Y&R Report (February 29, 2020): 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 Newman anniversary gala was a fine tribute to both the character of Victor Newman and to his portrayer, the indomitable Eric Braeden.  It was filled with glamour and intrigue.  I enjoyed seeing former Genoa City residents such as Victor's ex-wife Julia (Meg Bennett), his brother Matt Miller (Robert Parrucha) and his grandson Noah (Robert Adamson).  I wish that Nina (Tricia Cast) and Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian) would also return for a visit at sometime.  Nina has a great reason for returning to Genoa City.  She is Chance Chancellor's mother and she could pay him a visit.  I don't think the current Chance has even mentioned her at all.

It seems that every time the Newman family has an anniversary, a wedding or some kind of celebration, something goes horribly wrong or there is an interruption of some sort.  Newman Enterprises's 50th anniversary gala was no exception.  It ended in disaster as Victoria Newman was stabbed by Amanda's psychotic ex, Ripley Turner., who mistook her for Amanda.

Ripley has been arrested and is behind bars for now  A rare success for Clueless Genoaa City Police Chief Paul Williams and his bumbling sidekick, Rey Rosales, henceforth known as Clueless Jr.  Have we seen the last of  Ripley, though?  Is his reign of terror over?  The citizens of GC, don't have much confidence in their police.  That's why Victor has his own security force, which seems to do a better job than the GC Police Department.

The reason why Victoria was attacked was to create conflict at Newman Enterprises.  She has to be out of commission for a while, so that someone is needed to replace her.  Nick is right that once Adam sits at the CEO desk of Newman Enterprises, he'll never give up the power and prestige without a fight.  Victoria is equally determined to maintain what she considers to be her rightful inheritance.

It's about time they started to wrap up the storyline involving Devon and Mrs. Chancellor's will.  Colin has returned the money to Devon.  Now I hope they capture him and tie up all the loose ends.  Closure is especially needed for Cane, since Daniel Goddard was let go from the show.

Dina is not long for this world.  Jack learned that she is not doing well at all and asked Ashley to come home from Paris.  Her death seems imminent and her will could stir up a hornet's net.  You can bet grandson Scumbag Theo hopes to inherit a sizable fortune.  It's not just the money, though.  What if Dina's will allowed him to seize some power at Jabot.?  He would be on his way to achieving his dream of replacing Kyle in the CEO's chair.

Kyle is a bigger jerk than Billy Abbott .  I know, I know!  Princess Victoria almost died because of Billy Boy's  recklessness.  His behaviour has not been normal.  Do normal people get their thrills from standing on the ledges of buildings and looking down at the street below?  Billy is mentally ill, while Kyle is just plain selfish.  He and Snowflake actually deserve each other because they are both spoiled rich kids and they feel entitled because of their wealth.  As for Lola, she is not so innocent either.  She is not exactly discouraging Theo's advances.  She seems to be taking her time and playing a bit hard to get.  She'll eventually give in.

Lee Phillip Bell dead at 91

A pioneer in afternoon television has died.  Lee Phillip Bell, co-creator of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, with her late husband, William J. "Bill" Bell, passed, away on February 25, 2020.  The Chicago-born Bell was an Emmy-winning broadcast journalist.  For over 30 years, she hosted and produced her own show, The Lee Phillip Show, for CBS.  She also produced and narrated many award-winning documentaries involving social issues.  During her lengthy career, she interviewed such luminaries as Judy Garland, Clint Eastwood, Jerry Lewis, The Beatles. Lucille Ball and Oprah Winfrey.

Lee Phillip Bell was the mother of three children: William James Bell, Bradley Phillip Bell and Lauralee Bell Martin.  Bradley Bell is the executive producer and head writer of The Bold and the Beautiful.  Lauralee portrays Christine (aka "Cricket"} Blair Williams on The Young and the Restless.


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

I spoke to longtime Y&R viewer Helen in Scarborough, Ontario who wondered how Ripley was able to get himself into the Newman gala.  "Believe it or not (pun intended), Ripley managed to crash the Newman gala.  Was there no security?" Helen told me.  As we know, Victor Newman is very big on security.  It's highly unlikely that there wouldn't have been a security check at the gala.  Phyllis also crashed the party, but that's par for the course for her.  She crashes almost every event in Genoa City.


