Days Of Our Lives- Daytime Soap Operas- News, polls, previews

Gering and Cantu are still appearing in the credits — just in the section reserved for recurring players. Reached for comment, a DAYS spokesperson said, “We never comment on actor contract status but, rest assured, Rafe and Jada are still in Salem.” The show does have a roster of recurring (i.e., not under contract) players who rotate in and out, including its new Rachel, Lorelei Olivia Mote, and the recently resurfaced Brandon Beemer (Shawn) and Casey Moss (JJ), so going off contract does not necessarily mean that either Rafe or Jada will be written out of Salem.

Gering first joined the DAYS ranks in October 2008 following his 1999-2008 run as Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald on Passions. When his contract expired back in 2020, it looked like he would be leaving the show, and the actor revealed as a guest on The Cliff Dorman Show in January of that year that “I’ve got a couple of weeks of shows to do [to wrap it up].” But in August, as the show prepared to resume production following its shutdown during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Entertainment Weekly reported that the show inked him to a new contract.

Cantu made her first appearance on the show in July 2022, telling Digest, “Working on a soap is a challenging job. It’s been a beautiful growing experience for me, because I come from a lot of prime-time experience [and] coming from that world to daytime is so different … It reminds me a lot of theater.”

The actors’ characters were once a serious item, but they broke up last year and neither Rafe nor Jada are currently in a relationship. They do, however, continue to work together in their capacity as law enforcers.

Any change in the contract status of Cantu and Gering indicated in the credits currently airing would reflect a change approximately 10 months ago, given how far in advance the show tapes in the episodes streaming now on Peacock.

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.

‘General Hospital’ Alum Sofia Mattsson Joins ‘Days of Our Lives’

I hear the actress, a fan favorite in Port Charles, will make her Salem debut in early 2027. Mattsson has been at the studio filming, but because of the soap’s unique production schedule, it will be at least nine months until she airs. Her character name has not been revealed yet.

Mattsson got the web buzzing when she posted her first Instagram of 2026, saying she was “Soaking up the LA sunshine.” In the photo, which she shared on March 17, Mattson showed off her hair, which was back to brunette from the previous blonde she had at the end of her Port Charles run.

Last July, the actress bid farewell to Port Charles after seven years. Her character Sasha left Port Charles with baby Daisy, aided by Jason Morgan (Steve Burton), to live with her parents, Holly Sutton (Emma Samms) and Robert Scorpio, played by the late Tristan Rogers. The actress was thrilled to have her alter ego tied to such legendary characters. “I loved it so much!” she enthuses. “I had been wanting a family connection since day one on the show, so I was so glad it finally happened. And both Emma Samms and Tristan Rogers are lovely to work with and very sweet in real life. I really wish we would’ve explored their relationships more. And the rest of Sasha’s family connections through the Scorpios!”

But it was a bittersweet exit, with Mattsson noting, “It was emotional for sure. Cleaning out my room and knowing that I wouldn’t see all my friends there like usual every other day felt sad. But everyone was so supportive and excited for me.” She was excited about her next chapter, adding, “I’ve had such a great time, but I’m also excited for a new chapter and to continue my acting journey in new projects.”

At the time, she told TV Insider she was open to returning to daytime if the right opportunity came along, saying, “I’d have to see what the role was, but I’m definitely not opposed to coming back to the soap world. I think being on a soap is one of the best jobs you can have as an actress.”

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

Ryan Gosling Accepts Deidre Hall’s ‘Days of Our Lives’ Invite After Calling Her His ‘OG Acting Inspiration’

The three-time Oscar-nominated actor said yes to Deidre Hall’s invitation to visit the set of “Days of Our Lives,” capping off a weeklong exchange sparked by his praise of the longtime soap star.

Gosling, speaking on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast while promoting “Project Hail Mary,” said he grew up watching the long-running daytime drama and singled out Hall’s portrayal of Marlena Evans. He pointed in particular to the show’s possession storyline, recalling how it shaped his appreciation for the craft.

“They do not get the love they deserve,” Gosling said of soap actors. “The amount they have to memorize the night before — like 10 pages of dialogue. They get one take, and it’s impossible scenarios.” He added that watching Hall shift between a “normal person” and someone “possessed by the devil” was “an incredible acting class.”

Hall, who has played Marlena since 1976, responded days later with a video message thanking Gosling and inviting him to visit the set. “We’re just thrilled to be acknowledged and to be so well spoken of,” she said, noting that the cast shared the clip with her behind the scenes.

Gosling accepted in a follow-up video posted to his partner Evan Mendes and “Project Hail Mary’s” Instagram accounts, calling Hall his “OG acting inspiration.”

“This is a very enthusiastic yes to a very cordial invitation,” he said. “I will be there to thank you in person… It wasn’t Marlon Brando. It wasn’t De Niro. It was you.”

A visit, however, may take some coordination. There is no set filming schedule currently in place, and Peacock said the show will not be filming next week.

“Project Hail Mary” is playing now in theaters, and new episodes of “Days of Our Lives” stream on Peacock.

‘A Royal Setting’s Jen Lilley and Dan Jeannotte Talk Reuniting & Her Hallmark Homecoming

When Ruby (Lilley), a world-renowned gemologist, is hired by a royal family to restore the crown jewels and design Prince Luca’s (Jeannotte) crown, she travels to the kingdom of Gullion and meets the dashing royal. During Ruby’s time with Guillon, she bonds with Prince Luca, and feelings between them begin to spark. Swooon spoke with Jen Lilley and Dan Jeannotte about reuniting in front of the camera, Lilley’s return to Hallmark, and more.

“Knowing that I was going to be working with Jen kind of took away a huge part of whatever nerves I might have had before starting,” Jeannotte said. “Anytime you start on a new project, you’re like, what’s it going to be like? Who are the people I’m working with? What’s the energy going to be? The first movie was already enjoyable. The last one we worked on was a really great movie, but it was a bit more romantic and a bit more dramatic. This one has a lot of comedy in it. And I remember talking about this years ago with Jen that she’s really funny. She should do more funny stuff. This movie, she gets the chance to be funny.”

The duo first worked together on the 2019 Hallmark movie Paris, Wine & Romance. Lilley told Swooon she was “very glad to be working with Dan again. He’s a hard-working actor. He’s very dynamic onscreen.”

In their first movie together, Lilley and Jeannotte’s characters were competing against each other, but A Royal Setting provided a different dynamic for the actors to play with. “In this one, there’s traditional expectations and constraints,” Lilley explained. “Ruby really loves people. She doesn’t want to dishonor the queen. She doesn’t want to dishonor Luca’s future. She doesn’t want to jeopardize that, so there’s a battle between wanting to follow her heart and take a chance on love, and then also facing the reality of, well, maybe I’m not what’s best for him, because I’ll be causing drama. I think that’s a real thing that people do experience in relationships. Do I go with my feelings or what’s best for the person? You have different expectations for what’s best for the person, and sometimes the best thing is just love.”

Jeannotte added, “These movies are always the most interesting and most affecting, even when they are fantastical or fairy tale-ish, when people can relate to them, when it’s something that we can all connect to. We all know what it’s like to be trying to figure out our path in life and to come across things that make us think, oh, do I go this way, or do I go that way? Just because they’re a gemologist and a prince doesn’t mean that they’re not going through the same human emotions that we all go through.”

Ruby is an expert gemologist, and it wasn’t a huge stretch for Lilley to step into the world of science. “I love science so much that I accidentally have an accidental degree in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia,” Lilley revealed. She took a gemology lab in college and said it was her “biggest struggle because I just wasn’t that into gems. But I am really into tectonics and earthquakes and meteorology and weather patterns, so I actually have a degree in this, and I was very, very glad to be able to use both my degrees. ”

A Royal Setting marks Lilley’s first Hallmark movie since 2022’s Where Your Heart Belongs, and the actress opened up about returning to the network. “It’s so exciting. Honestly, it felt like a homecoming in every single way and everything that you would expect from the warmth and welcoming back. It’s just been an incredible experience, top to bottom,” she told Swooon.

Ashley Benson Signs With Strand Entertainment

Benson was most recently seen starring alongside Alfie Allen in Mike Ott’s McVeigh, an indie drama based on the true story of Oklahoma City Bombing perpetrator Timothy McVeigh, which premiered at the Tribeca Festival. She recently wrapped production on the independent feature Pretty Babies, which she also produced alongside Christine Vachon with Killer Films and Jordan Wagner.

Best known for her breakout role on Freeform’s Pretty Little Liars, which ran for seven seasons, Benson other credits include Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers for A24, Alex Ross Perry’s Her Smell opposite Elisabeth Moss, and the Amazon series Wilderness, as well as Mob Land alongside John Travolta, The Birthday Cake with Ewan McGregor, and Pixels for Sony.

Benson reaches a social audience of more than 23 million followers and continues to be represented by Independent Artist Group and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.

Founded by Jeff Golenberg and Jason Shapiro, Strand Entertainment announced that they’ve promoted Aileen Lewis to manager earlier this week.

Cady McClain and Jon Lindstrom Settle Divorce

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Cady and Jon informed the court of the deal this week.

The former couple wed on February 14, 2014, and separated on December 11, 2023. They did not have any children.

According to the settlement, Cady and Jon both waived their right to collect spousal support. The actress will keep her furniture, personal property, and all assets in her possession and in her name. Jon will walk away with all property in his possession and his separate assets. They're now just waiting on sign-off from the judge to make it final.

Cady and Jon announced their split on April 27, 2024, via a joint statement, saying, “We are taking this opportunity to make a short statement about our relationship status. It may be obvious to some based on our posts that we’ve taken some time apart. After serious consideration, we have decided that our goals have been taking us in different directions and to end our marriage."

‘Running Point’ Season 2 Trailer Teases Octavia Spencer, Lisa Rinna Guest Spots & More

On Thursday, the streamer debuted the first trailer for Season 2 of the series, featuring returning stars Kate Hudson and Justin Theroux, as well as guest appearances from Octavia Spencer, Lisa Rinna, Nicole Richie, Scott Speedman and co-creator Ike Barinholtz.

In Season 2, premiering April 23 on Netflix, Isla Gordon (Hudson) is determined she’s not just keeping her brother Cam’s (Theroux) seat warm while leading the Los Angeles Waves, following last season’s scandal. Meanwhile, Cam is quietly plotting to reclaim his post, turning every misstep into ammunition.

From creators Elaine Ko, Mindy Kaling, David Stassen and Barinholtz, Running Point also stars Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur, Brenda Song, Fabrizio Guido, Chet Hanks, Toby Sandeman and Uche Agada.

Other guest stars include Ray Romano, Max Greenfield, Jay Ellis, Roberto Sanchez, Jon Glaser, Scott Evans, Rob Huebel, Marissa Reyes, Blake Anderson, Ken Marino, Tommy Dewey, Richa Moorjani, Aliyah Turner and Jake Picking.

Soapy | S3 EP4: Ron Carlivati on Building His Prolific Soap Career Creating Characters & Plotlines

‘Poser’ Adds Trio Of Series Regulars; Barbara Hershey, Julio Macias, Adam Beach & Michael Trucco Among Recurring As Production Begins

Joel Oulette (Carrie), Hubert Smielecki (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) and Sarah Abbott (The Body) are joining as series regulars. They will play Nate, Max, and Addison, respectively. They join the previously announced series regulars Daisy Jelley, Sadie Stanley and Annie Murphy.

The new recurring talent includes Barbara Hershey (Strange Darling) as Helen, Emily Chen in her debut will be playing Billie, Ethan Loomis (A Dog’s Perfect Christmas) plays Randy, Golden Landis Von Jones aka 24kGoldn, plays Leif, Silvia Dionicio (Task) plays Sonia, and Lauren Donzis (Punky Brewster) plays Zoey. Additional talent includes Christian Finlayson (Grosse Pointe Garden Society) as Bodie, Dior Goodjohn (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) as Margot, Ciara Riley Wilson (Freeridge) as Jane, Julio Macias (On My Block) plays Mr. Cartwright, Adam Beach (Flags of Our Fathers) plays Tim, Beth Riesgraf (Leverage: Redemption) plays Tracy, Michael Trucco (Fire Country) plays Rick, and Nikki DeLoach (Awkward) plays Lacey.

Iungerich is the creator of the TV series Awkward, On My Block, and Freeridge. On Poser, she reunites with three of her former stars: DeLoach, Macias, and Wilson, from the aforementioned shows, respectively.

Poser explores toxic female friendship through the lens of a sexy, emotional thriller. It centers around two estranged, former best friends. When one of them is given a chance to live the life she’s long coveted, and maybe get answers as to why they fell out years ago, she finds herself in a psychological game of revenge, betrayal, and heartbreak—ultimately altering their lives, and those around them, forever.

Iungerich serves as the writer and showrunner of Poser, a project that falls under her overall deal at Netflix. She and Jamie Dooner executive produce through her Crazy Cat Lady Entertainment production banner.

‘All My Children’s Cady McClain Looks Back at ‘TV Marriage’ to Michael E. Knight

Recently, McClain has been reminiscing about her career in soaps, looking back at moments like her Daytime Emmy win and the first time Tad and Dixie got married. She shared a sweet photo of Tad and Dixie on their wedding day, a memorable moment for the beloved couple.

“Also me. 1990? First TV marriage to ‘Tad’ on ‘All My Children.’ I think we were married three times, lol. Not sure who to credit for this photo. Thank you, ABC, for your belief in me and support of my work,” she wrote on Instagram.

Dixie and Tad actually got married in December 1989, so McClain wasn’t too far off! The couple got divorced a few months later in 1990, but they reconciled. Dixie and Tad were planning on getting married again when he was caught in an explosion and presumed dead. Tad was actually alive, and he reunited with Dixie years later.

They married again in 1994, but they divorced… again. The couple wed for a third time a few years later, which was followed by yet another split. They were in the process of reuniting for a fourth time when Dixie was involved in a car crash and was believed to be dead. There was a whole Dixie spirit storyline in there, but we later learned that Dixie was alive and being held captive by David Hayward (Vincent Irizarry). Talk about a long story for another day. Dixie and Tad married for a fourth time in 2013.

Back in 2023, McClain and Knight reflected on Dixie and Tad’s love story and how their very first kiss changed everything. “I remember the scene that we did with the yarn and the first kiss. I was knitting, and you were going to have to kiss me,” McClain said in 2023, per SoapHub. “I think you were rolling the yarn into a ball, and I was knitting, and we were on a sofa. We had to do that first kind of very tender kiss. And I remember after that — like just the vibe and the whole studio and the camera people were like, ‘Oh yeah, this is, this is it.'”

Knight is gearing up for his annual break from General Hospital. The actor has played Martin Grey, who is now off to Reno to work a new case, since 2019. McClain has had a recurring role on Beyond the Gates since 2025.

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.

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

How Kate Mansi’s Diagnosis Inspired Molly’s ‘General Hospital’ Story

The episode revisits Molly Lansing’s (Kristen Vaganos) struggle with endometriosis, a painful condition that Mansi has in real life, in which uterine-like tissue grows outside the uterus, sometimes affecting fertility. Though Molly’s diagnosis played a major role in the baby storyline of 2024, she’s now dealing with a flare-up that brings the issue back into the spotlight.

“We always used to lament that Molly has this condition, and it should come up more often,” Vaganos notes. “I would watch Kate go through little flare-ups and work through pain and things like that all the time, and it just really dawned on me that this is not something that just goes away day to day. It felt like a more honest representation of somebody with endometriosis would be for it to come up a lot, and when it’s inconvenient and how people work through it, so I was really delighted that it came back up.”

For Mansi, hearing that the show would continue to explore Molly’s journey meant a lot. “Part of the reason I took this job as Kristina was because Frank [Valentini, executive producer] said there was a storyline surrounding endometriosis,” Mansi explains. “That was the first time in my life I’ve ever read in any script that there was a character with endometriosis. So, the fact that they have continued to want to honor that with telling more intricate stories about endometriosis is incredible. And to do it with Kristen, who is a friend and such a phenomenal actor, I knew that it would be handled so well.”

When Mansi later learned she would be directing the episode featuring the material, the moment felt especially meaningful. “I was just so moved, as was my family, to see that Frank really took the care that the storyline deserves,” she praises. “And then beyond that, when he called me to tell me I was directing, I just was so honored.”

Mansi’s insight helped shape how Vaganos approached the material. “Even before knowing that she would be directing, just having been her friend for the past few years has been research that I didn’t even know would become so applicable,” Vaganos notes. “I’ve seen her endure it, so I have been able to get firsthand knowledge. I just felt like I was in such safe hands and it meant so much to me to know that I was doing right by Kate personally.”

Although Mansi previously directed an episode in November, this installment carried additional weight because of its subject matter. “It came really easy in a lot of ways because I understood the physicality first,” she explains. “And Frank was so amazing. I had a couple of things I went to him with and said, ‘Hey, there’s one moment where they’re talking about endometriosis and I think it’s really important that Molly says, ‘It’s not just bad periods, this is what it’s like,’ and he was so supportive and really incorporated that feedback.”

The scenes also explore how Molly’s health crisis impacts her growing connection with Cody Bell (Josh Kelly), and Vaganos gives kudos to her costar. “Working with Josh is so lovely and he handled it all so well,” she shares. “We have such a funny, quirky dynamic on the show that Josh and I both really love. For us to bring it down and get grounded and real and emotional is not necessarily something that that couple is comfortable navigating yet, so it was also really special, because it’s a first for them. It’s the first really big conversation and it goes well, which is just such a win.”

For Mansi, who credits her husband, Matt McInnis, with being there for her through her own experience with endometriosis, the material also resonated on a personal level. “It depicts how a supportive partner can handle it, and I think that’s really important for us to also represent the people who love people with endometriosis,” she explains. “Honestly, there were a few moments in the beginning when I was blocking it and I was seeing it happen that I was like, ‘Oh, my God, I can’t believe I get to do this. This is so meaningful.’ So, it was just an incredible experience.”

