Tuesday, February 21, 2017

David Cassidy - Troubled Times and Tragedy


David Cassidy was one of the foremost teen idols of the 1970s.  As Keith Partridge on The Partridge Family, he was a heartthrob to young girls of that generation.  From 1970 to 1973, he starred alongside his real life stepmother, Shirley Jones, in the popular musical sitcom about a family band headed by a widowed mother (Jones).  David and the Partridge Family had a huge hit in 1970 with the song "I Think I Love You," featuring Cassidy on lead vocals and Shirley Jones on background vocals.  David's face and his long, flowing hair graced the covers of countless teen magazines. According to IMDb, at the peak of his popularity, he was the world's highest paid live entertainer and he had the largest official fan club in pop history, larger than those of Elvis Presley and The Beatles.

After The Partridge Family went off the air, David continued successfully with his music and acting career. For example, he guest-starred in a 1978 episode of Police Story, "A Chance to Live" (Season 5 Episode 7, Air Date: May 28, 1978), for which he earned an Emmy nomination.  In the episode, he played Officer Dan Shay who operated undercover for the narcotics unit at a high school.  Cassidy's most recent television role was in a 2013 episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation entitled "Last Woman Standing" (Season 13, Episode 16, Air Date: February 27, 2013). He also portrayed a former teen heartthrob named David Gallagher in the short-lived 2009 comedy Ruby & the Rockits.

In recent years, however, David's personal life has been plagued with problems and instability.  He has had to challenge a number of demons and it hasn't been easy.

David Bruce Cassidy was, born in New York City on April 12, 1950.  He is the son of two actors - Jack Cassidy and his first wife, Evelyn Ward.  David's parents divorced in 1956 and his father subsequently married singer/actress Shirley Jones.  In 1969, at the age of 18,  David moved east to New York City and performed in a Broadway production of The Fig Leaves are Falling.  Prior to his Partridge Family fame, he made some appearances on episodes of television shows such as The Survivors (1969), Ironside (1969), The F.B.I. (1970), Marcus Welby, M.D. (1970), Adam-12 (1970), Bonanza (1970), Medical Center (1970) and Mod Squad (1970).

David has been married and divorced three times.  He wed his first wife, actress Kay Lenz on April 3, 1977.  The marriage lasted until 1982 or 1983,   Cassidy married his second wife, horse breeder Meryl Tanz, in 1984.  The marriage ended in 1985 or 1986. His third marriage, to Sue Shifrin, took place on March 30, 1991.  They had a son, Beau that same year.  In February of 2014, Shifrin filed for divorce.

David also has a daughter, Katherine Evelyn Anita "Katie" Cassidy (born November 25, 1986) from his relationship with Sherry Williams Benedon.  Katie, an actress, had a big breakthrough in 2012 when she landed the role of Laurel Lance/Black Canary, one of the main characters on the TV series Arrow.


Katie Cassidy
          PHOTO ATTRIBUTION: https://www.flickr.com/photos/heroesfanfest/28750113454/


In 2008, David admitted publicly that he had a problem with alcohol.  In 2010, the singer was charged with driving under the influence.  In August 2013 and January 2014, he was again charged with impaired driving.  A month after his third DUI charge, Sue Shifrin, his third wife, filed for divorce after 23 years of marriage and 28 years together.  In a February 12, 2015 article in the Los Angeles Times, Sue is quoted as saying that the breakup had been brewing for a time and that she was "truly heartbroken" about it..

In 2014, David spoke openly to talk show host Piers Morgan about his alcoholism.  He said, "If I take another drink, I'm going to die, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. I'm dead.  You know, they say it's a slippery slope... It's not a slippery slope. It's from 12:00 to 6:00 on the clock and the whole face is ice.  One sip, one drink, because there is no such a thing, not to an alcoholic.  You have one and you're - you're done. I'd be done.”

Cassidy entered a no-contest plea to his January, 2014 arrest on suspicion of DUI near the Los Angeles International Airport.  He was sentenced to 90 days live-in rehab and a 60 mouth probation.  He received treatment at a Florida rehabilitation facility,

In February of 2015, following his divorce and his stint in rehab, David Cassidy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Florida.   Documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times indicated he had assets and debt of up to $10  million and, according to TMZ, he owed $39,102 in credit card debt as well as a $292,598 mortgage against his house and a long list of attorney fees.  The documents also showed that David had homes in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and in Saratoga Springs, New York and that he was involved in a legal dispute over thoroughbred horses he co-owned.

