Saturday, November 7, 2015

Y&R Report (November 7, 2015): 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.

Well fans, other calamity has struck Genoa City!  This time the catastrophe occurred at a Newman Halloween gala! Head writer Charles Pratt is certainly proving himself to be a master of disaster, isn't he? There hasn't been an earthquake yet, but I wouldn't put it past him.  (Ooop, I don't want to give him any ideas).  Actually, he's probably planning disasters for Christmas and New Year's Eve right now.

This latest GC disaster had a comical, almost campy aspect to it.  Think of the images: Ian Ward, who turned out to be the culprit in the devil costume, offering a glass of champagne to Adam and inviting him to toast the fall of the Newman empire while flames roared around them; Phyllis and Jack, also surrounded by fire, running into Patty and begging her to assist them; Phyllis becoming angry as Jack kisses Patty in an attempt to appease her so that she will help them escape; with time running out, Phyllis and Patty engaging in a cat fight.  Just when viewers are certain that both Patty and Ian Ward had died, the two of them awaken.  Patty looks at Ian and says, "Wanna work togther, Hot Stuff?

It seems that the unfortunate Patty and the dastardly Ian Ward will live to see another day.  Patty was obviously brought back for the Sharon storyline.  Jack, Phyllis and Paul are all aware that she was trying to convey a message to Dylan about what Dr. Anderson is doing to Sharon. She was never able to relay the message to Dylan, but at least he will be know that Patty was attempting to tell him about an urgent matter.  In the end, there's a good chance that Patty will emerge a hero and that she will be the one to save Sharon (although Dylan and Nick will certainly try to ride to her rescue).

Both Cane and Dr. Stitch also survived the inferno.  Stitch was widely touted as the one who would die in the explosion.  He is in critical condition, but I'm certain he will survive. Why?  Well, Candis Cayne is scheduled to play the role of Nona Richards, a wedding planner helping Stitch and Abby plan their wedding. Her first air-date is December 2, 2015 on CBS (December 1st on Global TV in Canada). Also, Dr. Stitch is need to cause conflict between Ashley and Abby.  It appears that he will go ahead with plans to marry Abby even though he declared his feelings for her mother when he though he was going to perish in the fire.

It appears that after all the hullabaloo, no one actually died in the fiery explosion. However, head writer Charles Pratt apparently stated that four characters would lose their lives and that one would be a major character ( widely thought to be Dr. Stitch).  Was Mr. Pratt just teasing us?  Was he merely trying to spark interest in the show?  I'm not sure about the current status of Sean Carrigan, who plays Dr. Stitch.  I do know, though, that his contract was up for renewal.  Perhaps the show was waiting to see if he would sign a new contract before deciding whether his character would live or die.  Since he survived, I guess he must have negotiated a new deal deal with Y&R.  I will keep you posted.

What is wrong with Christine (a.k.a. Cricket)?  She appears to have some deep, pathological need to put Adam in a jail cell.  It can't wait another minute, another second. The thought of his prison sentence being delayed, even for medical reasons, absolutely infuriates her.  It was good to see Chelsea put her in her place and question her humanity.  The message finally got through to a chastened Cricketmeister.  She quietly agreed to allow Adam to stay in the hospital.

We all know that baby Christian is still alive.  Nick and Sage never saw their supposedly dead child. The baby boy will soon be in the clutches of the wicked Dr. Anderson.  She will then present him to Sharon.  As I have mentioned before, it is expected that Dr. Anderson is really Sandra, who was injured years ago at a pool party at the Newman ranch.  That is why she wants revenge on Nick.  I have one question, though.  Sandra was paralysed in the accident and Dr. Anderson is not.  Maybe she had successful spinal surgery.


VIEWER FORUM

If you have any comments on Y&R, please email them to me with "Viewer Forum in the subject line. I will be happy to publish your comments and reply to them  You do not have to use your real name.  
My email address:  jmadden16@yahoo.ca


I received some comments from regular Y&R viewer Patsy in Sarasota, Florida.  Here is Patsy's view of what's going on:

Well, isn't Young and Restless heating up!!

Neil sure escaped the kidnapping situation with Hilary's amnesia.  No one seems to ever have to deal with the problems they cause.  We know that Adam will not serve ten years in jail also.  Victor has never been hauled on the carpet for anything.  And now Neil!!

The fire at Newman headquarters was so similar to two years ago when Phyllis was thrown down the stairs by Sharon.  How could Dr. Stitch not know that you NEVER touch a door handle that has a fire raging behind it?  His hand should be burned. And how did the guests who were in the ballroom just above the exploding fire not know of the situation?  Only Dr. Stitch informed them of the fire!!

Yes, Patsy, the show is definitely on fire in more ways than one!  Yes, there are definitely holes in the plotline, which you have done a tremendous job of pointing our with your great powers of observation.  However, I have to admit that I've been riveted in my seat watching everything play out. It's been quite entertaining.

