Soaps
Michelle Stafford Reacts to Roger Howarth Joining ‘Y&R’ — Should They Be Love Interests Again?
Soap veteran Roger Howarth is making his way to Genoa City! The One Life to Live and General Hospital alum has been cast in a mystery role on The Young and the Restless, with his first appearance set for later this fall, per Deadline.
While many soap fans are wondering who exactly Howarth will be playing, Swooon is already thinking about potential love interests for Howarth’s character. For longtime GH fans, there’s only one answer: Michelle Stafford.
Stafford and Howarth were costars on General Hospital once upon a time. The former playing Nina Reeves, and the latter playing Franco Baldwin. After Howarth’s casting was announced, Stafford posted a sweet message about reuniting on Y&R with Howarth and longtime friend Tamara Braun.
“I could not be happier to be posting this!!” Stafford began. “Not only because these two are extra extraordinary actors, but because they are my friends!! Our show just got a little more bad ass 🖤🖤 @tamarabraun #rogerhowarth * just so you know, more surprises to come #YR #GETREADY.”
Sean Smith / jpistudios.com
Both Stafford and Howarth are titans in the soap world. Stafford is best known for playing the fierce and fabulous Phyllis Summers on The Young and the Restless. Before he played Franco, Howarth rose to soap fame as Paul Ryan on As the World Turns and then Llanview’s most charming bad boy Todd Manning on One Life to Live.
The actors were love interests on General Hospital. Nina and Franco had an instant chemistry, and they loved to push each other’s buttons. Stafford and Howarth really let loose (and clearly had a blast) with Nina and Franco, creating a thrilling dynamic between the characters that kept viewers on their toes. Obviously, they didn’t get the chance to fully dive into a years-long romance on GH, but now we have the opportunity to let Stafford and Howarth create a Genoa City power couple from the ground up.
Phyllis needs a new love interest on The Young and the Restless. We all love Jack (Peter Bergman), but he’s with Diane (Susan Walters), and then there’s Nick (Joshua Morrow). The Phyllis, Nick, and Sharon (Sharon Case) love triangle is so tired. Let Phyllis get wired with whoever Howarth is playing on Y&R. These two at full blast would turn up the heat like we haven’t seen in Genoa City in a long time. Phyllis needs a man who makes her the center of his universe, one who also loves delicious banter that Howarth and Stafford are such masters at.
Reuniting these two actors feels like fate. It’s time for another soap supercouple to rise. And with two icons like Howarth and Stafford, let’s make it happen. (Also, just bringing this back up: Y&R, let’s bring back more GH alums. Maybe Kelly Monaco and Michael Easton?!)
Do you want to see Roger Howarth and Michelle Stafford play love interests on The Young and the Restless? Vote and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
The Young and the Restless, Weekdays, CBS
