I like Leslie as well too, but can't stand CK version of Lily, but very happy to see the black storyline get some attention. I always like Davetta's version of Lily. CK her version was nice when she first appeared, but when she left I really like Davetta Sherwood playing the role. However I still don't understand how come Lily still on the show, but Abby had to go. SMH-

Demographics...Lily Winters is the only black female tied to a core family on this show. She is the only black female legacy character on daytime right now....demographics. And I don't think Sony wants to give that up. And they surely don't care enough about black characters to start anew with someone unrelated. It's simpler to keep the popular one you have than let her go. Besides, VRs allegations are always near the surface.

This is good news, especially if it means more Leslie Michaelson. Maybe with Leslie back in Neil's orbit after being absent for the better part of the last year means the brass want AC on full-time, which would be great. She's a far better match for Neil than Sofia or Harmony ever thought about being.

@david46208: Potato, potahto. Tomato, Tomahto. I say the role of Drucilla Barber Winters can (and should) be recast. You say it cannot. We shall agree to disagree.

I don't think Drucilla would be impossible to recast, but I think it would be verrrrrrrry difficult. I think there's a reason tiic haven't attempted it by now, just like I think there's a reason they haven't just gone ahead and said Dru's remains were found to finally (as finally as a soap can anyway, lol) put to rest the constant chatter of bringing the character back.

They don't want to completely close the door on that character, yet at the same time they haven't been ready yet to attempt a recast. Say what you want about Dru, but the return of that character would bring eyeballs to Y&R, whether just an initial spike, or sustained, I don't know. But ratings would momentarily (at least) be affected.

With GH inching closer and closer to overtaking Y&R's number one spot in that almighty 18-49 demo (the ONLY demo that matters), this show will have to start rethinking things really soon.

Renee Jones (ex-Lexie, DAYS) would KILL as Drucilla. I don't believe that "retiring" BS for one bit. I'm sure DAYS tried to pull a Peter Reckell on her & she wasn't having it.

I agree about Renee Jones but do you really think that she would accept the role. I highly doubt it and for the same reasons that Debbi Morgan would not accept the role. She says she told Sony point blank that she would NEVER play Dru.

Ok I'm a big fan of y&r and general hospital what I don't understand is everyone want so much diversity on Y&R but nobody complain that GH need to have some too. I'm very hopeful that that will come soon with Ron and Frank at the head.

Ok now back to Y&R I'm glad because I would like to see Angell in a really good storyline for a change. Please Please don't start off really good then fall flat on the storyline then I would be so pissed and totally give up on Y&R.

There is no way that either Lily or Dru can be re-cast successfully. It is well know that I have seen every show since 82. And a whole lotta shows from 79-82.

Davetta Sherwood tried to re-do Lily, and it did not work. LML brought Shemar Moore back for 19 weeks, to do the big reveal on Lily's parentage back in the mid-2000s. The whole thing fell flat, based on the unbelievability of Davetta as Lily. Victoria Rowell and K St John had to carry the entire reveal themselves.

If Drucilla Barber could be re-cast, she would have been. Since Dru fell off that cliff, we have endured much in the TPTB trying to find Neil a woman. Tyra, Karen (who actually worked), Sophia, Harmony -- all have not lasted more than 12 months.

Let's give Leslie and Neil a chance.

As far as Brenda Dickson goes. She was 'Diva' Jill. Deborah Adair was 'nice' Jill. Jessica Walton is 'tough' Jill. Bill Bell wrote Jill for the actress, not mainly for the character.

Same with Ashley. Eileen D was semi-slutty, crazy Ashley. Brenda ED was nice, sweet, vulnerable Ashley. Shari Shattuck was bi+chy, mean Ashley. I hope Ashley is re-cast. It was done before successfully, and can be done again.

I think the "Christel Khalil doesen't do black guys" story is an urban legend. I don't believe it for an instant.

@Divatude58 & THEBEST: The veteran black actresses in daytime have a pact. They are all friends. And neither would step on another's toes. It is the direct reason why Days decided to kill "Liexe" off verses recasting her. Victoria Rowell would not encroach on Debbie Morgan, Renee Jones, Amelia Marshall, Tamera Tunie, Tonya Lee Williams for example during their tenure on their respective soaps (when they were on it). Black actors who came up through the struggle in daytime tend to have that kind of loyalty and since of community toward one another. That's a good thing.

