TV TUSSLE
Two Young and the Restless stars leaving for Bold and the Beautiful as fans fire ‘they won’t be missed!’
The departures of two series regular may not be permanent
BETWEEN deaths, disappearances, and never-ending drama, it's not unusual for series regulars and recurring cast members to say goodbye to the characters that made them daytime TV stars.
The Young and the Restless announced two major characters would be leaving the series for its sister show, The Bold and the Beautiful, leaving longtime viewers wondering what's in store for both daytime dramas.
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Despite their longevity on air, soap operas are no stranger to casting shakeups, going through hundreds of casting changes over the years.
Actors can be written off shows only to come back years later, or even return as a new character.
The Young and the Restless is the latest soap opera to switch up its cast, revealing that two major players would be exiting the show to star in The Bold and the Beautiful.
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Lauralee Bell, who plays Christine "Cricket" Blair, and Michael Damian, who portrays Danny Romalotti, are both set to leave the series.
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However, their departures aren't permanent – for now.
Both Bell and Damian have been series regulars on the show for decades.
Bell, the daughter of series creators William J. and Lee Phillip Bell, first began portraying Blair on July 15, 1983, when she was just 15 years old.
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She then had several recurring stints on the show in 2005 and 2006, before returning to the show in 2010.
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Bell has appeared in over 1,600 episodes and celebrated her 40th anniversary with the series in July 2023.
Her character, Blair, is a model-turned-lawyer.
Damian has also been a mainstay on the show, making his first appearance as Romalotti in 1981.
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After starring on the show until 1998, he later returned for several year-long stints, between 2002 and 2004, 2008, 2012 to 2013, and 2022 to 2024.
Damian's character, Romalotti, is a longtime rockstar, who just so happens to be dating Blair – again, years after the two ultimately ended their marriage due to his infidelity.
US Weekly was the first to break the news of the casting shakeup, which will show Bell and Damian departing their soap opera home, set in the fictional Genoa City, for a new Hollywood adventure.
Despite the initial outcry from the characters' fans (and foes), most viewers were relieved to hear that the stars would only be appearing in two episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful before making their way back to The Young and the Restless.
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Bell's brother, The Bold and the Beautiful executive producer and head writer Bradley Bell, came up with the idea for the crossover episodes.
Bell and Damian filmed two episodes of their sister show on Thursday, June 27, 2024.
“We’re all so excited,” Bell told Us Weekly regarding the crossover.
“What we’re doing is so authentic to the story," she added.
"[Bradley] saw we were doing something on Y&R and he thought this would be great for B&B.”
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“Of course he would have a concert in L.A. and that’s how the idea came about," she added, discussing Damian's character arc on the show.
Damian was also excited about the new gig, retweeting several media reports announcing the crossover.
"Lets get the party started," he tweeted, alongside a dancing man, confetti, and other celebratory emojis.
"This is so exciting! I can't wait to watch! I am so thrilled about the crossover! Awesome!" another fan responded.
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During the crossover, Blair and Romalotti "are invited to the Forrester Estate for a party celebrating the success of the relaunch of Brooke Logan’s ‘Brooke’s Bedroom’ fashion line… or so they think,” according to the synopsis.
“Little do Danny and Christine know, Brooke and Ridge have invited them to pitch a new business venture."
"Not to be outdone, Danny decides to give a surprise performance of his own to share with the partygoers."
The crossover comes just one year after the acting duo are “celebrating our 40th anniversary as Cricket and Danny,” Bell revealed.
The Cast of Your Favorite Soap Operas
From The Young and The Restless and General Hospital to Days of our Lives and The Bold and The Beautiful, soap operas are a must-watch for daytime TV lovers. Below is more on the casts of these shows.
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“We’re all so excited about this,” she said.
“Six months ago there was a rumor of me coming to B&B and I was like, ‘If I am no one has told me!’ This is such a perfect reason.”
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Bell previously appeared on The Bold and the Beautiful for a handful of episodes in 2007.
The two-episode crossover is set to premiere on CBS on Tuesday, August 13, and Wednesday, August 14, at 1:30 pm ET.
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