Y&R Report (June 22, 2019): 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. 

In his latest incarnation, Adam Newman has really gone over to the dark side.  He has become so evil and immoral that Sharon is disgusted with him and Victor has kicked him off the Newman property.  That doesn't make it easy for Mark Grossman, the new Adam, to win any popularity contests with fans.  It's difficult to muster any sympathy for Victor's prodigal son.  He has bullied Kevin and he wants to take Christian away from Nick, the only father he has ever known.

In Adam's defence, though, his siblings and Billy shut him out and never gave him much of a chance, especially Billy Boy.  They continually refer to him as Delia's killer.  Adam did not intend to kill Delia.  Her death was an accident and wouldn't have happened if Billy hadn't left her unattended in the car while he went to buy some ice  cream.  Adam should have gone to the police and told them what happened.  He should have owned up to what he did.  Instead, he tried to hide it.  Still, he does not deserve all the blame for Delia's death.  Billy shares much of the responsibility, but he puts all the blame on Adam in order to assuage his own guilt.

Adam is very resourceful.  He somehow always survives.  He got control of Dark Horse, Nick's company, and he managed to buy Neil's penthouse from Dr. Nate.  So, he has a place to live now that he can't stay on the Newman ranch.  Adam has many enemies, but he manipulates his way around them.  Now he has formed an unholy alliance with Phyllis.

Princess Victoria Newman is on cloud nine.  She is now the CEO of Newman Enterprises while daddy Victor takes a break to deal with his health issues.  However, Victoria's triumph could be short-lived.  Here's what I think might happen.  As Y&R viewers know, Victor Newman has a rare blood disease called PNH.  PNH can be treated with a bone marrow transplant from someone of similar genetic background.  Adam, of course, would be the best donor, but he may refuse to save his father's life unless Victor makes him CEO of Newman Enterprise.  That puts Adam in the catbird seat and leaves Victoria out in the cold.

That was quite a scene between Victor and Nick.  The Great Victor Newman actually admitted that he was wrong when he tried to win custody of Christian from Nick.  He even apologized to his son, who was so touched that there were tears in his eyes.  That was quite an admission from Victor because "The Moustache" is not the type of man who likes to admit his mistakes and very rarely does.  This was a an exceptional move on his part.  Nick couldn't believe his ears.

It's so good to see Doug Davidson back on Y&R.  I'm also pleased that Melissa Claire Egan is reprising her role as Chelsea Lawson and that Greg Rikaart is back as Kevin Fisher.  As for Michelle Stafford's return as Phyllis, I'm also pleased about that.  Gina Tognoni was really good and I will miss her.  It's just that Michelle plays Phyllis like no other.  Fans really appreciate the familiar faces, but I think that's enough for now.  There are rumours that Billy Miller is going to return as Billy Abbott.  I really enjoyed Billy Miller in the role, but I've gotten used to Jason Thompson's portrayal of Billy.



CAST NEWS

Chloe (Elizabeth Hendrickson is back again)
               

     

It's not surprising that Elizabeth Hendrickson is returning as Chloe Mitchell again, given head writer Josh Griffith's penchant for bringing back familiar characters.  Elizabeth was last seen on The Young and the Restless back in February of 2017.  She's been playing the role of Margaux Dawson on General Hospital, but recently left GH.

Chloe is unbalanced.  She hates Adam and is determined to make him pay for the loss of her daughter, Delia.  So, Adam is going to have to be careful.  His enemies lurk everywhere.



Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Daniel Goddard (Cane Ashby)

Beth Maitland (Traci Abbptt)

It's about time that Traci Abbott had a little romance in her life, but is Cane Ashby the right guy for her?  Maybe, but I have my doubts. It's a gamble. Candy Cane can be charming and it's understandable why Traci has fallen for him.  Still, he is just getting over a painful divorce from Lily and he is lonely and vulnerable.  Is he just using Traci to fill a void in his life because Lily has rejected him?  Would he go back to Lily if she changed her mind?  Is he only seeing Traci on the rebound?  Would he let Traci down the way he let Lily down?  Has he finally overcome his weaknesses.  Is Cane worth the risk?  Would do you think, fans?  Reply to my poll below and let me know.

Do you think Cane and Traci are a good match?

Yes. They are sweet together and Cane has learned from his mistakes.

No. They don't have enough in common and he's on the rebound from Lily.

Maybe. Time will tell.

I don't know.

Other

Please Specify:

Survey Maker | Make Surveys in Minutes | PollMaker

Readers, I would appreciate your feedback.  Please let me know what you think about the show.

