daniel together! Most of her story involved her with Adam . I swear who is running this show. Answer : Complete morons! As for DD/Paul he has enough respect for himself and the show and the character he played not to join the circus it has become!! Whatever happened with Doug it was very hurtful and after forty plus years I do not blame him he had numerous great storylines kinda sad
Agree I love vail bloom and sad she left the first time. Glad she’s coming back! Can’t wait!
Yesterday’s episode has to be one of the worst ever – this entire Dianne storyline is so bad. Jack breaks into an unseen home of Nicki and Victor to set up a man for a crime he didn’t commit – You have four fifty plus year old women acting like stereotype teens..I am hoping they find a way to just get rid of this entire story line fast! The merger storyline is just as bad -no one even knows what Chancellor sells or produces, Hamilton Winters something with music? And speaking of music – the “lost voice” of Tess seems to be lost! And finally Daniel – giving up his wife and kid to start a gaming company! Wow.
Happy anniversary Y and R….
You’re right, Matt. The show is a mess right now and I trace most of it back to the reappearance of Diane the Downer. She’s ruining everything and Jack and Kyle’s behavior is abhorrent. I say throw them all in jail!
I agree with Matt. This has been a very bad week.Dianne is a nice actress but let’s move on to something better.Even if her and Jack planned the foolish breakin it is still a robery. Chase has to be a pretty bad cop if he can’t figure it out Of course it’s not up him.So will someone else say something to the writer’s before ratings start dropping. Thanks everyone.
I’m guessing this is a temporary thing—probably to have Daniel & Heather agree to a divorce and she and Lucy will go away again…
Leaving the door open for a Daniel & Lily redux?
Will we finally see Doug Davidson, aka Paul Williams again???
I think he will be killed off, via rumors.
so glad michael is back val returning could care less i feel they had no chemistry at all and btw was so excited for mm to return as kyle but the character is written as a buffoon really do not compare our mothers summer! please kyle your mother is certifiable susan walters is doing a good job but the writing is horrible. stealing nikkis necklace jack becoming the dimmest bulb in town jeremy as ashlund part 3 make it stop oh and devon and abby are an absolute no mariah and her girl are a bore the plus side nick sally adam sharon phyliss beth maitland and eillen davidson 5 full time and 2 recurring do not make a show
I agree that the Jack & Diane is sickening and Jack must be having mental problems!! I agree also that Abby and Devon is crazy!! Devon has cheated on that couch so much I’m surprised one of his gf would have thrown it out, and what a whiner!! He and Billy are too whiney. Poor little rich boys. Really Billy sitting outside Chelsea’s door like an abandoned dog? Yikes.
I’m bored!! And please do Nick and Adam always have to pass all their women back and forth???
Fans deserve so much better than one or two episodes of Danny, Fen… Why celebrate Lauren’s 40th birthday around a single episode? Why not create a storyline for Tracey Bregman? I’m sick of Diane, Jack, Devon, Lilly & Billy. This 50th anniversary promises to be a real mess! Thanks to the writers. The character of James Hyde recurring is seen more than some main characters. Make us dream with the return of Sally & Adam together, … Fan for decades, I no longer recognize the soap! Devon is a boring character to die for!
David,
Agree with a lot you said.Yes, to a story for Lauren, it’s been too long and she can play mean only second to Sheila Carter. I think there will be more to Jeremy/James Hyde than we’ve seen, it was over too quick and easy for Diane and Jack to be basking in their laurels. Nicki will get Jack, friend or no friend. Yes, aren’t Abby and Devon the worst? Devon always railing on Nate for being disloyal to his family. At least he IS family, Devon not related to anyone, he being adopted as a troubled and homeless teen by the Winters family.Right now, I’m not liking Sally with Adam or Nick and can’t imagine her fate right now with Victor after her and possibly Jill.
First of all … The girl to be Lucy looks a lot like Michael Graziadei! Similar twinkle in their eyes. This appears to be great casting!
I loved Vail Bloom as Heather. She had a very natural, genuine quality. I also liked Jennifer Landon in the role. Eden Riegel, however, was woefully miscast. It was not her acting. She was just not right for the part. To her credit, that was an era of the show where they were just willy-nilly hiring actors who were popular on other shows. Several A-List soapers were brought in including Maura West, Genie Francis, Paul Leyden and many others who did not quite fit either.
With all that said … Bringing Heather and Lucy back opens up ALL kinds of story possibilities rooted in history!
Heather was involved with Adam before he turned into a sociopath. Could there be a little something something rekindled there? She is also Paul’s daughter! Can we please get Doug Davidson back??
Also, the character of Lucy is ripe with possibilities. Her mother is a psycho who is related to two other psychos … Sarah and Sheila! While supposedly Sheila died in the Y & R vernacular, she is as bad as ever in the B & B universe! This has to be addressed at some point.
