News
Y&R's Michelle Stafford on Phick, Rowell, & wheelchair bound Phyllis!
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
In a brand new interview released today from TV Guide Canada’s, Nelson Branco, Michelle Stafford is featured. The hot actress and new mother from The Young and the Restless also is named 2010 Sexiest Woman Alive, an honor previously held by Crystal Chappell and One Life’s Kassie DePaiva. From her submission for this year’s Daytime Emmys, to her rockin body, to the ongoing triangle of Phyllis/Nick/Sharon, and her thoughts on the controversary surrounding her and former co-star Victoria Rowell (Ex-Dru) it’s all here, and all Stafford. Here are a few enticing excepts below!
Michelle on the Genoa City triangle this past year: “There wasn’t a lot of care taken in terms of Nick and Phyllis’s relationship last year. I don’t think the writers would be mad at me for saying that. Last year, the writers wrote the triangle from Nick and Sharon’s viewpoint — and not from Nick and Phyllis’s angle. And it’s nothing I’m even really mad about. My job is to play what’s on the page, but it was challenging to play because I had to create empathy for Phyllis through my performance because it wasn’t necessarily on the page.”
Michelle on the controversial “spit scene” that was discussed by Rowell in an interview at Daytime Confidential: “Before we taped the scene, I told everyone that I thought Phyllis should do a spit take at the moment where Drucilla said something shocking. Everyone agreed. Unfortunately, some of the spit got in her face. Technically, I guess I did spit on her, but it’s not true that I did it on purpose. That’s what happened. You can ask the director. I saw Vicki recently and we had a pleasant talk about my daughter. Before I left the show I even picked her brain about adopting. I valued her knowledge because of her history [with the foster care system]. Listen, I really consider ourselves friends. It’s hurtful to me that she would say anything bad about me now. I don’t understand it because I thought we were OK. She’s a fantastic actress. I loved working with her. There was one point I didn’t like so much, but overall, I thought we worked really well together. If I didn’t like Victoria, I’d probably not go on the record about this and just issue a no comment. Usually no comment means, “Oh, I have a big comment [laughs]!”
Michelle on a wheel-chair bound Phyllis stuck at the Masquerade Ball wheeling around during the explosion: ” Omigod, that was so funny! Everyone from the control booth to the makeup department laughed their asses off! When we shot that we could hardly get through the scenes, especially when Nick found Phyllis and asked someone to watch his wife so he could go and find Sharon! Sometimes the writers don’t see the trap they put their actors in when they don’t think about certain relationships. We just played it like, with all the commotion Nick just assumed since Phyllis was in a wheelchair that someone would’ve helped her and she got out safely — even though she didn’t [laughs]! Though, I have to say, I liked being in an exploding room because I’ve never been a part of anything like that before.”
The latest ratings are out for the week of October 26-30, 2026 and the big takeaways include: that CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates was separated by only 23,000 viewers behind third place (of the soaps) General Hospital! For the last several weeks, Beyond the Gates has been closing the gap on this year’s winner for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series, and continuing to best GH in the key demos.
According to the latest Nielsen ratings breakdown from Soap Opera Network, the final week of October brought Beyond the Gates 1.790 million on average tuning-in and the show set a season high in total viewers. Meanwhile, General Hospital hit a new season low! The long-running ABC soap had 1.813 million for the week, and once again the series did not go over the 2 million mark.
Meanwhile, in the key Women 18-49 demo, Beyond the Gates was firmly ahead of GH with a rating share of 0.21, while General Hospital had 0.17 rating share.Then, in the key Women 25-54 demo, Beyond the Gates was once again ahead of the ABC soap with a ratings share for that demo at 0.30 while GH came in with 0.26.
Photo: CBS
MORE BY THE NUMBERS
In addition and comparatively, Beyond the Gates +22,000 viewers week-to-week, and had the largest gains in viewership year-to-year in daytime TV with +267,000 from this in 2025.. However, General Hospital seems to be going in reverse. The show was down -56,000 viewers week-over-week and down -22,000 year-over-year .
