TV BANTER : April 2017

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Y&R Report (April 29. 2017): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

Peter Barton as Scott Grainger, Sr.

Wasn't it was creepy to see Lauren encourage a love match between her son and her best fiend, Phyllis? Lauren later back tracked and told Scott she was just encouraging a friendship between the two.. Sorry, Lauren, but I don't buy that for a minute. Neither did Scott. He and Phyllis agreed not to pursue a relationship anyway. Scott is now interested in Sharon and Phyllis has reunited with Billy Boy Abbott.

Fans of Billy and Phyllis are naturally quite pleased about the couple's reunion. However, some viewers would prefer to see Billy Boy with Princess Victoria Newman. Those fans, of course, are not so happy about the recent turn of events. This time around, however, the circumstances are different. Billy and Phyllis are both legally single, although they have been meeting secretly. The two have not gone public yet and they are still hiding their relationship from Jack and Victoria. They can't bring themselves to reveal the truth to their former spouses. It leads one to believe that they actually enjoy sneaking around. They find it exciting, especially Phyllis. Will her ardour cool once everything is out in the open?

A feud between Candy Cane and Billy is escalating. The Australian has the goods on Billy. He knows about his clandestine reunion with Phyllis. Will he use the information against his rival or will he take Lily's advice and mind his own business? Given Cane's lack of judgment, I suspect he will divulge the secret. That would be a bad move on Cane's part since he is concealing a secret of his own. His drunken escapade in Tokyo with Juliet will soon be exposed. Hasn't he heard the old proverb about those who live in glass houses?

The "Who's the Daddy?" suspense is over where Bella is concerned. Kevin is the father. It's going to be interesting to see Kevin adjust to his new role as a single dad. Gloria also has a new grandchild, as does Esther. Imagine that! Gloria and Esther have something in common. As for Bella, she will be surrounded by quite an unusual family.

Young Reed Hellstrom.is caught in a triangle with Betty and Veronica (Oooops, I mean Zoey and Kendall). One is blonde, the other brunette. Kendall, the brunette, is quite the manipulator, isn't she? She tricked Reid into going to a movie with her. They viewed the classic 1953 film From Here to Eternity with its famous beach scenes and ended up kissing. (Just wondering . . . do today's teens watch 1950s moves at theatres? Do they read Archie comics?)

Reed wasn't allowed to keep the car he received from Grandpa Victor for his birthday, but I didn't feel too sorry for him. After all, he was also gifted with a cool new guitar. When the car was taken away from him, the spoiled rich kid complained about having to walk or take a bus. Ah, poor boy! Life is tough. My heart goes out to him.

So, Abby has made a secret deal with her Uncle Jack. Jack will buy a warehouse where Abby will secretly launch a pilot project for new tech companies. The deal was made behind daddy Victor's back while he was out of town. Victor designated Abby interim CEO of Newman Enterprises during his absence. She is really trying hard to impress her father in the hopes of becoming the future head of the company. She is insecure and fears that the position will be given to her sister, Victoria. Abby has been working hard. She's young and ambitious, but she lacks Victoria's business experience. She's still rough around the edges. The fact that she made a deal with Jack proves that she is not polished enough to take over the reins of Newman Enterprises. She isn't ready for prime time yet.

I don't think Victor has any intention of retiring yet anyway. He's got something up his sleeve. He always does. However, if did choose to retire soon, I doubt he'll choose Abby as his successor. Abby has one black mark against her in Victor's eyes. Her mother, Ashley, is an Abbott, so Victor regards her as somewhat tainted. When he discovers that she has made a deal with his arch-enemy, Jack, he'll never trust Abby again. He'll regard her as a disloyal, half-Abbott daughter.

It's obvious that Devon still has feelings for Hilary. He always looks jealous when he sees her with Jordan.and Hilary is not pleased that he is dating Mariah. She made a snarky comment about it being a "rebound" relationship. It was a catty remark, but so true.

Phyllis loves fashion and she bought Ravi a new wardrobe. So, why does she overdress for the office? Instead of wearing office attire, she wears dresses that are appropriate for a fancy cocktail party. Victoria sometimes does the same thing. Speaking of the head of Brass & Sassy, she was in a generous mood and decided to treat her staff to dinner at the Top of the Tower. The dinner was filled with intrigue because Genoa City is so full of jealousies and secrets and lies. Almost everyone is trying to cover up something. Victoria's latest deception was to inform Billy that her mother's MS had flared up again. Nikki gave her the idea, but the Princess didn't have to follow through.

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

Here are some comments from regular contributor CC in Etobicoke, Ontario

Not liking the whole Victor thing. The writers will have to be very creative to work this one out. They may even have to resurrect Adam.

I am finding the storylines very ho-hum. Ashley and Ravi are ridiculous! Scott the womanizer. . . . Yuck! Billy is screwing up again! Does Nikki really think she and Victor can live one kind of life for the public and another behind closed doors! Too much water under that bridge.

Well CC, I think the writers will work out the Victor storyline.. I also think it's unlikely that Adam will be resurrected for the second time. That doesn't mean I'm ruling out the possibility. We're talking about a soap after all. Still, I doubt it will happen.

