The Bold and The Beautiful- Daytime Soap Operas- News, polls

Today, that tradition continues with RJ Forrester (Brayan Nicoletti), Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace), Will Spencer (Crew Morrow), and Dylan (Sydney Bullock). However, thanks in part to her Aunt Ivy Forrester (Ashleigh Brewer), who knows a thing or two about being burned by Spencer men, Electra is spending more time with RJ and less with Will.

But is that a bad thing? Who’s the OTP (One True Pairing) for Electra? Swooon caught up with Grace to chat with her about Will vs. RJ when the show was launching BBTV, a subscription-based app that enables users to watch more than 9000 (!) B&B episodes and exclusive behind-the-scenes content!

“The audience is very, very torn,” Grace told Swooon as to whether viewers are leaning more towards an Electra/RJ romance or an Electra/Will reconciliation. “I have seen lots of support for Electra and Will, and also for Electra and RJ.”

RJ has caught the eye of many eligible ladies at Forrester Creations, but the handsome, athletic (right, Ivy?), rich, aspiring designer only has eyes for Electra. He’s been giving her his full attention. RJ does seem kind of perfect so far, no?

“He does,” Grace said with a smile. However, the actress was quick to point out that Will and Electra have lots of chemistry, too.

“Will and Electra have a history,” the actress said. “They’d been dating for about a year by the time they broke up.”

Grace noted that she’s looking forward to seeing things unfold as Electra discovers what her true feelings are and which man she’d love to be with in the long run. “Even as an actor on the show, I don’t know where it’s going to go,” she shared. “So, it’s always super interesting to see Electra being more drawn to RJ in a day, and [then] more drawn to Will in a day, and see where she’s at.”

The big conflict between Will and Electra was his support of Dylan, who came to live in Will’s beach house after Will and Electra discovered that Dylan was homeless. While Electra hasn’t minced words with her disdain for Dylan, she is not unsympathetic to her plight.

“Electra was very much acting out of anger and out of hurt in that moment,” Grace said when Electra had harsh words with Dylan. “She wishes no ill will towards Dylan. In fact, she loves her and wants her to be her friend, but I think she was acting very protective with her relationship with Will.”

Grace added, “There’s always a reason that the character does what she’s doing. The writers are really good about justifying Electra’s actions and her feelings.”

While Electra cares about Dylan, Grace told Swooon she had a great time doing a social media sketch in which she got to chastise Bullock for not subscribing to the BBTV app! “Oh, I had so much fun doing that,” shared Grace, who said she definitely got to tap into her inner “Miranda Priestly” in the video.

“There could be a blooper reel just from that day,” Grace said. “It was really interesting. I got to punch it all the way up to 12 out of 10. It was so much fun to be able to go so big.”

Could Ivy Be Electra’s Mom on ‘Bold and the Beautiful’? Ashleigh Brewer Weighs In

Taking a page from Brooke Logan Forrester (Katherine Kelly Lang), who once withheld a letter from Ridge to Caroline, hoping to keep Ridge for herself, Ivy made sure a letter from Will Spencer (Crew Morrow) didn’t end up in Electra’s hands as he was hoping to patch things up between them.

Additionally, Ivy’s been eavesdropping from the balcony overlooking the Forrester living room and other hidden places so she can keep tabs on the relationship progress Electra and Will are making.

A bit obsessive for an aunt, no? Perhaps the online speculation that Ivy is actually Electra’s mother might be more than speculation? “I have heard the rumor,” Brewer tells TV Insider. “I’d personally love it if it were true.”

Brewer, who hails from Australia, where soaps are pretty popular, too, recalls the British serial EastEnders, telling a similar tale. “One of my favorite storylines was when a mother and a daughter had an argument, but the daughter didn’t know that the mother was her [mother],” Brewer shares.

“I can neither confirm nor deny,” the actress adds about a closer Ivy/Electra connection, adding with a chuckle, “And I legitimately do not know!”

While some may think that Ivy wanting to push Electra away from Will is a bit much, Brewer says that her character has a great motivation to make that happen — despite any potential familial reveals.

After all, Ivy has had failed romances with not one, but two Spencer men: Liam (Scott Clifton) and Wyatt (Darin Brooks), who are Will’s half-brothers.

“I think Ivy got really badly burnt by the Spencer men, and I think she’s realized that she’d seen this happen one too many times and this will not happen to her niece,” Brewer offers. “Ivy will protect her niece from what she went through because she dated two [Spencer men].”

Brewer happily embraces Ivy’s controlling issue as it’s been compared to late Forrester matriarch Stephanie (Susan Flannery), who did her share of meddling in the romantic lives of her children over the decades.

“I think Stephanie and Ivy are a bit like long-lost soulmates,” Brewer muses. “Susan has moved to Australia [in real-life], so there’s that connection, too.”

If Brewer needs to check out Stephanie and Brook’s other manipulations, she can check out the BBTV app, a subscription-based platform that offers users the ability to watch over 9,000 episodes from B&B‘s nearly 40-year history!

In trying to butter up RJ, hoping to make a love match between him and Electra, Ivy complimented the aspiring designer on his biceps. That prompted Daphne Rose (Murielle Hilaire) to suggest that Ivy go for RJ himself if she thought he was that terrific.

Scott Clifton Shares Health Update on Girlfriend Elle Anderson After Major Surgeries

“It’s a miracle that she was able to come out here today,” Clifton shared with Swooon. Clifton spent a bit of time on the back burner last year, which allowed him to support Anderson in the stages of her recovery, which has involved multiple extensive surgeries.

“They had to put screws all the way up [her back] as they sliced her from the front and the back,” he revealed.

After months and months of recovery, and “finally coming out of the woods, she started to get this hunch in her,” Clifton recalled. “We went back to the doctor[s], and they said, ‘Oh, my God, the screws are coming out,’ so they had to go in again, and this time, they went in from the side. They opened up her ribs, and they put a cage around her, a metal plate.”

The actor added, “She’s like the Bionic Woman [Lindsay Wagner]. Tonight is her first outing.” The actor attempted to convince his girlfriend not to wear heels or even attend the gala, “but she’s so supportive.”

Clifton said that the ordeal has been “challenging,” but he found a helper in his 9-year-old son, Ford. “He adores her,” the three-time Daytime Emmy-winner gushed of the relationship between his son and his girlfriend.

“When I was working [one day], we had a conversation, and I said, ‘Hey, you’re the man of the house,'” Clifton said. “‘You have to take charge.'”

Ford took his responsibilities seriously, providing Anderson with a bell (like the ones found at hotel check-ins when clerks want to summon a bellhop). “He put it by her nightstand so she could ding it [when she needed something], and he would come running,” Clifton revealed. “I’m so proud of him, with him being so nurturing and caring.”

While Liam’s been married many times, Clifton noted that he was at a place in his life where he concluded he’d be a single dad and that he was done with romance. Then, Anderson entered his life.

“We fell in love, and I just knew,” he said with a smile. Not that he needed a nudge towards giving love another chance, but he received one from Ford. “He was pushing me, ‘Hey, you should ask Elle to be your girlfriend,'” the dad remembered fondly.

Clifton had taken a social media break, but he popped back on to promote the BBTV app. “This thing has blown me away,” he raved of the digital platform that’s a must-have for B&B fans. “We’ve needed something like this. It’s so unique to our show.”

What’s Next for Soap Couples in April on ‘GH,’ ‘Y&R,’ ‘B&B,’ ‘DAYS’ & ‘Beyond the Gates’

As we inch closer to summer, the soaps are going to be turning up the heat — in more ways than one. From breakups to pregnancy tests, here is Swooon’s exclusive look at what’s coming up on Beyond the Gates, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, and The Young and the Restless.

Tomas Navarro (Alex Alegria) surprises Kat Richardson (Colby Muhammad) on her birthday.

Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne (Arielle Prepetit) and Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges) spend their anniversary apart, but remember their love story from their first date to their wedding vows.

Shanice Johnson (Ernestine Johnson Morrison) and Ted Richardson (Keith Robinson) discuss their evolving romance.

Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle) isn’t thrilled to see Izaiah Hawthorne (David Lami Friebe) and Kat catching up.

Tyrell Richardson (Jaden Lucas Miller) and Jessica (Camryn Jade) talk about the future of their relationship.

As Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig) and Deacon Sharpe’s (Sean Kanan) relationship becomes public, many people have feelings about it.

Once thought to be perfect for one another, two people bring their love story to an end.

Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) and Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier) take their relationship to the next level, as do Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) and Brady Black (Eric Martsolf).

Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) chooses Javi Hernandez (Al Calderon) over Dimitri von Leuschner (Peter Porte)… but Javi has a new boyfriend.

Gwen Rizczech (Emily O’Brien) and EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) continue their dalliances.

Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) and Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) share a close moment.

Gio Palmieri (Giovanni Mazza) and Emma Scorpio-Drake (Braedyn Bruner) have a romantic evening.

Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) and Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart) come to an agreement.

Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Justine Turner (Nazneen Contractor) make a serious commitment.

Malcolm Winters (Shemar Moore) reunites with an old flame, Stephanie Simmons (Vivica A. Fox).

Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) and Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson) make plans for their future.

Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) causes problems for Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) and Diane Jenkins (Susan Walters).

Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) and Nikki Newman’s (Melody Thomas Scott) relationship is challenged.

Marisa Ramirez Guest Stars on Boston Blue 4/17/26

‘B&B’ Affair! Rebecca Budig Talks Taylor & Deacon’s Heated First Time

The moment unfolds after circumstances leave them with a window of opportunity. “Steffy [Forrester Finnegan, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood], Finn [Finnegan, Tanner Novlan] and the kids go out on a little camping trip,” sets up Rebecca Budig (Taylor). “Taylor knows she’s going to be alone at the house, and Deacon tells Sheila [Carter, Kimberlin Brown] that he’s going to go to dinner with Hope [Spencer, Annika Noelle]. He comes over, and that’s when they have some time alone.”

Taylor is aware that they’re playing with fire. Not only did she previously treat Deacon as a patient in her therapy practice, but he’s married to Sheila, whose volatile history makes any betrayal especially dangerous. “Taylor knows that she’s risking a lot by doing it,” Budig notes. “But Taylor and Deacon have had this underlying pull to each other that has been physical as well as emotional, so I think she really wants to explore that in the privacy of her home, where she doesn’t have to worry about someone coming in.”

Complicating matters further is Steffy’s strong opposition to any connection between her mother and her unpredictable mother-in-law. “It’s layered,” allows Budig. “Taylor has always been moralistic, so she’s been fighting the feelings. She understands the danger that she puts her family in and can see all sides. But the heart wants what the heart wants, so that’s probably the bigger piece for her, knowing that she hasn’t had this in a really long time, wanting that but also knowing that it affects a lot of people.”

Budig says she wasn’t initially aware that the story would lead Deacon and Taylor down such an intimate path. “Brad [Bell, executive producer and head writer] said to me, ‘I’m going to take some time with this story,’ so I didn’t know exactly where it was going to go or how it was going to go,” she says. “I knew that he was seeing how Deacon and Taylor would play out and I liked it. I thought there was a real conflict, and it was nice to play that. I didn’t know any of the other particulars about it or how we were going to get there with him being my patient, but that’s the beauty of a soap.”

Curious about the past, Budig asked Kanan for insight into their characters’ shared history. “I asked Sean, ‘Did Taylor and Deacon ever have anything?’” she recalls. “He said, ‘Just a little flirtation once or twice. They never explored a relationship ever.’ I thought it was fun because the cast is so small and you end up intersecting with people multiple times, so I thought that was new and interesting and exciting.”

That sense of discovery carried over into their working relationship. Though both actors are soap veterans, their rapport developed naturally once they began sharing scenes. “I was familiar with Sean because we’ve both been doing this a really long time,” she says. “I knew him sort of peripherally, but I never really got to know him until I came to the show. But it’s funny, when you see people for so long you really start to think you know them. Luckily, Brad wrote this story and took a lot of time with it, and we were able to develop it slowly over time. It wasn’t like we had to instantly fall in love with each other.”