BEYOND THE GATES
Let’s take a look at some of the storylines that had people tuning-in to Beyond the Gates during the ratings week:
Hayley (Marquita Goings) attempted a massive shocker regarding her pregnancy and tried to use it to extract money from Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). Although, Bill saw right through her game, he demanded a paternity test, and made it clear he has no intention of raising the child—planning instead to pay her off to take the baby and leave. Meanwhile, Hayley confided her plan to her cousin Randy (Maurice P. Kerry).
Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges) and Naomi Hamilton (Arielle Prepetit) clashed over Jacob’s ongoing investigation into The Impaler, causing significant strain in their marriage. At the same time, Smitty (Mike Manning) considered taking matters into his own hands—including potentially heading to Mexico for evidence—while Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) worried about what comes next.
Photo: ABC
GENERAL HOSPITAL
Over at General Hospital for the ratings period, the story served up included:
Carly (Laura Wright) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) teamed up to investigate what really happened to Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna). Later, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) leads them to Jack’s dead body.
Jude (Wil Traval) dropped a bombshell claim to Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn); that he is Phoebe’s father, while Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard) signed their divorce papers.
Then, Danny caught Rocco (Finn Carr) and Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarski) sharing a kiss, plus the shocking return of Heather Webber (Alley Mills) capped the week.
Now the questions become; without having much promotional synergy in the ABC day-part to draw more eyeballs it is not helping but hurting General Hospital. It seems Beyond the Gates is also a benefactor of a one-two-three punch of CBS soaps (Y&R, B&B and BTG) and promotion.
However, that still doesn’t take away the fact that Beyond the Gates is close to besting GH in all ratings category as they go head-to-head in some markets across the country.
So, are you excited to see Beyond the Gates climb in the ratings? Are you concerned for General Hospital? Do you think they can stave off Beyond the Gates in total viewers or will the upstart soap overtake them in the next ratings report? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Antonio Sabáto Jr., the former Jagger Cates of General Hospital and GH: Night Shift, and the former Dante Damiano of The Bold and the Beautiful has issued his first public statement since the incident involving his son, Jack’s arrest in Alaska for a fatal hit-and-run.
Jack is the son of Sabáto Jr. and Oscar-nominated actress Virginia Madsen, and according to court documents obtained by KTUU Jack, was allegedly driving a white Chevy Tahoe when he hit and killed Carl Simmonds, 42, near an intersection in Anchorage around 5:35 a.m. on Monday, November 9.
The reports indicated that Jack fled the scene — but later decided to called the cops to say he hit “something” that “suddenly appeared in the road” while he was “doing late-night DoorDashing.”
Photo: NBC
Now, Antonio has taken to his Instagram breaking his silence on the situation, sharing, “At this time, my family and I are navigating an extremely sensitive and deeply personal matter.”
He added, “As a father, my love for my children remains unconditional, and my priority is the well-being of my family. We ask that the public and members of the media honor our privacy during this difficult time and keep us all in your thoughts and prayers.”
The soap alum concluded, “I also wish to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the gentleman who tragically lost his life. My thoughts and prayers are with them as well. We sincerely appreciate your compassion, understanding, and respect for the privacy of everyone affected.”
Jack Sabáto was arraigned in court on Tuesday, November 10 with bail set at $5,000, and a no-driving order and the potential of $5,000 penalty fees if he fails to attend future court appearances.
Antonio is the father to Jack, 34, daughter, Mina Sabato, 24 and son, Antonio Sabáto III, 15.
This is a developing story. You can check out Antonio’s official statement below.
So, let us know your thoughts on this tragic hit-and-run, which claimed the life of another man, and Antonio’s statement, via the comment section below.
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Days of our Lives long-running cast member James Reynolds revealed on the November 10 edition of Entertainment Tonight that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and his character of Abe Carver will now be going through an on-screen Parkinson’s battle as well.
Speaking with ET’s Nischelle Turner, the 80-year-old actor and Daytime Emmy winner shared how he attempted to hide the warning signs dating back to 15-20 years ago when he would have, “What they call the hallucinations. My wife (Lissa) would say, ‘You were hitting me last night in bed,’ and I would say, ‘What?!’ I was having these really horrible dreams.” Reynolds also added that he realized falling out of bed was an early symptom of Parkinson’s too.
Discussing the on-going tremors that have become more noticeable over time especially in hands, James shared that when he finally told the Days of our Lives cast they were nothing but “extraordinarily helpful and supportive.”
