Y&R Report (October 10, 2020): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

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

Hi fans,

So, after shipping Connor off to boarding school for his own safety, con woman Chelsea is set to show an interest in her other biological son, Johnny Abbott.  If you'll remember, Johnny is the son of Billy and Chelsea, but the only mother he has known is Victoria Newman, Billy's ex.  Chelsea has not mentioned her other son until now.  The only reason she wants to get involved in Johnny's life is to cause problems for Princess Victoria.

Billy said he would not allow Chelsea to see Johnny, but Chelsea won't stay away.  She'll find a way to see Johnny, much to the dismay of Victoria.  Speaking of the princess, this is the biggest rift she's ever had with daddy Victor.  I had to burst out laughing when Victor, in an effort to make amends with his daughter, told her that he doesn't want to control her.  In fact, he's controlled her whole life and interfered with all her boyfriends and husbands.  Victor's current arch-enemy is Victoria's ex, Billy Boy Abbott, who seems to have replaced Jack Abbott as his number one nemesis.

I think Victoria and Victor will reconcile, but it will take a while.  When they make up, Victoria will once again hang The Moustache's portrait in the Newman CEO office.

Poor Faith.  With parents like Sharon and Nick and an uncle like Adam, not to mention Nick's current girlfriend, Phyllis, it's a wonder that the teen is not a certified juvenile delinquent.  In a heart to heart talk with her sister, Mariah, Faith wondered if there was anything wrong with her.  I can answer that question.  It's not Faith, it's most of the adults around her.  It's not surprising that she's upset that Uncle Adam kidnapped her when she was a baby and that the story has been splashed all over the media by Aunt Victoria's former husband, Billy Abbott.

Sharon is trying to resist Adam and stay loyal to Rey.  In the long run, she won't be able to do it.  She won't succeed because the lure of Adam is just too strong.  Rey is going to be left out in the cold again.  The problem is he didn't put his foot down from the beginning, especially when she started running to see him secretly.  He should have said "It's Adam or me.  Make your choice."  If she chose Adam, he would have found out where her heart was sooner and spared himself further heartbreak.  Sharon suggested that she and Rey get  married for two reasons.  She feels guilty because Rey has been so supportive and she doesn't trust herself to stay away from Adam.  If she's married to Rey, there would be another barrier between her and Adam.  The only problem is that it isn't going to work.  Any barriers between Sharon and Adam will be broken down.  Rey and Sharon's marriage will be a disaster - just what Rey needs after his nightmare with former wife, Mia.

Adam is not the most consistent guy.  He proposed to Chelsea and they talked about getting married.  Not long after, he told Sharon that she was she one who had always understood him  He told her that they belonged together and that she should dump Rey for him.  When Chelsea tried to defend Adam for killing A.J. when he was 11 years old, she said he was a frightened child who was protecting his mother from harm.  Adam responded that he had a darkness inside and he truly was a killer.  However, when Billy mentioned AJ.'s death, Adam used the same argument as Cheslea.  He said he had only been defending his blind mother.

Well, as predicted, Summer and Kyle are finished.  It's a good thing they didn't get married again.  It would have been another disaster.  That leaves Kyle open to someone new.  Although anyone who gets involved with him should be warned.  Adam and Chelsea are pretty well finished too.  I don't think Nick and Phyllis will last either.  In the end, Nick will always put his family before Phyllis.  That's the Newman way.  Phyllis is in a collision course with Victoria and other Newmans. and Nick will side with them when the chips are down.  Actually, it's about time for some fresh new couples on the show.  

Chloe finally had her baby boy, Miles. It was good to see Lauren (Tracey Bregman) again, although we haven't seen Michael (Christian LeBlanc) yet.  Paul (Doug Davidson) will be making an appearance this coming week.  It will be good to see Doug, but I'm disappointed that it's only an appearance.  I wish he had a bigger role.

CAST NEWS

Ozark star Madison Thompson to play new character on Y&R

Madison Thompson has just completed season three of a major recurring role on Netflix's Ozark.  Now the 19-year-old Atlanta native has joined the cast of  The Young and the Restless, according to Deadline.  Madison herself confirmed on Instagram hat she will be coming to Y&R.  Her character, Jordan, has been described as a "worldly" woman.  Jordan  will be arriving in Genoa City in late October, just in time for the Halloween festivities.  It will be interesting to see which storyline she will be involved in.  Perhaps she'll be a new love interest for Kyle or Theo.

Courtney Hope will play her Bold and Beautiful character on Y&R

I previously reported that Courtney Hope was joining the cast of Y&R.  At that time, it was not known what character she would play.  Well, we now know.  Y&R has confirmed that Courtney will continue to play her B&B character, Sally Spectra, who will cross over to Y&R.  That's not unusual or surprising.  As fans know, Y&R and B&B are sister soaps.  Over the years, several characters have crossed over from one of them to another.

Sally Spectra will be coming to Genoa City in order to make a fresh start.  The truth is that Sally will be trying to escape from the mess she's leaving behind in Los Angeles.  If you watch B&B, you'll know that she lied about having an incurable disease to win favour with a man.  So, we know that Sally will cause problems,  As Y&R head writer and executive producer put it, "Sally Spectra is a colourful character that fans love watching.  We are excited for her to stir things up in Genoa City and join our talented cast."

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Chance and Abby seen to be building a good relationship, at least for a soap opera.  What do you think, fans?  Do you like them together?

Do you think Abby and Chance make a good couple?

Yes, they have good chemistry and they are happy together.

No, Abby should find someone else. Chance can be shady. He might break her heart.