When it came time to film the pivotal love scene, Budig says the atmosphere on set was relaxed and collaborative. “God bless Brad for believing that a woman over 50 is still a viable, sexual being, because they are,” she says. “But it definitely gets a little bit more self-conscious as I’ve gotten older, because your body changes and it’s just not the same as when you’re 28 or 30, and you’re just like, ‘Oh yeah, sure, I’ll be in my bra and walk around.’ But what is great about working with someone like Sean, who’s a professional, is there’s no worrying. He’s a total gentleman. We’ve just done it for so long, so it’s like a dance that’s choreographed, and I’m with someone who knows how to sell it, and that’s all that I could hope for.”

Now comes the fallout, particularly if Sheila discovers the truth. “I think that there’s a part of Taylor that holds out hope that Sheila has grown and has changed,” points out Budig. “Sheila has shown signs of sanity with her, but also signs that she’s not so together either. So Taylor should fear for her life if Sheila finds out, for sure.”

All B&B Seasons Now Streaming

For the first time ever, more than 9,000 episodes — covering its first 37 seasons and counting — will be available in their entirety, all in one location at boldandbeautiful.com, with additional episodes added as they become available.

The app will also include over 4,000+ extended “director’s cuts” of episodes never seen before in the U.S., along with B&B specials produced over the years, like the documentary Becoming Bold and Beautiful, show bloopers and outtakes, cast auditions, like original cast member Katherine Kelly Lang‘s (Brooke Logan) from 1987, behind-the-scenes content, interactive chat forums for fans to connect, interviews with past and current cast members and more.

“BBTV is not just a streaming service, it’s a heartfelt love letter to our viewers,” said executive producer and head writer Bradley Bell in a statement. “Featuring over 9,000 written episodes that honor character development and narrative continuity, all woven into a global fan community like no other.”

The show’s international reach is significant. Twenty-five million viewers in over 50 countries, including the U.S., Canada, Italy, Australia, and France, watch B&B each week, with 3.1 million viewers in the U.S. who tune in on CBS and Paramount+. The app will be available on web browsers, as well as iOS, Amazon Fire, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, LG Smart TV, Roku, Samsung, and Vizio.

The cast is excited about the new capabilities and the ability to tap into the past. “Now that we’ve moved our studios, we’re in a new physical environment geographically and electronically,” says original cast member John McCook (Eric Forrester), who has appeared on the soap for all of its 39 years. “We’re in a new era. Everything has been digitized in a library, and it’s organized, and it’s very exciting and cool.”

Denise Richards' Doctor Shares Photos Before and After Facelift

Dr. Ben Talei -- a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon -- and Richards shared her facelift results to Instagram Saturday morning ... with Talei writing that he was honored to provide a little assistance to "one of the most lovely and beautiful people to ever walk this earth."

Dr. Talei then goes into the specific procedures Richards underwent ... but the pics really say it all -- because she looks rejuvenated after visiting the good doctor.

Worth noting ... Talei mentions he's thankful Denise opened up about her treatments -- before adding, "She’s been through so much this past year and her resilience is just astounding. She has a golden heart and her golden face is hers again."

While he doesn't get more specific than that ... we've told you all about Denise's relationship troubles -- beginning when her estranged husband Aaron Phypers filed for divorce last summer.

Denise accused Aaron of abusing her ... claims he feverently denied. He also accused her of cheating on him.

Denise got a few other cosmetic procedures done in the immediate aftermath of her split ... including getting a breast procedure she says she's excited to show off this bikini season.

New chapter of Denise's life means a whole new look ... one which will certainly have jaws on the floor!

‘When Calls the Heart’s Jack Wagner & Wife Michelle Wolf Share Honeymoon Details

Wagner’s Bold and the Beautiful character, Nick Marone, certainly lost out in love with Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang). Following a near-drowning ordeal in the Mediterranean last summer, Brooke was rescued by Ridge (Thorsten Kaye), and the two reconciled.

However, Italy was far from a romantic wash for Wagner, certainly not off-screen. The actor/singer used the opportunity to shoot scenes for B&B in Italy as a way to go on a real-life honeymoon with his bride, Michelle Wolf, whom he wed on May 18, 2025.

“I love Brad [Bell, B&B’s executive producer/head writer], who wrote that story, and working with [Katherine] Kelly [Lang] is great,” Wagner told Swooon on the red carpet for Hallmark Channel’s March 18 event for When Calls the Heart and Hope Valley: 1874. “My wife [Michelle] and I got married, and we did the honeymoon, which coincided with shooting B&B in Naples [Italy].”

Wagner and Wolf honeymooned on the Amalfi Coast. “We met [B&B] in Naples and spent five days with them shooting around Naples and the Amalfi Coast,” the actor, who got his start in soaps as Frisco Jones on General Hospital, shared. “It all worked out – five days personal, and five days work.”

Both Wagner and Wolf had been to the Amalfi Coast in the past, and Wolf gushed over how “strikingly beautiful it is.” She added, “It really photographs beautifully, obviously. But once you get there, there’s the majesty of the rocks, the cliffs, the flowers, the architecture, the food, and the Italian spirit. It’s all nice, just so nice.”

Wagner echoed his wife’s sentiments on the Amalfi Coast and added that the hospitality shown to them was first-rate. The popularity that cast members from B&B enjoy in Italy is compared to that of The Beatles, given how popular the show is in that country.

“Wherever we ate, they’d shut the restaurant down because they love the show so much,” Wagner revealed. “They would feed us seven to eight courses! The thought of going back to work [made us] all have espresso to get back to work in the evening. So, it was great. It’s great to see how excited the Italian people are about B&B.”

Wagner originally played Nick Marone on the half-hour soap from 2003 to 2012. He showed up for the soap’s 35th anniversary episode in 2022 when Brooke recalled many of her leading men, including Nick. Wagner returned again for an arc that eventually led to a Brooke/Ridge reunion in 2025.

“I love playing Nick,” Wagner added. “He’s a tough guy, right? And now, he’s an entrepreneur, a mogul!”

2026 Daytime Emmys Unveil Major Changes for Nominee Submissions

Among the changes: Submissions will now be episode-based, which it calls a “primetime format,” allowing programs to enter multiple submissions for different episodes and potentially receive several nominations.

Also, NATAS has opted to determine how many nominations a category will get based on a scale of how may submissions there were, much like what happens at the Primetime Emmys. There’s a new threshold for when you’re eligible for guest actor in a daytime drama. And the science and nature programming category has been eliminated in Daytime, as programs will now have to submit in Primetime, News & Doc or Children’s & Family, depending on eligibility.

Episode-Based Submissions: In the past, a team-based structure allowed a show’s full team to be awarded on a single submission. But now, with an episode-based submission for craft categories, “A program is therefore eligible to enter multiple submissions for different episodes and potentially receive multiple nominations within the same category.”

Joint Drama/Non-Fiction Categories: Daytime dramas and non-fiction programs will now enter alongside each other in categories except writing and directing. The categories will be split again if both the daytime drama and daytime non-fiction tracks have at least 10 submissions each.

Science and Nature Programming: With the elimination of the Daytime Emmys having a science and nature category, shows that previously landed here (including the offscreen/voiceover narrator) will now relocate to either News & Doc or Primetime. Also if the show is geared to viewers under 15, it would move to Children’s & Family Emmys. As a corollary to this, programs produced by a platform’s documentary department are not eligible for a Daytime Emmy (submit them at News & Doc Emmys or Primetime Emmys instead).

Last year’s winner in the category was Apple TV’s “The Secret Lives of Animals.” Other nominees included “Living with Leopards” (Netflix), “National Parks: USA” (National Geographic), “Secret Lives of Orangutans” (Netflix) and “Secrets of the Neanderthals” (Netflix).

Guest Performer In a Daytime Drama: “To be eligible for the guest category, you must be seen in a maximum of 19% of episodes aired/streamed for the first time during calendar year 2025. Otherwise, you must enter in categories eligible only in the Leading, Supporting, or Emerging Talent categories.”

Previously, that definition was, you could submit in the guest category if your performance was “in a limited role with a definitive beginning and end to the story arc.”

Redefining Multi-Cam and Single-Cam: All categories that used to be tracked as “multi-cam” or “single-cam” are now classified as “studio or non-studio.” That means “programs featuring both filming styles must a) choose to enter categories featuring the predominant style and b) may NOT enter certain crafts in one style and other crafts in the other style. Predominant is defined as 50.1%. This applies in non-fiction directing, technical direction and editing categories.”

Members-Only Judging – Judges must now be members of either NATAS, the Television Academy, or dual members will automatically be approved to judge. “Members in applicable categories will be assigned, at the discretion of competition administrators, to the appropriate category or categories, as outlined in our judging guidelines,” the org said. And if there aren’t enough eligible judges, NATAS will consider prior Emmy Award winners, prior Emmy Award nominees, and “those who otherwise meet the published membership criteria for their respective Peer Group but have elected not to join at this time.”

10 – 29 submissions: 5 nominations
30 – 59 submissions: 6 nominations
60 – 89 submissions: 7 nominations
90 – 119 submissions: 8 nominations
120 -149 submissions: 9 nominations
150 or more submissions: 10 nomination

If there are fewer than ten submissions in a category, the default number of nominations is 50% of the category’s submissions, rounded up to the nearest whole number. Categories with three or fewer submissions have no nominations, “though the National Awards Committee may proceed with an award based on a standard of excellence if the category is not otherwise merged or eliminated.”

20 – 80 submissions = 5 nominations
81 – 160 submissions = 6 nominations
161 – 240 submissions = 7 nominations
> 240 submissions = 8 nominations.

‘General Hospital’ Alum Jacob Young Breaks Silence on Opioid Addiction

While a guest on the Imperfectly Perfect podcast, Young opened up about his difficult childhood and substance abuse problems that ultimately led to a seven-year battle with opioid addiction.

“Mental health has been a priority in my life for a long, long time,” Young told host Glenn Marsden before he spoke candidly about his past.

Before he burst into the soap scene, Young had a fractured family life. “I grew up in a divorced family. I didn’t ever know my parents together, as a young lad,” said Young. He had a “humble upbringing,” which included government assistance, welfare, and food stamps when needed, which also sometimes resulted in him not knowing where his next meal might come from.

After his father remarried, Young bonded with his stepmother, which led him to live with his father as a teen. However, when he was 16, his stepmother took her own life. “It was a whole new understanding of who I was, why life exists, and how things can suddenly change in a second.”

It was after he found soap opera success that Young’s dependency on substances began in earnest, and he started to spiral. “I started smoking weed when I was like 14 years old,” the actor explained. “I wasn’t even interested in alcohol until I got into my mid-20s.”

“I was drinking a beer or two or three, four, just to kind of lower the anxiety or the feeling of what I needed to do and get in front of the cameras and be interviewed. So that started becoming a habit to help ease the anxiety,” explained the actor.

“I got into my mid-20s, you know, then it was cocaine … and there was Molly. I was a single guy. I was making a ton of money in New York,” continued Young. “I was dealing with resentment, depression, old wounds that were still bleeding inside of me.”

“I started getting hooked on opioids, and I went through seven years of my life wasted on opioids,” admitted the actor. “Still trying to figure out what was wrong with me, but I didn’t know. It was just needing to numb [to] just feel normal.”

Young continued to work, so no one suspected that anything was wrong. “I always showed up, I always did my lines,” he said. “I was living a lie. I was living an absolute lie; there was no two ways about it. And I would show up, pretending that I’m completely normal.”

Eventually, he reached his breaking point and turned to his wife for help. “Nobody knew. Even my wife didn’t know. I finally broke down. I told her the truth, and I was like, ‘Look, I am addicted. And I can’t get off of this because I don’t want to get sick, but I need help.'”

Young sought treatment for his substance abuse issues and went to counseling. “I wanted to get to the root of why I am needing to do this?”

