News
Y&R’s Kate Linder Honored for 40 Years as Esther By the Hollywood Museum (PHOTOS)
Thursday night, Kate Linder received very special honors from the Hollywood Museum to celebrate her 40th anniversary as Esther Valentine on The Young and the Restless.
Who knew that after Kate said the lines, “Dinner is Served” in what was to be a one-line one-day appearance on the CBS daytime soap opera, thst she would end up remaining on the show for four decades!
As fans of the iconic soap opera know, Linder’s Esther was the dutiful and trusting maid to the Duchess of Genoa City, Katherine Chancellor (the late Jeanne Cooper). The two shared many memorable scenes and with Jess Walton (Jill) too. In addition, Esther’s familial ties grew wider when her grown-up daughter, “Kate” now known as Chloe (Elizabeth Hendrickson), came back to Genoa City several years ago.
At the Hollywood Museum event in Linder’s honor, Esther’s costumes were now part of a new exhibit: from her her maid’s uniform and cap, and the same feather duster her character has used on the soap opera for decades. The exhibit also features Kate’s first-ever script from the show and art taken of her in Esther’s maid uniform throughout the years.

Photo: JPI
Those speaking at the event included: longtime Y&R castmate, Sharon Case (Sharon) and former castmate, currently appearing on B&B, Sean Kanan (Deacon).

Photo: JPI
Other Y&R stars in attendance included: Bryton James (Devon Hamilton), Mishael Morgan (Amanda Sinclair), and Robert Newman (Ashland Locke) and Michael Learned (Ex-The Waltons, who also played Katherine Chancellor and filled in for Jeanne Cooper on Y&R). In addition, GH favorite Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) was part of the event, and many others.
Take a look at some of the moments from Kate’s big night in Hollywood from the red carpet to the speeches in the photo gallery below.
Now, share your congrats to Kate for 40 years as Y&R’s Esther Valentine in the comment section.
Photo Credits: JPI
Is she still even with the show? Confused haven’t seen or heard about her in forever?
Y&R should smartly use its beloved vets with regularity. There may be no front burner storylines but daily life and bridge scenes are part of soap life. Thanks to corporate cheapskates and Covid, we do not enjoy several days of story at large group events. People are referred to and not engaging. Have Esther frequent Crimson Lights. Join Chloe for lunch. Be on a society committee with Nikki or Tracie. Snippets of life. They matter. And Miss Kinder and others are vital to that and deserve some focus.
Kay is quite right, of course. Esther is one of a sad list of good characters and great performers who have been swept aside in service of stupid plots like the return of Diane Jenkins (did ANYONE miss her?) and the stale tale of Baby Dom and his ENDLESS assortment of names and parents. Kevin, Michael, Lauren, Traci, Ashley, Paul, Christine, Jill, Esther, have only been given token appearances in the past few months so we can have more and more of Devon, Abby, and now Jack and his new granddaughter. They bring on a talented and sexy nuNoah and drop him in Sad Sack Heaven mooning over his future sister-in-law? At least we’re hopefully done with Amanda’s dreadful family. And thank whomever that wonderful Michael Mealor is back as Kyle and that gorgeous Chance will have a life away from Abby the Albatross. The Ashland story needs to go AWAY, too…yesterday!
We hardly see her anymore, now that she’s a grandma to Chloe’s kids. She was an important part of Mrs. C’s life as maid,friend, confidante, partner in crime, whatever Catherine needed her to be and especially as a buffer between Catherine and Jill, who was hell on wheels back then. I think they should use her more, but they seem to have set her aside as they have Paul and others.
I always wondered how she has maintained a contract actor status for all these years. Why do I have a gut feeling that Jeanne Cooper had something to do with that. Because to become a contract actor is hard enough, but to maintain it when you are never on camera is even harder to imagine. Love the actress, wish she was on more often.
Wish Y and R would give Esther a clever storyline, perhaps something or someone from Kay Chancellor’s past– like a “purported” long-lost sister (or half-sister) played by Erika Slezak. Could bring new life into the Dina Mergeron/Stuart Brookes/Philip Chancellor past… even Joanna Manning. Like so many other viewers have said: give Lauren and Michael, Kevin and Chloe and Gloria, front-burner stories. Same with Esther.
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Fall Preview: Michele Val Jean Reveals Twists and Turns in Fairmont Crest, Teases New Faces