I don't find the storylines ho-hum at all. The show has improved since Sally Sussman took over as head writer. No more look-alikes and explosions. The focus is on relationships and families. The history of the show isn't being forgotten.

Actually, I've been enjoying the Ashley and Ravi storyline. The recent New York episodes were fun. By the way, Ravi's hair annoys me. He often has this one long strand that's always falling over his eye. I'd like to get a pair of scissors and cut it.

I agree with you that Nikki is being unrealistic. She and Victor are never going to be able to live that kind of a double life. As "The Moustache" would say, "It ain't gonna happen." Nick and Victoria will eventually regret going along with their mother's plan.

Regular Y&R viewer, Fifi from Collingwood is pleased that Kevin turned out to be Bella's biological father. She points out that Kevin really wants Bella in his life. For Billy, on the other hand, Bella would be a complication and an obligation. He would certainly do right by her, but his heart would not be completely in it.

I received an email from Elba, a long-time Y&R viewer. Elba has a much different point of view on Kevin's fatherhood.than Fifi. Here are her comments

Kevin is Bella's real biological father! How this ex-rapist and doofy "Chipmunk" will raise a child is another story indeed! Tessa, the guitar teacher/babysitter is up to no good, it seems. Is she planning to kidnap little Christian right under Nikki's nose? Gosh, not another baby-snatching which takes one or two years to unfold! Just saying . . .

You don't like Kevin Fisher very much, do you? Yes, he has an unsavoury, criminal past. I am not excusing his previous actions, Elba, but he was locked in a closet by his father, the despicable Terrible.Tom. That really messed him up. Soap writers sometimes transform a bad guy into a good guy for plotline purposes. Kevin's brother, Michael, is a perfect example of that. Many years ago, he tormented Christine (Cricket) and tried to rape her. He spent some time in prison. Now he's one of the most upstanding citizens in Genoa City. It seems that the writers are trying to reform Kevin, the way they reformed his brother. He is behaving in a much more mature manner and he even risked his own life to save Scott. Kevin sincerely loves Bella and wants to be a father to her. He will get plenty of assistance from Grandma Esther and Michael and Lauren. They will all help to raise Bella.

I don't understand why Nikki trusts Tessa so much, especially since she is so desperate for money. I agree with you, Elba, that she seems to be up to no good. I also hope that viewers don't have to endure another baby kidnapping episode. I'd like to think head writer Sally Sussman will avoid that kind of a storyline.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Gina Tognoni (Phyllis)

Billy (Jason Thompson) and Phyllis (Gina Tognoni) are back together - for now. After all, few relationships survive on a soap. We'll see what happens this time. Of course, we know there will be complications. Victoria will fight her rival tooth and nail and she has history on her side. The Newman family members tend to break up, make up and remarry the same person over and over. Witness Victor and Nikki, Nick and Sharon and Victoria and Billy. The pairing of Phyllis and Billy, however, is quite popular among some fans. Respond to the poll below and let me know what you think.

Are you pleased that Phyllis and Billy have been reunited?

That's all for now. The next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, May 13, 2017. Don't miss it and don't forget that the 44th Daytime Emmy Awards will be held tomorrow. Sunday, April 30th. The show will be streamed online, but I wish it could be shown on traditional television too. The merry month of May should be a lot of fun on Y&R. I'm looking forward to how the Abbott children will be affected by the return of their long-lost mother, Dina. This will coincide with the May sweeps too.

- Joanne

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Internet TV Digest #3

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This is the third of an occasional feature on TV Banter called Internet TV Digest. Internet TV Digest contains recent news, information and discussion about online television.

INTERNET TV DIGEST

Good news and bad news for Netflix

Netflix released its first-quarter earnings yesterday (April 17, 2017) and there was both good news and bad news for the giant Internet streaming company First, the good news. First quarter earnings surpassed expectations and revenue was in line with the estimates of analysts. Indeed, the company's first quarter profits were $178 million. Now, the bad news. The company added fewer subscribers than had been forecast. The total number of subscribers was 98.75 million, which fell short of the expected number of 98.93 million. According to Bloomberg, analysts expected Netflix to pull in 5.49 million new users. However, the actual number was 4.95 million. That's hardly a disaster, but as Rhett Jones points out in his April 17th article on gizmodo.com ("The Competition May Be Catching Up With Netflix'), "missing the projections means a lot when you're a publicly traded company." In other words, perception is an important factor.

Netflix attributed the disappointing subscription numbers to the absence of blockbuster series such as House of Cards. However, there are likely other considerations to explain the lacklustre growth of Nexflix subscriptions. Rhett Jones thinks it means that Netflix is facing stiffer competition. He says that "Netflix is probably waking up to the crowded streaming landscape." Netflix was founded in 1997. Is it really surprising that things have changed in 20 years? Hulu is no longer its only real competition. Other companies are catching up and new streaming services are sprouting up everywhere.

