What's going on with Marge Simpson? Did she really die?

Fans are talking about The Simpsons again.  It's all because of Marge, the cartoon family's raspy-voiced, blue-haired matriarch.  Marge's apparent demise has got tongues wagging.  Social media is abuzz with comments such as #RIPMarge and #SimpsonsShock.  It seems that the "death" of the beloved animated character is causing quite a flap, and sparking a flurry of online discussion. Outraged fans have slammed the "stupid decision."  So, what's really going on?  

Well, Simpsons fans can relax.  Marge is not really going anywhere.  Neither is The Simpsons.  Fox, which has broadcast the popular animated series since its premiere in 1989, announced in April that it had renewed the show until its 40th season in 2029, which ensures that the long-running series will surpass 800 episodes.

There is no indication that any of the voice actors, including Julie Kavner, who provides Marge Simpson's gravelly voice, is going anywhere either. (Prior to voicing Marge, Julie portrayed Brenda Morgenstern, Rhoda's younger sister on the 1970s sitcom Rhoda).

Season 36 finale of The Simpsons, which aired on Fox on May 18, 2025, has caused quite a stir. The episode continues to air on Disney+.   SPOILER ALERT if you haven't watched it yet, but intend to do so.  I am about to reveal the details.  The episode, entitled "Estranger Things," provides a glimpse of of the Simpson family 35 years into the future.  We never learn the circumstances of Marge's death.  We never learn how or when she passed away.  However, we do know that her life was cut short.  "Marge passed before Homer, if you can believe it," sings Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan, as a montage of grieving family and friends is shown before a headstone that reads, "Beloved wife, mother and pork-chop seasoner."  Marge later appears in a pre-recorded message, and in heaven.

Just as Marge had feared, her two older children, Bart and Lisa, have drifted apart since they stopped watching their favourite kids show, The Itchy and Scratchy Show, together.  They bonded over the show, which they have outgrown.  As adults, their lives have gone in different directions.  Lisa, it turns out, has become the commissioner of the NBA.  She is supporting her widowed father who lives in an unlicenced retirement home, run by her deadbeat brother in one of his shady money making schemes.  

After some sparring over Homer's living arrangements, a senior's protection agency sends the widower off on a bus to Florida, whereupon Lisa and Bart embark on a mission to get him back,  In the process, the siblings find a video that Marge recorded before her death, encouraging her eldest children to stick together.  

The family eventually reunites at their Springfield home at 742 Evergreen Terrace, albeit without talkative younger sister Maggie, who is working as a farm equipment auctioneer.  Lisa and Bart watch their beloved Itchy and Scratchy Show again, as Marge looks down on them from heavenly clouds, and expresses her happiness that her children are close again.  The Beatles' drummer Ringo Star appears from behind her, reminding her that they should not be late for the heavenly shrimp buffet.  Then comes another stunning revelation.  Marge kisses Ringo, proclaiming that "I'm so glad that we're allowed to marry different people in heaven."

There has been so much response to the supposed death of Marge Simpson that the show's executive producer, Matt Selman, felt compelled to issue a statement in which he claimed that reports of Marge's death are greatly exaggerated.  In an interview published on June 26, Selman told Variety that Marge's death cannot be considered canon.  "There is no canon.  The Simpsons doesn't even have canon!" he declared.  He then cited the numerous contradictory flash-forwards that have occurred on the show over the years.  "Obviously, since The Simpsons future episodes are all speculative fantasies, they're all different every time.  Marge will probably never be dead ever again.  The only place Marge is dead is in one future episode aired six weeks ago," Selman explained.

Selman blamed media outlets for posting clickbait headlines about Marge in order to generate traffic. "Here's my take: Websites need traffic and headlines equal traffic," he told Variety.  "And then you can explain that the headline was misleading at the very end of the article.  Every single media outlet that ran this story knew that in way was Marge dead.  They all knew it, but they ran the headline anyway."

That's true, but at the same time, all that media flurry sparked renewed interest in The Simpsons. Selman was certainly pleased about that.  He added, "I guess this speaks to the fact that people care about Marge.  A the end of the day, it's probably good for business even when these ridiculous, misleading stories go viral."

SOURCES:  Entertainment Weekly, "Relax, Marge Simpson isn't really dead, says 'The Simpsons' showrunner," by Kristen Baldwin, June 27, 2025; Epicstream.com (epicstream.com), Is Marge Really Dead on The Simpsons.  Producer Sets the Record Straight," by Michael Baculinano, June 27, 2025; CNN, "Marge Simpson isn't dead yet, so everyone can calm down," by Lisa Respers France, June 26, 2025; CBC News, Why Marge Simpson's death suddenly has viewers talking about The Simpsons again," by Nick Logan, June 25, 2025, Wikipedia

- Joanne

Happy 100th birthday, June Lockhart!

June Lockhart is a centenarian.  She was born on June 25, 1925 in New York City.  The legendary actress celebrates her 100th birthday today, so what is her recipe for a long and satisfying life?  "I don't spend any time dwelling on things I can't change, she told Closer Weekly in 2024.  She said that she has learned to be patient and trust her inner voice.  "Everything is in flux.  Wait a moment and things will work out." 

