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Y&R’s Christian LeBlanc Shares Emotional and Heartfelt Message to Fans and Colleagues

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: JPI

Three-time Daytime Emmy winner, Christian LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin, The Young and the Restless) had been in the Big Apple of late appearing in a new production of Tennessee William’s iconic play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. 

In it, LeBlanc plays Big Daddy in the stage play that runs through August 14th.

Throughout his time in New York City, and while appearing in the role, many Y&R stars and colleagues, fans, and good friends have been in the audience to watch his performances and later stopped by to see Christian backstage following the show including: Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, Y&R) and Alley Mills (Pam, B&B).

This week, LeBlanc shared a heartfelt video as the production is winding down on his Instagram account. 

During the video, LeBlanc gives fans a tour from the backstage of Off-Broadway’s Theatre at St Clement’s where Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is staged.

Christian expressed:  “I just want to thank the amazing amount of fans and supporters and viewers of The Young & Restless.  It just moves me so much … and I can’t talk too long because I’ll get emotional.”   You can watch the full video below.

For ticket and show information on how you can catch Christian in the Ruth Stage production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof click here.

Have you seen Christian as ‘Big Daddy’? If so, let us know via the comment section below.

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Such a great actor I would have loved to see it but the Covid thought otherwise! Best to you CB!

So happy for Christian, and impressed that he got to take on one of my favorite roles of Big Daddy. I’ve only seen the film, but Big Daddy rules!!! And It’s great he has the support of Y&R fellow actors/management, and even those from other soaps. So enjoy this time. I love your video, but don’t overdo your vocals.

I don’t see him as Big Daddy… maybe Brick.

I don’t see him a Big Daddy either. But with the long grey hair and if he can be loud enough, he could pull if off. I think he’s too old for Brick. Good luck to him.

He still looks young to me but I guess you’re right. I’m used to Burl Ives in the 1958 version with Elizabeth Taylor.

I think Burl Ives originated the role on the Broadway stage. There was a 1970s TV adaptation in which Sir Laurence Olivier was great as Big Daddy. If I remember correctly, Olivier played it with grey hair and a grey mustache.

Yes he did and Barbara Bel Geddes was Maggie and Ben Gazzara was Brick. Ben was so gorgeous he should’ve played Brick in the movie instead of boring Paul Newman who does nothing for me. Elizabeth Ashley did a revival in the mid 70s with Michael Zaslow as Brick I bet that was awesome. They used the complete original script with Tennessee Williams watching right there every day.

Contessa, there was also the 1984 Showtime version with Jessica Lange a solid Maggie but a blank Tommy Lee Jones as Brick. Rip Torn and the great Kim Stanley were brilliant as Big Daddy and Big Momma. Ben Gazzara would have been something to see!

Yes I remember that Jessica was wonderful with her cigarette in the air saying “you don’t know what it’s like to be as poor as Job’s turkey!”. Awesome. I do love Elizabeth Taylor in the movie, in fact the whole cast is wonderful I just don’t like Paul Newman.

Larry Gates H.B Lewis himself is in that movie as Big Daddy’s doctor! He sure was cute!

You know, Contessa, out of all of Reva Shayne’s paramours, H. B. Lewis was my favorite, thanks to wonderful Larry Gates. Such a versatile actor, too. He was equally believable as the clueless airline exec in AIRPORT and, of course, the bigot who got slapped back by Sidney Poitier in IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT.

He was in so many things also Invasion of the Body Snatchers and that Twilight Zone where he has a bomb shelter and won’t let anyone in! That scares me every time see it. I read Kim Zimmer’s book and she just adored him. I miss GL so much!!!

Contessa, I shall try to react to your comment about Paul Newman while refraining from crying. I understand that subjectivity is at play here but do you think that maybe, just maybe, Newman’s beauty rendered him to be underrated as an actor? Steve McQueen made fun of him for being “ too pretty” and thus, did not take him seriously as an actor. Despite his external beauty, it was clear he was a poignant and powerful actor. I did not find him to be boring at all. Cool Hand Luke? the Hustler? Nobody’s Fool? Despite his external Beaty, Newman always managed to deliver a powerful, naturally driven performance. I met Paul Newman once at the race tracks back in the early 90s. He was every bit as beautiful in real life as he was on the big screen. Moreover, he was humble, gracious, patient and kind. He was an amazing merger of beauty, charisma and talent and whose like we shall never see again. I honestly do not get disliking Paul Newman. But that’s just me.

Steve McQueen was HOT

Yeah he was.