If you have any comments on Y&R, please email them to me with "Viewer Forum" in the subject line. I will be happy to publish your comments and reply to them  You do not have to use your real name. 

My email address:  jmadden16@yahoo.ca

That's all for now.  Please remember that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, July 6, 2019.


TO MY CANADIAN READERS: HAPPY CANADA DAY ON JULY 1st

TO MY AMERICAN READERS:  HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY ON JULY 4th

Have some great summer fun!


- Joanne

The Family of Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos

L to Right: Mark, Kelly with Joaquin and Michael

Lola Grace Consuelos, the only daughter of Kelly Ripa amd Mark Consuelos, graduated from high school on June 13, 2019.  Lola, who was born on June 16, 2001, celebrates her 18th birthday today.  Kelly and Mark also have two sons, 22-year-old Michael Joseph (born June 2, 1997) and 16-year-old Joaquin Antonio (born February 25, 2003).  Lola is set attend New York University in the fall, where brother Michael is majoring in film and television production. (He has interned for Blumhouse Productions in Los Angeles).

New Jersey native Kelly Ripa, born October 2, 1970, is a dancer, actress and talk show host.  Kelly joined the cast of the daytime soap All My Children as Haley Vaughan in 1990. It was her first major acting role.  Kelly's husband, Mark Consuelos was born in Zaragoza, Sapin on March 30, 1971, the youngest of the the three children of a Mexican father and an Italian mother.  He grew up in Lebanon, Illinois and Tampa, Florida.   In 1994, he graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in marketing.  While living in Illinois, Mark appeared in a production of Hello, Dolly! at the Looking Glass Playhouse.in Lebanon.

Kelly met Mark met on the set of All My Children in 1995 when he screen-tested with her for a part o n the soap.  Mark was cast as Mateo Santos, and the two had a real-life romance.  In 2018, Kelly told Radio Andy host Bruce Bozzi that she knew Mark was "the one" before she even met him in person.  "I knew when I saw his photograph," Kelly declared.

The couple eloped to Las Vegas and tied the knot on May 1, 1996.  Three children followed.  Oldest son Michael resembles his father so much that he plays the younger version of Mark's character (wealthy and villainous Hiram Lodge) on the CW drama Riverdale, which is loosely based on the Archie comics.

On February 5, 2001, just before giving birth to Lola, Kelly replaced Kathie Lee Gifford on the syndicated morning talk show Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.  In January of 2011, Regis Philbin announced his retirement on Live with Regis and Kelly, after a 28-year-run on the show.  Regis was replaced by former football star Michael Strahan and the show was renamed Live With Kelly and Michael.

In April of 2016, Strahan suddenly announced that he was leaving Live to be a co-host on Good Morning America.  It was an awkward situation and there were also kinds of rumours about his relationship with Kelly.  Strahan later told People magazine that he and Kelly "didn't really communicate that much" before he left Live.  "The most disappointing thing," he stated, "was that I was painted as the bad guy"  "I don't want people to see me as 'Oh, he just ran out, just left them there.'  That's just not true."

After a year-long search for Strahan's replacement, it was announced that Kelly's new co-host would be Ryan Seacrest of American Idol fame.  On May 1, 2017, Seacrest began co-hosting Live with Kelly and Ryan on a permanent basis.


END NOTES

* From 2003 to 2006, Kelly Ripa and Faith Ford starred in the ABC sitcom Hope and Faith.  Faith Ford portrayed Hope Shanowski, a mother of three in the Cleveland suburb of Glen Falls, Ohio.  Kelly played her younger sister, Faith Fairfield, a self-centred soap opera star whose character was killed off, prompting her to move in with Hope and her family in Ohio.

* Michael Consuelos did voice characterization for two popular American animated series: Duck Dodgers in 2004 and Go, Diego Go! in 2006 and  2007.  He launched his acting with his portrayal of Mike in the 2012 film The Bensonhurst Spelling Bee.  He was the assistant producer of three 2018 episodes of the family situation comedy, The Goldbergs.  In 2018, the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour announced that Michael would play the role of the teen version of Mark's Riverdale character, Hiram Lodge, in a flashback episode.

Mark and Michael Consuelos at Teen Choice Awards

* When Lola Consuelos was asked in an interview about her father's role on Riverdale, she remarked that her father is finally in a show that she actually watches.

* Michael Consuelos appeared on the November 7, 2018 episode of Live with Kelly and Ryan.  When co-host Ryan Seacrest asked him if there is anything he can get away with at home without his mother finding out.  Michael quipped, "I can get away with something but she'll always find out . . . I'll come home from school (college) and my mom would be like, "Is there anything that you want to tell me about?"  And I'd confess everything, even stuff she didn't know about, so she wouldn't find out everything immediately."