June is the daughter of Canadian-American actor Gene Lockhart and English-born actress Kathleen Lockhart (née Arthur).  Her parents named her "June" because that month played a recurring role in their early lives.  It was the great the inventor Thomas Edison who introduced Gene and Kathleen to each other in his office in West Orange, New Jersey.  Edison held a cross-country train tour every year to promote his new inventions.  He would entertain the dealers by presenting his own theatre productions. June's father performed in one of the plays in 1922 and also in 1923, when her mother was hired in June of that year.

Gene and Kathleen were married in Chicago in June of 1924.  They had been expecting a son, whom they intended to name Gene Jr.  "My birth certificate reads. "Female Lockhart," June told a Pennsylvania paper, The Beaver County Times. "They later chose June as my name because it was a significant month in their lives."

June started her career ss a child on stage at New York's Metropolitan Opera.  At the age of eight, she made her professional debut in a production of Peter Ibbetson, playing Mimsey in a dream sequence.  In the mid-1930s, the Lockhart family moved to California, where June's father, Gene, enjoyed a successful career on screen as a character actor.  Meanwhile, June appeared in  movie classics such as 1938's A Christmas Carol (her film debut.  Her parents played Bob Cratchit and his wife, while June played their daughter, Belinda.  In 1944's Meet Me in St. Louis, June portrayed Lucille Ballard alongside Judy Garland.

June (left) with Judy (centre) in Meet Me in St. Louis

June in 1947

June is known for her appearance in three popular TV series:  Lassie, Lost in Space and Petticoat Junction.  She played Timmy's mother, Ruth Martin, in Lassie, from 1958 to 1964, replacing Cloris Leachman in the role of Ruth at the beginning of the show's fifth season.

June and Lassie

From 1965 to 1968, June portrayed matriarch Maureen Robinson in Lost in Space, and Dr. Janet Craig on Petticoat Junction during its final two seasons from 1968 to 1970.  "When I wasn't shooting Lassie, I became the mistress of Scrabble, " she told Closer Weekly.  Lost in Space was her favourite role.  "It was so campy," she said.  "And I truly enjoyed my relationship with my space family.

June on Lost in Space

June as Dr. Janet Craig on Petticoat Junction

Over the years, June has guest-starred in episodes of a wide variety of TV shows.  Here is a list of some of them: Gunsmoke (1958), Have Gun-Will Travel (2 episodes, 1957, 1958), Wagon Train (2 episodes (1958, 1960), Rawhide (1959), Perry Mason (1964), Bewitched (1964), Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964), The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964), Death Valley Days (1965), The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1965), Mr. Novak (1965), The Red Skelton Hour (1965), Family Affair (1968), The Beverly Hillbillies (1968), Marcus Welby, M.D. (1974), Adam-12 (1974), Police Story (1975),  Happy Days (1976), Falcon Crest (1982), Knots Landing (1982), Murder She Wrote (1985),The Colbys (2 episodes, 1986), Hotel (1986), The New Lassie (1989), Full House (1991), The Drew Carey Show (2 episodes, 2002), Las Vegas (2004) and Grey's Anatomy (2006)

June has been married twice.  In 1951, she wed John F. Mahoney.  They had two daughters, Anne Kathleen (born September 6, 1953) and June Elizabeth.  However, June and Mahoney divorced in 1959.  That same year, on April 5, 1959, June married architect John Lindsay, but they divorced in October of 1970.  She never remarried.

END NOTES:

* June Lockhart's grandfather, John Coates Lockhart, was a concert singer.  

* June's daughter, born Anne Kathleen Mahoney, is also an actress.  Known professionally as Anne Lockhart, she is best recognized for her role as Lieutenant Sheba in the 1978-79 television series Battle Star Galactica.

* From 1984 to 1998, June portrayed Mariah Ramirez in episodes of the daytime soap General Hospital.

* In a 1989 episode of The New Lassie, June did not reprise her role as Ruth Martin.  She played Mrs. Chadwick.

* June has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for motion pictures and one for television.

SOURCES: Closer Weekly, "June Lockhart Reveals What She's Learned at 99," by Louise A. Barile, August 21, 2024; The Beaver County Times, "Who put the 'June" in June Lockhart?," by Nick Thomas; June 9, 2019; Wikipedia; IMDb (Internet Movie Database)

- Joanne

Whatever happened to TV theme songs and intros?

What do you think of when we say . . ."Here's the story of a lovely lady..." or, "Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip..."? It's a trick question, of course; we know exactly what you think when you hear those things, and the TV producers that commissioned those songs knew that getting stuck in your head and never leaving was one of the purposes they would serve. You might notice, though, that they also serve another, very specific purpose — and it's one that modern TV productions don't have quite as much of a need for.

- Mike Floorwalker, www,looper.com, "The Real Reason There Aren't TV Show Theme Songs Anymore," September 15, 2022

Whatever happened to TV theme songs?  I really miss them, but they seem to be a dying art form - for several reasons, which I will discuss later.  But first, let's take a trip down memory lane.  Remember the following.