Now recovering, Young is focused on sharing his story with others to help those who might need to hear it. “We are all going through something in our lives. Whether it’s raising children, and trying to navigate that, or whether it’s just trying to raise yourself and figure out, ‘Where am I in my headspace today?’ It’s just coming to: finding peace.”

“My old manager, who passed away, he would always say be a peaceful warrior; be a fighter, but be peaceful.”

If you or someone you know has addiction issues, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration‘s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

Lori Loughlin Reunites With ‘When Calls the Heart’ Costars Ahead of Season 14 Return

Loughlin, who will return as Abigail Stanton in the upcoming 14th season of When Calls the Heart, posed alongside costars Erin Krakow, Ben Rosenbaum, Jack Wagner, Viv Leacock, and Kavan Smith at the party, which also served as a premiere event for the prequel series, Hope Valley: 1874. The Full House alum looked stunning in a white sequined dress.

Krakow, who is expecting her first child with Rosenbaum, her husband and costar, has been open about how excited she is to have Loughlin back on When Calls the Heart. When Loughlin’s return was announced in December 2025, Krakow called it the “very best news.”

Loughlin then made a surprise appearance at the Hallmark Christmas Experience with her costars. She gushed that Krakow has been “championing” her return for a “long time.” The actress was so grateful for the warm welcome. “I just want to thank everyone at Hallmark for being so loving and so welcoming… And this just feels incredible. And I think — I mean, you guys all know it — we have such a special cast and such a special bond, and it’s just so nice to be back with my family,” she said.

Abigail Stanton was one of the original When Calls the Heart characters when the show debuted in 2014. Loughlin was a series regular until Season 6, when her character was written off the show due to Loughlin’s involvement in the Operation Varsity Blues college admissions scandal.

Seven years after her last appearance in Hope Valley, Abigail is making her way back home.

John McCook on Tackling Ageism With ‘B&B’s Forrester-Spencer Showdown

The drama traces back to December 2025, when Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) threw a retirement party for his father, despite the fact that Eric had no intention of stepping away from the company he founded. McCook was intrigued by the idea of portraying a character of a certain age fighting to stay relevant in the working world.

“Brad [Bell, executive producer/head writer] wanted to do this ageism story, and I was very much into that,” says McCook. “It was a good story, and it was emotional, and it was very timely. We have a lot of fans who are more than 40 years old, let alone in their 50s and 60s and 70s, so I think it was something they could really get into and really relate to. I applaud that.”

From there, the situation quickly escalated into a larger business and family feud. Eric ultimately took his talents to Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) and Katie Logan’s (Heather Tom) new company, Logan, a move that blindsided Ridge and Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang). Ridge urged his father to return to Forrester Creations, but Eric’s designs belong to Katie and Bill, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown.

“Creating a competing fashion line over at Spencer is a great idea,” McCook praises. “Now, everyone is so alarmed that Eric’s designs are being used by them, which, as far as they’re concerned, is an absolute act of lawlessness. On the other hand, Bill and Katie have a very strong leg to stand on, too, so that’s the horror of it. It’s good conflict and a good story, and it puts the Forresters in a very difficult place, and they’re not going to be able to keep them from using those designs. So, it’s pretty exciting.”

As the fallout escalates, McCook is especially mindful of how Eric is portrayed amid the rising tension. “I don’t want to play into this old place or this weak place where he has no strength to come back or to fight this,” notes the actor. “So, I am constantly working to keep Eric as strong as I can, rather than him being defeated and sad and embarrassed over what happened.”

Offscreen, the storyline has also prompted McCook to consider his own journey on the show. “I’m like every old actor on a soap, where I’m not getting as many scripts as I used to,” he shares. “I’ve been on the show for 39 years; I know I’m the older guy, but I don’t like seeing so many episodes go by without Eric in the office or without Eric involved in the story. Eric is an embracer and a supporter of everybody around him. It’s a wonderful character, and he’s a lovely guy, but he’s not as aggressively written for as some of the older characters on the other shows, the guys that are gangsters or big, rough businessmen. I love that Eric’s this way, and that he’s thought of this way, but since he’s older now, I have less to do, and I have to suck that up as part of growing older on a soap.”

Still, McCook is quick to point out the upside. “Now, the other side of that coin is, I’m going to be 82 years old, and I’m still an actor, and I’m still working,” he points out. “There’s like eight or 10 actors in the whole country that have had a run like this, week after week, a paycheck for decades and decades on the same show, and I’m very proud and happy to be one of those people.”

That he’s been a part of the B&B cast since its premiere on March 23, 1987, is also a source of pride for McCook, who, along with Lang, are the soap’s only current original cast members. “It’s kind of amazing,” he marvels. “Kelly and I were right there on the first day. It’s so sweet to see how long we’ve been on this show, it really is.”

As the show prepares to celebrate its 39th anniversary, the longevity still surprises him. “What’s funny is that it’s actually the antithesis of being an actor — playing the same part for decades,” he muses. “Being an actor means playing many different roles, and I haven’t been doing that. I thought, ‘It’ll run at least five or 10 years, probably, and maybe even more,’ but it never occurred to me it would run for 40 years or 50 years or forever. It’s really great.”

Looking ahead, McCook’s hopes for Eric — and himself — are simple. “I just need him to stay healthy and happy, and he is. That’s all I want for him, and that’s all I want for me, for God’s sake!”

Soapy S3 Ep3: Morgan Fairchild on Her Prolific Career and Return to Bold and the Beautiful

‘Access Hollywood’ Canceled Along With ‘Karamo’ and ‘Steve Wilkos’ as NBCU Ends Syndicated Production

Karamo and Steve Wilkos have both completed production, with the new episodes that have been taped airing through the summer. Access Hollywood and Access Live will continue production through the summer before ending their run.

“NBCUniversal is making changes to our first-run syndication division to better align with the programming preferences of local stations,” said Frances Berwick, Chairman of Bravo & Peacock unscripted for NBCUniversal, in a statement. “The company will remain active in the distribution of our existing program library and other off-network titles, while winding down production of our first-run shows. These shows have provided audiences with great talk and entertainment content for many years and we’re very proud of the teams behind them.”

Access Hollywood has been in production for nearly 30 years, with its first episode airing in Sep. 1996. Mario Lopez, Kit Hoover, Scott Evans, and Zuri Hall are the show’s current hosts.

Karamo is hosted by Queer Eye veteran Karamo Brown, and began production in 2022. Steve Wilkos is hosted by Wilkos, the former security guard for Jerry Springer. His show has served as something of a successor to Springer’s program, and has been in production since 2007. The two talk shows are produced at NBCU’s Stamford Studios facility in Stamford, Connecticut, and the company is expected to vacate the building later in the year.

NBCUniversal has determined that the syndicated studio model is not sustainable, given the preferences of local TV stations, which are programming more local and national news, community-focused programming select national franchises.

The decision to essentially shut down syndicated production comes a month after the company announced that The Kelly Clarkson Show would end its run later this year.

Talk shows in general have been coming under both financial and competitive pressure, with rising costs, waning demand, and increased competition from other platforms. Video podcasts in particular have filled some of the gap, picking up more celebrity interviews, investigating true crimes, and tackling many of the same subjects as their TV predecessors at a fraction of the price.

Access Hollywood, for example, was hit by layoffs last fall in connection with the cancelation of E!’s daily news show.

Still, there is no question that it is the end of an era for NBC, and for entertainment journalism with the end of Access. The biggest player in the space, CBS’ Entertainment Tonight, is still in production, as is Inside Edition.

The company will continue to distribute its existing program library to stations and other platforms that want it, including titles like Dateline, Law & Order, Chicago PD, Maury, Jerry Springer, Steve Wilkos, and Karamo.

The Bold and the Beautiful Star Jack Wagner Shares His Best Marriage Advice After Tying the Knot with Michelle Wolf

The Bold and the Beautiful star's wife, musician Michelle Wolf, announced in late May that they wed after four years of dating. During an interview with Fox News Digital published on Tuesday, March 10, Wagner, 66, shared his best advice for making a marriage work.

"Let the other person really be who they are and if there's a problem, conflict-resolving tools are the key to a marriage. And quite often, it's just keeping your mouth shut," Wagner told the outlet. "That's what I've found."

(Photo) He continued, "If there is a problem, take a little — just let it go. And just a little, I think, space and silence, and it passes. It's just not as intense and personal and dramatic as I think what things were maybe when I was younger, or maybe she was younger, right? You just kind of get a little wiser, I hope, as you get older."

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE in June, just a month after announcing his marriage, Wagner opened up about his "private" wedding ceremony in Los Angeles, which was attended by "about 40" of the couple's closest friends and family members, plus "a DJ."

"[It was] something that was just ours, with a group that we selected," Wagner said, noting that the best part was that it was "rather small and intimate."

"It was just so cool that it was just a big kind of funfest that doesn't happen very often in life where everybody lets loose," he added. "And it was one of those days where that happens. So really blessed to just have that sort of window of celebration you don't get to have very often."

Wolf announced her marriage to Wagner on Instagram on May 31. Alongside a small selection of wedding photos — which featured Wagner's son Peter, whom he shares with ex-wife Kristina, and Wolf's daughter, Ornella, in attendance — Wolf wrote: "We did it!!!!!! MARRIED in front of our little family!! #MrAndMrs ?????? ????."

(Photo) In June, Wagner told Parade that he and his wife had no plans to move in together after saying "I do," explaining their "cool" decision to go "back and forth" between their separate homes.

“It's an adjustment in terms of my schedule, for sure, right?” he said. “And Michelle's a singer, and she has an R&B rock band, so she's just a monster singer. We're able to make it work.”

He continued, “She has her place. I still have mine. We're both super comfortable in our places and going back and forth, and so we've decided, let's not rock the boat and sell this and sell that and try to find something.”

At the time, he admitted that they “haven't really changed anything” in their relationship since getting married.

Rome Flynn, Algee Smith, Desi Banks & Siv Ngesi Starring In Action-Comedy ‘Boyz Trip’

Directed by Kyle Scott, the synopsis reads: “Tired of their usual yearly meet-up, four college friends decide on a boys’ getaway that quickly spirals into international chaos, forcing them to rely on old bonds, questionable skills, and pure luck just to make it out alive.”

Scott’s script is produced by Autumn Bailey-Ford for Autumn Bailey Entertainment. Scott executive-produces for KeyScott Entertainment and Canyon View Media.

Co-founded by Kyle Scott and A. Key, Brisbane, Australia-based-production banner KeyScott Entertainment is also in post-production on Next In Line, a Hispanic-led comedy series that recently wrapped principal photography in Atlanta, Georgia.

“I am excited to assist Kyle in bringing this action-packed, fun film to life. It’s extra special to be making this film in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa,” said Atlanta, GA-located Autumn Bailey-Ford.

Flynn is repped by Artium Talent, Weiner Management, and Meyer and Downs. Smith is repped by UTA and Neon Kite. Banks is repped by UTA and M88. Ngesi is repped by Artistes Personal Management. Legal representation for Autumn Bailey-Ford was provided by Molly Fenton at Cohen Gardner Law, with Keisha Perry Walker at The Perry Law Group handling for Kyle Scott.

Gina Rodriguez to Guest on ‘Matlock’ Season 2 Finale, Reuniting With Her ‘Jane the Virgin’ Showrunner

Urman was also the showrunner on “Jane the Virgin,” which ran for five seasons on The CW and starred Rodriguez as Jane Villanueva, the young virgin who accidentally becomes pregnant after being mistakenly artificially inseminated.

“My heart is exploding with happiness that Gina will be joining the show for the season two finale,” Urman said in a statement. “She is pure magic and our collaboration on Jane was a highlight of my life. Having her on ‘Matlock’ is a dream come true.”

Details of Rodriguez’s character on “Matlock” are being kept under wraps for now.

Rodriguez won a Golden Globe for best actress in a TV musical or comedy series for “Jane the Virgin,” which ran from 2014 to 2019. More recently, she has appeared as Assistant District Attorney Marion Alba in Season 3 of ABC’s “Will Trent.” Also at the Alphabet net, she starred in the comedy series “Not Dead Yet” and co-hosted the game show “Lucky 13” with Shaquille O’Neal. Over on Netflix, she is additionally in Robert Rodriguez’s “Spy Kids” reboot, and in the romantic comedy “Players."

