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Y&R’s Michelle Stafford on Exiting Hunter King & Michael Mealor: “They are Super Stars!! I Have Said That From Day One”
All good things do come to an end, but when one door closes another one opens, that certainly will be the case for Y&R’s exiting Hunter King (Summer) and Michael Mealor (Kyle) who have wrapped their time on the CBS daytime drama series.
King’s on-screen mom, Michelle Stafford shares some photos of her with the two young stars, and shared on her Instagram: “It’s a little love for @hunterking and @michael.mealor I love them both SO much!! I will miss them. I want so badly for them to jump and follow their dreams and really make it happen. I believe in them completely. They are Super Stars!! I have said that from day one. Maybe they can “stop by” here and there❤️ I love you guys! Go get um!!!”
On Monday’s August 9th episode, viewers learned that Kyle and Summer intend to live in Milan, Italy now that Summer has a job there and Kyle can work remotely for Jabot.
It has been rumored that contract negotiations were a part of the reason for King and Mealor’s departure from the series. Bets are that we may see appearances by Mealor and King from time to time when their characters may need to be back in Genoa City for major family moments, but until then, King and Mealor are off to pursue their dreams and careers in show biz and the sky’s the limit for these two.
So, what do you think about the resolution to Kyle and Summer’s love-story? Are you sad they are off the series? Do you hope they come back at some point? Comment below.
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My primary disappointment in their departure is the timing – it’s taken place in the middle of this big sl for them. Summer giving in to Tara’s threats was out of character and frustrating to watch. While I’m glad Tara and Sally have been found out, at the end it seemed a bit rushed and I do wonder how it might have been written had these two not chosen to leave.
I do wish them both well in their future endeavours; they are a talented young pair without question.
I agree with you—-I was so disappointed with the way this storyline unfolded. While I was glad to see Tara get her comeuppance, the fact that Sally was merely given a slap on the wrist, is a let-down.
I wonder if Summer and Kyle will ever return—perhaps recast?
The Mariah storyline is more crazy stuff. I wish I could delve intto the writers’s brains. I’m sure they have a reason.
I’ve an outrageous thought—why is Stitch back? Coincidence? Does he have Mariah? Is he as disturbed as his son? Is this a methotical plan on his part?—-he will rescue Mariah and be the hero? Abby will be eternally grateful and welcome him back into her life with open arms—It would explain the kidnapping. Just sayin’.
I liked Summer & Kyle, just not as a couple. MM especially really developed into a terrific actor and heartthrob. And we need the Kyle character to keep the Abbott line going in business. No Theo, please! Besides, poor Jack will be lonely. And if stupid Chloe is gonna pair up with Sleazy Sally, he’ll have a constant reminder of that mistake!
Hey, Soaphound. A message from my grandmother—-she says they can always bring Kemo back to keep the Abbott line going? Whatever happened to him? LOL…but, yes–I will miss both Kyle and Summer. I did not like either much, at first—but, each (of them) has proven his/her worth.
Methinks Jack and Phyllis still have that je ne sais quoi thing going on for each other.I feel the vibe.
I really wish Sally would cotrol her mouth, in more ways than one. The sealed partnership will prove to be another disaster. You’re right about Chloe’s stupidity. Sally, the she-wolf ( better known as Luna wolf or alpha female) will eat her alive.
Theo does NOT have Abbott blood. He was Dina’s child but not by John.
Big BIG LOSE TO THE SHOW…WRONG COUPLE LEAVING…. AND I STILL DONT KNOW Y YOU CUT THEM OUT OF THE SHOW…
They are my favorites. I will miss them so much! May even stop watching the show.
I’m so disappointed in Y&R!!!! I love these characters so much! I wish them well in all they do! Good luck y’all going to miss y’all!!!
I will miss you both you two deserve each other but go follow your dreams and I’m glad your back together I hope you come back
Very sad they are leaving, love there childhood love story! Mostly all the young are gone might call the show Restless now!!❤️
Theres going to be a huge void in MMs and HKs departure
The couple have dominated the show with storys for years now. Also will be a major void in a younger couple.
Nothings intrestings happening with Mariah and Tessa, the only two left in that generation. Time to bring Fenn and Ana back and put Sally in the fold.
I hope that GH will hire MM. How old is he? Could he pull off a recast Nathan? If he is too young for that, how about a recast Dillon?
I dunno– How many Kyles have there been- 6 ?
Just saying goodby to another one ..
Hunter, by her choice, has been in and out of Y&R a few times.