Beyond the Gates continues to be the buzzy and noteworthy soap opera as it heads deeper into the fall. With 15 Daytime Emmy nominations (a record for a first-time nominated show), the action on-screen has been just as exciting as of late.
Now, series creator, head writer, and executive producer, Michele Van Jean teases what viewers of the CBS soap opera can look forward to in the months ahead and into 2027 with TV Insider. Val Jean clarified that the show is already written into April of next year with new faces joining the cast down the line.
Michele shared, “As we go down the journey with The Articulettes, that path is going to lead back to (their manager) Dante Green. So, we’re going to be seeing him eventually. It’s not imminent because we write really far in advance, but you’ll be meeting Dante Green. And then we have a female robbery/homicide cop that’s going to come onto the canvas eventually.”
DANGEROUS, DUPLICITOUS AND DEADLY
While that’s a bit down the line, here’s a few tidbits for a few of the core characters happening soon; starting with the matriarch and the patriarch of the Dupree family, Anita (Tamara Tunie) and Vernon (Clifton Davis). ”
“They’re going to steer their family and community through some troubling times,” explains Michele. Adding, “Anita will get to make exciting moves in her music career as we started to see with The Articulettes, but she’s going to meet with some unexpected obstacles along the way that will test how much she really wants this. Vernon will not be afraid to take serious measures to protect his family and bring down anyone who threatens them.”
Speaking of “serious measures to bring down anyone who threatens the Dupree family,” let’s find out what’s in the future for Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings): “This fall, she will be brilliant, beautiful, and cold as ever. She’s definitely not done scheming, and she’s not done with Bill, I’ll tell you that,” assets Val Jean. “She’s good at making bad situations work in her best interest, and we’ll get to see her do plenty of it.”

Photo: CBS
HOW TO SURVIVE A MARRIAGE
As for Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley) and Andre Richardson’s (Sean Freeman) marriage, trouble ahead! Michele explains “She’s (Dani) going to find her marriage and herself in danger and be forced to make some severe decisions. And Andre’s secrets will catch up to him in the worst way possible as Heather closes in to make good on her threats.”
Meanwhile, Dani’s sister Nicole (Daphnee Duplaix) makes inroads with her relationship with Dr. Kial Rollins (Greg Vaughan). However, Val Jean warns by year’s end,”Her (Nicole) world will flip completely upside down in a way no one sees coming, including her.”
Finally, the warring brother sister duo of Joey (Jon Lindstrom) and Heather Armstrong (Ashley Jones) will get even more intense and fraught. According to Michele, “Joey will wrestle with the reality that his sister is not who she used to be. And as Heather sinks her teeth further into the community, she’ll go to new despicable lengths for chaos and control, but she may not get the last laugh. You’ll have to watch it.”
So, what are you looking forward to the most this fall on Beyond the Gates? What is your favorite storyline right now? When the soap opera casts the character of Dante Green down the line, and a new female cop, who do you think would be a great fit for the roles? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Breaking News
2026 Daytime Emmys Gold & Silver Circle Inductees: Francesca James, Patrika Darbo and Meredith Vieira Among Those Being Honored

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announced on Thursday, October 8, the 2026 Gold & Silver Circle Inductees who will be celebrated at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday, October 30.
This year’s honor roll features industry professionals that have made contributions across daytime television, including daytime dramas, talk shows, comedy, and more.
The Gold inductees include: Meredith Vieira (former c0-host of The View, journalist and EP and CEO, Meredith Vieira Productions),Patrika Darbo (ex-Nancy, Days of our Lives and Shirley, The Bold and the Beautiful, soon to be seen reprising her role of Shirley on Y&R), three-time Daytime Emmy winner, Francesca James (ex-Kitty/Kelly, All My Children, and ex-Marcy Wade, One Life to Live, plus director and/or producer at All My Children, General Hospital, Loving, Santa Barbara et al), and finally Byron Allen (Founder, Chairman & CEO Allen Media Group).
It should be noted that Vieira made guest appearances on both All My Children and General Hospital throughout her career. On GH, she played madam Bree Flanders in 2003 and 2012. She also appeared as a wedding planner on All My Children back in 2001.

