Y&R Report (January 30, 2021): 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

Hi fans,

Well, that was quite a snowstorm in Genoa City and a lot of people were stranded overnight.  Sally Spectra stayed at the Abbott home.  She and Jack shared their life stories.  Did you notice that she eyed Jack like a predator, as if waiting for the right time to pounce.  

Mariah stayed over at Chance and Abby's and agreed to be the surrogate for their prospective child.  However, some news from Chance's doctor put that plan in jeopardy.  Elena, of course, was stranded at Devon's and they had one last romantic tryst.  Devon wanted to talk about it, but Elena was too upset.  She left abruptly, then returned to apologize for leaving that way.  She told Devon that too much had happened and that it was time to move on.  She has chosen Dr. Nate, at least for now.  

Billy, naturally, stayed with Victoria and Johnny and Katie.  They played games and ate cookies.  Of course, Victoria seemed to really enjoy their interaction as a family. 

Moses Winters will be coming to Genoa City soon.  Moses, the son Neil Winters and Sofia Dupre, has been mentioned several times lately.  That's a sign that he will soon be seen on screen, mostly likely in time for the upcoming February sweeps.  Moses' goal  is to become a doctor and Dr. Nate has reluctantly agreed to mentor him.  Moses would actually be about ten years old now, but he will be subject to the Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome. (SORAS).  He will be a high school student at Walnut Grove Academy.  Guess who else is a student at Walnut Grove?  That's right - Faith Newman.  Faith's underage drinking storyline can't last forever and she is bound to return to the straight and narrow, once she ends her association with Jordan.  However, Faith may still be the victim of bullying.  at her school.  Who will be there to defend her and become her ally?  That's right - Moses.  You can figure out where this is going.  It will probably lead to Faith's first young romance.

Billy is really trying to make his relationship with Lily work.  However, I doubt that he will succeed.  Lily seems to have accepted Billy's past wrongdoings and she wants to believe he has changed.  They might work as a couple, except for one huge obstacle - Princess Victoria Newman.  She will always be in the picture due to the two children she shares with Billy.  Victoria will always come between Billy and Lily.  She may even cause Billy to do something reckless in a weak moment.  He's been known to do that before, hasn't he?  Is this new Billy strong enough to avoid messing things up?

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 email that I received from longtime Y&R viewer CC in Etobicoke.  CC had this to say in response to my last column:

Hi Joanne,

Agree with you on a few of your comments today (January 16th, 2021), but disagree on some others.

Re: lack of storylines for long time main characters....maybe not in all cases but the reason for this may have to do with pandemic work restrictions.  California is one of the most hard hit U.S. states. I expect there are strict limits on how many people can be on set.  When you consider directors, camermen, lighting and other support people it doesn' leave much room for a bevy of actors.  Sometimes, when we see a large # of people in the room, (wedding of Abby and Chance) even though it looks like they are together, the actual shots may be filmed separately and then somehow meshed together like photoshopping.

I suspect that actors like MTS and Eric Braeden have contract clauses limiting the amount of time and face to face they spend on set and who they spend it with.

Remember, scenes are filmed at least a month ahead and not necessarily in chronological order so scheduling is more difficult than usual.

You are soooo right about Elena's horrible hair cut!  However, who would willingly and knowingly do something like that?!  She may have had reasons, like playing another role requiring shorter hair, or if she had extensions before and cut it down for healthier regrowth after they were removed.

Whatever her reasons, it looks awful!  She needs to bring out the wigs and extensions soon.

Sally et al....If fans take to Sally (I am not one of them) they will keep her on and build the storyline while she pits Dad Jack and son Kyle against one another for a number of reasons: to secure power, wealth, status, a husband; to get back at someone(s) (her ex and Summer for some reason).  Something major will happen and Sleuth Chance will have to solve the whodunnit?  So many possible suspects.

We have been hearing that Rey is leaving the show for so long now.  They are definitely dragging out his departure storyline.  Will it be because of something that happens between Sharon and Adam, or will they throw in another twist. Inevitably, Sharon and Adam will make a mistake.  Will they get caught?  Will Victor have a hand in that?

