TV BANTER : October 2016

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Y&R Report (October 29, 2016): The Latest on The Young and The Restless

It's about time! Sharon's dirty little secret will finally be revealed on Tuesday, November 1 on CBS (Monday, October 31 on Global TV here in the True North. Sharon Case, who plays Sharon, made the following comment to TV Insider: "I guess a good soap secret is one that's kept for a long time. Half the people in Genoa City are involved in this and a lot of lives will be changed once the news breaks." The news will break on GC Buz and Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott), for one, will be livid. According Case, there will be some good scenes between her character and Nikki who already loathes Sharon. They'll have quite the confrontation.

I don't know if I completely agree with Sharon Case on her first point, that a good soap secret is kept for a long time. Yes, a soap secret definitely should remain hidden for a time, but there are limits. After a while, viewers tend to lose patience. They want the secret to come out. Otherwise, they lose interest and they don't really care when the truth comes to light. Sharon's baby secret regarding Sully has reached that point. It's a good thing her lies will soon be exposed. As for Case's second point, that Sharon's actions will affect the lives of many Genoa City residents, I couldn't agree more. Sharon is about to become one of the most unpopular persons in Genoa City, a pariah. So,who will lend her some support? The only one I can think of is Mariah.

There is, of course, another secret, that has nothing to do with Sharon. In fact Sharon doesn't even know about it. She isn't aware that Adam is Sully's biological father. So, only part of the story is soon to be revealed. For the foreseeable future, Nick will continue to believe he's Sully/Christian's father. Chelsea knows the truth, but she promised Sage that she would never tell Nick. Will Chelsea honour her pledge to Sage? That is hard to predict. However, someday the truth will be revealed, whether it comes from Chelsea or not.

Abby and Dr. Stitch 'em Up's marriage doesn't seem likely to survive. Neither does Princess Victoria's relationship with Travis. As I wrote in the last edition of Y&R Report, it is quite obvious that Victor's interference will come between them. Travis has already gotten on Daddy Victor's bad side by suspecting that someone in Newman's own family was leaking sensitive information to Jack Abbott. Then he had lunch with Abby to try determine whether she was the culprit. That didn't sit well with Dr. Stitch and it certainly didn't sit well with Victor. It won't be long before Victor will be referring to Travis as a "punk and a playboy."

A heartbroken Abby informed Dr. Stitch that she'll be filing for divorce. She made that decision after seeking advice from Daddy Victor who was been married and divorced so many times he's lost count. Actually, neither Abby nor Stitch have tried very hard to keep their marriage together. They appear to be throwing in the towel without putting up that much of a fight. They are unwilling or unable to deal with adversity. It also seems to me that Abby quite enjoyed the attention from Travis and her champagne lunch with him. I wouldn't be surprised if those two eventually hook up.

Computer nerd Natalie Soderberg is back in town and she has a new job. She's Victor Newman's executive assistant. I have to admit the character has grown on me a bit. I've been trying to figure out why Victor hired her. After all "The Moustache" doesn't do anything without a reason. Natalie says she has to work again because she squandered most of the money she made on the Pass Key deal. I wonder if she's telling the truth about that.

Dave, the silent security guard is a fun character. I get a kick out of watching him as he keeps an eye on Billy Boy Abbott. He provides some comic relief from all the tension between Jack, Billy, Phyllis and Ashley.

Y&R text messages are now being blown up on the screen for viewers. That's a good move. It was terribly difficult to read the text messages on the phone. They camera zoomed in on them so quickly and they were gone before you could finish reading them. You couldn't read them at all if you had poor vision.

There have been more outdoor scenes this past year on the show, especially in Chancellor Park. I enjoy those scenes. We've seen the stars of the show in their cool sunglasses.

It's good to see Esther back in the swing of things. However, I don't know why she chose to dress up in her French maid uniform for Halloween. She wore that silly outfit everyday for years when she worked for Katherine Chancellor. You'd think she'd be sick of it. You'd think she'd never want to wear it again. I'm surprised she didn't get rid of it.