I'm not sure yet. I need more time to decide.

I don't know.

Other

Please Specify:

Created with PollMaker

NOTE TO READERS

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.  Don't forget that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, October 24, 2020.  

To my Canadian readers:  Happy Thanksgiving (October 12, 2020).  All the best to you and your families.

Take care and stay safe,

- Joanne

The Life and Times of Jack Lord

Jack Lord in 1974

" . . . Five-O was his show and McGarrett was his character – no doubt about it. It was such a unique concept at the time and the character was so easy to admire. I think when he told his wife after he read the part that this was the one they were waiting for, he knew too this was something special and he was the right one for the job."

- Sylvia Lynch, author of Jack Lord: An Acting Life

Jack Lord was an accomplished stage and film actor, but it was his role as television's Steve McGarrett on Hawaii Five-O that made him a star.  John Joseph Patrick Ryan, better known as Jack, was born on December 30, 1920 in New York City, the son of Irish Americans  His mother, Ellen Josephine O'Brien Ryan (1892-1994) was a housewife.  His father, William Lawrence "Bill" Ryan (1887-1996), was a ship surveyor, ensuring that ships and their cargo were safe.  Although most references describe Bill Ryan as a steamship company executive, Jack said his father owned a fleet of five ships, each with the word "angel" in their names,  Consequently, young Jack loved the open sea and he loved sailing.

At the time of Jack's birth, the Ryan family lived in an apartment house in Brooklyn.  They later moved to Morris Park (now known as Richmond Hill), Queens, New York, where Jack was raised.  Jack was the second of the five Ryan children.  His four siblings were William Lawrence "Bill" Ryan Jr. (1918-1982), Josephine S. Ryan (1923-2001), Thomas Herbert Ryan (1928-2006) and Robert Gerard Ryan (1935-2003).  Their mother Ellen's family owned a fruit orchard in New York state's Hudson River Valley.  It was there that young Jack spent his summers and learned to ride horses.  

Jack attended Saint Benedict Joseph School, a Catholic grammar school in Morris Park (Richmond Hill). and then John Adams High School, a public high school  in the Ozone Park neighbourhood of Queens.  In June of 1938, the 17-year-old  graduated from John Adams High.  Below is "John Ryan's" photo from the senior issue of the school's yearbook, The Clipper.  The bottom photo shows Jack with his football team.  He is reclining in the foreground of the picture.

Jack's childhood dream was to be an artist.  When he was 12 years old, he entered a poster contest sponsored by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).  His poster  won first prize.  As a teen, he spent his summers at sea in the Merchant Marine.  From the deck of ships, he painted and sketched landscapes from around the world.  In 1941, the aspiring artist made his first professional sale to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for two linoleum cuts, Vermont and Fishing Shacks, Block Island.

After finishing high school, Jack studied at New York University (NYU) for four years on a football scholarship.  He majored in fine art and graduated in 1942.  While at NYU, Jack and his brother Bill founded the Village Academy of Arts in Greenwich Village, where the siblings directed art courses.  However, Jack's career as an artist had to be put on hold when the United States entered World War II.  Throughout the war, Jack served in the Merchant Marine.

In June of 1945, Jack received a commission with the U.S. Maritime Commission and was given the rank of ensign with a third mate's licence.  This made it mandatory for him to remain in the Maritime Service for an extra period of time.  After the war, Jack spent a year in Persia as a steel worker with the U.S. Engineering Service.  He then briefly served on a merchant ship after which he underwent deck training at the U.S. Officer's Training School, then located at the Coast Guard Academy at Fort Trumbull in New London, Connecticut.  

Jack was sent to Washington, where he worked as an artist for service publications and appeared in maritime warfare training films.  It was then that he developed an interest in acting, which remained with him when his obligation to the Marine Service ended in 1948.  He returned to New York City and  studied drama at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, where he was trained by renowned acting coach Samuel Meisner.  He also studied at Actors Studio.  To support himself in those days, he worked as a car salesman.

Jack Lord's first commercial film role was in a bit part in 1949's The Red Menace, an anti-communist production, also known as Project X.  He was then billed as Jack Ryan.  On October 27, 1954, Jack made his Broadway debut as Slim Murphy in Horton Foote's The Traveling Lady.

In 1955, Jack succeeded Ben Gazzara on Broadway in the role of Brick in Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.  Then it was on to Hollywood.  From 1955 to 1959, Jack appeared in several films including The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955), Tip on a Dead Jockey (1957) and God's Little Acre (1958).  He had his first real leading role in The True Story of Lynn Stuart (1958), starring Betsy Palmer., in which he portrayed a drug-dealing thug.

When movie roles became scarce, Jack turned to television, where he had begun making guest appearances in 1956.  He was cast in a slew of TV Westerns such as Bonanza (1960), Have Gun - Will Travel (1957), Gunsmoke (1957), Outlaws (1961), Stagecoach West (1961), Rawhide (1959, 1961), Wagon Train (1965), Laredo (1966) and The Virginian (1966), in which he often played villainous roles.  

During his early television career, Jack also guest-starred in episodes of The Untouchables (1959), The Loretta Young Show (1959), Dr. Kildare (1964), Combat! (1965) and 12 O'Clock High (1965. 1966).  Prior to his success in Hawaii Five-O, Jack began appearing in episodes of TV crime and detective series such as The Fugitive (1967), Ironside (1967) and the Man from U.N.C,L.E. (1967).  