“Matlock,” which airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS (same day for some Paramount+ subscribers, next day for others), is in the middle of its second season.

Kathy Bates stars as as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, “a brilliant septuagenarian who achieved success in her younger years and rejoins the workforce at a prestigious law firm with a hidden agenda, using her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases” and also uncover who was responsible for the drug-related death of her daughter. The show stars Skye P. Marshall as Olympia, Jason Ritter as Julian and Leah Lewis as Sarah.

Urman, Joanna Klein, Eric Christian Olsen, Amanda Tudesco, Nicki Renna, Jeffrey Lieber, Kat Coiro and Kathy Bates are executive producers of “Matlock,” which comes from CBS Studios.

Karla Mosley Talks 'Big Adjustment' Moving Family to Atlanta for Beyond the Gates: A 'Sinking Feeling'

The soap opera veteran tells PEOPLE that landing the role came with a mix of emotions. Mosley, who's mom to two daughters Aurora Imani, 7, and Willa Josephine, 4, with partner John Rogers, says leading a daytime drama was something she "worked so hard" to achieve. But along with "complete joy and excitement," also came the realization that she'd have to move her family of four from Los Angeles to Atlanta.

"[Nothing] against Atlanta, I just hadn't been there. It wasn't on my radar that that's where I was going to move. And I've moved so many times in my life as an actor, but never with a family," Mosley explains. "It was a big adjustment for everybody."

After spending over a year in the bustling Southern city, the doting mom says that her family has adjusted to the move. In fact, Mosley, who grew up in New York, admits that life in Atlanta has "grown" on her.

"The people are dope," she says. "We have got great community. My kids love their schools, so I'm like, 'Okay, there is a plan. God had a plan, [and] it's bigger than mine.'"

For Mosley, making the change was "worth it." She tells PEOPLE that seeing her face on the poster as one of the leads of Beyond the Gates alongside Clifton Davis, Tamara Tunie and Daphnée Duplaix is a "honor" that she will never take for granted.

"On those nights when I'm really tired and I have two scripts the next day, but I have to put my kids to bed, and I'm like, 'How am I going to get it all together?' I have to dig deep and figure out how to do it and to continue to do good work, because the thing about soap operas is it is very easy to get into a rhythm and to feel you don't have to do quite as much, but you get as much as you give," Mosley explains.

"That's a lot of material, and we only get one or two takes, so you're going to have some moments that don't quite go where you want them to go, and you have to be able to let those go," she adds. "But I want to have as few of those as possible because that's what it means to lead."

With every script she reads, Mosley says she sees herself in the pages and understands the impact of sharing authentic stories with the world. However, nothing reminds her of the importance of her role quite like meeting people who were positively impacted by what they saw onscreen.

"When I go to church or to the grocery store or I'm traveling and people come up and they reflect on their experience with the material... When they talk about their family members or their own journeys, those are the moments when I realized how important the work that we're doing is," she says.

With the soap opera in its second season, Mosley believes her character is exactly where she's supposed to be. She also teases that viewers will get to see a different side to Dani Dupree as the season progresses.

"She is kind of settling into the life that she's always wanted, what she imagined life would be like with Bill [portrayed by Timon Kyle Durrett], what she gave up her career for, she's now having all these years later," she shares. "She gets to have her career on her terms as someone who's more settled in her skin and she gets to have this love that's deep and fun and exciting, but also committed. And then she's also getting to be there for her mother."

"While Nicole [portrayed by Duplaix] is becoming a little bit more of the wild child, Dani [has] always felt like a black sheep in the family, the sort of unreliable one [and] the emotional one," she adds. "And now she gets to connect with her mother, .. and I think those moments are so special and really deeply important to her."

‘Soap Fever’ Director on American Soap Opera Mania in 90s Finland: ‘In Moments of Crisis, People Don’t Need Prestige, They Need Connection’

Speaking with Variety ahead of the film’s premiere at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, where she also premiered “Golden Land” back in 2022, Achté says she had been thinking about the TV phenomenon for years. Once she moved back to her home country following the birth of her first son, her desire to “examine what kind of soil” she grew up in led her to finally explore the story on screen.

“Initially, I thought it would be a playful, light and nostalgic exploration of a strange cultural phenomenon: how a small, recession-struck Nordic country fell in love with a pink, glossy American soap opera,” she goes on. “But as I began digging deeper, I realized this wasn’t just about kitsch fandom. It was about survival. The show arrived during Finland’s worst economic crisis, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, when people had lost jobs, homes, and hope. That contrast between national despair and glamorous escapism felt cinematically powerful.”

The director proceeded to immerse herself in research to understand the 90s hysteria, watching old news reports, talk shows and footage of the American actors during their immensely popular visits to Finland. The “real heart” of her research, however, came in the shape of real-life, ordinary fans. “I wanted people who had grown up with the show and whose lives had been shaped by that era like my life was,” she says, recalling how she scoured online forums and relied on word of mouth to find her subjects. “I was looking for people who could tell their stories engagingly, conveying both humor and the touch of pain quintessential to that era in Finland.”

Although Achté was eager to interview some of the original cast members of “The Bold and the Beautiful,” financial restrictions linked to the film’s modest budget made it impossible to shoot outside of Finland. What started as an impediment ended up creatively fuelling the director, who focused on the people who cared — and still care — about the actors instead. “This is a collective story of us Finns and our recovery from collective trauma,” says the filmmaker, adding that, despite the cast having not watched the film just yet, some of the stars are aware of its making.

Asked whether she thinks a similar phenomenon could happen in Finland today, Achté notes that media consumption today is “fragmented.” “Algorithms personalize our experiences. Collective monoculture moments are rarer. That said, shared phenomena still exist but they happen online, across borders, often without geographical concentration.”

“The intensity might still be possible, but the physical, communal aspect feels like something from another era,” she points out. “I feel like this kind of collective joy can be rare in today’s polarized world, and I do miss it a lot.”

In a world dominated by remakes and sequels, and a time where analog is proving cooler than digital with younger generations, “Soap Fever” also taps into the timely topic of nostalgia. “I guess there is a longing for the 90s and early 2000s at the moment, perhaps because we are again living through economic insecurity, polarization, and geopolitical tension,” says Achté. “Nostalgia can be comforting.”

Still, the director alerts that her film doesn’t portray the 90s as a “better” time. “They were traumatic [years] for many people, including me. It’s not about wanting the past back; it’s about longing for the feeling of connection and shared experience. In that sense, the film contributes to a broader cultural reflection on how we cope with uncertainty. But I also hope it reminds people not to lose each other.”

Achté also emphasizes her desire to destigmatize daytime television and soap operas as “lesser-than” entertainment, especially considering how fans of such media products are often looked down upon or seen as childish in popular culture. “I began this project with a degree of arrogance, smirking at the BB fans. As a teenager, I thought the BB fans were unsophisticated, only because their favorite pop culture wasn’t as ‘cool’ as I thought the pop culture I consumed was.”

“We often dismiss certain forms of culture as ‘lowbrow,’ but in moments of crisis, people don’t need prestige, they need connection,” she says, recalling how she realized the intensity of fandom is essentially equal despite having different targets. “Also, TV is free. Going to the opera isn’t. A soap opera can carry as much emotional weight as an arthouse film if it becomes part of someone’s survival story.”

“Soap Fever” is produced by Napafilms Oy in co-production with Story AB. Raina Film Festival Distribution handles sales.

Beyond the Gates' Karla Mosley Shares Major Lessons She Learned from 'Titans' Clifton Davis and Tamara Tunie

While speaking with PEOPLE about the show's groundbreaking first year, the soap opera veteran opens up about working with Tunie, 66, and Davis, 80, who portray the matriarch and patriarch of the mighty Dupree family. Mosley says it's been "divine" sharing the screen with stars, who she's admired since she was a kid.

"I still sometimes step outside of myself and pinch myself at the fact that these two people are not only my colleagues, but now also my friends," she tells PEOPLE. "That is so divine."

With over 300 episodes under their belt, the cast and crew of Beyond the Gates have spent a lot of time together on set. Mosley tells PEOPLE that during that time, she's been able to learn the true meaning of work ethic and being a leader from both Davis and Tunie.

"[When it comes to] digging deep, how to lead, how to take things seriously and not compromise anything, how to hold yourself to the highest standard, [Tunie] models that every day, and also knows how to have a good time," she says of her onscreen mother. "It's that both of those things can exist. When it's time to play, we can play. And when it's time to work, we are going to work, and demanding excellence."

"And with Mr. Clifton, he teaches the same thing, but with a quiet power, a quiet respect, and a quiet joy, and also a twinkle in his eye. He has a good time, but you know he's going to be there," says Mosley. "He just turned 80 years old. I'm like, 'If this man can come with his lines done, I sure as heck better know my doggone lines when I'm standing in front of him.' "

The daytime drama's ensemble blends together soap opera veterans with newbies, offering a nice mix of seasoned industry professionals and rising talent. According to Mosley, this mixed cast and crew operates more like a family, creating the organic chemistry that plays out onscreen. She adds they even marvel at how much they have started to look alike on set.

"Sometimes I'll walk on set and I'll see, sort of out of the corner of my eye, RhonniRose [Mantilla] and Arielle [Prepetit] in a scene, and I'm like, 'Is that my face?' " she says, referring to the actresses who star as her daughters Chelsea and Naomi. "And I don't think of us as actually looking that much alike, but there are just some moments where it's there."

From her ex-husband Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) to her newfound love with Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman), Mosley's character, Dani Dupree, has many ties throughout the predominantly Black gated community of Fairmount Crest. However, she considers her connection with Daphnée Duplaix, who stars as her sister Nicole Dupree, to be "one of the greatest love stories on our show."

"Daphnée and I are very close," Mosley says of the duo's connection. "I think that Dani and Nicole's sisterhood is one of the greatest love stories on our show."

"I think that they have a connection and an unspoken commitment to each other that resonates with many sisters, not all, but they're very lucky to have it, and I think that they know that," she tells PEOPLE. "And I think that we both feel that too."

‘The Masked Singer’ Reveals the Identity of Eggplant: Here Is the Celebrity Under the Costume

All Jack Wagner needs is just a little more time. To be sure what he feels. Was it all in his mind? ‘Cause it seems to hard to believe… that “The Masked Singer” was all he needs.

Sadly for the “General Hospital” and “Melrose Place” alum, he was the star that was out tonight. And now he’s so sure where he stands: Wagner was the latest celebrity to be unmasked on Season 14 of the Fox singing reality competition, as Eggplant.

This week’s “The Masked Singer” paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne with “OzzFest Night,” featuring guest panelist Kelly Osbourne (who appeared as Ladybug in Season 2).

Among the panelists, no one got it right — although Ken Jeong, who guessed another “General Hospital” alum, Rick Springfield, was closest. Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg went with REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin. Rita Ora thought it was Nathan Lane, and Robin Thicke went with Kenny Loggins. Osbourne named Alice Cooper.

Here’s what Wagner, as Eggplant, said in his first appearance of this season: “I have five decades’ worth of experience playing in many fields. I stand up for the people. I represent the rock stars, ship captains and a whole lot of lovers. When it comes to connections, I’ve schmoozed with everybody. Jason Bateman, Jack Nicholson, Clint Eastwood. They’d all endorse me. So cast your ballot and join me. Together we’ll shoot for the stars.”

In his second appearance, he added: “Life comes at you fast. Especially in the land of opportunity. Like the time I crashed the most iconic event in pop history: The recording of ‘We Are the World.’ I got the private invite from Quincy Jones. Suddenly, I’m hanging with 45 of the biggest legends in music. Now, I topped the charts myself, but I was starstruck. Springsteen. Turner. Dylan. Then along comes MJ, and he tells me, ‘I loved your album. And your voice. Keep doing your thing.’ I was so inspired.”