Photo: ET
SCREEN LIFE TO MIRROR REAL LIFE
Now with DAYS about to launch into Abe’s Parkinson’s storyline, Reynolds hopes that he can turn his experience into something positive by encouraging others facing the disease to keep fighting. During the sit-down, Reynolds co-star Jackée Harry (Paulina Price) recalls her reaction to learning of Reynolds’ real-life diagnosis and how she has continued to search for new treatments to inform James about.
Although Parkinson’s disease currently has no cure, there are medications and treatments can help those manage symptoms and improve quality of life. The condition progresses at a different pace from individual to individual.
As discussed in his conversation with ET, Reynolds cited Michael J. Fox and Alan Alda as two high-profile celebrities who have brought awareness to the disease.
Photo: JPI
In story on DAYS, Abe in recent weeks had been experiencing tremors which led to seek help and a diagnosis Dr. Kayla Johnson (Mary Beth Evans). Soon Abe and others will find out of his battle with Parkinson’s. Although on the promo for this week’s DAYS, Abe is seen telling Kayla, that he will do something, “when the time is right.”
James Reynolds is one of the most prolific performers, being the longest-running Black Actor in a role on a television series, not to mention his aforementioned Lead Actor Daytime Emmy win in 2018, and being inducted in 2025 into the Daytime Emmy Gold and Silver Society of honorees.
You can check out James’ in-depth conversation on his Parkinson’s diagnosis below.
Share your thoughts for James after learning of his health battle, and what do you think of Days of our Lives incorporating the disease into Abe Carver’s Salem storyline? Let us know in the comment section.
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie Kicks Bill to the Curb … for Now
RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Inches Closer to ‘General Hospital’ in Total Viewers
B&B’s Sydney Bullock Weighs In on Future of Dylan and Will: ‘I Think She Can Hold on to Him for Awhile’ (Exclusive)
Antonio Sabáto Jr. Breaks Silence on His Son’s Arrest for Fatal Hit-and-Run
DANCING WITH THE STARS: A Shocking Elimination on Grammy Night Leaves Ballroom Silenced
Y&R’s New Head Writers Share Vision for Genoa City: Contemporary Homage to Bill Bell, Mixing Heightened Escapism and Grounded Reality
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Episodes From New Co-Head Writers, Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor, Begin to Air
‘General Hospital’ Casts Ayla Bullington as the New Avery Jerome-Corinthos
‘Days of our Lives’ Celebrates 61st Anniversary: EP Ken Corday Teases New Character’s Arrival in Spring 2027
‘Days of our Lives’ Kyle Pryor Debuts as Dominic Marino and Says of Alleged TV Mom, “Deidre Hall is the Absolute OG, Amazing” (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie Kicks Bill to the Curb … for Now
B&B’s Sydney Bullock Weighs In on Future of Dylan and Will: ‘I Think She Can Hold on to Him for Awhile’ (Exclusive)
‘Days of our Lives’ Veteran James Reynolds Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis
Y&R’s Matt Cohen Talks Role as Compassionate Zookeeper in Rom-Com ‘Christmas at the Zoo’
Alice Halsey Returns to ‘Days of our Lives’ as Rachel Black – Find Out How Long!
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News2 days agoY&R’s New Head Writers Share Vision for Genoa City: Contemporary Homage to Bill Bell, Mixing Heightened Escapism and Grounded Reality
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Previews4 days agoTHE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Episodes From New Co-Head Writers, Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor, Begin to Air
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General Hospital3 days ago‘General Hospital’ Casts Ayla Bullington as the New Avery Jerome-Corinthos
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Days Of Our Lives4 days ago‘Days of our Lives’ Celebrates 61st Anniversary: EP Ken Corday Teases New Character’s Arrival in Spring 2027
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Days Of Our Lives6 days ago‘Days of our Lives’ Kyle Pryor Debuts as Dominic Marino and Says of Alleged TV Mom, “Deidre Hall is the Absolute OG, Amazing” (Exclusive)
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And this is why I love Michelle Stafford so much and why she is my favourite soap actress of all time. She makes me smile. I am so happy that she is a new Mom and you can tell she is beyond happy too. Michelle, I wish you and Natalia the best life has to offer. From one of your dearest fans!!