Lily has her head in the clouds if she thinks that she can have a life do over with Billy.  He is too messed up to go the distance and pull that off.

I, for one, preferred Mal's Corrie Street quick paced plot resolutions. However, again, covid restrictions may play a part in why things are moving along even more slowly than usual.

For some time now I have been saying that Eric Braeden is off his game.  It appears that he is even fooling himself if he believes what he said in a recent interview, i.e. he is not quitting Y&R and will continue in his role as long as he is breathing.  We will see about that.  It appears that when it comes to being stubborn the actor and the character are very much alike.

Hope these ideas provide you with some food for thought.

Ciao,

CC from Etobicoke

Thank you, CC, for your thoughtful and detailed analysis of Y&R's current situation.  You are right to point out how much COVID-19 restrictions affect Y&R's casting and its storylines.  That is undoubtedly true.  We fans don't know everything that's going on behind the scenes with regard to the pandemic.  We can only be certain that COVID is a big factor.in many of the decisions that have to be made.

Yes, there may be a romantic triangle between Jack, Kyle and Sally Spectra.  Jack certainly seems impressed with Sally.  He is quick to come to her defence and he always encourages her.  There is a good chance that he will become romantically involved with Sally and that may pit him against his son, Kyle.  To be honest, though, I really hope that doesn't happen.  I'm not looking forward to father and son competing for Sally's affections.  I won't enjoy the spectacle of Jack being taken in by Sally's youth and her flattery.  Is he really so naive that he won't realize that she is after the Abbott money, status and power?  As for Kyle, now that he has been informed of Sally's shady background in Los Angeles, would he actually fall for her - or would he pretend to do so for Summer's sake, in order to dupe Sally?  It's also very possible that Sally will blackmail him into doing her bidding.  There doesn't seem to be any end to her ambition.  The only question is how far she would she go to get what she wants.  Also, what about Gloria.?  Now that she's back in Genoa City, how will she fit  into the picture ?  Will she also sets her sights on Jack, as I expect that she will.  Did you notice Sally's reaction when Gloria burst into the room with Kevin?  She considers Gloria somewhat of a threat, due to her past association with Jack.

Sally Spectra is definitely not a likeable character, but there may be other sides to her personality.  For the time being, she is a very necessary character  She is needed for the storyline because she is a troublemaker and she stirs the pot.

Yes, rumours persist that Rey Rosales (Jordi Vilasuso) will be leaving the show.  So far, it hasn't happened.  I don't know what will happen to Rey when Sharon eventually leaves him for Adam.  Will he return to Miami?

Eric Braeden is 79 years old.  He will celebrate his 80th birthday on April 3rd.  Obviously he is not as robust and healthy as he used to be.  However, I really can't fault him for wanting to remain active and to stay on the show.  He doesn't seem to be the kind of man who is suited to retirement.  If he did choose to retire, however, what would happen to the character of Victor Newman?  Y&R fans would never countenance another actor in the role of Victor.  To my knowledge, no other actor has played Victor Newman, not even on a temporary basis, since Eric joined  the cast in 1980.   Even when the legendary Jeanne Cooper had to take some time off from the show in 1986, Canadian-born singer/actress Gisele Mackenzie played Mrs. Chancellor for a while.

So, if Eric retired, the writers would be forced to kill Victor off or have him leave town.  I don't expect that to happen.  I really think Eric will remain with the show as long as he is physically able to do so.  I doubt that Victor will be written out unless Eric passes away.  I think you are correct to say that Victor and Eric have similar personalities.  They are both resilient and determined.  Victor Newman has retired as CEO of Newman Enterprises, at least for now.  I doubt that Eric Braeden will ever retire.

I also received some commentary from Carly in Barrhaven, Ontario, who wrote the following:

I want Adan ti stay with Chelsea and Sharon to stay married to Rey.  Gloria always adds fun and excitement.  Cannot stand Kyle and Summer.  He's a terrible actor and she bugs me.  Billy and Lily, not sure, but the fact that their relationship is bothering Miss Victoria makes for a good storyline.  Phyllis is Phyllis, and yes, I like her with Nick.  

