Melissa Claire Egan

It’s the craze that has swept the nation, social media and Hollywood over the last month as the world seeks to help fight Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” which is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord according to the ALS Association website. Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft’s Bill Gates and Harpo’s Oprah Winfrey have already done it and so have a cruise ship load of daytime soap stars past and present, which now includes real-life best friends Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea, “The Young and the Restless”) and Chrishell Stause (Jordan, “Days of our Lives”), who were challenged by Egan’s mother, Mary. They weren’t alone! Also taking part was “Y&R’s” newest star, and Stause’s real-life boyfriend, Justin Hartley (Adam Newman).

The soap opera world has been abuzz all morning over the big news that “Smallville” and “Mistresses” star Justin Hartley (ex-Fox Crane, “Passions”) has been cast as “The Young and the Restless’” Adam Newman, and it’s not just fans who are voicing their opinions over the casting announcement: The stars of daytime have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the news, which further lays to rest any hope that former portrayer Michael Muhney will return to the popular role. Read on to see what kind of comments are flying around about Hartley’s new gig — including one from Muhney himself!

“The Young and the Restless’” Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea Lawson) always seems to be smiling (off screen, anyway!), but her beaming grin is particularly bright at the moment: She wed sweetheart Matt Katrosar over the weekend!

Forget about the sun, BBQ flames and bikini-clad bodies: The one thing that will be heating up the most this summer is CBS’ “The Young and the Restless.” From shocking secrets, babydaddy drama, rip-roaring returns and more, the CBS sudser is pulling out all of the stops in the weeks to come — and Soap Opera Network spoke with several cast members to get the exciting scoop!

On Tuesday, June 24, Genoa City said hello again to a familiar name with a new face. On that day, daytime newcomer Burgess Jenkins took over the role of Billy Abbott on CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” from David Tom, who himself succeeded three-time Daytime Emmy Award winning actor Billy Miller in the popular role, but how did Jenkins land himself on daytime’s most watched drama series? “My management called me and they were talking to me about this role, and when they sent me the breakdown on the character, I just fell in love. I absolutely fell in love with Billy,” said Jenkins when Soap Opera Network spoke with the actor in the gifting suite at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA as part of Daytime Emmy weekend. “There’s not a whole lot of characters you see that are so multi-layered and interesting that way. I had a chance to meet with the producers to discuss the character and the show, and it just seemed like a good fit,” added Jenkins, who noted that the conversation he had with producers on the character helped give him something to dig into before the cameras began to roll.

“The Young and the Restless’” Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea Newman) may be busy creating drama in Genoa City and preparing for her upcoming real life nuptials to fiancé Matt Katrosar, but she’s still managing to squeeze in time to meet fans and simultaneously save sick animals!

In 2013, “General Hospital’s” Jane Elliot (Tracy Quartermaine) and Kelly Sullivan (ex-Connie Falconeri) and “The Young and the Restless'” Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea Newman), Amelia Heinle (Victoria Newman) and Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe Fisher) proved they were the outstanding supporting ladies for their respective daytime dramas. They now compete with each other to find out which of them was the most Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series during “The 41st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.”

When word had it that Cameron Mathison (ex-Ryan Lavery, “All My Children”) had been spotted on the set of CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” in late April, the rumor mill immediately lit up with speculation that the actor had secretly met with show producers and had signed on to portray the contract role of Adam Newman (previously portrayed by Michael Muhney). Earlier today, Mathison took to Twitter to clear up said rumors while visiting Israel for a friend’s wedding.

As previously reported, Burgess Jenkins takes over the role of Billy Abbott on CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” later this month. Last night on our social media platforms (Facebook and Twitter), we noted that the actor’s first airdate is scheduled for Tuesday, June 24. Jenkins began filming scenes last week. In the picture above, fans get their first look at the actor on set.

Recently ousted from CBS’ “The Young and the Restless” after just five months back on the job, David Tom (Billy Abbott) reveals in an exclusive interview with CBS Soaps In Depth the reason he was let go from the drama series and whether or not he’d be willing to give daytime another shot.