According to Reed Hastings, Netflix's CEO, the company's biggest competition is sleep. In an interview with analysts after the Internet TV provider released its first quarter report. Hastings stated, "When viewers get addicted to a Netflix show, Hastings "you stay up late at night," "We are really competing with sleep on the margin," he added.

Amazon's streaming service is riding high with success of Manchester by the Sea and new NFL deal

Amazon's studio earned three Academy Awards for its much-acclaimed film Manchester By The Sea, which will be shown on the service beginning May 5th. Furthermore, this season, Amazon. rather than Twiitter, will stream Thursday Night Football to sports fans. The company has completed a deal with the NFL to stream 10 Thursday night football games during the 2017-2018 football season. According to Jacob Klein in an article on the extremist.com website, the value of the deal is estimated to be $50 million.

Here's the rub, though. Klein says that Amazon will be "paywalling these games behind an Amazon Prime subscription." This mean that users will be required to pay the $99 a year fee in order to get access to these games. Twitter and Yahoo! had offered streams of games for free, so viewers who are less interested in a subscription will not be so pleased.

Netflix replaces five-star rating system in favour of thumbs up, thumbs down

Netflix has replaced it's five-star rating system with a "thumps up" system. The company has chosen to go with binary digits instead of stars. The writing was on the wall, according to Tom Vanderbilt in his March 31st opinion piece in The New York Times. Vanderbilt says that in 2012, Netflix's vice president of production innovation, Todd Yellin, told him that the firm was "de-emphasizing" ratings in its algorithms. Netflix, writes Yellin, is no longer as reliant on viewers expressing their opinions by rating shows. It can discern their preferences by analyzing what they have actually watched.

Guide to watching live television online

Are you searching for a guide to watching live television online? An article titled "How to Watch Live TV online should be helpful. It appears on a tech website called Tom's Guide. Check http://www.tomsguide.com/us/watch-live-tv-online,news-17512.html for the April 4, 2017 article by science/games/tech journalist Marxhall Honorof.

Guide to watching free internet TV for Canadians

More than six years ago, Stephen Weyman published Free Internet TV: A Complete Guide for Canadians. Weyman describes Internet TV in Canada back then as a "primitive beast." He says there are now more than 30 Canadian networks streaming complete episodes of their shows online "using top quality media players " Here is the link to a website where you can download the PDF version of Weyman's step-by-step guide:

http://www.howtosavemoney.ca/free-internet-tv

Quitting cable for online streaming video?

Are you considering quitting cable for online streaming video? If so, you will find some tips in an March 29, 2017 article by Ryan Waniata that appears on the website Digital Trends. Waniata's article is titled "Cord Cutting 101: How To Quit Cable For Online Streaming Video. Here is the link:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/how-to-quit-cable-for-online-streaming-video/

Ryan Waniata @ryanwaniata

is the Associate Editor of Digital Trends. His biography describes him as an" audio engineer, musician, composer, and lover of all things tech, audio and cinema".

- Joanne

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Y&R Report (April 15, 2017): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

Move over Julia Roberts. Make room for Chloe Mitchell, the new "Runaway Bride." Chloe left poor Kevin at the altar and is now a fugitive. Aided and abetted by Victor Newman, she was able to evade justice. Victor, not realizing that she had confessed to the murder of Adam, helped her escape on a plane to some mysterious unknown destination. Canadian viewers were amused to learn that she had landed in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Prior to the wedding that didn't happen, Chloe finally confessed to the dirty deed. After being cornered by Chelsea, she admitted that she was responsible for the cabin explosion that killed Adam Newman. , When Chelsea found Adam's wedding ring in Chloe's room, she realized what her "best friend" had done. She did some quick thinking and substituted Adam's ring for Kevin's ring. When the ring appeared during the ceremony, a freaked-out Chloe ran upstairs. Confronted by an angry and disillusioned Chelsea, Chloe promptly knocked her former friend out cold and took off. She did leave a note for her abandoned groom, the unfortunate Kevin. How thoughtful of her! Actually, in her own twisted way, she does love Kevin.

I've never found Chloe to be a likeable character, so I won't miss her very much, although she was needed for storyline purposes. She's obviously very mentally disturbed. She needs help. However, I have never been able to warm up to her personality. She is nosy and obnoxious.

Kevin was devastated when he learned the truth about Chloe. However, he is dealing with his disappointment in a very mature manner. He's really come a long way from the disturbed person he used to be. Chloe's mother, Esther, was also dumbfounded and brokenhearted. She was comforted by Father Todd Williams who prayed with her.

While Michael and Lauren were out of town, Scott and Phyllis got cozy. After drinking too much, they were all over each other - until Kevin walked in and interrupted them. However, I don't think Phyllis is the one who will win his heart. I think he'll eventually end up with Abby. It will be a while before he settles on one woman, though It seems to me that he wants to play the field right now. According to an online spoiler, Scott is going to get chummy with Sharon this week and ask her out on a date.

Well, well, well! Look who's in the dog house. It's the Big Man himself - The Great Victor Newman. Nikki is taking a really hard line with him. However, I think she's being quite unrealistic. She can't prevent him from attending every Newman event without arousing suspicion. How does she expect to keep him away from all his grandchildren indefinitely? Faith is crazy about him.