CAST NEWS

Tristan Leabu (Reed Hellstrom) returns for visit

Reed Hellstrom (Tristan Lake Leabu) will be returning to Genoa City to visit his ailing mother, Victoria Newman.  He'll probably blame Billy for what happened to his mom.

Tristan last appeared on Y&R in March 2019.


Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) proposed to Chelsea Lawson (Melissa Claire Egan) and Chelsea accepted.  Should marry Adam again?  Can she trust him or will he disappoint her?  What do you think, fans?  Is she making a huge mistake or not?  Respond to the poll below and let me know.

Should Chelsea remarry Adam?

Yes. They make a great couple and they have a child, Connor.

No. Adam can't be trusted and he will let Chelsea down again.

I don't know.

Other

Please Specify:

Created with Poll Maker

That's all for now.  Don't forget that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, March 14, 2020.


- Joanne

Internet TV Digest #14

    

This is the 14th 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

What's coming to Netflix 

March 2020 will see the arrival of Season 3 of Jason Batman's acclaimed crime drama Ozark. It will be available on Netflix on March 27.  Season 3 of  the popular comedy-drama On My Block will be available on March 11.  Season 3 of the Spanish language teen series Elite will be available on March 13.  Season 2 of the Korean  horror-thriller Kingdom will be available on March 13. and Season 3 of the supernatural animated hit series Castlevania on March 5.

 Academy Award-winner Octavia Spenser stars in Self Made, a four-part limited series about Madam C.J. Walker, an African American entrepreneur who built a haircare empire selling products for Black women (available March 20).  The series also stars Blair Underwood as her husband, C.J. Walker.

Blair Underwood and Olivia Spenser in Self Made

Season 2 of the fantasy series The Witcher is set to go in production mode and is expected to air in mid-2021.  Based on the Witcher books by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher stars Henry Cavill as mutated monster hunter Geralt of Rivia.  Its eight-episode first season of the series consists of "monster of the week" tales that usually end with a twist

SOURCES: What's on Netflix; Digital Weekly


Amazon Prime series "Hunters" criticized for historical inaccuracy

The Amazon Prime series Hunters came under fire from the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memoral.  The series stars Al Pacino as the leader of a band of Nazi hunters in 1970s New York who discover that hundred of escaped Nazis are living in the United States.  It depicts fictional atrocities occurring in Nazi death camps, such a game of human chess which people are killed when pieces are removed from the board.

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memoral, an organization which represents the former Nazi concentration camp, stated: "We honor the victims by preserving factual accuracy."

SOURCE: Los Angeles Times


HBO Max, WarnerMedia's new streaming service, is coming to YouTube TV 

On February 20, 2020, Warner Media and YouTube TV announced a distribution deal.  The deal means that HBO and Cinemax will be coming to YouTube TV for the first time, as well as WarnerMedia's new service, HBO Max.  HBO Max will be launched this May at a cost of $14.99 a month for subscribers.

YouTube TV subscribers will have a choice between adding on either HBO or Cinemax to their current subscription or alternate streaming services such as Hulu.  They will also be able choose HBO Max's expanded streaming service instead.

In addition, the agreement will permit YouTube TV to continue streaming WarnerMedia networks TBS, TNT, truTV, CNN, HLN, Turner Classic Movies, Adult Swim and Cartoon Network, which have been available on the Google-owned live streaming service since 2018.

HBO Max is a direct-to-consumer streaming service.  It includes the HBO Library, Warner Brothers films and 31 Max Originals.  In tandem with HBO, HBO Max will stream a total of 69 originals in its initial year

The much-anticipated Friends reunion will air on HBO Max.  The original cast (Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow , Matt Leblanc and David Schwimmer) will participate in this special when it debuts in May.

SOURCES: techlaunch.com, "Warner Media's new streaming service, HBO Max is coming to YouTube TV, along with HBO & Cinemax;" The Associated Press


Netflix series raises questions about murder of Malcolm X

Malcolm X

Who Killed Malcolm X?, a Netflix documentary series about the assassination of the American civil rights activist, has resulted in a reinvestigation of the 55-year-old case. On February 7, 2020, following the premiere of the six-part series, Manhattan Distict Attorney Cy Vance announced that his office intends to review the circumstances surrounding the February 22, 1965 killing of Malcolm X, moments before he was to speak at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City.