* In November of 2018, Joaquin Consuelos shared a pork tenderloin recipe on Live with Kelly and Ryan.

* Kelly had a guest-starring role in an episode of Riverdale earlier this year.  She played the mysterious Mrs. Mulwray, alleged mistress of Hiram Lodge, husband Mark's character.  According to Entertainment Weekly, the CW Network described Mr.. Mulwray as "a beautful, icy, femme fatale who finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy much bigger than she initially thought.

* Kelly and Mark's youngest son Joaquin, whom Kelly often refers to as her "newborn," has dyslexia and dysgraphia (inability to write coherently).  In 2017, Kelly became emotional on the air over Joaquin's learning struggles.  She told Ryan Seacrest how she "broke down crying" after her son's teacher said he we was doing great and getting good grades.

* On October 12, 2015, Kelly Ripa, accompanied by her family, was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

* In 2016, Kelly and Mark celebrated their 20th anniversary with a vacation to Turks and Caicos.  Kelly revealed on Live! that she wore her wedding dress and that it still fits.


SOURCES:

https://showbizpost.com/who-is-lola-grace-consuelos-kelly-ripa-and-mark-consuelos-daugthers-wiki-height-wealth-boyfriend-affair-family/

https://etcanada.com/news/266314/kelly-ripa-gets-emotional-about-her-sons-dyslexia-and-makes-ryan-seacrest-cry/

https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/michael-consuelos-appears-as-a-guest-on-mom-kelly-ripas-show-live-with-kelly-and-ryan/ 

https://people.com/tv/was-michael-strahan-ever-friends-with-kelly-ripa/

https://www.bustle.com/p/kelly-ripas-riverdale-character-mrs-mulwray-turns-the-show-into-a-true-family-affair-15907993

https://kellyandryan.com/video/joaquin-consuelos-makes-pork-tenderloin/

IMDb and Wikipedia

- Joanne

Whatever happened to Mr. T?

Mr. T is an imposing figure.  He'll always be known for his distinctive hairstyle, his mounds of gold jewellery and his tough guy image.  He is an actor, bodyguard, television personality and retired professional wrestler.  Mr. T has engaged in many pursuits and he has lived a very colourful life.

Mr. T was born Lauremce Tureaud in Chicago, Illinois on May 21, 1952, the youngest son of 12 children.  His father, Nathaniel Tureaud, was a minister.  Laurence was child of the ghetto.  He grew up in the housing projects, the now-demolished Robert Taylor Homes, on Chicago's South Side.  His father left when he was five and his mother raised the family on welfare.  Young Laurence attended Dunbar Vocational Career Academy, where he took part in football, wrestling and martial arts.  He won a football scholarship to Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View Texas, but was expelled after his first.year.

Mr. T as a high school senior 1970

After his expulsion from university, Mr. T enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Military Police Corps..  After his his discharge from military service, T tried out for Green Bay Packers of the National Football League but failed to make the team as a result of a knee injury.  He next worked as a bouncer and then as a bodyguard.

In 1980, actor Sylvester Stallone noticed Mr. T as he participated in NBC's "America's Toughest Bouncer" competition, a segment of NBC's Games People Play.  Stallone wanted to use T in his next Rocky sequel, Rocky III.  Although T's Rocky III role was originally intended to consist of just a few lines,, he was eventually cast as Rocky Balboa's primary boxing rival, Clubber Lang.  Mr. T. rose to fame with his performance in the 1982 film.

In a 2016 interview for USA Today with Charlotte Wilder, T declared that Clubber Lang was his favourite role.  "Clubber Lang was it," he proclaimed.  "It was inspiring, because Clubber Lang is basically my entire life story.  He wanted a shot, and people said he wouldn't make it.  I was in awe when they asked me to be in Rocky III, because a couple of years before I had watched Rocky I and II.  So to hear they want me in Rocky III?  Wow.  It was mind boggling."

As Clubber Lang, T had well known catch phrase - "Pity the fool."  On Conan O'Brien's talk show, Mr T explained what he meant by the phrase: "When you pity someone, you're showing them mercy.  I didn't start this pity stuff.  You'll find pity so many times in the Bible and fool so many times, so I put 'em together."

After Rocky III, Mr. T began to make TV appearances.  He played himself in a 1982 episode of Silver Spoons, starring Ricky Schroder. The episode is entitled "Me and Mr. T" (Season 1, Episode 4, Air Date: October 16, 1982).  In the episode, Schroder's character, Ricky Stratton, is bullied at school and his father hires Mr. T to be his bodyguard.

