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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.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Brilliant Minds’ Officially Canceled After 2 Seasons at NBC; DAYS Alum Al Calderon, OLTL Alum Teddy Sears and Zachary Quinto Among the Cast
After languishing on the bubble for months, on Friday, NBC handed down the decision and canceled the medical drama Brilliant Minds after two seasons.
Brilliant Minds stars Zachary Quinto as neurology physician Oliver Wolf, who’s character and the series is inspired by the life and books of neurologist. Oliver Sacks. The series focuses on the medical mysteries of the mind, as Wolf a larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns explore the last great frontier, the human mind, while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.
The final six episodes of what will now be the end of its second and final season were already set to air beginning on May 27, after being pulled off the network schedule in February as viewership saw a steep decline. Brilliant Minds second season became the lowest-rated drama on linear TV viewing, which didn’t bode well fo a network renewal, although it had its hard core fan base.
Photo: NBC
There are some exceptional notables in the cast along with the talented Quinto that includes Days of Our Lives alum, Al Calderon (ex-Javi Hernandez) who joined the series in its second season as Nurse Nico Silva, and One Life to Live alum, Teddy Sears (ex-Chad Bennett) who plays Wolf’s love interest and fellow physician, Dr. Josh Nichols.
The rest of the talented cast includes: Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Donna Murphy, John Clarence Stewart, and Brian Altemus.
In an ironic twist of fate on Thursday, April 30, Days of Our Lives finally revealed the actor who was Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Javi, when they announced that actor Jacob Martinez had now stepped into the role. Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming new episode, Calderon left in the spring of 2025, but will be seen in the part for the final part this month, and then on June 20, Martinez debuts as Salem’s new Javi.
Taking to his Instagram with a sorrowful and heartfelt post on the Brilliant Minds cancellation was Teddy Sears who wrote, “Thank you, Brilliant Minds. I got the call today and I didn’t want to hear, but I knew that it would come, You have to be a particular vintage to quote Don Henley from memory, but that’s the line that came to mind earlier today after I got off the phone with our inimitable showrunner Michael Grassi who delivered the news that NBC has cancelled the series”.
Photo: NBC
Sears continued, “To say that I feel sad to be moving on from these stories, this character, and this cast and crew just doesn’t paint the entire picture. I’m sad, sure. But I’m also deeply grateful that I got hired to play this part, so proud of the stories we told, and the other actors I got to play alongside. I’m excited to see what comes next, what adventures await, and terrified to be without a professional home. A quick and heartfelt thank you to everyone, all over the globe, who found us and found themselves in us, in our characters and in our stories. We wouldn’t have been able to tell them without you. And we still have 6 fresh episodes yet to air, and I do hope you tune in enjoy the remainder of the series. They’re the best we’ve done.”
As he wrapped up his sentiments, Sears signed off with, “The more I know, the less I understand. All the things I figured out I have to learn again. I’ve been trying to get down to the heart of the matter. But everything changes…Thank you, Brilliant Minds.”
The medical drama was created and executive produced by Michael Grassi alongside Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Lee Toland Krieger, DeMane Davis, Jasmine Russ, Henrik Bastin, Jonathan Cavendish, Andy Serkis and Shefali Malhoutra.
So, what do you think of NBC’s decision to cancel Brilliant Minds after two seasons? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
Many things are coming up roses for Jonathan Bennett! On the heels of the news that he is set to debut this month in the role of Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital, who is rumored to be a new love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), comes the news that Bennett’s reality series, Finding Mr. Christmas has received 3 nomination for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.
Bennett’s Hallmark Channel series finds itself in tough competition alongside fellow nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), Survivor 50 (CBS), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Traitors (Peacock). In addition, Jonathan himself is nominated for Best Show Host and the series participants as the Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series.
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) revealed the nominees for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Thursday, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.