Wagner’s recent credits include “When Calls the Heart” and various Hallmark Channel movies. He also appeared on “Dancing With the Stars” in 2012.

Contestants Pangolin, Eggplant, High Voltage and Galaxy Girl opened the show by singing “Crazy Train,” Osbourne’s signature song.

On this week’s episode, the bottom two were Eggplant and High Voltage. They battled by both performing their own versions of “Iron Man,” by Ozzy Osbourne. High Voltage was saved, leaving Eggplant to be unmasked as Wagner.

With Eggplant gone, that leaves High Voltage, Pangolin, Galaxy Girl, Stingray, Cat Witch, Pugcasso and Crane left in the competition.

Jack Wagner (Eggplant) joins Heidi Montag (Snow Cone), Billy Ray Cyrus (Owl), Teddi Mellencamp (Calla Lily), Claudia Oshry (Queen Corgi), Taraji P. Henson (Scarab), Tone Loc (Handyman), Tiffany Haddish (Le Who Who), Todd and Julie Chrisley (Croissants) and David “Big Papi” Ortiz (Googly Eyes) as the celebrities unmasked so far on “The Masked Singer” Season 14.

Back for Season 14 are host Nick Cannon, alongside panelists McCarthy Wahlberg, Jeong, Ora and Thicke.

New this season is “America’s Insider,” in which singer, dancer and social media personality Kylie Cantrall will share behind-the-scenes hints and clues for viewers. The twist: Cantrall is in costume as Cat Witch, but will only unmask for viewers — so the audience knows who she is, but the panelists don’t.

“The Masked Singer” Season 14 themed episodes include a tribute to “Star Trek,” the ‘90s comedy “Clueless,” the comic franchise “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and the blockbuster “Twilight Saga” films. Also Fox’s new “Fear Factor” reboot will feature host Johnny Knoxville in a “Fear Factor: House of Fear Night,” and an “Ozzfest Night” honors late rocker Ozzy Osbourne, including a special tribute by “Masked Singer” alum Kelly Osbourne (Season 2’s Ladybug) saluting her father’s musical influence.

The 18 Masked contestants in Season 14 include Eggplant, Pugcasso, Queen Corgi, the Croissants, Owl, 14 Karat Carrot, Snow Cone, Galaxy Girl, High Voltage, Googly Eyes, Scarab, Handyman, Crane, Le Who Who, Pangolin, Stingray, Cat Witch and Calla Lily.

Per the show, the Season 14 contestants have sold a combined 94 million records, received 47 Teen Choice Award nominations, 12 Emmy nominations, two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one Tony Award win and one Academy Award nomination.

What’s Coming Up for Soap Couples in March on ‘GH,’ ‘Y&R,’ ‘DAYS,’ and ‘B&B’

Secrets will be revealed, past wounds reopened, and several couples will find their bonds pushed to the brink. Here is Swooon’s exclusive look at what’s coming up on The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, and The Young and the Restless.

Ivy Forrester (Ashleigh Brewer) pulls the puppet strings for Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace) and Will Spencer (Crew Morrow).

Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) and Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier) say “I love you” to each other for the first time.

Tate Black (Leo Howard) suggests Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) take a pregnancy test.

Carly Spencer (Laura Wright) and Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart) come to an understanding.

Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) talks about a future with Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst).

Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Justine Turner (Nazneen Contractor) admit there’s something between them.

Jacinda Bracken (Paige Herschell) tells Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) about her past.

Molly Lansing (Kristen Vaganos) opens up to a supportive Cody Bell (Josh Kelly).

Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) and Nikki Newman’s (Melody Thomas Scott) relationship is tested.

Holden Novak (Nathan Owens) makes a sacrifice for Audra Charles (Zuleyka Silver).

Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) shares a secret from her past with Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson).

Tom Pelphrey Takes on Task of Playing the Most Famous Man to Ever Live — Jesus Christ

Faith Podcast Network will debut a four-part series, The Christ, billed as “an audio epic” and “the first ever full-scale audio dramatization of Jesus’ life across four immersive episodes using cinematic-quality sound, music and performances.” It will feature more than 100 different characters and some high-profile Hollywood names toplined by Task and Emmy-nominated Ozark star Tom Pelphrey as Jesus Christ, opposite David Oyelowo as Pontius Pilot, Paul Walter Hauser as John the Baptist, Courtney Hope as Mary, mother of Jesus, Patricia Heaton as the host and John Rhys-Davies as the narrator.

The Christ comes from a creative team that includes writer and director Paul Cuschieri, co-director and producer Mark Ramsey and producer Jim Young. The Christ drops during Holy Week, with the first episode debuting on March 30. A new episode will be released each day through April 2, scheduled accordingly so that the entire series will be available by Good Friday on April 3. The official logline says The Christ will cover “the life, death and legacy of Jesus of Nazareth. Through betrayal, courage, suffering and hope, the series explores how one man’s story reshaped history — and redefined love, authority and sacrifice.”

Needless to say, it’s a tall task to step into the shoes of the most famous man who has ever lived. But Pelphrey seems to have arrived at the opportunity at just the right time in his life and career. Engaged to fellow Emmy nominee and beloved TV star Kaley Cuoco, he’s a new father who has only recently started to share more about his life off set. Long considered an actor’s actor, Pelphrey longed to stay in the space of being able to disappear into roles like his acting idol, Robert De Niro. As his profile changed, thanks to critically acclaimed turns in Ozark, Mank and Task, so did his perspective on how to engage with the public as a recognizable actor. He largely credits the shift in worldview to his sobriety, which he revealed on Instagram last October.

“12 years sober today,” he posted on Oct. 1, 2025. “Sober by the grace of God. Deeply grateful for my sobriety and the life I get to live because of it.” He wrote more words about it, but the one mentioned above — God — is most necessary for the below conversation with The Hollywood Reporter as Pelphrey opens up on the intimidation of voicing Jesus in The Christ, how some early Shakespearean acting advice from Mark Rylance came in handy while recording his first podcast series and the beauty of being able to wait for “the next thing that just lights me up.”

What was your reaction when your reps presented an opportunity to play Jesus in a new podcast?

I was so excited. Faith is such a big part of my life, and it has been for a while now. This came to be out-of-the-blue, and I was so excited to be a part of it and tell this great story.

I was raised Catholic, and you can still see remnants of the ashes on my forehead from [Ash Wednesday services]. But my real relationship to faith started when I got sober, and that is actually what got me sober. When people talk about sobriety, you often hear the phrase “by the grace of God.” I fully believe that to be true in my case. My life went from chaos into order. Maybe a lot of people can relate to this, but I think of my faith like the story of the prodigal son. You’ve gone astray and get beat up out there. You’re sad, scared and don’t know what to do, so you think you should go home. But instead of getting yelled at, punished or kept at arm’s length, you are received with joy. That’s how it felt for me. To now have an opportunity to be a part of telling a story about Jesus, who I believed saved my life, and for that story to possibly help someone who has felt lost, stranded, sad or scared, is deeply meaningful to me.

That was beautiful, thank you for sharing. You get the job, then comes a challenge of finding the voice of Jesus, perhaps the most famous person who has ever lived. Obviously, he sounds a bit like Tom Pelphrey, that’s why they hired you, but how did you settle on what Jesus sounds like?

I have to say that there’s a certain size to this that if I thought about it in a certain way, I would’ve been too scared to even attempt it. I’m new to voiceover work, and so regardless of the role, I was already a little intimidated. But I was also very nervous leading up to it. I felt that I shouldn’t try and do too much. And I thought that if I could add to this in any way, I should try and add what it is that I feel like I do best — try and find the most human interpretation of what Jesus is experiencing. That’s part of the power and the beauty of the story — fully God, fully man — and it was interesting to walk through the story by thinking of it more on the fully man side. For me personally, those are the moment in the story that have always touched me the most when Jesus felt and responded like a vulnerable human being.

I knew I would be saying some of the most famous sayings in human history, and if that doesn’t intimidate you a little bit, God bless, but it intimidated me. This is a slightly different way to talk about it but when I was in college at Rutgers, we got to study at [London’s] Globe Theatre, and it was amazing. It was such an incredible juxtaposition of what we were learning with [Sanford] Meisner and the kitchen sink, and all of that. We learned to stand up tall, use your voice and project.

Mark Rylance was still the artistic director there, and he came to talk to our class. At one point, he gave us an example of performance by doing the “to be, or not to be” speech five different ways in a row. He just ripped it, like, whoa. In my mind, what got blown open was how it was this very famous Shakespeare text that is so well known and can, at times, seem inaccessible because it’s so sacred and revered, [that it] became something else. Mark said, “Make everything personal.” He taught us to know what you’re saying and live in the truth of what’s happening. It blew my mind open. To come full circle, I was nervous because [the Christ project] was this very heightened and important role based on something that everybody knows and is familiar with and there’s a presumption that it needs to be said perfectly. I just knew that I would never say it perfectly. When we were about to start, it came time to surrender to the idea that it was never going to be perfect. But what I could offer to the best of my ability was that if I put myself into it, made it personal, said it how I felt it and how it made the most sense to me, we would accomplish the best version of that.

We recorded for four or five days. It was really nice because the recording process allowed us to be in the room with multiple actors at once, so that was a really nice way to play scenes. All of the actors are excellent voice actors, and they are so professional and can talk about the differences between this microphone and that microphone, all of this stuff that I didn’t know about. It was amazing to be in the room with them and be able to ask questions in between takes and learn a little bit of technique. I remember when a light bulb went off when I understood how the less volume you had, the more chance there would be for dexterity within the speech.

You can cheat these things because there’s a microphone so close to you. You can literally just get right on top of the microphone and whisper if you want. It’s very powerful and becomes very dynamic. Being in the room with these other actors was so helpful for performance and to build a sense of momentum so that every word, every line wasn’t uttered in isolation in a vacuum. It allowed me to pick up technique, which I’m always trying to do with everybody I work with. What can I steal here? What can I learn here? How can I get better?

Was there something you stole that was most impactful or meaningful during the process?

Understanding how much more you can play with dynamics in terms of sound, volume and proximity to the mic. I started on stage, and there’s a certain amount of volume and projection needed for that. When you start to work in film and TV, you understand that everything is going to come sit in your lap, and you can whisper and barely move your eyes and everything will be projected. I needed to make that jump in the booth as well. That was definitely something I felt like I walked out of there with on day five that I hadn’t walked in with on day one.

The obvious answer is the entire passage on the crucifixion. That was obviously a very intense thing to try and capture sitting on a chair in a booth. We tried to get as creative as we could to try and help that feel a little more impactful, even if that meant standing during some of those efforts, or even doing something as simple as breathing. I haven’t listened to it yet to see how it turned out.

How are you with that part of your job, as in listening to or watching your performances?

The nice thing is when there’s a lot of space between when you do it and when you might get to watch it. In general, I am not in love with myself and I don’t hate myself, so it’s OK. It’s really useful if you can try and watch it somewhat objectively. You can learn and see where you can get better the next time, which is always the goal. But what happens is when you first do something, you have so much information about it in your head. If I saw a scene on Task a month later, I still remember what we ate for lunch that day or that the scene required six hours of setups. You have so much information about it that you are not able to experience it for the first time or how the audience is experiencing it. But you are able to get that feeling the more time that has gone by. I’ve never once watched myself and didn’t think that there’s a lot of good things I could learn and do better the next time. But I don’t watch it and think, oh, I’m horrible, or anything like that. I feel like I’m getting better all the time, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted. I’m excited to listen to this.

There were some challenges of being in an audio booth when you’re meant to embody something very physical, because how do you create that? There were specific things that you would never have to do in any other context. I never have to be on set and act like I’m struggling to lift something or I’m exhausted sitting on a chair. If I’m on set and they want me to do that, I can go pick the fucking thing up and start running up and down with it until I’m exhausted and having a hard time lifting it, and then they can film me doing that.

