‘Young And The Restless’ Fired Gina Tognoni To Bring Back Michelle Stafford As Character Phyllis Summers
Hey, Young And The Restless fans. We’ve got some pretty big and shocking casting news for you guys. It turns out that there’s been a major switch-up over on the Young And The Restless set. According to the folks over at Soapcentral.com and Daytime Confidential, actress Michelle Stafford is indeed about to reprise her role of Phyllis Summers after leaving it way, way back in 2014! Unfortunately, this means that poor Gina Tognoni is out of a job over there.
The Young And The Restless producers had no shame in getting rid of Gina for Michelle. In fact, they facilitated the whole thing! Soapcentral.com said that the Young And The Restless producers actually lured Michelle Stafford back to her former Young And The Restless role as soon as they found out that she was out over at General Hospital.
Soapcentral provided a little back story about this whole situation. Back in 2014, Michelle Stafford left her Young And The Restless, Phyllis Summers role to go play an original character named Nina Reeves on ABC’s General Hospital. However, as of recent, the contract talks between Michelle Stafford and General Hospital didn’t work out.
It was reported that the negotiations went down to the wire. But in the end, they just couldn’t make it happen. It’s unclear if Michelle wanted more money or what. What is clear is that somebody didn’t get what they wanted out of the deal. This caused Michelle to be a free agent, and the Young And The Restless producers immediately jumped at the chance to get Michelle back to reprise the Phyllis Summers role!
Apparently, Young And The Restless came up with a good enough offer for Michelle to agree to come back and reprise the Phyllis Summers role. This, of course, left poor Gina Tognoni out of a job after she had been playing the Phyllis Summers role since 2014. She had also won a daytime Emmy award back in 2017 for “Outstanding Lead Actress.”
Despite being seemingly kicked out of her role as Phyllis, Gina posted a very nice Instagram post about her experience of working on the Young And The Restless set. She wrote, “Five years ago, I was blessed to embrace the incredible character of Phyllis Summers Abbott. I am beyond grateful for the creative experience that The Young And The Restless has given to me as well as the amazing relationships I made with the cast, crew/staff, producers, and writers. I love my Genoa City family, which made it easy to give 110% everyday. My long commutes always went smoothly because I loved where I worked and the people I worked with!
My thanks to Sony Pictures Television and CBS and a special thank you to the Y&R viewers for their love and support. I wish Y&R continued success and everything it richly deserves. You guys can view that post over on Gina’s official Instagram account by Clicking Here.
Wow, wasn’t that like the sweetest post ever for someone who just got given a pink slip? Gina gets mad props from us for being nice as hell after essentially getting fired. Soapcentral pointed out that it is still unclear what General Hospital will do with the Nina Reeves character that Michelle Stafford left behind. Will they write her off? Or will they replace her? We have no clue right now.
It’s actually being reported that some fans want Gina Tognoni to go ahead and replace Michelle’s Nina Reeves role over at General Hospital! We definitely think she would deserve it, and she’s already proven for the past five years that she can replace Michelle.
How do you guys feel about this huge casting change over on The Young And The Restless set? Are you happy to see Michelle Stafford back as character Phyllis Summers after all these years? Or did you get so used to Gina Tognoni that this seems like a travesty? Let us know in the Facebook comments.
Alright guys. That’s all we’ve got for this latest Young And The Restless report, but definitely stay tuned for more.
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So happy to see Michelle back as Phyllis. She made a much more humane character. While Gina’s a good actress, her “Phyllis” was downright evil/mean and sleezy too much. Michelle’s allowed for more empathy: “Phyllis” was just more nutty. Gina took that character way too far for me to ever like her….
I am thrilled Michelle is coming back!! So is my mom! Tagnoni just didn’t cut it. Yayyy for The Young and The Restless! So happy. Can’t wait to see her debut back!
Not thrilled they let this Phyllis go on Young and Restless.When is Jack going to get a Soul mate or Traci? I’ll be glad when they work with these characters to have relationships.
I liked Gina better on Y&R. She did a good coverup. She could have a smile and no one could tell by looking that she was up to no good. Michelle always looks mean with a dishonest face – my opinion
I agree. Michelle always looked sneaky, conning and conniving not to mention that Gina was more easier on the eyes. Not to say that Michelle wasn’t but I’ve grown used to Gina playing the role of Phyllis.
Good Grief, here we go again. I thought Gina did a wonderful job. the writers better be focusing on better story lines then playing switcheroo and bringing back the dead characters.
All of these people saying they’re glad Gina Tognoni was fired should rot in hell. I mean, what? Who is happy that someone is fired so an ugly diva who has already quit the role twice can, again, come back, just because she wants a lot more money than she was making at General Hospital? Evidently her skin care racket isn’t making much $ either. It’s just another scheme from which Stafford the Sleazy Scientologist is hoping to get even RICHER than she already is. Gina Tognoni, I’m so sorry this has happened to you, my friend. SO sorry. You deserved so much better. But don’t worry, karma has a way of coming around, and Michelle Stafford the Sleazy Scientologist will get her due.
What you did to Gina is so offensive to me!!!!!! She was so good that I hated her guts and also felt sorry for her at the same time! Now that’s what makes a great actress! Shame on you for firing her!!!!
