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.
So fans, what do you think of Mark Grossman, the new Adam Newman? I haven't warmed up to him so far. I certainly don't like him as much as Justin Hartley or Michael Muhney. He reminds me too much of a model turned actor. Maybe he will grow on me. He hasn't had the role for very long and Muhney and Hartley are hard acts to follow.
Now that Melissa Claire Egan is returning as Chelsea Lawson, other Y&R characters, especially Adam and Nick, will be affected. Meanwhile, Adam's return will certainly have an tremendous impact on Chelsea. She doesn't know he's alive yet, so she will be absolutely shocked to find out that he has survived the explosion. Remember that Chelsea and Adam are still married. Although Nick was engaged to Chelsea, she took off before they were able to wed (At least she didn't unknowingly commit bigamy). Chelsea is the love of Adam's life and he wants to be reunited with her and their son, Connor. That was one of his three demands, along with $500 million dollars and custody of his other son, Christian.
Victor Newman is Adam's strongest supporter even though Adam has behaved like a prodigal son. There is a lot more to Adam's agenda. I am very skeptical of him. I wonder if he really lost his memory and why he was shot. Someone confessed to the shooting but Police Chief Paul Williams, who doesn't seem so clueless anymore, doesn't believe the case could be solved so easily. It's all very fishy and Adam is so secretive and unpredictable. What is he hiding?
It seems that Victor wants Adam to be his heir at Newman Enterprises, even though Victoria is an experienced businesswoman. She has been much more loyal and devoted. She deserves the honour more than her wayward younger brother. Is there some sexism involved on Victor's part because Adam is male? I don't blame Princess Victoria for being upset.
Victor Newman is Adam's strongest supporter even though Adam has behaved like a prodigal son. There is a lot more to Adam's agenda. I am very skeptical of him. I wonder if he really lost his memory and why he was shot. Someone confessed to the shooting but Police Chief Paul Williams, who doesn't seem so clueless anymore, doesn't believe the case could be solved so easily. It's all very fishy and Adam is so secretive and unpredictable. What is he hiding?
It seems that Victor wants Adam to be his heir at Newman Enterprises, even though Victoria is an experienced businesswoman. She has been much more loyal and devoted. She deserves the honour more than her wayward younger brother. Is there some sexism involved on Victor's part because Adam is male? I don't blame Princess Victoria for being upset.
It's spring and love must be in the air. Our Traci Abbott seems to be the latest recipient of Cupid's arrow. The object of her affections is Cane Ashby. She is quite smitten with the debonair Aussie, but he doesn't seem to feel the same about her. Is Traci a victim of unrequited love and will her heart be broken? Will Cane eventually fall for her once he gets over Lily? I appears that he only regards Traci as a friend right, but that could change, especially if Lily continues to reject his attempts at reconciliation.
I enjoyed the scene between Lauren and Traci. Lauren was perceptive enough to remark that if she didn't know better, she'd think Traci was in love. Those two have quite a history. Longtime viewers will remember their younger days when Lauren picked on the overweight Traci and tormented her because she was so insecure. The two seem to have left that all behind and are friendly with each other now. Lauren, ever the matchmaker, wants Jack to meet someone, especially after his bad experiences with Phyllis and Kerry. At the moment, I can't think of anyone in Genoa City for Jack to date. Lauren tried to set him up with a businesswoman named Claire from Chicago. However, I expect Lauren's matchmaking to backfire on her.
Dina's condition is worsening. Her children want to send her to a long-term care facility and Ashley is coming home to help deal with the situation. Dina overheard the plans and is going to resist, but she will inevitably be sent there, unless something happens before she goes. It looks like Eileen Davidson make another appearance as Ashley.
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.
Regular contributor CC in Etobicoke sent me the following email.
Hello Joanne,
As far as I am concerned, if the actor they chose to play Adam (Mark Grossman) is the best they could do, they should have let Adam stay out in the Universe somewhere. I can feel the cool breeze whenever he is in a scene, both because he doesn't suit the role and his acting skills are limited. He is definitely not Justin Hartley.
It looks like the storyline is heading in the direction of Adam developing the same disease as his mother Hope. In today's episode it appeared he was even practising, or is it something sinister that Dr. Nate and referring to? We know that Victor is behind everything, so what part is he playing in all of this? If it is the blindness, rearing its ugly head again, isn't this a resurrection of a previous storyline?
Wow! We are finally see a more grown up Faith who does not seem to be too impressed with her mother and her same old, same old love life. Life has not been kind to poor Faith when it comes to shenanigans her parents get up to, especially mother Sharon.