From 1962 to 1963, Jack starred in his first regular series role as champion rodeo rider Stoney Burke in an ABC's Western drama of the same name.  Five years later, he got his big break and was cast in his second series, a CBS police drama called Hawaii Five-O.  For 12 seasons, from 1968 to 1980, Jack starred as Detective Stephen McGarrett.  McGarrett was chosen by the Governor to preside over the fictional criminal investigation department in Honolulu, Hawaii.  

Hawaii Five-O was one of American TV's longest running crime shows.  It's 12 seasons consist of  278 episodes.  The series was filmed on location in the Hawaiian islands, making it the first U.S. TV series based in Hawaii.

Jack Lord as Steve McGarrett

Detective Danny "Danno" Williams, played by James MacArthur, was Steve McGarrett's sidekick. Episodes of Hawaii Five-O often ended with McGarrett uttering the popular catch phrase "Book'em, Danno."  MacArthur left his role a year before the show's final season because as he explained on his website, "Quite frankly, I grew bored.  The stories became more bland and predictable and presented less and less challenge to me as an actor."   

Below is a 1968 publicity photo of Jack MacArthur from the premiere of Hawaii Five-O.

Jack Lord's  last TV appearance  was in an unsuccessful 1980 pilot for a CBS series called M Station: Hawaii.  After that, he stayed out of the spotlight.  He spent much of his time painting from his 'studio" in the corner of his bedroom in a third storey suite at the Kahala Apartments in Honolulu, were he had a magnificent view of the Pacific to inspire him.

Jack Lord was married twice.  His first wife was Ann Cicely Willard.  According to Ann's family tree on Genearnet, the couple wed in 1944 and divorced in 1947.  It was not a happy marriage, especially due the fact that Jack was away so often during World War II.  

Jack and Ann had a son, John Joseph Ryan Jr., born December 1, 1942.  Jack only saw his son once, as an infant.  On October 24, 1955, the boy died of virus hepatitis at the age of 12.  Jack only learned of his son's death when his ex-wife sent him a copy of their son's death certificate. 

Jack was still serving in the Merchant Marine when he met his his second wife, Marie DeNarde. While visiting his brother Bill in Woodstock, New York, Jack went house hunting and discovered  a stone house that he wanted to purchase.  The home was owned by his future spouse, Marie, who told Jack that she didn't want to sell it.  They eventually became romantically involved.

Marie was born August 16, 1905 in St.. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of Italian immigrants, She had studied fashion design and art in Paris and had moved to New York to pursue a career in her chosen field. 

Photo of Marie taken by Jack

On January 17, 1949, Jack wed Marie.  At the time of their marriage, Jack was a struggling actor, trying to make a name for himself.  As was common at the time, Marie gave up her own career in the fashion industry so that she could support Jack's career.

The couple stayed in Honolulu after Hawaii Five-0 ended its run in 1980.  They remained together for almost 50 years, until Jack's death in 1998.  Marie was an excellent cook.  Her kitchen in Honolulu featured pumpkin-coloured cabinets and she enjoyed planning dinner parties, albeit small, intimate gathering with close friends.

For at least seven years before his death, Jack suffered from Alzheimer's Disease.  He died of congestive heart failure at his home in Honolulu, Hawaii on January 21, 1998.  He was 77 years old at the time of his passing.  

END NOTES

* Jack Lord could not bill himself as "Jack Ryan" because a "Jack Ryan" was already registered with the actor's guild.

* Jack widow, Marie, was fifteen years his senior.  She passed away on October 13, 2005 at her home in Honolulu.  She was 100 years old at the time of her death,  When Marie died, Jack's entire estate was donated to Hawaiian charities.

* Jack was the first actor to portray the Felix Lester in the James Bond film series.  The character was introduced in the first Bond film, 1962's Dr. No.

* James MacArthur, who played Danno on Hawaii Five-O, was the the son of playwright Charles MacArthur and legendary stage actress Helen Hayes.  MacArthur died on October 28, 2010 of natural causes.  He was 72 at the time of his passing.  

SOURCES:  Remembering Jack Lord (rememberingjacklord.com) website, by Virginia Tolles; The Richmond Hill Historical Society website (www.richmondhillhistory.org)."About Jack Lord, Actor and Artist; Official Site of Author Michael Rickard, "Interview with Sylvia Lynch Author of 'Jack Lord, An Acting Life;'" The Associated Press, "Hawaii Five--O' actor James MacArthur dies, October 28, 2010; Wikipedia; Internet Movie Database (IMDb.com)

- Joanne

Keeping up with Wayne Knight

Wayne Knight is a versatile actor who has appeared in several high-profile films during his career, including Jurassic Park and Dirty Dancing.  He's performed in many movie and  television dramas, but he's best known for his comical portrayal of the snarky Newman, Jerry's annoying neighbour on Seinfeld.

Wayne Elliot Knight was born in New York City on August 7, 1955 to  William Edward Knight, a supervisor at a textile factory, and Grace (Monti) Knight.  Wayne is of Italian and English descent and he comes from a Catholic family.  He was raised in Cartersville, Georgia, where his father continued to work in the textile industry.  Wayne attended local schools and was a linesman on his high school football team.  In 1972, he entered  the University of Georgia, but dropped out to join the Barter Theatre Company in Abingdon, Virginia.  He  finally obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2008.

After a two-year internship with the Barter Theatre Company, Wayne became a professional actor.  He was hired by the company and received his Equity card.  He then returned to New York, where he made his Broadway debut.  In 1979, At the age of 23, he appeared in the long-running comedy Gemini.