Credit to the group of people I worked with — and this happens on a great set, too — but, honestly, every day I left in such a great mood. There are times when you work on things, and you can’t help but to feel like there’s an energy that comes and it lives in you. You can feel it. When you get to work in such a way and you’re accumulating that energy in the process of working, you release it and leave happy, even if what you worked on or released was very dark or intense or heavy. This doesn’t happen to me much anymore but when I was younger, I might leave feeling heavy. If you haven’t been able to live through or share that energy, that’s when you feel bad because you’ve cooked up something that is not yours and you weren’t able to get rid of it. It’s an energy thing.

This was also lovely because David Oyelowo is one of my good friends. The day before I was going in, I looked at the call sheet and I said to [my wife Kaley Cuoco], “David’s going to be there!” It was my first day and would be the first thing I ever recorded, and thank God it was with David because it just calmed me down and put me in such a great mood. He’s incredible. What a sweet, sweet, good, gentle, beautiful man. Paul Walter Hauser is also a buddy. He didn’t get to be there in person but he Zoomed in and I was able to say hi. It was a great group of people.

I’m doing this interview because it’s Tom Pelphrey playing Jesus, alongside other well-known actors like David Oyelowo and Paul Walter Hauser. They could’ve cast famous actors from the faith space but since it is recognizable Hollywood names, this has the potential to travel to a wider audience. Did you think about how it might circulate in the world with your involvement, and was that a motivator at all?

There are so many versions of me answering this. I love being an actor, and I will say that for a long time, I really struggled with sharing any part of myself publicly. I really tried to dance around it, partially because of how it made me nervous and partially because of all the insecurities around it. Also, I read an interview once a long time ago with a young Robert De Niro. He was one of my heroes as a young actor. He said that the more people knew about him, the harder it was for him to do his job. I must’ve read that at 17, and it burned into my brain because it’s undeniably true. As an actor like De Niro, which is the kind of actor I’ve always wanted to be, you want to disappear. You want to serve the character. But we don’t live in that world anymore. As much as Robert De Niro was able to do that back then, it’s not the world we live in now.

Sharing about sobriety and faith are so personal to me, and it means so much to me. The other thing you notice is when people are sharing things, you could say a word to a thousand people, and a thousand people hear a different version of that word. In all humility, to share something that matters to you, you first have to come to an understanding and acceptance that you’re surrendering how it’s going to be heard or what it means to anyone listening. You have no control over it. That’s been an amazing process to go through.

Yes. We were talking about sobriety and the first time I ever shared, on my own, about my sobriety was in the past year. There are a million reasons for that, and part of it was that with sobriety, with faith or getting to do a podcast like this, there came the possibility that at some point, an honest sharing of any of this in whatever humble way I can could potentially help someone or make them feel less alone. That outweighed my fear of being misunderstood. It’s an amazing thing. Once the seal was broken, it felt very freeing. I’m grateful that, like you said, on some level, my participation or David and Paul’s participation would lead you to want to do an article about this. It’s wild. Also, being a dad, you start to think about everything differently.

That was beautiful, thank you. And I appreciate you sharing about your sobriety because as someone who has been a fan of your work, seeing you share about your sobriety last year led me to think of your work in a new way. I know how meaningful of an experience it is and how it changes your life. But where do you go from here? How do you follow up playing Jesus Christ?

Well, I don’t imagine that I will ever have an experience quite like that again. But I will tell you that I will do the same thing that I always do. I wait patiently for the next thing that just lights me up. Honestly, right now, I’ve been waiting for a long time but there are some things coming that I’m really excited about. That in and of itself is such a blessing. You want to talk about life-changing, 12 years ago, I was just hoping for a way to pay my rent. I’m not able to wait forever now, but I can sit back a little bit and be a dad and I don’t need to work immediately to pay my bills. I can wait for things that really move me or speak to me. The longer I am in my sobriety, the deeper I am in my faith, the more I feel that there’s a real power in trying your best in all ways to be of service. I want to be like that as an actor, too. When I read something, if I feel like I can bring something special to it or help it come to life in a very unique way, then I go for it. I felt that way when I read Task because I felt like I could be of service to something bigger than me, and that’s where I want to live these days. I don’t feel that way all the time, so I wait until I do.

What a perfect way to tend. But I do have one more quick question because looking at you, you’re giving a little bit of Jesus today with the longer hair and the beard. Have you thought about letting it grow so when the podcast drops, you sound like Jesus but look a little like him, too?

As tempting as that might seem on some level, the last thing we need anybody thinking is I’m like Jesus in any way. I am a very poor, poor, pale imitation. But Jesus is somebody I’m trying to be more like. Like we say, it’s progress, not perfection.

The Christ is for free to listeners and can be found on all podcast platforms as well as TheChristPodcast.com.

Ashleigh Brewer is Pregnant with Her First Baby

After a two-year engagement, Brewer and Bauch tied the knot in Santa Barbara in December 2025. The actress explained, “We just couldn’t quite figure out how to do a wedding, where to do it. He’s English, I’m Australian. We both live in L.A. We have a great, amazing, large group of friends here in L.A. as well. So, we’re like, ‘Oh my god, how would we even do this?'”

Discovering that she was expecting lit a proverbial fire under the couple, and in just 9 days, they planned and executed their intimate courthouse ceremony. “It was just the most picturesque, most fun day,” beamed the newlywed, who wore a pregnancy-friendly white silk dress from Bumpsuit as her bridal attire. “I had the day off work, so we were like, ‘Let’s just go,’ and it was amazing,” Brewer summed up.

Now, entering into her third trimester, Brewer felt like the time was right to share her pregnancy news with the world. “It wasn’t that I was, like, really keeping it a secret or anything. It was just nice being in the bubble of a pregnancy bubble and no one really knowing,” she mused, noting that she’d been quite sick in her first trimester. She has also, of course, been working on B&B throughout her pregnancy. “Working pregnant is such a gift because I get to not think about being pregnant for a really long stretch of time, but we cover the bump and it’s just lovely to be in a zone every day of, you know, working and then the weeks go fast and the weekends roll around and I’m like, ‘Oh, there’s a baby coming soon.'”

Brewer admitted that she was a bit nervous letting her B&B boss, Executive Producer/Head Writer Brad Bell, know that she was with child, given that “my storyline had just started ramping up on the show after being around for quite a while again.” But Bell had a heartwarming reaction. She recalled, “He basically just gave me a high five and a hug and he said, ‘Congrats.’ And I’ve not stopped working since I told him. And I just feel so supported by him and by the whole production. I mean, I’ve known these people for 12 years. So to be pregnant with them and they’ve known me since I was about 22, it’s just so special.”

Because Ivy is not pregnant in the storyline, the show has been doing its best to conceal Brewer’s growing bump, and Brewer shared that “in between action and cut, I really, truly forget that I’m pregnant! [But] I’ll have directors whisper in my ear being like, ‘Honey, you’re you’re just rubbing your tummy,’ which is a new thing that’s started because I’ve popped quite a lot now.”

On Instagram on February 14, Brewer posted a photo of herself displaying her bump with the caption, “ We are so excited!!”

Denise Richards Signs With Innovative Artists Entertainment

Best known for roles in The World Is Not Enough, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Wild Things, Love Actually, Starship Troopers, and Scary Movie 3, Richards also had starring roles in Madea’s Witness Protection, The Toybox, The Prayer Box, and Money Plane, playing Shauna Fulton in CBS’s The Bold and the Beautiful.

Recently, Richards was seen on Bravo’s reality series Denise Richards & Her Wild Things. Previously, she was on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test on Fox and Denise Richards: It’s Complicated on E!, also appearing as a cast member on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills for two seasons.

Additional television credits for Richards include NBC’s 30 Rock, Spike TV’s Blue Mountain State, NBC’s Friends, FX’s Anger Management, The CW’s Jane the Virgin, CBS’s Two and a Half Men, and ABC Family’s Twisted. She also co-starred in the Lifetime TV movie Blue Lagoon, a remake of the 1980 film.

Also an author, whose 2011 memoir The Real Girl Next Door became a New York Times Best Seller, Richards continues to be represented by Vault Entertainment, law firm Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, and Jill Fritzo PR.

Wyatt Spencer Back on ‘B&B’? Darin Brooks Says He’s Discussed a Possible Return

Brooks launched his career in 2006 on Days of Our Lives as Max Brady, earning a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series, before spending a decade on The Bold and the Beautiful as fan-favorite Wyatt Spencer from 2013-24. A return to daytime? He’s not ruling it out.

“The door is always open on my end,” he notes. “I went to see Brad [Bell, B&B‘s executive producer and head writer] a couple of months ago to see the new digs, the new studio. They’re up in Sunset Las Palmas, which is amazing. They’re doing so well, and it’s a bigger studio and a lot more accommodations. It’s really nice to see because then a show can really flourish. So, I talked to Brad a little bit, and we don’t know what’s on the horizon yet, but I’m open to it.”

He’d also be on board if another soap came calling. “I would be open to that, too,” he shares. “I’d be open to anything right now. I’m at a place in my life where I want to start doing more and getting back into the swing of things. This movie really lit a fire in my belly to get out there again and hopefully do some fun stuff. I’m back into my acting class again, where I’m getting re-inspired and reinvigorated.”

Looking back on his B&B years, Brooks says the experience remains especially meaningful. “My 10 years there were phenomenal and ones I don’t take for granted,” he reflects. “I had some of the best times there and some of the craziest experiences, too. Traveling to different places, like Monte Carlo and Paris, and having so many wonderful memories from being there and just having the opportunities to be able to do that was amazing. It’s the only show that gets to travel abroad and do those kinds of things. And the family there, the whole cast and crew and everybody, I love them, and I miss them.”

That strong sense of family carried over to his latest project, where the ensemble was a major draw. “When I found out who was attached to it, I was like, ‘Double yes, let’s do this,’” Brooks shares. “Mickey Rourke‘s in there, and when I was filming with him, I was sitting across the table and pinching myself, like, ‘I’m freaking working with Mickey Rourke right now. This is insane. I’ve seen all his movies.’“

Rourke’s not the only name that appealed to Brooks. “Rob Gronkowski is in it, and we have Justin Chatwin from Shameless,” he adds. “Fivel Stewart plays my love interest; she’s from The Recruit on Netflix, and Eddie Kaye Thomas, who is Finch in American Pie, plays my brother. Antoine Tanner and Paul Johansson from One Tree Hill are in it. We have Jon Stoddard from all the GAC stuff and Hallmark, and then the great William Forsythe plays our dad.”

Best of all, the chemistry clicked. “Everybody came with their A game and just created some really fun characters,” Brooks reports. “We didn’t have a bad day on set. Everybody was laughing, and we were cracking each other up. When you have that kind of magic on set where everybody’s just trying to make each other break, you know that it’s going to be a funny film.”

(Movie Trailer) In The Roaring Game, Brooks plays Rickey, a former hockey star whose life is derailed by injury, until he finds a second chance when he decides to put together a curling team. For the Hawaii native, taking the ice was a new experience, but one he fully embraced.

“We have one skating rink on the whole island of Hawaii; curling is not a thing,” Brooks muses. “But we shot the movie in Rhode Island, and we had a day of training on the ice on one of the weekends before we started shooting with the whole cast and crew, so that people could get used to being in the shoes and being on the ice and getting a feel for everything. By the end of it, we were having a blast. It’s like bowling and shuffleboard on ice. How could you go wrong?”

While the film marks a new chapter, Brooks is also waiting for word about a revival of Blue Mountain State, the college football series in which he starred as Alex Moran. “It’s still up in the air,” Brooks reveals. “It’s got a huge cult following. I still get people coming up to me every single day going, ‘Oh, my God, you’re that guy from Blue Mountain State,’ and shoot, that was 16, 17 years ago. It’s kind of the gift that keeps on giving, and I love it. I love hearing people still loving that show and watching that show. It’s back on Netflix and Amazon Prime, so people are starting to watch it again.”