In an email statement from his publicist, Cassidy stated: "I am gong through bankruptcy proceedings at the moment.  This is necessary for practical reasons to reorganize my life as I go through divorce and to restructure my finances."


The following appears on David's official website.  It is dated February 7, 2017.

After reading the messages sent to him over the last few days, David sends this message to his fans:

I will always be eternally grateful for the love and support you’ve shown me. I still love very much to play and perform live. But it’s much more difficult for me now.
 I’m not going to vanish or disappear forever. I’ll be able to communicate much more through my website and my Facebook page. As you can imagine this has been truthfully THE MOST DIFFICULT DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
 I’m eternally grateful to each and every single one of you.
 I’m going to play live, everywhere around North America, through 2017. I hope you will find a way to come and be part of my celebration!
XO DC


Sadly, David's problems continue to mount.  At a February 18 show in Agoura Hills, California, he struggled to remember the lyrics to songs he has sung for years.  His fans became worried when he slurred his words and told rambling stories during the performance.  He even tumbled as he was playing an instrumental break and staggered off the edge of the stage.  There was speculation that he was drunk.

On Monday, February 20, David revealed the heartbreaking news to People magazine that he is fighting dementia.  He said he feared he would end up this way because of his family history.  His grandfather battled the affliction and his mother, Evelyn Ward, died of Alzheimer's in 2013 at the age of 89,  In 2011, while Ward was suffering from the disease, Cassidy recorded a public service announcement in which he advocated for Alzheimer's research and prevention.

Due to his condition, David has decided to stop touring as a musician.  "I want to focus on what I am, who I am and how I've been without any distractions," he told People.  "I want to love.  I want to enjoy life,"



END NOTES

* David Cassidy has three half-brothers, Shaun, Patrick and Ryan, the sons of Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy.

* David's father, Jack Cassidy, and Shirley Jones divorced in 1974.  On December 12, 1976, Jack Cassidy died in a fire at his West Hollywood Penthouse.  He was 49 years old.

* According to David's IMDb biography, he did not know until he was cast as Keith Partridge that his real life stepmother was set to play his TV mother, Shirley Partridge.


- Joanne


EDITOR'S UPDATE (November 29, 2017): David Cassidy died on November 21, 2017 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the age of 67.  On November 18, it was announced that he had been hospitalized due to liver and kidney failure.  He was critically ill in a medically induced coma.  However, he came out of the coma two days later and remained in critical but stable condition..  Doctors hoped he would remain stable until they could perform a liver transplant.  Before a liver became available, he died from liver failure.  His daughter Katie stated that his last words were, "So much wasted time."

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Y&R Report (February 18, 2017): 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, I hope you had a better Valentine Day than the residents of Genoa City.   Lily and Cane argued while celebrating their anniversary and she asked him to leave the restaurant.  Billy accused Victoria of behavinglike her father, Victor, and of being a cold person.  Ashley and Jack Abbott did not have Valentine dates. Phyllis is searching for a new man 

Sugar Cane Ashby has been behaving rather childishly.  If anyone is entitled to Brash & Sassy, it's Victoria.  She built that company from the ground up.  As she is fond of saying, it's her baby, her pride and joy.  It's not as if she's decided to kick Cane out of the company.  He's has quite a good executive position. Why can't he be satisfied with his job and with Lily and his family.  Most people would consider him extremely fortunate.  As for Lily, isn't she acting rather too chummy with that photographer, Jordan.  I don't blame Cane for not being too happy about that, especially given her history with Joe Clark.

Jill's Valentine's Day was an absolute disaster.  She is now facing the worst crisis of her life.  Her scoundrel of a husband, Colin, completely drained her back accounts.  He squandered all her money on bad investments and gambling.  A fiasco ensued when Jill discovered his betrayal.  The sly Aussie was shut out in the cold.  That wasn't all, though.  Jill ended up having a heart attack.

I have to commend Y&R for drawing attention to woman's heart disease during the month of February, which is "heart month."  It was a very responsible thing to do and a great public service. It may even save lives.

I truly enjoyed Ashley's reminiscences about her late father, John Abbott.  Her memories about her John were very touching and those flashback scenes were a treat.  It's all part of head writer Sally's Sussman's determination to connect the show to its past and to honour it history.