Nikki should have taken a stand a long time ago. It's far to late now and her plan will obviously not work. It is simply not feasible for the Newmans to present a united and happy front in public while isolating Victor in private. As for Nick and Victoria, they were foolish to go along with her plan. Victoria is keeping the secret from Billy, but it won't be long before he discovers the truth.

Nikki stated that if Victor goes down, all of the Newmans will go down with him. It is true that some of the Newmans, especially Nikki herself and Victoria, have a lot to lose if Victor is implicated in his own son's death. They are desperately trying to save their own skin by preserving the Newman brand name. Victoria, of course, is trying to protect Brass & Sassy. As usual, though, Daddy Dearest is ruining her life. Because of Victor, she's jeopardizing her chances of a reconciling with Billy. He's losing patience with her because she refuses to open up to him about her family crisis Due to Victor, Princess Victoria is also alienating her son at a time when they were getting along much better. She is not allowing Reed to keep the car that his grandfather gave him as a birthday gift.

As for Nick, he is acting like a jerk. What purpose did it serve for him to punch out Victor? He also upset his daughter, Faith, who is too young to understand what's going on. As I've said before in this space, Nicholas Newman is in dire need of anger management. He's also quite the hypocrite too. When did he become such a staunch defender of Adam? When Adam was alive, the two were at odds most of the time.

There is zero chance that Nikki's solution will work. Scott is certain to uncover Victor's secret role in bringing Chloe back to Genoa City. He's an investigative journalist and he's writing Victor's biography. So Nikki will be left in a difficult position. Note: The cover of the most recent edition of CBS Soaps has the following headline: "Victor Leaves Nikki: And She May Not Want Him Back."

I loved the scenes of Ashley and Ravi in New York. We also learned that Ravi has a life outside Jabot. He called some friends in the Big Apple.

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

Filomena in Woodbridge, Ontario is pleased that the writers have shown a more human side of Gloria, Gloria comforted Kevin when he was grieving over the loss of Chloe. She demonstrated that, despite her many shortcomings, she really does love her sons. She is not just a one-dimensional character. She is not all bad. The woman may be selfish and scheming, but she is not a monster.

Fifi in Collingwood, Ontario thinks that there is going to be a three-way fight for Scott between Phyllis, Sharon and Abby. Yes, Fifi, I think that could very well happen, although Sharon will probably end up back with Nick. I also think there could be a possible fourth entry in the Scott - sweepstakes - Summer Newman. Right now, Snowflake is doing some travelling. That is because Hunter King, the actress who portrays Summer, has a regular role as Clementine in the CBS prime time comedy series Life in Pieces. King is no longer on contract at Y&R, but will show up on a recurring basis. Her future on the show, and that of her character, Summer, is up in the air. I wouldn't count Mariah out of the mix either, especially if things don't work out between her and Devon. That brings the count to five. Scott could have a lot of women chasing after him.

CAST NEWS

Cane and Lily's twins to become teens

A younger Noah Alexander Gerry

We all know how quickly children age on the soaps. Y&R's Reed Hellstrom became a teenager in no time. He'll be joined soon by the latest kids on the show to grow up fast. According to CBS Soaps, Lily and Cane's twins, Mattie and Charlie, have been recast and are set to become teenagers too. Since he twins were born in 2010, they would actually be about seven years. Poof! Abracadra! Welcome to the magical world of soaps!

Lexie Stevenson will take over the role of Mattie Ashby and Charlie will be portrayed by Noah Alexander Gerry. Gerry has appeared on a Disney Channel series called A.N.T. FARM. The newcomers will make their Y&R debut on Wednesday, May 24th on CBS and Tuesday May 23rd on Global TV in Canada. So, Victoria will not be the only who has to deal with teenage angst.

UPDATE ON THE 2017 DAYTIME EMMYS

The 44th Annual Daytime Emmys will take place on Sunday, April 30, 2017. Soap star Susan Lucci is scheduled to take part in a tribute to Agnes Nixon, creator of All My Children and One Life to Live. Nixon passed away on September 28, 2016.

The show will be streamed live, so you can watch it online via Facebook: Emmy Awards and Twitter: Emmy Awards. As of this writing, there is still no word that the show will be televised on cable or network television, I really hope to see the event on television.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Tristan Lake Leabu

Reed Hellstrom (Tristan Lake Leabu) just celebrated his 16th birthday. He has a brand new guitar and Grandpa Victor has just gifted him with a cool new car, although his mother is refusing to allow him to keep it. He already has groupies following him and he's even caught in a love triangle. Two girls, Zoey and Kendall, are smitten with him. He favours Zoey right now and Kendall is jealous. Is he a budding rock star? Let me know what you think by responding to the poll below.

Do you think that Reed is a good singer/guitarist?

