Soap Hopper Jacob Young Has A Real Conversation With Jordi Vilasuso

Soap hopper Jacob Young isn’t on a soap opera right now, but he’s still interacting with many of his daytime pals including Jordi Vilasuso. The former Rick Forrester from Bold and the Beautiful invited the Genoa City lawman onto his podcast Real Conversations with Jacob Young.

Jacob Young Has A Real Talk With Jordi Vilasuso

Young, who launched Real Conversations with Jacob Young in 2002, and Vilasuso (Rey, The Young and the Restless) talked about a variety of topics including how the genre has changed over the decades. “I started in 2000 in New York [on Guiding Light],” Vilasuso recalls. “We had two floors — maybe more — at that studio.”

Vilasuso, who played Tony Santos on GL, says that soaps are produced more quickly today. “Not that there isn’t room for if you have an idea that’s compelling…that you can share with the powers that be, but it’s just so much faster now,” he says.

Today’s Challenges in Soaps

Shooting soaps during COVID has come with many challenges especially since key relationships among characters rely on physical intimacy. “I [Rey] had to propose to my wife [Sharon, Sharon Case] six feet apart,” he recalls, praising the Y&R team for pulling together during these unprecedented times. “I’m grateful to have a job.” Young praised Vilasuso for being able to make that connection given the current ways in which soaps are shot.

Young inquired how Vilasuso broke the news to his family, including his doctor father, how they all took to his decision to become an actor. “[My dad] was very supportive,” Vilasuso says. “My mom’s side was a little more timid. You hear stories of kids going to Hollywood and [trying to become an actor and] crazy things happen.” Needless to say, Vilasuso, a veteran of four different soap operas, has made his mark in daytime drama and in the acting world!

Jacob Young Knows His Subjects

The two actors have more in common than having been on the same soap opera — All My Children — where Young played JR Chandler and Vilasuso was Griffin Castillo. Vilasuso won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Young Actor in a Drama Series for playing GL’s Tony in 2003. Young won the same award the previous year for his role as Lucky on General Hospital.

To hear the full interview, click here. “Available now!” Young enthuses. “@jordivilasuso is not only an amazing actor, he’s an amazing father, and I’m lucky to call him my friend. Don’t miss our candid conversation about life, love and the ups and downs of such a competitive business!”