As for your complaint that no on in Genoa City ever has to take responsibility for the problems they create, I agree wholeheartedly (especially in the case of Victor Newman). Adam certainly will not serve ten years in prison.  The reason is that he and other major characters cannot be incarcerated for long periods. They have to interact with other characters. Otherwise, they can only be seen receiving prison visits from other GC residents. Also, viewers eventually tire of looking at prison uniforms. They prefer to see their favourite characters in fashionable clothing rather than orange jumpsuits.

A longtime Y&R viewer named Elba has sent me two emails.

Please, please try to find out if over 15 years or 20 years ago there was an episode where a young girl dove into the Newman Family pool during a pool party and became paralyzed from the incident.  The party was not properly supervised and his teenage son wastaken to the police station and the family was going to be blamed for the accident.  Victor Newman paid off the girl's family and paid for all her operations, etc.  but the girl remained paralyzed.  Now, apparently the writers want to bring back this story line.  Many viewers say on Message Boards that this episode never happened....I and a couple of my friends disagree.  We could swear it aired because we do remember something of the pool party and the girl's accident (she was named Sonya or Sandra). Could you maybe just ask the writers or Chuck Pratt if this episode existed so many years ago or is this a new story they are trying to introduce or have "flashbacks" for.  IT IS A REAL MYSTERY! THANKS SO MUCH FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE.  Elba 70 year old, viewer of Y/R since it started!

I did some more checking with my friend in New York who was a student at that time and she relates that yes she did see a similar episode.  She said that the Pool Party was at the Newman Ranch, that Nicholas was about 16 years old at the time and that the girl was hurt badly and was paralyzed.  The family paid the girl's parents and she received the best treatment secretly.  More or less what I remember.  I am 70 years old but my memory is A-OK! I still think I saw this somewhere years ago also.  I hope I am not wrong.  However, as you said, it is strange that the Y&R people don't put some scenes on the air that lend some substance to the storyline they may be re-introducing? It would really be great to finally know what is going on with this storyline that apparently many are talking about. I even read something about it on Toni's Spoiler Site. Nov. 3, if I recall. YouTube has some videos of pool parties when Nicholas was younger (May 2003) but the ones I was able to download do not prove much.  I am not the best on a computer!

I told Elba that I do not personally remember the pool party storyline.  I also can't understand why Y&R wouldn't use flashbacks of the pool party if they existed.  However, I do not want to dismiss Elba's claims outright.  She and her friends seem to remember that it happened.

I also think that if the incident has never been shown before, the writers have been confusing viewers by mentioning a storyline from the past that was never seen.  Joshua Morrow began playing the role of Nicholas Newman back in 1994.  He was a teenager then, so I suspect the incident would have happened in the 1990s.  There have been many pool parties at the Newman ranch over the years, but this one would have been a major storyline, had it occurred.

Y&R viewers out there, can you help me get to the bottom of this?  If I can't get a clear answer, I intend to contact CBS or Charles Pratt himself.



CAST NEWS

Lachlan Buchanan (Kyle Abbott) downgraded




Y&R viewers haven't seen much of Summer and her boyfriend Kyle lately.  According to Daytime Confidential, Lachlan Buchanan, the Australian actor who plays the role of Kyle Abbott (without an Aussie accent) has been taken off contract.  He'll still be appearing on a recurring basis, which could mean he's on his way out.  It could also mean that the role of Kyle will be recast yet again, even though Lachlan has only played the character since February of this year.

So, when can we expect to see Kyle again?  Well, the actor made this comment on Twitter: "Kyle's on a little walk-about but he'll be back before you know it,"


Burgess Jenkins (Billy Abbott) is leaving Y&R


     

Burgess Jenkins has chosen to leave his role as Billy Abbott after less than a  year-and-a-half.  Since Day One, he has been in the difficult position of being constantly compared with his predecessor, the wildly popular Billy Miller.  Comparisons with Miller aside, Jenkins has never seemed to be the right fit for the part. He has appeared to be a good actor in the wrong role.  Perhaps it's his lack of chemistry with Victoria (Amelia Heinle).  Maybe it's that he hasn't been able to fully convey the mischievousness of Billy's character. He just doesn't have that twinkle in his eye.

Now that Burgess is on his way out, Daytime Confidential has reported that Y&R is eyeing Jason Thompson to replace him.  Thompson has just left his role as Patrick Drake on General Hospital. That would be interesting since Y&R has lost Michelle Stafford (ex-Phyllis) and Billy Miller to GH. By the way, if you are hoping for the return of Billy M., as I am, don't hold your breath.  He doesn't seem likely to leave General Hospital any time soon.


Y&R REPORT READER'S POLL

Who is the most annoying character on Y&R right now?

Joe Clark
Neil Winters
Christine "Cricket" Blair Williams
Dr. Anderson
I don't know.
Quiz Maker


That's all for now.  Enjoy the show as the November sweeps continue.  The next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, November 21st.  Don't miss it.


- Joanne

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