EXCLUSIVE: Tom Speaks Out On Y&R Exit

With the shocking news that THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS is replacing the recently-returned David Tom with daytime newcomer Burgess Jenkins as Billy Abbott, Soaps In Depth reached out to the actor to get his perspective on the unexpected recast.

“It was such a great experience to have been a part of the Y&R family again,” Tom tells In Depth. “It was wonderful to see so many old friends and people I know that I used to work with and enjoy so much like Jess Walton (Jill) and Peter Bergman (Jack). I got to do some scenes with Eric Braeden (Victor), finally.”

The Emmy winner admits that he didn’t see Y&R’s decision coming. “I think I was definitely well-liked there,” Tom muses. “As far as I knew, nobody knew about this. Not even the cast.” Was he given a reason for his termination? “One of the reasons they said they let me go is that I obviously looked too young when they placed me with [the new] Kelly. Well, she was hired after I was. I don’t understand why they didn’t think about that [when they were casting her]. We don’t really have a storyline [anyway]; She’s with Jack. I thought I looked fine with Missy [Claire Egan, Chelsea]. I really loved working with her.”

The actor is already making plans for the future, including putting together a demo reel out of his best scenes from this last trip to Genoa City. Is he up for another daytime gig? “Hell, yeah. I’d go in a heartbeat to another soap opera,” he says. “I love to work.

“The worst thing you can do is mull about it,” continues Tom, who adds that what he’ll miss most is working alongside his fellow Y&R actors. “The whole cast is wonderful. I felt like they were a part of my family.”

Look for more of our exclusive interview with Tom in our CBS issue on sale June 16!