Y&R Report (December 8 2018): 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.    

Fenmore Baldwin is back in town and he has really thrown his parents for a loop.  Michael and Lauren were aghast when Fen informed them that he had quit law school and was planning on launching career in music.  It was not what they wanted to hear, especially Michael.  Michael has a passion for the law and was thrilled that his son seemed to be following in his footsteps, so he is very disappointed.  However, Fen is "young and restless" and he marches to the beat of his own drummer.  As you have noticed, another actor is playing the role of Fen.  Max Ehrich has been replaced by  Zach Tinker and I think Zach has done a good job so far.

What has happened to Hunter King (Summer) and why has she been sent to Dubai?  It's very hot there and the Snowflake might melt ( I couldn't resist that one).  At any rate, I have tried to find out if Hunter King has left the show.  Apparently, Y&R has made no comment on her status.

The J.T. mystery continues.  It's been dragging on and I hope it will be cleared up by the New Year, but I'm not holding my breath.  Mac is about to return to Genoa City and she may provide the key to solving the puzzle.  Yet, there are still so many unanswered questions regarding J.T. Hellstrom.

Who moved J.T.' body?

Who set fire to the Newman stables?

Is Victor being framed for J.T.'s murder?

Who placed the gun and the bloody shirt in the Newman stables.  Why is J.T.'s blood on the shirt and why are Victor's fingerprints the only fingerprints on the gun?

Is J.T. really dead or did he somehow climb out of the grave?

If he somehow escaped from the grave, did Victor murder him?  One thing is for sure, Victor is definitely involved.  He just has to stick his moustache into everything.

Nikki and Victoria and Sharon continue their criminal activity and callous behaviour.  I find it hard to believe that they would be so cruel toward Tessa.  They actually kidnapped her and left her out in the cold in the middle of nowhere.  Sharon was the only one who displayed some qualms about it, although she did nothing to stop it.  All three women are desperately trying to save their own skins and Nikki and the Princess are attempting to protect Victor from being accused of J.T.'s murder.  They don't want to believe that he may have moved J.T.'s body.  It's far easier for them to bully Tessa, who is not exactly the most trustworthy or forthright person.  Tessa's the perfect scapegoat for them because, unlike the Newmans, she's not rich and powerful.

Nick Newman has become the most conceited person in Genoa City.  He thinks he just has to flash his dimples and women will come running.  It's just sickening how Phyllis feeds his overblown ego.  That Rebekkah woman didn't help either.



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 received an email from longtime Y&R viewer CC in Etobicoke, Ontario.  Here are her comments.

Hi Joanne

I wonder where and why Victor has gone under the radar.

So far, the new Fen is more pleasant to look at and listen to, so not as annoying.  We will see how things go with Lola.  Regardless of the outcome, it will be a real tussle between him and Kyle over her.  Someone could get seriously hurt . . . maybe even killed.  

Don't you think it a little strange that virgin Lola would just grab Kyle for a big smack on the lips.  There might be more to Lola than what we have seen so far.  If her character sticks, we may find out what she is really about.  As far as I am concerned, Y&R can do without her and Ana.

Although it is too son, Devon needs to meet a replacement for Hilary.  I think they may be setting him up for that.  Who knows, they may even bring Mishael Morgan back post-baby to play the part of a new love for him.  Any word on her baby's due date?


Yes CC, Victor has gone under the radar, but he will be back soon and he may be the one behind the J.T. mystery.  He would do almost anything to protect his precious Nikki and his Princess Victoria.

Well, CC, I also like the new Fen, although I find him somewhat arrogant.  I don't think he'll make a play for Lola unless Kyle really messes things up.  It will probably happen because things can't go too perfectly for any couple on a soap.  Although Summer is out of the picture for now, I don't expect smooth sailing for Kyle and Lola.  They will hit some bumps on the road to romance.

Actually, CC, I don't think it was a little strange that Lola gave Kyle a "big smack on the lips."  I think Lola was just sending Kyle the message that he is the one she is interested in, not Fen.  As for Ana, she has just joined the cast.  I would like to give her a chance.  She needs a good storyline, though.

I agree that Devon needs to eventually have a new woman in his life.  However, I doubt he will fall in love with a Hilary look-alike played by Mishael Morgan.

Mishael Morgan (ex-Hilary Curtis Hamilton) gave birth to her second child, a baby girl on
November 8, 2018.  The child is named Naliya.  Mishael and her husband, Navid Ali, also have a three-year-old son, Niam.

Mishael Morgan and family  PHOTO CREDIT: Instagram

I recently chatted with regular contributor Fifi in Collingwood, Ontario.  Fifi had a prediction for me.  She thinks that Fen and Tessa are going to become involved.  It could happen because Tessa also seems to likes men.  Right now, however, she seems to be mending her fractured relationship with Mariah.  Mariah was shocked to find Tessa left alone in the cold.

Fifi also pointed out that Shauna (Camryn Hamm), unlike Paul Williams (Doug Davidson), was given a good send-off.  Doug Davidson a member of the Y&R cast for forty years, whereas Camryn Hamm has been on the show for less than a year.  Eileen Davidson, who, like Doug, had been on the show for a long time, was also given a wonderful send-off.  In her last scene, she was shown drinking champagne in an airplane on her way to Paris.

Much to Y&R's discredit, Doug Davidson has been treated shabbily.  Also, why has there been no explanation for Paul's absence.  At least, I haven't heard one.  The powers that be at Y&R should know that viewers are not impressed when longtime characters disappear without explanation.  Unlike the powers that be, fans have loyalty to their characters.  They will not soon forget how horribly Doug was treated.  I urge viewers to send emails to CBS tn protest.



