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Saturday, March 14, 2015

Y&R Report: (Saturday, March 14, 2015): The Latest on the Young and the Restless




Hey Y&R fans, every second Saturday TV Banter discusses the latest happenings and provides commentary on your favourite daytime drama. Note to U.S. readers - SPOILER ALERT: Here in Canada, I watch the show on Global TV which is one episode ahead of CBS.  I will inevitably refer to incidents you haven't seen yet. Read at your own risk.  If you are the curious type, though, you may prefer to discover some things in advance.


Is there a serial killer or a hit man on the loose in Genoa City?  It's certainly appears that way.  The culprit seems to be someone who hates both the Newman and Abbott families.  Could Ian Ward be behind the murder of Austin and the attack on Abby? Perhaps he has sent a hit man to do his dirty work. Somehow, though, I don't think that's the answer.  Although Ian despises the Abbotts and Newmans. I doubt he's the sole mastermind behind the current murder and mayhem.  There has to be more to it!  I have been racking my brain trying to come up with the answer.

I don't think it will be long, though, before Ian shows his face in Genoa City again.  That Snake in the Grass will be slithering into town soon.  Poor Nikki.  She's battling alcoholism.  She's facing a jail sentence and covering up for Neil after running down the Cricketmeister.  Now her greatest tormentor, the despicable Ian Ward, may soon be returning to add more misery to her life.

With the ineffectual Genoa City police force, led by Clueless Paul Williams himself, I'd be very afraid for my safety if I were a GC resident.  The dynamic duo of Clueless and Cricket, are anything but objective in their work.  They constantly allow their personal lives and their raw emotions to interfere with their jobs.  Paul is consumed by guilt and Christine is hungry for revenge against both Phyllis and Nikki. They can't see clearly because they are blinded by their feelings.

Nikki and Neil won't be able to cover up the truth much longer.  It's time for them both to take responsibility for their actions.  Nikki, at least, is trying to pick herself up but Neil is drowning in bitterness and self-pity.  Sure, he was dealt a devastating blow, but at least he has regained his sight.

There are many online rumours and much speculation about Austin Traver's true identity.  What is his connection to the reprehensible Ian Ward?  After all, Ward was the person behind Avery's cooking show and Travers was the video man for the show.  We know that Austin was grieving the murder of his mother, but who is his father?  Some fans believe that he is related to Joe Clark, Avery's ex-husband. They think that Joe is the brother of Matt Clark, a twisted rapist who appeared on the show in the 1990s. Could Austin be Matt's son and Joe's nephew?

Others theorize that Austin is the son of Ian Ward, the offspring of the devil himself, Remember, though, that Ian supposedly can't father a child.  That's why it was determined that he is not Dylan's daddy.  Nevertheless, the writers can find a way around that if they really want to.  That's usually no problem for a soap opera.

In recent episodes, Dr. Stitch has become involved in the mystery surrounding Austin's murder and the attack on Abby.  However, I don't think he is responsible for the crimes. It seems as if Stitch'em Up has been thrown into the storyline in order to add another suspect and to throw viewers off the trail of the real killer.  It's a red herring.

Who is Victor Newman conspiring with in the confessional box?  It's pretty obvious that he's got something on Jack Abbott and that he is confident he will bring his rival down. I've been trying to guess the identity if Victor's co-conspirator, but to no avail.  It can't be Ian Ward - right?  Victor loathes the cult leader.  What a slap in the face that would be to Nikki if her husband ever joined forces with that loathsome man.

Jack has been acting strangely, especially that strange, passionate encounter with Kelly. Maybe Kelly was wearing some of Ashley's love potion perfume.  Did Victor provide her with the perfume in order to keep Jack and Phyllis apart?  I certainly wouldn't put it past him to do something like that.

There have also been rumours that Jack has an evil twin.  Oh please, spare us!  Haven't we had enough identical twins or storylines about look-alikes!  We don't need another one!  We don't need a Jack Abbott doppelganger.

Chelsea could become an unwitting bigamist, if she actually marries Billy Boy Abbott.  I doubt the marriage will go through, though.  If it does take place, it will not be valid anyway because Adam is still alive and Chelsea is married to him.  I'm sure that Chelsea will find out the truth soon, probably from Adam himself.  It will be fascinating to see how she reacts.

Sharon has definitely set her sights on Dylan.  Will she be able to lure him away from wishy-washy Avery?  Yes, I think so, at least temporarily.  Nick will always be Number One with Sharon, but as the song goes, if Sharon can't be with the one she loves, she'll love the one she's with.  That's how she operates.

I doubt that Dylan and Avery will ever get to the altar.  I don't think Jack and Phyllis will get married either.  Both of those relationships are headed for the rocks.


SOAP NOTES

Ratings for Y&R were very strong during the February sweeps.  In the U.S., the show averaged 5.58 million viewers, up 7% from last year, and its largest audience since the week ending January 31, 2014.   It was up 5% in women 25-54 (2.2/12 from 2.1/12), up 15% in women 18-49 (1.5/09 from 1.3/09), and up 17% in women 18-34 (0.7/05 from 0.6/05), all the highest since the week ending January 31, 2014.

On Sunday, April 26, 2015, the 42nd Annual Daytime Emmys will be televised exclusively on the Pop Network, a U.S. basic cable and satellite TV network.  This is good news because last year the awards were only shown on the Internet. Unfortunately, however, it likely means that the awards won't be televised in Canada. That is a shame because there are legions of daytime fans up here in The Great White North.  What about us?

Kate Linder's (Esther Valentine) 3rd Annual Opportuniteas for Independence High Tea in Toronto, which I had the pleasure of attending, raised $75,000 for March of Dimes Canada.  Kate was joined by three other Y&R cast members: Sean Corrigan (Dr. Stitch), Bryton James (Devon Hamilton) and Mishael  Morgan (Hilary Curtis).


A reminder to fans in Calgary, Alberta: Kate Linder's 2nd Annual Calgary Tea is coming up in April.  


FAN FORUM

Carly from Barrhaven, Ontario dropped me a few lines about The Young and the Restless:

So Y&R disasters have been up close & dangerous..lol.  I don't know whether to say I am enjoying the show or not.  Some days I get very turned off.  The latest rumour that Austin is still alive & could be Ian Ward's son is ridiculous.  Abby having an affair with him was also a bit ridiculous.

It is possible that Austin could be faking his death.  Time will tell.  Yes, Carly, I've also heard and read the rumour that Austin is Ian Ward's son.  That would be far-fetched, but I wouldn't completely rule it out.  It is far-fetched because Ian was ruled out as Dylan's daddy when it was revealed that he couldn't father a child.  However, soaps have ways of getting around things like that.


CAST NEWS

If you are a fan of Hunter King (Summer Newman), then you will pleased to know that she will be appearing in her first feature film.  The film is titled A Girl Like Her and it's about bullying.  In the movie, King plays the bully.of a 16-year-old girl.

A Girl Like Her will be appearing in theatres later this month.


BEST LINES

Mariah can be very acerbic.  Her sarcasm is evident in the names she has for others, especially Summer, whom she refers to as "Snowflake."  Recently she referred to Abby "Adulterous Abby" and Courtney as "Detective Blondie."


Y&R REPORT READER'S POLL


Matthew Atkinson (Austin Travers)



Who is responsible for the death of Austin?

Victor Newman's hit man
Ian Ward's hit man
Kyle Abbott
Joe Clark
An unknown serial killer
Nobody. Austin is still alive.
Other
Don't know
Poll Maker


That's all for now.  The next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, March 28, 2015.


- Joanne



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