It was interesting to hear Jack Abbott admit his doubts about his ability to bring Victor down. He complained to Phyllis that Victor always ends up on top and wondered why his latest scheme to dethrone his enemy would turn out any differently. Jack is like Wile E. Coyote in the Road Runner cartoons. He will never catch the Roadrunner, but he continues to chase him.

Hillary is really a piece of work and she really enjoys being a gossip queen. If it weren't for Devon reigning her in, she'd really get down and dirty.

Why doesn't Mariah show Kevin that there are other fish in the sea? She should find someone else instead of waiting around for him. Isn't she tired of playing second banana to Chloe and Natalie?

CAST NEWS

Abhi Sinha will play new character on Y&R

Indian-American actor Abhi Sinha has been cast to to play the role of Ravi Shapur on The Young and the Restless. According to Soap Opera Digest, he will be employed at one of Genoa City's most successful companies. Would that be Newman Enterpirises by any chance? Ravi has been described as an "attractive nerd." He sounds like a good match for Natalie, doesn't he? She works at Newman now too. Our little Snowflake, Summer, is another possibility for Ravi. He'll certainly run into her at Newman.

Sinha, 26, was born in Mumbai (Bombay), India and raised primarily in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He will be appearing on several episodes of Y&R beginning on Monday, December 12 (CBS), Friday, December 9 (Global-TV, Canada). His previous acting credits include The Social Network, The Conjuring II, NCIS and Freeform's Chasing Life.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Jack Abbott is leading the charge against Victor again

The feud between the Newman's and the Abbotts is heating up again with Jack plotting a new plan of revenge against Victor. We all expect Victor to win, as usual. Jack himself has acknowledged that Victor always comes out on top. So, fans, is the feud becoming tiresome or do you still enjoy it? Do you still watch even though you know the outcome? After all. people still watch Road Runner cartoons even though the coyote will never capture the Road Runner. The feud is the source of many secondary storylines too, even though it has been going on for years. What do you think, fans? Have you had enough of it?

Are you tired of the feud between the Newmans and the Abbotts?

That's all for now. Please remember that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, November 12, 2016. The November sweeps will be well underway by that time and there will be lots to discuss. Fans, don't forget that if you have any comments on Y&R or on anything I've written, I welcome your feedback and I will publish your comments.

My email address: jmadden16@yahoo.ca

- Joanne

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Justin Hartley: Star of This is Us

I'm blessed in that what I do for a living is actually something that I love and enjoy. It's a dream of mine. I really don't feel like I have a job. I'm just constantly at play.

- Justin Hartley
CW Start Now Interview Series: Behind the Scenes with Justin Hartley
October 31, 2012

Justin Hartley is one of the brightest stars on television right now. He's also on one of the hottest new shows - This is Us. This is Us premiered on NBC on September 20, 2016 and it follows characters in different locations who are connected by a shared birthday. The one-hour ensemble drama chronicles the lives of twins Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Kevin Pearson (Justin Hartley) and their adopted bother, Randall (Sterling K. Brown).

Kate and Kevin were initially part of a triplet pregnancy, but their brother was stillborn. Randall, who was born on the same day as the twins, was abandoned by his biological father and left at a firehouse, He was taken to the same Pittsburgh hospital where the Pearson babies were born and was adopted by their parents, Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore). Ventimiglia is known for his role as Peter Petrelli in the TV series Heroes and Moore for her role as Jamie Sullivan the 2002 film A Walk to Remember.

Jason Hartley's character, Kevin Pearson, was originally a Los Angeles actor. He becomes discontented with his career direction and his role as the lead actor in a television sitcom. After suffering an on-set breakdown, he moves to New York to pursue a career in the theatre.

Justin Scott Hartley was born in Knoxville, Illinois on January 29, 1977. He was raised in Orland Park, Illinois, along with his brother Nathan and his sisters, Megan and Gabriela. He graduated from Carl Sandburg High School and then majored in history and theatre at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

From 2002 until 2006, Justin played Fox Crane of the NBC soap opera Passions. Hartley then had a recurring role a billionaire named Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) on the CW series Smallville. In 2008, he joined the regular cast of Smallville. Smallville ended its run in 2011 and from 2012 to 2013, Justin played Will Collins on the short-lived medical drama/comedy Emily Owens MD.