The Ballad of Jed Clampett from The Beverley Hillbillies, lyrics by Paul Henning

Come and listen to my story about a man named Jed
A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed,
And then one day he was shootin at some food,
And up through the ground come a bubblin crude.

Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.

Well the first thing you know ol Jed's a millionaire,
The kinfolk said "Jed move away from there"
Said "Californy is the place you ought to be"
So they loaded up the truck and they moved to Beverly

Hills, that is. Swimmin' pools, movie stars.

Remember how Archie and Edith Bunker (Craroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton) sang "Those were the Days" before every episode on All in the Family.  

Boy the way Glen Miller played,
Songs that made the hit parade,
Guys like us we had it made,
Those were the days,
And you know who you were then,
Girls were girls and men were men,
Mister we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again,
Didn't need no welfare states
Everybody pulled his weight,
Gee our old Lasalle ran great,
Those were the days

Remember how Mary Tyler Moore "turned the world on with her smile."  And then there's Maude.  Remember the lyrics.

Lady Godiva was a freedom rider

She didn't care if the whole world looked

Joan of Arc with the Lord to guide her

She was a sister who really cooked

The Jeffersons moved on up to a deluxe apartment in the sky.  And of course, Cheers was the place where everyone knew your name.  There are many more, but there isn't the space to mention them all here.

TV theme songs have gradually become an endangered species. Some shows still have distinctive instrumentals over their opening credits.  However, the 30-to-60 second theme song is becoming more and more a thing of the past on broadcast TV.  According to Mike Floorwalker, they no longer serve the purpose they once had, which was to set up the premise of a show.  For a long time now, network TV has not been the only choice for viewers.  Now there are so many more alternatives.  With an assortment of streaming services, video recorders and DVDs, you can always catch up with missed episodes or "binge watch."  In the past if you missed watching a series from the beginning, the theme song provided a brief summary.   

Another reason for the demise of TV theme songs is that the amount of advertising on TV shows has increased.  Some of that theme song time is now used for commercials.  It appears that TV theme songs will only live on in reruns.

- Joanne

Y&R Report (June 14, 2025): 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,

This is my last post before I take a summer break.  So, I will leave you with some thoughts until I return in September.

As I prepare for my summer break, the identity of Aristotle Dumas has yet to be revealed.  The most prominent residents of Genoa City are on their way to Dumas' chateau in Nice, France.  It should be quite an extravaganza.  I expect some twist and turns and maybe even a murder mystery.

It appears that Y&R is finally going to  reveal Dumas' identity this coming week. According to an online spoiler, "Aristotle Dumas reveals himself to his guests and "Amanda's real connection to him is exposed" on Friday. June 20th on CBS (Thursday June 19th on Global TV).  Viewers have waited long enough.  You can only tease audiences for so long.  Fans would lose interest if they had to wait any longer.  Unfortunately, there has been so much anticipation surrounding this Dumas mystery that it's going to be difficult for the show to live up to all the hype.  

So, who is the elusive Aristotle Dumas?  One person we can eliminate is Tucker McCall.  Victor Newman told Chelsea that Tucker is in prison in India.  Chelsea tried to persuade Victor to stop his campaign against Billy Abbott.  She offered to reveal Dumas' identity if the Black Knight agreed to leave Billy Boy alone.  She told him that Dumas is Tucker McCall.  The Big Man called her bluff.    

Billy Flynn (ex-Chad, Days of our Lives)  will be making his debut on Y&R this week.  Could he be Dumas?  I don't think so.  Fans don't even know his character yet.  Why would they be excited or surprised if he turned out to be Dumas?  However, I do think that Flynn's character is connected to Dumas.

I think that somehow, Jill is involved in the Dumas mystery.  She may even be Dumas.  We know that Amanda was Jill's lawyer and that Amada's "real connection" to Dumas will be exposed this week.  Maybe Amanda has been working for Jill this whole time. 

The Newman family is travelling through the south of France in a private rail car.  Nick is definitely enjoying the food on the train, but are they headed for a trap when they arrive at Duma' lair?  Dumas is already spying on them and watching them on a screen.  Maybe a fake Dumas will eventually appear on the screen and speak to everyone, while the real Dumas will remain hidden, like the Wizard of Oz.

Danny Romalotti and Christine "Cricket" Blair are back in town after a world concert tour.  The Cricketmeister was annoyed to see Phyllis, her archenemy.  Phyllis was not exactly thrilled to see "The Bug" either.

What's going on with Mariah?  The writers are teasing us again as we try to learn about the horrible thing that she did.  The answer is being revealed in bits and pieces.  Whatever it is, it is definitely related to Ian Ward.  She had a flashback to a scene in a bar where she was approached by a Ward look-alike.  He told her that appeared as if she could use a friend.