Ravi is a difficult character to figure out.  He seems sincere and he appears to really care about Ashley.  They have developed a connection and their conversations can be quite meaningful. However, Ravi seems so nervous and awkward.  We know little about his background..  Ashley is always the one who provides him with information about herself.  Ravi, on the other hand, doesn't reveal much.  What's going on in his life other than his job at Jabot?  Doesn't he have any family and friends?  He seems to be more comfortable in the company of older women such as Ashley and Phyllis than woman closer to his own age.  When he was introduced to Mariah, he couldn't relate to her at all.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I suspect there is more to Ravi than meets the eye.  There's may be something we viewers don't know about.  That's why I don't know what to think about him and I don't completely trust him.

Y&R has new cast photos in its opening credits.  They replace black and white photos and are much brighter and upbeat.  They give the show a fresh look.

Now that Lauren's son, Scott, is coming to town.  As a journalist who has been in war zones, he could be a fascinating chraracter.  I wounder which of Genoa City's eligible women he's going to romance. Abby and Mariah are the first to come to mind - especially Mariah.  I would really like her to find someone other than Kevin.  He doesn't appreciate her enough.

Get ready for a big love triangle involving Nick, Chelsea and Sharon.  This time, Sharon might win Nick back.  She has a few advantages over Chelsea.  She has more of a history with Nick.  Faith wants her parents to reunite.  Chelsea is keeping a huge secret from Nick.  She and Victor both know that Adam is really Christian's biological father.  Nick will eventually discover the truth and he will be extremely angry with Chelsea for hiding it from him.  Believe it or not, Sharon is not keeping any secrets from Nick right now.


CAST NEWS


Sofia Pernas

I've been wondering about Sofia Pernas, who plays Marisa Sierrass.  She has not appeared on Y&R for quite a while.  However, her on-screen love interest, Noah Newam (Robert Adamson), has had a great deal of air time lately.  He's been mostly seen helping his father, Nick, with his restaurant, The Underground.  We know that Noah and Marisa are still together because Noah was asked about her and explained that she couldn't make an appearance.

I have been trying to find out if Sofia Pernas is still with The Young and The Restless.  So far, I have been unable to find an answer.  She is making appearances on prime time shows.  For example, she plays Jane's cousin, Catalina, on Jane the Virgin.  

Last March, Sofia was cast in a starring role on CW's pilot, Transylvania.  At that time, she told Soaps.com that she would be staying on Y&R in a recurring capacity unless her pilot is picked up as a series.   In May, CW announced that it had passed over Transylvania.  

All of this leaves me wondering if Sofia is still with Y&R, at least in a recurring role.  I don't think she quite fits into the current storylines.  If she isn't coming back, however, why didn't Noah say that he had broken up with her.  As soon as I find out some information on Sofia, I will keep you posted.



Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL




The Great Victor Newman has been making a lot of rumblings lately about retiring.  Does he really mean it or is he just blowing smoke?  After all, he's not one to give up power easily.  So, is he playing games to test his children?  Does he have something up his sleeve or is he really ready to step down as head honcho?  What do you think?




Do you think Victor is really ready to retire or is he up to his old tricks?

Yes, I think Victor has really mellowed and he's ready to hand over the reins of power.
No way. Are you kidding? Victor will never retire. He likes to be in control.
No. I don't think he's ready to retire yet, but he's definitely up to something.
I don't know.
Other
Please Specify:
Poll Maker



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.  The next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, February 18, 2017.


- Joanne

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Remembering comedian Harvey Korman on the 90th anniversary of his birth


The late Harvey Korman was born on February 15, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois, 90 years ago yesterday. The talented comedian, best known for his performances on The Carol Burnett Show and in Mel Brooks films, died on May 29, 2008 at the age of 81.

Yesterday I received an email from Harvey's son, Christopher Korman, who provided some noteworthy information about his father on the 90th anniversary of his birth.  I would like to share the email with readers and fans as a tribute to an outstanding entertainer who brought joy and laughter to so many people.

- Joanne


Since this would have been my dad's 90th birthday, here are some interesting things related to him:

* Although Mama's Family, was set in Raytown Kansas, the house was actually located in a suburb of Paadena, California.  However, the one shown in the Eunice Special was shot in Kansas.  The voice of Carl was supplied by Dick Clair who co-wrote Mama's Family with Jenna McMahon.  IMDd attributes Carl's voice to Ken Berry, which isn't true.

* My dad claimed that if it weren't for Anne Bancroft seeing him on The Carol Burnett Show, he wouldn't have landed the iconic role of Hedley Lamaar in Blazing Saddles.