And with The Roaring Game in theaters now, Brooks hopes audiences embrace it. “I’m excited,” he enthuses. “I really hope it does well. It’s such a good throwback to those ‘80s, ‘90s comedies — Dodgeball, Blades of Glory, and Kingpin — and it’s got a lot of heart. We have a lot of fun elements in it, and I think people are going to be happily surprised. Hopefully, there’s a newfound appreciation from the people who don’t know a lot about curling. And the Olympics are starting, so the timing is great.”

Soapy Season 2 Episode 13 | Rick Hearst on Balancing Family Life with Soap Stardom

Jacob Young Reveals How a Call to Anthony Geary Helped Him Land ‘General Hospital’

Actor Jacob Young (ex-Rick, The Bold and the Beautiful), who stars in the independent film A Murder Between Friends (which he also directed), was up for the coveted role. A chance run-in with a pair of Young’s former B&B castmates set in serendipitous motion a call that played a role in his move to Port Charles.

“Anthony Geary was a big part of me getting on General Hospital,” Young told TV Insider at a screening in Century City for A Murder Between Friends. “Jonathan was leaving, and [the show] wanted to make sure that they had somebody playing Lucky. Tony had a big, big say in recasting because they didn’t want to recast him [lightly]. Tony had been working with this young guy for so many years. Jonathan had three Daytime Emmys at the time.”

Young had gone through an initial casting process and was poised to go on tape in the hopes of landing the role. “The night before [my test], I ran into Ian Buchanan [ex-James, B&B; ex-Duke, GH] and Susan Flannery [ex-Stephanie, B&B] on Franklin Avenue [in Los Angeles]. Susan says to me, ‘What are you doing?’ I said, ‘Well, I’m screen-testing tomorrow for General Hospital.’

“And she goes, ‘What character?’” Young continues. “I said, ‘Lucky Spencer,’ Tony Geary’s son. Susan goes, ‘I love Tony. I’m going to call him.’ So, she called him.”

Does Young feel that Flannery’s phone call and discussion with Geary helped tip the scales in his favor? “It definitely did,” Young states. “I don’t think I would have gotten that role without that support.” In 2002, Young won his own Daytime Emmy for playing Lucky in the now-retired category of Outstanding Young Actor in a Drama Series.

Just as Jackson has returned to GH over the years, so has Young with B&B. After he returned to the half-hour soap (following the cancellation of All My Children in 2011, the show on which he played JR Chandler), Rick emerged as a more forceful presence at Forrester Creations.

Rick wouldn’t hesitate, on occasion, to remind everyone that Stephanie’s firstborn, Ridge (Thorsten Kaye), was, in fact, not a Forrester by blood but rather a Marone, as his father was Massimo Marone (Joe Mascolo), not Eric Forrester (John McCook).

“I felt like Rick had been a stepchild for so long,” Young recalls. “I wanted to up him and make sure that he had a voice in the company… Rick had been put down for so many years. I’m not going to play a character that’s not going to speak up for himself.”

Young says the show’s writers picked up on Rick’s new attitude and soon, he began seeing Rick standing up for himself in the scripts.

“Brad [Bell, head writer/executive producer] and I discussed it, and we ended up moving forward with that angle,” Young shares. “Rick has a fond place in my heart. It was at the beginning of my career. I would not be where I am today without The Bold and the Beautiful. I was 17 when I got the part and didn’t know my head from my toes. I had a really wonderful experience on B&B.”

Now, Young’s making movies, and he plans to bring more films to the big screen. His character, Josh, in A Murder Between Friends, is a man who gets together with friends for a college reunion when a murder takes place. “Josh is kind of a wild card,” Young teases.

A Murder Between Friends is a playful whodunit/Agatha Christie-style murder mystery, starring and produced by Joan Collins (Alexis, Dynasty; Alexandra, Guiding Light), Young, Trent Garrett (ex-Asher, AMC), Percy Gibson, and Toby-Alexander Smith (EastEnders). The film was shot on location over two weeks at Úsobí Castle in the Czech Republic.

Collins stars as Francesca Carlyle, a legendary TV star, who sets out to solve a murder that takes place on her estate. “She’s a mixture of Angela Lansbury and Auntie Mame,” Collins tells TV Insider of her character. “I like murder stories, and I thought A Murder Between Friends was a great idea!”

Morgan Fairchild Talks Surprise ‘Bold and the Beautiful’ Return After 17 Years

The 75-year-old actress is reprising her role as San Francisco socialite Dorothy, aka Dottie, who last appeared on the long-running daytime drama in 2009. At the time, she featured as the friend of the cast matriarch, Stephanie Forrester (played by Susan Flannery).

Fairchild is joined by her friend and fellow actor Jim J. Bullock, who also last appeared on the show 17 years ago. Bullock previously portrayed wedding planner, Serge, from 2005 to 2009. He is now set to play the new character, Joseph, Dottie’s gem-inspecting assistant.

The guest star roles come as Stephanie Forrester’s granddaughter, Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood), travels to San Francisco to pitch Dottie her jewelry line.

Fairchild and Bullock make their return in the Tuesday, January 27, episode. The official episode description reads: “During a special fashion show in a San Francisco hotel suite, Steffy Forrester and her cousin Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace) are joined by Dottie, a wealthy San Francisco socialite, and her fabulous longtime assistant Joseph to purchase a Forrester original jewelry item.”

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Fairchild opened up about her return to The Bold and the Beautiful and what fans can expect from Dottie 17 years after her last appearance.

“The first time I did Bold, God, how many years ago? A long time ago. I remember I was shooting the day Michael Jackson died. So that’s however long ago that is,” Fairchild told the outlet.

Fairchild, who also appeared in the soaps General Hospital, Falcon Crest, The City, Flamingo Road, and Search for Tomorrow, noted that Dottie “is still kind of the same!”

“In the first scene we have here, I’m coming in to check out the jewelry — as I would. So Jim, as Joseph, is giving me the heads up, like, ‘Oh, that’s fabulous,’ as only he can. So we’re having a lot of fun with it,” she added.

Fairchild also spoke highly of the cast and crew, stating, “They really do make you feel like you’re part of the team, even though it’s always awkward coming in when you’re kind of the new kid on the block. Especially onto an established show, especially one that’s this established that’s been going on forever.”

Meet the New R.J. Forrester on ‘B&B’: Brayan Nicoletti on Taking Over as Ridge & Brooke’s Son

Nicoletti (whose first name is pronounced Bryan) steps into the role previously played by Joshua Hoffman, last seen in 2024. As the son of supercouple Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) and Brooke Logan Forrester (Katherine Kelly Lang), R.J. is poised to play an integral role in the drama ahead.

Nicoletti’s path to B&B began with a self-tape submission that led to an in-person audition with Kaye and Laneya Grace (Electra Forrester), an experience that left the actor feeling optimistic. “The audition went great,” he reports. “Thorsten really took me under his wing, and both of them were incredible. And then the next day, my agents called me and told me that they wanted to cast me.”

The timing of the offer couldn’t have been better. “I was actually journaling about the audition when I got the call, so it was very unexpected,” he recalls. “I didn’t know how long it would take to hear back from them, and the rest of the day I was on top of the world.”

While he grew up entertaining his family and friends, acting wasn’t always part of Nicoletti’s long-term plan. That changed during the COVID lockdown, when time at home and a steady string of movies sparked a pivotal realization. “I think that’s when the idea clicked that this could be something that I could pursue,” he says. “I remember I went to turn in a paper to one of my counselors, and she asked me what my plans were after high school. I told her, ‘I’ve kind of been looking at this acting thing,’ and she had a nephew that had just graduated from this film school in Los Angeles. She told me to take a look at it, and that led to me moving out here right after high school. They say L.A. is the land of dreams.”

Landing a contract role marks a major milestone for the Denver, Colorado native, though the genre itself was new territory. “I hadn’t watched B&B, or a lot of the American soaps,” he explains. “My family is from Brazil — I’m first generation — so growing up, my relationship with soaps were always Spanish soaps. It was more my mom would be watching them, and I’d come into the to grab something, and I’d just kind of watch with her for a little bit when the storylines were dramatic.”

To prepare for the role, Nicoletti looked back at R.J.’s limited history on the canvas. “I did all my research beforehand, but once it got to set, it was really figuring out the chemistry and the relationships with everybody,” he explains. “He’s grown into this man who’s really trying to figure out what he values and where his priorities should be.”

Despite his unfamiliarity with daytime, Nicoletti quickly found his footing once he got past his jitters. “My first day on the show was pretty nerve-wracking,” he recalls. “It was a little bit overwhelming because I’ve never done anything like that before. I was handed a lot more than I guess I was expecting, as far as scripts and episodes, but I think, luckily, my training had prepared me for that. The first day was really the overwhelming one, but after that, once I realized how not only excited people were for me to be there, but that it really feels like a family on that studio lot, any time I was feeling nervous or questioning if I deserved to be there, everybody really took me under their wing and helped me succeed.”

That sense of belonging was reinforced by his on-screen family, including Kaye, Lang, and John McCook (Eric Forrester). “I don’t know if you can ask for two better soap parents to have,” Nicoletti declares. “They’re incredibly generous with their time, but also so talented. Same with John. I first met him on set, and he immediately took me to his dressing room and sat me down, and was asking me questions about how I was enjoying the show and how I got to where I am, and about my family, and he gave me a lot of guidance and advice. I love seeing John on set because I think everybody can learn from him. He’s a ball of energy, and I think it rubs off on people and makes it very exciting to get to work and create something new.”

Nicoletti is also energized by the show’s new generation, from Grace to Crew Morrow (Will Spencer) and Sydney Bullock (Dylan). “I think bringing in a younger set of performers and having that young cast on the show adds so many dynamics to it,” he offers. “I’m really excited for what the future holds this year, not only for myself, but just the show in general.”

So far, the experience has exceeded expectations. “I have no complaints, honestly,” he says. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited to show up to work. It’s so much fun, and I’ve really been enjoying the liberty of figuring out this character for myself and who he is to me and understanding his perspective. There is a sense of play, which I really enjoy, on top of the family aspect. I feel like I’m living out my dream, and every day is a new opportunity to push myself professionally, but also creatively as well.”

And as his debut approaches, Nicoletti is focused on honoring the past while carving out something new. “I’m excited,” he enthuses. “There’s a legacy to this character, and to this family, so I want to make sure I uphold that and do the character justice. My main goal is to just be as truthful as I can, do my best to understand the dynamics and the history of the show, but also bring a new energy to it that we might not have seen yet.”

Kaley Cuoco’s celeb mom pals celebrate ‘ride or die’ group after Ashley Tisdale’s ‘toxic’ claims

Cuoco’s friend, actress Ashley Jones, shared pictures of their close-knit group Wednesday, which includes Lacey Chabert, Ali Fedotowsky and Amy Davidson.

The pictures included moments of the group getting together with their kids, solo shots of just the gal-pals, as well as throwbacks of when various members of the group were pregnant.

“Mom groups are having a real moment on the interweb this week,” Jones wrote. “Shoutout to my village, without whom I could be very lost and lonely.”

“Tag your supportive ride or die mom group!” she continued. “I miss them all this little, but so grateful we had each other during this stage —-and every stage. #lifteachother #womensupportingwomen **not all are pictured, but all who are pictured are loved #momgroup.”

Tisdale made waves when she criticized her former mom group in an essay for The Cut. While the “High School Musical” star didn’t name names, fans quickly zeroed in on past pics of her with Hilary Duff, Meghan Trainor and Mandy Moore.

In Tisdale’s essay, she claimed she was excluded from hangouts from the group, which made her feel “not cool enough” and “lost” as to why she was being left out.

The actress, 40, said she eventually texted the group, “This is too high school for me and I don’t want to take part in it anymore.”

But a source familiar with the drama told Page Six that Tisdale is “insufferable,” and that the friend breakup “has been a long time coming.”

Members of the mom group have since publicly supported one another on social media.

Duff raved about fellow mom group member Janice Gott in an Instagram Story Wednesday, after her husband, Matthew Koma, savagely hit back at Tisdale in a more direct way.