Juatin as Green Area on Smallwille

From 2013 to 2014, Hartley played Patrick Osbourne on the mystery series Revenge. He also portrayed plastic surgeon Scott Thompson on the drama series Mistresses in 16 episodes from 2014 to 2016. Scott was a love interest for Josslyn Carver, Jes Maccallan's character.

Justin's breakout role was that of Adam Newman on the popular CBS daytime soap The Young and the Restless. Justin won the plumb role of Adam in 2014 and attracted a large fan following. The hard-working actor remained on Mistresses while starring on Y&R. “I did Mistresses on the weekend and Y&R that week,” he stated. “It’s unbelievable. Not even the same network, but they’re playing nice with each other. They’re very good to me here. It’s a good place to be - And I get to see my daughter everyday. I love it.”

After This is Us was picked up by NBC, Justin decided to leave The Young and The Restless, much to the chagrin of his legion of Y&R followers. Many of them tuned in to This is Us because they wanted to watch him.

On May 1, 2004, Justin Hartley married actress Lindsay Korman, his co-star on Passions. Their daughter, Isabella Justice, now 12 years old, was born on July 3, 2004, but the marriage did not last. On May 6, 2012, Lindsay filed for divorce in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, citing "irreconcilable differences." She requested joint legal and physical custody of Isabella.

Justin with daughter Isabella Hartley

In 2014, Justin began dating actress Chrishell Stause (born July 21, 1981 in
Draffenville, Kentucky), who is best known for for her portrayal of Amanda Dillon on the ABC daytime drama All My Children from 2005 to 2011. After All My Children went off the air, Chrishell played Jordan Ridgeway on Days of Our Lives from 2013 to 2015. Beginning in May of 2016 , she made some appearances on The Young and the Restless as troublemaking barmaid Brittany Bryant. In July of 2016, Justin and Chrishell announced their engagement. At the Television Critics Associatin summer press tour, he said that he and his fiancee had yet to set a wedding date. "It just happened. I proposed on one knee like you’re supposed to. It was my right knee, and I was lucky enough to have her say, ‘yes'. It was perfect," he added.

Justin is an avid baseball fan. His favourite teams are the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs. His feeling were probably torn when the Dodgers played the Cubs for the National League championship. However, he certainly must be supporting the Cubbies wholeheartedly, now that they are playing in their first World Series since 1945.

END NOTES

* On September 27, 2016, NBC picked This is Us for 18 episodes - a full season.

* This is Us was created by Dan Fogelman. Fogelman is an American television producer and screenwriter whose screenplays include Crazy, Stupid, Love and Cars. He also created the 2015 musical comedy series Galavant and the 2016 baseball drama series Pitch.

- Joanne

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Y&R Report (October 15, 2016): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

The autumn leaves are falling in Genoa City and Sharon is in crisis, as usual. Patty Williams is spooking her and she is living in fear that her big secret about Sully will be revealed to Dylan and Nick. I'm glad that Patty is back and I enjoyed the scene between Pattycake and her brother, Paulie. Sharon's secret will probably be revealed in time for the November sweeps. That means that Sharon and Dylan will not be together much longer.

As for Nick, I wish the writers hadn't started pairing him with Chelsea so soon. It seems so contrived. Their scenes in the park with Connor appear awkward. I haven't been able to detect much chemistry between Nick and Chelsea either. They are obviously being brought together for storyline purposes. It could be because Adam is still alive somewhere out there. It could also add to the problems when Sharon's secret is revealed. Don't forget that Chelsea and Victor are the only ones who know that Adam is/was Christian/Sully's biological father. Will Chelsea tell Nick he is isn't Sully/Christian's father?

Travis Crawford made a huge mistake when he agreed to work for Victor Newman. He will come to regret that decision and it will eventually cost him his relationship with Princess Victoria. I don't think Travis is aware of how controlling "The Moustache" can be, especially with the men in Victoria's life. If he had any idea, I doubt he would have agreed to work for Newman Enterprises. It won't be long, however, before he finds out. It won't be a pleasant experience.

