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Y&R's Christian LeBlanc sad over Maura West's dismissal!

By Michael Fairman

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Three-time Daytime Emmy winner, Christian LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin) of The Young and the Restless spoke with CBS Soaps In Depth at this week’s Dancing with the Stars finale revealing he was very sad at the dismissal of two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Maura West as Diane on the number one soap.

According to SID, “LeBlanc confessed that he was just as sad as the rest of the daytime world. “Maura told me,” shares LeBlanc of his co-star, who was given her pink-slip last Friday, May 20.”

LeBlanc went on to say, “I stalked Maura most of these last few months trying to sneak into scenes with her. I wanted to work with her. I know I will work with her again because that’s how it works in this business. I will miss her. Maura’s a wonderful, wonderful actress. I cannot tell you how amazed I am at her skill. She knocks my socks off. I know the best will happen for her.  I’m trying to be nice to her so she’ll put me in her movies!”

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nice to hear maura west get support from other y&r actors.

however, no one has the guts to speak out against hack maria arena bell, who is responsible for mw’s firing and for not writing for her in the first place. no one has the guts to talk about the character assassination taking place all over genoa city.

One thing is certain, there is no job security at all in the Soap world. I had never seen Maura act before but was truly enjoying her as Diane. Guess you are at the mercy of Maria Arena Bell on that show. No more Diana, let’s try Genie. Well good luck Genie when all the actors from AMC and OLTL become available.

I watched maura on atwt and she is a good actress and this is sad as she brought out the mean and dirty in diana.

I knew I like Christian LeBlanc for a reason. Class act, man! It is refreshing to see that support. Maura West is gifted. (Yes, I am a fan!) And it is sad that she was let go. I do worry about the characters on the Y&R landscape and their evolution without regard to history, not to mention said characters clogging through repetitive plots.

I am stunned by this news about Maura West leaving Y&R. She is a wonderful actress who is so distinctive in her role as Diane.The writers gave her impossible material making her the most conniving bitch of all time. But, she took that role and knocked it out of the park.. And you were made to hate her. I don’t think she will have any trouble finding work day or night time. She would be perfect for Desperate Housewives, better than Lucci. Christian Le Blanc is a true gentleman to root for her. And he should know, being a multi Emmy winner. I’m not going to hope Y&R is going to reconsider. Stupid!!!!!!!

I beleived the Maura West played the role Very well,In fact i enjoyed watching her. Too bad they couldn’t see it that way…Good Luct

She should have been brought on as a totally new character. Thirty year difference between her and Eric Braeden, they have a problem over there. Eden Riegel is all wrong for the part of Heather the character of Malcom all wrong the recast talk to the casting Dept!!!!

I totally agree with you!! Eden Riegel and Malcolm’s characters are all wrong.

I absolutely love Maura West! She was my favorite character as Carly on ATWT. I think that she should have been cast as a totally new character. However, she couldn’t have played it any better. She is just a phenominal actress. Best of luck to her; although, she won’t need it.

Oh I certainly agree with you Emily. What a shocker & a shame to see what they did to Maura West. CBS are such Idiots!! I just love Maura West also. Nothing like her AMAZING Talent .. and I so miss ATWT and our CarJack. What a Magnanimous team with Maura West and Michael Park.

I agree with you, they should have cast her as a new character & I think, should have teamed her in a romance with Nick. They can’t replace Carly & Jack, but the Sparks certainly would have flew. I really thought at time’s that they were going in that direction.

They would have heated up the Y&R to a sizzle .. sadly they missed the boat on that one. The writer’s were just so indecisive that they blew a great twist and Love story … and sadly the amazing talents of Maura West!

CBS does it again .. right in the toilet.

Glad she’s leaving, not pretty at all.

well you must be blind then…

I can see perfectly and just because you think she’s attractive doesn’t mean that I have too, different strokes for different folks. Being blond doesn’t automatically make you attractive.

I’m a heterosexual woman, married with kids. I agree with Samalcis .. YOU MUST BE BLIND. MAURA WEST IS GORGEOUS.

not a bad actress but she didnt fit well with cast members.

I am not upset at all. I dreaded all her scenes. I understand how fellow actors may feel, but as a viewer, I thought she was an awful. I mean I am a long time viewer of Y&R, and she just was all wrong for that character. She had NO chemistry with anyone on that show! Her scenes with Nick made me want to gagm so I am so relieved that I will not be tortured anymore. She is better off. I also agree that Eden R. is terrible as this Heather. Some of these soap people should stick with their original roots! Adios Diane!

Really?? Wow, I’ve watched her on ATWT since the day she lit up the screen 16 -17 years ago .. meeting Jack ..her G-Man. There’s never been a more Magnetic & Sensual couple then Maura West & Michael Park ..Never So Many SPARKS.. and I’ve watched every soap out there. I’ve NEVER seen a better actress on a Soap, and sadly I know the IDIOTS at CBS & Y&R have made yet another huge mistake by letting her go. Maura a Two Time Emmy Winner & 2010 Most Outstanding Actress.
Where have you had your head burried??
With the garbage that the writers wrote for her, she still managed to flip that soap on it’s ear, and was the most exciting actress on that BORING Soap. I used to watch the Y&R .. boring .. the only reason I went back to it was to watch Maura West. …and I know by the Petitions that thousands of her fans followed, so Y&R just lost those thousands of fans, along with myself, as the Y&R gears back down to boredom after the wake of Diane. It’s the writer’s .. Terrible!! Alot of Talent on the Y&R .. the writer’s are the one’s who should be fired. Yawn!
I must give a HUGE Kudos to Christian LeBlanc. What a class act you are! Very Talented yourself .. and you certainly know talent when you see it. Maura is the Queen of talent. The only thing that I WAS praying for was the love angle between Diane & Nick .. I really thought at times that they were going to turn it into another (Carly & Jack ..aka CarJack) That show would have sizzled .. You can’t replace CarJack .. but they certainly could have had the hottest romance that the Y&R has EVER seen. It’s just shocking and sad .. Now the Y&R is turning back into the old boring soap. Christian Leblanc certainly saw how Maura West can be absolutely Electric. The Writers just had her all over the place .. crazy. When you’ve got a talent like that, you are Morons to ever let that slip away!
Maura will always hit the ground running .. her talent Unfathomed & Uncontested. Two Time Emmy Winner!!! Only CBS & Y&R execs can be stupid enough to let that kind of talent get away. CarJack forever!!!

