Lesli Kay, (Felicia B&B), Antonio Sabato Jr. (Dante B&B) and Ashley Jones (Bridget)

BREAKING NEWS: Dan Gauthier, who, in my opinion, is one of daytime's best actors, is being let go. It's not much of a surprise since we haven't seen too much of his character, Kevin Buchanan, on One Life to Live these days, but every time he does appear, you can't help but pay attention to his scenes. Unfortunately, focus groups felt differently, saying they disliked the character of Kevin, who had become a verbally abusive alcoholic, and so Gauthier is being written out in November. The part of Kevin will not be recast. Hopefully he will turn up on another soap or prime-time TV in the near future. Too bad the decision wasn't made sooner, because he would have made an excellent Craig Montgomery, another unscrupulous character recently recast on As the World Turns.

A role that is being recast is Brad Carlton's mother, Rebecca Kaplan, on The Young and the Restless. Millie Perkins had recently played the Holocaust survivor, and it appeared her storyline was over. However, the show is continuing a story for the character but is taking her in a new direction, which means another actress will be taking over as well. Lorna Raver will debut as Rebecca on September 19. If the actress looks familiar to you, you might have seen one of her numerous prime-time guest appearances, which include Boston Legal and Desperate Housewives.

In other casting news, Eyal Podell has joined Y&R as Adrian Korbel, a professor at Genoa City University, where Colleen (Adrianne Leon) matriculates this fall. Does this mean a forbidden professor/student affair is on the horizon for the teen? Time will tell, but this is a soap, so I would bet on it. Korbel begins airing on September 18. His credits include the film Behind Enemy Lines, TV series The West Wing and Without a Trace.

MOONLIGHTING: Ellen Dolan, who plays the intrepid Detective Margo Hughes on As the World Turns, will appear in a production of Intellectuals with The WorkShop Theater Company from September 8 to 30, Wednesday through Sunday, at 8 p.m. log on to www.theatermania.com to find out more.

FAN EVENT: Lesli Kay, who plays Felicia Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful, is hosting a soap-opera luncheon and autograph signing at the Courtyard by Marriott in Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley on October 28 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the Armando Solorzano Foundation, which is a not-for-profit organisation for the family of Armando Solorzano, who died of brain cancer. Many cast members of B&B will be there to greet fans, including Ashley Jones (Bridget), Antonio Sabato Jr. (Dante) and Winsor Harmon (Thorne). Also included are Y&R's Eric Braeden (Victor), Greg Rikaart (Kevin) and Adrianne Leon (Colleen). Another L.A.-based soap actress, Rachel Melvin (Chelsea, Days of Our Lives) will be in attendance.