Mansi and Vaganos’ real-life friendship only deepened the emotional dynamic of the episode. “We worked out together this morning at 9 a.m., and this woman who was in front of us turned to us and said, ‘Are you guys sisters? You really look alike,” says Mansi. “And we laughed, but this story is really special, and it was very vulnerable for both of us, and really just so intimate and personal. But it’s just so nice to have that bond with someone; it immediately snaps the story into a deeper level for everything we’re doing.”

The impact of the tale has already been felt by viewers. “Kristen and I were saying just from talking about it, we’ve had our DMs flooded with people saying, ‘I have it too. Thanks for speaking out,’” says Mansi. “So, I think the whole point of this and the beautiful job that General Hospital, Frank, and ABC have done with this storyline is it’s opened the door for people who have this to feel empowered to speak about it.”

Mansi hopes they continue to find meaning in the tale. “It really encourages women to take ownership and control over their fertility and their future in ways that I don’t think are talked about often,” she offers. “So, my hope is for this story is that it makes women get curious, speak out and speak up.”

As for what comes next for Molly and Cody, Vaganos teases, “They are going to continue to go through a lot of firsts together, and they’re going to still go through some bumps in the road. But this has brought them closer in a way that is irreversible. For him to be there for her during this moment puts them some light years ahead of where a relationship might typically advance. It’s just very mature and vulnerable for them, and they’ll keep going like that.”

Judy Pace Dies: Groundbreaking Black Actress Who Starred In ‘Brian’s Song’ Was 83

The Brian’s Song actress’ daughters Shawn and Julia Pace Mitchell announced that their mother “died peacefully in her sleep” on Wednesday while visiting family in Marina Del Rey.

Born June 15, 1942 in Los Angeles, Julia Pace trained as a model, becoming Ebony Fashion Fair’s youngest in 1961.

Pace made her onscreen debut in William Castle’s 1963 Cold War spy film 13 Frightened Girls, launching her career as the first Black woman contracted at Columbia Studios. Throughout the ’60s, she went on to TV appearances in episodes of I Spy, Batman, Bewitched, Days of Our Lives, The Flying Nun, The Mod Squad, Tarzan and Peyton Place.

She won an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress during her time as Pat Walters on The Young Lawyers from 1969-’71.

In the ’70s, Pace went on to star in several Blaxploitation films, including Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) and The Slams (1973). She also portrayed wife of football legend Gale Sayers in Brian’s Song (1971).

A philanthropist, Pace founded the Kwanza Foundation in ’71 with Nichelle Nichols, supporting Black women working in film and providing scholarships to minority students pursuing careers in the arts.

Pace is survived by her daughters, attorney Shawn Pace Mitchell and actress Julia Pace Mitchell, her grandson Stephen Lamar Hightower III, her son-in-law Otto Strong, and many cherished family members and close friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Judy Pace’s honor to the NAACP.

‘Brilliant Minds’ Will Return in May With Guest Stars Mamie Gummer, Anne Archer, Ed Begley Jr. and Ana Ortiz

NBC hasn’t made a final decision yet on the fate of “Brilliant Minds” beyond Season 2, which returns on Wednesday, May 27 at 8 p.m. ET. The show will remain in that slot for the season’s final six segs.

As part of the news, NBC announced three more guest stars: Begley Jr. will play Duke on Episode 220; here’s the the character description: “A once-commanding patriarch, Duke struggles to hold onto the memories that defined him. But as they slip away, Wolf becomes determined to help him make amends with his estranged son before it’s too late.”

Also in that episode, Archer will play Bonnie, described as “a kindhearted matriarch who must find a way to reconcile the future she dreamed of with the reality she faces.”

Meanwhile, in Episode 217, Gummer will play Regan, “a psychiatric patient whose harrowing episodes estrange her from everyone at Hudson Oaks…except for Wolf. After taking a keen interest in Regan, Wolf discovers there may be more to her case than meets the eye.”

And in Episode 218, Ortiz will play Alyssa Rivera: “Fresh out of prison, Alyssa is determined to earn her way back into her old life, no matter the cost.”

Begley’s recent TV credits include “Better Call Saul,” “Young Sheldon,” “Bless This Mess,” “Arrested Development,” “Portlandia,” “Modern Family” and “Six Feet Under,” while in film he’s been seen on films such as “A Mighty Wind,” “Best in Show” and “For Your Consideration.”

Archer can currently was seen on “The Dropout,” “Paper Empire” and “The L Word.” In film, she was nominated for a BAFTA and Golden Globe for “Fatal Attraction.”

Gummer’s TV credits include “We Were Liars,” “DMZ,” “True Detective,” “The Collection,” “Emily Owens, M.D.,” “The Good Wife,” “Manhattan,” “Off the Map,” “John Adams” and “The Big C.” Ortiz’s credits include “Goosebumps,” “Love, Victor,” “Whiskey Cavalier,” “Dangerous Maids” and “Ugly Betty.”

Zachary Quinto stars in “Brilliant Minds,” which was inspired by author and neurologist Oliver Sacks. He plays Dr. Wolf, a surgeon at Bronx General uncovering medical mysteries of the mind.

Quinto, Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Teddy Sears, Donna Murphy, John Clarence Stewart, Brian Altemus and Al Calderon star in the show.

Michael Grassi is creator, writer, and executive producer. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Lee Toland Krieger, DeMane Davis, Jasmine Russ, Henrik Bastin, Jonathan Cavendish, Andy Serkis and Shefali Malhoutra also executive produce the series, which comes from Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television.

Begley Jr. is repped by Innovative Artists Talent & Literary, Constellation Media Group; Archer is repped by Defining Artists & LINK Entertainment; Gummer is repped by CAA; Ortiz is repped by Gersh, GEF Entertainment.

‘General Hospital’ Star Kate Mansi Shares Health Update After Life-Saving Surgery by Stepdad

The Daytime Emmy-winning actress, who portrays Kristina Davis on the ABC soap opera, recently spoke with People in honor of March’s Endometriosis Awareness Month. Mansi revealed how her own endometriosis diagnosis came following a unique experience.

In 2015, Mansi suddenly started suffering severe cramps, heavy bleeding, and nausea. Her stomach also became distended to the point where she couldn’t fasten her pants.

“It had been going on for a couple days, and doctors just kept dismissing it,” she recalled, noting how doctors suggested it could be an IUD issue or a bad period or even the flu.

Despite immense pain, Mansi pushed through and continued working. At the time, she was starring on Days of Our Lives as Abigail Deveraux. She remembered how her makeup artist told her she looked “green and pale.”

“I’ve never gone through childbirth, but it felt like I was having extreme contractions,” Mansi shared with the outlet. “They would say action, I would do my scene, and then the second they said cut, I was literally doubled over in pain. It got unbearable that I ended up driving myself to the emergency room that day.”

At the hospital, Mansi met with her mother and stepfather, who is an OB-GYN, and found that an 11-centimeter mass had formed in her abdomen. The doctors called an oncologist, but Mansi’s stepfather said she needed emergency surgery and volunteered to perform it himself.

“My stepdad was so frustrated — and because he’s my stepfather, so it’s not a blood relation — he scrubbed in himself and was like, ‘I’m not waiting for an oncologist. I’m gonna do the surgery or she’s not gonna make it,'” Mansi stated. “And he did a surgery that ended up saving my life.”

It turned out Mansi had an ovarian cyst that had ruptured and hit a blood vessel, leaking “a liter and a half of blood into my abdomen.” Her stepfather removed the mass, and that’s when he found “all this endometriotic tissue.”

“When I came out of surgery, I had lost so much blood that I needed blood transfusions. And my stepdad told me, ‘You have endometriosis and this is what that means.’ And that was the first time I had ever even heard that word,” she said.

Following her diagnosis, Mansi said she researched endometriosis and how best to manage it. She also froze her eggs years later. “I have been lucky enough to have it be much more stable now,” she shared.

Mansi is now bringing her experiences to the screen. An upcoming episode of General Hospital, airing on March 16, will feature a storyline about endometriosis.

“As someone who’s been in this industry for a while, I’ve never even read a script in my life to this day, apart from here, that even mentioned endometriosis,” said Mansi, who will direct the episode. “So I was so proud of ABC and [executive producer] Frank Valentini and the writers for telling this story. I was so honored and it should be something that is represented more.”

‘Malcom in the Middle’ Revival Trailer: Frankie Muniz Returns 20 Years After Show Ended for More Family Hijinks

The four-episode limited series, officially titled “Malcom in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair,” will feature the return of nearly all of the original show’s main cast members. The revival stars Frankie Muniz as Malcolm, Jane Kaczmarek as his mother Lois, Bryan Cranston as his father Hal, Chris Masterson as his eldest brother Francis, Justin Berfield as his older brother Reese and Emy Coligado as Francis’ wife Piama.

As previously announced, Caleb Ellsworth-Clark is taking over the role of Dewey, Malcolm’s younger brother who was played by Erik Per Sullivan in the original show. New cast members include Keeley Karsten as Malcolm’s daughter Leah, Kiana Madeira as his girlfriend Tristan, and Vaughan Murrae as Kelly, Hal and Lois’ youngest child who was revealed with Lois’ pregnancy in the series finale.

According to the logline for the new show, “After shielding himself and his daughter from his family for over a decade, Malcolm is dragged back into their orbit when Hal and Lois demand his presence at their 40th anniversary party.”

The original creator, Linwood Boomer, returns as writer and executive producer of the new iteration of the series. Cranston, Tracy Katsky of KatCo, Gail Berman and New Regency’s Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan and Natalie Lehmann are also executive producers.

Ken Kwapis directs all four episodes and executive produces. Jimmy Simons and Laura Delahaye are co-executive producers. The series hails from Disney Branded Television and is produced by 20th Television.

The revival was officially announced in December 2024. “Malcolm in the Middle” originally aired on Fox for seven seasons and 151 episodes from 2000 to 2006, racking up 33 Emmy nominations over the course of its run, ultimately winning seven of the statuettes.

The entire “Malcolm in the Middle” series currently streams on Hulu and on Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers.

Soapy S3 EP2: Jackée Harry's Triumphant Return to Daytime and Enduring Hollywood Legacy

Netflix’s ‘One Attempt Remaining’ Adds Seven To Cast As Production Begins In Los Angeles

Character details are under wraps. As previously announced, Jennifer Garner and John Cena lead the cast, which also includes Kate McKinnon and Aimee Carrero.

One Attempt Remaining follows an ex-couple who, years after their acrimonious divorce, learn that the cryptocurrency they won on a crazy night on a cruise is now worth millions… but they’ve forgotten the password. With only three days left before the account expires, they must retrace their steps that night, not just to find the password to their fortune, but also why they fell in love in the first place.

The script is by Joe Boothe & Alexa Alemanni and Cannon. 21 Laps’ Shawn Levy and Dan Levine are producing alongside Nicole King for Linden Productions, and Garner, with Cannon, 21 Laps’ Becca Edelman, Deanna Barillari of Linden Productions, and Bergen Swanson exec producing.

Shahidi is repped by CAA, Linden Entertainment, and The Nord Group; Nyambi by Verve, ATA Management, and Del Shaw Moonves; Wilmore by UTA, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller; Marini by AS Talents, Performers Management, Allagash Entertainment, and Felker Toczek Suddleson; Seidu by AKA Talent and Industry Entertainment; Barinholtz by Buchwald; and Mansell by Defining Artists Agency.

Who Does Hannah Swensen End Up With? Her Relationship History in the Movies & Books

Hannah and Chad’s relationship is fairly new in the Hannah Swensen Universe, but it seems like these two could go the distance. Hallmark’s Hannah Swensen movies are based on the Joanne Fluke novels. Are Hannah and Chad endgame in the books? What happened to Mike Kingston (Cameron Mathison)? Swooon has your essential guide to Hannah Swensen’s relationship history.

The Hannah Swensen book series is still ongoing, and as of now, Hannah is single. Her love life has been a core aspect of the novels, especially her love triangle with Mike Kingston and Norman Rhodes. Both of them propose to Hannah at one point, but she turns them down.

However, Hannah ends up marrying someone else in the books: Ross Barton. Their marriage is anything but blissful. They say “I do” in Banana Cream Pie Murder. It’s later revealed that Ross and Hannah’s marriage isn’t even legal, and he’s actually married to someone else. In yet another twist, Ross is later found dead. As of Pie to Die For, Ross has not been introduced in the Hallmark movies.

Chad Norton, a prosecuting attorney, was introduced in One Bad Apple as a new love interest for Hannah. He had some brief competition for Hannah’s affections with Professor Bradford Ramsay (Oliver Rice). Chad is a character from the novels, but the character has been expanded in the movies.

Their romantic relationship took some time to develop, due to Hannah’s breakup with Mike. Hannah and Chad went on their first date in Pie to Die For, and Webster appreciated how the couple took their time to figure out what they meant to each other.

“It was a really nice slow burn,” Webster previously told Swooon. “We’ve had three movies where we’ve kind of sensed a growing interest, and now this is the first film where we take it out of the business world, and we see what happens when they go on a date.”

Prior to Chad’s arrival, Hannah was in a serious relationship with Mike. They were even engaged at one point! After the love triangle with Norman (Gabriel Hogan) settled down, it seemed like Hannah and Mike were going to be endgame, but Mike left for FBI training at Quantico in A Zest for Death. (Mathison signed a multi-picture movie deal with Great American Family in 2023.)

Sweeney has always been open to the idea of Mike returning in the future. “Believe me, I am always open to working with people I love like Cameron,” she said. Given Hannah and Chad’s relationship, Mike’s return would certainly shake things up if it ever happened.

Do you think Hannah and Chad are meant to be? Should Mike or Norman come back into the picture?

Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, Movie Premiere, March 7, 8/7c, Hallmark Channel.

‘The Boys’ Final Season Trailer: Homelander Seeks Immortality and Sits in The White House in Blood-Soaked New Footage

Amazon Prime Video has released the trailer for the fifth and final season of the superhero drama, which will begin streaming on April 8 with its first two episodes. The series finale will drop on May 20.

“In the fifth and final season, it’s Homelander’s world, completely subject to his erratic, egomaniacal whims,” the logline reads. “Hughie, Mother’s Milk, and Frenchie are imprisoned in a ‘Freedom Camp.’ Annie struggles to mount a resistance against the overwhelming Supe force. Kimiko is nowhere to be found. But when Butcher reappears, ready and willing to use a virus that will wipe all Supes off the map, he sets in motion a chain of events that will forever change the world and everyone in it. It’s the climax, people. Big stuff’s gonna happen.”

Season 4 ended in July 2024, with the new U.S. president enacting martial law and putting Homelander effectively in charge of the country. All the Boys were captured, except for Butcher, who has tendril superpowers and wields a virus that could wipe out all supes, and Annie, who’s regained her Starlight powers and recruited some of the Godolkin students in “Gen V” Season 2.

“The Boys” Season 5 cast includes Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Jessie T. Usher, Laz Alonso, Chace Crawford, Tomer Capone, Karen Fukuhara, Colby Minifie, Cameron Crovetti, Susan Heyward, Valorie Curry and Daveed Diggs.

The show is based on Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s comic book series of the same name and created by showrunner Eric Kripke. Executive producers include Kripke, Ennis, Robertson, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Neal H. Moritz, Pavun Shetty, Phil Sgriccia, Michaela Starr, Paul Grellong, David Reed, Judalina Neira, Jessica Chou, Gabriel Garcia, Ori Marmur, Ken F. Levin and Jason Netter.

Days of Our Lives: AlexAnn Hopkins Returns as Joy Wesley

The daughter of Craig Wesley (Kevin Spirtas) and Nancy Wesley (Patrika Darbo), Joy was born back in 2003, with her parents hoping she would be a match to donate bone marrow to her big sister Chloe (Nadia Bjorlin), who had been diagnosed with leukemia. When Nancy and Craig left Salem in 2005, they took their daughter with them, but Joy resurfaced in October 2024 and quickly found herself neck-deep in drama.

After spending the night with Johnny (Carson Boatman), Joy landed a job on the soap opera Body and Soul, and it was clear that the drama wasn’t going to be saved for the cameras: not only was Johnny a director for the series, but her co-star was his wife, Chanel (Raven Bowens)!

When the truth finally came out at a New Year’s party, Johnny insisted that he and Joy had never actually had sex. Joy left the bash with Alex (Robert Scott Wilson) and they slept together. But he was in love with Stephanie (Abigail Klein), so when Joy discovered she was pregnant, she quickly skipped town. Hopkins was last seen in the role on March 19, 2025.

“Surprise!” Hopkins declared in the Instagram video, which was filmed at the DAYS studio. “I’m back! You thought Joy was gone? She’s back in Salem. To find out why, you’ll have to tune into Peacock.”

In the comments, Wilson commented, “She baaaack,” and fans immediately began speculating that Alex and Stephanie’s new marriage is poised to be tested by the arrival of Joy— likely with Alex’s baby in tow.

Nikki Crawford Talks Bringing Lexie Carver Back to ‘Days of Our Lives’

Lexie, originally played by Renee Jones from 1993 to 2012, was presumed dead but has secretly been kept alive by Dr. Wilhelm Rolf (Richard Wharton) in a mysterious lab at the hospital. Crawford was unaware of the twist when she auditioned for the show. “They didn’t tell me it was Lexie Carver,” she relays. “They used another name just because she was such a beloved character. So, when I started doing my research, I thought, ‘Oh, well, maybe she’s coming on as Lexie’s sister,’ and it wasn’t until I got the role that they told me, ‘No, you’re the new Lexie Carver.’”

Before she reported to the studio to begin filming, Crawford immersed herself in Lexie’s comprehensive history. “I don’t watch soaps, but like with any role that I take on, I do extensive research,” she explains. “So, I watched the show. I delved into her backstory through Google searches. There’s so much information and so many websites dedicated to Lexie Carver, so I did a lot of that, and then when I got on set and started working, I started speaking to other actors, and the producers and the directors really filled me in on Lexie’s backstory, which was extremely helpful. The character had gone through so much and so I wanted to embody all of that when she comes back to life.”