This is always a fun discussion, Harry — actors trying to prove they’re not just pretty faces. Paul Newman won that argument with CAT.., THE HUSTLER, HUD, etc. Audrey Hepburn wowed audiences with her stunning dramatic turn in THE NUN’S STORY as did Mary Tyler Moore in ORDINARY PEOPLE. But some, like Marilyn Monroe, Jim Carrey, Goldie Hawn, and many more are not as successful in branching out (even though Goldie was excellent in THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS). Who knows why…but it must be frustrating to be pigeon-holed into one genre especially early in a career. Sometimes a Broadway play will help them stretch their acting muscles as Jake Gyllenhaal keeps doing. Even great musicians are meant to “stay in their own lane”. I remember when my hero Joni Mitchell began doing jazz, people were up in arms, crying “What is she doing NOW?!” I applaud the artist who challenges his/herself. It may not always succeed, but is always worth the effort.

I’m with you, Harry. I LOVED Paul Newman. Did you watch Ethan Hawke’s documentary on Newman and Woodward?

LOVE Christian LeBlanc. Along with Peter Bergman, one of the best actors on Y&R (despite George Wilkes’ opinion)

Great stage opportunity for him – I have no doubt he can play anything! But hope we never lose him from Y&R – and glad we’re seeing a bit more of him lately.

I couldn’t agree more and he is desperate for attention. Any time there’s backstage press and photos about y&r he has to be there. It’s a bit silly really.

Imagine that. An actor on a show participates in press opportunities. Shocking. They should just stay out of sight and hope for more jobs. Do you think everyone else who gets up on stage or in front of a camera hates to be seen in public?

He’s desperate for attention . You can see it very clearly . Any press events he tries to be the loudest, funniest etc .. which he is not .

Love ya!Christian LeBlanc. From a devout viewer of The Young and the Restless. Keep on doing what inspires you.

You’re crazy and have bad taste

Seriously? You like Judith Chapman and think Christian overacts??????? I think they, and Michelle Stafford are all a hoot in their broad comedy portrayals. You do realize that is the director’s choice, not his, don’t you. But you hate him when he overacts, you hate his serious tone so you just don’t like him at all. Sheesh!

I think he has great talent but lately he’s been hamming it up too much on Y&R. Michael Baldwin quits his job as DA to become Victor’s water boy? With that silly ponytail and ridiculous demeanor, Michael is now the playing Fool to Victor’s King Lear.

In looking at the total number of comments at the top of this thread, it appears that some (half, as of this writing) have been deleted. Maybe it’s a glitch. Or were they deemed too negative to the actor in question? I am also among those who think this guy overacts, but a lot of worse things have been said at this site about other actors (some deservedly so, in my opinion).

You can’t say anything on here with out someone flipping out I don’t know why I bother.

I tend to agree with you, Contessa! Take care.

Please do not let it scare you off. While I do disagree with you about Paul Newman, I value your unique, educated and wise comments about the stars from yesteryear.

Yes I guess you can’t express an opinion on this forum
without being censored or make someone upset about your opinion . I guess I can only make comments someone deems positive or acceptable .

Thank you for your reply, George. I also felt recently that one or two people were harassing me. I reported it, and nothing was done. But I guess I’m not an actor that is supposed to be continually worshipped here. Take care.

Jamesj75…I try to follow the saying “If you can’t say something nice about a person don’t say it at all.” And not everyone sees actors and their performances the same way. I would rather give support. I know I am not perfect, so when I can’t help myself if I have issues with an actor, I try to confine negative comments to the character.

Hello Rose. You and I typically agree on issues. Even if we don’t, that is also fine. I agree with everything you’ve said in your reply. And you’re mantra is definitely the more altruistic route to take. I try to follow it for the most part, but you’ve given me something to think about. Take care.

Jamesj75…I try to take the high road, but, Oh, there are my naughty times when I let lose on less savourily, non-actors who will remain nameless.

I noticed that too, James. I had commented that while I think LeBlanc is a fine actor, he’s been hamming it up a little too much for my taste. Ponytail Michael gives up his job as the DA to become Victor’s water boy?

Harry, great to hear from you. I appreciate the backup. Glad I’m not seeing things… And I further agree: LeBlanc has done better work. Maybe the writing is a factor.

Well, James. I wouldn’t use the likes of me as a barometer of your sanity!!

Harry and Jamesj75, I want to chime in here because I’ve so admired Christian LeBlanc — ever since ATWT. He was SO HANDSOME as Kurt…and he still will be when he gets over this Rip Van Winkle thing. And I don’t buy this BIG DADDY excuse. Burl Ives didn’t turn into a geriatric hippie to play that role and if this is an “updated” version, he could wear hair extensions. Hell, an elderly squirrel’s tail could work in a pinch.

“Geriatric hippie”? I love it. Now stop him before he resorts to a man bun. Only GH’s Great Cyrus Renault can get away with that look. With apologies to Addison DeWitt from Some Like it Hot, “He’s too short for that gesture.”