After his stint on Broadway, Wayne Knight worked as a private investigator in New York for five years.  In an interview with @Seinfeld2000 for Vice, Wayne described his job as a private eye.  He stated, "I did all kinds of things from background investigations on people trying to get employed, to following people who were infidelitous (sic).  I [did] some stuff in venture capital  The most interesting stuff was where I was talking to admirals and heads of industry about people doing recombinant DNA work."

Wayne went from being a private eye  to appearing in some of the most popular and successful films of the 1980s and 1990s, such as Dirty Dancing, Born on the Fourth of July, JFK, Basic Instinct, and Jurassic Park.  In Dirty Dancing (1987), Wayne took on the minor role of Stan.  In Oliver Stone's Born on the Foutth of July( 1989), he was Official #2.  In JFK (1991), another Oliver Stone film, he played Numa Bertel Jr., an assistant to Orleans Parish District Attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner).  In Basic Instinct (1992), Wayne had a relatively small part as one of the two detectives interrogating Sharon Stone in her infamous leg-crossing scene.  In the 1993 film Jurassic Park, Wayne played Dennis Nedry. He flew to Hawaii for the filming of the movie and didn't meet director Steven Spielberg until his first day of shooting.  Wayne's portrayal of Nedry earned him a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.  

From 1992 to 1998, Wayne appeared as Newman, a disgruntled postal worker, on 45 episodes of Seinfeld, one of the most acclaimed comedies on American television.  Wayne's first on-screen appearance as Newman occurred in the third season of the show, in an episode entitled "The Suicide."  The episode aired on January 29, 1992.  Although the Newman character had been established in a previous episode called "The Revenge" (Season 2, Episode 7. Air Date: April 18, 1991), he had not yet been seen on screen.  His voice had been provided by comedian/writer Larry David, the co-creator of the show with Jerry Seinfeld.                                                                          

Wayne Knight as Newman in Seinfeld

In the Seinfeld series, Newman and Jerry lived on the same floor of their apartment building on 129 West 81st Street in New York City.  Newman lived in Apartment 5E, directly down the hall from Jerry's Apartment 5A.  Cosmo Kramer, played by Michael Richards, lived in Apartment 5B.  Newman was the ultimate annoying neighbour.  He was always doing something annoying such as attracting fleas to the apartment building and not delivering the mail on time.

Although Newman was on good terms with Kramer, he became Jerry Seinfeld's nemesis.  Seinfeld's eponymous character once stated that he had "looked into the eyes of Newman," and that he was "pure evil."  He also once described Newman as the Lex Luther to his Superman.   In an interview with BuzzFeed Brews, Jerry Seinfeld stated that 'The real answer for why I hated Newman was because it just seemed funny to hate Newman."

Still, the source of the animosity between Jerry and Newman is never explicitly revealed on the show.  However, it is implied in "The Suicide," Season 3, Episode 15) in which Newman causes trouble for Jerry.  Newman seems to resent Jerry's success as a stand-up  nightclub comedian.  In the episode he refers to Jerry's audience as a "half soused nightclub rabble that lap up your inane observations." One reason why Newman  schemes against Jerry is that he doesn't think Jerry is deserving of the recognition he receives. 

Enemies Newman and Jerry Seinfeld

Newman certainly had a fondness for motor vehicles.  He drove his postal truck for business as well as for pleasure.  He also had a 1975 Brown Diplomat, as well as a Silver Corvette convertible and a black Acura NSX.  In a 2012 interview with AV Club, Wayne Knight opined that his favourite Newman episode is "The Ticket" (Season 4, Episode 4, Air Date: (September 16, 1992), a two-parter in which Newman swaps his radar detector for a motorcycle helmet, and is picked up for speeding.  

Newman had a long-standing crush on Elaine Benes, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus.  Elaine and Jerry lived together for a time and they had an on and off relationship.  In an episode during the show's ninth and final reason, "The Serenity Now" (Season 9, Episode 3, Air Date: October 9, 1997, Jerry undergoes a personality change and proposes to a surprised Elaine.  In a later episode during that same season, "The Reverse Peephole" ("Season 9, Episode 12, Air Date: January 15, 1998), Newman actually has a chance to hook up with Elaine but tells her that his heart belongs to another man's wife" (Svetlana, the wife of his landlord, Silvio).  

From 1996 to 2001, Wayne portrayed Officer Donald "Leslie" Orville  on Third Rock From the Sun, an NBC comedy about a group of aliens sent to Earth disguised as a family of humans.  His character, known as "Officer" Don, was a police sergeant in the town of Rutherford, Ohio.

Wayne Knight as Officer Don

Wayne appeared in a 2009 episode of Larry David's series Curb Your Enthusiasm.  The episode, entitled "The Table Read" (Season 7, Episode 9, Air Date: November 15, 2009), is about a Seinfeld reunion show.

From 2010 to 2011, Wayne had a recurring role on the TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland, starring Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Betty White.  He played Rick, a columnist for The Plain Dealer, an Ohio-based newspaper.

Wayne and Valerie Bertinelli in Hot in Cleveland

From 2011 to 2015, Wayne portrayed computer-savvy Haskell Lutz on The Exes, a TV Land sitcom  about a group of divorced friends trying to readjust to the single life.

Wayne (far right) with the cast of The Exes

Wayne reunited with Jerry Seinfeld and another of his Seinfeld castmates, Jason Alexander (George Costanza) for an episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, a Netflix series in which Jerry is joined by friends for some coffee and a drive in a classic car.  Jason and Wayne appeared in an episode entitled The Over-Cheer (Season 3, Episode,  Air Date: January 15, 2014).  It was written by Larry David and Jerry, and directed by Larry David.  In the episode, Jason and Wayne play their Seinfeld characters and Jerry and George go for coffee on Super Bowl Sunday.