The series takes issue with the narrative that convicted three men for the murder of Malcolm X (One of the three men has admitted his guilt, but claims that the other two are innocent).  The documentary series postulates that four members of a Nation of Islam mosque in Newark, New Jersey were involved in the assassination.

SOURCES: Independent; Time Magazine


Netflix launches Top Ten Lists

Netflix has provided its viewers with more data on the popularity of its television show and films.  On February 24, 2020, Netflix launched a Top Ten feature on its home page.  The Top Ten row is updated each day with the most popular titles within a subscriber's country.  The position of the row changes to reflect the subscriber's interest in specific shows and movies.  The subscriber is provided with a better sense of what's trending by clicking the tabs of movies and TV shows in order to find top ten lists for each particular category.

Netflix began experimenting with top ten lists last year in the United Kingdom and Mexico.

SOURCE: The Verge


- Joanne

Y&R Report (February 15, 2020): 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, I have to say that I am really looking forward to  Newman Enterprises' 50th anniversary gala.  Get ready for quite a tribute to Eric Btaeden's forty years on Y&R as Victor Newman.  There will be three special episodes next week celebrating Eric's four decades on the show, beginning on Tuesday, February 18th on CBS and Monday, February 17th on Global TV.  The festivities will kick off with Nikki hosting the elegant gala.  There will be many vintage flashbacks and some characters will be returning for the celebrations including Victor's grandson, Noah Newman (Robert Adamson), his first wife, Julia (Meg Bennett) and his brother, Matt Miller (Robert Parucha).  You can bet that Y&R is pulling out all the stops for this celebration and it's no accident that it is occurring during the February sweeps.

All of Victor Newman's  ex-wives could not be invited to the gala.  By my count, three of them are deceased; Hope died of cancer, Diane was shot by Nikki in self-defence and Sabrina died in a car crash.  Ashley and Julia. seem to be the only ones of Victor's former wives around.

It isn't a surprise that Kyle and Lola broke up so easily.  They were doomed from the start.  They had too much against them.  Still, I was a bit surprised at how quickly they decided to divorce without even making an effort to save their marriage.  Of course, Summer and Theo swooped in like vultures.  They are both devious but Theo is a total scumbag.  Does he really want Lola or is he just trying to get back at Kyle?  Is he after Kyle's job too.  He sat in Kyle's chair as if he were CEO of Jabot.  I suspect he will try and use the fact that he is Dina's grandson to get what he wants.

Right now, Summer is the winner of the Kyle Abbott sweepstakes, but Snowflake may discover that Kyle isn't such a great prize.  That's because he's a lot like her.  The two of them are spoiled and self-centred.  They feel enabled to do what they want because they are wealthy.

Billy is out of control and he is becoming more and more reckless.  In recent episodes, we have seen him taking delight from looking down from a hotel ledge and hitting a tree with a race car.  He is fortunate that he hasn't been seriously injured.  His brother Jack is very concerned about him, but Victor thinks Billy Boy should be allowed to reach absolute rock bottom.  He thinks that's the only way that he will right himself.  The problem is that someone else may be hurt due to Billy's recklessness.  According to one online spoiler, Victoria might end up in the hospital.  I wonder if she'll hurt herself trying to stop Amanda's ex, Ripley Turner, from harming Billy.

I have to agree with Billy on one point, though.  Princess Victoria has allowed Victor to control her and ruin her marriages and relationships with men.  Victoria has always put her father ahead of the men is  her life.  She has never put a stop to his meddling and she has paid the price with numerous broken relationships and marriages.

We now know about Amanda's past, but we still don't know why she is a dead ringer for Hilar.  Are we ever going to get an explanation for that?  Is there even an explanation or was it just a way to get Mishael Morgan back on the show as a new characcter?  It would have been too ridiculous to bring Hilary back from the dead.

How about that Phyllis?  Genoa City's resident nosey parker found a way to find what was happening in Las Vegas between Chance and Adam without even going there.  She sure is resourceful when she wants to know something.  She always seems to find a way.

Did you notice that Y&R ignored Valentine's Day this year?  I guess the writers decided to focus on the big Newman anniversary bash instead.


CAST NEWS
Jaime Lyn Bauer turns down request to return as Lorie Brooks for two episodes due to vacation

Longtime Y&R viewers are familiar with Jaime Lyn Bauer.  She played Lorie Brooks for years, beginning in 1973, when the show debuted.  She finished her run in 1982.  Her last appearance in Genoa City was in 2018 for Y&R's 45th anniversary.