* Arte Johnson and my dad both won Emmy Awards in 1968, which has a bit of irony to it in that Arte is a very distant relative on my dad's side.

*  My dad told me he once dated briefly the first Jill Abbott on The Young and the Restless - Brenda Dickson.

* My dad never considered himself in the class of voice over talents on The Simpsons, but he did at least five voices in the spoof on James Bond in the 1966 animated movie A Man Called Flintstone.

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Television advertising: Has it become unbearable?



I call it Commercial Creep, the relentless, intrusive proliferation of commercials into every media second of our multi-media lives.  My tolerance is long gone.  The issue now is controlling my intolerance which is bordering on complete irrationality.

- Stuart Fischoff, Ph.D,
"Commercial Creep" - I Hate Commercials and You Should Too: It's beginning to feel like "We interrupt this commercial to bring you the show."
The Media Zone, Psychology Today, February 21, 2013


I heartily concur with the late Dr. Stuart Fischoff, the American media psychologist who passed away on November 21, 2014. As much as a enjoy watching television, I am becoming increasingly agitated by the large number of TV commercials and promotions.  I know!  I know!  Something has to pay for the shows we watch and, yes, some ads are entertaining (until you've seen them hundreds of times).

For a while now, the trend has been toward shorter and more frequent commercials. Unfortunately, the sheer volume of commercials, disturbs the flow of our favourite shows and it clogs the viewer's mind.  I can barely view live television anymore.  There are just too many interruptions. I don't expect free TV, but there has to be a limit!  It feels as if the commercials are being interrupted to bring us the programming.  It's insidious.  By the way, whatever happened to fun theme songs and creative introductions to TV shows?  Sadly, intros have become shorter and shorter to make room for more ads.

When you watch DVDs, you really get a sense of how dramatically the number of ads has increased. A one-hour show now contains about 15 minutes of commercials.  I checked a DVD of the The Mod Squad from 1969.  Four one-hour episodes contained 3 hours and 27 minutes of programming and 33 minutes of commercials back then.  Today four "one-hour" episodes contain about 3 hours of programming and one hour of commercials. CBS should change the name of their long-running news magazine show from 60 Minutes to 45 Minutes or maybe before long to 40 Minutes.




Why is this happening?  It's a case of pure greed, my friends.  As Dr. Fischoff, points in his 2013 article: "Networks and their local affiliates are huge profit machines. Huge. Since profit is revenue minus cost, obviously fewer commercials are both possible and affordable. The trouble is, of course, that greed is an appetite never sated. Programmers will insert as many commercials as the traffic will bear. Most of us dutifully, quietly bear it."


- Joanne

Monday, February 6, 2017

Remembering Mister.Ed and Alan Young



A horse is a horse, of course, of course, and no one can talk to a horse, of course.  That is,  of course, unless the horse is the famous Mister Ed.

- Lyrics to Mr. Ed opening theme song


Mister Ed is an American TV comedy about a talking horse that aired from 1961 to 1966. The show is based on short stories by children's author Walter R. Brooks (1886-1958). Mister Ed first aired in syndication from January 2 to July 5, 1961.  It was then picked up by the CBS Network, which broadcast the show from October 1, 1961 until February 6, 1966.  Comedian George Burns financed the original pilot for the show.  It is interesting to note that Mister Ed was one of those rare series that began in syndication and was later included in a network's prime time lineup.


Walter R. Brooks
.

ALAN YOUNG




Angus "Alan" Young was born in North Shields, Northcumberland, England  on November 19, 1919 to Scottish parents - , John Cathcart Young,and Florence Pinckney.  The Young family later moved to Edinburgh, Scotland. Then, when Alan was six or seven years old, they immigrated to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where Alan's father laboured in a West Vancouver shipyard.

As a boy, Young suffered from bronchial asthma, which caused him to be bedridden for long periods. During his bouts with the disease, he would listen to the radio and became fascinated with the medium.  While still in high school, Alan was writing and performing for his own comedy radio show on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). However, he gave up the show to serve in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II.

After the war, Alan made some Hollywood films.  He appeared with a young Natalie Wood in the 1949 film Chicken Every Sunday and with Shirley Temple in the 1949 comedy Mr. Belvedere Goes to College.  His other film credits include Androcles and the Lion (1952), Gentleman Marry Brunettes (1955), Tom Thumb (1958) and The Time Machine, a 1960 classic for which Alan received billing alongside stars Rod Taylor and Yvette Mimieux.

