On March 26, 1973, "The Young and the Restless" debuted on the CBS network and set out to change the soap opera format forever. Since soaps had begun in radio, the TV serials still reflected that lineage by having the emphasis be on narrative and dialogue. By adding a more romantic feel to the show via lighting and camera angles, "Y&R" set itself apart from the existing sudsers, leading the way into territories daytime dramas weren't going. It
pushed boundaries by incorporating previously taboo issues such as rape, mental illness, euthanasia and more into its storylines, showing just how inventive and relevant the medium could be (via Encyclopedia). According to Soap Hub, the show focused on the
upscale Brooks family and the impoverished Foster family. "Y&R" creators William J. Bell and his wife, Lee Phillip Bell, were given the freedom by CBS to run the show as they saw fit. By the 1980s, the Bells realized it was time for a change and re-invented the series with a younger cast and different families. While "Y&R" had already won an Emmy in 1975, the
show continued to do extremely well in the ratings, constantly tackling topics that had never been dealt with before on television. Now, 50 years later, "The Young and the Restless" is still going strong and the network has announced its new plans for the series.
Michael Mealor returns to Young and the Restless as
Kyle Abbott in scenes Tuesday March 15. Viewers will see him in a video chat scene with Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman). According to Jack and Traci (Beth Maitland) in Monday April 18th episode, Mealor will return as Kyle and will be bringing Harrison (Kellen Enriquez) with him on April 25. Susan Walters will be making her way back to Y&R in
March 2022 as (Taylor Jensen) Diane Jenkins. Julia Montgomery will be playing a real estate agent called Tanya, coming up this week. Viewers will see Allie (Kelsey Wang) in scenes with
Taylor starting March 23. Jess Walton returns to Young and the Restless as Jill the week of February 21, and appears again on Monday, March 21. She will be in scenes with Devon (Bryton James). Gabriella Hart booked a role as Cindy on Young and the Restless, a role that debuts on March 9. The role was filled with humor and many viewers expressed to the actress how much they enjoyed her. We asked her if she’ll be back and so far, she’s unsure.A major anniversary is coming
Michael Mealor & Kellen Enriquez
Susan Walters
Julia Montgomery
Jess Walton
Gabriella Hart
Thank you! I don’t know! We’ll see! 😅 lol //t.co/T9MW3ykvOL
— Gabriella 🌹 (@honeylovesugar) March 8, 2022
Jeremiah Jahi
Jeremiah Jahi will be appearing in several episodes on The Young and the Restless, beginning on March 2. He will be in scenes with Conner Floyd (Chance Chancellor) as his new therapist. Jahi is an actor and producer known for his role as Officer Greenly in One Life to Live, as well as two small roles on As the World Turns, and All My Children. The actor posted a notice on his Instagram page, stating, “The journey continues on daytime soaps. Stay tuned. Always Keep Moving.”
Kelsey Wang
Kelsey Wang will be making her way to Genoa City to portray Allie, who has been described as a “mysterious, young professional who catches the eye of one of Genoa City’s eligible bachelors.” It sounds as though it’s possible she will be paired with Noah, since there aren’t that many eligible men in GC. Wang will likely debut on Y&R sometime in March. Some will remember seeing her on General Hospital as a Dawn of the Day cult member. She was also a waitress at Charlie’s Pub. Could Wang be related to Jack’s new cryptic texts? Perhaps she is his granddaughter, his son Keemo’s daughter? Wang will return after a few weeks in the May 9 episode.
Hunter King
Hunter King will return to Young and the Restless as Summer Newman on Monday, February 21 in scenes with Phyllis (Michelle Stafford). The actress hasn’t been seen since December 23, 2021. This was during Nick’s Christmas standalone episode.
Michelle Stafford
Rumors were circulating that Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers) was leaving the CBS soap. The actress confirmed that she is leaving Y&R, but that it was only for a holiday.