Jaime Lyn was asked by Y&R to reprise her role as Lorie Brooks for two episodes.  It has not been made clear as to what storyline Y&R wanted her to participate in this time.  However, it was most likely the upcoming celebrations for Eric Braeden's forty years on Y&R.  In the early 1980s, Lorie Brooks was engaged to Victor Newman, but she stood him up at the altar.

Unfortunately, Jaime Lyn was unable to accommodate the show and she explained why on Facebook.  The powers-that-be on Y&R wanted her to tape the two episodes in the middle of a vacation with family and friends in Cancun, Mexico that she had already booked.  She spent a month in Cancun.  Maybe she'll visit Gennoa City again some other time.


Hunter King wins lead role on primetime series

The Snowflake herself has landed the lead role on a prospective new primetime series.  As first reported by Deadline, Hunter King has been cast as Abigail Landing in a new pilot for ABC.  It is a comedy called Prospect.  Her character, Abigail, is a young, idealistic woman from Boston who is excited about her teaching job at a school in the Western prairie town of Prospect. Upon arriving in Prospect, she discovers that her students are not children, but rowdy male ranch hands.

Prospect sounds interesting, but what will all this mean for Hunter King's status on Y&R?  It's too early to tell.  We don't even know if Prospect will be picked up because the fall lineups won't be announced until May.  When Hunter was on the primetime show Life in Pieces, she worked out a schedule by which she was also able to continue with her role on Y&R.  This is unlikely to happen with Prospect.  Life in Pieces and Y&R are both CBS shows, while Prospect would be on a rival network.   Also, she was part of an ensemble cast on Life in Pieces, but she has the lead role on Prospect.

Here are some questions to consider if Hunter King waves goodbye to The Young and the Restless: If she leaves, will her character be written out?  Will a new actor take over the role of Summer?  Will it mean that there is still hope for Kyle and Lola to salvage their broken marriage?


Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Who is the biggest jerk in Genoa City?  My vote goes to Kyle Abbott.  Everything that Rae said about him is true.  Kyle himself couldn't even disagree that he's been very selfish and that he's hurt both Lola and Summer.  So fans, do you agree with me?  Respond to the poll below and let me know.

Who is currently the biggest jerk on Y&R?

Billy Abbott

Kyle Abbott

Theo Vanderway

Adam Newman

Other

Please Specify:

Created with poll maker

Readers, I would appreciate your feedback

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

That's all for now.  Don't forget that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on February 29, 2020, Leap Year Day.


- Joanne

Tribute to Orson Bean: Struck dead by a car at 91

People shouldn't get into show business because they want to become stars or become rich; they should get into it because they can't help but put on a show

- Orson Bean
Los Angeles Times interview

I was saddened by the news of Orson Bean's death at the age of 91 after being hit by two cars in L.A.  On February 7, 2020, Orson was walking near the intersection of Venice Boulevard and Shell Avenue in Venice, Los Angeles when he was fatally struck in a traffic collision.  A family representative said he was crossing the street near the Pacific Resident Theater, where his wife, actress Alley Mills, was preparing for an upcoming production..  The couple had recently starred in a play at the Ruskin Group Theatre in Santa Monica, California.

According to Captain Brian Wendling of the L.A. Police Department, "The car coming westbound did not see him and clipped him and he went down.  A second vehicle was coming up, was distracted by people trying to slow him down and then looked up and then a second traffic collision occurred and that one was fatal."  He was pronounced dead at the scene.  An L.A. Police spokesperson stated that it was not a "hit and run."

Orson Bean was an veteran actor of the stage and screen and a well known television personality.  He made frequent appearances on TV game shows from the 1960s to the 1980s.  He became a familiar face on Password, The Match Game and Tattletales.  Most notably, he was a longtime panelist on To Tell the Truth.  

Below is a photo of Oron as a panelist on To Tell the Truth.  He is sitting third from the left between fellow panelists Peggy Cass (left) and Kitty Carlisle (right).  Tom Poston sits on the far left.  Standing is host Brad Collier.

