http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/soaps/yr-shocker-william-russ-fired-3549.html

That was fast. Actor William Russ, who hit The Young and the Restless December 2 as the Donald Trump-esque jillionaire Tucker McCall, has been ousted from the role and replaced by Days of Our Lives great Stephen Nichols (Patch). Nichols was due to begin taping December 17 and will appear on air January 27. The Y&R execs have kept their statements brief. Co-exec producer/head writer Maria Arena Bell says: “William Russ is a talented actor and we enjoyed working with him. However, we decided to take the character in another direction.” Adds co-exec producer Paul Rauch: “[Russ] did a wonderful job while he was here.”

Why the switch? Here’s my thought: Russ, known for his recurring roles on Boston Legal and The Ex List, has been giving a performance that seems strong enough, but it may be that the soap needed more superstar luster because Tucker will eventually be revealed to have a shocking (and we do mean shocking!) connection to a major (and we do mean major!) denizen of Genoa City. Check back here soon for an exclusive interview with Nichols.

Not really shocking considering this is who the show wanted in the first place. I wonder why Stephen changed his mind?

Wow!

Love Stephen Nichols... good for him, the sexy fox! Screw you, Days!

I like Stephen Nichols, but so far, this Tucker character is completely boring and useless. I didn't think Russ had any chemistry with Walton either, maybe Nichols will.

But whatever, none of it means anything if the writing isn't there, and for Y&R, it really isn't there these days.

This writing regime's attempt at a business storyline is hallow and laughable.

Edited December 17, 200915 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

Woah, this is fantastic news! SN is one of my favorite soap actors ever. I hope this means Tucker will now be long term and I can't wait to see who he's connected too. SN should be fantastic with Jess! I needed something to get me excited for Y&R and this is it.

I think we all know who he is "related" to, this is completely predictable and boring...

I certainly didn't need them to tap into that angle.

I mean, certainly it isn't any coincidence that Jill is having Paul track down Katherine's lost "daughter" right now. This daughter may just as well be a son. I'm betting on it.

Edited December 17, 200915 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

Aren't they "de-aging" the character with this move? And aren't people speculating that the shocking connection is that Tucker is the child Kay gave up for adoption? If this is so, wouldn't SN be too young to pull this off?

I guess Russ looked too old to be Kay's son?

YessssssssssssssssssssssssssssSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! I suspect there are going to be so many surprises to come!!

I think we all know who he is "related" to, this is completely predictable and boring...

I certainly didn't need them to tap into that angle.

I well I don't know, so it's not predictable to me. If someone's going to reveal it in this thread, I'm out of here.

Anyway, you can't ruin this for me with all the negativity! LOL SN rules!

Hope he brings something better to the table than he did at DAYS. The actor does nothing for me.

I well I don't know, so it's not predictable to me. If someone's going to reveal it in this thread, I'm out of here.

Anyway, you can't ruin this for me with all the negativity! LOL SN rules!

I haven't read any spoilers, so this is just speculation right now. But do you think it's by any accident that Jill is actively trying to find Katherine's "lost daughter" right now as this character is being introduced?

I like SN, don't get me wrong, but if this is how they're going to tie this character in, I don't think many will be amused.

Aren't they "de-aging" the character with this move? And aren't people speculating that the shocking connection is that Tucker is the child Kay gave up for adoption? If this is so, wouldn't SN be too young to pull this off?

I guess Russ looked too old to be Kay's son?

Glad I'm not the only one who thinks this. Again, completely predictable.

I was hoping Katherine's lost spawn died, Y&R doesn't need more people in this particular age group. Does someone always have to come back from the dead, die, and be a long lost child for Katherine and Jill to get a story? It seems like every story they've gotten in recent memory has been along those lines and ties into DNA somehow...

So glad he's being recast. SN is great. I found WR to be kinda boring in the role, and I didn't see him having any chemistry with his co-stars.

I appreciate their picking up the loose end that is her child, but I'd much rather Tucker be Murph's long-lost son than Katherine's.

Furthermore, who says you need "superstar luster"? Can't simple good acting be enough? Don't get me wrong, SN is good (er, most of the time), but why do I feel as if they had him to replace Russ BECAUSE he's SN, and not necessarily b/c, Russ simply wasn't right for the part?

Edited December 17, 200915 yr by Khan