That groundwork proved essential as Crawford adjusted to the demands of daytime drama for the first time. “It was exciting and it was a little daunting at first just because of the pace,” she explains. “The show moves incredibly fast. I’ve been an actress for over 25 years, and I’ve done extensive theater, but learning material like that so quickly with very little rehearsal time was initially a challenge, but I found it exhilarating. It pushed me to develop a new level of precision and trust in my instincts. I would say it really sharpened how quickly I can break down material, make strong choices, and take risks without overthinking. And I ended up really loving it. It reminded me why I love this work.”

Crawford found an instant sense of belonging among her castmates. “Everybody was so wonderful,” she raves. “James [Reynolds, Abe Carver] and I had great chemistry and had so much fun. He was a wealth of knowledge, and I got so much information from him. Everybody really just embraced me, from James to Jackée [Harry, Paulina Price] to Tyler [Joseph Andrews, Theo Carver] to Deidre [Hall, Marlena Evans]. It was great and Jackée and I had a blast.”

Beyond the warm welcome, Crawford focused on keeping the story authentic. “I knew it was a soap, and I know that oftentimes, soap operas bring people back from the dead,” she notes. “And honestly, I just really approached it from Lexie’s truth. I played it more like she was in a coma for these last 15 years. I really honored who she was, but I also grounded her in who she is. I would say at her core, Lexie is driven by love. Her family is everything to her. And now that she’s been given a second chance at life, that raises the stakes.”

Stepping into Jones’ shoes came with added pressure, but Crawford embraced it. “That’s always a challenge, I think, coming in as somebody who was as beloved as Renee Jones was,” she reflects. “What she did was iconic, and she really created something wonderful. It’s understandable why the audiences loved and were invested in her and then were torn apart when she left. I saw it more as an opportunity to honor what audiences have loved, while bringing truth to who Lexie is today and creating upon what Renee had previously built. So, it was exciting but also, there was a bit of trepidation just because I know the love that people have for Renee.”

As for what viewers can expect from her run, Crawford teases there will be major ripple effects in Salem. “Her return is going to shake things up, especially with Abe now being married to Paulina,” she previews. “But I think what makes her relatable is that she’s willing to fight for what she loves. Most people, if given a second chance, would do the same thing. So, she may come in with love, but she’s not coming in quietly.”

Crawford started filming her episodes last summer and is looking forward to watching Lexie’s return play out on screen. “You kind of forget about it because it’s so far in the future that I just kind of allowed myself to focus on other projects until the time came,” she says. “And now I can’t wait to see it. Hopefully, audiences will come along for the ride and be excited with what I created with the new Lexie.”

‘Little House on the Prairie’ Reboot Sets Release Date, Netflix Renews Show for Season 2

The new “Little House on the Prairie,” based on the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder book series, will launch on July 9. The show was first announced with a series pickup in January 2025.

The logline states, “Part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West, this fresh adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s iconic semi-autobiographical ‘Little House’ books offers a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier.”

The cast includes Alice Halsey (Rachel, Days Of Our Lives) as Laura Ingalls, Skywalker Hughes as Laura’s older sister, Mary, Luke Bracey as Pa, aka Charles Ingalls, and Crosby Fitzgerald as Ma, Caroline Ingalls.

Rebecca Sonnenshine will serve as showrunner and executive producer on “Little House on the Prairie.” Joy Gorman Wettels of Joy Coalition will also executive produce along with Trip Friendly for Friendly Family Productions, Dana Fox, and Susanna Fogel. CBS Studios and Anonymous Content Studios will produce for Netflix. Directors on the series are Sarah Adina Smith (101), Julie Anne Robinson (102, 103), Kat Candler (104, 105), Erica Tremblay (106), Sydney Freeland (107, 108)

Friendly is the son of Ed Friendly, who executive produced the original “Little House on the Prairie” TV series.

“I’m incredibly grateful to our wonderful cast and crew, who put their hearts and hard work into making our first season come alive,” Sonnenshine said. “We can’t wait to share this new adaptation of the ‘Little House’ books with the world, and we’re thrilled that Netflix is giving us the opportunity to continue the story.”

Ingalls Wilder released eight “Little House” books in the 1930s and ’40s, while a ninth was published posthumously in 1971. The books are based on her childhood in the American Midwest in the late 1800s. More than 73 million copies of the books have been sold to date.

“We are delighted to renew this beautiful reimagining of ‘Little House on the Prairie’ for a second season ahead of its Netflix debut,” said Jinny Howe, Netflix’s head of US and Canada scripted series. “The exceptional work by Rebecca Sonnenshine and the entire cast and crew on Season 1 has established a rich foundation of storytelling for years to come. With its hopeful spirit and emotional authenticity, we’re confident that Little House will deliver even more of what fans truly love.”

Maria O’Brien Dies: ‘Protocol’ & ‘Matlock’ Actress, ‘Days Of Our Lives’ Acting Coach Was 75

The daughter of an acting family, her father was Oscar-winner Edmund O’Brien, and her mother was musical comedy star Olga San Juan. O’Brien was born on August 14, 1950.

O’Brien’s first film credit was in 1975’s Smile as Maria. She would take on film roles in other films like Shell Game (1975), The Choirboys (1977), Prime Time (1977), PSI Factor (1980), and The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1980). In 1984, she was part of the cast of Protocol, starring alongside Goldie Hawn, Richard Romanus, Jean Smart, and more.

Over the years, O’Brien appeared alongside actors such as Melanie Griffith, Lily Tomlin, Angela Lansbury, Tom Selleck, and many others.

Throughout her career, O’Brien made guest appearances in television shows like Murder, She Wrote, Magnum PI, Good Morning, Miss Bliss, The Love Boat, LA Law, Chips, Matlock, Nash Bridges, Suddenly Susan, Jack & Jill, For the People, and Ave 43.

In the late 90s, O’Brien was hired as an acting coach on daytime dramas, Sunset Beach and Passions, which led to a 15-year position as acting coach on Days of our Lives, a job she held until her retirement in 2022.

O’Brien’s father was one of the first celebrities to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, and in 1983, she testified before Congress about the devastation of the disease. She was instrumental in securing government funding for Alzheimer’s research.

In 1990, she won a Drama-Logue award for The Maids by Jean Genet, performed at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.

O’Brien was preceded in death by her brother, actor Brendan O’Brien, and is survived by three children, Thomas Anderson, Danica Anderson, and Sean Anderson, and her sister Bridget O’Brien Adelman.

She will be remembered for her vivacious personality, her passion for acting, and her exceptional talent as an artist and teacher.

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).

Alison Sweeney and Daughter Megan Interview Each Other! | Spilling the E-Tea

Alison Sweeney Details Daughter Megan’s Acting Debut in ‘Romance at Hope Ranch’

The first, Romance at Hope Ranch, is especially close to Sweeney’s heart. Not only does the movie feature her 17-year-old daughter, Megan Sweeney, playing her character’s child, but it also incorporates one of their favorite pastimes: horseback riding.

“I have been developing Hope Ranch for about two years,” Sweeney begins. “I was working on the concept with the writer, and it had come up in conversation that I had never been in a horse movie. Every time a great horse-themed movie comes out on Hallmark, I’m always like, ‘Why isn’t that me?’”

Inspired by that idea, Sweeney took the reins and tapped her Hannah Swensen Mysteries’ costar, Gabriel Hogan, to collaborate on the story and star as her love interest.

“He does a series called Heartland, and he has lots of experience working with horses, so he had the interest, and he developed an idea,” she explains. “We sort of married that all together, and came up with the concept of Hope Ranch, which is, in some ways, themed after my family. My character’s name is Hope, my mother’s birth name was Hope, and my grandmother’s name was Hope, so that was a little tribute to my mom and the fact that she brought being obsessed with horses into my family, and my daughter and I both carry that on. I have a dream of wanting to own a ranch, so bringing that to life in this role and this character was super fun.”

The project became even more personal during a conversation with her producing partner, Craig Baumgarten, about casting Hope’s daughter. He suggested hiring Megan. “There was an awkward silence on the phone where I just was so stunned,” Sweeney admits. “It literally had not ever occurred to me. I kind of stammered a bit, and then was like, ‘I mean, yes, of course, that would be amazing.’”

Although Megan isn’t currently planning to pursue an acting career, she was eager to take on the role. “Megan was so excited when I asked her if she would be interested in doing it,” Sweeney relays. “And she took it really seriously and worked really hard and did a lot of prep in the memorizing and understanding how to do on-camera acting. She’s done theater at school, but performing on a stage is extremely different from how to perform in front on camera. She did a great job, and I am so proud of her.”

Still, Sweeney made sure to establish boundaries before stepping on set. “We had a little chat before I officially offered her the job,” she shares. “I said, ‘So, when we’re on set, I’m your producer. This is a different relationship, and when I am being a professional at work, you have to take it seriously.’ She agreed, and we shook hands on it, and she did take it very seriously. When Tailiah [Breon], our director, was giving her notes, I became a total mom and was taking photos behind the scenes of Megan getting directed and working with the camera person, for example. And then I would immediately put down the phone and get invested as the actor or the producer, whatever my responsibility was at the time.”

Beyond the family connection, the movie also allowed Sweeney to lean into her longtime love of horses, a skill she had already put to use professionally. “I had recently done a guest spot on Jonathan Bennett‘s show, Finding Mr. Christmas, where there was horseback riding,” she says. “I had to have the horse and then do the scene and then get on a horse and ride away with each contestant. I did it about eight times, and it was a perfect warm-up for me to do this movie, because I got really used to navigating horseback riding and dealing with horses while acting at the same time.”

After pouring her heart into Romance at Hope Ranch, Sweeney’s next film is a return to the world of Hannah Swensen Mysteries. Sugar & Vice, premiering March 7, unfolds at a masquerade ball, where a murder and a storm trap everyone inside, leaving the baking sleuth to identify the culprit.

“I thought that a masquerade would be a really fun way to do an Agatha Christie-style idea where it all happens in one night and someone inside the building did it,” Sweeney notes. “It was a fun twist for us.”

Bringing the concept to life required careful planning, particularly when it came to wardrobe, a key element in striking the right tone for the masquerade setting. “The costumes were big undertaking for our costume designer,” Sweeney says. “Once you say masquerade, it can fall into Halloween very easily and we didn’t want that and neither did she. We had meetings about how the main characters should be dressed, and it was just really fun coming up with ideas.”

The film marks the fourth movie Sweeney has written for the franchise, in addition to starring and serving as an executive producer, a creative role she continues to embrace. “It’s different and challenging each time, and I think that’s partially to do with me, because I’m always looking for new ideas,” she explains. “You want to just keep it fresh and keep the audience surprised and keep the characters challenged in the format. These characters are already so well developed, and I know the actors who play them so well that I can play out the scene in my head of each of them.”

Her approach to writing is rooted in advice she received early in her career. “When I started on Days of our Lives [as Sami Brady] in 1993, Deidre Hall [Marlena Evans] said to me, ‘The script is a skeleton for the actors to hang their ideas and their character and their performance on,’” Sweeney recalls. “I feel like my favorite moments when we’re filming is when an actor gets a really good idea based on what I wrote and they make it better, like, ‘What if I do it this way?’ or, ‘What if I change the line?’ And I’m like, ‘Yes! I love it!’ It makes me feel proud that I created an opportunity so they could be creative, too. It brings me a lot of joy to be a part of the process in that way.”

Of course, crafting murder mysteries does come with one occupational hazard. “I spend a lot of time Googling,” Sweeney quips. “I mean, I hope nothing bad ever happens to anyone I know, because my search prompts are definitely questionable!”

Romance at Hope Ranch, Movie Premiere, Saturday, February 28, 8/7c, Hallmark Channel

Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, Movie Premiere, Saturday, March 7, 8/7c, Hallmark Channel

Inside Wes Ramsey’s Return to ‘Days of Our Lives’ After 16 Years

For Ramsey, who also resurfaced last month on General Hospital as Peter August, neither return was on his radar, making the double comeback more surreal. “This is another glorious example of something coming up that is very unexpected,” he says. “Being asked to reprise a role that I played 16 years ago is something I’ve never done before. That’s the kind of thing that can happen in daytime, and it was absolutely a wonderful experience.”

Ramsey reveals that when he taped his Days scenes last summer, he didn’t know another blast from the past was around the corner. “When I filmed there 10 months ago, I obviously had no idea that I would be asked to revisit a role that would happen to air weeks in advance of that reveal,” he explains. “It’s a great gift to be called back to do something you once did before because it means somewhere along the way, someone making creative decisions liked what you were doing enough to want to bring you back. It’s a compliment and something I don’t take for granted.”

Stepping back onto the Burbank lot stirred vivid memories of his first Salem run. “We’re talking about a really different time,” Ramsey points out. “It was 2009, and I remember being in the hallway [and] Ali Sweeney [Sami Brady] had a group of people standing around, and she was trying to show all of them on a smartphone what this new thing was called a tweet. Twitter was brand new.”

Beyond the nostalgia, he also appreciated reconnecting with his costars. “To sit in that makeup room and laugh with Eric Martsolf [Brady Black] again all these years later, talk about going back in time,” Ramsey marvels. “I believe there was a screen test back then, and Galen [Gering, Rafe Hernandez] and Eric and I were all there for it, and they both started their roles at that time on the show, and I was brought in to create Owen a few months after that. So, for me to jump back in the saddle with them was wonderful, and I loved giving those guys big hugs and getting to reconnect with them. They’re such great guys and great actors, and it was a lot of fun being over there and seeing a lot of old friends again there as well.”

Portraying the complicated Owen after such a long break came with its own challenges, which gave Ramsey some new creative opportunities. “I thought, ‘How on earth is this going to go?’” he shares. “That was a different experience in terms of revisiting it because when you’re talking about 16 years, it’s enough of a lifetime that you have to ask yourself, ‘How can my character be coming back into this world after so long?’ and, ‘How can I help facilitate pushing their story forward in a way that makes sense?’”

Once he received the script, however, the path became clear. “Then it just became a question of, how far can we go? How much fun can we have? How much is too much? Owen is a man who desperately wants to love and be loved and is lonely,” he notes.

Working with his new scene partners, Abigail Klein (Stephanie Johnson) and Robert Scott Wilson (Alexander Kiriakis) was a highlight for the actor. “Abigail and I got along really well, and she’s wonderful, a real pro,” he praises. “We really let ourselves go there and had a ball. Robert Scott Wilson and I got to work together, too, and he’s a great guy and a wonderful actor. He and I really got to step up to the plate together and had so much fun.”

That there are similarities between Owen and Peter August isn’t lost on the actor.

“I do see some similarities in the fact that when they show up, distressing things seem to happen, and some people seem to be very traumatized,” Ramsey says. “I just find that one of the best gifts any actor can be given is to find a way to create drama in the world of daytime television. I have loved playing both of them very much.”

And while both roles lean into darkness, Ramsey embraces it. “I know what I’m capable of doing as a leading man and as a romantic lead,” he explains. “And I know a lot of actors that desperately want to sink their teeth into some of these great gifts that I’ve been given to play, some of these characters that are further out on the risk curve and deeper off the edge of darkness. I love every second of it and I always have. I’m always game for it. As an actor, I think it’s some of the most fun work we can ever be asked to do.”

As for whether Owen might return again, Rasmey isn’t closing the door. “I do hope there’s room for some of this to perhaps be revisited somewhere down the road,” he concludes.

It's Never Too Late: A Memoir by Marla Gibbs

Marla Gibbs has been a Hollywood icon for generations of fans. Now, at ninety-three, she chronicles her climb from a difficult youth in which she yearned for safety and love, to the high-stakes world of Hollywood where she became a confident powerbroker learning to work behind the scenes for fair pay, access, and more creative control for herself and her colleagues.

Told in her forthright voice, It's Never Too Late illuminates Gibbs' daring move to Los Angeles to rebuild her life after an abusive marriage, how she became an actor, and how she eventually learned to balance acting with show running. She was a “Boss Bae” decades before the term would become entertainment industry shorthand for a power flex. While developing 227 her lawyer won her “all rights, courtesies and privileges of an executive producer without the credit.” Though the authority she wielded behind the scenes created deep tensions on and off the set, her hard-luck young life had prepared her to succeed even as her tenacity was put to the test. Her experiences laid the groundwork for powerbrokers like Shonda Rhimes and Issa Rae.

An inspiring personal portrait of triumph and Hollywood that reminds us we can leave the past behind, It’s Never Too Late is the true tale of a remarkable life and a wise guidebook for aspiring artists, entrepreneurs, and entertainment fans.

The Jeffersons Star Marla Gibbs, 94, Reveals How She Survived a Nearly Fatal Brain Aneurysm and Stroke

Take Florence, the housekeeper she played on The Jeffersons for all of the sitcom's 11 seasons (1975–85). Florence once got a scary, barking doberman to heel by simply saying, "Don't be no fool." And headstrong housewife Mary Jenkins on the 1985–90 sitcom 227 didn't take guff from anyone, especially her maneating neighbor Sandra, played to Emmy-winning perfection by Jackée Harry.

But in Gibbs' new memoir It's Never Too Late (HarperCollins), featuring a foreword written by her 227 daughter Regina King, the 94-year-old actress reveals previously unseen sides of herself. She grew up in a dysfunctional household where she was raised, in part, by an emotionally abusive grandmother, was married for 18 years to a man who was both emotionally and physically abusive, and she didn't achieve widespread success as an actress until she was in her 40s.

"My work," she writes in It's Never Too Late, has been about making people happy, acting out stories in theaters and on soundstages."

n 2023, the mom of three — her eldest child and only daughter, Angela, 71, is also a successful actress — told PEOPLE about her driving force. "God is really the source. What people don’t realize is the challenges you go through are there to get you to your path. All the trauma I experienced, my marriage ending, that was all pushing me forward. Finally, when I made it out [to Los Angeles to pursue acting], I realized God had everything laid out for me, just waiting for me."

What was perhaps the greatest challenge of her life arrived in 2006 when she suffered a brain aneurysm followed by a stroke that nearly killed her. In an exclusive excerpt from her memoir, Gibbs, whose most recent TV roles have included guest spots on Grey's Anatomy, Will Trent and Chicago Med, reflects on her long journey to healing.