That's all for now. The next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, April 29, 2017. Don't miss it. The May Sweeps are approaching and the storylines should be heating up, especially the Abbott family saga. It should get really interesting when Dina, the long-lost mother of Jack, Ashley and Traci, arrives on the scene next month. Eileen Davidson (Ashley Abbott) told Too Fab that there is "an amazing story coming up for the entire Abbott clan. I mean, it's something very pertinent, very compelling, involving her, our mother."

- Joanne

Saturday, April 8, 2017

The Great Addams Family Quiz

TV BANTER QUIZ #27

The Addams Family was created by cartoonist Charles Addams in 1938. The original Addams Family television series was based on Addams' cartoons for the New Yorker magazine. The show aired on the ABC TV Network for two season, from 1964 to 1966. 64 episodes were produced.

The series chronicled the misadventures of the macabre family of Gomez Addams, his wife Morticia, their two children and other relatives. To test your knowledge of the ghoulish clan, why not try out the Quiz Questions and Answers below. Note: The questions pertain to the 1960s series only.

Remember the theme song (lyrics by Vic Mizzy): Snap your finger and sing along!

They're creepy and they're kooky,
Mysterious and spooky,
They're altogether ooky,
The Addams Family.

Their house is a museum
When people come to see 'em
They really are a scream
The Addams Family.

Addams Family Quiz

1. What was the ghoulish Morticia Addams' maiden name?

Carolyn Jones as Morticia Addams

A. Skull

B. Cobble

C. Frump

D. Fink

E. Clump

2. What was Gomez Addams' pet name for Morticia?

John Astin and Carolyn Jones as Gomez and Morticia

A. "Querida" (my darling)

B. "Mon Amour" (my love)

C. "Cara Mia" (my beloved)

D. A and C

E. A, B and C

3. What was the name of the hand in the box?

A. Hand

B. Thing

C. Fingers

D. Digits

E. It

4. Wednesday Addams, the daughter of Gomez and Mortitia, had a favourite doll. She carried it with her everywhere. What kind of doll did Wednesday have?

A. A voodoo doll

B. A headless doll

C. A vampire doll

D. A werewolf doll

E. A shrunken head doll

5. What was Morticia's hobby was gardening. She took great pleasure in nurturing weeds. She also had a man-eating plant. What was the name of her plant?

A. Calpurnia

B. Cordelia

C. Cassandra

D. Cleopatra

E. Christina

6. What was the name of the actor who played Lurch, the Addams family's gigantic zombie-like butler?

A. Fred Gwynne

B. André René Roussimoff

C. Ted Cassidy

D. Fred Dryer

E. Vincent Price

7. What did Lurch say when summoned by a member of the Addams?

A. "You called."

D. "What can I do for you?"

B. "How can I help?"

C. "Ready."

E. "You rang."

8. What was the name of the little Addams Family creature who was covered with hair from head to toe.

A. Gore

B. Uncle Harry

C. Cousin Itt

D. Hirsute

E. Shade

9. What was the name of Gomez and Morticia's pre-teen son?

A. Pugsley

B. Pubert

C. Presley

D. Hobert

E. Horsely

10. Who was the actor who played Uncle Fester in the original TV series?

A. Patrick Thomas

B. Brad Oscar

C. Christopher Lloyd

D. Michael Roberds

E. Jackie Coogan

11. What strange ability did Uncle Fester have?

A. He had the ability to generate electricity.

B. He could touch fire with his bare hands and not get burned.

C. He could go hours without blinking his eyes.

D. He could grow fangs in his mouth.

E. He could become invisible.

12. Grandmama entertained grandchildren Pugsley and Wednesday with stories about . . .

A. The Salem witch trials

B. The French Revolution

C. Vampires

D. Lizzie Borden

E. Jack the Ripper

13. What did Gomez Addams smoke?

A. Gomez smoked a pipe.

B. He smoked cigarettes.

C. He smoked cigars.

D. All of the above

E. None of the above. Gomez was a non-smoker.

14. What was the address of the Addams Family?

A. 1313 Mockingbird Lane

B. 0001 Cemetery Lane

C. 13 Spider Web Circle

D. 11 Lurid Lane

E. 013 Skeleton Street

15. In the episode "Hallowe'en With the Addams Family" (Season 1, Episode 7, Air Date: October 30, 1964), who played the crook?

A. Don Knotts

B. Mickey Dolenz

C. Jack Klugman

D. Don Rickles

E. Burt Reynolds

16. Who was "Fang?"

A. Pugsley's pet Octopus

B. The Addams' pet lion

C. Wednesday's pet spider

D. The family's pet vultures

E. Pugley's pet jaguar

ANSWERS

1. C

Carolyn Jones in 1956

Morticia's maiden name was Frump. In the original television series, the role of Morticia was played by Carolyn Jones. Jones began her film career in the 1950s and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Bachelor Party (1957). She is also known for her portrayal of villain Marcia, Queen of Diamonds on the 1960s Batman series.

Carolyn Jones died of colon cancer on August 3, 1983 in West Hollywood, California. She was 53 years old at the time of her death.

2. D

Gomez had two pet names for his wife Mortitia - "Querida" and "Cara Mia."

