As previously reported, Billy Miller is departing CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” and the role of Billy Abbott, which garnered him two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. After the actor and Sony Pictures Television failed to reach an agreement on a new contract, the studio and CBS opted to replace Miller with David Tom, who actually originated the role of an adult Billy Abbott in 1999.

With Billy Miller unable to reach a new deal with Sony Pictures Television, CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” will soon say goodbye to the actor and hello again to David Tom, who originated the role of an adult Billy Abbott in 1999. News of Miller’s exit and Tom’s return was first reported by Michael Logan of TV Guide Magazine on Twitter, but has since been confirmed by Angelica McDaniel, Senior Vice President, CBS Daytime, also on Twitter.

It’s not hard to laugh, but across the board, daytime stars agree that it’s not easy to be funny! That being said, some of the industry’s most popular talent — “The Price Is Right’s” Drew Carey, “Let’s Make a Deal’s” Wayne Brady, and “The Talk’s” Aisha Tyler and Sheryl Underwood — certainly make it look easy to be hilarious day in and day out. Noticing the top-notch humor present in their daytime lineup, CBS decided to gather those said stars together at Hollywood’s legendary venue, The Comedy Store, to perform an evening of standup comedy benefitting a cancer charity. The result: CBS Daytime After Dark, Stand Up to Cancer — a fun event definitely worth smiling about!

Margot Wain has been promoted from Director, Daytime Programs to Vice President, Daytime Programs, CBS Entertainment, it was announced today by Angelica McDaniel, Senior Vice President, Daytime, CBS Entertainment, to whom she reports.

In an interview published in the newest issue of Soap Opera Digest, on sale now, “The Young and the Restless'” Michelle Stafford reveals the real reason behind her decision to exit the top rated daytime drama series after 15 years portraying the role of Phyllis Summers, whether the powers that be (TPTB) ever tried to change her mind and her thoughts on the soap possibly recasting the character.

As we previously reported, HLN, the network hosting the the 40th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy awards, is shaking up the beloved broadcast by interviewing the winners of the top seven categories on stage immediately following their acceptance speeches! On the heels of the announcement, Soap Opera Network hit the red carpet for the Television Academy hosted Daytime Emmy Awards Nominee Reception to get a few of the stars’ takes on celebrities Giada De Laurentiis, Sheryl Underwood, Julie Chen, Sam Champion and A.J. Hammer asking the night’s biggest winners a variety of questions on air. Read on to find out whether the idea is loved — or hated!

“The Young and the Restless’” Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Newman) hasn’t even left Genoa City yet, but there are already fans crossing their fingers in anticipation of a future return. But is it possible? Angelica McDaniel, Senior Vice President of CBS Daytime, thinks so! “She is an icon,” the exec tells Soap Opera Network of Stafford, who began playing George and Lydia Summers’ daughter back in 1994. “She’s an amazingly talented woman… and she brings so much as Phyllis to the show. But we have to respect her decision, and [leaving] was her choice.”

As we previously reported, “The Young and the Restless’” Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers) has decided to walk away from the role she began in 1994, news which has now been officially confirmed.

On Tuesday, May 28, CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” will air a special tribute episode honoring the life of the late Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor). Cast members, friends and family of the beloved actress will gather on set next week to shoot a celebration of the life of Cooper, who passed away this week at the age of 84. Cooper, who portrayed Katherine Chancellor for more than 39 years, was the show’s longest-running cast member.

“The CBS Daytime family mourns the loss of our matriarch and beloved Jeanne Cooper. Her legacy will live on in our hearts forever,” read CBS Daytime’s tweet after news of Cooper’s (Katherine Chancellor, “The Young and the Restless”) passing spread through social media. Jill Farren Phelps, executive producer of “Y&R,” stated, “It is with immeasurable sadness and our deepest condolences to her family, that ‘The Young and the Restless’ mourns the loss of our beloved Jeanne Cooper.”