Most people do not survive brain aneurysms, so I knew God still had plans for me. The more my strength and memory came back, the more trouble I got into. As I said before, I’m Gemini and my mind is always curious and always working ... not always for the better.

For instance, I did not want to use the diapers while in rehab. I wanted to go to the bathroom on my own. The bathroom was right next to my bed so I could not understand why I needed help to get there. Every time they would leave the room, I would sneak out of the bed and end up on the floor.

My family finally had to ask them to tie me to the bed. I watched carefully as the nurses tied me up, so I could untie myself as soon as they left. And you guessed it ... I'd be on the floor again. I said to myself, “Marla we gotta stop ending up down here, we’re not getting anywhere.” There was just something inside me that kept saying, “It ain't over.” But when I got home and looked at the old woman staring back at me in the mirror I said, “Maybe it is over.” Maybe my days as an actress are gone.

Recovery was hard and it took every ounce of physical, mental and spiritual strength I could muster. I started questioning why it happened, especially when I still had so many plans for my life. I was getting ready to tour with my new jazz CD, but as they say, man makes plans and God laughs. This wasn’t funny though. I sank into a deep depression. I felt like maybe it was time for me to go. I didn’t want to get up. I didn’t want to do anything.

My family had a caretaker come and help. She would fix breakfast and help them clean, but it was just a difficult time. It’s humbling when you can’t do anything for yourself. My mind told me I could walk, but I couldn’t without help.

I went to outpatient rehab for occupational, physical and speech therapy. As I progressed, they had me do a light jog across the room. My friend, Chrystal Carmichael from Detroit, came to help. The first day she got here, we went walking, and then I wanted to show her I could jog, and I fell and hit my head.

It was embarrassing but mostly it was disheartening. I complained to the rehab center, and the nurse said, “We didn’t tell you to jog at home!” I finally accepted where I was at in my recovery. I had always been an independent woman who juggled multiple projects. Now, I was totally dependent and could do nothing. Acceptance of where I was in my recovery was essential to me healing, and I think acceptance is key to healing in life.

It's Never Too Late publishes Feb. 24 by HarperCollins and will be available wherever books are sold.

You Better Believe I'm Gonna Talk About It by Lisa Rinna

For decades, Lisa Rinna has been captivating audiences—whether as a soap opera icon, reality TV powerhouse, fearless social media provocateur or slaying in haute couture down the catwalks of Paris. But even though she’s always said it like she means it, there’s still so much more to the woman whose lips launched a thousand memes.

In You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It, Lisa peels back the curtain on her rollercoaster career and her unapologetic approach to life, dishing on the highs, the lows, and the “did-she-really-just-say-that?” moments that made her a household name. Yes, she’s spilling all the tea from the soundstages of Days of Our Lives to the drama of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, but she’s also opening up about what it means to grow older in an industry obsessed with youth, the lessons she’s learned about reinvention, parenting a daughter with a chronic illness, keeping her well-documented marriage alive and healthy, and being forced to grieve in public after the loss of her mother and beloved Beverly Hills fan favorite, Lois.

Bold, brash, refreshingly honest, and told with her signature wit and candor, You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It is the story of a woman who understands that you go the furthest by playing by your own rules. It’s the story of a woman who realizes aging is just a chance at a new chapter. It’s the story of a Hollywood icon who refuses to let the world script her story for her. And she’s owning every bit of it, baby! (Order Now)

Talk Show Appearance

‘Days of Our Lives’: Billy Flynn Bids Farewell to Chad DiMera After 12 Years

The actor announced his departure in March 2025, then stepped into the role of The Young and the Restless‘ Cane Ashby that June. But because Days films up to 10 months in advance, it’s been a long farewell, something Flynn admits has felt surreal. “I’m just ready for that chapter to be closed,” Flynn says. “It feels like I’m lingering too long, and it’s tough to start a new chapter when you’re still in the other one. It’s just an odd feeling; that’s the only way I can express it. It’s too much of me. Nobody needs that much of me.”

In the story, Chad leaves town with his kids, Thomas DiMera [Cary Christopher] and Charlotte DiMera [Autumn Gendron]. For Flynn, the emotional weight of the scenes mirrored his reality. “The stuff that’s airing now is what I remember fondly because they are genuine goodbyes,” he says. “I had one with Dan [Feuerriegel, EJ DiMera] and Susan Hayes [Julie Williams], and I loved being able to do the story with Missy [Reeves, Jennifer Deveraux] and Matt [Ashford, Jack Deveraux].”

What happened off camera once everyone knew he was going proved just as meaningful. “It was like getting to witness your own funeral in a weird way; everybody gives you love and admiration,” he explains. “People who you don’t talk to all that often have all this nice stuff to say, and you’re like, ‘Oh, gosh. Why haven’t we had these conversations before?’ Ashley Puzemis [Holly Jonas] gave me a really sweet card. I talked to Leo Howard [Tate Black] and Carson Boatman [Johnny DiMera], and Deidre Hall [Marlena Evans] and James Reynolds [Abe Carver]. People were telling me, ‘It’s not going to be the same without you,’ and that meant a lot.”

Looking back at his decade-plus in Salem, perspective comes easily. “I love Days, and I loved the character of Chad so much,” he says. “It’s just a lot of gratitude. Having a job changed my life, and everything in my life changed so much. I have two children, I got sober on the show, and it gave me a life beyond my wildest dreams, so it’s hard to have anything other than gratitude for all of it.”

That sense of gratitude stretches all the way back to the very beginning. “I remember in the audition process, Marnie [Saitta, casting director] said they saw, like, over 1,000 people for the job,” he shares. “I don’t know whether that’s an exaggeration, but I remember thinking, ‘Man, this is really big.’ I was in the last wave of people that they saw.”

Once cast, he was quickly thrust into the DiMera spotlight. “When I came on, James Scott was playing EJ [DiMera] and then James was gone in two weeks, and he was basically like, ‘You’re the DiMera now,’” Flynn recalls. “And the story and the writing was so good in the beginning, which is a big reason why I became so close with Josh Griffith [then-Days’ head writer; now Y&R‘s head writer and executive producer] and why I wanted to come to Young and Restless and work with him again.”

Among Flynn’s most defining arcs is the 2015 “Necktie Killer” storyline. “I think it’s the best storyline that the show has told in the 12 years that I was there,” he declares. “Everybody was connected, everything moved forward, there was a big love story in the middle of it, and I just thought it was really well done. So, it took off and then Chad and Abigail took off, and I just remember being, like, ‘Wow.’”

That the pairing was successful with both actresses who played Abigail — Kate Mansi‘s (Kristina Corinthos, General Hospital) and Marci Miller — is a source of pride for Flynn. “To be a part of a huge couple with two actresses was amazing,” he raves. “It’s chemistry, and it’s a hard thing to do, but I also think the people you bring on makes a big difference. Kate had a say when I came on. Kate picked me, and when Marci came on, that was who I picked. I still think it’s a beautiful love story.”

He also appreciated the meaningful encouragement from executive producer Ken Corday. “I remember after I was there for a period of time, right around the time of maybe the Necktie Killer storyline, he came in one day and he says, ‘What’s up, GB?’” Flynn relays. “And I was like, ‘GB?’ and he goes, ‘Game Ball. You’re the one we can always give the game ball to.’ It meant a lot, and he called me Game Ball until the very end. He’s lovely, and his family is lovely, and what an honor to be a part of that legacy.”

Flynn feels the lessons he learned in Salem served him well when he crossed over to Y&R. “I think just having all that experience helped,” he notes. “It also helped me to know what to look for, what was important to me, what I was hoping to find in this experience. When I went to Young and the Restless, I was still very nervous. Chad led with his heart, and Cane doesn’t. Cane protects it. So that’s been a learning experience, but I’m not as hard on myself as I was when I was at Days. I’m not so stressed about forcing something to work. I think it will find its way.”

Flynn still keeps in touch with some of his former costars, including Leo Howard, Dan Feuerriegel, Robert Scott Wilson (Alexander Kiriakis), and Conner Floyd, Y&R‘s Chance Chancellor, who will assume the role of Chad in April. “I love all the actors,” Flynn enthuses. “When I run into Conner, Conner’s like, ‘Dude, everybody at this place talks about you all the time,’ which is nice, because when I left there, I genuinely felt I had a good relationship with everyone.”

But he jokes that he’s “feuding” with Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark). “I also still talk to Greg, even though he and I have beef right now because I seem to be at the bottom of his list for this podcast, [Soapy],” muses Flynn. “I told him I’m not even gonna do it anymore, don’t even ask me. We’re beefing. [Laughs]”

Flynn plans to tune in for Floyd’s debut. “I’m really excited to see what he does with it,” says Flynn. “He’s handsome, and such a sweet gu,y and I think that he was the perfect choice to take over that part. I’m looking forward to April, when he can actually start. I think it’ll be good for everybody and let the character move on.”

As for Flynn, he’s not looking to move anywhere. “I hope I have longevity at Young and the Restless,” he concludes. “When I first started at Young and Restless, if you would have asked me to sign for the next 40 years. I would do that. It’s been such a gift, especially with a family. It kind of feels like you’ve won the lottery in that you have the best of all these worlds, and Young and the Restless is the best case of that.”

‘Days of Our Lives’ Star Ashley Puzemis Shares Emotional Post on Final Day of Filming

Puzemis announced via Instagram on Sunday, February 15, that she had officially completed filming her final episode of Days. “Been meaning to post…but that’s officially a wrap on Holly Jonas! 222 episodes later, an Emmy nomination, many tears shed, and an entire cast who has become my family,” she captioned the post.

She added, “Thank you for the memories @dayspeacock! On to the next chapter.”

Puzemis’ post featured several behind-the-scenes photos and clips of herself on the show over the years, from taking a spin behind the camera to hanging out on the set of Brady’s Pub to celebrating the show’s 60th anniversary last fall.

Fans and costars flooded the post’s comments with heartfelt messages. “You light up the screen and every room you walk into. You will crush whatever comes next, and we will be cheering you on the whole way.,” wrote Martha Madison, while Peyton Meyer and Paul Telfer commented with clapping hands and heart emojis, respectively.

“Congratulations love,” former Days star Jamie Martin Mann shared, while his replacement, Leo Howard, left a smiling face emoji. “I Love You forever Beautiful Sweet Soul So proud of you & beyond excited for what’s ahead,” Cherie Jimenez posted.

One fan wrote, “You have done such an amazing job bringing Holly into adulthood! I look forward to seeing you do more amazing work during this next chapter!!.” Someone else shared, “Wishing you a successful future that includes a return to Salem someday!.”

A different person posted, “Horrible decision by the producers! Getting rid of the younger crowd is going to be the death of the show. You guys are the reason why a lot of us watch. It’s gotten boring lately so this was a bad decision. Best of luck to all of you.”

Last month, news broke that four of the show’s characters are being written out and will make their final appearances at the end of this year, including Puzemis’s Holly, Howard’s Tate Black, Carson Boatman‘s Johnny DiMera, and Raven Bowens‘ Chanel Dupree DiMera.

Puzemis made her Days debut as Nicole Walker’s (Arianne Zucker) daughter in 2023 and received a Daytime Emmys nomination last year in the Emerging Talent category.

Following news of the cast shake-ups, a spokesperson for the show told the Daily Mail last month, “While we don’t comment on individual contracts or casting decisions, we have tremendous respect and appreciation for the actors who bring these characters to life. What may seem sudden is part of long-range storytelling decisions. Our goal is to balance the show’s rich history with where we’re headed creatively. Due to our long tape-to-air gap, any changes won’t be on screen for some time.”

‘Young and the Restless’: Shemar Moore & Vivica A. Fox to Return After Decades

Moore was introduced in 1994 as Malcolm, the charismatic younger brother of Neil Winters (the late Kristoff St. John), and quickly became a fan favorite. He remained on the soap until 2005, later returning for special appearances in 2014 and 2019, and most recently in 2023 for the show’s 50th anniversary. That emotional visit included the unveiling of a portrait honoring Neil, who passed away in 2019.

Moore’s original run proved pivotal. He won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2000, and eight NAACP Awards over the course of his time on the show. From there, he successfully transitioned into primetime, starring for 11 seasons on Criminal Minds, before leading and executive producing S.W.A.T. on CBS for eight seasons. He now serves as the current EP and star of the spinoff series S.W.A.T. Exiles.

Despite his primetime success, Moore has long made it clear that he hasn’t forgotten his daytime roots. In a 2024 interview with First For Women, Moore said he was open to a soap comeback, noting, “If The Young and the Restless called me today, I would go, because you never forget where you came from. It sounds cliché and maybe cheesy, but it’s also true.”

And Malcolm still has strong ties to Genoa City. In 2006, he was revealed to be the biological father of Lily (Christel Khalil) — who he long believed was his niece — a twist that reshaped the Winters’ family dynamics.

Fox’s path back to Y&R is also layered with history. She launched her daytime career on the groundbreaking soap Generations as Maya Reubens, working closely with Kristoff St. John, who played Adam Marshall. In 1994, she joined Y&R as Dr. Stephanie Simmons, where she once again worked with St. John, who had already been cast as Neil following Generations’ cancellation. Stephanie exited the canvas in 1995, and Fox hasn’t returned since, instead building a prolific film and television career.

That career includes box office hits such as Independence Day and Batman & Robin, along with dozens of TV movies and primetime series. In 2025, Fox told People that her soap background nearly cost her one of her earlier film opportunities. When she called her agents about Independence Day, “They were like, honey, you’re on a soap opera,” she recalled. “This is gonna be a $60 million movie. So sorry.” Fortunately, the producer’s wife happened to be a Y&R fan, landing Fox an audition that led to the role itself.

Now, with an upcoming MGM/Amazon feature film, “Is God Is,” which will be released this May, and her namesake fashion collection with HSN continuing to expand, Fox is coming back to the genre that helped launch her career.

Malcolm and Stephanie’s history dates back to 1995, when they shared a brief but memorable romance. Their surprising return “will have shocking and lasting implications for the residents of Genoa City,” teases the official release.

'Days of Our Lives' Alum Charlotte Ross Sells Los Angeles Estate for $3.4 Million

Charlotte Ross is officially done with her Studio City chapter ... because the actress has sold her hillside home ... TMZ has learned.

(Photo) Real estate sources tell us the "Days of Our Lives" alum closed Thursday, unloading the Fryman Canyon Estates property for $3.4 million. We're told Ross is moving out of the area altogether.

The gated 6-bedroom, 4-bath Cape Cod sits at the end of a secluded cul-de-sac, giving it serious privacy ... a rare find in L.A. The 1940s era home offers more than 4,100 square feet of living space on a generous lot, blending old-school charm with modern touches.

(Photo) The main floor features open living and dining spaces that spill into a family room with French doors leading to the backyard. The kitchen comes decked out with top-of-the-line Viking appliances.

Upstairs, several bedrooms feature vaulted ceilings and big windows with canyon views. The primary suite includes a fireplace, walk-in closets and a bathroom outfitted with a clawfoot tub and rainfall shower.

(Photo) Out back, beautiful landscaping surrounds the yard, which includes a pool and built-in spa. There’s also a detached guest house complete with its own entrance, kitchenette and full bathroom.

Billy Flynn’s Last Air Date as Chad Revealed

Flynn’s last appearance on DAYS will take place in the episode that streams on Peacock on Tuesday, February 17. On the show, Chad will leave town, accompanied by his two children, Thomas and Charlotte. The episode will also mark the final appearance of Cary Christopher as Thomas and Autumn Gendron as Charlotte.

Flynn debuted as Chad DiMera on DAYS back in September 2014, taking over the role from Casey Deidrick, who had played the character from 2009-13. During his time on the soap, Flynn earned three Daytime Emmy Award nominations in the Lead Actor category. Christopher has been playing Thomas since May 2020 and earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Younger Performer in 2023. Gendron stepped into the role of Charlotte in December 2021.

As first reported back in June 2025, the role of Chad has been recast with Conner Floyd, who previously starred as Chance Chancellor on Y&R from November 2021 through July 2025. His first episode of DAYS is slated to air on April 21, 2026, and Chad is expected to return with his son and daughter in tow, with both roles being recast. Floyd said good-bye to Y&R in order to begin playing Chad, and he shared his final scenes as Chance with Flynn’s Cane.

When his departure from the show first became public, Flynn opened up about his decision to move from DAYS to Y&R in an interview with TV Insider. “I am grateful for my years at DAYS; it changed my life in the best ways,” he mused. “I’ve always said these stories we tell are like doing a play, and I’ve spent the last 10-plus years playing this amazing character and telling one of the all-time great love stories,” referring to Chad and his late wife, Abigail, who was played by both Kate Mansi (Kristina, General Hospital) and Marci Miller during his tenure in Salem.

Loretta Devine To Be Honored At Hollywood Confidential With Vanguard Award

The honor will also mark the 30th anniversary of the seminal romantic comedy Waiting to Exhale, which starred Devine alongside Angela Bassett, Whitney Houston, and Wendell Pierce.

The event and Devine’s award presentation will take place on February 27 at the Saban Theatre in Los Angeles. The evening will also include an intimate conversation between Jones and Devine titled ‘A Moment To Exhale With Our Dreamgirl.’

“Loretta Devine has built a career on truth,” Jones said in a statement. “Whether through humor, heartbreak, or quiet strength, she brings an honesty to her work that audiences immediately recognize and trust. Her performances don’t just entertain—they affirm our shared humanity and leave a lasting imprint on culture.”

Devine is an Emmy and multiple NAACP Image Award recipient. She was an original cast member on the Broadway edition of Dreamgirls. Her other credits include This Christmas, Crash, Jumping the Broom, Boston Public, Grey’s Anatomy, and The PJs.

Previous Hollywood Confidential honorees include Lupita Nyong’o, Regina King, Angela Bassett, Issa Rae, KeKe Palmer, and Snoop Dogg. Mara Brock Akil received Hollywood Confidential’s Icon Award last year at an event held at The Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Jones has been running the Hollywood Confidential series for over a decade. Last year, he published a non-fiction book titled ‘Hollywood Confidential: 12 Secrets to Becoming the Star of Your Own Life’ with HarperCollins. The event with Devine is presented by Wells Fargo.