– just another goodby.
And-
Now there is more $$$ to keep Ashton on, hopefully.
Y&R needs another hard-hitter
((after they turned Adam into a choir boy, Ashton is needed–
it’s a real shame they took Adams cojones, for sure))
And- the soap life rolls on and on..
I’m not sure yet, su000. Kevin’s denouncing of Adam got me thinking that old Adam may start seeping back. I don’t want that, but I don’t want an angelic version, either. I just hope Sally doesn’t set her greedy sights on him next. That would be a new low for everyone.
HI Soaphound–
The thing with Adam_______
When Adan was good he was very good
When Adam was bad he was very bad
Adam was more grey than dark–he did a good thing too..
Didn’t he run into a burning building and save Nick?
Adan did do good things but his bad thing always overshadowed them.
And–
Adam had game!!
Never a dull moment–
He did keep my attention when he entered the screen.
The soaps would die of boredom without its Adams lol
Like Asland and love everything Richard Burgi is in. Does anyone remember the tv detective show in the 90s he starred in with Cheryl Ladd–One West Waikiki? First time i ever saw him on a show–love it.
I am very sad they are gone. I don’t understand why they couldn’t reach an agreement.
I haven’t missed an episode in over 20 years, but Phyllis bawling over her snowflake daughter Summer being wronged was too much, finally had to turn it off, if my rival got me my dream job in Milan, who needs friends! Taking Tara away from Harrison is cruel, hope she comes back with a vengeance. After months of everything being about Harrison, Kyle dumps him on Grandpa Jack and takes off to be with Summer, when he needs his daddy the most. Kyle and Summer were the most immature couple and totally deserve each other.
Soapkin, I don’t agree about Phyllis, mostly because Michelle is doing some of her most astonishing work lately. But you are 100 percent right about Kyle dropping that brat, er, boy to go retrieve Summer. For the first time, I’m leaning toward Ashland getting primary custody. And Tara was a decent mother, all things aside. She’s getting TOO shafted here, while evil Sally just keeps going…like a demonic Energizer bunny.
Sally or Tara havn’t even come close to Billy using Summer for cheap revenge sex against Phyllis, that deserved a backlash with lots of misery and a forever grudge, but Billy moves on unscathed….so far. I root for Sally Spectra because of her B&B roots, and her legendary namesake. Adam was right on, Phyllis and Sally are a like, Sally has sketchy parents, she could be related.
Summer and Kyle need to stay. Others can go…..like Lauren, to name one. She is beautiful but adds nothing to the storylines on Y & R.
I think it is a big loss. Sally needed to leave along with the other witch Tara
Recast them. Happens all the time in soaps.
Yes, they will be missed, they were both awesome, Y&R again messed up. Now show Michelle out too, and get GINA T back on the show, we need fire on Y&R – RIGHT NOW, it’s boring and it shouldn’t be.
Michelle IS Phyllis and Phyllis IS Michelle. Gina was mildly ok but she was NEVER Phyllis.
I would love to see them both come back they Are such a big part of the show
Exit Kyle, enter Ashland. Exit Summer, enter Sally. WOW—I will never get used to Sally–
Aside—does Chance have Mariah? —-Or does someone have both Mariah and Chance?
Is it the cult guy—-one of his cronies doing his dirty work? A brand new baby to brainwash and indoctrinate—As the plots return and revolve. Same old, same old. Hope not—been there, done that.
Just another reason I quit watching after 40 years… They need new writers!
I love them both and wish them so much love and good luck in future endeavours. There was such a problem with finding the “right” adult Kyle until Michael came along and nailed it. Hunter has wowed us with her acting abilities and has given us Summer the brat, Summer the young trashy adult and now Summer the responsible adult and fashion marketer. She acted her ass off throughout her time on Y&R despite a lot of fan hate for standing up for herself. I hope her future is rosy but the selfish part of me wants the actor and cbs to say whoops HHK is not leaving.
I’m sad that they are leaving. Wanted them to get married and have kids. But then again it’s a soap opera
Yep, glad they are gone I just wish y’all could exit Rey character
As I hinted on the Ashland/Tara agenda before, I am now even more convinced Ashland is a baddie. He has a malignancy growing in his lung?—more like in his head.
From the first day Tara appeared, I called her out as someone who was up to no good. I don’t even think Harrison is Kyle’s.
Ron ( one of our fellow-posters) suggested a like-thought. Would it be feasible to think that Tara and Ashland were working together? It’s extreme, but it’s a soap.