Then Mr. T became a bona fide television star.  From 1983 to 1987, he starred as B.A. (Bad Attitued) Baracus in the NBC action-adventure series, The A-Team.   T's Baracus character was one of four protagonists on the show, a group of men who were wrongly convicted of a crime during the Vietnam War.  They escaped from the Military Police and became soldiers of fortune in Los Angeles, where they used their military training to combat injustice and oppression.

Below is the original A-Team cast photo: From Left to Right: Dirk Benedict, Mr. T (Top row) and George Peppard

Mr. T also appeared in a 1983 episode of Diff'rent Strokes entitled "Mr. T and mr. t" (Season 6, Episode 1, Air Date: October 1, 1983), in which he again portrayed himself.  In the episode, a scene from The A-Team is being shot at the Drummond apartment.  Arnold (Gary Coleman) tries to impress a girl by dressing and acting like Mr. T.

In 1985, Mr. T became a professional wrestler. He was Hulk Hogan's tag-team partner in the the main event in theWorld Wrestling Federation's first WrestleMania on March 31, 1985 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.  Muhammad Ali was the referee.

Mr. T with Hulk Hogan

In 1995, Mr. T had a cancer scare when was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma.  He exclaimed to Coping with Cancer magazine, "Can you imagine that?  Cancer with my name on it.  Personalized cancer."  He fought it aggressively and wrote about his experience in a book with author Joyse Brooks, entitled Cancer Saved My Life. Cancer Ain't For No Wimps.  In his book, he stated: "If you don't remind me I have cancer then I won't remember either, "Ibecause I am too busy living.  Mr. T. ain't dyin' and pity the fool who says it."  As of 2017, the book hadn't been published.

You may wonder why Laurence Tureaud decided to give himself the moniker "Mr. T."  Well, at the age of 18, Laurence change his name to Mr. T primarily to gain respect.  Here's how he explained it a 2015 interview for Huffington Post with Bill Bradley: "I changed my name because as a black man growing up in a white society, I watched my father being called 'boy," and he was a preacher.  I watched my brothers coming back from the Marines and Vietnam and being called 'boy.'  I watched enough black men in my family being called 'boy,' so I point to the fact: What does a black man have to do to get his respect as a man?  So, when I became 18, I legally changed my name to Mr. T."

You may also wonder about Mr. T's distinctive mohawk hairstyle.  It's actually the hairdo of African Mandinka warriors and T.also told Bill Bradley that he is not going to change his look anytime soon.  He plans on wearing his mohawk until his hair starts falling out.  "I got a couple more years.  And then when it falls out, I go back to being baldheaded."

Mr. T has three children, two daughters, Lesa and Erica, and a son, T Jr., with ex-wife Phyllis Clark, whom he married circa 1971. One of his daughters, Erica Clark, is a a regular on Chicago's stand-up comedy circuit.  In 2015, Erica told NBC News that  she doesn't really speak to her father more than once or twice a year.  "We're not super close since I moved out," Clark said.  "He wants me to be a nice teacher and get married and have kids.  (My dad) doesn't want me to do entertainment at all so he hasn't come to any of my shows before but he's aware that I do it."

Eroc Clark performing stand-up comedy

A man named Alexander Taylor claims to be Mr. T's son.  In 2013, Taylor filed a 5.4 million lawsuit against T in alleging that he was abandoned by his father and ended up joining a gang and living a life of crime.  According to the lawsuit, Taylor was born to Vanessa Taylor (mother) and Mr. T (father) on May 25, 1988.  Mr. T was accused of  neglecting to provide his alleged son with the necessities of life.  The lawsuit was dropped in 2014 because Alexander failed to pay the $400 for filings and administrative fees to continue the legal action.

END NOTES

* Mr. T was a bodyguard for several stars in the late 1970s to 1980, including boxing greats
Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and Leon Spinks, actor Steve McQreen and singers Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.

Mr. T and Muhammad Ali

Mr. T and Michael Jackon in 1985

* Mr. T no longer wears his heavy gold chains.  He stopped wearing them in 2005 after having seen the suffering and losses caused by Hurricane Katrina.  He became a born again Christian and helped in the efforts to clean up after the devastating hurricane.  In his 2016 interview with USA Today, he said he vowed never to wear a chain he owned again because "I felt in would be a sin against God to wear my gold when the people lost everything."  "I remember the bodies floating in the water, and I felt it would be disrespectful and insensitive to people who died, so I said I'd never wear my gold again.  Only gold I have is the gold in my heart," he stated.