Now, Sally Spectra, she is trouble and I just hope the writers don't involve her romantically with Jack.  That would be ridiculous.  But it looks like it's headed in that direction.  We will wait and see.

Well Carly, I think Sharon is going to mess things up.  She is struggling to do the right thing, but she really doesn't want to stay away from Adam Newman.  Rey has been very patient about his new wife's obsession with Adam.  Sooner or later, he's gong to reach a breaking point.  Some would say that Rey has been far too patient.  A lot of men would not put up with Sharon's behaviour.  I don't think she appreciates Rey enough.

Lily is being putting up with Victoria because she knows how important Billy's kids are to him.  At some point, however, she too will reach a breaking point and her patience will run out.

I am not a big fan of Kyle and Summer either and I don't think they will last.  Neither will Lily and Billy or Phyllis and Nick.  As fans know, few couples last on a soap.

Yes, Gloria certainly does add fun and excitement.  I am pleased that she's back and I hope she interferes with Sally and Jack.  I don't want them together either, but it certainly does seem as if it's headed in that direction.

CAST NEWS

Tracey Bregman (Lauren Fenmore Baldwin) celebrates 38 years on Y&R

On January 21st  Tracey E. Bregman took to Instagram to mark her 38th anniversary on The Young and the Restless.  She expressed her gratitude to fans.  She wrote: "I can not tell you what this job has meant to me and how I love each and every person in our production.  I am truly grateful every day and say a prayer to Bill Bell (Y&R's c o-creator), thanking him for my career and giving me the opportunity to be a mom and an actress."  She also thanked the writers for keeping her character, Lauren, "alive and fesity."  Since Tracy's actual anniversary fell on the Inauguration Day of a new American president, Tracey felt it inappropriate to post anything on that day "for obvious reasons."

Tracey Bregman is the mother of two sons, Austin and Landon, who are 24 and 30 years old respectively.  She recalled how Bell "asked me to bring my babies to work with me, so I would feel secure."

Over the years,. Y&R fans have watched Lauren Fenmore evolve from a teenage troublemaker into a confident and powerful business executive.  Unfortunately, Lauren is not at the forefront of a major storyline.

 Tyler Johnson (Theo Vanderway) is returning to Y&R

Tyler Johnson is returning to Y&R as Theo Vanderway the week of February 1.  That was fast!  He's only been gone since December.  However, it seems as if his return is only temporary and he will probably return to Paris, where he has been running a fashion business.  

Theo has some unfinished business in Genoa City with the Abbotts and Dina's will.  Expect him to cause trouble for Kyle because an online spoiler says that Kyle's past will come back to haunt him.  That obviously refers to his wild days in New York with Theo.  You can be sure that Sally Spectra will use any negative information about Kyle's past to her advantage in her feud with Summer.  Theo will most likely provide her with the dirt.

I have to admit that Theo is not my favourite character, but I think his return will shake up the Kyle/Summer/Sally/Jack storyline.  I also like the connection between Theo and Sally Spectra.

CASTING NOTES

Don Diamont, who played the role of Brad Carlton on Y&R from 1985 to 2009, will make an appearance in Genoa City.  No, Brad is not returning from the dead.  As fans know, Don currently portrays Bill Spencer on Y&R's sister soap, The Bold and the Beautiful.  There will be another crossover between B&B and Y&R. the week of February 8th, during the February sweeps.

Tricia Cast, who plays Chance's mother, Nina Webster, will also be returning in February.  I don't have details, but presumably she will be involved in the Chance/Abby storyline.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Three's a crowd and Victoria is really in the way of Lily and Billy's romance.  Fans, do you think she will succeed in braking them up?  Respond to the poll below and let me know.

Do you think Billy and Lily will last as a couple?

Yes, they make a great couple. Victoria will try to interfere, but Billy will not go back to her.

No, Billy and Lily don't have a chance with Victoria in the picture. She will continue to use the children to manipulate Billy.

Maybe. It depends on how much Billy has really changed.

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, February 13, 2021.  The February sweeps will soon be upon us and Y&R is pulling out all the stops; so enjoy the show.

Take care and stay safe,

- Joanne