She might get a little clingy with her great niece Lucy … perhaps sparking another epic crossover between the two shows.
Also, Victoria and Billy may have some leftover parental feelings for Lucy as they did adopt her, albeit illegally.
Y & R is better than it has been in ages! Returns like these, leading up to the 50th Anniversary are most encouraging and most welcome!!
I hope that on or around the actual 50th, there is a lavish onscreen party where no expense is spared. I recently watched some of the Masquerade Ball from 1991, and I am amazed at how production values on soaps used to be! They were grandiose!
I realize that soap viewership is way down from then, and budgets are very tight! But surely for the milestone of 50 years, CBS and Sony can dig a little deeper into their pockets and give us some of the sumptuous visuals of yesteryear. It would be nice if they did some on location shooting … maybe a real park in Los Angeles to appear as Chancellor Park.
Just my thoughts. I would love yours!
JJ
Wish I could offer more to your ideas and observations but this whole Daniel story bores me, knowing the outcome will probably be ,he and Lily reuniting, leaving Daisy, taking off again, doing what with the poor, innocent Lucy to stay with Daniel or what? I don’t like the idea of her nutty Grandmother Shelia Carter and the other nut-job Phylliss possibly coming after this poor girl,trying to insinuate themselves into her life or the very real possibility of Shelia trying to kidnap Lucy after her life in L.A fails.
Sheila Carter’s granddaughter!!!
Grand niece actually. But that doesnt matter to Sheila. She was no relation to Scotty and she fixated on him for years!!
JJ
Daisy is Shelia Carter’s daughter, her father was bad Tom, Kevin Fisher’s father. Their daughter is Lucy who unfortunately makes Sheila her grandmother.
Thank god, Val is great! She will tame Lilly and try and keep her paws off of Daniel!
OOOOOhh, this is gonna be good. 🙂
I was so hoping for an “adult” Lily-Daniel love story—-but, with Heather returning, it may not happen. I guess it depends on how eroded their marriage is?
It was nice seeing Heather’s return to G.C and she even mentioned seeing her dad and Christine, so guess Paul is still presumed alive. Lucy looks like 16 to me, not 13 and Daniel doesn’t seem to fit with either of them.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Brilliant Minds’ Officially Canceled After 2 Seasons at NBC; DAYS Alum Al Calderon, OLTL Alum Teddy Sears and Zachary Quinto Among the Cast
After languishing on the bubble for months, on Friday, NBC handed down the decision and canceled the medical drama Brilliant Minds after two seasons.
Brilliant Minds stars Zachary Quinto as neurology physician Oliver Wolf, who’s character and the series is inspired by the life and books of neurologist. Oliver Sacks. The series focuses on the medical mysteries of the mind, as Wolf a larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns explore the last great frontier, the human mind, while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.
The final six episodes of what will now be the end of its second and final season were already set to air beginning on May 27, after being pulled off the network schedule in February as viewership saw a steep decline. Brilliant Minds second season became the lowest-rated drama on linear TV viewing, which didn’t bode well fo a network renewal, although it had its hard core fan base.

Photo: NBC
There are some exceptional notables in the cast along with the talented Quinto that includes Days of Our Lives alum, Al Calderon (ex-Javi Hernandez) who joined the series in its second season as Nurse Nico Silva, and One Life to Live alum, Teddy Sears (ex-Chad Bennett) who plays Wolf’s love interest and fellow physician, Dr. Josh Nichols.
The rest of the talented cast includes: Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Donna Murphy, John Clarence Stewart, and Brian Altemus.
In an ironic twist of fate on Thursday, April 30, Days of Our Lives finally revealed the actor who was Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Javi, when they announced that actor Jacob Martinez had now stepped into the role. Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming new episode, Calderon left in the spring of 2025, but will be seen in the part for the final part this month, and then on June 20, Martinez debuts as Salem’s new Javi.
Taking to his Instagram with a sorrowful and heartfelt post on the Brilliant Minds cancellation was Teddy Sears who wrote, “Thank you, Brilliant Minds. I got the call today and I didn’t want to hear, but I knew that it would come, You have to be a particular vintage to quote Don Henley from memory, but that’s the line that came to mind earlier today after I got off the phone with our inimitable showrunner Michael Grassi who delivered the news that NBC has cancelled the series”.

Photo: NBC
Sears continued, “To say that I feel sad to be moving on from these stories, this character, and this cast and crew just doesn’t paint the entire picture. I’m sad, sure. But I’m also deeply grateful that I got hired to play this part, so proud of the stories we told, and the other actors I got to play alongside. I’m excited to see what comes next, what adventures await, and terrified to be without a professional home. A quick and heartfelt thank you to everyone, all over the globe, who found us and found themselves in us, in our characters and in our stories. We wouldn’t have been able to tell them without you. And we still have 6 fresh episodes yet to air, and I do hope you tune in enjoy the remainder of the series. They’re the best we’ve done.”