It turns out that Travis isn't so squeaky clean either. He has a skeleton in his past. It seems he was involved with a woman named Michelle, who just happened to be his boss's wife/ When his boss caught wind of the affair, Travis was fired and blacklisted on Wall Street. Nobody's perfect, of course, and Travis did come clean to Victoria. However, he did so after being cornered by Ashley Abbott. Ashley was acquainted with Travis in New York and she knew about his past.

Is Travis just a gigolo? Did he use Michelle and Victoria to advance in the business world? Not surprisingly, Victoria was initially upset and suspicious when Travis revealed the truth to her. He quickly defended himself by claiming that he really did love Michelle He also pointed out that Victoria came into his bar and that he did not seek her out. She has forgiven him, but who can blame her for having trust issues after Billy's shenanigans? Travis isn't out of the woods yet, though. Don't be surprised if Michelle eventually turns up in Genoa City to cause trouble.

It's obvious that Billy Boy Abbott and Travis are competing for the affections of the fair Victoria. I enjoyed the scene where they were both thrown in jail. It provided dome comic relief. Although Victoria pretended that she was disinterested in their childish antics, I think the opposite is true. I think she's flattered by the attention she is receiving from the two men. She'd never admit it, but I think she's enjoying the competition.

On the anniversary of Delia's death, Chloe introduced Billy Boy to Bella, who is presumably his daughter - although he doesn't know it yet. When Billy finds out, he will have to deal with a lot of complications (as if Billy needs any more complications in his mixed up life!). For example, will he seek custody of Bella if Chloe is returned to the psychiatric hospital? Billy won't be the only one affected when the truth about Bella's paternity is revealed . What if Kevin Fisher marries Chloe again? Kevin has grown quite attached to Bella and he really wants to be a father to her. Will he someday fight Billy for custody of Bella?

Surprise! Surprise! Hilary's good behaviour won't last much longer. She'll veer off the high road and drive right into the gutter. According to an Internet spoiler, she'll go too far while chasing a hot scoop.

Phyllis want to help Jack in his quest to bring Victor down. What a waste of time! When will they ever learn? The writers have made Victor invincible. He may spend time in prison. He may be reprimanded by his family and by his friends and foes. Yet he always rises up like a phoenix. He always returns to his office and his desk. As for that infernal portrait of him, it will always hang on that wall. It may be taken down sometimes, but it will always be returned. So, good luck, Jack and Phyllis. You'll need it because you're embarking on a voyage of futility. It may be of benefit to Phyllis, though. It may bring her closer to Jack. The redhead is very attracted to men who are out for revenge.

CAST NEWS

Steve Burton (Dylan McAvoy) to leave Y&R

There is some sad news for fans of Steve Burton. The actor has announced that he will be leaving his role as Dylan McAvoy on Y&R. After three years of playing Dylan, Burton has decided to exit the show when his contract ends in December. He feels it's time for new pursuits. Here's what he wrote on Twitter: "I've had an amazing time, but it feels right to move on to new adventures in my life. I can't say enough about the AWESOME cast and crew. Much respect!"

The announcement comes as a surprise to disappointed fans of Steve Burton. Remember, though, that his wife Sheree and their three children live in Nashville, Tennessee. That's a lot of commuting from Los Angeles and I'm sure it's difficult for Steve and his family.

As of this writing, it's unclear if a new actor will play the part or whether the character will be written off. Dylan may leave town when he discovers Sharon's secrets and lies. He may also be killed off. In fact, he may dihie heroically saving someone's life. Another option would be to have him leave Genoa City for a while and then return with another actor playing the role.

Mara McCaffray to return as Natalie for a brief stint

Mara McCaffray will be back in her role as super computer hacker Natalie Soderberg during the week of October 17th. I am not a big fan of the Natalie character, but she's obviously returning for storyline purposes. McCaffray last appeared on Y&R in early August, 2016.

BEST LINE

I enjoyed Billy's reaction when Victoria informed him that it was Travis' first day on the job at Newman Enterprises. Billy said it was Travis' first day as an MIT - Moustache-In-Training.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Would you like to see a new Dylan after Steve Burton leaves

That's all for now. Don't forget that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, October 29, 2016.

- Joanne

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Y&R Report (October 1, 2016): 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.