Do you think something is going to develop between Lauren and Jack, or is this a tease to distract the viewers?
Kyle and Lola? Summer will be messing with that for sure. Hopefully, it will mean the departure of Lola as both the character and the actress haven't got it. Of course, one can always hope that whatever Summer does to mess up everyone's life is evil enough for her to have to leave town for a long time.
By the way, did you notice that the actor who played Theo in a few scenes looked eerily like the actor who stalked Abby? He is not the same actor you featured recently who will be taking on the role in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for writing, CC. You have given me a lot of food for thought and you have raised some very worthwhile questions. I am not impressed with the new Adam either. You are right. He's not Justin Hartley. However, we are asking him to fill big shoes. Justin Hartley was so good, he became a big star on prime time television. If Mark Grossman were as good as Hartley, he'd be a star on prime time too. Having said that, I think they could have cast a better actor for the part. To be fair, though, I will give Grossman some time to grow into the role. I will be pleasantly surprised if he is able to do so. Sometimes, I think it would have been better if the writers had not brought Adam back from the dead again. Maybe he's had enough lives. The fans have been clamouring for his return, though. Maybe if Mark Grossman becomes unpopular, he'll be replaced by another actor.
The writers have already played the"blindness card" before with Adam. I don't see that it serves any purpose to have him become blind again.
Yes, I've also noticed that Faith is really growing up. I don't blame her for being sick and tired of her parents' shenanigans. She has become cynical at a very young age. Although she's had all the material advantages of being a Newman, she's had a terrible family life. Sharon and Nick have had so many different partners and make-ups and break-ups that poor Faith can't keep track of new boyfriends, girlfriends, stepfathers and stepmothers. Rey is the latest to enter the revolving door. Who will be nest? Will it be Nick again or someone else>? I hope Faith can rise above her miserable childhood and become a better adult then her parents.
It appears that something is brewing between Jack and Lauren because they have certainly been in a lot of scenes together lately. Jack decided to have dinner with Lauren, rather than call Claire in Chicago. That's why it doesn't seem like Lauren's matchmaking is only comic release. She and Michael seem so happy together, but that can change rapidly on a soap. Whatever happens, Michael and Lauren's relationship will be tested as never before. According to one online spoiler, circumstances will cause Michael to explore his long-buried dark side again. That may push Lauren in Jack's direction.
Summer may have let Kyle go, but I think she will continue to do everything in her power to break up his relationship with Lola. In the end, I doubt that K and L will last. Kyle will move on and Lola will have a broken heart. Summer, may become involved with Theo, but that still won't stop Snowflake from interfering with Kyle and Lola. Unlike you, I don't mind Summer and Lola on the show. Summer stirs things up. Lola is not a great actress, but she is a great foil for the Snowflake.
In the last edition of Y&R Report, I featured Tyler Johnson, who was reported to have been cast in the role Theo. I assume that Tyler will be taking over the role soon. Maybe there was dissatisfaction with the original Theo. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, CC.
I received some comments from longtime Y&R viewer Fifi in Collingwood, Ontario. Fifi remarked that Lola's kiss-filled meetings with Kyle at Society, while she is supposed to be working, would never be tolerated at a real restaurant. It would be considered unprofessional for a chef to do that while on the job.
Hello Joanne,
As far as I am concerned, if the actor they chose to play Adam (Mark Grossman) is the best they could do, they should have let Adam stay out in the Universe somewhere. I can feel the cool breeze whenever he is in a scene, both because he doesn't suit the role and his acting skills are limited. He is definitely not Justin Hartley.
It looks like the storyline is heading in the direction of Adam developing the same disease as his mother Hope. In today's episode it appeared he was even practising, or is it something sinister that Dr. Nate and referring to? We know that Victor is behind everything, so what part is he playing in all of this? If it is the blindness, rearing its ugly head again, isn't this a resurrection of a previous storyline?
Wow! We are finally see a more grown up Faith who does not seem to be too impressed with her mother and her same old, same old love life. Life has not been kind to poor Faith when it comes to shenanigans her parents get up to, especially mother Sharon.
Do you think something is going to develop between Lauren and Jack, or is this a tease to distract the viewers?
Kyle and Lola? Summer will be messing with that for sure. Hopefully, it will mean the departure of Lola as both the character and the actress haven't got it. Of course, one can always hope that whatever Summer does to mess up everyone's life is evil enough for her to have to leave town for a long time.