I've been missing summer barbeques and swimming parties on Y&R.  I hope they have one this summer, maybe for July 4th.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Eric Braeden (Victor Newman)

Victor (Eric Braeden) is being very coy about what he knows concerning Aristotle Dumas.  His family is curious about whether he knows Dumas' identity.  Victor hasn't given them a clear answer.  One thing i for certain, though.  Victor and Dumas are heading for a power struggle.  It will be a clash of the titans.  We all know that Victor will not tolerate anyone who challenges his dominance in the business world.

What do you think, fans?  Does Victor know Dumas' identity?  Respond to the poll below and let me know.

Do you think Victor Newman knows Aristotle Dumas' identity?

Yes, I think he does. He seems smug and not really worried about Dumas.

No. I don't think so. I think he's bluffing.

I don't know.

Other

 

pollcode.com free polls

NOTE TO READERS

I really need your feedback.  If you have any comments on Y&R, please email them to me with "Viewer Forum" in the subject line. I will be happy to publish your comments and reply to them  You do not have to use your real name.  I really need your input.  I really need to hear your opinion.  I want to know if you agree or disagree with me. 

My email address:  jmadden16@yahoo.ca 

That's all for now.  Have a great summer.  I will be back on Saturday, September 20, 2025 with a brand new post.  See in you in September with more Y&R news and comments.  Stay updated with breaking celebrity news, old and current television shows or old television shows news by reading my TV Banter blog.

Take care,

Joanne

Remembering George Wendt

"Norm is just me with better writing. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of actors who could have delivered on the absolute gems that I was handed on a silver platter every Wednesday morning." 

- George Wendt, Chicago Magazine interview, 2021

George Wendt, best known for his role as Norm Peterson on the hit sitcom Cheers, passed away on May 20, 2025.  For 11 seasons (1982-1993), George portrayed Norm in all 275 episodes of Cheers.  269 episodes of the series were originally aired on NBC.  However, there are 275 episodes in syndication because several longer episodes in season 9, 10 and 11 were divided into half-hour formats.  Aside from George, the only other actors who appeared in every episode of Cheers were Ted Danson, who played Sam Malone, and Rhea Perlman, who played Carla Tortelli.

George Robert Wendt Jr. was born on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, one nine children (six daughter and three sons).  His mother, Loretta Mary (Howard) was a housewife and a longtime volunteer and fundraiser for Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park on the southwest side of Chicago. His father, George Robert Wendt Sr., was an officer in the U.S, Navy and a real estate agent. 

George graduated from Campion High School, a Jesuit boarding school in Prairie di Chien, Wisconsin.  After being expelled from Notre Dame University in his junior year  ("I basically quit and didn't inform the university"), George attended a Jesuit prep school, Rockhurst College, in Kansas City, Missouri.  He graduated from Rockhurst with a B.A. in economics.in 1971.  He then headed to Europe for about three years.  When he returned home, he decided to become a comedic actor.  He attended several workshops and was accepted by the touring company of Second City, the famed comedy troupe that was based in his hometown.  In 1975, George was promoted to the resident company.

"I did mostly slice-of-life things," he remarked to the Los Angeles-Harold-Examiner in 1983.  "You make it sound real.  If people stop believing you, you're just telling jokes.  I don't try to punch it up or joke it up."

After six years with Second City, George appeared in two 1980 films: My Bodyguard and Somewhere in Time.  In 1981, George guest-starred in episodes of several TV series, including Hart to Hart, Soap, Taxi and Alice.  In the Taxi episode, entitled "Latka the Playboy" (Season 3, Episode 20. Air Date: May 21, 1981), George played an exterminator.  The episode was written by Glen and Les Charles and directed by James Burrows, the soon-to-be creators of Cheers.

Below is a photo of George Wendt with Danny Devito in a scene from Taxi.

In 1982, George landed his first role as a regular on a television series.   He played Gus Bertoia, a physical education teacher, on the short-lived CBS sitcom Making the Grade.  Making the Grade was set at Franklin High School in St. Louis.  It aired as part of CBS' Monday night comedy lineup, but was cancelled after just six episodes.  However, the quick cancellation of Making the Grade allowed George to star in Cheers, which debuted just four months after the first episode of Making the Grade was broadcast.

Cheers became one of the most beloved sitcoms in American television history and George enjoyed the TV role of a lifetime.  His character, Norm Peterson, was a staple on the show.  An accountant by trade, Norm had an easy going, ordinary guy person.  He lost his job throwing a company party after organizing a company party at Cheers and asking bar waitress Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) to be his boss's date.  Norm later became a house painter, an interior decorator and, eventually, a beer taster at a brewery, where he fit in quite well.

Viewers could always count on Norm to walk through the door at Cheers and greet everyone with his familiar "Afternoon everybody," The one word response was always "Norm!"  Norm was a fixture at the friendly Boston bar where, as the theme song proclaimed, "everybody knows your name."  

Cliff (left) and Norm

Norm was usually accompanied at the bar by Cliff Clavin, played by John Ratzenberger.  Cliff, a postal worker, was Norm's best friend.  Ratzenberger had suggested that the producers create a bar know-it-all character.  They came up with Cliff, who was known for his trademark white socks in honour of French comic actor Jacques Tati.

