Michelle Stafford shot a pilot

EXCLUSIVE: RESTLESS VIXEN MOBS UP

Scoop! The Young and the Restless redhead Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) recently shot a Fox pilot in Memphis. It's an hourlong drama whose working title is Southern Comfort.

"You have the exclusive on that, my friend!" Stafford tells TVGuide.com. "The leading lady is Madeleine Stowe. She plays Charlotte, a Southern belle whose husband is in the Mafia, unbeknownst to her. He gets caught and she basically becomes a Mafia princess. I play her perky, happy best friend, Susan, and I have a twangy accent!"

Other celebs appearing in the pilot include Eric Roberts and Calvin Klein model Travis Fimmel, who briefly starred in WB's Tarzan.

Stafford left Y&R once before, back in 1997, to star in Aaron Spelling's superfun but short-lived nighttime sudser Pacific Palisades. But the Daytime Emmy winner's fans need not fret just yet about the prospect of her leaving again. Let's all chill and wait to see if Fox greenlights the pilot to go to series first, OK? (I say that to reassure myself as much you — 'cause I love me some Michelle!)

http://www.tvguide.com/soaps/soapsnews/

Hmm, good for her if it turns out to be good, but this is very bad for Y&R! I wonder if they'll recast with the original recast because there's no way they can write Phyllis off.

Here's the full lowdown from The Futon Critic:

· produced by: 20th

· genre: one-hour drama

· status: currently in development (2006-2007 season)

· development stage: ordered to pilot

· last updated: 4/4/06

· who's in it:

· charlayne woodard (sister peg on "law & order: special victims unit") as althea

· eric roberts (will butler on "less than perfect") as ray

· jessica stroup (eden on "vampire bats") as lindy

· lee tergesen (u.s. marshal eddie drake on "wanted") as blue

· madeleine stowe (milly on "saving milly") as charlotte

· reiley mcclendon (tom ross on "just legal") as trip

· sandy martin (grandma on "napoleon dynamite") as delight

· travis fimmel (john clayton/tarzan on "tarzan") as bobby

· who's making it:

· dennis murphy (PROD on "miracles") as PROD

· greg yaitanes (DIR on "bones") as DIR/EP

· joe gayton (WRTR/DIR on "sweet jane") as WRTR/EP

· ken topolsky (PROD on "kevin hill") as EP

· tony gayton (WRTR on "murder by numbers") as WRTR/EP

· what's it about: ensemble crime drama about the wife of a mob boss who's thrust into running their biloxi, mississippi-based organized crime operation, which includes a region of night spots and resorts known to locals as the redneck riviera

any FOX drama has no chance in hell of succeeding.

But, I wonder - why pass up on a role like Phyllis for "the perky best friend"(who probably has nothing to do and will be written off after season 1).

But, I wonder - why pass up on a role like Phyllis for "the perky best friend"(who probably has nothing to do and will be written off after season 1).

Because "Phyllis" is a soap opera character. Actors want to be on primetime tv and film, not soap operas.

I wish I could say that the plot sounds interesting, but since it would be for Fox... it doesn't. I still would check it out though, if it gets the go ahead. I loved her on Pacific Palisades though... If she left, it could be recasted... it wouldn't be the first time.

This reminds me of when she joined Pacific Palisades...first off, congrats to Michelle but yeah any show on Fox has little change of survival. That network sucks. I hope if she gets it, she takes it because she's one helluva actress.

Phyllis can be recast. The show proved that before with Sandra Neilson. I'm sure they could recast her again.

If you look at whos creating her series, it could have a shock at getting picked up. Bones is one of FOX's few successful new shows this season and the person who created that created this. Still, I COMPLETELY agree that it doesn't sound all that interesting, especially Michelle's role.

The cast is also underwhelming. Even though 24 is kinda sucking now, I'd love to see her play the next big bad ass there.

I doubt they will recast. At least at first. I am sure the door will be open for Michelle like it was for Sharmar to come back if the show doesn't succeed.

There is only one Phyllis- the fiery Michelle Stafford. I need her on my TV screen to hate.

I am happy for her but for selfish reason I dont want her to leave and the moment she is out, I am out cause I cant see anyone else taking over with out me cringing.

SARAH BUXTON would be a great Phyllis.

She's the only other actress who could pull it off.

SARAH BUXTON would be a great Phyllis.

She's the only other actress who could pull it off.

I kinda agree. Sarah needs to get back onto daytime and the role of Phyllis could be her chance. The pilot sounds about as interesting as watching paint dry but I guess I hope for Michelle's sake it does get picked up. LOL if it does how about Sharon finally gets her revenge and runs the red headed slut down

Sarah would make a great Phyliss.

I disagree. Michelle is the only Phyllis.

Sarah can be fun to watch, but she's nowhere near MS's quality in terms of acting.

I disagree. Michelle is the only Phyllis.

Sarah can be fun to watch, but she's nowhere near MS's quality in terms of acting.

Didnt you see her on Sunset Beach? My friend, she was ROBBED of an emmy for that wonderful role.