As he wrapped up his sentiments, Sears signed off with, “The more I know, the less I understand. All the things I figured out I have to learn again. I’ve been trying to get down to the heart of the matter. But everything changes…Thank you, Brilliant Minds.”
The medical drama was created and executive produced by Michael Grassi alongside Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Lee Toland Krieger, DeMane Davis, Jasmine Russ, Henrik Bastin, Jonathan Cavendish, Andy Serkis and Shefali Malhoutra.
So, what do you think of NBC’s decision to cancel Brilliant Minds after two seasons? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
Many things are coming up roses for Jonathan Bennett! On the heels of the news that he is set to debut this month in the role of Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital, who is rumored to be a new love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), comes the news that Bennett’s reality series, Finding Mr. Christmas has received 3 nomination for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.
Bennett’s Hallmark Channel series finds itself in tough competition alongside fellow nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), Survivor 50 (CBS), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Traitors (Peacock). In addition, Jonathan himself is nominated for Best Show Host and the series participants as the Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series.
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) revealed the nominees for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Thursday, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.

Photo: Hallmark
Taking to his Instagram to celebrate the nominations, GH’s Bennett, enthused, “3 Critic Choice Nominations! I’m so proud of the FINDING MR CHRISTMAS and to be in the company of all the legends in all these categories is so surreal! Congrats to Hallmark Channel and to our nominated cast and nominated show and everyone who made this magical show possible. This is crazy! This gives FMC 6 Critics Choice nominations in 2 years. Not bad for a little show on Hallmark Channel. What are your thoughts on our show?” Jumping first into the comment thread was one of his new GH co-stars, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) who expressed, “Yeah buddy!!!🔥🔥”
In the series, Bennett, the host and co-creator spends eight weeks guiding 10 aspiring actors through a series of “festive face-offs” and acting challenges alongside actors like soap opera notables, Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R) and Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS). Along the way, they develop their skills and a bond with one another. The show, which is available on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus, highlights LGBTQ+ representation with openly gay contestants vying to be the next Hallmark star.
It should be noted that Traitors received the most Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations with 6 nods, followed by Dancing with the Stars with 4.
Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans having started his career as JR Chandler on All My Children in 2000-2001, before landing the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout performance.
You can check out the full list of Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations here.
So, excited for Jonathan Bennett’s General Hospital debut this month? Have you ever watched Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark? Let us know via the comment section below.
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General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?
On the April 30 episode of General Hospital, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had some choice words and warning for her brother Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) who has been masquerading as his twin, the very dead, Nathan West.
As the story has unfolded, viewers learned that Britt knew all along that when “Nathan” showed up in Port Charles seemingly resurrected with a missing 7 years of his life unexplained, that Cassius was taking his place.
Now in developments on today’s GH, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is figuring out that this guy pretending to be Nathan is someone else, and Cassius learns from Britt, that Joss is not just a ditzy sorority girl as he claimed, but a WSB agent! The moment stuns Cassius. Are the walls about to close in on him and his charade?

Courtesy/ABC
Daytime Emmy winner, Kelly Thiebaud spoke to Soap Opera Digest, about the story point and getting the opportunity this time back at GH to work with Ryan Paevey, when she hadn’t had the chance to before.
BROTHERLY LOVE?
Thiebaud expressed on sharing scenes with Ryan Paevey, “It’s just been so wonderful to have him back and to actually work with him! When he first came onto the show (as Nathan at the end of 2013) I was kind of heading out — it was right towards the end of my contract, so we didn’t actually work together a ton. It’s been really refreshing and so much fun to really spend time together and get to know each other and work together. I think we have really great on-camera chemistry and banter with each other. I really enjoy working with him.”
With the stakes at an all-time, Thiebaud explained how she views her on-screen alter-ego’s involvement with her more hot-to-temper sibling and why Britt revealed the truth about Josslyn to him. “People finding out about Cassius would expose what she’s involved in and what she agreed to do,” explains Kelly “And now Josslyn is digging around, and she’s connected to Carly (Laura Wright) to Jason (Steve Burton) and that whole dynamic! It’s messy!”
BRITT’S MURKY FUTURE
Britt has currently also reached her breaking point with Jason being carted away by the WSB, Rocco (Finn Carr), the child she gave birth to, shooting Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) to protect her and Jason, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) being killed after trying to help her, and Cullum holding over her head getting her Huntington’s disease medication to control her symptoms, while blackmailing her into finishing the research on her father, Cesar Faison’s, final project. Thiebaud summed it up best for Britt right now, sharing, “It’s been a really tough time for her.”
So, who do you think will be the person to blow Cassius’ cover? Will it be Britt herself? Josslyn? Liesl? Brennan? Nina? Lulu? Rocco, Maxie, Cullum or someone else? Let us know your pick in the comment section.
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