Cliff was not scripted in the pilot episode of Cheers. "Give Me a Ring Sometime."  John Ratzenberger and George Wendt both originally auditioned for a minor character named "George."  Wendt won the role and "George" evolved into Norm Peterson.

Cheers ended its run after 11 successful seasons, mainly because the show's star, Ted Danson, who played bartender and former Boston Red Sox pitcher, Sam Malone, decided to leave.  Danson felt it was the right time to say goodbye so that he could pursue other acting opportunities.

George played himself in a 1992 episode of Seinfeld entitled "The Trip: Part 1, Season 4, Episode 1, Air Date: August 12, 1992), in which Jerry is asked to perform on The Tonight Show in Los Angeles.

After Cheers, George became a frequent guest star in a variety of TV shows.  He appeared on The Larry Sanders Show {1994), The Martin Short Show (1994), and made-for-television films such as Columbo: Strange Bedfellows (1995), Shame II: The Secret (1985) and Bye Bye Birdie (1995).

In 1995, George starred in his own sitcom, The George Wendt Show.  He and Pat Finn played George and Dan Coleman, bachelor siblings who operated an auto-repair business in Madison, Wisconsin.  The sires was short-lived and only eight episodes were produced. 

George played himself in a 1996 episode of Good Company..  He guest-starred in an episode of the Michael J. Fox series Spin City (1996) and he had a recurring role as Les Polanski in 13 episodes of The Naked Truth (1997).  He appeared in TV movies such as The Price of Heaven (1997) and Alice in Wonderland (1999).

A prolific actor, George Wendt continued to work throughout the 2000s.  He reprised his role of Norm in a 2002 episode of Frasier (a spinoff of Cheers). He portrayed Ned Frank in a 2008 episode of The Goldbergs.  From 2008 until 2022, he voiced Grandpa Frank in 11 episodes of the animated series Fancy Nancy. He played Santa in all five episodes of the 2023 series What the Elf..  George's last television credit is his appearance in a 2024 TV movie entitled Love's Second Act.

On July 8, 1978, George married actress Bernadette Birkett.  They met while performing with Second City.  It was Bernadette who provided the offscreen voice for Norm's unseen wife, Vera.  Only her feet were revealed.  Viewers did see her face once, but it was covered with pie.  Bernadette was actually seen onscreen in a Season 3 episode of Cheers in which she played Cliff's Halloween date 

George and Bernadette had three children together: daughter Hilary (born in 1985), and sons Joe (1987) and Daniel (1990).  George was also a stepfather to Joshua and Andrew, Bernadette's sons from a previous marriage.

George was uncle and godfather to actor Jason Sudeikis. star of Ted Lasso, a sports comedy-drama on Apple TV+.  Jason is the son of George's sister, Kathy.  

On May 20, 2025, George Wendt died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles.  According to his death certificate obtained by TMZ, the cause of death was cardiac arrest.  He was 76 years old at the time of his passing.  As a tribute to George, the real life Cheers Beacon Hill bar set up a memorial in area of the bar where his character sat on the show.

 

END NOTES

* While Cheers was still on the air, George Wendt began appearing on Saturday Night Live in a segment called "Swerski's Superfans."  He created a character named Bob Swerski, a diehard Chicago sports fan who gathered with other "superfams" at Coach Mike Ditka's Chicago restaurant to watch the Bears.  As
a native of the Windy City, George himself was a staunch supporter of all Chicago sports teams,  He appeared in eight episodes of SNL from 1991 to 2003.

George on SNL as Chicago superfan

* In 1994, George voiced a cartoon Norm on The Simpsons.  He also voiced an animated version of Norm on two episodes of Family Guy.

Cheers on The Simpsons

* George played the grumpy father of a son who like loud music (Macaulay Culkin) in Michael Jackson's 1991 "Black or White" music video.

* For six consecutive years (1984-1989), George received an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Norm Peterson.  However, he lost to Pat Harrington Jr. (One Day at a Time) in 1984, to John Larroquette (Night Court) from 1985-1988, and to his Cheers castmate Woody Harrelson in 1989.

* Not surprisingly, George appeared in beer commercials for Miller Lite and Meister Brau.

* In addition to My Bodyguard (1980) and Somewhere in Time (1980), George appeared in several other feature films, including Dreamscape (1984), House (1985), Fletch (1985, Gung Ho (1986), Plains Clothes (1987), Never Say Die (1988), Guilty by Suspicion (1991), Forever Young (1992) and Spice World (1997).

SOURCES: The Hollywood Reporter, "George Wendt, the Beer-loving Norm on 'Cheers,' Dies at 76," by Mike Barnes, Duane Byrge,, May 20, 2025; Looper (www.looper.com). "Whatever happened to Norm from Cheers," by Jane Harkness, October 1, 2019; Screen Rant (screeenrant.com), "Why Cheers Ended After 11 (Was it canceled?)," by Greg MacArthur, June 5, 2023; Wikipedia; Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

- Joanne    

Y&R Report (May 31, 2025); 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,

We have come to the end of the May sweeps and there is a great deal of intrigue and excitement in Genoa City.  Nikki's highly anticipated birthday party has started and it's fun.

