Switching Channels

Terry Lester--one of daytime’s best-known and critically admired actors--is jumping shows.

Lester, who’s spent nine years playing the J. R. Ewing-ish cosmetics industry CEO Jack Abbott on CBS’ “Young and the Restless,” is headed for NBC’s “Santa Barbara,” where he’ll play attorney Mason Capwell--heir to the Capwell family fortune.

The role was formerly played by Lane Davies, who exited the series in July. (Because this was Davies’ third departure from the show, soap watchers assumed he’d eventually return. But surprise. . . .)

Lester begins his new job Sept. 12 and the shows start airing the week of Sept. 25.)

Heralding the coming of “one of the sexiest, most inventive actors in daytime,” “SB” executive producer Jill Farren Phelps gushed that Lester will give the series “an exciting new dimension.”