News
Y&R's Newest Hunks: Williams, Archey, Dapper & CBS Daytime's McDaniel Interview! How Will These Guys Heat Up Your TV Screens?

Courtesy/CBS
Fresh faces, exciting new roles, hunky men … will these dudes raise the heat through a cold winter in Genoa City? Well, that is what the number one soap, The Young and the Restless and CBS Daytime are hoping to do when they announced the casting of several news roles!
Redaric Williams joins the cast of Y&R on Friday as Tyler Michaelson, Leslie’s brother. Lamon Archey debuted this week as Mason, and relative soap newcomer, Marco Dapper, has returned to Y&R as Carmine Basco for a new story. Add to this mix, newly arrived soap favorite Ignacio Serricchio as Alex last week, and it looks like Christmas came early for female fans of this daytime drama.
On-Air On-Soaps had the opportunity to sit down with: Redaric Williams, Lamon Archey, Marco Dapper, and CBS Daytime SVP. Angelica McDaniel, after the guy’s appearance on The Talk to get a preview and an introduction to their new characters. We also attempt to get a sneak peek of what is to come, and learn how they are going to put the “Y” back in “Young” and certainly the “R” back in “Restless”! Here’s our roundtable discussion below!
Redaric, what did you think of the group of actors and characters that you are going to be involved with in story? And, what can you tell us about Tyler Michaelson?

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
REDARIC: Angell Conwell (Leslie) is amazing! That is an extremely talented woman. I have been so impressed working with her. And, Kristoff St. John (Neil) is on point as well. He is the guy who took me around and told me, “Don’t do this … don’t do that … and here is this.” He has a balance of authenticity and professionalism about him. I found him open and very receptive. My character, Tyler, is a graphic designer, but he is not your schooled cookie-cutter graphic designer. He came from the wrong side of the tracks from a humble upbringing and so he was into spraying confetti as art. He is an artsy and urban art guy.
Marco, when we last talked, you suspected you would be shown the front door when new Y&R executive producer Jill Farren Phelps, and head writer Josh Griffith, took over the GC canvas! But, look! You are still among us! (Laughs)
MARCO: I am surprised guys! I was at Marcy Rylan’s (Abby) original farewell! Then I got an email that I am back on the show. I thought I would be guilty by association, but no. I am pleased to be back and that they kept me around. Now this new story I have is interesting and fun.
Angelica, you had a major hand in casting, Redaric, Lamon, and Ignacio Serrichhio (Alex) and keeping Marco around! What can you tell us about why you felt these were the right actors for their respective new roles? And what you were looking for when these roles were created?

Photo Credit: Cliff Lipson/CBS
ANGELICA: Marco was on the show already when I took over my position at CBS Daytime, and we talked about bringing back him. And the thing is, we really have a great story for him, and so it wasn’t a matter of that he was ever gone, it was just a matter for us to figure what we could do to the character. Obviously, viewers enjoy watching him, so it’s good to have him back. And as far as Ignacio Serricchio, one thing I will say is being a Latin woman myself; I really wanted to see some Latin characters brought to the canvas. We just saw this great opportunity to bring that element in. Everything will start firing on all cylinders soon. Some things will take a bit longer to play out on air for the audience to understand why certain decisions were made. But with Ignacio, he had worked in soaps before. Daytime fans know him from his work on General Hospital, and he has worked before with new Y&R executive producer, Jill Farren Phelps. With Redaric and Lamon, we were really looking for that void that has never quite been filled with the departure of Shemar Moore as Malcom. When Shemar left the show, there was that opening that was never properly been filled. We really were looking for a very specific man to fill those big shoes … and we found two of them! So we had an extensive audition process. We went through seeing a lot of gentlemen and very talented guys. When we saw both Redaric and Lamon, we thought right away that we needed to have these two guys on Y&R, and we are so happy to have them. So yes, we were looking to fill one role and this may be the first time that they may be hearing this! (Laughs)
Will Tyler be giving Cane (Daniel Goddard) a run for his money with Lily (Christel Khalil) in the romance department?
ANGELICA: Well, you will just have to tune-in and find out. With Redaric, he plays the character of Tyler, and there are a lot of layers that will be explored and his background. He is an artist who is young, hip, who gets social media and marketing, and how to reach out to make people understand the brand and compel them to get on board with things that are happening with Newman or Jabot.