Just to put both sides out there. I asked Christel Khalil about the whole 'black boy ban' on the red carpet and she denied ever making such claim. She said she only spoke out against a Devon/Lily pairing, because she said it would be creepy, since he was her adopted brother.

This was the one and only time that I agreed with anything CK. I guess time will tell on Lily and her romantic pairings if CK stays on the show and the show remains on the air. She has only had two real romantic pairings. I don't count BM/Billy. That wasn't written to or meant to last. So it could be coincindence. But time will tell with Tyler Douglas. I am sure he is meant for her.

This is true. The only way to recast Dru is to get someone who is not from the daytime circle because I don't see anyone who is being willing to do it. And if they do get someone from outside the cirlce, it will have to be a big name to have the fandom to carry it off. Because let's be real, the hate will be flying from everywhere (except for maybe the cast who doesn't want VR back but then that woiuld change if she becomes popular). The person will need independent support. And up and comer can not be cast as Dru. That would be a disaster. It would have to be someone like Vivica Fox. But would she even want the thankless job. I think Keesha Sharp could pull it off but I don't think she is popular enough of an actress to withstand tha barage of drama that is sure to come.

The more I think about it the more I realize that while Sony/CBS may be black balling VR, black actresses are also black balling Sony/CBS. Interesting.

If TPTB are unwilling to bring back VR, then I would prefer that the character of Dru not be recast. VR to me was what Kim Zimmer was to Reva Shayne Lewis, Jane Elliot is to Tracy Q, etc.

Bring back VR or don't even consider resurrecting Dru.

Jumping back into this discussion...

Again, Drucilla Barber Winters can and should be recast. (Victoria Rowell was good in the role, but she does not own that role.) I used to think that either Lisa Raye or Jasmine Guy would be the perfect Drucilla recast. But, because there will be "outspoken behavior" if the role is recast, the role needs to be recast with an unknown (or lesser known) actress. And if the aforementioned black actresses are loyal to Victoria Rowell and do not want a paying job (though none of them would be a good or suitable recast) then hire someone who will see it for what it is - an opportunity to work.

I'm sorry, but I don't see a Dru recast. I think she has made that role her own, and no actress, no matter how great, would appease those fans who have been clamoring for Victoria Rowell to return. I'd rather there be NO DRU than someone else pretending to be Dru. Not to mention that Victoria Rowell was the one responsible for the Dru personality that we all knew and loved. SHE added her own spark to the character. She gave storyline suggestions....she made Dru Dru, along with Bill Bell. That's partly why the magic has never been created with another woman. Sophia could have had Dru's personality. The writing in the beginning definitely seemed that that's what they were going for, but the actress, while I didn't think she was as bad as some said, just didn't bring that SPARK to her character that VR brought to Dru, and if TPTB recasted, it would be the same thing.

I don't see why they can't just get Angell Conwell a contract, and allow HER to be with Neil. Write for them!! That's the key! That's partly why Neil's other stories have failed...they won't write anything for him consistently. He NEVER has a frontburner story and he hasn't had one since Dru's "death". The stories start, they drag along once a week until the point that we just don't care anymore. It's unfortunate.

But instead of recasting Dru, why cant these "capable writers" give Leslie even MORE of a personality. She has definitely put a little spark into her character in just the short time that she's been seen. I'd have her brother come to town and I'd have him have the hots for someone like Sharon in the beginning. Since Leslie has been Sharon's lawyer, she'd speak against that...and she'd become sort of the overprotective older sister. Then why not have her sort of desire to put Lily and Tyler together, although Lily is married to what's his face...Or maybe he'd come to town and have the hots for Roxy...ANYTHING is possible really!!! I just hope they get written for. The same way we see Phyllis/Adam/Chelsea/Sharon/Summer EVERYDAY, we should be seeing Neil and the gang too...let's make them interesting again, and it doesn't take Victoria Rowell to do that. I'd LOVE to have her back, and I'm one of her biggest fans, but if that's not possible, just leave Dru alone and build on what you already have!!! While simultaneously saving yourself some money from hiring a new actress...

@hey mon: I could recast CK's Lily with a dishrag and it would be considered a step up from her dull"acting".

I'm neither here nor there with CK, and I actually don't hate her as Lily, and there have been moments (when the character was away from Cane) that I've liked her as Lily. She's capable enough in the role, and definitely has her fans, but she could be recast. She has as many fans as she does haters, so if her fans hated any recast, her haters would like the recast. Everything would balance out, lol.