“Partnering with Hollywood Confidential for this special event is truly an honor,” said Gigi Dixon, head of External Engagement at Wells Fargo.

“Celebrating Loretta Devine—a trailblazing, award-winning actress—reflects our commitment to uplifting talent that shapes culture and inspires excellence. We are proud to support Hollywood Confidential as it continues its tradition of honoring the extraordinary cultural contributions and acting achievements of remarkable artists like Ms. Devine.”

Soapy S2 E14 | Paul Telfer on His Daytime Emmy Win and Managing Success in Hollywood

Jen Lilley & Dan Jeannotte Reunite in Hallmark Movie ‘A Royal Setting’ — First Look Photos

“Working with Dan again was such a joy. Having history together makes the on-screen chemistry feel effortless—it’s already there, and you just get to play,” Lilley said. “We laughed a lot, worked hard, and I genuinely couldn’t ask for a better scene partner. I can’t wait for fans to see what we created—it feels really special!”

The new Hallmark movie will premiere on March 28 and follows Ruby (Lilley), a world-renowned gemologist who dreams of being a jewelry designer. When she is summoned to the kingdom of Gullion to restore its long-hidden crown jewels, she thinks this will be a week of quiet work. She never expected to fall for Prince Luca (Jeannotte), a modern royal with a vision for change.

As Ruby polishes ancient gems and even designs a new crown, she and Luca realize they have a shared longing for authenticity, purpose, and love. When tradition, duty, and meddling families threaten to keep them apart, Ruby and Luca must decide if love is worth rewriting the rules of royalty.

“Reuniting with Jen was such a treat! She really sets the gold standard for how great a costar can be. She’s so good at what she does, and such a professional… but also (and this is crucially important to me) she can be very, very silly,” Jeannotte said. “All around, she’s a wonderful person to be on set with. I consider myself doubly lucky to have had a chance to work with her a second time!”

Paris, Wine & Romance, which premiered on May 4, 2019, marked the first time Lilley and Jeannotte had worked together. “I was six months pregnant when we filmed Paris, Wine & Romance, so returning now for A Royal Setting really highlights how much time — and life — has passed in between,” Lilley gushed.

For Lilley, A Royal Setting is a “beautiful full-circle moment” with Jeannotte. Working together years later, she realized that they have the “same ease, same chemistry, but with the depth that comes from time and life lived.”

Both Lilley and Jeannotte have a long history with Hallmark. Jeannotte recently starred in the 2025 movie Love on the Danube: Royal Getaway. A Royal Setting marks Lilley’s first Hallmark movie since 2022’s Where Your Heart Belongs.

A Royal Setting, Movie Premiere, May 28, 8/7c, Hallmark Channel, Next Day on Hallmark+

The Young and the Restless Star Lucas Adams and Wife Shelby Welcome Their First Baby

Adams and Wulfert announced in November 2025 that they were expecting baby No. 1. “We could not be more excited about this news,” they enthused in a joint Instagram post that featured a carousel of photos from their maternity photo shoot on the beach. Speaking to People about the pregnancy, the couple revealed that the baby was due in February 2026 but decided not to share the sex of the baby until he or she was born.

Now that the baby is here, Digest has the great honor of sharing that it’s a boy! Adams and Wulfert named their new son Alonzo Brentley Adams. At birth, he weighed 7 lbs, 13 oz and measured 20 inches long. “Mama and baby are doing great!” reports a rep for Y&R, where Adams has played the role of Noah Newman since November 2025. The actor is also well-known to daytime fans for his work as Tripp Johnson (formerly Dalton) on Days of Our Lives (2017-19; 2020-24).

Little Alonzo’s proud parents met on the set of the Disney Channel series Liv and Maddie in 2015. Adams portrayed Josh Wilcox on the show, while Wulfert was a body double for series star Dove Cameron, who played the titular twins. In 2017, Adams bubbled to Digest about his future wife, saying, “She’s my best friend, so the fact that I’m able to have a relationship with her, and we’ll hang out and we’ll want to tell each other everything is just mind-blowing to me. It’s great.” He proposed in 2021, and the happy couple tied the knot on October 15, 2022. On their most recent wedding anniversary, Adams posted a tribute to Wulfert on Instagram, writing, “10 years together and 3 years married to this beautiful soul that I am so lucky to call my wife! Grateful for your love, your strength, and I’m so filled with joy that we get to move through this life together. Happy Anniversary Baby Cakes, love you to infinity and beyond!”

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.”

Louise Sorel Talks Vivian’s Latest ‘Days of Our Lives’ Return — Could She Be Back?

For Sorel, who last appeared on the Peacock sudser in April 2025, returning to the show felt both familiar and gratifying. “It felt comfortable because it’s such a nice group of people,” Sorel says. “Everybody there is working so hard under such pressure, and they really do their work as best as they can. They’re happy to be working, so it’s very nice to be there. It’s a work atmosphere that’s very sweet.”

That she’s still playing the part of one of soap’s most eccentric icons more than three decades after her debut is something she never expected. “They kept firing me, so why would I imagine I’d still play the role?” she muses. “But I think that’s the way soaps are, where they drop you and then suddenly call you again.”

Circumstances prevented her from returning twice before, when Robin Strasser (Dorian Lord, One Life to Live) and then Linda Dano (Felicia Gallant, Another World) stepped into the role. “That was because of COVID,” she recalls. “I just did not feel comfortable traveling. I mean, I think anyone would say this, but I feel ownership of the role and it’s hard for me to think of it not being mine, but, you know, things happen.”

Looking back, Sorel’s memories of playing Vivian remain especially dear, particularly her scenes with Ivan G’vera, who portrayed Viv’s manservant, Ivan Marais. “It was full of life and a certain energy and madness about it that I love,” she reflects. “I think Vivian and Ivan were a wonderful add-on to the show. I felt that was a big loss [when they were written out] because there was something about that ridiculous relationship that had an edge and a humor about it that I think is vital.”

Much of that larger-than-life storytelling, she notes, came from former head writer James E. Reilly. “Jim was such a madman and wrote wonderfully wacky storylines,” she says. “I used to walk and say, ‘Are you kidding?’ One time, I was a box of French fries. I walked into wardrobe and Richard Bloore [costume designer], who’s an angel, said to me, ‘You don’t want to know,’ and I said, ‘What are you talking about?’ He said, ‘Turn around,’ and I see a box of french fries for me and Ivan’s a hamburger. What fun we had, even though I thought it was nuts.”

In Vivian’s latest arc, she finds herself entangled in an investigation led by Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) and Eli Grant (Lamon Archey), who visit her abroad. “They were the detectives investigating Vivian and perfectly nice people to work with,” she says. “But it ended with a lot of questions and accusations.”

Away from Salem, Sorel has been channeling her creativity into writing. In 2025, she self-published If There Were No Dogs, a collection of personal reflections, memories of her life and career and poems. “I’ve always journaled through my life,” she explains. “And I’ve traveled a lot. I’ve always been sort of curious. People always said, ‘Where are you going in January? You can’t go anywhere. It’s pilot season for actors.’ And my answer was, ‘There’s a pilot on the plane.’ But I’ve also journaled about my childhood, and I’ve written a lot of poetry and I’m a dog fanatic, addict and animal activist, so the book is filled with childhood stories, some stories about theater, working with Charles Boyer, etc. — there were a lot of amazing names that I worked with; I kind of am stunned when I think about it. It’s getting very nice responses, so it’s thrilling for me. I’m proud of it. It’s at Amazon and Book Baby.”

Her literary pursuits also led to a new chapter in her personal life. Sorel recently found romance with writer and editor Peter de Lissovoy, whom she met through Jane Lahr, daughter of Bert Lahr, who portrayed the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz. “She’s a writer and in the publishing industry, and we were working on a book called Madison on Fifth, which is about my little dog, Madison, or Maddie, who got lost on Fifth Avenue,” Sorel begins. “Then COVID came, and we stopped, but we stayed friends. I told her I was trying to put something together, and she said, ‘Well, you need an editor. Here’s the name of someone who might be able to help you.’ So, I called the number — it was in New Hampshire — and he said, ‘Well, I don’t know. I’d like to see what you write.’ So, I sent him some pieces, and he liked them very much, and he said, ‘Well, yeah, I think I could work with you to edit it.’ I went up three times to Lancaster, New Hampshire, and stayed at this place called the Jefferson Inn, where it looked like Jefferson slept; that’s how old it was, and we worked for three hours a day for three days in a row. And then I went up a couple of more times, and we fell in love, and that was a year and a half ago.”

Despite her growing passion for writing, acting remains her first love, and she’d be open to Vivian returning to Days for a longer stay. “Sure, I’d love to,” she responds. “I love that character. I’m from the theater, and you do a show, and then it’s gone; you don’t stay with the character. But I kind of fell in love with Vivian, and then I felt sort of a loss when I wasn’t playing her.”

Stacy Haiduk Sets ‘Y&R’ Return as Patty Williams After 10 Years

Haiduk joined the CBS show in 2009 as the unhinged Patty, later pulling double-duty as Dr. Emily Peterson, Patty’s doppelgänger. She left the soap in 2010, returned from 2011-12, and then again in 2015, before wrapping up in 2016. The actress will continue to appear on Days of Our Lives as Kristen DiMera, a role she’s played since 2018.

Patty has a long history of troublemaking that stretches back 45 years. Introduced in 1980 as the sweet younger sister of Paul Williams, the role was first played by Tammy Taylor, then Lilibet Stern. Patty quickly fell for Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman), who married her to convince his father that he had reformed his womanizing ways. The marriage unraveled when Patty discovered Jack was having an affair with Diane Jenkins. After suffering a miscarriage and overhearing Jack admit he married her for professional gain, a distraught Patty shot Jack three times before divorcing him and leaving town.

In 1983, Patty (now played by Andrea Evans) resurfaced briefly and dated Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian) prior to his marriage to Traci Abbott. After exiting in 1984, she remained off the canvas until 2009. Disguised as Mary Jane Benson after undergoing plastic surgery financed by Victor Newman as part of a revenge scheme against Jack, Patty, now played by Haiduk, infiltrated Jabot and rekindled a relationship with her former husband.

Her instability soon became evident as she confided her secrets to a stuffed cat named “Mr. Kitty.” Patty’s obsession with Jack escalated when she discovered he was involved with Phyllis Summers. After learning that Phyllis’ daughter, Summer Newman, had a peanut allergy, Patty deliberately triggered a reaction that left the girl in a coma. Eventually, the cops found evidence of Patty’s guilt, and she went on the run.

While hiding out on Victor’s property, Patty became entangled in additional schemes involving Adam Newman, which included gaslighting Ashley Abbott. Her true identity was ultimately revealed after she took confession at church with Father Todd, her brother, who realized it was Patty. Patty’s unraveling culminated at Camp Cheveyo, where she kidnapped Colleen Carlton. During the chaos, Colleen nearly drowned in the lake while escaping, but Jack and crew arrived in time to pull her out. An increasingly disturbed Patty shot Victor three times and ran off. Paul tracked her down and urged her to turn herself in; she was institutionalized. In the aftermath, Colleen was declared brain dead, and her heart was donated to Victor, saving his life.

Paul was determined to help Patty, bringing in Dr. Emily Peterson, a psychiatrist who was on sabbatical from the University of Minnesota med school, where she had crossed paths with Patty, who worked there as a janitor. Emily was a dead ringer for Patty and unknowingly served as the model for Patty’s surgically altered face. Jack caught feelings for Emily and the two became engaged on New Year’s Eve in 2009. When Patty heard about the union, she knocked Emily unconscious and switched places with her. At the altar, Jack said “I do” to Patty, thinking she was Emily. When the real Emily came to, she tried to prove her identity to Paul, but he assumed that his “sister” was delusional.

Patty tried to keep up appearances that she was Emily, but Jack became suspicious and ultimately figured out the truth. Patty returned to the institution to get rid of Emily for good, drugging her and stashing her in a morgue drawer. Paul and Jack were on Patty’s heels, and Jack ultimately found Emily and had a doctor give her a shot of adrenaline to revive her. Patty was arrested and sent to a facility for the criminally insane. Emily dumped Jack for not realizing who she was for months. In an attempt to keep their past a secret, Adam helped Patty escape, and she wound up in South America

Patty continued to resurface in increasingly elaborate disguises. In 2011, Patty returned to Genoa City, under the alias Myrna Murdock, working as a housekeeper in the home of Jack’s current flame, Genevieve Atkinson. Still obsessed with Jack, Patty drugged him and Genevieve during Thanksgiving dinner so she could kiss Jack while he was passed out. Adam discovered her at the house and advised her to leave town. She said she would, but didn’t.

Jack and Genevieve got engaged, but Patty was determined to keep them from tying the knot. In time, strange things began happening at Genevieve’s house, and Paul arrived to question Myrna, who took off. Paul put the pieces together and realized Myrna may be Patty. Adam discovered Patty hiding in the garden shed and realized she planned to interrupt Jack and Genevieve’s wedding. He tried to stop her, so she threw insecticide in his face, which blinded him, then hit him in the head.

At the wedding, Patty took Genevieve’s place and walked down the aisle to Jack. When Jack lifted her veil, Patty revealed herself and shot him. Patty escaped and sought refuge at Father Todd’s church. Her brothers discovered her there and turned her in. Patty was sent to an institution called Fairview.

Her final storyline in 2015 saw Patty escape from Fairview and return to Genoa City, where she survived an explosion that left her presumed dead. Instead, she fled with fellow baddie Ian Ward before eventually being institutionalized again.

As for what brings Patty back this time, details remain under wraps, but it will be a story filled with mystery and suspense. Executive producer and head writer Josh Griffith tells TV Insider exclusively, “Everyone at Y&R couldn’t be more excited to welcome back Stacy for this exciting storyline when trouble once again finds Patty.”

Brilliant Minds On Life Support As NBC Pushes Remaining Season 2 Episodes

NBC on Wednesday announced that the Zachary Quinto-led medical drama will not return following the Winter Olympics. Instead, the remaining six episodes of Season 2 will air later this season, potentially over the summer.

In the interim, "The Voice" Season 29 will expand to a full two hours on Monday nights, airing from 9 to 11 p.m. beginning February 23. The forthcoming spring cycle, dubbed "Battle of Champions," will see fan-favorite coaches Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, and Adam Levine reclaim their red chairs, as the reality competition promises "a fresh twist on the format that raises the stakes for coaches and artists alike."

Inspired by world-famous author and neurologist Oliver Sacks, "Brilliant Minds" Season 2 has continued to follow Dr. Wolf and his team at Bronx General as they delve into "medical mysteries of the mind. Ultimately, they come face-to-face with the question: Who deserves care?" Fourteen episodes (out of 20) have aired as of February 2. TVLine will keep you posted once NBC announces a return date.

In addition to Quinto, the cast includes Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Teddy Sears, Donna Murphy, John Clarence Stewart, Brian Altemus, and Al Calderon.

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

Jennifer Aniston’s Dad Was on ‘Every Soap Opera Imaginable’: All About John Aniston’s Decades as a ‘Days of Our Lives’ Heavyweight

While Jennifer’s fame ultimately surpassed John’s, father and daughter spoke highly of one another, and the actress has expressed admiration for her dad’s dedication as a soap star. Read on to learn all about Jennifer Aniston’s dad and see what he thought of her joining the family business.

John Aniston was born Yannis Anastassakis in Chania, Greece, in 1933. His family immigrated to the U.S. and settled in Pennsylvania, where he’d go on to study theater at Pennsylvania State University. After a stint in the Navy, he began his acting career in the ’60s, showing up in episodes of I Spy, The Virginian, Mission: Impossible and That Girl.

Interestingly, Aniston first appeared in Days of Our Lives in 1970, playing Dr. Eric Richards—a different character from the one he’d later become known for. After his first stint on Days, he was in the soap Love of Life in the ’70s, and from 1980 to 1984, he played soap opera veteran Mary Stuart’s fourth and final husband in Search for Tomorrow. The year after Aniston left the show, he was cast in his signature role as Victor in Days.

Before he rose to stardom, Aniston married Nancy Dow, a model and actress who appeared in episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies and The Wild Wild West, in 1965. Their daughter, Jennifer Aniston, was born in 1969. Aniston and Dow, who died at age 79 in 2016, divorced in 1980. Jennifer ended up being estranged from her mother for several years after she published From Mother and Daughter to Friends, a tell-all memoir detailing their difficult relationship, in 1999.

When John Aniston first appeared on Days of Our Lives, Jennifer was just one year old, and he’d become an integral part of the soap from her teen years onward. The mustachioed actor brought an imposing presence to the small screen, and he called Victor “a wonderful character.” Given that he spent the better part of his long career in Salem, Aniston clearly found much to love in the soap opera space, and he relished playing a suave businessman with a criminal past, saying, “he has these snappy lines, which are a lot of fun to do.”

Jennifer Aniston followed in her dad’s acting footsteps, but their paths crossed just once, when she was an uncredited extra in an episode of Search for Tomorrow as a teen. Their father-daughter relationship wasn’t always easy, and she recalled how growing up in his shadow impacted her, saying, “Always wanting to get Pop’s approval—it was the thing that drove me and was also my biggest heartbreak: trying to impress and prove your value to a man who’s only capable of so much,” and remembering that when she was starting out, she felt like if she made it as an actress, “he will love me as much as I love him.”

Like many actor parents, John initially didn’t want his daughter to pursue the family business, fearing that she’d face rejection, but in 1990, before Jennifer became a household name, he recognized that her star power was undeniable, observing, “Jennifer is a natural talent. There are certain things you can learn in this business, and there are certain things you can’t learn. The comic instinct that she has is unerring. That’s her greatest asset.” Four years later, when she had her breakthrough role in Friends, this natural comic instinct would be on full display.

How Jennifer Aniston paid tribute to her dad: ‘His career is literally the definition of lifetime achievement’

Shortly before his passing in 2022, John Aniston earned a well-deserved Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award for his many years on Days of Our Lives. At the awards show, Jennifer gave a heartfelt speech about her dad, praising him for “appearing in every soap opera imaginable,” in addition to showing up in episodes of The West Wing, Gilmore Girls and Mad Men, and saying, “For over 30 years, his dedication to that show has gained him respect and admiration of his fellow actors, deep friendships and thrilled millions of fans around the world. His career is literally the definition of lifetime achievement.”