Photo Credit: duffimages.com
So right now, we are all left wondering who of the group here is going to turn out to be a Genoa City bad boy? And on that note, would you much prefer to play bad than playing a good guy on a soap?
LAMON: I would welcome the bad side for sure. I like playing bad characters, and as you said it’s more fun and you get to play more.
MARCO: Bad is always more fun to be as an actor.
REDARIC: You would think initially looking at Tyler he is a bad guy, because he comes in like a bull in a china shop. But I think deep down he is a good guy and he has good intentions. However, girls like the bad boys! (Laughs)
Lamon, you have an extremely interesting background in that your other job (other than modeling and acting) is that you work with animals as a tech in an animal hospital! How did that begin for you? You must be a serious dog lover! And everyone knows, man’s best friend is his four-legged friend!
LAMON: I was up in the bay area and close to ten years ago I was looking for a job. I have always, always loved dogs. I called over to animal hospital and they said they were hiring and could I come over? So, I became the “poop guy”. I was in there cleaning up poop in cages. But I was lucky enough to find really cool doctors who taught me the ropes. I eventually became qualified to be with doctors in surgery, assisting them and doing lab work and drawing blood, and giving vaccines.
So Lamon, what is your favorite kind of dog?

Photo Credit: Brian Kaminski
LAMON: My favorite kind of dog would be my dog, a bull terrier named “Jolie”, after Angelina Jolie! (Laughs) I have now actually been working on-call since I have been modeling and working in television, and so they were nice enough to say, “Whenever you are available, we will give you a call,” and it’s been working out great. I have not quit and hopefully they won’t fire me!
Angelica, what can you reveal to us about who Mason is?
ANGELICA: With Mason, you will definitely see him crossing paths with Victor and Jack and we are going to take you on a journey. You are not going to find out everything on the surface with Mason.
Lamon, we know in your first scenes you got to work with Daytime Emmy winner and powerhouse actress Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, Y&R). What was that like? Was it a bit intimating for you?
LAMON: She was awesome and my first scene was with her. I was super nervous. Michelle had a lot of dialog in our first scene together and so she was nervous as well. And, I won’t lie … her being nervous was like for me, “Yes, someone else is nervous besides me!” So in a way, that helped me out a lot to make me feel more comfortable.
So soapers, now that you learned a bit more about Redaric, Lamon, and Marco, what actor and character are you looking forward to following the most as they cross paths with the citizens of Genoa City? Perhaps … all the guys? Let us know!
Remember too many Newbies never works, but Happy that Marco (Carmine) is staying (I met him in 2007). I also like seeing Serricchio back in Daytime.
To be quite honest, none of these guys do anything for me. I’m not one for men with mega-abs. Hopefully they won’t clog up too much of the airtime that should be used for other characters.
Very interested
Well I’m not against new characters on the show because the established characters need new interactions to keep them interesting. So I guess it depends if these new characters are being use for that purpose or if they are taking over air from established characters,pushing them out. I don’t really care if they are hunks or not, but since this show is trying to get that 18-34 crowd to watch- good looking never hurts. But in the end whatever reason they are there, it will be good storytelling that will keep this viewer interest, so for me I am reserving judgement until I see how these characters stories unfold.
“And as far as Ignacio Serricchio, one thing I will say is being a Latin woman myself; I really wanted to see some Latin characters brought to the canvas.”
What was wrong with the already Latin character they have with RAFE? Rafe has been on recurring for a while now and I am positive they could have found story for him – maybe take over Heather’s job?
I think Rafe went fishing with Murphy one weekend and the two haven’t been seen since. I hope they will be very happy together. LOL.