* In 2006, Mr. T starred in I Pity the Fool, a reality show on TV Land.

* In 2008, Mr. T sold his "Mr. T Flavonwave Oven" on Shopping TV in the United States.

* In 2015, Mr. T became "Mr. Guaran-T for Fairfield Inn and Suites.  He travelled around the United States, randomly surprising unsuspecting hotel guests and making sure everything was running smoothly.

* In 2017, Mr. T was a contestant on Season 24 of Dancing With the Stars. He told the Chicago Tribune that he had entered the competition to help children with cancer.  He vowed to shave off his trademark mohawk if he won the contest.  T danced alongside Kym Herjavec, an Australian professional ballroom dancer.  They waltzed to "Amazing Grace."  They also danced the Cha Cha to "Theme from the A-Team" and the Paso to "Eye of the Tiger," the theme song from Rocky III.  They were the third couple eliminated from the competition and finished in 10th place.

Mr. T took issue with ABC's Good Morning America for saying he "got booted from Dancing With the Stars. He told GMA co-anchor Michael Strahan, "We didn't get booted off, we gradually eased off.   Nobody going to boot Mr. T off.  As a competitor, we left it on the dance floor, like you're supposed to.  We walked off with grace and style."  When Strahan offered Mr. T a razor, T replied, "But I ddn't win.  If you let me get to that guy who put 'booted' up there on the screen, I'll cut my hair off."

Mr. T with Kym Herjavec on DWTS

SOURCES:  Huffington Post, "You'll Pity The Fools Who Don't Know These 5 Things about Mr. T," by Bill Bradley, November 13, 2015; USA Today, "Mr. T talks about fighting cancer, playing Clubber Lang, and why he no longer wears his gold chains," by Charlotte Wilder, May 18, 2016; Superfan TV, "The Surprising Inspriration Behind Mr. T's 'I Pity the Fool Catch Phrase," by Stephen Proctor, April 5, 2017; Chicago Tribune, "South Side Native Mr. T insists he wasn't booted off 'Dancing with the Stars,'" by Tracey Swartz, April 11, 2017; NBC News.com, "Mr. T's Daughter Erica Clark Stands Out by Standing Up,," by Scout MacEachron, June 2, 2015; Radio Online, "I Pity The Fool!  Mr T Sued By Alleged Secret Son: You Abandoned Me & I Was Forced To Join A Gang," March 11, 2014; Wikipedia; IMDb

- Joanne

Y&R Report (June 8, 2019): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

Hey Y&R fans, every second Saturday TV Banter discusses the latest happenings and provides commentary on your favourite daytime drama. Note to U.S. readers - SPOILER ALERT: Here in Canada, I watch the show on Global TV which is one episode ahead of CBS.  I will inevitably refer to incidents you haven't seen yet. Read at your own risk.  If you are the curious type, though, you may prefer to discover some things in advance. 

'The Great and Powerful Victor Newman has been diagnosed with a rare blood disease called PNH.    However, I am quite optimistic about his chances for survival because I haven't heard that Eric Braeden is planning on leaving the show.  I think Victor will decide to retire, due to his illness.  Then there will be a fight for the Newman throne between Princess Victoria and Adam.  "The Moustache" will, of course, recover but not before a huge battle royale between Adam and his siblings.  Out of curiosity, I looked up PNH to see if it is a real disease or if the writers made it up.  PNS is indeed a real disease and it stands for Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (That's a mouthful!).  As Victor explained to Nikki, with PNS, your immune system attacks red blood cells in your body and breaks them down.

Kyle Abbott and Chef Lola are headed for disaster.  Kyle isn't even divorced from Summer  Snowflake yet and he's already rushing into another marriage.  Hey, maybe Summer will somehow prevent them from tying the knot.

So far, I'm not impressed with Theo.  He seems like a weak character with little substance, although we haven't learned enough about him yet.  Is he really just a good time Charlie and a scatterbrain?  The character appears to be pretty shallow since even the Snowflake has shown substance than he has.

The problem with Mark Grossman's portrayal of Adam Newman is that the character has become too dark and sinister.  It's difficult to sympathize or empathize with Adam No. 4.  Adam has always had rough edges, but beneath the surface, deep wounds and hurts were evident.  Now he seems cruel and amoral.  Phyllis should have been smart enough not to form an alliance with him.  She's so desperate right now that she put her trust in him.

As for Adam's attempt to take Christian away from Nick, I am completely on Nick's side.  Yes, Adam is Christian's biological father, but that doesn't given him the right to remove the child from the only father figure he has ever known.