Speaking with Dax Shepard in a recent episode of his podcast, Jennifer marveled at her late father’s work ethic. “He was on that show forever,” she said. “In fact, the last episode he shot aired like a week after he died. So he worked right up until that was it. That was literally a wrap on John.” The Friends actress’ relationship with her dad may have had its ups and downs, but it’s obvious that both Anistons respected one another’s prodigious talents and John was excited to see his daughter become a star.

Louise Sorel Returns As Vivian Alamain

Sorel made her DAYS debut in 1992 and ended her first run in 2000, returning again from 2009-11, 2017-18, and in 2020, 2023, 2024 and 2025, making her last on-screen appearance last April. In recent years, two other daytime luminaries (both of whom have won Daytime Emmys as Outstanding Lead Actress) have also popped in as Vivan; in 2019, One Life to Live legend Robin Strasser (ex-Dorian Lord) briefly played the role, with Another World‘s Linda Dano (ex-Felicia Gallant) portraying her in 2021.

In 2015, the actress looked back her early days on the show in an interview with Soap Opera Digest. “The first day I came on the set, I think it was darling Michael Sabatino [ex-Lawrence Alamain, Vivian’s newphew] and Crystal Chappell [ex-Carly Manning] and somebody else who had come to kill Lawrence. So I just remember the first thing I had was to walk in and shoot somebody and then say, ‘I shoot first and ask questions later.’ I think that was my very first thing, which was kind of fun to establish that crazy character. The character was appealing to me because I like playing those crazy, comic villains.”

Sorel was at the center of one of the show’s most infamous storylines in 1992, when Vivian buried Carly alive, and over the years, her outlandish schemes kept coming. Indeed, Vivian gave birth to Philip (John-Paul Lavoisier) in 1995 after stealing Kate (Lauren Koslow) and Victor’s (John Aniston) embryo and having it implanted into her own uterus!

When she reprised Vivian in 2024, Sorel mused to Digest of the character’s evolution, “All she does is grab for things and manipulate things, which she’s been doing since the very beginning. Of course, so much has happened over the years. The stories change. The needs of people change. So there are adjustments being made, but hopefully she still has the same annoying personality. She’s the same person with the same sort of desperation and humor.

The actress also shared that when she comes back to the show after an extended absence, it’s never hard for her to find the character again. “The essence of Vivian is there,” she said. “It’s sort of tucked away [inside me] somewhere, because I’m really not like that at all. I’ve just sort of created something, and I’m trying to bring it back.”

Jackée Harry Lost 50 Lbs. Using a GLP-1, Then Got a Facelift to Address Her ‘Sagging Neck’: ‘I Feel Renewed’

The 69-year-old actress recently opened up to PEOPLE about her unintentional weight-loss journey and how that led to her decision to get cosmetic surgery.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sister, Sister star was diagnosed with pre-diabetes. In order to address her health problems, she was later prescribed a GLP-1 medication by her doctor. GLP-1 is short for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, which work in the brain to impact satiety. Popular brands include Ozempic and Mounjaro.

Early on, Harry says that, like many people, she dealt with common side effects of the weekly injections. “The side effects last a long time,” she explains. “They’re not just a couple of days, it’s like three weeks…dizzy, nauseous, constipation and you don’t throw up, you hurl!”

But the results, Harry says, were worth it. Within a year and a half, she lost 50 lbs. and her endocrinologist told her that she’s no longer pre-diabetic. “Good heart condition, good heart rate, more energy, smaller appetite, my sugar is down, which is what I went on it for,” she tells PEOPLE. “So, I’m elated.”

“I didn’t intend to lose weight, it just came off,” she adds, noting that it was a surprising bonus. “I didn't know the weight loss would be so dramatic and so quick. After eight weeks, I lost about 20 pounds, which is miraculous. And then all in all, 50 pounds.”

(Photo) Harry says that she’s now a size 10, which she hasn’t been since the 1990s. “It's a good feeling.. Everything fits so well, and I look so fabulous. I have to calm myself down,” she says with a laugh.

Despite being proud of her weight loss, Harry admits that she still struggles with “body dysmorphia.” She explains, “I look in the mirror and still see fat, you know, and you can't equate the way you're looking with the way you're feeling.”

Harry says her “biggest concern” was that she had a “sagging neck” and chin. Dr. Patrick Davis, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, explains that what the actress was dealing with was a side effect that has been dubbed “Ozempic face.”

(Photo) “If you have a more dramatic or fast weight loss, it makes sense that you're going to have a deflation in certain areas, especially in the face,” he tells PEOPLE. “You can not only lose fat, but you can also lose some muscle volume as well.”

“So Jackée, her neck was of concern for her,” he notes. “It had been full and then when we have fat loss, it leaves behind some of the deeper muscles and the skin itself is more loose. And the cheeks as well had become more aged in more of a vertical manner.”

Harry says she “got a little frantic” by her appearance, and after seeing the success of so many other celebrities her age, she decided to do her research and get a facelift.

“It's like every time I looked in the mirror I went, ‘Uh uh, I'm gonna have to do something.’ I'm not growing gracefully, and I accept it… but I don’t,” she says.

The Days of Our Lives star is still recovering but her transformation has her feeling like a brand new woman, sharing photos of the results with PEOPLE.

“I only look in the mirror about a thousand times, every half hour,” she teases. “I’m totally satisfied. My neck and my chin…I mean, it’s the bomb! I have no complaints. I still have some pain, but six more months and I’ll be perfect in terms of the swelling. But it looks good and I’m still Jackée.”

Harry also says she’s no longer self-conscious, and even leaves the house without putting makeup on. “I definitely am more confident because I'll walk out now without thinking about that. Whereas before, you couldn't get me to even take the trash out without makeup,” she quips.

(Photo) Harry tells PEOPLE that she no longer takes the GLP-1, and has no plans of returning to the injections after getting her health on track.

“I still talk to my doctor. I'll go back on if I have to, but not for weight loss for a medical. But, if I start gaining more than 10 pounds, I'm running back in there!” she says with a laugh.

Regardless, Harry says the journey has “changed me forever,” even still in the midst of her recovery.

“I don't know if I'll be my best self, but I'll definitely stop looking at the mirror and gagging,” she jokes. “I feel so different, but I definitely feel renewed.”

New Year, New Face! Jackée Harry Reveals Plastic Surgery Makeover

Soapy S2 EP11: James Reynolds

Queerties 2026 Nominations

Public voting opens Jan. 20, with fans able to vote once per day in each category through Feb. 17. Winners will be revealed at a Los Angeles ceremony in March. This year’s host and additional honorees will be announced in the coming weeks.

Badass
Doechii
Jeff Hiller
Jonathan Bailey
Onya Nurve
Paige Bueckers
Reneé Rapp
Ricky Martin
Tramell Tillman
Ts Madison
Vivian Jenna Wilson

Reality TV Star
Chrishell Stause, “Selling Sunset”
Emira D’Spain, “Next Gen NYC”
Ezra Sosa, “Dancing With the Stars”
Fraser Olender, “Below Deck”
Gabby Windey, “The Bachelorette,” “The Traitors”
Michols Peña, “Southern Hospitality”
Nany González, “The Challenge”
Pari Kim, “Love on the Spectrum”
Tiffany “New York” Pollard, “I Love New York”
Zelah Glasson, “Big Brother”

‘Days of Our Lives’ Axes 4 Fan-Favorite Stars — When Will Their Characters Exit?

But even seasoned actors of the Peacock soap were left in disbelief after four cast members were brutally cut from the beloved show after returning from the Christmas break.

The daytime soap, which has come up against ailing cast members, death and a change of writers in recent years, has dropped regulars Carson Boatman, Raven Bowens, Ashley Puzemis and Leo Howard, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal.

Culling four younger cast members is a somewhat perplexing decision given the long-running soap has espoused the importance of bringing in new and younger talent to target Gen Z and Millennial viewers in recent months.

‘It was a New Year bloodbath at Days of Our Lives this month as the cast returned from a Christmas hiatus,’ an insider told the Daily Mail.

‘Four cast members were immediately let go. Carson Boatman, Raven Bowens, Ashley Puzemis and Leo Howard were given their walking papers in a shock move as soon as the show resumed taping after the holidays.

‘Days decided they needed to switch things up. All four actors were let go last week within a day of getting back from the show’s holiday hiatus. They were totally blindsided, especially Carson who was in the middle of renegotiating a new contract.’

Boatman, 31, joined the show in 2020 as the legacy character Johnny DiMera, the husband of Bowens’ Chanel DiMera, with the pair collectively known as ‘Janel’ by ardent fans.

Their characters married during Christmas 2021, but it was annulled shortly afterwards due to Johnny’s demonic possession which saw him engage in a one-night stand. But they reconciled in 2023 and said ‘I do’ for a second time on Valentine’s Day in 2024. Six months later Chanel fell pregnant but later suffered a miscarriage. In November they adopted their son Trey.

The storyline seemed to be a promising move to cementing the young DiMera’s as one of the soaps legacy couples, with Boatman himself recently opening up about plans to remain long-term on Days.

‘I’ll take 25 or 50 [years] if we can get it,’ he told E! at the 60th anniversary celebration of Days back in November.

Boatman is also part of the Dayplayers band – a musical troupe made up of his male costars Eric Martsolf, Wally Kurth and Brandon Barash. They recently announced 10 shows, kicking off in Florida on January 24.

Speaking at the same event – Bowens, 35, who plays Boatman’s onscreen wife Chanel DiMera – also talked about her future on the show, telling E! that ‘there’s a lot coming up.’

‘We both have jobs and so it’s like balancing our careers and our new baby, that we weren’t expecting to get,’ Bowens said of their characters. ‘So, now we’re just we’re figuring it all out… Then we’re going to be thrown a major surprise.’

She then confirmed that it is in fact two surprises. ‘One is going to be a miracle, the other’s going to be a bit of a tragedy,’ she said. ‘But there’s a lot coming up. Stay tuned.’

Bowens, who replaced Precious Way as Chanel in July 2021, also opened up to Dishin Days about how she and Boatman are ‘definitely on the way’ to becoming a legacy couple.

‘I’m nervous to say that we are but I do think that we’ve gotten to a place now where it is Chanel and Johnny and I don’t know if people would accept that separation,’ she said. ‘That feels good and it feels nice to be a part of something strong and to also be a part of the younger couples.’

Puzemis, 24, joined the show in 2023 as Holly Tate, the daughter of Nicole Walker and the late Daniel Jonas. She won Soap Central’s award for Best Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series in December.

Meanwhile, Howard, 28, replaced Jamie Martin Mann as Tate Black, the son of Brady Black and Theresa Donovan – and Holly’s love interest – in April 2024.

The pair have been embroiled in a love triangle with Sophia Choi, played by Rachel Boyd, splitting up when Sophia fell pregnant and later reuniting when she put the child up for adoption.

News of the lay-offs ‘came as a shock to all of them,’ according to our insider who said ‘there were no warning signs whatsoever’ – with other cast members now said to be living in ‘fear’.

‘It was a big blow not only to the four actors, but also to the rest of the cast,’ they said. ‘If it can happen to four of the young cast who had major storylines, the general thought is it can happen to anyone.

‘There’s a major feeling of dread, chaos and fear now. The cast were excited to get back to work but four major lay-offs is what greeted them as soon as they returned.’

It is unclear if the latest lay-offs will see the four characters exiting the soap, which first aired on NBC in 1965, or whether there are plans to recast. Afterall, Days is no stranger to recasting.

In the last couple of months alone Alice Halsey took over the role of Rachel Black from Finley Rose Slater while Boyd replaced Madelyn Kientz as Sophia.

Conner Floyd, who played Chance Chancellor on The Young and the Restless, will make his debut in April as Chad DiMera having replaced Billy Flynn. It is not yet known who will replace Marissa Reyes as Ari Hernandez, Al Calderon as Javi Hernandez or Cary Christopher as Thomas DiMera who will all star this year.

For Boatman, there are no hard feelings, with the actor telling the Daily Mail that he is ‘incredibly grateful for the past five years’.

‘I have nothing but love and respect for everyone over there from top to bottom,’ he said in a statement. ‘The closing of this chapter is bittersweet for me as I’ve cherished every moment spent walking those halls and on the sound stages. A lot of tears, and a lot of laughter have been spilled on all those sets by so many people, including myself.

‘I am genuinely so excited to see what the future holds for me, as well as the show.’

With episodes filmed 10 months in advance, Boatman, who has a wife and child, will be onscreen for some time to come.

He added: ‘P.S. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has been a fan of Johnny. The show tapes a LONG way in advance, so we’ll still be seeing a lot of him for quite a while.’

Major recasting has happened under the watch of co-head writers Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford who took over in July 2024, with their scenes airing from April 2025.

Their hiring was one of many changes to the show in recent years, including a string of deaths and ill health.

The show said goodbye to long-term cast favorites such as John Aniston, who played Victor Kiriakas and died in 2022 aged 89. Ninety-eight-year-old Bill Hayes, who played Doug Williams; Wayne Northrop, 77, who played Detective Roman Brady and Drake Hogestyn, 70, who played John Black all died last year.

Other stars who have died in recent years include Peggy McKay (Caroline Brady), Joseph Mascolo (Stefano DiMera) and family matriarch Frances Reid (Alice Horton).

Another show favorite, actress Suzanne Rogers, who joined the cast in 1973 and plays Maggie Horton, announced she was being treated for stage 2 colon cancer last year. But after undergoing months of chemotherapy and radiation, she returned to the show in November.

In 2024 the soap also lost Arianne Zucker, 51, who had played Nicole Walker for more than two decades. The actress’ contract was not renewed after she filed a lawsuit against director and executive producer Albert Alarr. She accused him of sexual harassment and discrimination, claiming he would 'frequently grab and tightly hug' her, 'purposely pushing her breasts onto his chest, while moaning "Oh Ari!"'

Addressing the New Year lay-offs, a spokesperson for Days said: ‘While we don’t comment on individual contracts or casting decisions, we have tremendous respect and appreciation for the actors who bring these characters to life. What may seem sudden is part of long-range storytelling decisions. Our goal is to balance the show’s rich history with where we’re headed creatively. Due to our long tape-to-air gap, any changes won’t be on screen for some time.’

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Howard, Bowens and Puzemis for comment.

PRESENTERS ANNOUNCED FOR THE “83RD ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBES

Presenters for the 83RD ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBES include: Amanda Seyfried, Ana de Armas, Ayo Edebiri, Charli xcx, Chris Pine, Colman Domingo, Connor Storrie, Dakota Fanning, Dave Franco, Diane Lane, George Clooney, Hailee Steinfeld, Hudson Williams, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Joe Keery, Judd Apatow, Julia Roberts, Justin Hartley, Kathryn Hahn, Keegan-Michael Key, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Hart, Kyra Sedgwick, Lalisa Manobal, Luke Grimes, Macaulay Culkin, Marlon Wayans, Melissa McCarthy, Mila Kunis, Miley Cyrus, Minnie Driver, Orlando Bloom, Pamela Anderson, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, Sean Hayes, Snoop Dogg, Wanda Sykes, Will Arnett and Zoë Kravitz.

The Golden Globes, often referred to as “Hollywood’s Party of the Year®,” is the largest awards show in the world to celebrate the best of film, television and now podcasting. Multi-Emmy Award®-winning producing duo Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner of White Cherry Entertainment (WCE) will return as executive-producing showrunners for the 83RD ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBES. Dick Clark Productions will plan, host and produce the 83RD ANNUAL GOLDEN GLOBES, which has been viewed in more than 185 countries and territories worldwide. This year’s votes were again tabulated by KPMG, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm.

*Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on-demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.

Meet Grayson on ‘Beyond the Gates’: Jordi Vilasuso Details Character With a ‘Good Heart’

Since getting his daytime start as Tony Santos on Guiding Light in 2000, Vilasuso has built an impressive résumé that includes playing All My Children‘s Griffin Castillo, Days of our Lives‘ Dario Hernandez, and, most recently, Rey Rosales on The Young and the Restless. Now stepping into his fifth soap role, the Daytime Emmy winner is keenly aware of how rare such opportunities have become. “I’m grateful to work in a time where jobs are few and far between,” he says. “It’s a privilege nowadays to work on a TV show, and I’m so encouraged by there being a fifth soap on the air. When I started 25 years ago, there were 10 soap operas. It shows you the viability. The people want these stories. There’s still an audience for them, and it keeps us actors employed.”

The timing of the new role has been especially fortunate for the Vilasuso family. Beyond the Gates films in Atlanta, and the family moved to Nashville last year, a change he says has been nothing but positive. “I left L.A. for a reason, because I knew I didn’t have to be there to work, and my family had an opportunity to go to Nashville, which we’re just loving,” Vilasuso explains. “It’s a three-and-a-half-hour drive to the studio, not bad at all. Sometimes my call time is at 2 p.m., and I’ll leave Nashville at 8 a.m., come here, finish, and then go back, and I get to see my kids.”

Upon arriving on the BTG set, Vilasuso says he was immediately embraced by his new castmates. “It’s just such a great group,” he enthuses. “And it’s so interesting to be on a show that’s just starting. Everybody’s here helping something grow and wanting it to do really well. There’s a lot of loveliness in this place. Sometimes you don’t feel that family dynamic, and on this show in particular, I feel like everybody is just so friendly and welcoming. That’s been really encouraging and just a positive work environment.”

Like AMC‘s Griffin, Vilasuso is once again donning scrubs. “He’s a lab tech, and he’s got a very good heart,” relays Vilasuso of Grayson. “He’s been raised by a single parent for some time, and now the roles have changed because he has to take care of his mother. And he goes to great lengths; I’ll just leave it at that.”