That’s a good point, Mary SF. Whenever anyone “leaves” they just don’t get written for anymore. No onscreen goodbye parties. It is the OFFICE SPACE of soap operas these days. They fixed the glitch in payroll now too.
I am NOT solely interested in gorgeous faces, ripped abs & well-developed pecs when I look at a soap. First of all, I hope they are good actors who can attract and Hold the attention of the audience. Nice to look at great looking actors but there has to be more to them than looks. Pretty faces & ripped bodies have passed thru Y&R before; but they made little impact on the audience.I want to see some good storytelling so these guys need to be involved in well-written storylines that show off their talents.. Otherwise, audience members like me are not that interested. And I hope they are given adequate screen time to contribute to the show. I want Y&R to improve and appeal to the audience again,so I want these guys to succeed. I wish them well.
Good to see diverse characters on the show; but Y&R does not write for, invest genuine or realistic stories for them, or use the ones already employed. So I hope the policies on screen time changes for all the characters we hardly ever see so that new HUNKS get adequate screen time & support to strut their stuff. Y&R needs balance in their storyline rotations presented on screen.
Will wait and see.
There ok I just do not want them taking up good air time that could go to others I want to see like the Winters – Ashby Family who need more air time as a whole on Y&R
Y&R does not need these characters, and we don’t want them. There’s no reason to create new characters just to have a quota. Focus on core and classic Y&R, not pandering to demo groups.
“There’s no reason to create new characters just to have a quota”
Well since the world is changing and the 50’s mentality is long gone, I say THANK GOD for quota’s & demo groups.
Wish newbies well but w/out meaningful s/l, don’t see their purpose. Soap fans need and want meaningful s/ls – to offer only eye candy is insulting. And let them stand on their own merit, Shemar has come & gone; he cannot duplicated.
Waiting for this show to get back to the Bell era. Draw us in with well written stories;all else will fall in line.
McDaniel’s quotes were rather frank. They were casting a malcolm replacement. Archey and Redaric are definitely of the malcolm mold. They’re lighter skinned and they look like they have mixed racial backgrounds. Lighter skinned and more anglo features are what hollywood prefers for black actors and actresses bec that’s what hollywood defines to be attractive w/c reflects all the racial and even class issues w/ casting among hollywood. But casting more African american chars is a right move for majority of any daytime and primetime soap.
time will tell……………
Give us good story with who you have. Frankly, Angela is boring and I don’t care much for her portrayer so adding fam to the mix does not IMO bode well. Lane is boring too. As is the whole Winters’ fam. I guess they’re trying to give us eye candy, but without story and good acting, it won’t work. I also need a purpose for these characters, rather than just dumping then on-screen. I’m not too interested in them beefing up the Jabot storyline or wherever Neil is working now, because it is so slow and yawnsville. I get tired of watching people at work. I do that 8 hours a day. Don’t want to see more of it.
There’s nothing boring about the Winters family, Angela or Lane, I’d rather watch them then the crazy, slutty, disgusting antics of Phyllis, Sharon, Victor, Nicholas & Nikki, Gross!!!.
I want Jack to destroy Victor and win for a change, I love them both.
I love all the new people on the show, the show is more interesting with new people and new stories. i wish they would keep Rafe,around and find him a boyfriend. I love the new Noah, and looking to see a great story for him,
if anyone should have trust issues between cane and lily it should be lily with that conniving bitch chelsea, bc i bet shell try to get cane to go after her and help her raise her unborn child shes carrying from adam, PLEASE DONT BREAK UP ONE OF MY FAVE COUPLES LILY AND CANE
Do not like any of the new characters with the exception of Steve Burton’s character (the main reason I’m watching Y&R daily again). Wouldn’t mind seeing Avery leave town. I’m Team Sharon/Nick, I like the recasts of Summer and Noah. The Lily/Cane storyline is boring. Send them to the European offices.
News
‘WWE: Unreal’ Season 3 Premiere Date, Cast of Superstars, Announced by Netflix