By the way, did you notice that the actor who played Theo in a few scenes looked eerily like the actor who stalked Abby? He is not the same actor you featured recently who will be taking on the role in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for writing, CC. You have given me a lot of food for thought and you have raised some very worthwhile questions. I am not impressed with the new Adam either. You are right. He's not Justin Hartley. However, we are asking him to fill big shoes. Justin Hartley was so good, he became a big star on prime time television. If Mark Grossman were as good as Hartley, he'd be a star on prime time too. Having said that, I think they could have cast a better actor for the part. To be fair, though, I will give Grossman some time to grow into the role. I will be pleasantly surprised if he is able to do so. Sometimes, I think it would have been better if the writers had not brought Adam back from the dead again. Maybe he's had enough lives. The fans have been clamouring for his return, though. Maybe if Mark Grossman becomes unpopular, he'll be replaced by another actor.
The writers have already played the"blindness card" before with Adam. I don't see that it serves any purpose to have him become blind again.
Yes, I've also noticed that Faith is really growing up. I don't blame her for being sick and tired of her parents' shenanigans. She has become cynical at a very young age. Although she's had all the material advantages of being a Newman, she's had a terrible family life. Sharon and Nick have had so many different partners and make-ups and break-ups that poor Faith can't keep track of new boyfriends, girlfriends, stepfathers and stepmothers. Rey is the latest to enter the revolving door. Who will be nest? Will it be Nick again or someone else>? I hope Faith can rise above her miserable childhood and become a better adult then her parents.
It appears that something is brewing between Jack and Lauren because they have certainly been in a lot of scenes together lately. Jack decided to have dinner with Lauren, rather than call Claire in Chicago. That's why it doesn't seem like Lauren's matchmaking is only comic release. She and Michael seem so happy together, but that can change rapidly on a soap. Whatever happens, Michael and Lauren's relationship will be tested as never before. According to one online spoiler, circumstances will cause Michael to explore his long-buried dark side again. That may push Lauren in Jack's direction.
Summer may have let Kyle go, but I think she will continue to do everything in her power to break up his relationship with Lola. In the end, I doubt that K and L will last. Kyle will move on and Lola will have a broken heart. Summer, may become involved with Theo, but that still won't stop Snowflake from interfering with Kyle and Lola. Unlike you, I don't mind Summer and Lola on the show. Summer stirs things up. Lola is not a great actress, but she is a great foil for the Snowflake.
In the last edition of Y&R Report, I featured Tyler Johnson, who was reported to have been cast in the role Theo. I assume that Tyler will be taking over the role soon. Maybe there was dissatisfaction with the original Theo. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, CC.
I received some comments from longtime Y&R viewer Fifi in Collingwood, Ontario. Fifi remarked that Lola's kiss-filled meetings with Kyle at Society, while she is supposed to be working, would never be tolerated at a real restaurant. It would be considered unprofessional for a chef to do that while on the job.
Eva LaRue joining cast as Rosales mother
With the departure of Arturo and Mia, it looked like Y&R wouldn't be focusing as much on the Rosales clan. Now we learn that All My Children favourite, Eva LaRue is joining the cast of The Young and the Restless as Celeste Rosales, the mother of Rey, Arturo and Lola. I wonder if they are going to use makeup to age Eva because she appears far too young to be the mother of Rey, Arturo and Lola,- especially Rey. Maybe Celeste was just a teenager when she gave birth to her eldest. Eva was actually born on December 27, 1966, which make makes her 52 years old. She sure doesn't look her age.
One thing for sure, Mama Rosales will not be pleased about what's happened to her family. It will be interesting to see how she will react to the breakup of Rey's marriage to Mia. How will she feel about Arturo and Mia having a baby together, her grandchild? How will she feel about Rey and Sharon?Will she be happy about Lola and Kyle?
Eva is a native of California. Her ethnic background is Puerto Rican, French, Dutch and Scottish. After graduating from high school, she launched a career as a model and eventually worked with Frederick's of Hollywood. She was a co-host on Candid Camera from 1991 to 1992. She portrayed Dr. Maria Santos Grey on All My Children from 1993 to 1997 and from 2002 to 2005. She was part of All My Chilren's supercouple, Edmund and Maria.
Eva is scheduled to make her first Y&R appearance on Wednesday June 26 (CBS) and Tuesday, June 25 (Global TV, Canada).
Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL
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| Mark Grossman |
Now that we've watched Mark Grossman in the role of Adam Newman, what do you think of his performance? Respond to the poll below and let me know.
Are you pleased with Mark Grossman's performance as the new Adam?
That's all for now. Don't forget that the next edition of Y&R will appear in this space on Saturday, June 8, 2019.
- Joanne