Ergo, Ashland’s marriage proposal to Victoria. After the marriage, he will manipulate, convince, or whatever it takes to be in control of Vic’s shares —-once that’s achieved, he will have free rein—
Tara’s imprisonment was well-thought-out—-
Victoria ia so desperate for a new glimpse at love, she’s become blind, deaf and dumb.
Just my opinion—as outrageous as it is.
Yes, Celia, the lines were officially drawn today, with Billy, Nick, and now Victor getting serious about vetting Mr. Locke. I’m sure of two things: Victoria will rebel against all efforts to help her and she’ll find a way to make EVERYTHING Adam’s fault. Some things never change.
Hey, Soaphhound. You are so right about this ridiculous storyline—nothing makes sense–especially Sally as a new member of the Newman staff.
She turned Summer’s world upside down and everyone ( except Phyllis) acts as if nothing major happened. This is Victor’s “precious” granddaughter, we’re talking about. It’s so weird. Victor Newman is a staunch supporter of FAMILY—-family is everything!! No one harms my family without retribution!! Right!!
Also, I think I am right about Stitch. I felt it since he came back at the right time. I may be wrong, —if so, there id definitely something afoot here.
He has Miriah to profess himself as the hero. Or it’s the Ward guy to take the baby into the fold, indoctrinating him with evil ideals and ideas. Yes, he’s in jail, but we all know that means squat—-seems that all these baddies have power whether incarcerated or not.
Just an opinion.
There was never any doubt that in watching the riveting and emotional scenes on General Hospital which featured Finola Hughes as a PTSD-driven and mentally tortured Anna Devane, that when the climatic moments in Anna’s story aired, that we would not be singing the praises of Hughes. Once again, Finola showcased why she is one of the soap opera genres greatest assets and actresses.
In the key scenes, Anna has had a complete breakdown as she has lured and cornered Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) on Mount Emerson, and even thought through how she would kill her and cover it up, all thanks to hearing the voice and seeing a dead man, Peter August (Wes Ramsey). It’s visions of Peter that keeps egging Anna on to pull the trigger on Britt while in her delusional state.
Before Britt realizes that Anna trapped her in meeting her in Mount Emerson, she is very confused as to why she was all the way out in the boondocks to talk about what happened to her brother, Cassius Faison. However, Britt soon learned that what Anna was about to do is personal, and not professional, as she pulls the gun on her.
Courtesy/ABC
ANNA FIRES HER GUN IN GAME-CHANGING MOMENT
When Jason (Steve Burton) shows up to save the say, he tries to talk Anna off the ledge, begging her to not shoot Britt and make one of the greatest mistakes of his life. When Jason figured out Anna felt she needed to kill anyone related to Cesar Faison, he made her think twice, because that would mean, she also would need to end the lives of two of Maxie’s children, James and Bailey Lu.
Anna can’t stop seeing hallucinations of Peter pushing her to shoot Britt. Suddenly and completely overcome, Anna fires bullets straight in the direction of where she sees Peter as she declares this all must end tonight.
After the shots are fired, Anna realized what she had done and just sobbed and shook. It was a devastating and heartbreaking moment for longtime General Hospital fans to see the beloved Anna Devane, super spy, so lost. Anna explained to Jason, after he was able to disarm her, how she was being pushed to kill Britt by her visions of Peter.
EMMY-WORTHY SCENES FOR 2027
In another hankie-inducing moment, Anna just grabs Jason and breaks down in his arms. If these weren’t Emmy-worthy scenes, we don’t know what is, and it must be remembered by Hughes, General Hospital, and hopefully the voting body of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) when Emmy submissions and voting get underway in 2027 for the 54th annual Daytime Emmys.
From everything we noted above, to the sheer brilliance of her work, Michael Fairman TV names Finola Hughes, this week’s Power Performance of the Week.
Now let us know, do you agree with our pick of Finola? Were you moved to tears during the gut-wrenching scenes? Should Finola include these scenes in an Emmy submission in 2027, should she decide to compete for Lead Actress gold? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
General Hospital
RATINGS: ‘General Hospital’ Shows Most Gains in Total Viewers Week-Over-Week and Up in Key Demo
The ratings are out for the week of August 24-28 for your favorite broadcast television soaps, and it was ABC’s General Hospital which added the most total viewers and planted itself firmly in third place in its battle with Beyond the Gates in the key demos of women 18-49 and 25-54.