This summer beginning on July 21, Netflix streams the return of WWE: Unreal for its third season. The behind the scenes docudrama series gives fans a glimpse of life in WWE and inside the writers room, as injuries, last-minute pivots, and career-defining decisions reshape WWE’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania 42.
WWE Unreal is taking fans deeper than ever inside World Wrestling Entertainment’s creative process, The hit docuseries will once again pull back the curtain on some of the biggest moments, boldest decisions, and unforgettable storytelling with some of the WWE’s greatest legends who’ve shaped the industry and new stars who are emerging as prominent parts of the future.
In the new season of ‘Unreal’ which consists of 5 episodes at 50 minutes each: John Cena says goodbye, a fan favorite returns, and the next generation of Superstars rise to the occasion.

Photo: WWE
The cast and WWE superstars featured include: the aforementioned Cena, plus Cody Rhodes, Liv Morgan, CM Punk, AJ Lee, Trick Williams, Lash Legend, Stephanie Vaquer, Oba Femi, Bron Breakker, Chelsea Green, Matt Cardona, Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.
As previously reported AJ Lee revealed on General Hospital star Maurice Benard’s (Sonny Corinthos) mental health series, State of Mind, that she was part of the cast of WWE: Unreal.
WWE: Unreal production credits include: Directors/Showrunners: Chris Weaver and Erik Powers Executive Producers: Peyton Manning, Jamie Horowitz, Ross Ketover, Keith Cossrow, Ken Rodgers, Jessica Boddy, Lee Fitting, Ben Houser, Marc Pomarico Sr. Producers: Harley Glantz, Brian Decker, Michael Flynn Producers: John Galiani, Dan Gati, Jeremy Lundblad Production Companies: Omaha Productions, NFL Films, Skydance Sports, WWE.
So, what do you think of the loglines for the new season of WWE: Unreal? Who are you most excited to see featured in the behind the scenes drama from the list of WWE superstars and the twists and turns leading into this past April’s WrestleMania 42? Let us know via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
Deidre Hall Marks 50 Years as ‘Days of Our Lives’ Dr. Marlena Evans

If you have ever tuned-in to the soap opera genre over the last 50 years, and witnessed some of the greatest romances, drama, classic and outlandish storylines of all-time, you would have seen Deidre Hall smack dab in the middle of it as longtime Salem heroine, Dr. Marlena Evans.
It was 50 years on this date, June 21, 1976 that Hall first appeared on DAYS on NBC which was its home for 57 years before it moved to its current streaming platform on Peacock in September of 2022.
In Hall’s first episode she was introduced as a psychiatrist treating Mickey Horton (John Clarke) at Bayview Sanitarium after he suffered a complete mental breakdown. Mickey learned that his brother Bill Horton (Edward Mallory) was the biological son of Mike Horton (Wesley Eure) with his wife Laura (Susan Flannery) and that he had been lied to for years and years. From that moment on, the rest is television and soap opera history. Days of Our Lives put Hall front and center.

Photo: NBC
There were so many heartbreaking and shocking story twists involving the beloved Marlena. One of the first was the historic crib death of baby DJ (Don Jr.) in 1980, Marlena’s infant son with Don Craig (Jed Allan). The story had never been told on daytime television and Hall’s performances received accolades from TV critics to fans when Deidre received thousands of letters from grieving mothers who had gone through the same thing in their own lives.
DAYS also brought Deidre’s twin sister, Andrea Hall Lovell to the show as her on-screen sister Samantha, who had a grudge and even locked Marlena up in a sanitarium and took her place! Fast-forward and in 1982, DAYS launched the Salem Strangler story where everyone believed Marlena was his next victim, only it turned out to be Samatha. Jake Kositchek (played by Jack Coleman) was revealed to be the actual serial killer.
Later, Deidre would assume the role of Marlena’s look-alike, Hattie Adams in 2004, once played by her sister, Andrea. Over the years, Hattie has come back to Salem and caused trouble giving Hall a chance to play a different type of character, then the always upstanding Marlena.

Photo: JPI
THE LOVES OF MARLENA
Deidre Hall struck gold with all her leading men: from the late Jed Allan, to Wayne Northrop as Roman Brady, and of course, her enduring love story with the late John Black played by the iconic Drake Hogestyn. In fact, Marlena’s 1986 wedding to John (who was believed to be Roman at the time) remains a favorite of fans to this day.
TOP MARLENA STORYLINES OF ALL-TIME
While the list is long, here are several that were some of the memorable during Deidre’s five decades in Salem!
The Possession (1994- 1995)
Considered one of the most ambiguous, outlandish and unforgettable story arcs in soap opera history, then Days of Our Lives head writer, James Reilly went there! Marlena was possessed by the devil! That included; the demonic eyes, hissing at father John (Black) the priest, morphing into creatures, and the classic levitating in her bed! It became a cultural phenomenon and cemented Deidre Hall’s status as a daytime television legend. Just ask Ryan Gosling!

Photo:JPI
The Affair with John Black (1993)
John and Marlena’s forbidden love could not be denied and they had passionate affair, while she was still married to the real Roman. Problem was her daughter, Sami (Alison Sweeney) caught her mother having sex with John on a desk that changed Sami forever.
The Salem Stalker Mystery (2003-2004)
In a shocker, Marlena was revealed to be a serial killer who bumped off several Salem favorites residents who were all alive on the island of Melaswen (spelled “New Salem” backward). Turns out, she was manipulated and gaslighted by Andre DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) to do the “killings” and had no memory of her actions.
The Pier Scene (1991)
This remains Michael Fairman TV’s all-time favorite Deidre Hall moment, which featured some of the best acting in the storied careers of both Hall and Drake Hogestyn.
In the story, a presumed-dead Marlena returns after four years. One foggy night on the pier, John is alone, and Marlena steps out of the fog to reveal herself, and is reunited with the love of her life. You can watch it any year, any decade, and in any moment, and it will have you reaching for the hankies again and again. (best music score fo a soap scene of all-time too!)