Nice words from CLB. I thought he and Maura West shared strong chemistry in their few, brief scenes. Maura West is a great actress and I am sure she will land on her feet. She was horribly miscast as Diane and I agree that she should have been cast as a new character, ideally, a savvy businesswoman that shared an attraction with Michael and tried to intervene in Michael and Lauren’s marriage. That way, Michael and Lauren would get story that elevated the characters from the backburner. I am amazed by the writers’ inability to write decent story for last year’s Lead Actress at the Daytime Emmys. MW’s kind of talent should inspire writers.

Why is it that Maura West who is a real beauty, and a wonderful actress has not become a major motion picture star? She is every bit as good an actress as any of the top actresses of the big screen . And she is certainly more beautiful than any of them as well. First of all regarding Y&R, a new character should have been created for her, one that would have allowed her extraordinary talents to shine through. She is a great actress and one day she will land where she is suppose to be. One day, I believe that her short stay on Y&R was meant to be,simply because bigger and better things are instore for her great talent.

I love Maury West. I think that they should create a new role for her as Diane’s lost twin sister. Put her and Jack together, that would be great. If not, heads up any way Maury. You are a great actress and remind me of Mae West. I look forward to seeing you in other roles and I’ll follow you wherever you go.
Your loyal fan—-Marilyn

I agree Maura is my all time favorite regardless who she plays as,none better,I wish The Y&R would get rid of that nasty woman that plays as Phillis,now that woman is totally gross and the scenes of her and Nick really make me ill.

I would love to see Maura West at least do a Good Wife episode, Mad Men episode, or one of those new primetime dramas. I think she can do procedurals, which I don’t watch but she’s much craftier than a lot of the actresses on them right now. I can also see her doing a Sci-fi show. Those eyes of hers needs to used properly. She has the face for making Sci-fi even cooler.

I love Maura West. She is a great actress. Loved her on ATWT also. The reason most of you hate her is because of her character…hello??? That’s why she is a great actress because you see her as that character because of her talent.

Maura West is one of the most gifted actresses out there in daytime or primetime, and I think its a joke that she’s let go, and Julie Pace Mitchell (Sofia) is retained, she cant even cry convincingly!!…Everyone on the set of ATWT used to say school was in session when Maura and Ben Hendrikson (Hal) had a scene together…shame on the writers of YnR for dropping the ball on this one, but she’ll land on her feet!!

Shame on you at Y&R Miss West was very good for your show. She will be miss. She put new life back in the story line.

young and the restless have gone to hell. get a new writer please. all the women characters r being degrated. wont tune in anymore

Thank you, Christian LeBlanc, for having the insight and class to speak out on behalf of Maura West. Aside from being a hugely talented actress, she is stunningly beautiful and had great chemistry with every actor in the series but I would especially have loved more Diane/Michael scenes. Sad to say, Maura’s release only puts one more nail in the Soap coffin. The incompetence displayed by whomever made this egregious error should not be overlooked nor go unpunished. Shame on you!

My sentiments EXACTLY.
Maura is an amazingly talented actress, beside’s absolutely gorgeous!!
I would have loved to have seen her with Michael, but I really like Michael & Lauren .. they just need to both start showing their darker sides like back in the day. I would have liked to have seen her have a onetime long love with Nick .. we know how Maura can make those scenes sizzle, and the longing looks that go back to her G-Man Jack on ATWT.
Y&R made a huge mistake with that one. Seems like they were testing it .. and they let it go. The writers were and still are all over the place. They don’t seem to know what they are doing next??
It’s just horrible sad because I feel exactly the same as you .. just one more of our beloved Soaps headed for the axe, until there aren’t anymore left.
People need to Boycott CBS execs wife Julie Chen .. she is the one who made sure hubby gave ATWT the axe just to get the 2pm slot for her new show “The Talk” If people don’t start protesting all of these talk shows & reality shows taking over the afternoons .. then soon all the Soaps will be gone. Just Sad

I must give a HUGE Kudos to Christian LeBlanc. What a class act you are Christian! Very Talented yourself .. and you certainly know talent when you see it. Maura is the Queen of talent. Y&R certainly had plenty of opportunity to spice up your character with Diane, or in many ways. You’re an amazing talent, and Y&R is not writing for those talents at all. Not only with you Christian, but with all of the cast at Y&R .. They’ve written the show into the boring doldrums.

Christian Leblanc certainly saw how Maura West can be absolutely Electric. The Writers just had her all over the place .. crazy. When you’ve got a talent like that, you are Morons to ever let that slip away!

Maura will always hit the ground running .. her talent Unscathed & Uncontested. Two Time Emmy Winner!!! Only CBS & Y&R execs can be stupid enough to let that kind of talent get away.

Gosh do I hate Maria Arena Bell. I really do.

What is Maura West doing now? She was such a great actress.
Maura really kept everyone on their toes.

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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