TV BANTER

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Leonardo DiCaprio on Television

Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported

Leonardo DiCaprio, born November 11, 1974, celebrated his 39th birthday this month. A three-time Academy Award nominee, DiCaprio is now one of Hollywood's foremost film stars. Although Leo is primarily known for his movie roles (especially his portrayal of Jack Dawson in the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic), it is interesting to look back at his early career in television. The actor's road to stardom really began when he joined the cast of the ABC sitcom Growing Pains.

Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio was born in Hollywood, California, the son of comic book artist George DiCaprio and his wife Imelin. When Leo was a child, his parents signed him with a talent agent and he appeared on several television commercials and educational programs. In 1989, he appeared in two episodes of the family/adventure series entitled The New Lassie as a character named Glen. The episodes are entitled "New Generation" (Season 1, Episode 10) and "Snake Pit." (Season 1, Episode 22).

Leo then had a role as Kid Fighting Scout in 1990 pilot for the TV drama The Outsiders (Season 1, Episode 1, Air Date: March 25, 1990). That same year, the teenager was cast as young Mason Capwell in five episodes of the daytime soap opera Santa Barbara. In 1991, he had an uncredited part as Darrlene's classmate on Roseanne in an episode entitled "Home-Ec" (Season 3, Episode 16, Air Date: February 5, 1991). In the episode, Rosanne Connor (Roseanne Barr) speaks to her daughter Darlene's (Sara Gilbert) class on career day about being a homemaker.

From 1990 to 1991, Leonardo DiCaprio played Garry Buckman in the short-lived NBC comedy/drama Parenthood. The television series, starring Ed Begley Jr., had six executive producers, including Ron Howard. It was loosely based on a 1989 Ron Howard film about raising children. The film, also titled Parenthood, was well received by critics and it featured an ensemble cast which included Steve Martin, Dianne Wiest, Jason Robards, Rick Moranis, Keanu Reeves and Mary Steenburgen.

The 1990-1991 television version of Parenthood lasted for one season and only 21 episodes of the series were produced. Leonardo DiCaprio, however, earned recognition for his portrayal of Garry Buckman. He was nominated for the 1991 Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor Starring in a New Television Series. In 2010, a second version of Parenthood began airing on NBC. The second adaptation, created by Ron Howard, has proven to be more successful than the first. On April 26, 2013, the NBC network renewed it for a fifth season.

From 1991 to 1992, Leo had a regular role in the popular comedy Growing Pains. For the seventh and final season of the series, he was cast as a troubled teen named Luke Brower. DiCaprio was just 16 years old when he won the part. The headline in a November 11, 2011 article in The Hollywood Reporter by Bill Higgins describes it as his "breakout role." Higgins writes that it was the actor's "23 episodes on Pains as Luke Brower, a homeless boy, taken in by the Seaver family, that really put him in the public eye."

In 2011, Joanna Kearns, who played Growing Pains matriarch Maggie Seaver, told Entertainment Weekly that she knew that young DiCaprio would become a superstar. According to Kearns, the actor was great fun and he could imitate anybody. She described how impressed she was with Leo's talent. "I never knew a kid that had that wit and intelligence and that ability to capture a room," she stated. Kearns also remembered how Leo would often hang around the set of Growing Pains with Tobey Maguire, his future co-star in The Great Gatsby (2013). She recalled that "they always looked like they were in trouble or had been in trouble and were talking about it."

DiCaprio on Growing Pains

DiCaprio, far right, in scene from Growing Pains

Leonardo DiCaprio's portrayal of Luke on Growing Pains remains his last television role. During the next few years, he would begin to make his mark in big screen movies such as This Boy's Life (1993), What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993), for which he received an Oscar nomination, and Romeo and Juliet (1996).

- Joanne

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Y&R Report (Nov. 23, 2013): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

CC from Etobicoke, Ontario asks:

Do you think Billy will be hooking up with the blond (Kelly) from the support group?
Will Adam confess?
Will Nikki tell everyone about Dylan or will something prevent her from doing that right now?
Can Sharon become any more despicable? How would they ever be able to make her likeable again?

I guess the next few weeks will provide the answers for some of these questions!

Well, CC, let me address your questions.

Billy may hook up with Kelly for storyline purposes. He and Victoria are one of my favourite couples on the show and I really like them together. Until Delia's death, they were very happy. The writers have probably decided that they need some problems in order to create conflict. I haven't really enjoyed Billy Boy's character very much lately. Yes, I know he's suffered the loss of his daughter. I understand his grief and anger and guilt. I initially had a great deal of sympathy for him but now the writers have turned him into a vindictive jerk ready to take the law into his own hands. Of course, as a gun-loving American, he keeps a revolver in his closet and he's ready to hand out vigilante justice. The police take much too long to enforce the law in Geoa City. (Hey, with Paul Williams as police chief, it'a no wonder Adam has not been caught yet!).

Anyway, I miss the fun-loving, witty, humorous Billy Boy.

