If Jess Walton Takes A Permanent "Sick Day," Who Should Play Jill On The Young and the Restless?

Lord half of these heifers are a joke imo playing that role. Nothing against them, they are stellar actors but half of them can't do the role of Jill justice like Jess has for years. The only one would be my UBER fav Quartermaine, TRACY! Dee can be Casey Reed on Y&R fo' sure.

Take off your earrings Jillian, because I disagree. lol....there have been to many people like Cady McClain who went from a role like Dixie to an equally as popular character on another soap. Gina Tognoni wasn't much on OLTL, does a great job on GL as Dinah. Giving an actor or actress a new character so sink their teeth into can be one of the best things that ever happened to them if they have good writing. I would pit at least four of those ladies toe-to-toe against Jess Walton any day, and I love Jess Walton. lol

I think HALL & DANO are the best suggestions from that list.

BUT, if someone else were to play the role of Jill (I do hope Jess is okay), it should be...

DEBORAH ADAIR!

Adair back in the role would be a wonderful Y&R coup on many levels. And the woman could still kick some major ass.

Luke I don't have to take off a lint ball for that mess! *LMAO!* Cady I could've seen her playing a bitchy role and the same with Gina T. But those other gals when you picture them against Jeanne Cooper and the men Jill has ran through in GC.... Well it don't gel well. Since Jamey put the idea of Jane out there I'm not too broken up if Jess leaves. I hope she doesn't but hell that is a BADASS replacement.

I could see Anna Stuart in the role. I love Jane Elliot too, but she's under contract at GH. Anna Stuart is free and willing to work. She'd be a great temporary recast. She knows how to play a solids rich bitch with a heart of gold and vulnerability. She would be a rocking Jill Foster Abbott temp-recast! I could also see her as the high profile businesswoman Jill is, not so much with the others.

Anyone who doesn't think Dee can do good bitch needs to go watch clips from the Salem Stalker storyline, the Devil Possession storyline or Marlena vs. Kristen. Who would have ever thought after years of playing tragic heroine Ashley Abbott, Eileen could do a bat shit crazy character like Kristen justice? Anna Stuart is the only major miss for me. She is tooooo femme and glam for the part. They need a more aggressive big boned gal for Jill!

How could you Jillian! You're possibly depriving one of these women a paycheck because you don't have faith in their acting. Linda Dano is a daytime icon and would rock da house as Jill. Deidre Hall is headed towards broke (ok, not really but just saying) and will need the money for alimony. This could be as big for Jane Elliot as Tracy Q is. Anna Stuart could do this role in her sleep. Victoria hasn't had an acting gig in years and I'm sure she'd entertain such an opportunity. You're wishing financial ill on one of these ladies! lol

And what's more, it's hard out there for a one time soap diva. You should give these women a chance. lol

Sit it down Luke! *LOL* Sorry but Linda Dano needs to go back to OLTL, she can take Skye with her or hell they can turn back up to GH. Victoria can do Broadway and that Anna chicka, she can turn up to AMC to cause hell for Erica and Kendall. Dee has always been my candidate for Nikki's big sis Casey. We need to pimp that idea hard.

I refuse to sit down! I've been doing that all day. Don't you go messing with my Another World memories....you hear me now? LOL

Victoria Wyndham circa 1998 I would die to see as Jill, but...after she was paired with Charles Keating she started talking in some weird, faux British accent like she had lost her doggone mind! Rachel Davis came from the wrong side of the tracks! She pulled a Madonna before Madonna. I ain't trying to watch her perfoming "Love Letters" in Geona City.

I think Y&R should try and steal Finola Hughes again, god knows Guza's not going to use her. She played a great bitch on Pacific Palisades.

*ROTFLMAO!* CHURCH JAMEY! See I ain't the only one that thinks Ma Corey should NOT desecrate the role of Jill Abbott. Luke you've been shut down with that. Sorry fearless leader but we've vetoed that idea. Side note: I thought it was just me that heard Rachel and that damn faux accent.

Oh no, Vicky is actually rumored to be up for it! LOL And trust, me, I don't say this lightly, because she is one of my top five fave actresses in soaps period, but she is not Jill. Now Dina Mergeron...maybe?

Oh Lord! John Abbott, I'm coming to join you honey! *clutching my chest like Fred Sandford* I'm going to say some chants and pray to Bill Bell VW doesn't get it. Look I have NOTHING against the actress, she's a wicked one (meaning she's the greatest for some of ya'll out there) but she is NOT Jill Abbott. I'm sorry she isn't. Now I am thinking she could've been a cool Gloria Bardwell..........

I know, Judith Chapman can play a dual role as Jill  and Gloria and it will turn out they are twin sisters....LMAO!!!!!

I voted for Anna Stuart only because Jane Elliot is under contract at GH.

