Soap Opera Digest's Editorial Director, Stephanie Sloane, is back with our Sonia Isabelle to talk about Leigh-Ann Rose's new role and General Hospital's special tribute to the late John Reilly.
Leigh-Ann Rose Joins 'The Young & The Restless'
The Young and The Restless's newcomer Leigh-Ann Rose shared her feelings after joining the show. Sloane said:
"Leanne tells us she was so excited to get out of the house and report to the set because of the pandemic and calls the new job a blessing. She's getting to know more about her character Imani and reports that she's already bonded with her on-screen sister Michelle Morgan and on-screen mother."
But for what concerns her real life mother, Rose said that her mother sends various texts messages saying "Imani is so mean." However, Rose said that it is actually therapeutic to play this kind of role.
'General Hospital' Pays Tribute To John Reilly.
General Hospital fan favorite Kimberly McCullough has hinted that she's returned to the set. It is likely that she's currently filming the show's special tribute to the late John Reilly. Sloane shared:
"John's real life daughter Kaitlyn, a Tik Tok star, will appear in the special tribute as well. And General Hospital Kelly Thiebaud reports that she had to take a brief break from the set after getting a false positive test for COVID-19."
The show, however, has decided not to recast Thiebaud and has just pushed her scenes so that we can still see her on air.
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Soap Opera Digests's editorial director Stephanie Sloane is back with our Sonia Isabelle to share a casting change on The Young & The Restless and Jonathan Jackson's interview!
The Young & The Restless Casting and Jonathan Jackson's Interview
There's a temporary casting change on The Young & The Restless. Michelle Morgan, who plays Amanda, unfortunately suffered an eye injury and had to be recast. Sloane tells us that Karla Mosley will take her place on the show:
"Karla tells us she was surprised to get the call, but happy to return to the CBS studio. Karla reached out to Michelle to discuss the short-term takeover, but decided not to try to emulate her, but to put her own spin on Amanda."
And Sloane has exciting news to share after her interview with five time Emmy winner Jonathan Jackson, who played Lucky in General Hospital.
"He tells us that when he left the show in 1999, he never closed the door on a possible return. Jonathan and his family have since relocated to Ireland, but in a fun twist so has Lucky."
Sloane adds:
"Jonathan says that he knows that with the travel restrictions and the distance from Los Angeles to Ireland a comeback may prove difficult but tells us he would never say never and the show will always be a huge part of his life."
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Cameron Mathison, who played Ryan Lavery and currently hosts Hallmark's Home and Family has signed a contract with General Hospital, debuting later this year. Sloane shares:
"The show is keeping mum about who he will play, but Cameron says he's excited to join such an iconic show and feels like a kid at Christmas that he's returning to daytime and will still continue to make movies for Hallmark."
And there are two stories about The Young and The Restless on and off camera!
Teenager Alyvia Alyn, who has played the role of Faith since she was three has left the show to star in a new USA sci-fi series Chucky.
"Olivia tells us that her last day was so emotional because the studio holds so many memories for her and she wound up with a headache for three days from crying so much after she left."
And off-camera, there's news about Sharon Case:
"Sharon Case, who plays Sharon, has confirmed that she and co-star Mark Grossman, who plays Adam, are in a real-life romance."
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"She was just a nice, really beautiful, normal girl, and I had to tell myself that this is I think what I need and put everything into it. And if it doesn't work then that's okay."
Stamos's new show is Big Shot is out now on Disney+ -- Stamos's character is a hot headed coach who just got fired and finds a job in an elite all-girls private high school in the basketball team.
"This character was a guy that was unlikeable, nobody liked him, he was not a people person. This is a show about a guy who lets go of his preconceptions of what women are, what kids are, what basketball is and actually changes."
Howard correctly said that Stamos went through a similar journey like his character and the actor shared that it's all about sacrifice:
"Sacrificing your own needs for your child. At the end of the day, you don't get a ring. You don't get a trophy, but what you do get, if you do it right, is a more loving, a more caring, a more kind version of you to leave behind the world."
Stamos then shared an emotional letter from his dad, who was not used to say "I love you" out loud very often like his mother did. When his father was dying, Stamos said that at the bottom of the letter it said "I love you, dad." Then shared part of the letter:
"Life isn't very long and a man doesn't have many great moments, but you have given me many. Thank you, I love you, dad."
John Stamos on Playing With the Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen, and John Fogerty
Howard then asked Stamos about the time he played with the Beach Boys and Jimmy Page asked him a musical question he didn't know the answer to. Stamos said:
"First we were in Philadelphia and then we took a bus and went to DC for the nighttime show. I was best friends with the guitar player and he was in charge of teaching Jimmy what key songs are in. Then he was yelling me about what key songs are in."
How John Stamos Started Playing Drums for the Beach Boys
Howard asked Stamos when he got into drums:
"I played drums since I was a kid and the Beach Boys were my idols. I knew the guitar player and I went to a show and this was like '81/'82 General Hospital was on and all these girls chased me into the dressing room and Mike love said 'do girls follow him around like that all the time? Get him on stage!'"
And that is how it started. Howard then asked if Stamos knew Brian Wilson at all and the actor replied:
"In Toronto after a show we broke into a ballroom looking for a piano. He starts playing songs, and he was just tall, thin, funny and then he starts writing a song. I literally wept my pants."
Howard pointed out that if Brian Wilson considered Stamos a good enough musician to perform with him on stage, then "you're at a master level as a musician."
Stamos undoubtedly has a marvelous career, but he's also trying to "let it all sink in" while feeling incredibly grateful for the huge accomplishments in his life.