The role also places him in story with Jen Jacob‘s Ashley Morgan, a collaboration he was immediately excited about. “She’s super talented,” he praises. “When I did the chemistry read, I was like, ‘Wow, this would be so great. If I get to work with her, I’m going to be happy.’ And it worked out. She’s just such a pro, works very hard, and I’ll be honest, that hasn’t always been the case with costars, and that just makes the dynamic a lot of fun, and makes coming to work great. She’s reading the scripts and saying, ‘Okay, your storyline is getting so good.’ So, she’s excited, and that’s really what we should be. When you have that, and you’re all able to all be in that place, you’re like, ‘OK, cool.’”

Beyond the creative camaraderie, Vilasuso is enjoying the perks of the show’s production setup. “They actually have craft services here, too, which, by the way, is nonexistent on other shows,” he adds. “It’s a new studio, which is nice. The dressing rooms are great. It’s new sets, which are really nice, too. I’m shooting in Georgia, which I’ve never shot in Georgia, and it’s a beautiful place to shoot. It’s definitely a vibe.”

Outside of his Atlanta commute, Vilasuso has kept plenty on his plate. “It’s funny, when I got this role, I actually booked a movie, I booked a commercial, and I got funding for my project, all in the same week,” he marvels. “It was insane. It was such a blessing. And I had to say no to the commercial, and they moved the dates for the movie so I could do this show, which had never happened to me in my life. I was like, ‘Oh, my God, you can move the dates for me? That’s amazing.’”

Reflecting on the past year, the actor notes just how dramatically his circumstances have shifted. “This time last year, I was definitely in a much different place,” he says. “And I just have a lot of gratitude in my life. I’m feeling good. I’m feeling really, really excited. I feel like there’s an opportunity here for Grayson to go in a lot of different directions.”

Vilasuso also remains deeply appreciative of the viewers who have supported him throughout his career. “I have fans that have become like friends,” he concludes. “I feel so blessed for the fans that I still have that watch me, that are always asking me, ‘When are we going to see you on TV again?’ And I’m so grateful that I have a really great answer for them now and a really great show. So, I can’t wait, and I’m hoping that we can keep this audience growing and alive, and that this is just the beginning of bringing soaps back to TV and broadcast television.”

‘Days of Our Lives’ 2026 Preview: Big Casting Changes, Sarah-Brady-Xander Triangle & More

The soap’s co-head writers, Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford, say the renewal offers both relief and opportunity. “As fans first, we are thrilled for the audience, cast, crew, and Ken [Corday, executive producer], who has made tremendous sacrifices to keep the show on the air,” they share. “We are grateful for Peacock’s support and faith in Days.”

That security has also had a tangible impact on storytelling. “Any time we begin winding down the writing of a season without a pickup announcement, certain contingency plans go into place that drastically affect the storytelling,” they explain. “Knowing that we have a two-year pickup gives us much greater ability to plan ahead and breathe.”

Still, Days’ unique production schedule — with episodes filmed 10 months in advance — presents its own challenges. “While we get feedback from the producers on what is currently taping, we don’t have the ability to change course in the middle of a story based on fan reaction,” they point out. “Romantic chemistry is the most difficult area for us to gauge because we don’t see the couples we’re writing for many months.”

As for what lies ahead, Cwikly and Ford promise that the heart of the show remains firmly intact. “Salem is and always has been about family, friendship, mystery, and romance across multiple generations,” they note. “And there’s plenty of the above in 2026.”

“Marlena [Deidre Hall] is pulled into a quest in early 2026 that kicks into high gear in the fall with life-changing news.” As far as Marlena finding love again, the scribes note, “Anything is possible, but Marlena’s grief for John is consuming, and she is certainly not looking for love at this time.”

“Their time in the crypt leaves the majority of the DiMeras more united than ever … with the notable exception of Kristen [DiMera, Stacy Haiduk] and EJ [DiMera, Dan Feuerriegel], who take their family feud to the next level. Kristen’s legal situation must be remedied now that the truth about EJ’s shooter is known. Her anger at EJ over Rachel’s [Alice Halsey] stint in Bayview will continue to have major ramifications.”

“As Sarah [Linsey Godfrey] and Brady [Eric Martsolf] begin to explore a relationship, Xander [Paul Telfer] tries to move on.”

Regarding Rachel and Sophia’s [Rachel Boyd] unholy alliance at Bayview Sanitarium, Cwikly and Ford tease, “Needless to say, nothing good will come of it.”

“Stephanie [Abigail Klein] and Alex [Robert Scott Wilson] have a celebratory start to the year, but they face several existential challenges in 2026.”

“EJ and Gwen’s [Emily O’Brien] best-laid plans will be unexpectedly disrupted. And Cat’s [AnnaLynne McCord] ISA mission will force her to grow closer to EJ … perhaps reigniting their previous attraction.”

“Chad’s [Billy Flynn] kidnapping will alter the dynamic of this story as Chad, Jennifer [Melissa Reeves] and Jack [Matthew Ashford] try to honor Abigail’s memory in a way that allows them to move forward.”

Dimitri’s (Peter Porte) return will directly impact Javi (Al Calderon) and Leo’s (Greg Rikaart) future plans. “Both Gwen and Dimitri are seeking revenge, and there will be fallout and collateral damage.”

“Holly [Ashley Puzemis] will again find herself in Sophia’s crosshairs, and Tate [Leo Howard] will have to run interference.”

“Johnny [Carson Boatman] and Chanel [Raven Bowens] will have a year of major ups and downs, joys and sorrows.”

“Steve [Stephen Nichols] and Kayla [Mary Beth Evans] are deeply impacted by Stephanie’s crisis.”

“Abe [James Reynolds] and Paulina [Jackée Harry] encounter an unexpected obstacle.”

“Jada [Elia Cantu] and Shawn [Brandon Beemer] find their way back to each other in the wake of tragedy.”

“Gabi’s [Cherie Jimenez] secret continues to loom over Philip [John-Paul Lavoisier] and Gabi’s burgeoning relationship.”

“New Rachel starts airing in March, and we’ll see Conner Floyd‘s [ex-Chance Chancellor, The Young and the Restless] Chad in April. There is also a new actress taking over the role of Ari [Hernandez, from current portrayer Marissa Reyes] in April — stay tuned.”

Dimitri Returns to ‘Days of Our Lives’! Peter Porte Breaks Down His Fight to Get Leo Back

For Porte, who last appeared in 2023, the call to come back was both unexpected and meaningful. “I was so pleased,” he enthuses. “I love working on this show. I get to work with my friends. It’s such a legacy. I mean, we just celebrated our 60th anniversary, which is crazy in this town, so I was very disappointed to leave. But these things happen. Contracts come to an end, storylines come to an end, but I was always hoping that they would bring me back. I thought the fact that they put me in supermax prison and not killed me was a good sign.”

That hope was quietly fueled in the months after his exit, as Dimitri’s name was being mentioned in the story. “I kept a lot of friends on the show, and they would text me and say, ‘Dimitri just came back up in a script. You’re around, we’re talking about you,’” he recalls. “And I thought, ‘This would be fun.’ And then suddenly I get a phone call from Marnie [Saitta], who is the head of casting, and she said, ‘We’re bringing you back in a big way. It’s such a fun storyline. Not only do you come back to Salem, but you happen to come back and crash Leo’s wedding.’ I said, ‘What a a perfect way to return on a soap opera.’ And I also have long ’80s soap opera hair, which is even more fun.”

Beyond the splashy plot twist, Porte appreciated the chance to reconnect with his Salem pals, this time under very different circumstances. “It was wonderful, because when I was last on the show, we were still experiencing COVID protocols and for the most part I had never seen anyone’s face,” he explains. “I’d never seen most of our crews’ smile, and we were quarantined in a way that you couldn’t really socialize in the halls. So, when I came back, it was a very different environment. I was way more social. You got to meet everyone. You got to talk. We also had great new leadership, and they created a really amazing work environment, so it was a very exciting time to be coming back. It was a very positive return.”

Onscreen, Dimitri’s return is layered with mystery and emotional stakes, as the character reveals what has really been happening with him over the past year or so, which is a vastly different story than anyone knew. “Dimitri has been trapped in a gilded prison for the last year,” explains the actor. “He doesn’t know what’s going on on the outside. All he knows is that he needs to do everything he can to get back to Leo, the one true love of his life, and he’s giddy at the opportunity of finally getting to see him. That everything has sort of moved on while he’s been trapped in time for this last year is very confusing to him. All that’s kept him alive all this time is the love for this man, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get him back.”

Those emotions are especially resonant in scenes opposite Rikaart and Emily O’Brien (Gwen Rizczech), with whom Porte quickly discovered an easy rhythm. “It was so natural, so organic,” he notes. “Whenever the three of us got together, we just played, and we had so much fun on set. We rehearse as much as we can and try to mine as many funny, little instances as we possibly can. I really hope and do believe that that’s going to show in the final edit and hopefully will be what the fans will get to watch in the coming months.”

Away from the drama in Salem, Porte used his hiatus to explore new creative outlets, including a return to the stage after a long break. “I hadn’t done a play in 10 years,” he says. “I’m in development with two new original pieces over at Hallmark, and hopefully we’ll see something happen. These things take so long to develop, but I’m feeling very positive about those two.”

He also put his focus on home improvement. “I love home restoration, and my husband and I purchased a home in the Hollywood Hills that’s now over 100 years old,” Porte reports. “It’s the only house on the hill, and it’s where Patrick Swayze first lived. And over the course of the last two years, we have completely renovated it and designed it, and I really love how it turned out. It was an intense process, but very satisfying. We finally had it photographed and hopefully published very soon.”

But now, Dimitri’s next chapter — and evolution — remain front and center, and Porte hints it will challenge both the character and the audience’s expectations. “I think there’s a lot of internal, personal, emotional growth,” he reports. “I think he has to come to terms with not always getting what he wants in the way he thinks he should have it. He’s a tough character because he is the product of a lineage of villains, so when he starts to change, the world around him might not accept that change, and that’s really tough for him in this season.”

And at the heart of it all is his still-burning love for Leo. “No one can imagine going through the torture that Dimitri has gone through,” Porte points out. “So to manage all of that along with the man that you love not reciprocating it all of a sudden after going through hell and back to get to him and then finding some way to accept and forgive all that is, I think, his biggest emotional journey.”

General Hospital’s Adrian Anchondo Confirms Romance With Days of Our Lives Star Colton Little

Anchondo’s post includes photos of the two enjoying the spectacular scenery, some delicious food, and, of course, the beaches, including a shot of a snowman made from sand instead of snow. The videos feature the pair taking in the sights, finding a sea urchin at the beach, enjoying local music, and taking shelter from a torrential downpour.

The two met back when Anchondo first landed the role of Marco Rios on GH in early 2025, and he reached out to Little for advice. “We knew each other through mutual friends,” the actor explained to Michael Fairman. “So I knew of him for a long time. I started asking Colton about what his experience was like on soaps and asked about SAG health insurance, etc. We met up one night and were hooked from then on.”

Little is best known to soap fans for taking over the role of Andrew Donovan on DAYS, which had previously been played by child actors. He made his first appearance in the 2022 spinoff mini-series Beyond Salem and has appeared sporadically on DAYS proper in the years that followed. In 2025, Andrew returned to Salem to marry Paul Narita (Christopher Sean) in June, and the couple visited again in November to attend the party celebrating the Tom Horton Free Clinic (which were also the episodes where the soap celebrated its 60th anniversary).

Little can also be seen in movies like My Best Friend’s Christmas, V/H/S/85, and A Biltmore Christmas, and has appeared in episodes of 9-1-1: Lone Star and NCIS: Origins. His IMDb page also lists two episodes in GH back in June 2021, when he had an uncredited role as a Metro Court bartender named Grant.

Before joining the cast of GH, Anchondo’s career included appearances in series like Looking, How to Get Away With Murder, Rebel, The Rookie, FBI: Most Wanted, and Law & Order: Organized Crime.

Though Anchondo went “Instagram Official” with his new beau on December 30, the couple could actually be seen together in a fun Instagram video posted on December 7 by Kelly Thiebaud (Britt) documenting a night out bowling with GH castmates that also included Van Hansis (Lucas), Rory Gibson (Michael), Katelyn MacMullen (Willow), Tanisha Harper (Jordan), Braedyn Bruner (Emma), and Giovanni Mazza (Gio).

‘Malcolm In The Middle’ Revival Gets Premiere Date, Key Art, Photos & Trailer Revealing Hal, Lois & Their Grown-Up Children, Including Dewey After Recast

We are getting a first official glimpse at the return of the beloved TV family, led by parents Hal (Bryan Cranston) and Lois (Jane Kaczmarek), 19 years after the end of the original series.

“My life is fantastic now. All I had to do is stay away from my family,” a grown-up Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) says in the trailer.

That is about to change. In the revival, titled after the original series’ theme song, after shielding himself and his daughter from his family for over a decade, Malcolm is dragged back into their orbit when Hal and Lois demand his presence at their 40th anniversary party.

The trailer, which you can watch above, features the return of Muniz, Cranston and Kaczmarek as well as Christopher Kennedy Masterson and Justin Berfield as Malcolm’s brothers Francis and Reese, respectively, and Emy Coligado as Francis’ wife Piama. It also introduces Anthony Timpano and Vaughan Murrae as the youngest siblings Jamie and Kelly — seen as a baby/toddler (Jamie) or not at all (Kelly) on the original series — as well as Keeley Karsten as Malcolm’s daughter Leah and Kiana Madeira as his girlfriend Tristan.

The trailer does not include Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, the actor who succeeded Erik Per Sullivan as Malcolm’s brother Dewey, but he is in the key art alongside Berfield, Kaczmarek, Muniz, Cranston and Masterson.

You can also see first-look images from the revival featuring Kaczmarek, Cranston and Muniz below.

From Disney Branded Television, the limited series is produced by 20th Television, a part of Disney Television Studios, and New Regency. Linwood Boomer created the original series and returns as writer and executive producer. Cranston, Tracy Katsky of KatCo, Gail Berman and New Regency’s Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan and Natalie Lehmann are executive producers. Ken Kwapis directed all four episodes and executive produce. Jimmy Simons and Laura Delahaye are co-executive producers.

All 151 episodes of the original Malcolm in the Middle are available to stream on Hulu or via Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers.

Jordi Vilasuso Poised For Daytime Comeback on Beyond The Gates!

Vilasuso burst onto the soap scene 25 years ago when he was cast as Tony Santos on Guiding Light. He exited the show in 2003, the same year he nabbed a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actor. His next daytime gig was on All My Children, where he portrayed Griffin Castillo from 2010-11. After AMC’s cancellation, it was revived online for a spell in 2013, and Vilasuso returned as Griffin for the reboot. Next, from 2016-17, he played the role of shady Dario Hernandez on DAYS. On Y&R, his Rey was in a popular romance with Sharon, played by Sharon Case, when the character was unexpectedly killed off.

When Soap Opera Digest broke the news of his exit, the actor told us exclusively, “Playing Rey Rosales on The Young and the Restless for the past 4 years has been an incredible experience that has brought me immense joy as an actor,” and he voiced his gratitude tot he show’s head writer/executive producer, Josh Griffith, for “the opportunity to sink my teeth into storylines that were some of the highlights of my career in this genre.”

That the actor has landed on BTG was revealed in the promo for the soaps’ second season, which is premiering on January 2, 2026. In the trailer, the actor can be seen — albeit briefly — interacting in an amorous way with Jen Jacob’s Ashley. A rep for the show confirmed that Vilasuso does appear in the promo, but stayed mum about the name of the actor’s new character or his exact first airdate.

General Hospital Star Kirsten Storms Offers Health Battle Update, Teases Return as Maxie

A GH fixture since 2005, the actress shared on Instagram in July that she was taking an extended leave from the show while she moved out of Los Angeles and settled into a new home in Nashville with her daughter, Harper Rose Barash. She shares Harper, who turns 12 in January, with her ex-husband, Brandon Barash (ex-Johnny, GH; ex-Jake/Stefan, Days of Our Lives), who has also set down roots in Nashville. In her post, Storms voiced her gratitude to Executive Producer Frank Valentini for accommodating her absence and revealed that she was done taping as Maxie “for the year” and likely wouldn’t be back in the studio until 2026. “I really want to thank GH, the ABC network executives, the writers for agreeing to let me take this time,” she stated in her video message. “I know Frank and the producers there know my reasons and I am so grateful that they understand and are supportive.”

Then, in a subsequent post on Instagram in October, Storms opened up about the medical reasons behind her decision to leave L.A. She explained that she had decided to relocate after learning that she needed to undergo brain surgery. Back in 2021, the actress had undergone an operation called a craniotomy to drain and remove noncancerous cysts on her brain, and in January 2025, she had a new scan of her brain after complaining of new symptoms to her neurosurgeon. “I was shocked when the doctors told me they found an aneurysm on the right side of my brain,” she wrote.

“Aneurysms (obviously) can be caused by stress,” she continued. “Brain cysts? I believe that is possible too…. and since the January scan showed a new, but very small, squatter (aka cyst) on my brain stem — it was clear I needed to change some things in my life asap.” After receiving her diagnosis, “I checked in with my super smart surgeon, completed my next few months at work, started my hiatus, and left California.”

When she posted in October, Storms was scheduled to undergo a coiling procedure, which helps prevent the aneurysm from bursting, within a matter of weeks, and credited her best friend and former GH co-star Emme Rylan (ex-Maxie), who she was staying with in St. Louis, for helping her through such a difficult time. “Emotional support, when going through times in life that cause worry, is crucial,” Storms noted, adding, “The biggest reason for the move was Harper, but a lot of it was for my physical and mental health. And my overall happiness.”

Since then, the actress has kept a low profile on social media — but on December 22, she posted a new update on both her health and her plans to return to GH. “I’ve received a lot of social media support on this subject, so I want to give an update on my medical situation,” her message began. “My last appointment was with a new Neurosurgeon in St Louis. He told me that I am in the ‘gray zone’ for the aneurysm procedure. It’s not super small, but it’s not at the mandatory surgery size. Basically, I can keep monitoring it – or have the coiling done, BUT he told me I wasn’t in immediate/’OMG! it’s going to burst tomorrow!’ kind of danger. Obvi, great news.”

