Christian J. LeBlanc (Mihael) isn't leaving THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS' Genoa City, but his eight-year hiatus from the audition hustle is officially over.

"I'd like to work on other things while I'm working on the show, because that's how you get better," LeBlanc explains. "The only thing you have control of as an actor is your own skills. That's your ace in the hole. You have to be so talented that they have to hire you — or keep you! You have to make yourself invaluable."

Needles to say, the grueling audition circuit is not all fun and games. In fact, "It's all trauma," LeBlanc sighs. "I suck! There's nothing worse than auditioning for a bad sitcom. It's like, 'Why aren't you making this funny?' Uh, well.... Actually, the auditions are going well, but I can do so much better. It's just about getting those gears going."

It's also about rolling with the punches, even the hard ones. "They did everything to me," he moans about his most harrowing audition yet. "They gave me the wrong address, and then the audition room had a glass wall, so everyone could see you. As the person was standing with his back to you auditioning, you could see the reaction he was getting. No way! It's like watching a naked lady through the glass. People were trying to avoid looking. We were all huddled outside, because we were so embarrassed. Then you walk in and it's a car scene, but they say, 'Can you do it standing?' Didn't plan that, but okay.... This would probably all be normal, but I'm so new again."

For all his moaning, LeBlanc is not even close to throwing in the towel. "I love it," he raves. "It's very exciting. But, boy, the energy it takes!"