Koma posted a fake mocked-up cover of himself on the cover of The Cut, with a headline that read, “A mom group tell all through a father’s eyes: When You’re the Most Self-Obsessed Tone Deaf Person on Earth, Other Moms Tend to Shift Focus To Their Actual Toddlers.”

Moore then gushed of Koma in an Instagram Story post just hours later, “@matthewkoma happens to be one of the most talented and generous humans I’m lucky to know.”

Meanwhile, Trainor humorously shared her surprised reaction while reading the drama online in a TikTok video set to her 2025 track “Still Don’t Care.”

“Me finding out about the apparent mom group drama,” she wrote over the clip she posted Thursday.

Stana Katic, Elisha Cuthbert, Denise Richards & C. Thomas Howell Movies On New Slate From Horizon Line & March On Entertainment

The films will focus on “thrillers, women in peril, and event themes with an emphasis on female directors, writers and stars”.

According to the partners, the slate includes the recently wrapped Greatest Actress in the World, starring Mena Suvari (American Beauty) and C. Thomas Howell (The Outsiders), and directed by Lara Daans.

Scheduled to film from this month will be Silent Night Fall, which has Stana Katic (Castle), Elisha Cuthbert (24) and Talia Asseraf (Off The Grid) attached, with Danny Friedman directing.

On the slate and scheduled for a February shoot is Key To Freedom from writer-director Damian Lee with an attached cast of Denise Richards (The World Is Not Enough), C. Thomas Howell, Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy) and Patrick Muldoon (Marlowe).

Also in the works are projects No Free Lunch, written by Jacques Frederick and Jeff Kazanian; Satisfaction, written by Dana Fradkin and Kate Cassidy; The Trout Fisher, written by Jay Brock; Black Friday, written by B Harrison Smith; and Cat On Hot Tin Roof, adapted by Lara Laskin.

The films will be produced by Damian Lee and Bennet De Brabandere and executive-produced by Rich Salvatore. Quiver Distribution will handle domestic sales. Red Sea Media will be handling foreign sales.

March On Productions is led by Rich Salvatore, the veteran independent producer of more than 80 features including The Comeback Trail and The Big Wedding. Horizon Line principals are Damian Lee and Bennet De Brabandere, whose features as producer, writer or director include Ski School, National Lampoon’s Last Resort, A Dark Truth, Hearts of War and A Fighting Man.

Shooting on the slate will take place in Hamilton, Ontario, with local partner Russ De Jong’s North Film Company. Post-production, supervised by Darren Bell, will take place at Rolling Pictures Company in Toronto, which is headed up by George Levai and Michael Forsey.

Is Luna Really Dead on ‘B&B’? Boss Weighs In on Lisa Yamada’s Potential Return

“Luna is dead,” Bell tells TV Insider exclusively in our 2026 preview. “We all saw it.”

He went on to gush about Yamada’s Emmy-winning performance, adding, “What a joy she was to work with and what a wonderful person. She took that character and ran with it, and it was so wonderful collaborating with Lisa.”

So there you have it — we’ll miss Luna (and Yamada) on our screens, but knowing the world of soaps, there’s always a chance she’ll return in 2027 or beyond!

‘B&B’ 2026 Preview: New R.J. Forrester, a Deacon & Taylor Romance, and More

While the younger story was fueled, in part, by Luna Nozawa’s (Lisa Yamada) machinations, viewers shouldn’t expect an encore in 2026. “Luna is dead,” Bell confirms. “We all saw it. I mean, Lisa Yamada — wow. And to cap it off with an Emmy and to have her bring levity and that spark in her eye and the unique delivery? What a joy she was to work with and what a wonderful person. She took that character and ran with it, and it was so wonderful collaborating with Lisa.” Behind the scenes, the show’s move to a new studio has opened up creative possibilities that Bell says are already paying off. “It’s amazing,” he notes. “We had a handful of sets at our old stage, and now we have three times the size. I would have to choose to write in certain sets, and now, at any time, I could write 12 sets in an episode. I don’t have to think of what’s on the floor and what needs to be trucked in or trucked out, and the turnover days. It’s just really, really wonderful.”

See the new R.J. Forrester, played by Brayan Nicoletti, with Thorsten Kaye and John McCook: Here!

The soap also went big visually in 2025, filming on location in Naples and Capri. While no destination has been selected for 2026, Bell is open to traveling again. “I’m sure we’ll be doing a great location,” he offers. “We haven’t decided where that will be yet. Now, we’re just really enjoying our new studio and our bigger space and some new, creative minds that we’ve brought into the mix. I feel like we’re on a roll and it’s been a lot of fun.”

Another backstage change includes Casey Kasprzyk, who was promoted from supervising to executive producer in October. “He really runs the booth and so much else,” lauds Bell. “My role has not changed. I look at other shows, and they have five and six executive producers. He’s earned it, and it’s wonderful to have him as an EP.”

As 2026 kicks off, B&B will continue to lean into the formula that has sustained it for nearly four decades. “We have new characters, we have some romance ahead,” he teases. “And have a wedding coming up in 2026.”

“We’re really fortifying our families. We’re going to have some fashion drama. The new fashion house [Logan] is well underway, and it’s very exciting to be back in a rivalry, which we did for so long with Forrester and Spectra and other ones along the way. Katie [Logan, Heather Tom] is determined to succeed in her new fashion house, fueled by Brooke [Logan, Katherine Kelly Lang], who’s going to have many issues with her sister doing this. Bill’s [Spencer, Don Diamont] chased Brooke a number of times, but he’s grown out of that. Really, through almost losing Liam [Spencer, Scott Clifton], he’s become not so much about money and toughness, but about leading the family. He wants to be a better Bill. So, it’s great to have the Spencers united as a force, and Ridge [Forrester, Thorsten Kaye] and Brooke united and pitting those two companies, those two families, against one another. This should be a great, fresh new rivalry, and everyone’s going to be wrapped up in it.”

“Eric [John McCook] is going to rebel. He feels like best intentions be damned. He’s the founder of that company [Forrester]. He always felt that he would have a place there until the end, and then to have Ridge wanting to take over, even though he’s been working beside him all these years, it upsets him. Eric is going to find a new avenue to channel his passion, which is design.”

“Now that Luna is dead, it’s smooth sailing for Will [Crew Morrow] and Electra [Laneya Grace] — but that begins to see some bumps in the road. They know Miss Dylan [Sydney Bullock] is living in her car, so they’re going to find a little place for her to stay at the beach house until she gets her footing and finds that next teaching job. And we will have another Spencer/Forrester rivalry with Will and RJ, so that’s going to be some fun. Years ago, when R.J. and Will were born, we thought, ‘Well, we’re never going to be around to see these guys acting as adults against one another,’ and here we are.”

“Daphne [Murielle Hilaire] is an incredibly successful woman in fashion and fragrance, but she fell for Carter [Lawrence Saint-Victor], and Carter didn’t see it. Now he sees it clear as day that she is the one who knows him and loves him and understands him, and he is determined to make her his bride. They’re going to get married and want to start a family right away. That’s their path. They’ll have an interesting story as they’re wanting to start this family, and they’ll also be involved in other stories, some interesting, unforeseen plots that are unfolding. We’re going to see a completely different side to Daphne.”

“I felt I had to bring the Taylor [Rebecca Budig]/Brooke/Ridge triangle to a conclusion. It’s been decades, and at some point, Ridge can only be in the middle of something without being too cruel for so long. Brooke and Ridge, from year one, have been destined to be together, and Taylor has always been second place with Ridge for most of her life, so I wanted her to find a man who totally appreciates her for the knockout that she is, and it happens with Deacon (Sean Kanan). He’s married to someone who has a very checkered past, and although he believes in Sheila’s [Kimberlin Brown] renaissance, other people, not so much. So Deacon really wants his family back, and it’s a lot to sacrifice to be with Sheila. But Deacon grows so fond of Taylor that he doesn’t want to put Taylor in harm’s way. Right now, Sheila thinks Taylor really saved their marriage — and in a way she has — so she’s grateful to Taylor, but little does she know that these psychiatric sessions have a little heat in them. And when she finds out, watch out.”

“Steffy will be involved in a story with her mother. Steffy, who has feared for her life and her family’s life because of Sheila, does not want her mother involved with Sheila’s husband. It’s a hard no. Steffy is really determined to protect her family and not allow Taylor to go down this path at all.”

“I love Harrison Cone. He’s really special and a great actor. Deke doesn’t care for Sheila at all, along with Hope [Annika Noelle], and that’s a big part of their story, trying to get their dad to leave Sheila. And Steffy’s trying to get Taylor not to get involved, so it’s a family can of worms. Deke also has aspirations to design. He’s going to run into some roadblocks along the way.”

Soapy S2 EP 7 - John McCook

‘The Hunting Wives’ Season 2 Adds Kim Matula & Alex FitzAlan As Recurring Guest Stars

Though details about their characters are being kept under wraps, Netflix did share their names. Matula will play “Nadia Kelly,” and FitzAlan is “Lincoln Trout.”

The duo joins returning cast Brittany Snow, Malin Akerman, Jaime Ray Newman, Dermot Mulroney, Evan Jonigkeit, George Ferrier, Karen Rodriguez, Hunter Emery, and Branton Box. Per Netflix, additional cast is still pending announcement.

Season 2 of The Hunting Wives is currently in production in the U.S. It will be released exclusively as a Netflix-branded series after the first season landed at the streamer in a bit of an unconventional way. The series was originally developed and produced for Lionsgate TV’s then-sibling Starz before the studio acquired back the rights in the two companies split in May May split. When it was pulled from Starz, Season 1 became a Netflix U.S.-only acquisition in a one-year domestic licensing deal.

Created by Rebecca Cutter, The Hunting Wives’ first season was based on the bestselling novel by May Cobb. Season 2 will be an original concept-based continuation of the story.

Per the logline, at the start of Season 2, Sophie (Snow) and Margo (Akerman) are on the outs. But soon enough, old secrets and new foes force them back together. As they play their dangerous games, the question arises. Are they the hunters or the hunted?

The series is executive produced by writer-showrunner Cutter, Erwin Stoff (The Serpent Queen) for 3 Arts Entertainment and Cobb. Lionsgate remains the studio.

‘When Calls The Heart’ Renewed For Season 14; Lori Loughlin To Return

Additionally, original cast member Lori Loughlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm, On Call) is set to reprise her role of Abigail Stanton and will appear in six of the 12 episodes, the network revealed.

“Since the series’ debut in 2014, the character of Abigail Stanton was a fan favorite and beloved by the Hearties,” said Michelle Vicary, Head of Programming, Hallmark Media. “At its core the Hallmark brand is about hope, positivity and connection, which is also the central theme of When Calls the Heart. We felt that Season 14 was the right time to continue Abigail’s story with her return to this beloved series.”

Based on Janette Oke’s novel When Calls the Heart, the period-set series stars Erin Krakow, Kevin McGarry, Jack Wagner, Chris McNally, Pascale Hutton and Kavan Smith. It follows a cultured, early-1900s schoolteacher named Elizabeth (Krakow) who leaves her comfortable world in the city for a new life in a frontier town.

When Calls the Heart is an All Canadian Entertainment Production in Association with Brad Krevoy Television and Believe Pictures. Brad Krevoy, Brian Bird, Michael Landon Jr., Joy Gregory, Mike Rohl, Jimmy Townsend, Amy Hartwick, Erin Krakow, Susie Belzberg, and Michael Shepard are executive producers. Vicki Sotheran and Greg Malcolm serve as producers.

For Older News Visit The Daytime Soap Operas News Archives: Here!

Facts

Submit Comments

Please Include Your Email Address If You Want A Response

Current Cast

This Week On The Bold & The Beautiful

Options

Other Shows

Non-Soap Polls

Other Sites

Sponsors

Showdown Poll Question

News, Cast Updates and Scoop

‘B&B’: Laneya Grace Dishes on Electra, RJ, Will Love Triangle and Dylan Drama