Spit or swallow implications. Typical nelson branco. We should all be thankful that the panel that “voted” (chose) Sexiest Woman overruled zero sex appeal Haiduk or deflated blow up doll Bjorlin. Oh, and killer talent was a factor in considering sexiest woman.
But Branco wrote that talent was not a factor in Sexiest man. Duh! That’s bec bratty Brandon Beemer’s only talent is disrobing.
Stafford is a phenomenal and entertaining actress, no doubt abt it. No one can question her acting prowess. I think she should have submitted Phyliss cutting up Sharon’s lingerie. It was a novelistic touch from the writers. But if she’s referring to Nick leaving Phyliss, then that was a good reel also. Frankly, she has a wealth of options to choose from since she’s that good. I think she’s even better than Flannery, who has been sleepwalking thru B&B.
But Stafford comes forth as very fake abt Victoria Rowell. She wants Rowell back on Y&R? Hahahahahahahahaahahhahahahahaha! That’s abt as plausible as all the doubles running around Genoa City. One same incident cannot be interpreted in 2 such divergent ways. One of them’s lying, and I din;t think it’s Victoria Rowell.
For Stafford to only talk abt it now, after such a wild, disgusting and repugnant accusation, says it all. No one accused of spitting on a colleague would speak up abt it after 3 years! Stafford’s “I don’t know why she thinks we’re not friends” is pure crap. Stafford’s obviously playing the “I’m nice, look at me, I want her back on the show.” angle while impying that Rowell is a few cards short of a full stack. Stafford’s abt as convincing as Christian Leblanc’s acting.
Victoria Rowell is notoriously arrogant and difficult, I think Michelle Stafford handled herself with class and diplomacy.
I dont know anyone who really wants Druzilla back.
Druzilla! LOL! That’s a good one.
Actually, many Y&R fans are demanding that she return. Heck even Michelle Stafford is “open” to her return. Although I dunno how sincere Stafford’s acting. She isn’t really selling her material in her interview.
The sad part is that other Daytime divas who are white have pulled more crap on their shows, yet they are tolerated and even get to return.
Hunter Tylo for example is notorious for this. Mind you, I think Tylo’s fantastic as Taylor, especially during the drunk years. They don’t compare to Bobbie Eakes’s acting as pyschotic drunk Macy, but Tylo was still very entertaining. And she brings an intensity to her part, especially when Tay gets bitchy, or how delusional Tay is when she believes her lies.
Tylo, on her first run on B&B, reportedly acted above it all and too good for soaps. She even wrote abt her squabbles w/ colleague Kimberlin Brown. Tylo held up production during renewals of her contract during the Massimo is Ridge’s biological father storyline. Tylo even revealed storylines on her board, like how Brooke would lose FC. The show told her not to do that and had to rewrite, so Brooke thwarted Ridge’s takeover. And when Tylo was written out when Sheila “killed” Tay, Tylo was very vocal abt her criticisms of Brad Bell. Bell merely responded by saying Tylo’s “outspoken”. Yet Tylo’s back on B&B.
Robin Strasser was very vocal and even had a hotline where she’d bash Jill Farren Phelps while she was still on OLTL! She even bashed Ron Carlivati at one pt, and no one bashes RC in the soap press for obvious reasons. Yet OLTL keeps welcoming her back.
While Rowell was fighting for equality on the Y&R set. How’d you feel if you got hand me down gowns from Melody Thomas Scott? Obviously the show was not giving her respect. Stafford says she told everyone abt the spit take, but accrdg to Rowell’s twitter, she was not told abt the spitting incident. How’d you feel if you were the only actor not told abt the spit take.
Anyways, I think Rowell should not return to such a toxic environment. She deserves better. She should go to other soaps, primetime or film.
And notice in the interview how Stafford does not mention if she even had the decency to apologize for spitting on Rowell. Anyone who did not do that on purpose would apologize. So all the more does the spit appear premeditated.
And compare that to the kish fans.
When nelson branco, the Perez Hilton of Daytime, reported that the kish actors were allegedly hard partying unprofessionals who caused set delays, what happened? W/in the same week, or even the same day, Brett Claywell denied it. He blabbed to every media outlet that would give him a forum that what branco reported was a lie. Evans I think tweeted abt it and eventually denied it in an interview.