All of the ladies would be great in the Jill role.

Victoria Wyndham is NOT Jill Abbott - too aristocratic looking and sounding.

Anna Stuart is NOT Jill Abbott - too "femme and glam" and old money snooty. (Remember when Anna subbed for Maeve Kincaid as Vanessa on GL? She was perfect in that.)

Linda Dano is NOT Jill Abbott - too... just too NOT Jill.

Deidre Hall is NOT Jill Abbott - she is (or should be or will be) Dr. Casey Reed. (LOL)

Jane Elliott is NOT Jill Abbott - she is too vicious. I still remember - and get chills thinking about - her as Carrie Todd Marler, Ross' multiple personality killer of a wife.

BRENDA DICKSON is the ONLY SUITABLE replacement. Or permanent recast if it is necessary. Brenda at least needs to be given a chance to redeem herself.

I, too, suggested Judith Chapman on Facebook. They could delve further into Jill's past and have Rebecca Budig play a young Jill.

You and Luke are no longer in this discussion Season, with that type of thinking! *LOL*

Me and Luke think outside the box.

I'm sorry to say this,

It's either the producers/screenwriters not write for the character of Jill until Jess returns, or better yet bring back the original Jill "Brenda". Do you think ratings will increase IF ever Brenda returns? I've had enough of all these recast in soaps, especially with popular soap characters, like Jill.

Seasons, you and Luke need to get back in that box... CitySuerpboy, Brenda imo has closed off any hope of coming back to Y&R when she decided to trash talk the show on her blog by mentioning all the goings on with the actors some of whom are still @ Y&R...

What about Robin Mattson? She's available and I feel like she'd have more of the right sort of energy for the part than most of the choices listed.

I agree Jane Elliot would be awesome too if she weren't taken. I could maybe see Anna Stuart, possibly Victoria Wyndham, but I can't see Linda Dano or Deidre Hall in the part at all; I just feel like neither one really has the right sort of feel for it.

Jane would be a good choice, but like I said about Jess & Jill, she IS Tracy Quartermaine...
But, if it had to be that way, I could get jiggy with Jane taking on the role of Jill.

Deidre casted as Jill would be such a headline grabber and big win for Y&R.

Anna Stuart or Linda Dano would be good enough for me...Victoria is a no-go. I don't need Justine Kirkland 2.0 on my screen.

BRENDA DICKSON! BRENDA DICKSON! BRENDA DICKSON!! BRENDA DICKSON!!!

Erm, Brenda Dickson, please.

"Well hello, and welcome to my soap comeback!"

I'd go with any of the AW actresses, as I feel AW had the best cast on daytime! With that said, let's not overlook the following actresses:

* Sharon Wyatt (ex-Tiffany, GH, ex- Rebecca PASS)
* Robin Mattson (ex-Gina, SB, ex- Natalie, AMC)
* Christine Tudor (ex-Gwyn, Loving)

With Kim Zimmer's contract up in June, Y & R should steal her from GL and cast her as Katherine's real daughter! I mean, I love GL and Reva, but it would be a smart decision the part of Y & R.

Those of you who don't want Vicky Wyndham in the role, are probably too young to remember when Rachel was AW's fantastic bitch. She mellowed around 1975, when she married Mac Cory, and eventually became a heroine. But pre-1975, Rachel was really, really mean. VW could hit it out of the park back then. She played the perfect mix of meanness and vulnerability. And, she was nothing like Justine Kirkland. She was from the wrong side of the tracks, and acted like it.

I'm calling Paul Rauch an casting my vote for VW.

I'm kind of surprised you didn't offer it as an option, but... I'd like to see BRENDA DICKSON be "cleaned up" (her hair and makeup need some fine tuning) and offered her role back should Jess Walton decide to take a powder.

'Jill' hasn't been written as the "Alexis Colby of Genoa City" in years, so it might be an opportunity to bring Brenda back in a slightly more subdued way... but wouldn't it be ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS to see the Jill/Katherine feud reignited (as it obviously will be when it's revealed Jill is not really Katherine's daughter) with Brenda and Jeanne going head-to-head again?!

Plus, what better way to continue bringing Y&R back to it's roots than to bring back the originator, give her a good story, and write her more like the Jill of the late 70s through circa 1983? With a bitchy "Jill" edge, but still relatable--still capable of occasionally being vulnerable and soft instead of the brittle character as portrayed circa 1986-87.

I bet they could get Brenda back at a reasonable price and both the actress and the show would benefit from her return!

As for those other talented ladies suggested, I just can't see any of them playing Jill Foster Abbott.