In 2017, Wayne made an appearance as Irv on the daytime soap The Young and the Restless.  He also portrayed Alan Starkman in a two-part September 1, 2017 episode of the crime-drama Narcos.

In 2018, Wayne guest-starred as Gregor in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit entitled "Service" (Season 19, Episode 18, Air Date: April 11, 2018).  He also played the role of Benjamin Roth in The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair, a ten-episode TV min-series about a writer who gets caught up in a murder investigation.  It stars Patrick Dempsey in the title role.

END NOTES

* Wayne Knight has been married twice.  His first wife was makeup artist Paula Suitor.  They wed on May 26, 1966 at a ceremony at the home of fellow Seinfeld cast member Michael Richards (Cosmo Cramer).  The couple divorced in 2003.

On October 15, 2006, Wayne married Clare de Chenu and they have a son, Liam Knight.

* Wayne Knight is not a tall man.  According to IMDb, Wayne stands 1.7 metres (5 feet, 7 inches).

* Wayne's Seinfeld character was never given a first name.  There had been speculation that his first name was "Norman" due to an episode entitled "The Bottle Deposit, Part 2 (Season 7, Episode 2) in which a farmer's daughter shouts, "Goodbye, Norman!"  That was actually an error.  The actress misread "Newman" for "Norman" in the script.

* An obsession with food has plagued Wayne Knight since he was growing up in Georgia.  However, the actor managed to lose almost 45.35 kilograms (100 pounds) after Seinfeld ended its run in 1998.  He shed the weight through diet and exercise.  He was at his heaviest while filming Jurassic Park in the early 1990s.  At that time, he weighed 148.3 kilograms (327 pounds).

* Wayne's father, William Edward Knight, died of a stroke in 1992. 

* Wayne Knight is a talented voice artist.  He has enjoyed a prolific voice-over career in both television and films.  Over the years, he has had voice-over roles in animated movies such as Space Jam (1996), Toy Story 2 (1999) and Kung Fu Panda (2008) and in animated TV series such as Legend of the Three Caballeros (2018).  Most recently, he voiced The Penguin in Harley Quinn (2019, 2020)., a TV adventure cartoon that takes place in Gotham city.

* In March of 2014, Wayne was the target of a cruel hoax.  The website TMZ Today (an imitation of TMZ) falsely reported that he and two other passengers had been killed in a car crash near the Pennsylvania-New York border. The actor set the record straight on his official Twitter account.  He wrote the following: "Some of you will be glad to hear this, others strangely disappointed but . . . I am alive and well!"

SOURCES: AV Club website interview "Wayne Knight talks about The Exes, Newman, and working in the mud for Jurassic Park," by Will Harris, July 25, 2012;  CBS News (forty eight hours), "Doing It the Old-Fashioned Way: 'Seinfeld"s' Wayne Knight Has Lost Nearly 100 Pounds; The Wrap, "'Seinfeld' Actor Is Not Dead, Wayne Knight Confirms," by Todd Cunningham, March 16, 2014; Wikipedia; Internet Movie Database (IMDb.com)

- Joanne

Y&R Report (September 26, 2020): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

 

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

Hi fans,

There are signs that Y&R is picking up the pace a bit.  I've heard the same complaint from friends, acquaintances and relatives who are fans of the show.  They tell me that they have found it boring since the return of new episodes.  They say that they are fast-forwarding many scenes. 

Former Y&R head writer Mal Young moved the stories along too fast.  However, now we have the opposite problem.  It would be great to have some balance.  I realize it's not easy writing the show, especially now, due to COVID restrictions.  Still, there are far too many similar scenes.  The Sharon cancer saga seems to have gone on forever and the Hilary/Amanda identical twin storyline has taken ages to unravel.  Shake it up and get it moving, head writer Griffith and Co.

We haven't seen Connor Newman (Judah  Mackey) on screen since the return of new episodes.  Now Adam and Chelsea have decided to ship him off to boarding school.  Actually he's probably better off there because he's not safe with parents like them.  Remember when that Simon Black criminal threatened to harm the little boy because he wanted money from Chelsea?  

So, where is young Judah these days?  Well, he has a new gig.  He's joined the cast of Stillwater, a new Apple TV+ series.  He plays one of three siblings who have a wise panda as a next-door-neighbour.  It's an animated project to help children open their eyes the the wonders of the world and to understand their own feelings.

So, why isn't Judah on Y&R right now?  Is it due to the pandemic?  Yes.  It seems that children are allowed on the set, but it's more of a production challenge.  Judah has provided an explanation  on his Twitter account.  He wrote: "Yes, kids are allowed on the set and have always required a parent or set teacher/welfare worker (provided by the production), meaning additional people on set and testing.  Each production follows its own safety protocols."

I was happy to see Faith (Alyvia Alyn Lind) again.  She really looks grown up these days.  She was born on July 27, 2006 or 2007.  She's either 13 or 14 years old.  

Could there be a reunion between Kyle and Lola?  I think it may be in cards.  Here's why.  Lola's third-rate romance with Theo went nowhere.  It just fizzled out.  When she dumped him, he didn't seem too upset.  As for Kyle and Summer, I can't see them getting married any time soon - Kyle and Lola aren't even divorced yet.  That's my point.  There is a reason why the divorce is taking such a a long time by soap standards.  Most soap couples get divorced in the blink of an eye.  With Snowflake out of the picture, what's to stop Kyle and Lola from reconciling?  