As Senior Vice President of CBS Daytime, Angelica McDaniel is ultimately responsible for the daily operation of television’s most popular daily lineup consisting of “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “Let’s Make a Deal,” “The Price is Right,” “The Talk” and “The Young and the Restless.” Just a few weeks ago, Soap Opera Network had the opportunity of speaking with McDaniel about her diverse lineup filled with soap operas, game shows and talk shows.

When “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” debut with brand new episodes on Monday, April 29 on Hulu, Hulu Plus and iTunes, they will have the full support of CBS Daytime. Angelica McDaniel, Senior Vice President, CBS Daytime, wishes Rich Frank and Jeff Kwatinetz, whose Prospect Park licensed the two soaps from ABC in 2011, nothing but the best. She relays via Soap Opera Network, “Congratulations and best of luck on the success. Your success is our success and vice versa. And it’s just a thrilling new experience and I look forward to seeing where the journey takes you.”

Everyone and their mothers seems to have joined Twitter, and the same can be said about soaps: “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful” co-creator, Lee Phillip Bell, has joined the popular social networking site!

As the popularity of soap operas fell in recent years (shown by decreased ratings and the cancelation of several sudsers, leaving only “The Young and the Restless,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “Days of our Lives,” and “General Hospital” on the air), the Daytime Emmy Awards shifted to keep up: Gone were the beloved clips showcasing the nominated actors’ work and the majority of the show celebrating daytime dramas, in were more moments involving morning, talk, game and cooking shows. And rumor had it that the Emmys would become even less soap-centric as the years went on. But according to the Daytime Emmys’ senior executive director, David Michaels, though this year’s program has not yet been set, he’s sure the ceremony will keep soaps front and center, right where they belong!
“The daytime fan base comes from all genres,” he tells Variety. “We have a Facebook page, and it’s not just the soap fans. The games and the talk shows have some pretty rabid fans, too. But there’s no fans like soap fans.”

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.

On Tuesday, March 26, CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” will celebrate its 40th anniversary and in honor of the event, stars from the daytime drama series will be popping up on multiple CBS Daytime programs.

As previously reported, Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott), Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea Newman), Amelia Heinle (Victoria Newman Abbott), Joshua Morrow (Nicholas Newman), Michael Muhney (Adam Newman), Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman), Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers) and Kristoff St. John (Neil Winters) will appear on the Monday, March 25 celebratory edition of “The Talk.”

If you’re a fan of scary movies, then you’ll no doubt recognize Tony Todd, who’s appeared in horror film classics like “Candyman,” “Final Destination,” and the 1990 remake of “Night of the Living Dead.” But the actor has recently decided to step out of the darkness and into daytime, beginning a role on “The Young and the Restless!”

Tuesday, March 26 marks the 40th anniversary of “The Young and the Restless’” very first episode, and in celebration, the show is offering up plenty of special glimpses into its iconic past. For starters, the soap’s official website currently features 40th Anniversary photo galleries and videos, and there’s an option for fans to answer trivia questions for a chance to win a VIP trip to Los Angeles to tour the set and attend the show’s on-set Anniversary event. But as Angelica McDaniel, the Senior Vice President of CBS Daytime, says: The show’s 40th Anniversary is also the perfect opportunity to start focusing on what’s ahead.

In a tweet posted by Angelica McDaniel, Senior Vice President, CBS Daytime, just a short time ago, it looks as though Eileen Davidson is returning to CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” as the soap gets ready to celebrate its 40th Anniversary on Tuesday, March 26, 2013. Davidson last appeared on “Y&R” in August 2012 before reprising her iconic role of Kristen Blake on NBC’s “Days of our Lives” in October 2012.

As expected, CBS has renewed its entire daytime lineup that consists of “Let’s Make a Deal,” “The Price is Right,” “The Young and the Restless,” “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Talk” for the 2013-2014 television season.