CAST NEWS

Christel Khalil (Lily Winters Ashby) is returning

Crystel Khalil

There's good news for fans of Christel Khalil (Lily Winters Ashby.).  She will be returning to Y&R in time for the holiday season.  Daniel Goddard, who plays Christel's TV husband Cane, revealed the news on Twitter.  It looks as if Lily will be getting out of jail soon.  The Winters/Ashby family will probably have a big Christmas reunion with Lily at the prison.



Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Michael Mealor

Sasha Calle

Lola (Sasha Calle) and Kyle (Michael Mealor) appear to be in a good place right now, especially since Summer has left town.  Do you think they are suited to each other or would they both be better off with someone else?  Respond to the poll below and let me know your opinion.

Are Lola and Kyle a good match?

Yes. They have good chemistry and she is better for him than Summer.

No. They come from different worlds. it won't work.

No. She would be a better match with Fen.

I don't know.

Other

Please Specify:

Created with PollMaker

NOTE TO TORONTO AREA FANS

I was unable to attend the Y&R tea for the March of Dimes on December 2nd at the Royal York Hotel.  If you were there and have any photos of the event or any information that you would like to share with other Y&R fans, I urge you send me an email.  I would really appreciate your input and I would be happy to publish your photos and information on this website. 


That's all for now.  Don't forget that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, December 22nd.


- Joanne

Internet Digest #9

    

,

This is the ninth 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

AT&T's WarnerMedia will launch new streaming service in late 2019

There seems to be a glut of new streaming services and WarnerMedia will enter into the fray by the end of next year.  On October 10, 2018, WarnerMedia, the division of AT&T that includes HBO, announced plans for the new service.  It is a potential rival to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney's upcoming new venture, Disney+.  It will build on the strength of HBO.

WarnerMedia's CEO, John Stankey. made the following statement in an internal memo: "Our service will start with HBO and the genre defining programming that viewers crave.  On top of that we will package content from Turner and Warner Bros. with their deep brand connections that tough both diverse interests and mass audiences."

Details of the pricing and the name of WarnerMedia's new service will be announced later.

Source: Brian Stelter, CNN Business

Gamespot's (www.gamespot.com) choice for seven best entertainment streaming services in 2018

Did Netflix stay on top in the streaming game, or did a new challenger emerge to dethrone the champion? 

"Yes, Netflix has absolutely dominated in the category of original content - largely by simply making as many exclusive movies and shows as it can, and hoping some of them turn out great (which they did).  But did you manage to take advantage of Filmstruck while it was around?  If not, you missed out on streaming some of the greatest films ever made, not to mention the exclusive special features that often accompanied them.

Or what if horror is more your flavor?  Sure, Netflix had some great original horror movies and shows this year, but the classics were located elsewhere, on a platform that finally hit its stride stride in 2018.  If you were looking for more recent TV, Hulu was your best best . . ."

- Gamespot staff

Gamepot's choice of the best entertainment streaming services in 2018

1.  Netflix

2.  WWE Network

3.  Hulu

4.  Filmstruck

5.  Shudder

6.  Amazon Prime Video

7.  DC Universe

Disney+ and WarnerMedia will not slow Netflix's momentum says Netflix content boss

Ted Sarados

Netflix's chief content officer, Ted Sarados, has played down looming threats from Dsney+ and WarnerMedia.  He says he doesn't think that his company will lose ground due to the imminent launch of new streaming video services from large media companies.  In a December 3, 2018 speech at UBS's 2918 Global Media and Communications Conference in New York, Sarados stated, "I don't think they'll be to the detriment of Netflix . . . I think there's plenty of room in this business for other players to be successful."  He pointed out that when Netflix ventured into original programming seven years ago, starting with House of Cards, it "was a sure bet that studios and movie companies would likely move in to launch their own direct-to-consumer VOD (video on demand) offerings."

Source: Variety

Netflix has increased subscription rates in Canada

Watching Netflix in Canada costs you more now.  The giant streaming company has hiked its subscription rates in this country.  The increases were announced at the end of November and became effective immediately for new subscribers. Current subscribers were to receive an email notice before their bills increase.  The price for Netflix's standard plan, which enables subscribers to watch content on two screens at a time, has risen by $3.  It is now 13.99 a month.  The basic plan, which does not offer high definition and only allows one stream, has increased a dollar to $9.99 a month.  Premium plan subscribers will be paying $3 more or $16.99 a month to maintain four simultaneous streams and ultra high definition video.

Netflix is facing fierce competition from other streaming video services.  For example, Disney+ will enter the market in 2019 with its own streaming service and CBS All Access is adding to its library of of original shows,  Netflix has defended its subscription increases by saying that the funds will be used to subsidize upcoming TV series and for other improvements to its service.

Sources: The Canadian Press and CTV Ottawa

- Joanne

Whatever happened to Paula Prentess and Richard Benjamin?

   

Believe it or not, some celebrity marriages really do last.  Take Paula Prentiss and Richard Benjamin for example.  They wed on October 26, 1961 - that's over 56 years ago.  Although Richard and Paula have one of the longest lasting Hollywood unions, they are still outranked by 101-year-old Kirk Douglas and his 99-year-old wife Anne.  Kirk and Anne were married over 64 years ago, on May 29, 1954 (Note: Comedians Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara also married in 1954, but Meara died in 2015).