Photo: NBC
Kristen’s Secret Room Reveal (1997)
Marlena was caught in Kristen Blake’s (Eileen Davidson) elaborate web of lies, when she was held hostage in a secret wine cellar/room until John managed to track her down, leading to an iconic on-screen reunion. The classic catfight between Hall and Eileen Davidson was one for the ages.
It should be noted that Maison Blanche, Queen of the Night, Possession, Aremid and Lady in a Cage were all a part of classic DAYS storyline and all featured Hall at the epicenter of it from 1993-1996.
THE RECENT YEARS OF MARLENA
In recent years, DAYS brought back the possession 2.0 storyline under then head writer Ron Carlivati in 2021 where the devil leapt back in Marlena after taking advantage of a frail Doug Williams (the late Bill Hayes)
In 2025, viewers watched the end of the love story of John and Marlena, as John succumbed to injuries sustained in an explosion saving a vial of medication needed to bring Bo (Peter Reckell) back to life. Marlena has been a widow on-screen since June of 2025 as Hall as portrayed the good doctor struggling with her grief and to move on with her life since his death.

Photo: JPI
One story that never goes away is Stefano DiMera’s (the late Joe Mascolo) obsession with Marlena, his “Queen of the Night.” Even in death, Stefano is toying with her from the great beyond with the mysterious chess set and the missing “pawn,” that he had gifted John and Marlena in his will. The mystery is currently unfolding on all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives.
Tune-in to Days of our Lives on the Monday, June 22 episode as Marlena looks back at her 50 years in Salem.
Share your congratulations to Deidre Hall for this incredible 50-year milestone as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives in the comment section. Then let us know, what is your all-time favorite storyline or moment in the life of Marlena over the past 5 decades? And, just for kicks, and to celebrate this amazing milestone, here is Marlena levitating below circa Christmas Eve 1994.
General Hospital
Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric

With the highly-anticipated returns of Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) on this week’s June 24 episode of General Hospital, Steve Burton’s (Jason Morgan) upcoming return on July 13, which also serves as the ABC daytime drama’s 16,000 episode, things are about to fire on all cylinders in the story, as noted today by series star, Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos).
On Father’s Day, the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning actor and mental health activist took to his Instagram and expressed in a video that he has some unbelievable upcoming senes with the aforementioned Burton and Hughes. Add to that Nazneen Contractor (Justine Turner) and Rick Hearst (Ric Lansing), where Benard gave credit where credit is due to the GH writing team, which is led by co-head writers, Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten..
In this video, Benard said, “I just want to get on here and say that I did some work with Steve Burton, Finola Hughes, Rick Hearst, Nazneen Contractor, and they’re all just fantastic. Truly fantastic. But, I want to say the writing was just exceptional. It truly was. It was exceptional. So, thankful for that kind of writing. I know writers don’t get the credit a lot, but I just want to say to the General Hospital writing team, keep rolling!”
GENERAL HOSPITAL PREVIEW
So now the question becomes, with a major tease like that, what is about to go down between Sonny, Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric? Will we finally get to the end of the line for Sidwell (Carlo Rota), as previously teased by the GH co-head writers? Will we learn what happened to Jason and Anna, fully? Will Justine and Sonny becomes closer or stop their liaisons? And what of Ric? Will he be true blue to his brother or double-cross him? There is a lot at stake as we move further into the summer and one that looks like it could be one of the more exciting ones in years!
FINOLA HUGHES CONFIRMED AMAZING SCENES WITH MAURICE BENARD
As a punctuation point to his video, Benard also shared this written message in the post: “I just did some wonderful scenes with Steve Burton, Rick Hearst, Finola Hughes and Nazneen Contractor and and unbelievable writing, freaking amazing scenes that you will see in the near future on General Hospital.” In fact, Finola Hughes jumped in the post comment thread and responded, “I loved our scenes so much xxx”
Fans will most likely see all the scenes Benard referred to later in July, since GH tapes approximately six weeks ahead of air.
So, are you excited to see what Maurice is talking about? Are you hyped for what’s to come on GH? Any clue on what you think will go down between the main characters on the soap with the returns of Anna Devane and Jason Morgan to the mix? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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