Photo: NATAS
The Silver inductees are: Stephen Brown (VP Programming and Development, Fox Television Stations) and Rubin Ervin (Announcer/Warm-Up Host for Family Feud, The Bachelor and more).The Gold and Silver Circle Society Inductees are deemed by NATAS as “exceptional professionals who have performed distinguished service within the television industry, setting standards for achievement, mentoring, leadership and professional accolades for 50 or 25 years, respectively. They represent the best and brightest in the industry.”
In a statement, Adam Sharp, President and CEO of NATAS shared, “This year’s Gold & Silver honorees are recognized for their continued exceptional contributions to our television industry. We are proud to honor a class of honorees from diverse career paths across many daytime genres. Their impact is evident in programming every day, inspiring generations and enriching the lives of countless viewers.”
MORE ON THE 53RD ANNUAL DAYTIME EMMYS
NATAS previously announced that soap opera icon Genie Francis (Laura, General Hospital) will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award during this year’s ceremonies.
The 2026 Daytime Emmys will be held at the historic Hollywood Palladium and will stream live on the NATAS YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@theemmys and watch.TheEmmys.tv.
The annual awards have recognized outstanding achievement in television programming and crafts since 1974, honoring work in a variety of genres, including daytime dramas, talk series, entertainment news, culinary, adventure, instructional and legal/courtroom programming.
The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be a single ceremony in 2026, produced by NATAS Productions. Adam Sharp and Lara Gates are executive producers, with Leon Knoles returning to direct for a fifth straight year. Rachel Schwartz serves as Head of Daytime, and the firm of Lutz & Carr, LLP, provides accounting services for the competition.
So, what do you think of this year’s Gold & Silver Inductees? Happy to see some of the names that will be recognized on October 30? Who in the future who has had enduring contributions to daytime television or the soap opera genre, would you like to see receive these honors in years to come? Let us know via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of our Lives’ Star Alison Sweeney in ‘Sami Brady’s Confessions from Italy’

This week on Days of our Lives, Dante Vitali (Franco LoPresti) surprises Sydney DiMera (Sydney Malakeh) when he arrives in Salem, while the woman he loves Sami Brady is over in Italy, Viewers are becoming quite suspicious of Dante, who seemed to be in collusion with Dominic Marino, leading us to try to surmise just what are Dante’s true intentions to coming to Salem? To meet Sami’s family, or so he says?
Meanwhile, Sami Brady has spoken! In a new video that dropped on Wednesday October 7 on the official Days of our Lives Instagram account, Alison Sweeney appears for what is being called as Sami Brady’s Confessions from Italy or Salem Confessionals!
In character, Sweeney talks to camera explaining Sami’s perspective on her engagement to Dante, and how she feels about him coming to Salem without her to meet the Brady clan. Sami says, “This is such a crazy time. I’m engaged, but I’m not ready to be older. It’s just been my reputation in the past. I’ve always been in such a hurry to sort of like, get it done because it hasn’t always worked out. I’m engaged to a wonderful man named Dante. He’s Italian. He’s dreamy and fabulous. I’m enjoying all of it, like the whole thing. Being engaged, being in love, dating, it’s a new thing for me.”

Photo: Corday Productions
DANTE’S ARRIVAL IN SALEM
Sweeney as Sami continues to explain and rationalize, “Dante, hired my daughter, Sydney, to work for him, which has been amazing. She actually likes him. She’s approved of this relationship, which I’m very happy about. But I will be honest, I’m a little nervous because my fiancé is going to meet my family in Salem without me. I think that’s a good idea. I’m nervous because my family, you know, knows a lot about me. But, I have told Dante everything. I mean, okay, not like literally everything, but a lot of. No, not a lot. Some, you know, enough and he doesn’t want to know the rest.”
All in all, it seems like Sami thinks she has found happiness with the guy, but she made be in for rude awakening as she brings up her manipulative past with the loves of Sami’s life. “He’s (Dante) happy and he loves me and I’m not like that anymore, so it’s fine,” explains Sami. “But I’m just saying that things might come up, um, because my family doesn’t forget either. I’m nervous for them to just like him. I’m nervous for them to be happy for me. I want them to be happy for me, and for us ,and for them to see that this is different for me. I understand why they don’t believe that. I understand why they would be, you know, suspicious of my intentions.”

Photo: Days Peacock IG
IT’S LOVE FOR SAMI
Sami shares she has fallen hard for Dante! “All I can say is I’m in love. It’s amazing. I recommend it. I really hope that Dante wins over my family, and they can all be happy for me. I do hope to get married sometime and celebrate that with my family. That’s what I want. That’s honestly actually what I’ve always wanted and now I think it’s really gonna happen.”
As previously reported, Alison Sweeney will be back on-screen come June of 2027 on the Peacock streaming soap opera, when Sami returns in story along with Christie Clark (Carrie Brady), Chandler Massey (Will Horton) and Bryan Dattilo (Lucas Horton).
So, what did you think of Sami’s confessions from Italy? Do you think Sami will be duped by Dante? Will their love conquer all, or is Dante even in love with Sami? Stay tuned.
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