People liked Davetta, but there's no way to compare fanbases, b/c she wasn't in the role long enough. Shannen Kane would make a great recast. But again, CK's fine in the role, if they'd get her Lily away from Cane, which for some reason tiic seem reluctant to do.

Every other 'heroine' on this show has been allowed to have several loves, but not Lily.

Cane and Lily work as a couple. You have this super-loyal near-monk guy named Hurri-Cane, who has led a 'wild' life to say the least, who is 'taken' with this simple girl from Wisconsin. It's stuff my daughter and friends twitter over, and they do. I just think, for ratings, sake, they should try to feature them more.

Cause as far as acting is concerned...

The great Michelle Stafford is having her Phyllis character taken down the road, it looks like, into having sex with Jack' son, Kyle. A near-suicidal personality moment for Red.

And Ms Actress Sharon Case has to endure these multi-year story arcs. One year she's Town $lut. The next year she's taking up with her kidnapper. The next year, she's behind bars for murdering Skye, someone who should have paid for her mis-deeds anyway. Now she's walking around crackers, after spending the summer trying to run onew of the largest companies in the world.

So it's not all about the acting..

I'm not a complete hater of CK because honestly I did like her in the beginning of her teenage story VD getting from Kevin saga. I liked her & Daniel's love story (once again MAB toyed with and dropped, she doesn't have an eye for soap opera) But I hate her with Cane, she has been liking making an episode of the Walking Dead! I know there are rapid fans of Lane but maybe both actors are getting bored. Could she be recast ABSOLUTELY! Is it happening PROBABLY NOT...unless a front burner story for Lily is being written and CK's time (by being recurring) is effected because of scheduling...well that's when Sony has an opening why she would be let go. It would take the pressure off of JFP's shoulders and onto Sony. But if she stays I'm not going to fret over if CK stays or AH as Victoria because we all have seen worse in Yvonne and regardless both are much better quality then Yvonne.

That is the only way I see the role being recast. Someone unknown name who sees this as an opportunity that they can't afford to pass up. But being a no name almost ensures that the recasting will NOT go well. It's like a catch 22 for Sony/CBS/Y&R.

I could see maybe a new re-casted Abby coming back to Genoa City, and having a 'good time' with young Tyler.

I'm not sure why Josh G would want Lily to have a romance with a new contract player. How could the romance be featured seriously if Lily is just recurring.

Maybe somehow Eden could find her way over to Jabot, and have a romance with Tyler. That would certianly get Kyle all fired up and jealous.

ROFL....you certainly know your Y&R! This show is in need of more black females in frontburning s/Ls. I agree that Angell Conwell has proven herself as an actress and should've been put on contract a long time ago. But glad to see the role of Leslie is being expanded and they're giving her family. I just hope this isn't just smokescreen(i.e. Harmony and Sarge) to bring in more black viewers, then the characters are barely seen. I actually want to see some real acting, and not just little filler scenes(like we're getting now).

As for Lily, beyond bored with her naive silliness. I know that Tyler is being brought in as a love interest for her, but something tells me that won't go anywhere. Lily and Cane will be back together before you know it. So I hope that won't be the end of the Tyson character.

I can't agree with that at all. Drucilla and Erica were both very lively characters. Lily is barely given a personality lately, so she can be replaced.

I just think TPTB at Y&R are comfortable with the actress, and that's why she's been allowed to be recurring, instead of being recast this time around.

All these writers have to do is write for these characters. KSJ has been with this show for over 20yrs, there's no excuse for him not to be given consistent S/Ls. I'm another one who would love for VR to return, but I don't think the Winters need Dru to be interesting characters. In all honestly, several of Neil's pairings would've worked out, only if TPTB didn't get so lazy, and just put him on the backburner for several weeks at a time. How can any character grow with very little attention? Another thing is most of Neil's pairings don't make much sense, because they are often just thrown together with very little thought.

I just say give Neil a life with intrique and romance. If I can watch Nick, Adam, Jack and Billy have time for Love/Family/Work/Scandal etc...I want to see the same thing happening for the Winters characters. I still like Devon, but hate that they keep angry all the time. Time to change that too, and expand his character. I'm also hoping these characters, Tyler and Mason(who I still don't have a clue about) aren't a bust just to gain ratings. I want them to be written for as well. Same for Leslie...I want to see a real legitimate relationship build between her and Neil. I'm so bored of his romances going nowhere, and over with at the blink of an eye. Considering this new regime is talking about more diversity with the show, I hope they are ready to give these characters personalities, opposed to just being cardboard figures.