Has Y&R decided to drop the storyline about Cole Howard's illness?  Cole (J. Eddie Peck) claims that he has recovered,  but I don't think so.  According to some online spoilers for this week, "Victoria worries about Cole" and Victoria "receives troubling news." Cole arrived at Nikki's party late and he was still coughing.  The writers are probably just dragging the story out.  I still think he's doomed.  This is a soap, so don't expect him to live happily ever after with Victoria.  I expect that he'll have a tragic death and that Victoria and Claire will be grieving his loss for a long time.  Victoria may even marry him before before he dies.

J. Eddie Peck (Cole)

It was good to see Traci Abbott (Beth Maitland}and her sister, Ashley (Eileen Davidson), return from New York this week.  Traci is determined to bounce back after her heartbreak over Alan/Martin.  She had a woman-to-woman talk with Diane about her ordeal.  Ever the author, Traci has decided to turn her experience into a novel.

Much to Diane's relief, Traci heartily approved of  her renovations.  Surprisingly, Asley also liked the renovations.  I expected her to have a bad reaction to the changes.  I thought she would say that it didn't preserve enough of John Abbott's memory, especially since she's not too fond of sister-in-law Diane.  However, everyone has looked favourably on Diane's renovations so far, except Billy Boy.  Isn't he always the odd man out?

Does Nikki Newman really need any more jewellery and expensive trinkets?  Victor obviously thinks so.  He continues to lavish her with luxurious gifts - a locket, a music box and a car, but not just any car.  It's fully restored Ferrari 250 GTO Rosa Cina.  Son Nick is salivating over this red Ferrari, and he can't wait to drive it.

Viewers have been looking forward to Nikki's birthday party with great anticipation.  It is already full of intrigue.  We all know that big Y&R events never go smoothly. I have some comments about what we've seen at the party so far.  I was surprised that Michael and Lauren were allowed to attend the party even though Victor has disowned Michael for resigning as his lawyer.  However, it seems that Victor did not make out the guest list.  

What's going on with the mysterious Dumas?  Why is he or she (Dumas could be Jill) inviting so many people to a chateau in Nice, France.  I'm sure Y&R won't be filming in France, but most of the Y&R cast will be filming studio scenes at the Dumas chateau.  I really think that Dumas should reveal his or her identify at the chateau.  It should not be dragged out any longer or we'll be tired of the whole thing.

Audra has a big problem.  A man from her past is haunting her.  His name is Holden Novak and he can't take his eyes off of her.  He is a really flirty guy and he just loves the ladies.  He sits at the bar and waits for Audra or Claire to appear.  He won't give up in his pursuit of Audra.  He is relentless.  

Holden works for Damian.  Now that Aristotle Dumas has fired Damian, Holden is unemployed.  Damian wants to help his friend, so he has asked Audra to hire him to work at her new company.  Working with Holden is an added complication Audra doesn't want or need right now.

So, Phyllis and Amanda appear to be teaming up to oust Chancellor from Victor's clutches with the support of Aristotle Dumas.  Good luck with that!  Dream on, Phyllis!

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 an email from longtime Y&R viewer Carly in Barrhaven, Ontario.  Here is what she wrote about the Aristotle Dumas storyline.

I am so tired of hearing about AD (Aristotle Dumas).  Don't want to say his name.  People commenting on Facebook are saying that Dumas is Tucker, Dru, Jill, Adam, Cane.  Take your choice.  Just get on with it!

You are absolutely right, Carly.  I really can't blame you for feeling tired of the delay in revealing the identity of Aristotle Dumas.  The writers are in danger of dragging the Dumas mystery on for too long.  As the song goes, they should "know when to fold 'em."  Yes, they should just get on with it while there is still interest.

CAST NEWS

Billy Flynn is coming to Y&R

Billy Flynn has left his role as Chad DiMera on Days of Our Lives after more than ten years.  He will be appearing in Genoa City very soon.  We don't know much about the character he'll be playing on Y&R, other than the fact that he owns the two companies that Damian runs.  Yet, that doesn't necessarily mean he's Dumas.  He could be playing the role of someone who runs Dumas' business as a cover to hide his true identity.  We do not know whether Billy's character will turn out to be the mysterious and evasive Aristotle Dumas.  In fact, we will need to know more about Billy's character before we can really figuring out the Dumas enigma.

With all the hype surrounding the Dumas mystery, fans will be disappointed if Dumas' identity is not surprising or really interesting.  Will Y&R be able to live up to the hype?  It's going to be awfully hard to satisfy fans when you've built up so much suspense.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Could Billy Flynn be Aristotle Dumas?  Will he make his first appearance at the chateau in Nice?  There has been online speculation that Flynn's character, whether he's Dumas or not, will fall for Lily.  Then there will be a love triangle involving him and Damian and Lily.

What do you think, fans?  Will Billy Flynn turn out to be Dumas?  Respond to the poll below and let me know.

