Y&R Report (March 14, 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. 

It was a dark and stormy night in Genoa City and it took about three or four episodes to get through that one night.  The ice storm was devised story was devised by the witers to get various characters stranded with each other, but it dragged on too long.  I've heard complaints that the pace of Y&R is too slow and the it is too repetitious.  Speed it up a bit, Josh Griffith and Co.!  Just because the February sweeps are over, doesn't mean you have to tone down the excitement so much.

Here we go with another round of Nick and Phyllis.  Nick Newman has fallen under the spell of the manipulative redhead yet again.  I have to say that Nick is not the sharpest knife in the drawer because he took Phyllis' advice.  She persuaded him to take the CEO post at Newman Enterprises while his sister, Victoria, is recuperating from a stabbing attack.  It is obvious that Nick's heart isn't in it.  That decision was a monumental mistake and will cause enormous heartache because Adam is going to seek revenge.  Chelsea has been urging him on.  She told him she is willing to support him in his efforts.  That means more fighting and chaos within the Newman clan, as usual. 

Nick always claims he doesn't want anything to do with Newman Enterprises, but he usually gets sucked in.  He's made it clear that he's going to be CEO on a temporary basis during a family emergency.  He intends to step down when Victoria is ready to return.  He doesn't trust Adam and he feared that Adam would not relinquish the powerful CEO post upon Victoria's recovery.  Nick's intentions are good, but it's not that easy to push Adam aside.  Not only that, but Adam is a much more experienced businessman than Nick and would do an infinitely better job as CEO.

The real problem is Victor.  He really didn't have to choose between his two sons.  That was a recipe for disaster.  It was pointed out to him that there are qualified executives at Newman who would perform competently as interim CEO.  However, "The Moustache" would have none of that.  Oh no!  The CEO of Newman Enterprises (even on a temporary basis) must have the royal Newman blood.  Nothing else is acceptable.  As Victor told his grandson, Connor, you have to be tough when you're a Newman.

The relationship between Sharon and her former mother-in-law,Nikki has improved considerably.  Nikki has been very understanding and sympathetic to the cancer-stricken Sharon.  They actually embraced. Nikki even wants Sharon to help Victoria get through her depression and trauma.  What a change from the days when Nikki regarded her as a gold digger.  She had a sour face at Nick and Sharon's wedding because she didn't think Sharon was good enough for her son.  I wonder if Nikki would approve now if Sharon reconciled with Nicholas.  She won't be very happy that Nick's with Phyllis again.  I think she'd prefer Sharon over Phyllis, although she probably thinks nobody id good enough for her sonny boy.

So, Lily's back in town and it looks as if she's going to stay in Genoa City this time.  Jill has partnered her with her wayward son, Billy, and they are going to run Chancellor Industries' new media division.  Will this lead to a storyline in which there is a triangle between Billy, Lily and Amanda?  Not only do Lily and Billy have names that rhyme, but they have a past.  They were once involved in a love "quadrangle" along with Chloe and Cane.  If you recall, Chloe led Cane to believe his was the father of her daughter (Delia) when it was actually Billy.

As for Amanda, we have finally learned some more about her past.  She now know that she was a foster child.  That could explain why she is a dead ringer for Hilary.  Maybe she and Hilary were twins, separated at birth.  Haven't we gone down that road before with Cassie and Mariah?


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 longtime Y&R viewer Carly in Barrhaven, Ontario.

I am fast forwarding a lot on Y&R  The Sharon storyline is depressing.  The Kyle/Summer/Lola/Theo storyline is so stupid.  I honestly think that they are looking for fillers as the show has been quite boring.  And then there's Phyllis and Nick again and again and again.

Yes, Carly, I think the show has been dragging.  The writing could be much better and the writers need to pick up the pace.  I can also see how a lot of people would find Sharon's cancer storyline depressing, especially with all the cancer illnesses in the world and the horrible caronavirus pandemic.  We're also going to see some grieving and sadness when Dina dies.  The show could use a little more humour and lightness.

I think the Kyle/Lola/Summer/Theo storyline could be improved, but I don't dislike it as much as you do.  As for Nick and Phyllis, I don't think it will last.  Phyllis is guaranteed to mess things up and Nick will have to clean up her mess.  The best match for Nick is Sharon and he'll probably go back to her someday, just as Visctor went back to Nikki.


I spoke to another longtime Y&R viewer, Fifi in Collingwood, Ontario.  Fifi is not please about the lack of storyline for Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc) and Lauren Fenmmore (Tracey Bregman)..  As she pointed out to me, there has not been a good storyline for the couple in a long while.  I really think that they should have more screen time and I believe their talents are being wasted.


CAST NEWS

Terrible Tom (Roscoe Born) dead at 69

On March 3, 2020, veteran soap actor Roscoe Born died at the age of 69.  From 2005 to 2009, he played the role of Kevin's father and tormentor, "Terrible" Tom Fisher, on The Young and the Restless.  He's the one who terrified poor Kevin (Greg Rikaart) as a child and locked him up in closets.  Roscoe is also known for playing another villain, Mitch Laurence, on One Life to Live, from 1985 to 2012, and for his roles as Joe Novak on Ryan's Hope (1980-1988), and Robert Barr and Quinn Armitage on Santa Barbara from 1989 to 1991.

Roscoe was born in Topeka Kansas on November 24, 1950.  He was a talented singer/songwriter and theatre actor.  He also appeared in episodes of such television shows as Murder, She Wrote, The Incredible Hulk and The Rockford Files.  He had three marriages.  From 1994 to 2004, he was married to Roberta Weiss, his castmate on Santa Barbara (She played Flame Beaufort)  The couple had a daughter, Alberta May.  Roscoes previous wives were Randall Edwards (Ryan's Hope, Delia Ryan) from 1985 to 19990 and Adrienne Hampton from 1976 to 1982.


Doug Davidson (Paul Williams) seems to be off the show again

Doug Davidson has not appeared on Y&R since the February 21st episode in which Victoria Newman was stabbed.  When a fan asked him if he was off the show again, Doug responded, "I have no shows left to air and no dates scheduled.  I guess I'll let you draw your own conclusions."  He added, "It's a choice.  I think they have chosen to go in new directions."

Doug has portrayed Paul Williams since 1978.  He has been let go from Y&R once before, but returned after some fan protest.  However, his appearances have been minimal since then.  With Rey and Chance on the show, the writing is on the wall..

I think Y&R has treated Doug shabbily.  I'd like to know why they brought him back if they didn't intend to give him screen time.  He has devoted so much of his life to the show.  He deserves better than that.


Y&R REPORT READERS POLL

Abby Newman and Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) are having an all out feud.  It's the red head versus the blonde.  I'm not a big fan of either character, but I really think Phyllis needs to be taken down a notch.  She's too manipulative and she's been interfering too much in other people's lives.  Abby is certainly no angel, of course, but Phyllis has become downright annoying.  What do you think, fans?  Respond to the poll below and let me know.

In the feud between Abby and Phyllis, which woman do you support?

I support Phyllis. She is tough and feisty and doesn't let herself get pushed around.

I support Abby. Phyllis is annoying and her behaviour is ridiculous. She deserves to be taken down.

Both women have been behaving poorly. I don't support either of them.

I don't know.

Created with PollMaker

That's all for now.  Please remember that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, March 28, 2020.



- Joanne