The world of daytime television is buzzing this week, as The Young and the Restless—a staple of American soap opera since 1973—ushers in a fresh wave of cast excitement and fan-driven drama. For decades, loyal viewers have followed the tangled lives of Genoa City’s residents, but this week brings a twist that even long-time fans might not have seen coming: not only are beloved characters returning to the canvas, but viewers themselves are being invited to help shape a pivotal moment in the show’s history.
According to recent coverage by Us Weekly, Lauralee Bell, who has portrayed Christine “Cricket” Blair since 1984, revealed that fans will have a unique opportunity to choose the wedding dress her character will wear in an upcoming November wedding episode. This interactive event, set to unfold via The Young and the Restless’ official Instagram Stories, begins on Friday, September 19, at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET and will remain open for 24 hours. For a series that has always thrived on audience engagement, this move marks a new chapter in soap opera fan participation.
“When we heard that we were going to get remarried, I just thought, ‘These people have devoted so much of their lives to our show,’” Bell told Us Weekly on September 11, 2025. She emphasized the importance of acknowledging the fans, explaining, “Whenever there’s a way where we can incorporate them or make them understand how much they mean to us, we can’t do this without them.” That sentiment led to the idea of a social media poll, allowing viewers to cast their vote for Cricket’s wedding gown—an unprecedented gesture of inclusivity for the soap’s audience.
Bell, now 56, has already tried on all three dress options, each designed to reflect Cricket’s evolution as a character. “They’re all kind of simple and elegant. I’m not the big ball down on top of a wedding cake,” she joked, adding, “And nothing’s showing. They’re all appropriate.” She described the choices as being tailored for “an older bride,” with the show’s costumer working closely to ensure the dresses suit her character’s current phase in life. As Bell put it, “If someone were to say, ‘Do I have a favorite?’ I don’t know that I do. I want this to completely be what [the fans pick].”
The excitement around the dress selection comes as part of a larger cast shake-up on The Young and the Restless during the week of September 15 to 19, 2025. According to reporting from Sportskeeda, Christine Blair (Lauralee Bell) returns to Genoa City, preparing to remarry her former husband Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian). Danny, who first married Christine in a now-iconic 1990 episode set in Hawaii, has recently reunited with her after years of ups and downs—a storyline that has kept fans on the edge of their seats for decades.
Their original marriage ended in heartbreak after Danny’s affair with Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford), but as of March 2024, the couple was officially back together. Danny’s proposal, which aired during a July 2025 episode, set the stage for the highly anticipated wedding. The wedding episode is slated for November 2025, though the exact air date has yet to be announced. In a lighthearted moment, Bell confessed to Us Weekly that one of the dress options is particularly snug, joking, “I’m glad the TV wedding got pushed from October to November. It’s a whole other month of me really, like, doing more and more sit ups and not eating cheese, my favorite thing.” She added, “If the snug dress isn’t chosen, I’m gonna have a piece of cheese right away.”
The dress poll is just one part of the drama unfolding in Genoa City this week. Michael Damian’s Danny Romalotti is back on screen, not just to rekindle his romance with Christine but also to interact with his son, Daniel. Meanwhile, Tracey E. Bregman’s Lauren Fenmore will share scenes with Christine, setting the stage for classic soap intrigue. Lauren, known for her feuds with the likes of Sheila and romantic clashes with Traci Abbott and Christine herself, is sure to add a layer of tension and unpredictability to the mix.
Another familiar face making a return is Mishael Morgan’s Amanda Sinclair. The character, a lawyer and the twin sister of Hilary Curtis, first arrived in Genoa City to represent Chance in a legal battle over Katherine’s will. Over the years, Amanda has provided legal counsel to Nate Hastings, Billy Abbott, Devon Hamilton, and Lily Winters, while also navigating romantic entanglements with Nate and Devon. This week, Amanda returns as Cane’s lawyer, promising more drama and legal maneuvering in the days ahead.
Despite the influx of returning characters and the mounting suspense, there are currently no confirmed cast exits for the week of September 15 to 19, 2025. That means fans can look forward to a packed roster of favorites, each bringing their own storylines and complications to Genoa City’s ever-changing landscape.
For many, the upcoming wedding between Christine and Danny is the emotional centerpiece of the season. Their relationship, marked by both fairytale moments and devastating betrayals, has spanned decades and resonated deeply with viewers. The decision to let fans select Cricket’s wedding dress underscores just how much the show values its audience’s investment. “To have these kind of momentous celebrations there’s so many layers to it,” Bell reflected in her interview. “And now [we get] to really incorporate the fan love for the show and for them to feel like, if their dress won, that giddy thing of like, ‘I was a part of that. I picked that one.’”
The interactive poll will be accessible through The Young and the Restless’ official Instagram Stories, as well as Lauralee Bell’s own Instagram account. Fans can vote just once for their favorite gown, with the winning dress to be revealed during the November wedding episode. As Bell noted, the crew themselves have already started expressing opinions during fittings, but ultimately, the final decision rests with the viewers—a fitting tribute to the show’s enduring fan base.
As the week unfolds, all eyes will be on Genoa City—not just to see which dress is chosen, but to watch as returning characters, new storylines, and classic rivalries play out on screen. With no major departures announced, the stage is set for a season of surprises, nostalgia, and, above all, audience participation. For The Young and the Restless, it’s a reminder that even after more than 50 years on the air, there are still new ways to keep fans at the heart of the story.
With anticipation building and the countdown to the wedding underway, it’s clear that Genoa City’s next chapter will be one for the ages.