Soaphound
Don’t know if you’ll get this post. Michael or someone has decided to omit or delete my posts.

Hey I have been thinking about this for some time and have decided to express my opinion . I recently posted a comment about a certain actor and said his acting was basically sub par . And I found him cheesy ! I won’t mention any names . My comments were deleted /censored. This is the last time I will visit this forum or this website . Freedom of expression is important even when it’s not always nice . There are several other soap forums I can express my opinion Daytime Confidential , Soap Opera Central , Soaps.com etc…. It’s pretty bad you can’t share what you are thinking on here . There are much better entertainment websites out there , that allow freedoms of expression and choice . Have a lovely day !

I don’t think saying someone is cheesy or overacting is defamatory, or that he is always looking for attention. I guess people are overly sensitive. When you are an actor you open yourself up to criticism . That being said thank you for your response . I will visit other soap sites where freedom of opinion is valued and not censored . Best of luck !

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Behind the Scenes of Billy and Sally’s Wedding on ‘The Young and the Restless’

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After all the hype, The Young and the Restless is set to bring you the two-part nuptials of Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) to Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) which kicks-off beginning with the Friday, October 16th episode and continues on Monday, October 19th.

Ahead of the “I do’s” and the glitz and glamor of the Gatsby-inspired roaring 20’s themed wedding, the Y&R Insider You Tube Channel released a behind the scenes vide of the making of Billy and Sally’s wedding, featuring many of the participants from the cast to costume director Mandi Line.

In addition to the video, Michael Fairman TV is sharing some behind the scenes photos from the wedding tape day! At the epicenter though, is Daytime Emmy winners, Jason Thompson and Courtney Hope, who spoke on how the meaning of the wedding is much more than just about reciting lines of dialog.

The Abbotts

Photo: JPI

Also previewing the big days are: Peter Bergman (Jack), Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea), Beth Maitland (Traci), Zuleyka Silver (Audra) and more. Here’s a few excerpts from the behind the scenes video.

Jason Thompson: “A day like this changes the show and changes your character and changes how you show up, because it’s just the relationships are all different instantly. To be trusted with these types of storylines, you know it’s a lot. This is so much bigger than just Sally and Billy. It’s a soap wedding. And these go on for generations and decades as people continue to watch.”

Peter Bergman: “Anytime we have all the Abbotts together, I’m a happy man. It’s a great thing. It really is. It’s rare that we have all the Abbotts in one room.  I’m particularly happy.”

Y&R

Photo: JPI

Courtney Hope: “It never happens that we’re all together, really, unless we have a big event on set, whatever that looks like. I love these days. These are my favorite days. I know they can be the most stressful days for everyone, but I truly love it. They just did an amazing job pulling it all together, designing it. I mean, they worked such long hours. I felt like I was really getting married. It was multiple fittings, making sure it was all constructed and put together. It was not uncomfortable at all. I just felt it was beautiful.”

Melissa Claire Egan: “Sally asking Chelsea to be in the wedding will come as a surprise to many, because last year Chelsea slept with her boyfriend, which usually don’t get asked to be a bridesmaid on the show. I wanna be clear, on the show. Not in real life! But Sally, let bygones be bygones, as one does, and was nice enough and gracious enough to ask Chelsea to be in the wedding because they really repaired their friendship over the past few months. ”

“It’s been really long days here, but I think the result will be worth it,” added Egan. “It’s gonna be a bunch of really amazing shows with some twists and turns, and the wedding is really, really beautiful.”

Y&R

Photo: JPI

Zuleyka Silver: “Audra being Sally’s maid of honor has just meant the world to her, and it’s actually made me a bit emotional because I have such a deep and great relationship with Courtney. She’s my girl, and we’ve gotten very, very close.  I think you can see that in our relationship as Audra and Sally. And from Audra’s perspective, she’s never really had anyone who really gets her and doesn’t judge her.”

“I think everyone sees Audra in Genoa City at a surface level,” explains Silver. “I think Sally has been able to see past that.I think because she can relate to her, and she used to have some of the same qualities, so I think she’s rooting for her, but they also have a lot in common.  I love that we get to see that friendship.”

Billy and Sally

Photo: JPI

Jason Thompson summed it up best, “For me to be able to have this moment on this show, it means the world to me. It really does. To be part of an epic wedding like this and to be the one standing up there, I’m just incredibly grateful for.”

You can check out Y&R’s official behind the scenes look at Billy and Sally’s wedding below.

Now let us know what are you most excited to see during and after the wedding? Do you think there will be a big bombshell at some point during the festivities, or everything will go off without a hitch? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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‘General Hospital’s’ Josh Swickard Stars in Faith-Based ‘The Space Between Us’ as The Man Who Has an Affair with a Married Woman

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Josh Swickard

While General Hospital’s Harrison Chase’s (Josh Swickard) marriage to Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) has seemingly come to an end based on trust issues, and his unrelenting believe of the innocence of his ex-wife Willow Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) when she has committed heinous crimes, Josh Swickard is also being featured in another story on another platform in the new faith-based movie, The Space Between Us.