You’ve made a mistake! Please bring Gina back. I tuned in to see a different Phyllis and am so upset. Gina won awards. Gina has been Phyllis for five years. We love Gina!!! The only reason I can imagine that you would switch out Gina for Michelle is if you’re saving a TON of money by bringing Michelle back. Otherwise, why would you rock this boat? When it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Gina hands down is so much better. So disappointed she is being replaced by Michelle. ?
I found out a few weeks ago that Michelle was coming back to play Phyllis. I am so disappointed, I watch GH also and she made a much better Nina than she did Phyllis. Gina was better suited to play Phyllis because she is so pretty that it is understandable (almost} how she can get away with her CRAP. I will miss Gina a lot.
Bring Gina back!!!!!! She is Phyllis she is the only won for the part!,,
Too many character changes. Bringing Adam back from the dead was stupid and not believable. Firing Gina as Phyllis was also stupid. You’ve lost a viewer and I hope many more follow me.
Wow.Tuned in today and saw Phyllis. It took me a whole minute to register that, hey it’s the real Phyllis I loved Gina. But Michelle is the real Phyllis. They’re both beautiful women, though. Only thing left to do now is to stop having Miss Grimes kissing women. It just looks silly.
I was surprised to hear Michelle was back. Both actresses have done a wonderful job with the role, & I hope Gina finds something new & wonderful for us to watch her on.
They should’ve kept Gina! She is my favorite character on the show. I really don’t like the change. Very disappointed.
I’m upset about Gina leaving. She was the best actress on the show! It’s not going to be the same without her! I may not even watch the show anymore!
I no longer can watch your show without Gina the Phyllis you have now may have been good 5 years ago but Gina was much better!!!!! I hope other fans of the show follow suit and stop watching!!!!
WELL YOU KEEP BRING PEOPLE BACK FROM THE DEAD,, SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL GO FOR IT AND RUIN THE PHYLLIS TOO…………………GINA WAS GREAT,,,,THATS ALOT MORE THEN I CAN SAY FOR THE NEW ONE. GET BACK TO HAVING A GOOD SHOW THAT MAKES SOME SENCE.
Gina is an amazing actor. Sincere, believable, sympathize-able, lovely, and my hands-down favorite on the show. Gina made even the dumbest and the most overused/repeated storylines she was involved in bearable….. Meaning she still acted wonderfully in even the most inane storyline. What a loss for Y&R fans. What another bad decision by Y&R “brass.” I fast forward thru SO much of the boring and repeated stories, but NEVER fast forwarded thru ANY scenes Gina was in. Utter shame! Michelle always had a nasty undertone, if not outright nasty. Was not a pleasant viewing experience for me. Gina was fierce and feisty, but with a passionate & caring/trusting but flawed heart playing thru. I am so very disappointed.
Gina is much better in the role. Michelle is not. Also, so sick
of the Lesbian LOVE story .. I wonder what other viewers think about it.
Loved Gina in the role!!! So disappointed.
No point in watching the show without Gina and hoping for her reunion with Jack. Not interested at all in Y & T without her. Really a not nice management decision. That alone makes me sign off. Boring one hour of drama without Gina. Even Eileen Davidson left this sinking ship.
Bring back Gina. She will always be Phyllis to me.
Very disappointed Gina was replaced. She brought so much passion and believability to the character. Why change something that wasnt broken.
Bring Gina back! She was great as being Phylis!
I remember being so upset when Phyllis finally awakes from her long coma and there’s a different actress playing Phyllis. I was so upset that I almost stopped watching. However, Gina did grow into her roll very nicely and I am on the edge here. I will miss her. She did an amazing job and I loved watching her soar. I’m sure that I will get use to Stafford again. I’m fascinated to see how her relationships mold together with all the characters. Gina. a job well done! I have been watching Y&R since I was 7 years old. I am now 48. Lol.
I so much like Gina better. Im not happy with the change. !!!
It’s always an adjustment when actors/actresses are replaced. Having seen both play the part of Phyllis, I have to say that I don’t know why you wanted Michelle back! Gina is a great actress and really put a lot of passion into the role. Receiving a Emmy is proof of that! It was so easy to hate her and, at the same time, understand her feelings. Sometimes going back to the original is not the best idea.
Gina was the best actress on the show. I like Michelle, but her portrayal of Phyllis seems stale and monotone to me. Gina is more subtle and dynamic. I think the writing for her character in the last few months was terrible.
I like Gina way better. She was beautiful and sassy and it feels like Michelle is just too fake for the role they put her in. Maybe that is how daytime shows were back in 2014 when Michelle left for GH and maybe she was left out of GH this time for good reason. I liked Gina’s “bad ass” character. Isn’t that how real life is? Adam Neuman’s character is just as or more sinister that Phyllis’s ever was. Everyone on the show has had an evil or dark side at one time or another. I know this is typical in television but it feels wrong especially since Gina said such incredibly nice words concerning the producers, etc. at Y&R. Not sure why the viewers don’t get a vote in these kinds of matters.
Not loving Michelle. Gina is one of my favorite villans and was so believable whatever the scene. Please get rid of the lesbians. Maybe they could make it fun if they break up because one realizes she is not a lesbian and has found a man she falls in love with and how does she break it to the current interest.
YandR it boing to watch they brought all the old characters back bad writing Iam tired of Kyle and the wife Rosales need to leave and yes they should kept Gina for role she suit the character I hardly watch anymore because storyline are boring !! Just my opinion
Bring back Gina Tognoni. That other actress, MIchelle, is an over the hill no talent skank.