Meanwhile, Alan's radio show aired in the United States and he was invited to New York City.  From 1944 to 1949, he broadcast the Alan Young Radio Show in New York.  Then the time was ripe for him to make his first foray into television.  In, 1950, he wrote a TV pilot for CBS and landed his own television show, The Alan Young Show. which ran for three years. In 1951, he won a Primetime Emmy for outstanding leading actor for his performance on the comedy/variety show.

Young Canadian comedian Alan Young seemed to have a very bright future when he first moved to the new medium of television . . . Critics applauded his gentle, intelligent humor, his versatility, and the excellent writing for his shows. "The Charlie Chaplin of television," TV Guide called him.

- The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows 1946 - Present


In the early 1960s, Alan Young was cast in his defining role as Wilbur Post on Mister Ed. Alan played straight man to a talking horse and managed to pull it off brilliantly.  His character, Wilbur, was an amiable, but somewhat awkward architect.  Wilbur and his wife, Carol (Connie Hines), had moved from the city to a rambling country home.  Their new home came with a stable and talking palomino named Mister Ed.  Much of the show's humour is derived from Mister. Ed's tendency to speak only to Wilbur.


1961 publicity photo of Connie Hines as Carol Post

During the last season of Mister Ed, Alan directed almost all of the episodes.  After the show went off the air in 1966, he took a decade-long hiatus from show business during which he drove across the United States.  He returned to television as a guest on the short-lived series Gibbswille in a feature entitled "The Cat from Outer Space."  This was the beginning of his transition into doing voice work for television animation shows.

Alan was a talented voice actor and his forte was a Scottish accent.  He provided the voice of Scrooge McDuck in Disney's DuckTales, the animated TV adventures of billionaire Scrooge and his three nephews.  The show aired from 1987 to 1990.  He also did voice characterizations in other Disney productions.

Through the years, Young made a number of appearances on episodes of popular television series including Death Valley Days (1962), The Love Boat (1978) (1983), Murder, She Wrote (1986), St. Elsewhere (1987), Doogie Howser, M.D. (1993), Coach (1993),

Alan Young was married three times.  His first wife was Mary Anne Grimes.  They were married from 1941 to 1947 and had two children, a daughter Alana and a son, Alan, Jr.  He then wed Virginia McCurdy in 1948 and had two children with her, a son named Cameron Angus and a daughter, Wendy.  They divorced in 1995 and Young married Mary Chapman in 1996.   He and Chapman divorced in 1997.  

Alan Young died at a retirement community in Los Angeles, California on May 19, 2016.  The actor was 96 years old at the time of his passing.


END NOTES

* Connie Hines passed away on December 18, 2009 at the age of 78.  She had a heart condition.

* The voice of Mister Ed was provided by cowboy actor Allan "Rocky Lane, who played Red Ryder, the comic book Western hero.  Lane died of cancer on October 27, 1973.  He was 64 years old at the time of his death.




* Mister Ed's original name was "Bamboo Harvester." and he was a show and parade horse.  The palomino gelding was foaled in California in 1949.  After suffering from kidney problems and arthritis, he died in 1970.


- Joanne

Saturday, February 4, 2017

Y&R Report (February 4, 2017): 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, you know what they say about a woman scorned.  Genoa City has two women scorned. These dragon ladies - Gloria and Jill - are on the warpath.  Gloria feels that Jack wronged her and that he owes her a job.  She went on GC Buzz using a fake name and attempted to besmirch Jack's reputation. Fortunately for Mr. Abbot, his good friend and loyal ally, Hilary Curtis Hamilton, came to his rescue.  Hilary prevented Jack from being identified on air by pretending there were technical difficulties at the station.    

I enjoyed the scene when Gloria showed her GC Buzz interview to Jack.  She just sat back, actually nibbled on popcorn while she watched the show and waited for Jack's reaction.  It was pure entertainment for our Gloria.  What a piece of work she is!

 I'll be the first to say that Jack has been behaving like a jerk lately. However, Gloria's accusations were mostky false. The woman is desperate and shameless.  Jack underestimated her ability to exact revenge and to do damage to his company.

As for Jill, she can't get over the fact that Lauren never informed her that Fenmore's was having financial difficulties.  She was outraged that Lauren made a deal with Jack and that Jack now controls 49 per cent of Fenmore''s.  She just can't let it go.  Oh no, not Barracuda Jill.  She is selling off Brash & Sassy so that she can raise enough money to purchase Jack's portion of Fenmore's.  Then she'll be able to take control  of Fenmore's from Lauren.  