Paula Prentiss and Richard Benjamin's two children have followed in their parent's footsteps.  Ross Thomas Benjamin (born March 23, 1974) and Prentiss Benjamin (born July 3, 1978).are both actors.  Ross Benjamin is also an assistant director.  He is principally known for the films Primary Colors (1998), Hard Four (2007) and Chicanery (2017).  Ross appeared in Hard Four along with his mother Paula and his sister Prentiss.

Ross Benjamin

Prentiss Benjamin

Richard "Dick" Benjamin was born in New York City on May 22, 1938 to a Jewish family.  His father, Roger Benjamin, worked in the garment industry.  Dick attended the High School of Performing Arts in New York City.  He later graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago). While studying acting at the Northwestern theatre school, Richard met Paula, his future wife,  They were married in by a New York judge in 1961, when they were both 23 years old.

Paula Prentiss was born Paula Ragusa on March 4, 1938 in San Antonio. Texas. She is the daughter of Paulene (née Gardner)  and Thomas J. Ragusa.  Her father was of Sicilian decent and he was a Social Sciences professor at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.  Paula attended Mirabeau B. Lamar High School in Houston before enrolling at Northwestern University.  In 1958, while studying at Northwestern, Paula was discovered by a talent scout and she appeared in the 1960 film Where the Boys Are.  The movie was a solid box office success and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer offered Paula a seven-year contract.  MGM teamed her with Jim Hutton in a string of comedies such as The Honeymoon Machine (1961), Bachelor in Paradise (1961) and The Horizontal Lieutentant (1962).  She also appeared opposite Rock Hudson in Universal Picture's 1964 romantic comedy Man's Favorite Sport?.  In addition, she starred in Otto Preminger's epic war film In Harm's Way (1965) and in What's New Pussycat? (1965), another comedy.  What's New Pussycat? was written by Woody Allen (his first produced screenplay) and co-starred Peter Sellers, Peter O'Toole and Ursula Andress.

When Paula signed with MGM in 1960, she was asked to wed Dick because the studio did not want Paula travelling on promotional tours with someone who wasn't her spouse The studio also used the couple's wedding as a vehicle for publicity.  According to People magazine, Paula had to make phone calls to Hollywood gossip queens Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons prior to the marriage ceremony.

By the early 1960s, Paula Prentiss was a bona fide movie star, but it took her husband longer to achieve success in films.  Unlike Paula, Dick first made his mark on TV.  He appeared in a 1962 episode of a television crime series, The New Breed, starring Leslie Nielsen. He he also appeared in two episodes of Dr. Kildare: "The Chemistry of Anger" (Season 1, Episode 29, Air Date: April 26, 1962) and "A Hand Held Out in Darkness" (Season 2, Episode 33, Air Date: May 30, 1963).  In 1966, Dick had a role in an episode of Vacation Playhouse.  However, his big breakthrough on the big screen did not come until his starring role in the 1969 film Goodbye Columbus, opposite Ali MacGraw.  He then starred with Carrie Snodgress and Frank Langella in Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970) and with George Burns and Walter Matthau in Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys (1975).

Around 1965, Paula had health problems and suffered a breakdown on the set of What's New Pussycat? in Paris.  She was forced to take a respite from acting.  Here is how she described the incident to People magazine: "One day shooting, I just climbed up the ropes to the catwalk and started walking the beams.  Very loudly and clearly I called down to everyone on the set, 'I'm going to jump.'  A French technician grabbed me, and there I was, hanging by one arm."

Paula spent nine months recovering in hospitals, first  in Paris and then in New York's Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic.  After her release from hospital, she took a break from acting in order to concentrate on outpatient therapy.  Paula's next project, a television series with Dick, was therapeutic for her.  "It was worth it after what we'd been through," she was quoted as saying in People.  "By working together we learned to live with each other again."

From 1967 until 1968, Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss starred in a short-lived CBS television sitcom called He & She (It lasted for one season of 26 episodes).  They portrayed a sophisticated and quick-witted New York couple named Dick and Paula Hollister.  Dick was a comic-book artist and Paula was a social worker.  Also in the cast was Jack Cassidy as Oscar North, the pompous actor who portrayed Dick's cartoon creation, "Jetman," in a TV show.  According to The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows 1946-Present, the series "bore more than a passing resemblance to the classic Dick Van Dyke Show."

Richard and Paula in "He & She"

Although He & She was short-lived, Paula received an Emmy nomination  in 1968 for her work in the series.  She was nominated for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in  a Leading Role in a Comedy Series.  Todd VanDerWerff, in article for AV/TV Club, contends that He & She  was a victim unfortunate timing.  He argues that its ratings would have been higher had it aired during the 1970s.  At the time, CBS did not have "a huge number of timeslots conducive to a witty urban drama about two young married people . . ."  Rural comedies such as The Beverly Hillbillies,
Green Acres and Petticoat Junction were staples on the network back then.

He & She was also ahead of its time in its portrayal of Paula's character as a working wife, which was not common on television at the time.  Below is a 1967 publicity photo for He and She featuring Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss with Jack Cassidy.

After the cancellation of He & She, both Paula and Dick were cast in the 1970 black comedy Catch-22.  The film, based Joseph Heller's anti-war novel of the same name, was directed by Mike Nichols and starred Alan Arkiin in the lead role.  Paula Prentiss went on to play the role of Lee Carter in the 1974 political thriller The Parallax View, co-starring Warren Beatty.  She also portrayed Bobbie Marin in the 1975 hit film The Stepford Wives.  Paula was the second female lead in the science fiction horror thriller alongside Katharine Ross.  Richard Benjamin, meanwhile, found success directing movies. In fact, his first film as a director, My Favorite Year (1982), garnered an Academy Award nomination for its star, Peter O'Toole.  Dick also directed such popular as The Money Pit (1986) and Mermaids (1990).

Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss starred in a 1981 American horror comedy film entitled Saturday the 14th, a spoof of classic horror movies.  Duriing the 1990s, Paula guest-starred in episodes of Murder, She Wrote (1992) and Burke's Law (1995).


END NOTES

*  Paula Prentiss had a younger sister named Ann Prentiss (born Ann Elizabeth Ragusa) on November 27, 1939).  Ann was an actress who was known for her roles in films such as Captain Nice (1967), The Out of Towners (1970) and My Stepmother is an Alien (1988).  Ann passed away on January 12, 2010 in Los Angeles at the age of 70.

* In 2005, Dick and Paula appeared onstage at the Shadowland Theater in Ellenville, New York with their son Ross in the Arthur Miller play All My Sons.

*  On October 21, 2006, 32-year-old Ross Benjamin married Dr. Elizabeth Robinson, 31.  The couple met at Harvard University and were married at Trinity Church in Princeton, New Jersey.  Dr. Robinson received her medical degree and doctorate in cell biology from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.  At the time of the marriage, she was a a surgical resident at the medical centre of the University of California, Los Angeles.

* Paula had not appeared in a major role in a feature film for decades,until 2016's I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House, a horror film directed by Oz Perkins.  It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss

SOURCES: Country Living, January 9, 2018," Paula Prentiss and Richard Benjamin of 'He and She' Have One of the Longest Marriages in Hollywood" by Maria Carter; The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows 1946-Present; AV/TV Club, March 10, 2014, "He and She: The great 70s sitcom that aired in 1967" by Tony VanDerWerff; Wikipedia; IMDB.com


- Joanne

The Highest Earning and Most Popular Cartoons and Cartoon Characters on Television

Here is an inforgraphic on the most popular and highest earning animated shows and animated characters on television, including lists, charts and statistics.  If you are a fan of TV cartoons, this will be of great interest to you.  I hope you find it informative and entertaining.

- Joanne

The Top 100 Highest Earning Cartoon Characters

Ever wondered who would be the highest earning cartoon character if their fictional jobs were real? From baby supervillains to real estate agents, we analysed permanent and recurring characters from the top 10 most popular cartoons of 2018 to find out, including:

• American Dad
• Archer
• Bob’s Burgers
• Family Guy
• Futurama
• King Of The Hill
• Rick & Morty
• South Park
• Spongebob Squarepants
• The Simpsons

What’s the Combined Income of Each Shows Highest Earning Characters?

Of the cartoons we analysed, Futurama comes out on top in terms of combined earnings. The show features 10 characters in our top 100 list, with Mom accounting for the bulk of those earnings, pocketing a whopping $1,040,000,000 per year as the owner of Mom’s Friendly Robot Company and other ventures. The Simpsons and King Of The Hill both have 14 characters in our list, making a combined $458,615,300 and $833,300 respectively.

Cartoon Show	Total Earnings of Each Show’s Highest Earners	Number of Characters in Top 100 Highest Earners
Futurama	$1,042,020,200	10
The Simpsons	$458,615,300	14
Rick & Morty	$390,184,600	3
Family Guy	$329,479,800	13
Spongebob Squarepants	$11,060,400	11
Bob’s Burgers	$6,783,400	8
American Dad	$1,696,900	11
Archer	$1,339,000	8
South Park	$1,231,100	8
King Of The Hill	$833,300	14

https://money-pod.co.uk/

© 2014 Nouveau Finance Ltd. Moneypod is a trading style of Nouveau Finance Ltd.

Y&R Report (November 24, 2018): 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.    

Mia Rosales is certainly a piece of work, isn't she?  What a vamp!   She's really over the top, somewhat cartoonish, especially with her smiles and smirks.  She always shows up when Rey is talking to Sharon, as if she has a sixth sense.

Tessa is also a piece of work.  I've never trusted her and she has been unmasked as a con woman and a liar.  She no longer has Mariah fooled, but Mariah doesn't know about the hidden money in the teddy bear yet.  However, Victoria Newman certainly knows about it.  She confronted Tessa and retrieved the money.  Princess Victoria even threatened to make Tessa a suspect in the murder of J.T., invoking the usual Newman snobbery about her family's social standing in Genoa City.  The word of a poor person such as Tessa, Victoria said, would not carry as much weight as that of the great and glorious Newman family.

Nikki and Victor want to be Genoa City's power couple, as do Nick (who is becoming more like dear old dad everyday) and Phyllis.  It seems that Nick reconnected with Phyllis for two reasons: sex and power.  Sharon is the true love of Nick's life and Phyllis will always play second fiddle.  That was clearly evident in the scene where Nick looked at the photo of him and Phyllis dancing at the Jabot gala.  He imagined Sharon's face in the photo.  He lost her due to his own arrogance, but he's still pining over her.

Poor Faith.  She's growing up fast, but becoming hardened and cynical.  Nothing her parents do surprises her anymore.  It's a circus.  After witnessing Nick and Sharon's wedding fiasco, she was informed that her dad's ex, Phyllis, has moved in with him.  What a merry-go-round!  It's a wonder Faith is sane.  I hope she doesn't turn out to be a Snowflake like Summer.  I hope she decides not to make the same mistakes her parents have made.