Do you think Billy Flynn's new character will turn out to be Aristotle Dumas?

Yes, it seems very likely.

No, I think he's associated with Dumas, but he is not Dumas.

It's a possibility.

Other

 

pollcode.com free polls

That's all for now.  Please remember that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear on this space on Saturday, June 14, 2025.

Take care,

Joanne

Y&R Report (May 17, 2025): 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,

Talk about foolish decisions!  Chelsea and Sally left jobs they loved in the fashion industry.  Why?  They both chose to support boyfriends who can't be trusted.  Chelsea was so thoughtless that she failed to inform Chloe, her best friend and colleague, about her decision, leaving poor Chloe in the dark.  Both women will end up regretting what they have done.  Adam will always give in to daddy Victor's demands and Billy will never stop trying to get revenge on the Newman family.

It's great for a soap to have mysteries and keep the fans guessing.  However, Y&R takes far too long to reveal the answers.  The Aristotle Dumas mystery is a case in point.  The identity of AD will eventually be revealed, but will we still care by then?  Also, the storyline about Cole's mystery illness has been dragging out for too long.  Y&R leaves things on the back burner for far too long.

Nevertheless, I do have one theory about the identity of the enigmatic Dumas,  I may be completely wrong, but here it goes. It is assumed that the business mogul is a man, but what if Dumas is not a man at all?  What if Dumas is a powerful businesswoman?  What if Dumas is Jill?  Why else would Dumas be so interested in Billy Abbott?  Could Jill be trying to repair her damaged relationship with her son?

How naive can a character on a soap be?  Claire Newman takes the cake in that category,  Does she actually believe that she can sway Victor?  Does she really think that her grandfather will  change his mind about her and Kyle when he sees how good they are together, how they support each other, how happy they are?  Claire should know how Victor operates by now.  He'll never support her relationship with Kyle.  As Victor himself would say, "It ain't gonna happen!"  Why does it matter so much to Claire anyway? 

Claire's plan to hold a party in the hope of winning Victor's approval of her relationship with Kyle has no chance of succeeding.  I can say with the utmost confidence that Kyle and Claire are toast.  Claire was uneasy when Kyle told her about his plan to get closer to Audra in order to get more information about Audra's new company, Vibrante.  He says he needs to uncover her plans for a new product to compete with Jabot.  Claire's not so naive that she doesn't realize the danger of that.  She is suspicious because she knows that Audra spells nothing but trouble for Kyle.  It looks like Kyle will be falling right into Victor's trap.

Phyllis tried to form an alliance with Victor in order to take down Billy Boy.  She is fortunate that the Black Knight turned her down because he knew she was bluffing.  She doesn't really have any valuable information on Dumas. Victor is toxic.  He only does what's convenient for him.  Victor would have thrown Phyllis under the bus.  He'll do the same with others who have made deals with him such as Audra and Michael.   

Eric Braedem is a master a playing the tyrannical Victor.  He seems to relish playing his character.  I really enjoyed Victor's scenes with Phyllis when he thought she was playing him.  Phyllis accused Victor of being arrogant and behaving as if he was in control of everything.  Victor replied, "That's because I am in control."

CAST NEWS

Mishael Morgan has returned as Amanda Sinclair

It's great to see Mischael Morgan back in Genoa City as attorney Amanda Sinclair.  So, why has Amanda returned to town?  According to Mishael, her character is going to "make waves while she's there."  Mishael said that "Amanda is coming back to represent somebody very mysterious, definitely high-powered."  We now know that that somebody is Aristotle Dumas.  Amanda refuses to disclose much about Dumas except that his focus is on Chancellor Industries, which is owned by Victor Newman.  Nikki is the CEO.  That means that Dumas is targeting the Newmans.

Amanda is definitely hiding something.  She has been Jill's counsel.  However, she informed Billy and Sally that she parted ways amicably with Jill and is now representing Dumas.  What if she never really ended her association with Jill?  What if Jill is Dumas?  Amanda uses the male pronoun when referring to Dumas, but that may just be a cover.

Given Amanda's past with Devon, it will be interesting to see what will happen when she runs into Abby.  There's been bad blood between those two ever since Devon dumped her for Abby.  Amanda certainly noticed the wedding ring on Devon's finger.  So, she knows that he and Abby have tied the knot.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Jess Walton (Jill)

Could Jill Abbott be the mysterious Aristotle Dumas?  Does she regret her deal with Victor?  Is she trying to make amends with Billy by getting the Chancellor company back for him?  Is that why Dumas keeps delaying meetings with Billy and Phyllis?  What do you think, fans?  Do you think Jill is Dumas, or could Dumas be somebody else?  Reply to the poll below and let me know

Do you think Jill is Aristotle Dumas?

Yes. It makes sense.

No way. It's somebody else. Dumas is a man, maybe Tucker McCall.

It's a possibility.

I don't know.

Other

 

pollcode.com free polls

NOTE TO READERS

I really need your feedback.  If you have any comments on Y&R, please email them to me with "Viewer Forum" in the subject line. I will be happy to publish your comments and reply to them  You do not have to use your real name.  I really need your input.  I really need to hear your opinion.  I want to know if you agree or disagree with me. 

