When Jeanne Cooper first stepped into “The Young and the Restless’” Genoa City as Katherine Chancellor back in 1973, soap opera history was made. Written by show creator William J. Bell specifically to convey controversial storylines that would boost weak ratings, Katherine was everything the wealthy wife of Phillip Chancellor II shouldn’t be: a drunk, a heavy smoker and a bit of a slut who had illicit affairs with stable boys. Despite the character’s many problems, fans fell in love with Katherine — as well as the actress who so effortlessly brought her to life.

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Robert Voets/CBS

News that “The Young and the Restless’” Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor) passed away this morning has rocked the entertainment community, and the beloved actress’ colleagues have responded with an outpour of memories, loving words and final farewells via Twitter. Soap Opera Network has rounded up all of the sentiments written so far, which include kind words from her “Y&R” co-stars and beyond.

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Gilles Toucas

Quite a few familiar faces will resurface on “The Bold and the Beautiful” next week:

Aaron D. Spears returns as Justin on Friday, April 19. He was last seen on January 7.

Zack Conroy and Todd McKee are back as Oliver and Jake on Wednesday, April 17. They were both last seen on March 15. Look for Conroy and his character to also crossover to Genoa City this May.

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Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Looking at how daytime television has become the pre-primtime of the entertainment landscape in more ways than one, Variety.com, now part of Penske Business Media, LLC (owners of Deadline.com and TVLine.com), has highlighted several of daytime’s biggest stars in front of and behind the scenes who help make the daily drama, the fun & games and the topics of discussion millions of viewers tune into each and every weekday. Those featured in the article include Angelica McDaniel (Senior Vice President, CBS Daytime), Frank Valentini (Executive Producer, “General Hospital“) Kelly Ripa (Tak Show Host, “Live with Kelly and Michael”; ex-Hayley Vaughan Santos, “All My Children“), Heather Tom (Katie Spencer, “The Bold and the Beautiful“), Katie Couric (Talk Show Host, “Katie”), Judge Judy Sheindlin (Judge, “Judge Judy”), Carla Hall and Clinton Kelly (Co-Hosts, “The Chew”) and many more.

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Thomas A. Montalto/Montalto Photos

The peer votes have been cast, and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has announced the Drama Performer Pre-Nominations for the 40^th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards! Five categories have been announced, including Lead Actress and Lead Actor, Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor, as well as Younger Actress and Younger Actor. Without further adieu, here are the pre-nominees:

Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

• Sharon Case as Sharon on “The Young and the Restless”
• Jeanne Cooper as Katherine on “Y&R”
• Susan Flannery as Stephanie on “The Bold and the Beautiful”
• Finola Hughes as Anna Devane on “General Hospital”
• Peggy McCay as Caroline on “Days of our Lives”
• Kelly Monaco as Sam on “GH”
• Melody Thomas Scott as Nikki on “Y&R”
• Michelle Stafford as Phyllis on “Y&R”
• Kelly Sullivan as Kate on “GH”
• Heather Tom as Katie on “B&B”
• Laura Wright as Carly on “GH”

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Monty Brinton/CBS

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — “The Bold and the Beautiful” starlet Heather Tom (Katie Logan Spencer) is currently co-starring in the play The Heiress at the Pasadena Playhouse along with veteran actors Richard Chamberlain and Julia Duffy.

Tom portrays Catherine Sloper, a shy, plain-Jane woman who stands to inherit a fortune from her dying Physician father Dr. Austin Sloper (Chamberlain). When Catherine meets charming Morris Townsend (Steve Coombs), she’s immediately enamored by the attention he gives her, attention that she’s desperately craved from her father. Dr. Sloper believes Morris is only pursuing Catherine to get her inheritance and threatens to disinherit her if she marries him.

Also starring in the production headed by Chamberlain are  Gigi Bermingham, Chris Reinacher, Elizabeth Tobias, Anneliese van der Pol, and Jill Van Velzer.

The production, directed by Dámaso Rodriguez, started on April 24 and will run on the Playhouse Mainstage until May 20. Tickets for The Heiress can be purchased at The Pasadena Playhouse box office, online or by calling 626-356-7529.

Francis Specker/CBS

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — On Monday, March 19, “The Talk” will celebrate 25 years of CBS’ “The Bold and the Beautiful,” with a special commemorative show featuring much of the current cast including John McCook, Texas Battle, Jacob Young, Katherine Kelly Lang, Kimberly Matula and Heather Tom.

“The ‘B&B ‘cast will join ‘The Talk’ co-hosts in studio to discuss the legacy of the show and how it has touched and entertained viewers for the last 25 years. They’ll also look back on ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ most memorable show moments, both on-camera and behind the scenes,” the network said in a press release.

“The Talk,” hosted by personalities Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood and Aisha Tyler airs Weekdays at 2:00 PM ET/1:00 PM PT/CT and “The Bold and the Beautiful” airs weekdays at 1:30 PM ET/12:30 PM PT/CT on the CBS Television Network. Bradley P. Bell serves as executive producer and head writer of the drama series.