Well fans, Jack Abbott has declared that the old Jack is back! He's bitter and cynical and very unhappy. I don't mind if he stays that way for a while, but I hope it doesn't last too long. It can get tiresome. Eventually, "Smiling Jack" should return. I don't have much sympathy for Phyllis, though. She is the author of her own misfortune. Jack may take her back someday, but I can't see it happening anytime soon.

Even though Justin Hartley has left Y&R and Adam Newman is presumed dead, that doesn't mean we've seen the last of the Adam character. He could easily turn up alive (this is a soap after all). That's why rumours abound online that Michael Muhney will eventually return to the show as Adam. As of this writing, the rumours have not been confirmed or denied by Muhney or anyone at Y&R. If Adam does turn up alive, it may not be for a while. I really don't want a new actor playing the role. It would only work for me if Michael Muhney came back or Justin Harltley returned.

Muhney recently underwent a skin biopsy. Fortunately, he does not have skin caner. However, after the surgery, he was left with 10 stitches and a bandage on his head. He tweeted the following: “Wear your sunscreen kids. #noskincancer Had surgery today. Ten stitches. Yikes.”

We all know that soaps distort time and that some characters age quickly. However, Chelsea has just lost Adam, the love of her life. It's too soon to be matching her up with Nick or anyone else. I don't even think she and Nick have much chemistry. It seems so contrived, as if they had to match Chelsea up with Adam's brother to cause future conflict. Sharon and Dylan will break up when Dylan finds out about Sharon's secrets and lies. The needy Sharon will seek a male shoulder to cry on. She will turn to Nick in her moment of despair. That means that Sharon will do everything in her power to come between her ex and Chelsea.

I really enjoyed Faith's birthday scenes. I particularly enjoyed Victor Newman's rendition of "Happy Birthday." I think that's the first I've heard him sing. Of course, he also gifted his granddaughter. with a stock certificate and her own pony. She's not very spoiled, is she? Her dress was even a Chelsea.2 original. Wow! Actually, Faith is a sweet and intelligent little girl. Unfortunately, with Victor Newman for a grandfather and her mixed-up family life, I predict that she will be a very troubled teen.

Now that Sally Sussman is back as head writer, here's further evidence that The Young and the Restless is trying to return to its erstwhile glory. The CBS daytime drama has rehired former top scribe Kay Alden as well. Alden began as a script writer back in 1973 and she became head writer in 1998 when co-creator Bill Bell retired. Alden last wrote for Y&R in 2006. This time she is returning as a story consultant.

Sussman is trying to focus on Y&R's core characters and core storylines and her return couldn't come at a more opportune time. The show really needs a shake-up. The departure of the popular Justin Hartley has hurt the show immensely and the show had dismal ratings for the week of September 5 through September 9 with a loss of 136,000 viewers. It also tied its all-time low with younger viewers in the 18-49 age range.

VIEWER FORUM

If you have any comments on Y&R, please email them to me with "Viewer Forum in the subject line. I will be happy to publish your comments and reply to them You do not have to use your real name.

My email address: jmadden16@yahoo.ca

Fifi from Collingwood, Ontario writes:

Are the writers of Y&R toying with the idea that it's better to tear Billy away from Phyllis to cause trouble between Victoria and Travis. It would also enrage his ex father-in-law Victor Newman. Although Victor is being cordial with Travis, he really believes no one is "good enough" for his princess daughter Victoria.

On another note, my friends and I are really enjoying watching Justin Hartley on the new drama This Is Us. His departure was a huge loss to Y&R. It appears that things will develop between Chelsea and Nick and then Sully's true paternity will be revealed sending Dylan, Sharon, Chelsea and Nick into a tailspin.

Yes, Fifi, I also think Victor Newman is going to come between Victoria and Travis. He has already offered Travis a job at Newman Enterprises, Although, Travis initially turned down Victor's offer, the Black Knight, as usual, couldn't let the matter rest. He is relentless when it comes to getting what he wants. He eventually persuaded Travis to take a position at Newman and you can be sure that he will continue to interfere in Travis' relationship with Victoria. "The Moustache" has meddled in every relationship that Victoria has ever had. He has also caused every breakup she has ever had. He may not want Victoria with that "useless Billy Boy Abbott," but he doesn't really want her with Travis either. The day will come when he will call Travis a "punk" too. Oh yes, Victor has already established the pattern with his granddaughter Summer, his junior princess. He made sure that "The Snowflake" broke up with Luca Santori.