3. B

The hand in the box was called "Thing."

4. B

Lisa Loring as Wednesday Addams

Wednesday Addams favourite toy was a headless doll named Marie Antoinette. Wednesday was a pale little girl with long, dark braids. Her usual attire was a black dress with a white collar, black stockings and black shoes.

In the 1964-1966 television series, Wednesday was portrayed by American actress Lisa Loring (born February 16, 1958 in Kwajalein, Marshall Islands. After The Addams Family went off the air, Lisa joined the cast of The Pruitts of Southampton, a situation comedy starring Phyllis Diller (The series was retitled The Phyllis Diller Show.. It ran from 1966 to 1967 and Lisa portrayed Susan "Suzy" Pruitt, John Astin, who played her father on The Addams Family also appeared From 1981 until 1983, Lisa was a member of the cast of now-defunct CBS daytime drama As the World Turns. She created the the role of Cricket Montgomery on the long-running soap.

Now 59 years old, Lisa Loring has been married four times and has two daughters. In 2014, she appeared in the comedy/horror/science fiction film Way Down in Chinatown. In 2016. she played Miss Rhonda in another comedy horror movie called Doctor Spine.

5. D

The name of Morticia's African strangler plant was Cleopatra. She fed it pieces of red meat. The plant was always snuggling up to visitors as a way of sizing up its next meal.

6, C

Ted Cassidy

Ted Cassidy played Lurch, the Addams family's manservant. The 6 feet, 9 inch (2.06 metres) actor was known for his deep bass voice. Cassidy died on on January 16, 1979 from complications after undergoing surgery to remove a non-malignant tumour from his heart. He was 46 years old at the time of his passing.

Trivia Note: "Thing" was the had of Ted Cassidy.

7. E

Lurch's catchphrase was "You ra-an-ng." He responded with the words "You rang" whenever he heard the loud gong used by someone in the eerie Addams family. Lurch's voice was extremely deep and intimidating.

8. C.

The name of the Addams Family hairy creature was Cousin Itt. He was a cousin of Gomez Addams. He was short and usually wore sunglasses, a derby hat and gloves.

9. A

Ken Weatherwax as Pugsley Addams

The name of Adam and Morticia's eldest child was Pugsley. He was almost always dressed in a striped T-shirt and shorts. He was overweight and was shown eating multiple pieces of cake at a birthday party. He and his younger sister, Wednesday, shared an interest in spiders, dynamite,and guillotines.

In the 1960s television series, Pugsley was played by Ken Weatherwax. After The Addams Family was cancelled, Ken had a difficult time finding work and was typecast. He enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 17. When his acting career ended, Ken worked behind the camera and appeared at Addams Family-related event. He died of a heart attack at his California home on December 7, 2014. He was 59 years old at the time of his passing.

10. E

Jackie Coogan as Uncle Fester

Jackie Coogan played Uncle Fester in the 1960s series. In that series, Fester was said to be Morticia's uncle, brother of her mother, Hester Frump. In all other filmed and animated versions of The Addams Family, Fester was established as the brother of Gomez Addams, making him the uncle of Pugsley and Wednesday. Fester was completely bald with sunken eyes. He always wore a heavy, full-length fur coat.

Christopher Lloyd portrayed Fester in two feature films. Michael Roberds played the character in The New Addams Family, an American-Canadian TV sitcom that ran from 1998 to 1999 on YTV in Canada and on Fox Family in the United States. Fester was also played by Patrick Thomas in the direct-for-video film Addams Family Reunion and by Kevin Chamberlin and Brad Oscar in the Broadway musical.

Jackie Coogan began his film career in silent movies and became well known as a child star due his performance in Charlie Chaplin's 1921 film classic The Kid. Coogan died on March 1, 1984 at the age of 69.

11. A

Fester had the ability to generate electricity. He demonstrated this ability by placing a light bulb in his mouth and illuminating it.

12. B

Blossom Rock as Grandmama

Grandmama would sometimes regale Pugsley and Wednesday with stories about the French Revolution, inspiring Wednesday to behead her dolls. She was a witch-like woman who concocted potions and dabbled in the occult.

In the 1960s series, Grandmama was played by Blossom Rock, a veteran actress of stage, film and television. Blossom Rock's birth name was Edith Marie Blossom MacDonald Quiz Questions and Answers. She was born on August 21, 1895 and was older the sister of actress/singer Jeannette MacDonald. She appeared in films as Marie Blake and her first credited part was in Love Finds Andy Hardy. She also played the role of Sally, the hospital switchboard operator in the MGM Dr. Kildare film series. Blossom married actor Clarence Rock and they had no children. Her husband died in 1960. Blossom Rock passed away on January 14, 1978 in Los Angeles, California at the age of 82.

13. C

Gomez Addams smoked cigars. The patriarch of the Addams was extremely eccentric and very wealthy. He usually wore a double-breasted pinstripe suit and a black necktie. He was a Latin lover type and ardent in his devotion to Morticia Quiz Questions and Answers. In the 1960s sitcom, he owned many businesses around the globe, including a crocodile farm, a buzzard farm, a salt mine, a tombstone factory and a uranium mine.