What's going on with Chelsea?  Did she really remarry.  If so, is the marriage valid since she never divorced Adam.

It's quite obvious now that Jack and Lauren are going to hook up at some point.  Online spoilers reveal that they are going to take a road trip together.  Michael, meanwhile, will have to deal with the return of brother Kevin (Greg Rikaart).  Kevin appeared to have reformed, but now has returned to  dark side.  He even took Phyllis captive and locked her in a basement room.

Devon may have good intentions, but he can be very controlling with his money.  He had no business paying off Elena;s student loans without consulting her.  No wonder she was upset with him.  By the way, how did Devon manage to get Elena's financial and banking information?  OOOPS!  We're not supposed ask that question.

After her disagreement with Devon, Elena ran into Dr. Nate on her way to an interview for a hospital administrative job.  He told her that he knows the person who is going to interview her and will put in a good word for her.  This will likely lead to some involvement between Nate and Elena, especially since they are both in the medical profession.  At the moment, Nate seems smitten with Abby, but that could change. There could be a romantic "quadrangle" between Nate, Elena, Devon and Abby.



CAST NEWS

Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) to visit Genoa City on several occasions this summer 

Fans of Eileen Davidson will be delighted that the actress will appear on Y&R on several occasions this summer.  Head writer Josh Griffith told TV Insider that Eileen will be reprising her role as Ashley Abbott and that there "is a threat to Jabot from outside."  Viewers have been speculating that the threat could come from Chelsea Lawson (Melissa Claire Egan), who is due to return to Genoa City after skipping town last year.

It seems that Eileen, doesn't mind making periodic appearances on the show.  Ashley just flies in from Paris whenever she wants to pay a visit to GC or when there's an Abbott family emergency.


Y&R READERS' POLL

As we all know, couples rarely last long in soaps.  Sometimes they continually make up and break up.  Which of Y&R's current couples do you like the best?  Answer the poll below and let me know.

Which current Y&R couple is your favourite?

Lola and Kyle

Nikki and Victor

Victoria and Billy

Michael and Lauren

Sharon and Rey

I don't know.

Other

Please Specify:

Created with PollMaker

Readers, I would appreciate your feedback

If you have any comments on Y&R, please email them to me with "Viewer Forum" in the subject line. I will be happy to publish your comments and reply to them  You do not have to use your real name. 

My email address:  jmadden16@yahoo.ca

That's all for now.  Please remember that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, June 22, 2019.

- Joanne

You wanted to know . . .What happened to the actors who played Mary Ellen, Julie and Penny on Leave it to Beaver

Peter P., a devoted Leave it to Beaver fan, wanted to know what happened to some secondary characters on the show, namely Pamela Barird, who played  Mary Ellen Rogers, Cheryl Holdridge, who played Julie Foster, and Karen Sue Trent, who played Penny Woods.

Pamela Baird (Mary Ellen Rogers)

Pamela Baird portrayed Mary Ellen Rogers, who dated Beaver's older brother Wally (Tony Dow).  Pamela was born Pamela Kay Beaird on April 6, 1945 in Bexar, County, Texas. .  She attended Covina High School in Covina, California and graduated from Westminster Choir School in Princeton, New Jersey in 1968.

Prior to Leave it to Beaver, Pamela had a recurring role in the Western adventure series My Friend Flicka.  She played Hildy Broeberg in 14 episodes of the show.  She also had a recurring role as Nancy, Kelly Gregg's (Noreen Corcoran) best friend in four 1958 episodes of Bachelor Father, starring John Forsythe.

Pamela then portrayed Mary Ellen Rogers on Leave it to Beaver from 1958 until 1961.  She first appeared on the show in an episode entitled "My Brother's Girl" (Season 1, Episode 27, Air Date (April 16, 1958).  In the episode, a scheming Mary Ellen tries to get Wally to ask her to the school dance by becoming friendly with Beaver (She allows him to use her father's electric train set).

Pamela only appeared in six episodes of Leave it to Beaver.  It's interesting to note that she played Mary Ellen in five of the six episodes.  In her third appearance on the show, in an episode entitled "Wally's Orchid" (Season 3, Episode 27, Air Date: April 2, 1960), she portrayed Myra Barker, a popular girl whom Wally wants to take to his high school dance.  He worries that she will turn him down if he can not afford to buy an expensive orchid for her.  In Pamela's fourth appearance on the show, she played Mary Ellen again.