Victoria and Cane and Billy are going to have a fierce power struggle over ownership of Brash & Sassy.  Of course, it is Victoria's baby because she built the business.  

So, what do you think about Dylan's (Steve Burton) exit from Genoa City?  He just walked into the night, never to be seen again.  He joined the Witness Protection Program.  I think most viewers thought he was going to be shot dead by the criminals.  However, the writers chose to take the character on a more unexpected path.

Dylan gave up his identity and his marriage.  When he was undercover, he actually became less and less like himself.  Poor Sharon really got the raw end of the deal.  She even had to take heat from Faith.  The child accused her of driving men away, including Nick and Dylan. Yes, this time I really have sympathy for her.

Victor Newman has become softer and more grandfatherly, while Jack Abbott has become ruthless and more bitter.  It's as if the characters have changed places.  Their transformations are a little too extreme. It wouldn't bother me if Jack were somewhat harsher after his betrayal by Phyllis, but did he have to change so much?  As for Victor, he needed to become softer, but he didn't need to become a teddy bear and a kindly grandpa.  By the way, have you noticed that Jack has not worn a tie to work since his breakup with Phyllis and the divorce?  I wonder if that's part of his edgier image.

According to online spoilers, Victor is about to announce that he's ready to give up the reins of power at Newman Enterprises.  Not surprisingly. Abby is going to push for the job, but she's going to have stiff competition.  The majority of  my respondents to my last Y&R Report Readers' Poll indicated that they felt Victoria was the best choice for CEO of Newman Enterprises.  Abby had the second greatest number of votes.  The question is: Is Victor really ready to relinquish his power and authority?  I find that hard to believe.

Esther is working as a maid again for Jill at the Chancellor estate.  Her stint at Crimson Lights has ended.  I think that is Sally Sussman's influence.  Although Katherine Chancellor is dead, Sally Sussman wants to restore the grandeur and history of her mansion.  

Would Hilary really refuse millions in a divorce settlement with Devon?  Is she sincere when she claims that she doesn't want any money from Devon?  We'll soon find out because Devon is in the process of handing over millions to her.  Perhaps she and Devon will reconcile briefly, long enough for Hilary to have a baby.  That might be Hillary's last, desperate ploy to hang on to her befuddled husband.



CAST NEWS

Lauren's son, Scotty Grainger, returning to Genoa City





Longtime Y&R fans will remember that Lauren Fenmore has a son from a previous marriage to Dr, Scott Grainger.  Scott Grainger, Jr. is coming back and actor Daniel Hall will take on the role.  The last actor to play Scotty was Blair Redford, from July 2005 until January 2006.  

Scotty has been living in Toronto and Lauren has mentioned visiting him there.  This is the first time the character has surfaced in over a decade.  I think it's all part of head writer Sally Sussman's determination that the show remain connected to its history and its roots.

Daniel Hall has appeared on daytime television before, as Jake/Jack on Guiding Light.  He's also had roles on such primetime series as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Newsroom and Mad Men.  No date has been announced yet for Hall's appearance on The Young and the Restless.

Whom do you think Scotty will become romantically involved with?  Summer?  Abby?  



Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

We all know that Ravi Shapur (Abhi Sinha) is the ultimate computer geek and that he's really smitten with Ashley Abbott.  She seems to like him too.  She always defends him and complains that Phyllis is monopolizing his time.  However, does that mean she's interested in Ravi romantically?  It's hard to tell, but he is certainly crazy over her.  If an older. more sophisticated man, showed interest in Ashley. would she be spending so much time with Ravi?

The two had an interesting conversation during which Ashley filled him in on her lack of marital success.  When Ravis asked her how many times she'd been divorced, she responded, "Still under double digits."  

Then Ashley revealed that she had a preference for alpha males, although she said she wouldn't go as far as a cave man type.  Two of her ex-husbands are Victor Newman, whom she married twice, and Tucker McCall. Both Victor and Tucker (her last husband), are alpha males.  Ravi is definitely not.  So, what do you think, fans?  Should Ashley go for a younger, more sensitive tech genius?



Abhi Sinha (Ravi



Should Ashley and Ravi get together?

Yes. They get along well.
No, he's too young for her and he's not sophisticated enough.
No, computer geeks are not Ashley's style..
I haven't decided yet. I need to find out more about Ravi.
I don't know
Other
Please Specify:
surveymaker



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.  The next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, February 18, 2017.  I can't wait to see what Y&R has in store for Valentine's Day.


- Joanne