According to Soap Opera Network, all daytime dramas were up year-over-year, and General Hospital was joined by The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful with gains in their total audience viewership, while Beyond the Gates was only slightly off pace for the ratings week.
Let’s take a look at what had viewers tuning-in, starting with General Hospital, who added +79,000 viewers. While still under the 2 million viewers mark (which they can hopefully return in the coming weeks) their overall tally was an average of 1, 935,000 tuning-in, while still up year-to-year +136,000.
GENERAL HOSPITAL
In addition, GH while actually down from the previous week in the 18-49 ratings share, they still out performed Beyond the Gates for third place. However, GH was firmly in third place for the 25-54 ratings share.
The stories that were featured for the week included: Anna’s (Finola Hughes) PTSD and struggle with painful memories tied to Cesar Faison, and her concocting a plan to get rid of Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) recording Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) threatening her, and later running into a severe threat from Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) regarding Kai (Jens Austin Astrup) and Drew’s (Cameron Mathison) shooting, and Drew enlisting Ava (Maura West) to gain leverage over Jack, which resulted in Ava drugging him, while Drew went snooping for the evidence Brennan had against him.
Photo: JPI
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
Y&R remained in the top spot amongst all the soaps once again with 3,062,000 tuning in, and up +35,000 for the week, while year-to-year still showing strong gains at +231,000 viewers. However, while Y&R remained #1 for the 25-54 ratings share, it fell to #2 in the 18-49 ratings share behind The Bold and the Beautiful.
In story for the week, Nick’s (Joshua Morrow) sobriety in rehab was a focus, as was Victoria (Amelia Heinle) and Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) hitting the Jabot office couch and having sex for the first time, and Lily (Christel Khalil) and Billy (Jason Thompson) battling over control and ownership of Chancellor Industries.
Photo: JPI
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL
B&B is continuing to be inch closer to Y&R for the top spot, separated by a little more than 300,000 viewers. For the ratings week, the series posted a total audience of 2,719,000 adding +31,000 eyeballs overall, and like Y&R, is up year-to-year in its performance.
The CBS soap now , now in its 40th season is +217,000 from the same time last year. In the key demos, The Bold and the Beautiful was in the top spot for the women 18-49 ratings share and number two for women 25-54.
In story, the major threat to Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and Finn (Tanner Novlan) and Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) and Daphne’s (Murielle Hilaire) marriages continued as Steffy and Carter swore they would not tell their spouses that the two had a drunken hook-up. But as viewers know now, Steffy is pregnant!
Photo: CBS
BEYOND THE GATES
Beyond the Gates tallied an average of 1,611,000 total viewers for the week, up +72.000 year-over-year and down slightly in tune-in for the week losing just -36,000 viewers. The CBS soap came in fourth place in the key demos for the week behind General Hospital, with whom they are often trading places for the third spot.
In story, after Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) was released from the hospital, Hayley (Marquita Goings) stuck to her plan, doubling down on poisoning him and even getting caught in a major lie or meeting with Randy (Maurice P. Kerry), as Vernon (Clifton Davis) may be on to her machinations.
The ratings report is generated from Nielsen (Live+Same Day Big Data + Panel) for the week of August 24-28, 2026
So, what did you think of the performance of General Hospital for the ratings period? Which daytime drama has you most likely to tune-in each day? Which has you tuning-out? Let us know what’s working, or not working for you in story, via the comment section below.
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
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!
‘General Hospital’s’ Finola Hughes Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
RATINGS: ‘General Hospital’ Shows Most Gains in Total Viewers Week-Over-Week and Up in Key Demo
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
‘General Hospital’ to Rebroadcast Special Episode in Tribute to Anthony Geary
Vivica A. Fox Exits ‘The Young and the Restless’ For Now to Film Netflix’s ‘Women Like Us’
Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027
‘General Hospital’s’ Braedyn Bruner Reveals Her Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and How Emma is Getting Her ‘Edge’ Back
‘General Hospital’s’ Bluesy Burke Marks 1 Year as Charlotte Cassadine: ‘It’s The Best Gift I’ve Ever Received’
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy Tells Carter She’s Pregnant, But He Has a Way ‘Out of This Situation For All of Us’
‘Beyond the Gates’ vs. ‘The Young and the Restless’ in a Soap Opera Showdown on ‘Flip Side’ Season 3 Premiere
‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom Talks Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and What’s Behind Katie’s Deep-Seated Issues with Dylan (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Did Brook Lynn Deserve Chase Walking Out on Her?
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