After Leaver it to Beaver, Pamela made guest appearances on such series as The Danny Thomas Show (1962), The Eleventh Hour (1962), Mr. Novak (1963, 1964) and Perry Mason (1964).

In 1973, Pamela married recording artist Bob Henry (real name Robert H. Hensley). Bob made records from 1957 until 1970, when he entered the ministry and started a half-way house for troubled youth.  Bob and Pamela had five children and remained together until Bob's death on May 22, 2016.

Note: On July 25, 2011, Pamela contacted the website inthebeginning.com.  She stated that she had just completed her Masters in Education. As of 2013, she was working on her doctorate.  Click on the link below for more information and photos of Pamela.

www.inthebeginning.com/PamelaBeaird.htm

 Pamela, if you have read this posting, I have a request if you are willing and able.  I would be honoured and please if you sent me and my readers an update on your life. 

Cheryl Holdridge (Julie Foster)

Cheryl Holdridge played Julie Foster, another of Wally Cleaver's girlfriends.  She was born Cheryl Lynn Phelps on June 20, 1944 in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Her mother, Julie A. Phelps (1908-2003), was a Broadway dancer with her partner, Dick Mason.  Soon after Cheryl's birth, she and her mother moved to Burbank, California and Julie married Brigadier General Herbert Charles Holdridge, a retired American military officer, in 1950.  Holdridge adopted Cheryl in 1953 and she took his surname.

 At an early age, Cheryl was trained in ballet and tap with Joyce Cole in North Hollywood.  In the spring if 1956, she became a cast member of the Mickey Mouse Club in the show's second season.  She joined the core group of Mouseketeers. along with Annette Funicello, Doreen Tracey, Cubby O'Brien, Tommy Cole, Bobby Burgess, Lonnie Burr, Karen Pendleton, Sharon Baird and Darlene Gillespie.  The show ended its run in 1959 and Cheryl graduated from Ulysses S. Grant High School in 1961.

Below is a publicity photo of 11-year-old Cheryl as a Mouseketeer in April of 1956.

In  May of 1960, Cheryl embarked on a tour of Australia with other former Mouseketeers.  She became involved in a romance with Australian singer Leslie William Morrison, known professionally as Lucky Starr.  Eyebrows were raised because Cheryl was under 16 at the time and Morrison was 19.  Fan magazines and gossip writers later linked her with other celebrities such as Elvis Presley.

Cheryl Holdridge had no problem finding acting jobs when she left her Mouse ears behind.  She made four guest appearances on Bachelor Father  from 1959 to 1961.  She also appeared on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet in four episodes from 1961 to 1962 and in three episodes of My Three Son from 1960 to 1964.  She guest-starred in single episodes of The Rifleman (1962), The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1962), Dennis the Menace (1962), The Donna Reed Show (1962) and Hawaiian Eye (1963).

From 1959 to 1963, Cheryl appeared in eight episodes of Leave it to Beaver. In the first two episodes, "Wally's Pug Nose" (Season 2, Episode 19, Air Date: February 5, 1959), and "Wally, the Businessman (Season 3, Episode 35, Air Date: May 28, 1960), she portrayed Gloria Cusick.  It wasn't until her third appearance on the show, in an episode entitled "Teacher's Daughter" (Season 4, Episode 15, Air Date: January 7, 1961) that she played Julie Foster.  In that episode, Wally begins to date Julie, but complications arise when he is transferred to Julie's father's English class.  Cheryl's final appearance on Leave it to Beaver was in an episode called "Eddie's Sweater" (Season 6, Episode 29, Air Date: April 11, 1963).

After Leave it to Beaver, Cheryl appeared in episodes of 77 Sunset Strip (1963), Ripcord (1963), The Dick Van Dyke Show (1964), Mr. Novak (1964), Dr. Kildare (1964), The Eleventh Hour (1964), Wagon Train (1964) and Bewitched (1964).

Cheryl Holdridge reprised her role as Julie Foster in two episodes of The New Leave it to Beaver: "While the Beav's Away" (1985) "Yesterday's Gone" (1987).

Cheryl was married three times.  On November 7, 1964, she married Lance Reventlow, a British-born racing car driver and the only child of Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton. The couple were married at Westwood Community Methodist Church in Los Angeles in a lavish ceremony before 600 invited guests.  They honeymooned in Hawaii.  Below is their wedding photo.

PHOTO ATTRIBUTION:

http://digital2.library.ucla.edu/viewItem.do?ark=21198/0002srx2

After her marriage, Cheryl gave up her acting career and assumed the title of Countess, since her father-in-law was Danish nobleman,Count Kurt Haugwitz-Hardenberg- Reventlow, second husband of American socialite Hutton.  Lance perished in a plane crash near Aspen, Colorado on July 24, 1972.  He was 36 years old at the time of his death.  Although an experienced pilot, he was a passenger aboard a small plane on the day of the crash, scouting locations for real estate as part of a plan to build a ski resort in Aspen.