Photo: Hallmark
Taking to his Instagram to celebrate the nominations, GH’s Bennett, enthused, “3 Critic Choice Nominations! I’m so proud of the FINDING MR CHRISTMAS and to be in the company of all the legends in all these categories is so surreal! Congrats to Hallmark Channel and to our nominated cast and nominated show and everyone who made this magical show possible. This is crazy! This gives FMC 6 Critics Choice nominations in 2 years. Not bad for a little show on Hallmark Channel. What are your thoughts on our show?” Jumping first into the comment thread was one of his new GH co-stars, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) who expressed, “Yeah buddy!!!🔥🔥”
In the series, Bennett, the host and co-creator spends eight weeks guiding 10 aspiring actors through a series of “festive face-offs” and acting challenges alongside actors like soap opera notables, Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R) and Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS). Along the way, they develop their skills and a bond with one another. The show, which is available on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus, highlights LGBTQ+ representation with openly gay contestants vying to be the next Hallmark star.
It should be noted that Traitors received the most Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations with 6 nods, followed by Dancing with the Stars with 4.
Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans having started his career as JR Chandler on All My Children in 2000-2001, before landing the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout performance.
You can check out the full list of Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations here.
So, excited for Jonathan Bennett’s General Hospital debut this month? Have you ever watched Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark? Let us know via the comment section below.
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General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?
On the April 30 episode of General Hospital, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had some choice words and warning for her brother Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) who has been masquerading as his twin, the very dead, Nathan West.
As the story has unfolded, viewers learned that Britt knew all along that when “Nathan” showed up in Port Charles seemingly resurrected with a missing 7 years of his life unexplained, that Cassius was taking his place.
Now in developments on today’s GH, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is figuring out that this guy pretending to be Nathan is someone else, and Cassius learns from Britt, that Joss is not just a ditzy sorority girl as he claimed, but a WSB agent! The moment stuns Cassius. Are the walls about to close in on him and his charade?
Courtesy/ABC
Daytime Emmy winner, Kelly Thiebaud spoke to Soap Opera Digest, about the story point and getting the opportunity this time back at GH to work with Ryan Paevey, when she hadn’t had the chance to before.
BROTHERLY LOVE?
Thiebaud expressed on sharing scenes with Ryan Paevey, “It’s just been so wonderful to have him back and to actually work with him! When he first came onto the show (as Nathan at the end of 2013) I was kind of heading out — it was right towards the end of my contract, so we didn’t actually work together a ton. It’s been really refreshing and so much fun to really spend time together and get to know each other and work together. I think we have really great on-camera chemistry and banter with each other. I really enjoy working with him.”
With the stakes at an all-time, Thiebaud explained how she views her on-screen alter-ego’s involvement with her more hot-to-temper sibling and why Britt revealed the truth about Josslyn to him. “People finding out about Cassius would expose what she’s involved in and what she agreed to do,” explains Kelly “And now Josslyn is digging around, and she’s connected to Carly (Laura Wright) to Jason (Steve Burton) and that whole dynamic! It’s messy!”
BRITT’S MURKY FUTURE
Britt has currently also reached her breaking point with Jason being carted away by the WSB, Rocco (Finn Carr), the child she gave birth to, shooting Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) to protect her and Jason, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) being killed after trying to help her, and Cullum holding over her head getting her Huntington’s disease medication to control her symptoms, while blackmailing her into finishing the research on her father, Cesar Faison’s, final project. Thiebaud summed it up best for Britt right now, sharing, “It’s been a really tough time for her.”
So, who do you think will be the person to blow Cassius’ cover? Will it be Britt herself? Josslyn? Liesl? Brennan? Nina? Lulu? Rocco, Maxie, Cullum or someone else? Let us know your pick in the comment section.
‘Brilliant Minds’ Officially Canceled After 2 Seasons at NBC; DAYS Alum Al Calderon, OLTL Alum Teddy Sears and Zachary Quinto Among the Cast
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‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Sophia Seemingly Plans to End Her Life, But Not Before Setting Fire to Johnny’s Apartment With Him Trapped Inside
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Brandon Barash Granted Restraining Order Against ‘General Hospital’s’ Kirsten Storms
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Paige Herschell Marks One-Year as ‘General Hospital’s’ Jacinda Bracken
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THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Nick Confesses His Drug Problem to Victor; Joshua Morrow, Mark Grossman, Eric Braeden Bring the Newman Bond
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