Y&R may be into power couples, but the show lacks a real super couple.  Abby and Arturo?  Arturo is a sleazeball and Abby has the worst judgement in men.



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.

I have to say that I am not impressed with the casting choices of Lola and Mia.  Is it budget restraints?  I get the point but the roles are heavily Latin American stereotypical and smack of racism.  Lola's idea is to busy the words out.  Mia has great smirks and sneers.  She is coming across as very tough.  Can't imagine what Rey and Arturo saw in her.  If she is kept around, I wonder who her next victim will be?  Then again, if she winds up dead, there will be more than enough suspects . . . Rey, Abby, Arturo, Sharon . . .

Not looking forward to Reed's return.  I see nothing special in the model type who plays Kerry Johnson, the new chemist.  It appears that Kristoff St. John (Neil Winters) is taking an extended honeymoon.    It will not surprise me if his role goes the same way as Doug Davidson's.

I love the daily cliffhanger style but there are many roles and storylines where the producers and writers have dropped the ball . .  Nate, Shauna (thank goodness) , Devon . . . Just my musings.


Well CC, I'm not sure that the Latino characters are portrayed in a particularly racist or stereotypical manner.  Yes, Mia is wild and crazy and loose.  However, so are Phyllis and Sharon and they are not Hispanic.  Rae is a detective, Lola makes Cuban food and Arturo is a building contractor.  What's wrong with that?  Jack, Victor, Nick and Billy have had exploits just as bad as Arturo's.

I agree with you that Sasha Calle, who plays Lola, Rosales, and Noemi Gozalez, who plays Mia Rosales, are not great actors.  However, I think Lola is likeable and Mia is needed to cause trouble and stir things up.  I also can't understand what Arturo and Mia saw in Mia, but she may have a better side to her.  I agree that there would be a lot of suspects if she were to be murdered.  That may eventually happen, but right now the focus is on the J.T. murder mystery.

Reed doesn't bother me.  He's obviously coming back for the J.T. storyline.  It makes sense.  The new chemist, Kerry Johnson (Alice Hunter), is obviously a mode type and she hasn't impressed me much either.  However, I am willing to give her more time.  So, I will reserve judgement and give her a chance to grow on me.  Viewers don't know very much about her yet.  So far, though, I don't see much chemistry between her and Jack Abbott.

Kristoff St. John (Neil Winters) hasn't been on screen for a while.  Neil has moved closer to the location his daughter Lily's prison.  In real life, Kristoff St. John recently announced his engagement to a Russian model.  According to Wikipedia, the wedding is scheduled to take place in the fall of 2019.  So, Kristoff is not on his honeymoon yet - unless Wikipedia is wrong or the couple's plans have quickly changed.

I  hope Devon gets a storyline soon.  Its not too enjoyable watching him grieve over Hilary for so long.  It may be natural to grieve a loss in real life, but its not entertaining on a TV show.  It's depressing.  By the way, Devon's sister, Ana Hamilton, is returning to Genoa City and she may become involved with Dr. Nate.  Perhaps there will be a love triangle consisting of Nate, Victoria Newman and Ana.  As for Shauna, she doesn't impress me, but I can live with her on the show.  Besides, she has a fairly small part.

I don't think Kristoff's will end up like Doug Davidson, at least for the immediate future.  For one thing, he's younger.  Also, it's possible his character may become involved with Kerry Johnson.  Then he would have Jack for a rival. 


CAST NEWS
California wildfire destroys the home of Tracey E. Bregman (Lauren Fenmore)

Tracey E. Bregman's home went down in flames.  The actress, who plays Lauren Fenmore on The Young and the Restless, lost her house to one of the blazing California wildfires that have been burning through the most populous American state.  Thankfully, Tracey and her family and pets were not harmed since everyone was evacuated from the Malibu home.

Tracey shared her feelings on Twitter.  She said she was numb from the horrendous experience, but thanked God that everyone was safe.  Fans sent messages of support to her. 


American Idol alumnus Loren Lott has joined the cast of Y&R

California native Loren Lott is coming to Genoa City. She will portray Devon Hamilton's sister, Ana Hamilton.  Ana will try to shake Devon out of his depression, but will she find romance with Dr. Nate along the way?

Lorna, a singer who has appeared on American Idol, will make her Y&R debut on Wednesday, November 28th (CBS) and Tuesday, November 27 on Global TV in Canada.


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Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Mia Rosales is one wild and crazy woman.  How do you like her so far, fans?  Respond to the poll below and let me know.

Do you like Mia?

Yes, she's a fun character. I enjoy her antics.

No, she's too over the top and she's not a good actress.

I don't know.

Other

Please Specify:

Online Quiz Maker

ATTENTION TORONTO AREA Y&R FANS

The annual Y&R tea in support of the March of Dimes will take place at the Royal York Hotel on Sunday, December 2nd.  Beth Maitland (Traci Abbott) and Bryton James (Devon Hamilton) will be there as well as Kate Linder (Esther ) and Christian LeBlanc (Michael).  If you are interested in attending this event, click on the link below.

https://marchofdimes.akaraisin.com/Common/Event/Home.aspx?seid=17401&mid=8

That's all for now.  Don't forget that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, December 8, 2018.  The November sweeps are drawing to a close.  Maybe we'll finally find the answer to the J.T.  mystery before the end of the year.  I'm not holding my breath, though.

Christmas and New Year are just around the corner.  They should be fun.


- Joanne

Whatever happened to Loni Anderson?