My email address:  jmadden16@yahoo.ca 

That's all for now.  Please remember that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear on this space on Saturday, May 31, 2025.

Take care,

Joanne

Y&R Report (May 4, 2025): 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,

My computer crashed and that is the reason why I am late with this edition of Y&R Report. My apologies.

Well, Diane's renovations to the Abbott mansion have been revealed.  Apparently, some fans have been critical.  The house has been compared to a funeral home by online commentators.  Billy was certainly not impressed with the changes. Yet, the renovations may lead to a mysterious new Abbott family storyline.  I'm referring to that artwork over the fireplace.  It was discovered in the attic and it relates to John and Dina's history.

There are rumours and much online speculation concerning Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope).  The speculation is that Sally's mother will arrive in Genoa City.  That might be a fascinating storyline for the character of Sally.  There is also speculation that Sally's mother might be played by Gina Tognoni, who portrayed Phyllis for a while.  Gina and Courtney resemble each other and would make a good mother and daughter combination.

Michael Baldwin is acting quite foolishly.  He just can't seem to break his allegiance to Victor Newman, even though Victor has treated him disrespectfully.  Lauren and Diane are absolutely right.  Michael can't have it both ways.  He can't protect both Jack and Victor.  Michael is too intelligent not to know that it's not worth putting his life on the line for Victor.  The Big Man would through him under the bus in a second if he knew that Michael's loyalties were divided between him and Jack.  Lauren is definitely right to tell Michael he should break all ties with Victor.  He won't, however,  because then there wouldn't be any conflict.  I must commend Christian LeBlanc for some fine acting lately in his role as Michael.

Things do not look good for Cole (J. Eddie Peck).  He has a terrible cough and a mysterious illness. On a soap, that usually means that a character's death is imminent.  Is Cole  really ill or has he been poisoned by Ian Ward as revenge for Claire's part in Jordan's death?  I don't think that Victoria and Cole will live happily ever after.

J. Eddie Peck (Cole)

What has happened to Ian Ward and why has Y&R still not followed up on that storyline?  After a showdown with Victor Newman, Ward was pronounced dead.  Viewers then saw him open his eyes in an ambulance and gasp for breath.  What was the point of that?  He was pronounced dead, so why wasn't his face covered.  Why didn't the writers just let him die?  Are they planning to have him turn up again to cause more havoc for the Newman family?  Maybe they realized it was a mistake to have him open his eyes.  Maybe they hope that viewers will just forget about that scene as if it never happened.  Well, we won't.

Mariah is keeping a dark secret from Tessa. She's been on some kind of guilt trip about her association with the villainous Ian Ward.  She confessed to her mother, Sharon, that she did something horrible.  This means a rough road ahead for Mariah.  It could also lead to an involvement between Tessa and Daniel, who are growing closer.

CAST NEWS

Allison Lanier (Summer Newman) is leaving Y&R

Allison Lanier has abruptly left her role on The Young and the Restless after three years on the show.  She wrote the following on social media: "I've loved the journey and learned so much but it's time to grow in a new direction."  Still, her fans are shocked and disappointed.  Her departure from the show was so abrupt that I wonder if she was fired for some undisclosed reason.

Allison has portrayed Summer, the daughter of Nick Newman and Phyllis Summers, since the departure of Hunter King in 2022.  In 2024, she received her first Daytime Emmy nomination in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. She lost out to Y&R castmate Courtney Hope (Sally Spectra).

What will happen to the Summer character?  Will someone else take over the role?  According to an online spoiler, Summer will head to Europe to find replacements for Sally and Chelsea.  I expect that when she returns from overseas, she will look different because a new actress will have taken over the role. I think Allison will be replaced since the role of Summer is too important to be cast aside, especially with Kyle and Claire in the spotlight.

Michelle Stafford, who plays Allison's onscreen mother, Phyllis, had this to say about Allison on Instagram: "You walked into this role and immediately made it your own.  The only unfortunate thing is most of the time, and particularly during the first year and a half, our characters were at odds."

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Well fans, do you like Diane's renovations to the Abbott home?  Are you impressed?  Respond to the poll below and let me know.

Do you like Diane's renovations to the Abbott home?

Yes, the changes look great.

No, I don't like the renovations. The place looked better before.

I don't know.

Other

 

pollcode.com free polls

DAYTIME EMMYS WIL BE HELD IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR

..

Soap fans will have to wait for the fall to watch the 2025 Daytime Emmy Awards  The ceremony has been rescheduled.  It will take place in October rather than June this year.  This is due to an adjusted timeline for the New & Documentary Emmy Awards.  

NOTE TO READERS

I really need your feedback.  If you have any comments on Y&R, please email them to me with "Viewer Forum" in the subject line. I will be happy to publish your comments and reply to them  You do not have to use your real name.  I really need your input.  I really need to hear your opinion.  I want to know if you agree or disagree with me. 

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, May 17, 2025.

Take care,

Joanne