I do think that Brenda might be the best option. I don't think it would ever happen. And though I enjoyed her at the time I don't think her over the top performance would fit well into the show or the character anymore. IMO it would feel like Luke's joke about Chapman taking on a dual role (brilliant and hilarious).
Of those mentioned in the article I guess Anna Stuart would be my first choice but I don't think she's quite right for the part either. I love all the actresses but I don't think any of them would be Jill to me. I'm sure they could come in and make the character something great of their own but she wouldn't really be Jill Foster so what would the point be?
I think if JW leaves they should write Jill out and hope that they can get Jess to come back someday.

I used to love the scenes between Victoria Wyndham and Carmen Duncan, so I could see Vicky as Jill. I'd vote for Anna first, but any AW actress would make me happy.

I hate the fact they are looking to recast Jill. Jess Walton does a great job in the role.

Maybe Sheffer would actually write for Jill instead of making her a plot point to garner sympathy for Kay and Billy if one of his 'preferred actresses' was in the role. With that said, Deidre Hall is apparently a favorite of HS. He's worked with other actresses on the list too. No way in hell Brian Frons allows JE to go to CBS.

Luke is right, VW, LD, or AS could all be Jill. Not even a question on that. Another person who would work is Lynn Herring. I vote Linda Dano cause she needs to be back on TV.

Lynn Herring or Robin Mattson would be fabulous!!!

I voted for Viki Wyndham!

But who is Kay's real daughter, Gloria or Nicky?

Nikki would be sweet but, Gloria would be more of a hoot! With that said, I'd love for the show to bring on a new character, who has a connection to one of the already established characters on the soap.

Funny, I couldn't remember the actress' name so I had to Google "Kate Days of Our Lives" for the original Kate and it was:

DEBORAH ADAIR

For some reason I "knew" that she would be a good fit. I have always confused the 2 actresses.

As for AW alum: I LOVE Victoria Wyndham and would love to see her active again but as Jill? Nah. Same with Linda Dano. Probably because neither has the ability to appear "annoying" to me which Jill frequently is. I guess Anna Stuart would be my only choice from AW alum.

I'm still trying to track down the "sick day" rumor - what's going on?

JULIA BARR! She'd be another great choice!

Julia Barr...... I have to really think about that.... 

julia barr would be perfect!

Wow! Julia Barr. I hadn't thought about her in this age category. I guess perhaps she has always played a bit younger.

But, she certainly has the acting chops to play Jill. Hmmm. I agree Julia Barr should be a front-runner for the role of Jill Abbot.

However, my vote still goes to Paul Rauch's favorite (and mine), Victoria Wyndham.

Come'on, Vicky!! When you audition, go way-back to your early days as Rachel. Way back. You know what I mean. Do that, and you'll be the perfect Jill Abbot.

curacaoman, nobody knows who Kay's real daughter is. Its not Nikki though well can't be since Nikki's younger than Jill... I would've loved for her to be Kay's kid though...

Kay's real daughter is Gloria....lol...

Luke what I tell you about being blasphemous!? That skeezer is NOT Kay's kin!

Only SoapSnob and DanMann have this right...it's totally friggin obvious to anyone with a brain that ONLY the fabulous Brenda Dickson can do this part justice (and it does depend on how the role is written for sure)...one only needs to go and view various clips on youtube to see that the orginal jill/kay chemistry has NEVER been duplicated -- i have never felt any sort of hair-raising experiences watching JW/JC go at it. The only sad part is that Terry Lester cannot return, RIP. Bergman and Walton are BOTH respected actors and have done their parts admirably, but Jack and Jill have never been topped since the originators played the parts, sorry! Bring back Brenda! Hell, i'll be her agent!

Also, i hate to use physical attributes against an actor, but Anna Stuart is just not imposing enough to play Jill. She's pretty petite. It needs to be a full-figured presence to pull this off. And Wyndam (hilarious comments about her faux accent aside) is indeed too regal/Connecticut-ish to pull it off. I would give anything to see BD back in this role again after a 20 year absence, OMG!!!!!!!!!!!

TPTB would get so much bang for their buck if Brenda Dickson were to return as Jill Foster Abbott.

1.) They would get built-in history and chemistry with some of the veteran cast (Katherine, Victor, Nikki, Ashley, the returning Nina, and Brenda would be absolutely "lovely" opposite Peter Bergman’s Jack.

2.) Lapsed viewers who remembered and loved Brenda as Jill (or loved to hate Brenda as Jill) would, possibly, return in droves to see Jill 1.0 mix it up with Katherine again.

3.) And I am sure that Brenda would return at a fraction of the cost of one of the "name" daytime stars referenced above. Who they are, of course, going to pay less than Jess Walton.

It would be a "win-win" all around. TPTB should at least consider it.

OK - I'll agree with Soap_Stud and Billnave. I love VW and would love to see her in anything!

Funny, most of the AW ladies that I thought of are too young to play Jill. AW had the "socialite" thing down!

I thought of Lisa Peluso, Nancy Frangione, Robin Christopher, Alice Barrett ...