Stafford’s Instagram page reads, “Apparently there was talk about my leaving the show. Yes…but just for a week. Here is where I am… I’m bringing you with me cuz I love you all! ❤️ #YR
Stafford’s current storyline will likely have her headed to Milan to see Summer (Hunter King) and she’ll be back the week after.
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Peter Bergman
For those who were missing Peter Bergman in his role as Jack Abbot these last few weeks, the actor will return January 28. The reason behind his disappearance as Jack was that he had to undergo emergency eye surgery for a detached retina repair. The actor told Soap Opera Digest that he was visiting family on the coast of California when he noticed the corner of his left eye giving him trouble. “All evening long, I was seeing something creeping into my vision,” he told the magazine. “And by the end of that night, it was like a curtain closing in toward the center of my eyesight.” He was able to get an appointment with an ophthalmologist in San Luis Obispo who suggested he head home for surgery, which the actor was able to get the next day, thankfully. Incidentally, his surgery was the same as Mishael Morgan’s last spring. The actor was able to contact his co-worker and “got as much information as I could possibly get from her about what to expect. She was fantastic,” he relayed.
Richard Burgi out, Robert Newman in
Richard Burgi confirmed he’s leaving Y&R as Ashland Locke in February. His recast is Guiding Light’s Robert Newman, who will resume the role in February. If you’re not in the know about who the actor is, check out the ‘Things to Know’ about Newman.
River and Rainn Ware
The twins on Y&R playing Dominic Newman-Chancellor are being portrayed by mixed-race children, River and Rainn Ware. Here they are with their parents on Instagram.
Hunter King
Hunter King makes a special return to Young and the Restless on Friday, December 24 as Summer Newman. For details, read our Y&R day ahead recap!
Melissa Claire Egan
Melissa Claire Egan returns to Y&R as Chelsea Lawson on Tuesday December 14.
On October 8, she asked fans for help in deciding on a new hairstyle before going back to work. In another tweet, she told Y&R fans that “Chelsea’s missed you all!! Excited to be back in Genoa City soon (sans the mental hospital scrubs, good for baby bump hiding tho!) What do you think is in store for Chelsea when she returns???”
Last we saw of her, Chelsea was still with her mother and video chatting with Adam.
Chelsea’s missed you all!! Excited to be back in Genoa City soon🤗 (sans the mental hospital scrubs, good for baby bump hiding tho!)
What do you think is in store for Chelsea when she returns???🥰🤪🥳❤️💔😲🤷🏻♀️ #YR //t.co/YPPudDe5T1— Melissa Claire Egan (@MClaireEgan) October 18, 2021
Roxanne Hart
Roxanne Hart will be appearing on Y&R as Kim Dunaway, in a recurring role, which Soap Opera Digest reported. She portrayed Isadora on One Life to Live and is most memorable as Nurse Camille Shutt on Chicago Hope, Lily Devalos on Medium, and Frances on Hung. Expect to hear Hart’s voice starting on Thursday, November 18. She makes her first actual appearance November 29.
Jamison Jones
Jamison Jones has left Y&R as Jesse Gaines after leaving Genoa City on November 15. Some will remember him on Days of our Lives as Bill Brick, or from his time on General Hospital as Brady Bevin.
Ernest Price
Ernest Price has a role on Y&R on November 24 as Thomas, a man who works at Grand Phoenix. He shares a scene with Phyllis.
Connor Floyd
SoapsSpoilers has been sitting on this for a few weeks without confirmation, we couldn’t post. We can now confirm that Connor Floyd will be playing the role of Chance Chancellor on Young and the Restless. Chance will be seen later this month. Floyd is known for playing roles in A Christmas Kiss, Nowhere Alaska, Malicious Motives, and has several movies coming out that are currently in post-production. For those who have forgotten, Chance hasn’t been seen since February 2011. Previous actors such as Donny Boaz, Justin Gaston (Real-life husband of Melissa Ordway), and John Driscoll all played the role over the years.