In the original TV show, Gomez was played by John Astin. Astin was born on March 30, 1930 in Baltimore, Maryland, As of this writing, he is 87 years old. From 1972 to 1985, he was married to actress Patty Duke.

Trivia Note: In The New Addams Family (1998-1999), John Astin played Grandpapa Addams.

14. B

The Addams family resided at 0001 Cemetery Lane, a gruesome mansion located between a cemetaey and a swamp. n the 1960s series, the interior of the house resembled a museum with old statues, trophies and interesting artifacts Quiz Questions and Answers. The Munsters, another creepy 1960s family, lived at 1313 Mockingbird Lane.

15. D

Don Rickles (far fight) with Jackie Coogan (centre) and Skip Homeir

In the episode "Halloween with the Addams Family," Don Rickles and Skip Homeier played a pair of bank robbers who seek refuge at the Addams' home on Halloween.

16. E.

Fang was Pugley's pet jaguar. Pugsley also had a pet octopus named Aristotle. The Addams' pet lion was called Kitty Kat. Their pet vulture was Zelda and their pet pirranhas were Triston and Isolde. Homer was Wednesday's pet spider Quiz Questions and Answers.

- Joanne

Saturday, April 1, 2017

Y&R Report (April 1, 2017): 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.

The walls are closing in on Chloe. Her dark secret will soon come to light. Nick Newman is becoming more and more convinced that Chloe is responsible for the explosion that killed Adam. Nick is collecting evidence and it's just a matter of time before the jig will be up. Since Elizabeth Hendrickson, the actress who plays Chloe, is leaving Y&R, the truth will soon be revealed. Scott Grainger, who is an investigative journalist, also seems quite interested in Chloe's recent past and he has been listening intently to conversations about her. It shouldn't take him long to put the pieces together.

Once Choe is cornered, what will be her fate? She could be sent to prison or back to the hospital for the mentally ill. She could even be killed off. However, if she stays alive, the door remains open for her return in the future. Even though Chloe is rushing her wedding to Kevin, I doubt it will happen. I have to say, she's a good liar and she remains as cool as a cucumber while under suspicion.

In the last edition of Y&R Report, there was a prediction by Y&R fan Fifi in Collingwood, Ontario that Victor Newman would ask Scott to help him write his autobiography. That prediction has come tree. Scott has agreed to write Victor's book provided he would have the freedom to mention things that put Victor in a bad light.

Jill (Jess Walton) and her scoundrel of a husband, Colin (Tristan Rogers), have embarked on a lengthy vacation. That doesn't mean, however, that they have left Genoa City for good. Jess tweeted that she is just taking some time off as she awaits the birth of her third grandchild. As for Tristan, his future with the show is less clear and there is always the possibility that he could resume his Robert Scorpio role on General Hospital.

Jill has been an important character on Y&R for years. Head writer Sally Sussman, who is very devoted to the history of the show, isn't likely to write her out of the storyline. Colin Atkinson, however, is not as significant. If there is not a place for him in the storyline, he will probably be dropped. Perhaps Jill will have an argument with him during their vacation and he will return to Australia.

It appears that aspiring teen musician Reed Hellstrom is about to be duped by his new guitar teacher, singer Tessa Porter. Tessa was shown gabbing to someone on the phone about targeting some rich kid. She's older and a lot more street smart than Reed. He certainly likes her and that should make him an easy mark. She's going to take advantage of him, especially since he won't listen to his mother Victoria, if she becomes suspicious of the wandering musician. You can bet that Reed will quickly come to Tessa's defence and accuse Victoria of controlling him.

Tessa is going to perform at The Underground. The Underground is owned by Reed's uncle, Nick Newman. Nick's son, Noah, who just happens to be Reed's first cousin, works there. If Noah falls for Tessa, the situation could become very complicated.

Here's some news for fans of Billy Miller, ex-Billy Abbott on Y&R. He is set to appear on at least four episodes of Showtime's hit series Ray Donovan. According to TV Line, Miller is set to portray a police officer on the fifth season of the show, which debuts this summer.

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

Helen from Scarborough, Ontario has an interesting theory regarding Scott Grainger. Helen thinks that Scott could be Bella's father. She points out Chloe and Scott seemed awfully familiar with each other when they danced at The Underground. They knew each other in the past. It was obviously not their first meeting. However, no explanation was given, as far as I know, as to how or where they became acquainted. Scott seemed quite interested in what Chloe told him when she was in a drunken state.

Fifi from Collingwood, Ontario thinks that Mariah is headed for a big fall. According to Fifi, Mariah will suffer from a broken heart because Devon is really still in love with Hilary. He is just dating her on the rebound. If Fifi is correct, will Mariah turn to Kevin again? He doesn't really deserve her because he has taken her for granted and treated her as a spare tire. When he learns the truth about Chloe, he'll probably cry on Mariah's shoulder, but will she give Kevin another chance for romance?