Orson Bean was born Dallas Frederick Burrows in Burlington, Vermont on July 22, 1928.  He was raised near Harvard University, where his father, George Burrows, was a campus police officer.  George was also a founding member of the American Civil Liberties Union.  Orson's mother, the former Marian Ainsworth (née Pollard) committed suicide when Orson was 16 years old.  He left home after her death

In 1946, Orson Bean graduated from the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (known as CRLS or Rindge), a public high school in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  He then enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed in Japan for a year.  After his service in the military, Orson worked as a magician before turning to stand-up comedy in the early 1950s.  He performed in small clubs near Boston and Philadelphia before heading to New York, where Broadway and The Ed Sullivan Show awaited.  From 1950 to 1960, Orson was the house comic at the Blue Angel night club in the Big Apple.

Orson began appearing on the Tonight Show in the 1950s.  According to the Associated Press, he appeared on the program over 200 times, often filling in for Jack Parr and Johnny Carson.  Orson was a great storyteller and a favourite of Johnny Carson.  In a 1974 appearance with Carson on The Tonight Show. he described his stage name as a combination of the pompous and the amusing.  He related how Orson Welles called him over to a table at the Blue Angel one night and declared, "You stole my name" and then waved him away.

Orson Bean made a memorable appearance in a 1960 episode of one of my all-time favourite shows, Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone.  In the episode, entitled "Mr. Bevis" (Season 1, Episode 33, Air Date: June 3, 1960), Orson played James B.W. Bevis, a bumbling man who loses his job, his car and his apartment on the same day.  A guardian angel helps him start a new life, but there is a price to be paid.

Below is a photo of Orson Bean (right) with William Schallert in the "Mr Bevis" Twilight Zone episode.

In the early 1970s, Orson "dropped out" and lived a bohemian lifestyle.  In a 1989 interview, he told the Los Angeles Times uprooted his family and moved to Australia after the March 6, 1970 Weather Underground Explosion occurred (Three members of a leftist paramilitary group called the Weather Undergound Association were killed when a bomb they had built exploded in the basement of a townhouse near Orson's Greenwich Village home).  "I turned 40 and ran away from home," Bean said. "I had a lot of money in the bank and I just spent it."

Orson and his family returned to the United States a year and a half later.  "I came back, pierced my ear, grew a beard, bought an old van, tossed the kids in the back, and we lived like hippies for three years," he recalled.

In 1977, Orson appeared as Reverend Brim in Forever Fernwood, the sequel to cult favourite Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.  From 1986 to 1989, Orson played Oliver Thompson in the family sitcom The Facts of Life.  From 1993 to 1998, Orson portrayed Loren Bray, a grumpy storekeeper, on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.  From 1996 to 1997, he played the role of Oliver Thompson in three episodes of the sitcom The Facts of Life.  In the 1990s, he guest-starred on such series as Diagnosis Murder (1998) and Ellen (1998).  Orson portrayed 105-year-old "Dr. Lester" in the 1999 feature film Being John Malkovich,

As the 21st century began, Orson Bean found himself  busier than ever.  In 2000, he played the role of Willam "Bill" Gamble on the short-lived comedy Normal, Ohio, starring John Goodman.  In 2000, he also had guest spots in episodes of such series as Ally McBeal, The King of Queens, Family Law and Will & Grace.  In addition, he appeared in episodes of Becker (2002), 7th Heaven (2003), Two and Half Men (2005) and How I Met Your Mother (2007)

From 2099 to 2012, Orson played Roy Bender on the comedy/drama Desperate Housewives.  In 2011, he guest-starred as Dan in an episode of Hot in Cleveland.  He also appeared as Marty in an episode of Modern Family entitled "Playdates" (Season 7, Episode 10, Air Date: January 6, 2016).

Orson never retired and continued to act into his 90s.  He recently appeared in a 2020 episode of the Netflix series Grace and Frankie, starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.  In the episode, entitled "The Scent," he portrayed a character named Bruno.

Orson Bean was married three times.  His first wife was actress Jacqueline de Sibour, the daughter of a French nobleman (Her stage name was Rain Winslow).  The couple wed in 1956 and had one child, Michele.  They divorced in 1962.

In 1965, Orson married Carolyn Maxwell, an actress and fashion designer.  They had three children: Max, Susannah and Ezekiel, but divorced in 1981.  Their daughter, Susannah, married controversial right-wing journalist Andrew Breitbart in 1997.  Breitbart died in 2012.