So Michelle Stafford waits for 3 years before denying that she spit on Rowell or clarifying the incident?
Michelle Stafford is not the best looking female by a long shot. I get sick of seeing her on the YR and I think her and KKL on the Bold and Beautiful can’t act their way out of a brown paper bag. The only thing they both are good at is dropping it like it’s hot with any male that the director tell them too.
And by the way, Victoria Rowell’s can act and I don’t want to see her back on the creepy and racist Young and Restless.
Unlike others who can’t take criticism of their idols (cough “jane”), I respect your opinions and I am not bothered by them, nor will I call you names or attack you for your opinions on KKL Bettyej.
Actually, I think KKL has been phoning it in. The material isn’t there, but yes actors should elevate the script. I think Tylo’s been outshining her since Tay became so paranoid abt Brooke stealing Nick from her. At least Tylo brings some kind of verve to Tay, while Brooke seems to react like she doesn’t care abt any of the insults hurled at her. Heck, Brooke isn’t even attacking Steph for her role in beth’s death! How dumb since Steph had a role in Brooke’s rape, and has assaulted, kidnapped and tried to kill Brooke numerous times.
you’re very bitter, bottomchef. whenever i see you you’re complaining about something or personally attacking an actor or actress.
and i thought you believed the rumors about the kish actors being unprofessional, or at least that scott evans was because he admitted he went to gay bars before. now you’re saying you don’t?
You’re the bitter one jane since kish is axed. And for the kish fans hoping Scott Evans would end up on B&B after he tweeted “thanks” to brad bell, it was a diff brad bell that was praising evans’s looks since that brad bell works at a gay website w/c only follows soaps w/ gay characters.
Actors should get criticism. It’s the same thing in the Crystal Chappell thread. People are attacking those that criticize Chappell. I think she’s an ok actress now, she was better during the buried alive Days, but she was overpraised as shrieky, late in life lesbian Olivia. AMC’s reigel still delivered the definitive performance as queer icon Bianca.
As for the rumors, people can CHANGE their minds! this thread isn’t even abt kish but you hijacked it again bec you’re very obsessed.
You mentioned Kish first, not I.
And you’re the one complaining about stupid stuff from several years ago.
I don t like michelle stadfford sharon case is more beautiful I can t understand why her man nick loves her it is not certainly for her beauty
This is what you wrote: “and i thought you believed the rumors about the kish actors being unprofessional, or at least that scott evans was because he admitted he went to gay bars before. now you’re saying you don’t?”
You mentioned kish first, not me. Unless you can’t even remember what you wrote?
I was writing abt KKL, which someone else brought up.
People should be allowed to defend themselves from these rabid fans of soap actors who portray queer characters.
jane:
And when I mentioned kish, it was in comparison to Michelle Stafford’s denial of the spitting.
While you mention kish to attack people that do not support the kish actors.
MOVE ON jane!
What a bizarre man that Nelson Branco is. Could he have his face any farther up the actresses ass? I’m an avid soap watcher who watches every single soap currently on daytime and I can say that there are many many more soap actresses who qualify for this sexiest woman award. The whole phick thing is so over done and I don’t even understand why this actress keeps holding herself down in such an awful pairing. It has done nothing good for her or her acting career because Joshua Morrow sucks the life out of any woman he’s paired with and in fact Sharon Case did her best work away from him. Michelle should beg the writers to free her from that coupling, by whatever means necessary and her fans should in fact push for it. As for the whole spitting incident, I don’t buy Michelle’s version. It was well known even before this that the two of them had a rivalry going that stemmed back further. The fact that Michelle discussed this idea with everyone else, sort of sounds like a mean girl joke that everyone else was in on under the guise of it being something good for the scene, but in fact was meant to humiliate Ms. Rowell. Shame on Michelle for being so crude and unprofessional to not discuss it with the person in the scene. Kudos to Victoria for keeping it professional and staying with it. She’s doing great now and her career is thriving, why she’d even want to come back to YR is puzzling.
She is beautiful!!!!!! What a body and an amazing actress!!!!
We want to see more of Michelle!!!!!! XOX
Michelle is Hottt!!! Great actress too
I hope Phick is not really over.
Posts like this bgritehn up my day. Thanks for taking the time.