VIEWER FORUM

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

My email address:  jmadden16@yahoo.ca

Here is an email that I received an email from longtime viewer CC in Etobicoke.  CC had this to say:

Hi Joanne,

Agree with both you and Carly from Barrhaven (Septenber 12, 2020  Y&R Report) on quality of storylines etc. on Y&R post pandemic.  Agree with Carly that Adam actor and the role of Adam are getting on our nerves.

Talk about fickle!  Even wishy washy Sharon has returned to her old ways.  Some grown men who have seen her as their 'it' girl are finding her less alluring these days because of her devious ways.

They do definitely need a strong true romance story.

Maybe it will be Adam and Sharon, or Devon and Amanda?

Maybe the writers will pull a double switcheroo in the near or distant future.  Yes, Amanda could be Hilary's long lost, unknown twin sister....or could have been!  

Perhaps Amanda and Hilary switched places before the accident and Amanda is the real Hilary, and the Hilary who died was really Amanda.

So the unborn child would have really been Devon's and Amanda's.

Doesn't this sound like a real soap plot?

The writer's can play it out now or down the road when they really need something out of the rabbit's hat.

Wondering what you and your readers think.

CC

Thanks for you input, CC.  I think Mark Grossman is a good actor.  It's not Mark who's been annoying.  It's been the constant repetition of scenes with him and Sharon meeting each other.  They became tiresome.  (If I hear one more time that Sharon is a professional therapist, I think I will scream).  

Yes, Sharon is wishy-washy and fickle.  She can't have it both ways.  She has to choose between Adam and Rey.  Sometimes Sharon can be so sweet.  At other times, she is devious.  Her cancer saga has gone on far too long and it should be resolved soon.

Your storyline idea about the twin sister is very creative.  It sounds like it would be fun.  Right now, though, it really seems as if Amanda has to be the late Hilary's twin.  One never knows, though.  A plot twist could be in the works.  Readers, what do you think of CC's double switcheroo storyline regarding Hilary and Amanda.?  

I spoke to Y&R fan, Fifi in Collingwood, Ontario.  Fifi says Nick Newman just spends his days walking around with his hands in his pocket, wearing plaid shirts, sporting a scruffy beard, complaining about Adam, and of course, cavorting with Phyllis.  I tend to agree.  Nick needs to get a life and stop admiring his dimples.

CAST NEWS

Melissa Ordway (Abby Newman)  and hubby Justin Gaston celebrate eighth wedding anniversary

Melissa and Justin

Meliasa Ordway, who plays Abby Newman on Y&R, and her husband, Justin Gaston (ex-Ben Rogers on Days of our Lives), celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary on September 22, 2020.  Melissa sent Justin a special message on Twitter to mark the occasion.  She wrote, "Best cake.  Best guy.   Best “yes” I’ve ever said.  Happy 8th Anniversary."

Judith Chapman is returning as Gloria 

Judith Chapman

Soap Opera Digest has confirmed that Judith Chapman's is returning to Y&R as the fiery Gloria Fisher Bardwell.  Judith has played the role of Gloria since 2005, but hasn't appeared on the show since 2018.  She will come back to Genoa City in October.  Her return will likely coincide with the birth of Kevin and Chloe's baby, Gloria's third grandchild.  You can also expect to see Michael and Lauren back for the birth.

As usual, Gloria will be setting her sights on a wealthy man.  After all, she is always searching for a sugar daddy.  Since Jack Abbott is looking for romance, she may try to hook him.  I hope he doesn't take the bait.  Those two don't make a good combination and it's hard to get past the fact that she was married to Jack's father, John Abbott.  However, Gloria's purpose may be to get in the way of Jack and his true love, whoever that may be.  Not matter what, Gloria will cause trouble.  You can count on that.

Doug Davidson to appear as Paul Williams again

If you've been missing Doug Davidson, you'll be pleased to know that actor confirmed his return to the screen on Twitter.  He tweeted that Paul will appear on Friday October 9 on CBS (Thursday, October 8 on Global TV.).  However, Doug also stated. "It's 4 pages.  Don't get too excited!  Hahaha."  He's obviously not happy about his lack of screen time and I can't say that I blame him.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

So fans, now that Judith Chapman is returning as Gloria, what do you think of her getting involved romantically with Jack Abbott?  Respond to he poll below and let me know.

What do you think of the idea of paring Gloria with Jack Abbott?

I like it. They would be fun together.

Depends on how serious they are about each other. If it's more than a fling, it won't work.

No way. I don't like the idea of them together at all.

Other

Please Specify:

Create your own poll vote

NOTE TO TORONTO AREA Y&R FANS

Due to the pandemic, the annual Y&R tea in support of March of Dimes will not take place at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto this December.  Instead it will be held virtually on Sunday, October 4, 2020.  Online guests will include many of your favourite Y&R stars.  Here is the link for more information.

https://marchofdimes.akaraisin.com/ui/OpportuniTeaOnline2020

That's all for now.  Don't forget that the next issue of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, October 10, 2020.

Take care,

Joanne

Y&R Report (September 12, 2020): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

  

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

Hi fans,

Well, Sharon continues to run to Adam at every opportunity.  How much can poor Rey (Jordi Vilasuso) take?  He's stood by her during her battle with cancer.  He's really good to her and she doesn't appreciate him enough.  Why does she have to be deceitful?.  It's obvious that she'd rather be with Adam.  Why doesn't she just level with Rey and tell him the truth.  Sharon herself admitted that she doesn't deserve him, and I can't argue with that.