Filomena from Woodbridge foresees a battle between Hilary and Lily over Jordan. That makes sense, especially since Cane will be in the doghouse over his reckless night in Tokyo with Juliet. Jordan likes both Lily and Hilary, so there should be fireworks. It looks as if Cane is going to be the big loser. He'll pay dearly for his drunken misadventures in Asia. He may lose Lily over his indiscretion with Juliet. Juliet is going to be TROUBLE with a capital "T" for the Aussie, especially now that Victoria has hired her to work for Brass & Sassy in Genoa City rather than Tokyo. She could spill the beans at any time.

CAST NEWS

Marla Adams returning to Y&R as Abbott matriarch Dina Mergeron

According to Soap Opera Digest, Marla Adams will reprise her role as Dina Mergeron. Longtime Y&R viewers will remember Dina as the mother of Ashley, Jack and Traci Abbott. She is John Abbott's ex-wife. She cheated on John with a tennis pro Brent Davis, who is Ashley's biological father.

Dina first appeared in Genoa City in the early 1980s. Her last appearance was in 2008, when she attended the funeral of Katherine Chancellor who was then presumed dead. She will return on Wednesday, May 8, 2017 on CBS and Tuesday, May 7 on Global TV in Canada.

What does the return of Dina mean for the Abbott family? Well, it is bound to bring back old issues from the past, such as Ashley's paternity. Don't expect Dina's children to welcome her with open arms. She has not had contact with them in years. When they were younger, she abandoned them and ran off to France. Her return will certainly have an impact on the current conflict between Ashley and Jack over control of Jabot Cosmetics. She is sure to reopen some old wounds.

How will Dina react to Jack's toxic relationship with Gloria? I don't think Gloria and Dina will like each other very much. In fact, I can already see the cat claws.

According to Soap Ceintral, Traci Abbott (Beth Maitland) will pay a visit to Genoa City in mid-April. She will probably still be around when Dina arrives in May. It will be interesting to see how Traci, who is more forgiving than Jack and Ashley, reacts to the return of her long-lost mother. The younger Abbott daughter, who lives in New York, will not not be happy about the current state of the Abbott family. She will certainly not approve of Jack's behaviour and will be appalled by his affair with Gloria. She will also be displeased over Jack and Ashley's dispute over control of Jabot.

Hey, and what about Dina;s stepson, Marc Mergeron (Frank M. Benard)? Remember him, the debonair Frenchman? He and Ashley were an item many years ago. Marc's return is unlikely, but one never knows, does one? It would be just like Sally Sussman,to bring him back too. His reappearance would certainly affect Ashley's relationship with Ravi. Below is a photo of Frank M. Benard in the 1980s when he played Marc Mergeron.

Corbin Bernsen returning as Father Todd for two episodes

Corbin Bernsen, real life son of the late Jeanne Cooper, who played Katherine Chancellor, will reprise his role as Father Todd Williams on Y&R. Father Todd is the brother of Paul and Patty Williams. Since the priest usually visits Genoa City for a wedding or a funeral, one of those events appears likely to be on the horizon. Bernsen will appear in two episodes - Thursday, April 6 and Friday, April 7 on CBS (Wednesday, April 6 and Friday, April 7) on Global TV.

Y&R Daytime Emmy Nominations

The nominations for the 44th Daytime Emmys have been announced. The Young and the Restless leads the pack for daytime dramas with 25 nominations. Here's a list of Y&R's major nominations:

Gina Tognoni (Phyllis Summers) and Jess Walton (Jill Foster Atkinson) were nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott) and Kristoff St. John (Neil Winters) were nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

Stacy Haiduk (Patty Williams) and Kelly Sullivan (Sage Newman) were nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Steve Burton (Dylan McAvoy) was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

Hunter King (Summer Newman) and Alyvia Alyn Lind (Faith Newman) were nominated for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series.

Nichelle Nichols, who played Neil's mother, Lucinda Winters, was nominated for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series.

The Young and the Restless was also nominated for Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team and Outstanding Drama Series Directing Team and for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series.

NOTE The Daytime Emmys will take place on Sunday April 30 2017. As of this writing, there has been no announcement yet as to whether the event will be televised on a network. Last year it was only streamed online.

Y&R TRIVIA

Eileen Davidson (Ashley Abbott

When Ravi asked Ashley Abbott how many times she had been married, she replied , "Not in the double digits yet." Well, Ashley has had six husbands and has been widowed twice. She has been married to Victor twice. Therefore, she has been married seven times.

List of Ashley Abbott's marriages

Tucker McCall (divorced)
Brad Carlton (divorced)
Charles "Cole" Victor Howard (divorced)
Blade Bladeson (widowed)
Victor Newman (divorced)
Dr. Stephen Lassiter (widowed)

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Daniel Hall (Scott Grainger)

Whom do you think would be a good match for Genoa City's new man-about-town, Scott Grainger? So far, Scott has become acquainted with older women such as Phyllis and Sharon. Is he another Ravi? Maybe not, since Abby has entered the picture.

That's all for now, The next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, April 15, 2017. Don't miss it.

- Joanne

TV BANTER

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