Storms elaborated, “Trying to see if I’m comfortable with the ‘wait and see if it gets worse’ plan. I do know that I am not eager to hop right on the operating table. (Plz refer to my post in 2021, following my craniotomy. The pic of the back of my head will *possibly* convey why this topic is a little difficult for me to openly discuss. And of course there was that surgery back in Jan this year). So, as I sit in this’gray zone’, pondering my plan, I want you guys to know that I really do appreciate the messages and stories offered of your own experiences. I needed those….and I had no idea (weird how that works, right?). Super easy to be silly and have fun on these platforms, but getting deep about online rumors and my feelings about them? Hah….i’d rather switch to decaf coffee. (My psychologist would tell me that’s a clear example of ‘avoidance’.)”

She ended her update with a hint at her GH future. “Welp I’m out of jokes, so I’m gonna say HAPPY HOLIDAYS and maaaaybe you will be seeing me back in Port Charles soon.” she teased.

In the storyline, while Maxie has been lingering in that coma, life in Port Charles has kept moving without her — and in some very intriguing ways. Most notably, her late husband, Nathan West (Ryan Paevey), and her late sister-in-law, Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud), have made his-and-her returns from the dead. Maxie’s live-in love, Damian Spinelli (Bradford Anderson), has been maintaining his hope that his beloved “Maximista” will regain consciousness soon, he’s also been understandably anxious about how Nathan’s return might affect his own romantic future with her. Meanwhile, Nathan — who has no memories of the seven years during which he was believed to be dead — is getting to know James, the son he shares with Maxie who was born after his “death” in 2018…. and he’s also been spending a lot of time with Lulu (Alexa Havins), Maxie’s best friend. So when Maxie does get her medical miracle and resume her life in Port Charles, she’ll definitely be coming home to a lot of drama!

Gil Gerard Dies: Star Of ‘Buck Rogers In The 25th Century’ Was 82

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century was produced by Glen A. Larson and aired on NBC for two seasons. It sought to ride the Star Wars wave of the late Seventies, but employed more camp and comedy — especially where Twiki the jive-talking robot was concerned. (Twiki was voiced by Mel Blanc.)

Rogers was aided in his adventures by the spandex-jumpsuited Col. Wilma Deering (Erin Gray) and the mysterious, feather-headed alien Hawk (Thom Christopher).

The show had its genesis in a made for TV movie of the same name which was released theatrically and did moderately well. The film later served as the series’ pilot.

Gerard worked consistently after playing Buck, mostly in episodic television and indie movies.

He starred as Dr. John Harding in CBS’ short-lived E.A.R.T.H. Force (1990) and had a six-episode arc on Days of Our Lives in 1997. More recently, he starred as Bergen Paulsen opposite Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling in The Nice Guys.

Pre-Buck Rogers, Gerard played Dr. Alan Stewart on more that 300 episodes of NBC’s The Doctors.

Early this morning Gil – my soulmate – lost his fight with a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer,” wrote his wife. “From the moment when we knew something was wrong to his death this morning was only days. No matter how many years I got to spend with him it would have ever been enough. Hold the ones you have tightly and love them fiercely.”

Dan Gauthier Talks Joining ‘Days’ After 15-Year Hiatus & His Take on Peter Blake

Gauthier, who played One Life to Live‘s Kevin Buchanan from 2003-2010, welcomed the opportunity to return to daytime. “I knew a lot of the actors on the set, like [John-Paul] Lavoisier [Philip Kiriakis], and Stacy Haiduk [Kristen DiMera] is someone that I have known for years, so it was really fun to reconnect with those folks,” Gauthier says. “Everybody was so kind and accepting and welcoming. Everybody had a great attitude, and it was fun right away. I couldn’t ask for anything better, to be honest with you.”

Despite the familiar faces, Gauthier admits he had some jitters before arriving at the studio. “There’s always nerves,” he notes. “It’s no different than the first day of school, when you’re meeting new people. There’s a nervous energy about getting on a new set and feeling it out and what to expect and what happens, but because I’ve been doing it for a long time, I’m kind of used to that. But certainly, it was probably a little more comfortable knowing that I was going to see people that I knew as opposed to not knowing anyone so that certainly took away a little bit of the nerves.”

As did tackling the role of Peter, played by Jason Brooks from 1993 to 1998. With nearly three decades since the character was last in Salem, Gauthier felt he could put his own spin on the role. “I had no idea what the storyline was going to be until I got the script, so I just went in with, ‘This is my own take on this thing. Whatever the dialogue and whatever the storyline is, it’s just my own take on this,’” he explains. “I didn’t watch anything or do any research as far as what had happened in the past. I just took what was in front of me and went that way.”

While Gauthier is keeping details under wraps, Peter’s return immediately places him in the thick of the DiMera family drama, involving Billy Flynn (Chad DiMera), Thaao Penghlis (Tony DiMera), Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera), Tyler Joseph Andrews (Theo Carver), and Haiduk. “The mystery is kind of the enjoyment of this whole thing,” he teases. “I don’t want to give up too much because that’s the fun. I don’t want to use certain words that would foreshadow exactly what it is, so it’s a surprise. What I can say is this is probably a surprise to viewers of him being there or how he is.”

Sharing the screen with his fictional sister Haiduk was a particular highlight. “Most of my stuff was large group scenes with various people, but for the most part, it was between the two of us and then other characters interjecting things at certain times,” he previews. “But the dynamic between the two of us, brother and sister, she’s just terrific. She’s such a nice human being to begin with, but also just a terrific actor, so working with her was fantastic, and it felt like we’ve been acting together for years, and yet we’ve never worked together before, so it was interesting.”

While Gauthier is enjoying his time in Salem, his days in Llanview still hold a very special place in his heart. “It was an extraordinary time for me,” he reflects. “It couldn’t have been more enjoyable. Living in New York City and being on a soap opera is one of the great jobs of all time. Just being able to walk through the city and go to work was really incredible. It’s a shame there aren’t any more soaps in New York City.”

The relationships he formed during those years continue to resonate. “Trevor St. John [Todd Manning/Victor Lord] is one of my best friends, and we’re still incredibly close,” he relays. “Kassie DePaiva [Blair Cramer] was so welcoming to my family. We spent a lot of weekends with her and Jimmy [DePaiva, Max Holden], and they had kids, too, and so my son was really welcomed in. Kristen Alderson [Starr Manning] and Eddie Alderson [Matthew Buchanan] were there, and Kristen and my son are the same age, so my son spent a lot of time on the set with Kristen, and they became good friends, especially in the first year we lived in New York. It was just a really magical thing for me. It was the best job I ever had. It was extraordinary.”

Over the course of his career, Gauthier has taken on a wide range of roles, and fans recognize him for several of them. “It used to be for Teen Witch a lot, and I get recognized for Son-in-Law, but Friends is pretty big too,” he notes. “People don’t expect the Friends thing, so I think they’re more surprised when they figure out that I’m on Friends, because it’s just one episode as opposed to a movie.”

These days, he’s auditioning and staying busy teaching an acting class in Cathedral City, CA, and he’d gladly return to Days if Peter’s story continues. “I had a great time,” he raves. “It was nothing but positive for me.”

Dick Van Dyke turns 100 years old, but says a century 'is not enough'

"The funniest thing is it's not enough. A hundred years is not enough; you want to live more," the actor, who turned 100 on Dec. 13, said. "Which I plan to [do]."

Speaking with ABC News' Chris Connelly in a segment that aired Dec. 12, the "Mary Poppins" star gave credit for his good spirits, in part, to his wife Arlene Silver, 54.

"She kept me young," Van Dyke said. "She gives me energy. She gives me humor and all kinds of support."

"Thank you, God, he made it," Silver said in a Dec. 13 Instagram livestream, adding that he's "feeling good, looking good, sounding good."

"It's an accomplishment for me, also, to get him to a hundred," she continued. "I met him when he was 81. I don't think he would have made it if ... we have a very special connection, and he'll say I keep him young, I invigorate him and all this stuff. So I feel like the combination of the two of us has got him here, besides his genes and an optimistic attitude."

Silver marveled at her husband's resilience as she said, "He's here, mind, body, you know? He's slower, but man, he's here."

"I miss movement," he said when asked about what is "hard" about being 100 years old. "I've got one game leg from I don't know what. And I still try to dance."

He opened up about his physical limitations in a Sunday Times essay published in November, which described various ailments, from foot problems to declining eyesight. He added that he has trouble maintaining focus in group conversations and frequently complains about his hearing aids.

"It’s frustrating to feel diminished in the world, physically and socially," he wrote. He added, "If I miss too many gym days, I really can feel it – a stiffness creeping in here and there. If I let that set in, well, God help me."

Van Dyke, who recently published the book "100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life," has maintained an impressive gym regimen for years.

"I've always exercised three days a week. We go to the gym, still, three days a week," Van Dyke told Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen on the Jan. 22 episode of the "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" podcast.

"I get down and do a lot of stretching and yoga-type things, sit-ups. And they have machines ... something for almost every exercise."

Van Dyke often takes opportunities to display his spryness by dancing in public, including in Coldplay's "All My Love" music video in 2024. In the seven-minute director's cut, he imparted his musings on a long career in Hollywood as well as the meaning of love.

"I think I'm one of those lucky people who got to do for a living what I would have done anyway," he said. "I got to do what I do. Play and act silly."

‘Guiding Light’ Alum Reveals Cancer Diagnosis: ‘Tough Times Come’

The Guiding Light alum, who played Beth Raines for years, took to social media to share her story in an emotional video. Chamberlin’s cancer journey began this fall, and she’s got a lot to say about it.

“I need to tell you something that I haven’t shared publicly. And even my family, except for my husband and son, didn’t know until today. In mid-October, I was diagnosed with early-stage endometrial cancer. And on November 21st, I had to have a complete hysterectomy. Today, my final pathology report came back. Stage 1A, no spread, no further treatment necessary. I am lucky,” she expressed in the footage.

Chamberlin explained that she had kept quiet for several reasons. She didn’t want people to worry about her or imagine the worst for her, and she also didn’t want to hear a lot of noise as she navigated her health crisis.

The Days of Our Lives alum, who played Nancy Trent for a short stint on the Peacock soap, said she has always focused on clean eating and exercising. Cancer, though, doesn’t care or discriminate; even the healthiest people get it, Chamberlin said she learned.

While she said she will never know why she got cancer, Chamberlin is focused on spreading the word about early detection. Chamberlin plans to talk about that and more in the coming days.

“Over the next few days, I’m also going to tell you about my journey through this, the mental tools that I used to get through it, the difficulty of navigating the healthcare system with my particular insurance until getting to my surgeon, who I am truly, truly grateful to have had. I’ll also tell you the funny parts, because there were those. I’ll tell you as much as I can. So follow along, and if you know someone who’s going through their own challenge, send this along. My hope is that I can be a source of information and inspiration,” the actress ended her message.

Chamberlin kept her caption on the Instagram video simple, writing, “Tough times come.” The soap star also wrote on the video that she didn’t even tell some of her family members about her cancer journey until she was ready to share her story on social media.

Fans flooded her comments section with love, support, and thanks for Chamberlin coming forward with her story, something she didn’t have to do.

“So thankful you are okay!!! You are such an inspiration to me!!,” wrote a fan. One fan expressed, “Sharing such personal and intimate details is hard! You are so graceful and courageous! Thank you for sharing. P. S we need you here!!.”

Another fan said, “I am so sorry this happened and so thankful to God you are ok. You are so amazing and loved!” “Thanks for sharing so happy that everything is well now,” stated a different fan.

Guiding Light alum Beth Chamberlin has opened up about her cancer journey and hopes to become an inspiration for others fighting the same battle.

Vivica A. Fox Signs With Innovative Artists Entertainment

Actress, writer, and producer Vivica A. Fox recently appeared in the movie The Christmas Campaign as well as A Christmas Murder Mystery.

She is well known for her roles as Jasmine Dubrow in the $817M-plus grossing Roland Emmerich sci-fi blockbuster Independence Day, as Vernita Green in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill (which just had its full Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 saga re-released last weekend by Lionsgate), Maxine in Soul Food, and Shate Smith in Two Can Play That Game.

She directed the BET+ biographical crime drama film, First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story, for which she received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special.

On the television side, Fox has starred in Keeping Up with the Joneses, Empire, and 1-800-Missing for which she won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. She has appeared in Black-ish, Degrassi: The Next Generation, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Fox was also a contestant on season 3 of Dancing with the Stars and appeared as herself on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Miss Universe, and RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Fox has produced and starred in over 25 The Wrong… franchise television thriller films for Lifetime.

After successful collaborations with major brands such as Cadillac, Google, and Carshield, Fox launched her own hair company, The Vivica Fox Hair Collection.

The multi-hyphenate also hosted the podcast Hustling With Vivica A. Fox with Dr. Phil’s Stage 29 Productions, which ran for two years and authored the book Every Day I’m Hustling.

2026 Critics Choice Awards Nominations

BEST YOUNG ACTOR / ACTRESS
Everett Blunck – The Plague (Independent Film Company)
Miles Caton – Sinners (Warner Bros.)
Cary Christopher – Weapons (Warner Bros.)
Shannon Mahina Gorman – Rental Family (Searchlight Pictures)
Jacobi Jupe – Hamnet (Focus Features)
Nina Ye – Left-Handed Girl (Netflix)

Who Is Peter Blake on ‘Days of Our Lives’? Inside the History of Kristen DiMera’s Brother

Peter, originally played by Jason Brooks from 1993 to 1998, is an attorney and the adoptive son of Stefano DiMera, as well as the son of Rachel Blake, a.k.a. “The Woman in White.”

Peter arrived in Salem in September 1993, determined to keep his sister, Kristen Blake (then played by Eileen Davidson, now Stacy Haiduk) from pursuing her love for John Black (Drake Hogestyn) because she was already set to marry her then-adoptive brother, Tony DiMera (Thaao Penghlis), to honor Stefano’s dying wish.

While in town, Peter fell for Jennifer Horton (Stephanie Cameron), who was reluctant to get involved with him, since she was still married to Jack Deveraux (Mark Valley), who had left town. After Jack sent divorce papers to Jen, she began dating Peter.

Peter continued to carry out nefarious tasks for his father, including stealing Sami Brady’s (Alison Sweeney) diary, in which she discussed finding her mother, Marlena Evans, having sex with John, information that later confirmed Belle Black’s (later played by Kirsten Storms and Martha Madison) paternity. Stefano held onto the information, which was revealed at Belle’s baptism in front of everyone.

After months of Peter’s machinations, Kristen and Tony tied the knot. Peter helped Stefano fake his death and manipulate John, who had past ties to Stefano. Peter also began trafficking drugs and laundering money through his jazz club, The Blue Note. Laura Horton (Jaime Lyn Bauer), Jennifer’s mother, uncovered his criminal operation, forcing Peter had to work quickly to neutralize her. To that end, he hired a man named Daniel Scott, who had Laura’s office painted with a toxic substance that affected her emotional state, making any accusations against Peter seem unreliable. Because Laura had a history of mental illness, her family was concerned and considered recommitting her to a sanitarium. Ultimately, the poison paint was discovered, Daniel was blamed and hightailed it out of town.

In 1994, Peter, Jennifer and their friends went to Maison Blanche, a DiMera property in New Orleans, where they found a presumed-dead Hope Brady. At the end of the trip, the house burned down. Tony lost his eyesight trying to retrieve a computer from the blaze that contained information about John Black’s past.

The next year, Peter took Jennifer to Aremid (that’s “DiMera” backward!) and proposed. They got engaged, even though Jack had returned to Salem, hoping to reunite with his ex. Jack worked to discredit Peter in Jennifer’s eyes, but she remained committed to Peter, and the couple planned to marry in Aremid.

Tony secretly regained his eyesight and discovered that Kristen and John were still involved. After Jen and Peter wed in Aremid, Tony manipulated events so he was shot and “killed” (he later turned up alive), and John was blamed. Peter prosecuted John, who was sentenced to death by electrocution. He was cleared when Tony’s diary, detailing his plan to frame John, was found.

Meanwhile, one of Peter’s cohorts, Jude St. Clair (Jeff Griggs), was blackmailing Peter, threatening to expose him. Jack suspected there was a connection between them and told Jen. Matters escalated when Jude kidnapped Hope Williams Brady (Kristian Alfonso). During the rescue, Jude shot Bo Brady (Peter Reckell), and Peter then shot Jude, claiming he was trying to save Jack, effectively silencing Jude’s threats. In 1996, Jennifer became wise to Peter’s schemes and tracked down Daniel Scott, who told her the truth about her husband. Jennifer served Peter with divorce papers.

A desperate Peter decided to kidnap Jen and her daughter, Abby. Jack caught Peter, and the two struggled over a gun, which went off, wounding Peter. Stefano sneaked into Peter’s room in the hospital and the two cooked up a scheme to fake Peter’s death and blame Jack. At Peter’s funeral, a stunned Laura discovered both Peter and Stefano, who were presumed dead. They abducted her and had a doctor erase her short-term memory, before releasing her. Laura continued to insist Peter was alive.

Jack was found guilty of murdering Peter and sentenced to life in prison. Kristen had Peter’s body exhumed and discovered he wasn’t in the coffin — Daniel Scott was. Kristen had Daniel’s body cremated. Jack eventually escaped from prison.

Peter, who had recovered from his gunshot wound and was hiding out to avoid detection, was bitten by a tropical mosquito and developed “Jungle Madness,” which made him violent and unhinged. He attacked Laura and Hope during his episodes.

Jack and Jennifer hid out with a traveling circus while searching for Peter to prove he was alive and clear Jack’s name. Hoping to lure Peter out of hiding, Jennifer faked her death. The plan worked, and an ailing Peter showed up at the church, where he was arrested. Stefano visited him and injected him with an antidote to his “Jungle Madness.” Peter was sent to a minimum-security prison in 1998.

Peter wasn’t mentioned again until 2019, when Abe noted that Peter had been missing since being released from prison. Later, during a battle for power at DiMera Enterprises, Peter lent his support to Kristen from afar, and that was the last time the character was mentioned.

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