It is evident that Billy is becoming more and more jealous of Travis. It also seems that Travis is not as perfect as he appears. Billy Boy may be right. "The Blond One" may have a skeleton or two in his closet. After all, he didn't have enough will power to resist Victor's job offer. There is a lot we still don't know about his past. It will all be revealed in due time. For example, Travis told Victoria that he had been in love once before. Will more come of that? Will the woman from Travis' past make an appearance in Genoa City? I also wonder if there is more to the story of why he suddenly decided to leave his position as a hotshot Wall Street mogul in New York. He claims he wanted to try something new and that he was tired of that rat race. So, he moved to Genoa City and bought a bar. I wonder if that's all there is to it.

When Sully's true paternity is revealed, Dylan, Sharon, Nick and Chelsea will definitely go into a tailspin. Don't forget Faith, too. She'll freak out when the truth comes out. I think that Dylan will be the most upset. Of course, Nick will be upset too. He'll also be pleased that Sully is still alive. He won't be too happy to find out that Adam is Sully's father, though. However, I don't think he'll discover that secret until later, possibly much later.

Here are some comments from CC in Etobicoke:

After watching a couple of episodes of This Is Us, Justin Hartley's new prime time show, I am hoping to see the return of Adam on Y&R. I don't think the show is the vehicle to success as predicted.

Maybe Adam's return will happen in time for the November sweeps. Before that can happen it looks like the writers will have to get us through the sparks between Nick and Chelsea to set up a rivalry between brothers Adam and Nick for Chelsea's affections.

It's time to out Sharon about Sully, and Chloe about her role of revenge on Adam.

I have to admit, CC, that I have not watched an episode of This Is Us yet. I've been busy and just haven't gotten around to it. However, I do intend to catch up with it as soon as possible. All I can say is that as long as the ratings for This Is Us remain high, Justin Hartley will not be returning to Y&R. So far, the show is doing well. In fact, it has been given a full 18-episode order. I doubt he'll be returning to daytime even if the show is not the success it's expected to be. Hartley's a good actor an he's in high demand. He would have no trouble finding other prime time roles. He may even try to launch a film career.

I think that the Adam character may return at some point, most likely with another actor replacing Justin Hartley . It may happen, as you suggest, in time for the November sweeps. The reason I think Adam may come back is that a relationship between Nick and Chelsea appears to be brewing. As you point out, this sets up a rivalry between Adam and Nick over Chelsea. On the other hand, that seems like such an obvious plotline. A rivalry between two brothers is a very common storyline on soaps. I hope they come up with something more original than that, or at least put a different twist on it.

By the way, Melissa Claire Egan, who portrays Chelsea, has weighed in with her opinion. She doubts the role of Adam will be recast. "I really don't think they'll [do another story in which Adam returns with a new face] and I'm not just saying that. I truly don't think there's going to be another Adam... but who knows? As of now, I don't think there is a plan to [recast him]." Hmmm.

I completely agree with you that Sharon's secret about Sully should be exposed soon. It's dragged on too long. Fortunately, you can expect the truth to come out really soon. All the previews and Internet spoilers point in that direction. As for Chloe, I think it's going to take longer for her actions to be revealed. I'm amazed how she's been able to take on Victor for so long.

CAST NEWS

Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) is back

Stacy Haiduk is back for another stint as Patty Williams. That means big trouble for Sharon. Patty Cakes knows Sharon's dirty little secret. You can be sure that the cat is finally going to be out of the bag soon. You can also be sure that it will mean the end for Dylan and Sharon.

Casting call for a new female character

According to Soap Central, Y&R has put out a casting call for a new character named "Marnie." "Marnie" will be a recurring characcter. She is described as "a beautiful, lively, easy-going woman in her later 20s /early 30s." I wonder if she could be the woman from Travis' past.