By the way, have you noticed that Sharon (Sharon Case) and Adam (Mark Grossman) have not been social distancing lately in their scene?  You know what that means.  It also means that Sharon and Adam will be able to hug and kiss, just like Devon and Elena.

So, Chelsea and Adam are finished, as are Rey and Sharon.  A storyline remains for Chelaea, but what will happen to Rey once he breaks up with Sharon?  There have been persistent rumours that Jordi Vilasuso is leaving the show.  Last month, he said he isn't going anywhere, but it's a cutthroat business.  I wonder if the writers have already set the stage for Rey's departure by having Chance replace him as Genoa City's prime police detective.  Unfortunately for Jordi, all the writers have to do is send Rey back to Miami.  

No one's in the kitchen with Lola ....No  one's in the kitchen I know, I know . . . Why is Lola always
cooking alone at the Society restaurant?  Why aren't there other cooks or chefs working with her?
Of course, no one else is there whenever Kyle or Theo come to see her?  Just asking, although we're not supposed to ask questions like that.

Speaking of master chef, Lola, her not-so-hot "romance" with Theo never even got off the ground.  There's just no spark between the two of them, no real warmth..  I'm not quite sure why.  Maybe it's the way the two actors relate to each other.  Maybe it's hard not overlook the fact that Theo used Lola to get back at Kyle.  He even admitted doing so to Lola

I think Y&R has treated Doug Davidson (Paul Williams) shabbily.  He's been a staple of the show for years and he is truly a fan favourite.  Why don't they give him some screen time?  Is it because he's over 60?  Is it ageism?  Do they feel that there are enough characters on the show in his age group?  When Chance applied for a job with the Genoa City Police, we were told that Paul interviewed him.  The writers had the perfect opportunity to give Doug some scenes, but they didn't.  That speaks volumes.  It's really unfortunate because Doug deserves far better after more than forty years on Y&R.  He is a great guy with a great sense of humour, and he is well-respected.

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

l received an email from longtime viewer CC in Etobicoke.  CC had this to say:

Totally agreed with your analysis of the state of  Y&R plots, roles and relationships on its post COVID debut, Joanne.  Sluggish is a good descriptor of it at this point.

Finally they have introduced the path to explore the connection between Hilary and her clone, Amanda.  That one has been wallowing in the background for almost a year now.  Perhaps, as her full identity is revealed they will have many of the eligible gentlemen yipping at her heels....Billy, Nick, Theo (a little on the young side), and of course, Devon.  Don't you think she and Jack could take a long, enchanting spin around the dance floor of romance?

Bosses and writers have left a gaping hole on Y&R by overlooking a whole generation of couples between the Nikki/Victor era couples, the Victoria, Billy, Nick, Sharon generation which keeps recycling it members from one to the other meaninglessly, and the up and coming.  None of them seem to have lasting values and just don't stick.

Yes, CC, I really think the show's episodes since the shutdown have been sluggish.  The plots need to move faster.  Right now, Y&R is moving at a snail's pace.  The same scenes and conversations seem to be repeated over and over again.

The current romances on the show are third-rate.  Enough of third-rate romances like Kyle and Summer and Lola and Theo!  Do viewers really feel that those two couples really care about each other?  Will viewers be disappointed when Kyle and Snowflake break up or when Lola and Theo call it quits?  I, for one, will be quite pleased when that inevitably happens.  It's hard to believe that Summer is Kyle's true love when he is so fickle,  He dumped Summer and married Lola, vowing eternal love to her.  Then he turned around and dumped Lola for Summer again.  He claims he was really in love with Summer all along, but it's very hard to believe that.  It's also hard to believe that the spoiled Kyle really cares about anyone but himself.  He is the poster child for young, rich men with a sense of entitlement.

It's time for a first-rate romance on the show, an epic romance, with characters fans care about.  That's one thing the show really lacks right now.  How about a new super couple. 

Yes, CC, they've finally decided to  explore the connection between Hilary and her look-alike, Amanda.  Actually, Amanda is more than Hilary's look-alike.  She's a dead ringer.  The writers should have addressed this a long time ago, before the pandemic hit, but it's better late than never.  According to online spoilers. Amanda will turn out to be Hilary's twin sister.  Wow,, what a surprise!  Haven't the writers gone down that road before with Cassie and Mariah?  

Once Amanda's identity is established,, she will "have many of the eligible gentlemen yipping at her heels," as you put it.  However, I don't foresee her taking a long, enchanting spin around the dance floor of romance with Jack Abbott.  I predict that Devon will be drawn to Amanda when he learns she is Hilary's twin.  This will cause Elena to cry on Dr. Nate's shoulder and they will connect.

Jack is certainly headed for romance, but I don't think he'll hook up with Amanda.  He may become involved with a new redhead who will soon arrive in town, played by Courtney Hope from The Bold and the Beautiful.  He'll most likely have rivals for her affection.

I also received an email from Carly from Barrhaven, Ontario.  Carly made the following comments:

As for Y&R,  I realize because of the pandemic the story lines will have to be altered but honestly am not enjoying it.  Lots of fast forwarding.  I cannot stand the Adam-Sharon storyline.  Frankly, Mark Grossman (Adam Newman) is getting on my nerves.  I still think the best Adam was Michael Muhney.    The Lola/Theo/Summer/Kyle storyline is really dumb.  Glad to hear they are bringing in someone new.

Maybe a healthy post pandemic will inspire them to get back to it.

Just some thoughts.