On October 12, 1974, Cheryl wed Albert James "Jim" Skarda, who ran a car rental service in Aspen, Colorado.  They married in a civil ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada and their marriage ended in divorce in 1988.

In 1994, Cheryl wed for a third time, to Manning J. Post, a one-time film producer for Republic Pictures and a longtime North Hollywood Volkswagen dealership tycoon.  The couple  shared an interest in liberal causes and state Democratic Party politics.  Manning J. Post died on March 13, 2000 in Santa Monica, California at the age of 82.  After Post's death, Cheryl made a cameo appearance in the 2000 feature film, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas.

Manning J. Post

Cheryl Holdridge passed away on January 6, 2009 from lung cancer at her home in Santa Monica.  She was 64 years old at the time of her death.  Cheryl Holdridge did not have any biological children.

Cherlyl Holdredge in later years

Karen Sue Trent (Penny Woods)

Karen Sue Trent as Penny Woods

From 1960 until 1962, Karen Sue Trent played the role of Penny Woods, Beaver's nemesis, in 14 episodes of Leave it to Beaver.  Karen Sue replaced Jeri Weil, who played Beaver's original nemesis, his bratty tattletale classmate Judy Hensler.  Jeri appeared in 31 episodes between 1957 and 1960.  Beaver seemed to get along better with Penny, however, then he did with Judy.  He and Penny had a sort of love-hate relationship.

Jeri Weil as Judy Hensler

Karen Sue Trent was born on March 14, 1948 in the United States (exact location is not listed online).  Karen Sue first played Penny Woods in an episode called "Ivanhoe." (Season 3, Episode 36, Air date: June 4, 1960).  Her final appearance on Leave it to Beaver was in an episode entitled "Beaver, the Bunny" (Season 5, Episode 16, Air Date: January 20, 1962), in which Beaver has to play the part of a cute bunny rabbit in a school pageant.  The show remained on the air until 1963, without Karen Sue.

After Leave it Beaver, Karen Sue Trent has just one more acting credit to her name.  She portrayed Lorrie in a 1963 episode of  yet another TV Western, The Rifleman, entitled "Old Tony" (Season 5, Episode 26, Air Date: April 8, 1963).  Karen seems to have ended her acting career at the age of 15.  There is one clue as to why Karen left the business.  According to IMDb, she sustained injuries in her very last role on The Rifleman, when her Lorrie character sinks in quicksand. IMDb speculates that the experience "ultimately soured her desire to keep performing."

Karen Sue Trant in The Rifleman, her last role

Karen Sue, if you have read this posting, I have a request if you are willing and able.  I would be honoured and please if you sent me and my readers an update on your life. 

END NOTES

* Wally Cleaver eventually married Mary Ellen Rogers, as they were depicted as a married couple in Still the Beaver, a 1983 television reunion movie.  Pamela Baird, however, did not portray Mary Ellen in the TV movie or the subsequent The New Leave it to Beaver series (1983-1989).  She was succeeded in the role by Janice Kent.  Pamela did have a cameo role on The New Leave it to Beaver in a 1987 episode entitled "Yesterday's Gone" (Season 2, Episode 27).   

* According to IMDb, Pamela was a member of a late 1950s, early 1960s close-harmony singing group called The Holly-Tones, along with her cousins, Deanna Beaird and Joyce Beard.

* Cheryl Holdridge was Lance Reventlow's second wife.  Reventlow was married to actress Jill St. John from 1960 to 1963.


SOURCES

IMDb, Wikipedia

http://www.myneatstuff.ca/store/trivia-holdridge.php

http://cherylholdridge.inmemoriam.org/

https://www.stardem.com/life/article_224fc0e9-8cf5-5b5c-9b47-924ff48d4681.html

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-mar-15-mn-9114-story.html 

https://www.elvicities.com/~presleyinthepres/2009/200901a.html

- Joanne

Y&R Report (May 25, 2019): 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. 

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. 

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. 

My email address:  jmadden16@yahoo.ca

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. 

CAST NEWS
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

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?

Yes, I am satisfied that he is doing a good job in the role.

No, I don't think he suits the part of Adam at all.

I need to see more of him in order to make up my mind.

I don't know.

Other

Please Specify:

Survey Maker | Make Surveys in Minutes | PollMaker

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