After his second wife left him in 1981, Orson Bean descended into a life of alcohol, drugs and loneliness.  He eventually moved from New York to Los Angeles to be nearer to his children.  He later wrote Mail for Mikey, detailing his addiction and recovery.

Orson's third wife was actress Allison "Alley" Mills (born May 9, 1951), who played Kevin Arnold's mother, Norma, on The Wonder Years.  Alley also had a recurring role in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and portrayed Pamela Douglas on the daytime soap The Bold and the Beautiful.  She and Orson resided in Los Angeles and remained together until his death

Alley Mills

Orson Bean's lengthy career spanned decades, from Hollywood's Golden Age to the Age of Netflix.  He referred to himself as a neo-celebrity. someone who is "famous for being famous."  However, he was so much more than that.  His contribution to film, televison and theatre will long be remembered.  R.I.P. Orson.

Orson in more recent years

END NOTES

* Orson Bean was an ardent fan of Laurel and Hardy,  He co-founded a Laurel and Hardy appreciation society named Sons of the Desert, after one of the comedy duo's film.

* Orson was a distant cousin of Calvin Coolidge, 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929.

* Orson studied theatre at the HB (Herbert Berghof) Studio in Greenwich Village, New York City.

* Orson portrayed a psychiatrist in the film Anatomy of a Murder, a classic 1959 courtroom drama.directed by Otto Preminger.

* During the Cold War, Orson Bean was blacklisted from television for about a year because he had a communist girlfriend whom he claimed had dragged him to a couple of meetings.  Ed Sullivan cancelled Orson's appearance on his show, even though Orson had already appeared on the Sullivan show seven times (Sullivan eventually booked him on the show again, blaming the blacklisting on his sponsor, Campbell's Soup).  Nevertheless, Orson went from being a popular CBS comic to not working.  Fortunately, he was able secure a role in Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?, an off-Broadway play

In 1964, Orson opened The Fifteenth Street School, a progressive school in Manhattan modelled after educator A.S. Neill's Summerhill School in England.  The school was partly based on the theories of Austrian psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich, which Orson described in his 1971 book Me and the Orgone, written after he had moved his family to Australia.

* Orson appeared on two daytime soap operas.  In 1982, he portrayed Harrison Logan in an episode of One Life to Live.  In 2016, he played Howard on The Bold and the Beautiful.

* Orson was an accomplished stage actor.  In 1961, he received a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance for his performance in Subways are for Sleeping.

SOURCES:  Los Angeles Times; "Actor Orson Bean, local theator mainstay who rose to fame as a 1950s TV personality, dies," by Nardine Sadd, February 8, 2020; People, "Actor and Comedian Orson Bean Dies at 91 After Being Fatally Struck by Vehicle in Los Angeles," by Maria Pasquini, February 8, 2020; The Washington Post, "Orson Bean, droll actor, comedian and raconterur, dies at 91," by Harrison Smith, February 9 2020; Wikipedia; Internet Movie Database (IMDb.om)


- Joanne

Y&R Report (February 1, 2020): 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, it's been difficult to keep up with Y&R due to all the interruptions from the Donald Trump impeachment trial.  However, Global TV has not interrupted Y&R half way through an episode.  I have also watched videos of some episodes on Global online.  So, I have been able to keep up.

Under former head writer Mal Young, the pace of the storylines on Y&R became faster, and sometimes much too fast.  Now, under current head writer Josh Griffith, the pace of the storylines has slowed down considerably.  At times, they move at a snail's pace, especially the Billy/Victoria/Amanda storyline.

By revealing her cancer diagnosis to only Rae, Nick and her children, Sharon is making life awkward for them.  They are forced to keep her secret.  However, busybody Phyllis, the nosiest person in Genoa City was able to figure it out.  Phyllis was actually quite upset about Sharon's illness, although the two have never liked each other.  The two women have never gotten along, especially because Phyllis had an affair with Nick while he was married to Sharon.

Some people can never figure out what they want in life.  Billy Abbott is one of them.  According to an online spoiler, he is going to spiral out of control.  He just can't find his groove.  Maybe people are too quick to judge Billy, but he seems to think he always knows best and that he can handle everything.