Well, Carly, I've been disappointed in the storyline's lately too.  They are not moving fast enough and the scenes are too repetitious.  The show needs an infusion of excitement and real romance.  This  will come, I hope. 

I have to say that Mark Grossman isn't getting on my nerves.  You didn't say why he bothers you.  I wish you had elaborated.  Yes, Michael Muhney played the part of Adam well and I enjoyed his acting.  He's not coming back, though.  I agree with you that the Lola, Theo, Summer, Kyle storyline is really dumb. 

I am also glad they are bringing in Courtney Hope, who played Sally Spectra on The Bold and the Beautiful.  She should shake things up when she arrives in Genoa City.


CAST NEWS

Eileen Davidson (Ashley Abbott) is not returning to Y&R full-time

Sorry, Eileen Davidson fans, but the rumours are false.  Eileen is not returning to Y&R full-time.  Last Sunday, she clarified her status with the show in a post on social media.  She wrote that her return is only short-term.  She tweeted, "I am happy to be coming back to Y and R to do a few shows but I am not coming back full-time."  So, expect her to appear in only a handful of episodes, but at least she'll make an appearance once in a while.  One thing we know is that when Dina passes away, Ashley will have to be around for her death and funeral.  She could continue to appear in a few episodes here and there for years to come.  I hope so.

Eileen originally joined the cast of Y&R back in 1982 and has been portraying Ashley on and off since then.

Tracey Bregman and Christian LeBlanc appear on Let's Make A Deal

Tracey E. Bregman

Tracey E. Bregman (:Lauren Fenmore) and Christian LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin) recently appeared on CBSs' Let's Make A Deal.  According to Soap Dish. com, fans were very vocal with their thoughts about the writers giving more work to the onscreen couple.  Several criticized the writers for ignoring their characters, justifiably in my view.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL 

Lauren and Michael have not been virtually ignored since the show began to air new episodes.  Fans, what do you think about that?  Would you like more screen time for them?  Respond to the poll below and let me know.

What do you think about Lauren and Michael not having much screen time?

It's a shame. Christian LeBlanc and Tracey Bregman are good actors and their talents are being wasted.

It doesn't bother me. I don't really miss them.

I don't think the writers are at fault. There probably isn't enough storyline for Lauren and Michael.

I don't know.

Other

Please Specify:

Created with Poll Maker

That's all for now.  Please remember that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, September 26, 2020.

That's all for now.  Take care and stay safe.

- Joanne

Hands off our CBC, Erin O'Toole!

Erin O'Toole, the new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, wants to gut the CBC,  If he becomes prime minister, he says he will do it.  He has not hidden his intentions.  His agenda is clear to anyone who has knowledge of his polices.

Erin O'Toole

The following appears on O'Toole's website.

"As Conservative leader and Canada’s next Prime Minister, I’ll defund CBC television and save taxpayers billions. Here’s how I’ll get it done:

• End all funding to CBC Digital;
• Cut funding for CBC English TV and News Network by 50%, with the goal to fully privatize CBC by the end of my first mandate;
• Maintain funding for CBC Radio and Radio-Canada

It’s 2020. Canadians have hundreds of channels to choose from, thousands of online options, and lots of Canadian content.

We don’t need CBC Television. When I’m Prime Minister, they will lose their funding."

I believe that Erin O'Toole and the Conservatives wish to kill CBC Television cut by cut, piece by piece, until it is unrecognizable, until its quality is so diminished that people will say it it is not worth saving.  If they succeed in killing CBC Television, what's next?  They could easily proclaim that taxpayers can't afford CBC Radio either, or CBC French-language programming.  

Right-wing conservatives have an aversion to most things that are government-funded.  It has been a very long time now since The Conservative Party of Canada,has been the party of Joe Clark and Robert Stanfield.  It has configured itself into a party that more resembles the Republican Party in the United States.  That is why it no longer even maintains the pretense of calling itself "The Progressive Conservative Party." and it no longer concerns itself with environmental issues.  It opposes sensible gun control measures.  Red Tories are an endangered species.  There are very few Red Tories left, and they won't be accepted by the current leadership of "The Conservative Party."  Just ask Jean Charest.

This is a passionate  defence of the CBC and public broadcasting.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation was established on November 2, 1936, following the worst years of the Great Depression.  It has served Canadians well and it will continue to serve Canadians well, as long as right-wing Conservatives don't get their hands on it.

I watch the CBC.  It is not perfect, of course, but I enjoy it.  I and many other Canadians do not feel our tax dollars are being wasted in funding a public broadcaster.  The CBC connects Canadians from coast to coast.  This is a huge country with a small population and the CBC is worth every penny.  In fact, if it weren't underfunded, its quality would improve even more, and there would be fewer commercials.

Private networks such as CTV and Global TV show limited Canadian programming and they simulcast many American sitcoms and talk shows.  CBC Television, on the other hand, has Canadian programming that I can't watch anywhere else.  I enjoy shows such as Kim's Convenience, Heartland and 22 Minutes.  I have also enjoyed such former CBC series such as Little Mosque on the Prairie and Anne with a "E."  Those shows reflect the Canadian experience.

CBC's The National provides high quality news coverage from a Canadian perspective, as does CBC News Network.   The CBC News Network is so much more neutral than one-sided "conservative" cable channels in the U.S. such as Fox News or unabashed "liberal" channels such as MSNBC.  

The CBC  mirrors our people and our country.  It belongs to us.  It belongs to all Canadians.  Sooner of later, the Tories will regain power.  That's why friends of the CBC must be vigilant.  They must let their voices be heard.

- Joanne