Loni Anderson isn't exactly a natural blonde.  For much of her early life, she was a brunette.  However, despite her bleach-blonde hair, she is not stereotypically ditzy or dumb - far from it.  Neither was her most well-known TV character, Jennifer Marlowe, on the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati.  Loni played Jennifer from 1978 to 1982 and received three Golden Globe and two Emmy nominations for her role as the highly-skilled and witty receptionist.at a fictional radio station.

"I was very much against Jennifer just being a blonde window dressing," Loni told Ryan Neal in an interview for RidiculouslyExtraordinary.  "I know my character's intelligence is why Jennifer Marlow became such an iconic figure.  No one was doing that.  Glamorous blondes were not the smartest persons in the room.  And the only blondes that were allowed to be funny before our show had to play dumb.  That's why Jennifer was so innovative."

Loni Kaye Anderson was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on August 5, 1946.  Her mother, Maxine Hazel (née Kallin; 1924–1985), was a model.  Her father, Klaydon Carl "Andy" Anderson was an environmental chemist.  Loni was raised in suburban Roseville, Minnesota and attended Alexander Ramsey Senior High School there. She later studied at the University of Minnesota, where she obtained a degree in education.  During her student days, Loni secretly entered beauty contests.  She made her screen debut in an uncredited role as a brunette saloon girl in Nevada Smith, a 1966 Western, starring Steve McQueen. 

Loni in senior year at Alexander Ramsay High School in 1963

Anderson was married and divorced before the age of 21. While attending college, she was compelled to accept a position as a teacher in order to support herself and her baby daughter.  However, acting was always in her blood.  In the  article by Ryan Neal for RidiculouslyExtraordianry, Loni is quoted as saying, "I did begin as a teacher but, to be honest, I did it for my parents.  "I earned my teaching degree because they didn't think acting was a good profession to fall back on.  I was a teenage mom and they thought I should have something more stable."

Loni couldn't stay away from acting.  She performed in Midwestern repertory theatre and television commercials before moving to Hollywood with her second husband in 1975.  In the mid-1970s, Loni had numerous television roles.  In 1975, she appeared in two episodes of the crime drama S.W.A.T.  In one episode, "The Steel-Plated Security Blanket" (Season 1, Episode 9, Air Date: April 28, 1975), she portrayed Miss Texas.  In "The Deadly Tide: Part 1" (Season 2, Episode 1, Air Date: September 13, 1975), she portrayed an art teacher.

In 1975, Loni guest-starred in episodes of The Invisible Man, Harry O, Phyllis and Police Woman,.  In 1976, she appeared on Police Story, Vigilante Force, Barnaby Jones and The McLean Stevenson Show.  In 1977, she played Daroon in a television movie entitled The Magnificent Magical Magnet of Santa Mesa.  She also appeared in an episode of The Bob Newhart Show.  She finally go her big break  in 1978 when she was cast as Jennifer Marlowe in the popular sitcom WKPR in Cincinnati.

During the 1980 summer hiatus, Loni walked off the set of  WKRP in Cincinnati due to a salary dispute.  While she was re-negotiating her contract, she portrayed Jayne Mansfield in the CBS made-for-television movie The Jayne Mansfield Story.  Her co-star was Arnold Schwarzenegger, who played Jayne's husband, bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay.  The film aired on October 29, 1980.

During the mid to late 1980s, Loni's acting career declined.  For the most part, she appeared in television versions of Hollywood film classics such as Letter to Three Wives (1985), with Michele Lee and Sorry, Wrong Number (1989), alongside Patrick Macnee and Hal Holbrook and Coins in the Fountain (an update of the 1954 film Three Coins in the Fountain).  However, she received positive reviews for her performance as comic actress Thelma Todd in the 1991 TV movie White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd.  In 1991, she also reprised her role as Jennefer Marlowe in two episodes of The New WKPR in Cincinnati.

Loni joined the cast of the NBC sitcom Nurses in 1993, when it was in its third season.  She portrayed hospital administrator Casey MacAffee.  However, the show was experiencing low ratings, and was cancelled soon after her arrival.  During the 1990s, Loni made guest appearances on such shows as Burke's Law (1994) Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1997) Clueless (1998) and V.I.P. (1999).  She also played the role of Teri Carson in three 1996 episodes of Melrose Place.

From 2003 to 2004, Loni starred as as Mandi Mullet-Heidecker in 13 episodes of the short-lived series The Mullets.  In 2006, she played the role of Kiki Spelling in eight episodes of So Notorious, a parody of the life of Tori Spelling.  Since 2016, she has portrayed Frances in the Internet series My Sister is Gay, about a middle-aged gay man whose sister, Amanda (Wendy Michaels) is having difficulty dealing with her brother's homosexuality.  Loni plays their vampy mother.

Loni has been married four times and divorced three times. Her first husband was Bruce Hasselberg (from 1964 to 1966).  Her second husband was actor Ross Bickell (from 1973 to 1981).  Her third husband was actor Burt Reynolds.  Loni and Burt first met on the Merv Griffin Show in 1981 and  they co-starred in the 1983 comedy film Stroker Ace, a box office flop..

On April 28, 1988, Burt and Loni wed in a top-secret ceremony at Burt's BR Horse Ranch in Jupiter, Florida.  Their wedding made the cover of the May 16, 1988 issue of People magazine.  Celebrities such as Ann-Margaret and Jim Nabors witnessed the 20-minute ceremony, while media helicopters  hovered above the Florida Ranch.