Have you noticed that the images of the actors in the opening theme correspond to whether they will appear in the episode?  If you want to know who will appear in an episode, all you have to do is look at the images.  I like that.  It gives me a good idea about what the episode will be about.  It lets me know if my favourite actors will be shown.

Here is some good news for Y&R fans.  The Young and the Restless has been renewed for four more years, until 2024.  Days of Our Lives has also been officially renewed for a record 56th season,.until the summer of 2021.


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 is an e-mail I received from Carly in Barrhaven, Ontario.

Phyllis is way over the top and I don't like what they're doing with her character.  I don't like Chance.  I'm not happy with Sharon's storyline and I'm sick and tired of the Billy storyline.  So why do I watch it? 

I think Adam and Chelsea will last for a while but you never know what he is up to.  What will be interesting is what went on between him and Chance in Vegas.  I look forward to the big gala for Newman Enterprises.  Oh yes, I am sick of the Summer, Kyle, Lola and Theo characters too.


I also think Phyllis is way over the top, Carly.  She has become a caricature.  She may be amusing, but she is not believable.  She is much too cartoonish.  Sometimes I find her comical.  Other times she really annoys me.

You say that are not happy with the storylines, but you still watch.  I am not thrilled about some of the storylines right now either, but like you, I still watch.  Why?  The show is always changing and evolving.  New storylines and characters are always being introduced.  There are times when the writing is bad and times when it is much better.

Since Y&R is a soap, Chelsea and Adam will eventually break up.  However, I don't trust Adam.  I don't think that he has fundamentally changed.  He's still hiding what happened in Vegas.  Yes, it will be interesting to find out what he and Chance cooked up there, but the writers are taking far too long to reveal what happened.  Also, it will be interesting to see Adam's reaction when he learns about Sharon's cancer.  Will it have a big impact on him?

I am also really looking forward to the Newman gala.  It should be fun.  Unlike you, I am not sick of the Kyle, Lola and Theo storyline.  but I often think it is too repetitious.  I realize the writers have to fill time but they can speed it up a little.  At any rate, it looks like the honeymoon is really over for Kyle and Lola.  There is a great deal of trouble in Paradise.  Snowflake and shifty Theo are waiting in the wings like vultures.


I had a conversation with longtime Y&R viewer, Fifi in Collingwood, Ontario   Fifi thinks that Nikki's nightmare is going to come true.  She thinks that Nick and Sharon are going to get together again.  I think that Fifi could be right.  Those two will always have a history.  They were married for ten years, which is a long time on a soap, and they had two children together.  They seem to be repeating the pattern of Nikki and Victor through the years, always breaking up and reuniting.


CAST NEWS
Christian Keyes to play a man from Amanda's past

We're finally going to learn more about Amanda's (Mishael Morgan) mysterious past.  Christian Keyes is set to play Ripley Turner, Amanda's ex-fiance.  According to Devon Harmilton's dossier on Amanda, she has a restraining order against her ex.  He probably abused her.

Christian Keyes was born in Michigan on July 24, 1975.  He was a regular on the TV series Saints and Sinners.  He also had recurring roles on Legends of Tomorrow and Supernatural.  Christian will arrive in Genoa City on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 (CBS) and Tuesday, February 4th on Global TV in Canada.


Kirby Bliss Blanton has new role on Y&R

Kirby Bliss Blanton, a 29-year-old from Texas, has joined the cast of Y&R as Lindsay, a new employee at Society, Abby's restaurant.  She may replace Tessa Porter, who has gone on tour with her ex-husband, singing star Tanner Watts (Chase Coleman).

Kirby had small roles in such TV series such as Zoey 101, Hannah Montana and Hawaii Five-0.  Her first feature film role was in the 2007 horror movie Scar.



Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Michael Mealor (Kyle)

Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) is torn between Lola and Summer, although he's starting to gravitate toward Summer.  Which one do you think Kyle is more suited to, fans, Summer or Lola?  Respond to the poll below and let me know.

Do you think Kyle is more suited to Lola or Summer?

I think Kyle and Lola make a great couple. He and Summer are both spoiled and too much alike.

I think Kyle is better off with Summer. They have more in common and they share a longer history than Kyle and Lola.

I don't know.

Other

Please Specify:

Free Online Quiz Maker

That's all for now.  Don't forget that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, February 15, 2020.  That's the day after Valentine's Day, which is always fun on the show.


- Joanne