In the streaming feature now on the Angel platform, Swickard is playing Levi Boone, a handsome young solider, who finds himself attracted to a married woman played by Jennifer Taylor. The two have an affair. The movie made it’s debut last week on October 8.

According to the loglines, “The Space Between Us dives deep into modern relationships, following marriages straining under the heavy weight of busyness, unmet expectations, and spiritual disconnection. Described as a story of grace in the mess, the film takes a grounded, deeply relatable look at how even the best intentions can fall apart—and how faith, strong community, and honest vulnerability can bring true healing.”

Josh Swickard

Photo: Angel

In a cast interview, which features Swickard, Taylor and Kristoffer Poloha, the trio discussed their thoughts on betrayal in marriage, and who’s right and who’s wrong and more.

Josh Swickard explains, “The audience can get it from a lot of sides too where we can show it, and if you have crossed that line in your marriage. it doesn’t have to be over. And when two people are willing to work, anything’s possible. Not giving the end away. I’m just saying. It could happen. It could happen. People can end up together.”

Meanwhile, Kristoffer Poloha added, “Like, wait a minute, but this other guy steps in and I think passion takes over. I think what you see is how easy it is to stumble. Whether it’s adultery or whether it’s another type of sin, you can basically burn your house down in many different ways and how quickly it is to light that fire.”

The Space Between Us is from Canyon Productions. The company delivers faiith-based media designed to encourage, inspire, and uplift viewers along their spiritual journeys. By showcasing the genuine struggles and eventual triumphs of relatable characters facing tough real-world challenges, Canyon aims to create projects that point audiences directly toward hope and perseverance.

You can check out the discussion between Josh, Kristoffer snd Jennifer Taylor on what happens with their characters in the film below, followed by the scene where Swickard’s Levi meets Taylor’s Mona  … and her husband!

So, will you be checking out Josh Swickard in The Space Between Us? What do you think about GH’s Chase, portraying the man that ignites passion in a woman who previously had been faithful to her marriage? Let us know via the comment section.

 

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Y&R’s Jason Thompson and Courtney Hope to Chat Live on the Michael Fairman Channel

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Jason and Courtney

It’s the soap opera wedding of the season, and now The Young and the Restless Daytime Emmy-winning stars, Jason Thompson (Billy Abbott) and Courtney Hope (Sally Spectra), will visit the Michael Fairman Channel during Billy and Sally’s wedding week to discuss the nuptials and its aftermath.

Be with us live on Tuesday, October 20th at a special time at 3:30pm ET/12:30pm PT when Jason and Courtney give us the inside dish and behind the scenes of the taping of Billy and Sally’s wedding, talk the unexpected twists that viewers will see, and what’s next!

Going into the wedding, Sally is pregnant with Billy’s child and any undo stress could trigger the baby to come early. Meanwhile, the long-history of Billy, Sally, Adam (Mark Grossman) and Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) is sure to play into the proceedings. Y&R has gone all out for this Great Gatsby-themed celebration which features the Abbotts, the Spectras and their friends and special guests.

Y&R Men

Photo: JPI

WITH THIS RING, I THEE WED …

Speaking with TV Insider ahead of the wedding episodes, which kick-off tomorrow on the Friday, October 16 episode of the top-rated soap opera and continue on to next week on the Monday, October 19 episode, Jason Thompson teased, “Our wedding really is a really beautiful accumulation of all the things that we love about this job and that the audience loves about soaps.”

Thompson also added what fans of the soap are about to see, “Being in the business long enough, those are things you’re like, ‘Oh, damn!’ It’s not a one-day event. This continues on, and it changes story.”

Courtney Hope explained, “Standing at the altar came with its own set of emotions. I was nervous because I’ve been to a lot of weddings over the years and seen so many people get up there and say their vows. I knew it would be great, but I wanted to do it justice. I wanted to make Sally’s history proud.”

Sally

Photo: JPI

HAVE A QUESTION FOR JASON AND COURTNEY?

In true soapy fashion, just because the couple may makes it past the “I do’s,” does not mean trouble is not right in front of them! “There’s a lot of tension. There are a lot of tinderbox moments,” shared Thompson. “There’s something that goes down pretty serious with Jill, and it throws everything into the blender in that moment.”

If you have a question for Jason and Courtneym but can’t be with us in the live chat, you can drop it in the comment section below and we just might ask it during the broadcast!

So, excited for Billy and Sally’s wedding? What surprises do you think will go down? Will the couple live happily ever after? Will their baby be on the way  sooner than expected? Weigh-in!

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