The marriage eventually soured.  In June of 1993, Burt Reynolds'  representative announced that Burt and Loni had split and that the marriage was "irretrievably broken," although Reynolds "had the highest regard and respect for Miss Anderson,"  It was further stated that Burt "feels his priorities and hers have become different."

Their divorce was one of the nastiest ones in Hollywood and the tabloids had a field day.  There were financial entanglements and allegations of cheating.  He also accused her of being a bad mother to Quinton.  In 1995, Loni claimed that Burt used to beat her.  In a 2015 interview with People magazine, Burt expressed regret that he had married Loni.  He said it was a "really dumb move on my part" and that he shouldn't have married an actress.  "It wasn't lollipops and roses," he proclaimed.

In his autobiography, But Enough About Me: A Memoir, Burt complained about Loni's shopping habits.  In an interview with Entertainment Tonight (ET), he stated that his ex-wife spent money so lavishly that she could have driven Aristotle Onassis into bankruptcy.  "I really couldn't afford her," he declared.

Loni married her fourth husband, folk singer Bob Flick, on May 17. 2008.  The couple wed at the Bel Air Hotel n Bel Air, California.   Bob is a founding member of the 1960s folk group The Brothers Four.  Loni first met him in Minneapolis in 1963 at the movie premiere of the Charlton Heston epic 55 Days at Peking.  The Brothers Four had had a hit on the pop charts with the song "Greenfields."  A local newspaper sent 17-year-old Loni out to pose with the group as a "lucky young fan."

Loni and Bob Flick

Loni Anderson has two children.  She has a daughter named Deidre (born 1965) from her marriage to Bruce Hasselberg and a son, Quinton Anderson Reynolds (born August 31, 1988), whom she and Burt Reynolds adopted.  It was Quinton who walked his mother down the aisle when she married Bob Flick.

Loni's daughter, Deidre Hoffman, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2009, causing Loni to take a break from acting.  She left Hollywood so that she could help Deidre battle her debilitating disease. In an April 2018 interview with Dan Clarendon of Closer Weekly, Loni said that she fell apart.  "I didn't want to fall apart in front of her because I knew she was struggling to maintain herself, but it was difficult to come to grips with," Loni told Clarendon.  She stood beside her daughter, though, and steadfastly accompanied her daughter to "every MRI, every test."

Loni and daughter Deidre Hoffman

END NOTES

* Loni has a sister named Andrea Sams.

* Loni's ex-husband, Burt Reynolds, died of a heart attack at the Jupiter Medical Center in Jupiter, Florida. on September 6, 2018.  Burt was 82 years old at the time of his passing,

* Loni's autobiography, My Life in High Heels, was published in 1995.

- Joanne

Y&R Report (November 10, 2018): 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 quite a gruesome Halloween on Y&R with the four conspirators (Victoria, Nikki, Sharon and Phyllis) digging up J.T.'s burial place. It was even somewhat comical as all the members of the quirky quartet were wearing masks.  The mystery continues, though.  Is J.T. really dead or did he somehow dig himself out of his burial place in Chancellor Park.  Is that why the water pipe was damaged?  It sounds far-fetched, but remember that this is a soap.

Detective Rey Rosales has announced a murder investigation.  J.T.'s watch (with an inscription from Mac) was found in Chancellor Park.  It's seems that even further evidence was uncovered which led to the murder investigation.  We shall see.  There's bound to be more twists and turns as the mystery unravels during the November sweeps.

So, Phyllis is a born-again redhead.  She dyed her hair red again to go with her fiery disposition.  She's where she wants to be right now, ensconced on John Abbott's chair as CEO of Jabot.  She may find herself behind bars instead if J.T. is really dead.  She'll be wearing an orange jumpsuit instead of her usual fashionable attire.

Now, as much as I support the empowerment of women, which Phyllis champions, I don't like her methods.  It's great that Phyllis is ambitious, but she's also unprofessional and indiscreet.  For example, did she really have to advertise her escapades with Nick?  I realize that she has to be careful that she is not undermined by Kyle and Jack and Billy. She has to establish her authority.  However, she can't alienate them completely if she wants them to work with her as a team.  Even Summer pointed that out to her. She advised her mother to give Kyle something productive and useful to do or he would become very bitter.  That was pretty astute for the Snowflake, wasn't it?

Summer may get her claws into Kyle again.  Phyllis has them working together on a project for the new Jabot boutiques.  Snowflake suggested that they don't have to work too closely together.  However, Kyle would have none of it.  What is wrong with Kyle?  He doesn't seem to possess enough good judgement to distance himself from Summer.  He just can't stay away from her, even for the sake of his relationship with Lola.  The Snowflake, of course, is pleased as punch with this turn of events.  Kyle fell right into her web, or should I say igloo?  I understand  that Lola doesn't want to  be insecure and overly jealous, but I wouldn't trust Summer.  She is as devious and underhanded as her mother.  She will do almost everything in her power to break up Kyle and Lola.

Snowflake has quite a pedigree because her father is the biggest jerk in Genoa City.  Nick is becoming more like his father every day.  He turned to Phyllis because she knows how to pander to his inflated ego.  I think he's a bigger jerk than Billy Boy Abbott, although it's a close call.  Billy's behaviour, at least, can be partly attributed to his gambling addiction.  That's an illness and he has been trying to get help for it.  What's Nick's excuse?

Sharon seems to be getting chummy with Billy Abbott again.  According to internet spoilers, Billy will be her date at the Jabot boutique launch.  She's turning to him because Rey's wife is back in town.  Only Sharon could dump Genoa City's biggest jerk and then become involved with its second biggest jerk.

Tessa has been behaving very strangely.  What is she hiding and how is she involved in the J.T. mystery?  It appears that she is full of secrets, including stashing stacks of money in her closet and then in her mattress.   Mariah saw her with the hidden money and is going to be very suspicious.  Could it be the $250,000 that was extorted from Nikki, Phyllis, Victoria and Sharon?  Is Tessa the blackmailer who sent those threatening letters or are the writers just trying to convince us that she is?

Leftovers from Ashley's departure.  I have some further comments regarding Ashley's farewell.  First of all, why didn't she say goodbye to Neil in person.  He couldn't have meant very much to her if he only warranted a phone call.  She just informed him that she had decided to move to Paris and invited him to visit her there.  Neil didn't express anger or disappointment that she didn't have the decency to visit him in person and tell him of her plans.

There were a bit too many Abbott family flashbacks. They were necessary and I enjoyed them, but after a while they seemed like fillers.  Let's call it too much of a good thing.


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

Longtime Y&R viewer, Fifi in Collingwood, Ontario passed along some comments to me.  Fifi thinks that the new Jabot chemist, Kerry Johnson, will get involved with Neil Winters.  She also predicts a romance between Victoria and Dr. Nate.

I tend to agree about Victoria and Dr. Nate.  They seem to be appearing in a lot of scenes together and developing a friendship.  As for Kerry Johnson, I don't quite know what to think of her yet. I need some more time to get used to her.  One thing for sure, she's extremely loyal to Phyllis, almost to a fault.  She may become involved with Neil since Ashley is out of the picture.  However. Jack Abbott also seems to be showing an interest in her.  He invited her to attend the Jabot boutique launch with him.  She played coy with him and refused to give him an answer right away.


CAST NEWS
Noemi Gonzalez has been cast as Rae's wife, Mia

Noemi Gonzalez

Y&R viewers have been wondering if and when Ray's spouse would appear in Geona City.  Well, it's happened.  The Young and the Restless has cast 26-year-old Mexican-born actress Noemi Gonzalez in the role of  Rae's estranged wife, Mia.  Mia will show up in Genoa City on Monday, November 12th on CBS.  Y&R viewers on Global TV in Canada watched her make her screen  debut yesterday.  CBS viewers have only seen her on the Friday previews for next week.

Mia's arrival in Genoa City will certainly shake things up.  Rey has been very tight-lipped about what went wrong between them., but we will soon learn the reason for their estrangement.  It will be interesting to watch how Mia deals with Sharon.  It may be a case of blonde versus brunette.  In the previews, we  have already seen her tell Sharon to stay away from Rey.

Noemi Gonzalez is a newcomer to soaps and she is a native of Nogales, Mexico.  Her credits include such films as Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014) and  the The Vatican Tapes (2015), both horror thrillers.  She also appeared as Olivia in an episode of the short-lived 2014 television crime drama, Gang Related.and has had a recurring role as Soli Gomez in the teen high school drama East Los High.



Where is Victor Newman?  Here's the answer.

Victor Newman has not appeared on screen for quite a while. Nikki told Rey that he is in Singapore on business.  The reason Victor has been written out for a while is that Eric Braeden, the actor who portrays Victor, has been on an extended vacation.  Eric is a native of Germany and he has been visiting the land of his birth.  So don't worry fans.  He is not leaving Y&R.

Eric is back now and here's what he tweeted to fans on October 23rd:

"I was on vacation, didn't tell them I'd be back until last minute and am now very excited about my storyline!!  No one else's fault but mine!!  Be patient a little longer!!  It's a hell of a storyline!!"


For some photos of Eric's trip, click on the link below.  The photos include a picture of Eric with his brothers.

https://www.cbs.soapsindepth.com/posts/the-young-and-the-restless-eric-braeden-germany-vacation-168026

Tristan Lake Leabu returning as Reed Hellstrom

Now that the J.T. mystery is heating up, Tristan Lake Leabu will reprise his role as Reed Hellstom, J.T.'s son with Victoria.  According to Soaps in Depth, Reed will be back in Genoa City on Monday, December 10 on CBS (Friday, December 7th on Global TV).  Obviously his return will be connected to the disappearance or murder of his father.

CASTING NOTE:  Lauren Lott will play the part of Devon Hamilton's sister, Anna Hamilton beginning on November 28th on CBS (November 27th on Global TV).


Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Phyllis is bossy and controlling.  Her personal life is a mess, but she knows fashion and makeup.  Should she be CEO of Jabot?  What do you think, fans?  Respond to the poll below and let me know.

Should Phyllis be Jabot's CEO?

Yes. She's smart and has a good eye for cosmetics and fashion.

No. She's too unprofessional and allows her messy personal life to affect business decsions.

I don't know.

Other

Please Specify:

Created with Survey Maker

ATTENTION TORONTO AREA Y&R FANS

The annual Y&R tea in support of the March of Dimes will take place at the Royal York Hotel on Sunday, December 2nd.  Beth Maitland (Traci Abbott) and Bryton James (Devon Hamilton) will be there as well as Kate Linder (Esther ) and Christian LeBlanc (Michael).  If you are interested in attending this event, click on the link below.

https://marchofdimes.akaraisin.com/Common/Event/Home.aspx?seid=17401&mid=8


That's all for now.  Please remember that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, November 24, 2018.  We're in the midst of the November sweeps and it should be fun.  I'm expecting lots of twists and turns, especially with the J.T. mystery.  So, fasten your seatbelts.

Happy Thanksgiving to my readers in the United States.

- Joanne