You ask whether Adam will confess. Remember that he did make a video of himself admitting to being the one who ran over Delia with his black SUV. Avery has the video in her possession so I think it is very likely that someone will see it. One thing is for certain. The truth about Adam will eventually come to the surface. Victor has so little confidence in the Genoa City Police that he conducted his own investigation into the matter. Not surprisingly, The Big Man has been more successful in uncovering information about the SUV's licence plate than the police. He is zeroing in on Adam.

Nikki blurted out the truth about Dylan at a special family dinner. As you may have guessed, it didn't over very well. Nicholas was not pleased to discover that Dylan is his half brother and Victor certainly did not take the news either.

Yes, Sharon's character has not been very likeable for a long time. The writers have chosen to make her behave that way in order to create conflict. Yet, they have also tried to make her character more sympathetic by having her diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Actually, though, if you look at the past, Nick's conduct has been pretty despicable too. I think that he was more responsible for the breakup of their marriage than Sharon. He completely shut her out when Cassie died and then he dumped her for Phyllis. The real reason for their breakup, however, was that they'd been married for 10 years and that's an eternity in soap opera land. As I discussed in my last Y&R Report, couples are seldom happy for long on daytime dramas.

HAIR AND FASHION

Well fans, Kyle cut his hair - at Victor's suggestion, of course. What do you think of his shorter style? I think it's an improvement. Helen from Scarborough, however, says, "Try another makeover, Kyle. It's still not happening."

BEST LINE OF THE WEEK

Jill to Victor: "I've got some advice for you, Victor. Don't count your empires before they're hatched."

That's all for now. There is much more excitement ahead in Genoa City. We're still in the November sweeps and things are really going to heat up with American Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner. Please remember that my next Y&R Report will appear on Saturday, December 7, 2013.

- Joanne

Sunday, November 10, 2013

All in the Family Quiz

TV BANTER QUIZ #18

All in the Family change the course of television comedy. It brought a sense of harsh reality to a TV world which previously had been populated by homogenized, inoffensive characters and stories that seemed to have been laundered before they ever got on the air.

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

All in the Family was a groundbreaking American television series that aired on CBS from 1971 until 1979 on CBS. The show ran for nine seasons and It was based on the hit British comedy Till Death Us Do Part about a London working class bigot named Alf Ganett, played by Warren Mitchell. His American counterpart, Archie Bunker (Caroll O'Connor) was a blue collar worker, a dock foreman for the Prendergast Tool and Dye Company. He resided in Queens, New York with his wife, Edith (Jean Stapleton). They shared their home at 704 Hauser Street with their daughter, Gloria (Sally Struthers) and her husband, liberal college student Mike Stivic (Rob Reiner).

The series dealt with issues that had been previously taboo on American network television - issues such as racism, breast cancer, homosexuality, miscarriage and menopause. It was produced by Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin and was originally created for ABC which developed the original pilot And Justice For All about a family named Justice. A second pilot was made entitled Those Were the Days. When ABC rejected the second pilot, CBS, which had originally wanted to buy the rights to Till Death Us Do Part as a vehicle for comedian Jackie Gleason who was under contract to them, produced a third pilot entitled All in the Family. The family's name was changed to Bunker and Sally Struthers and Rob Reiner, who did not appear in the first two pilots, took over the roles of Gloria and Mike.

Are you ready to test your knowledge of All in the Family with this 15-question quiz? Ready, set go!

All in the Family Quiz

1. Archie and Edith's son-in-law, Michael Stivic, was of what ethnic background?

A. Russian

B. Irish

C. German

D. Ukrainian

E. Polish

2. Who raised Mike Stivic?

Rob Reiner as Mike Stivic

A. Mike was raised by his paternal grandparents.

B. He was raised by his older brother.

C. Mike was raised by his uncle.

D. He was raised in an orphanage.

E. He was raised by his stepmother.

3. Who was Stretch Cunningham?

A. Stretch was Edith's cousin.

B. He was Archie's army buddy.

C. He was Archie's friend and co-worker from the loading dock.

D. He was a taxi driver and a long-time friend of the Bunker family.

E. Stretch was Mike's college friend.

4. What was Edith Bunker's maiden name?

A. Bell

B. Blake

C. Barton

D. Baines

E. Brown

5. Who was All in the Family producer Norman Lear's first choice to play the role of Archie?

A. Mickey Rooney

B. Hal Holbrook

C. Jack Klugman

D. Ted Knight

E. Walter Matthau

6. Why did Archie Bunker call his son-in-law Mike "Meathead?"

A. Mike's father was a butcher.

B. The nickname was associated with Mike's Polish background (Polish sausage).

C. It was Archie's way of saying that Mike ate too much while living under his roof, especially expensive food items such as meat.

D. Mike was a vegetarian and Archie thought giving him a nickname with the word "meat" would annoy him.

E. It was a derogatory nickname meaning that Mike was stupid or as Archie put it "dead from the neck up."

7. Archie always got the middle initial in the name of an American president wrong. Which president was it?

A. Dwight Eisenhower

B. Gerald Ford

C. Richard Nixon

D. Jimmy Carter

E. Lyndon Johnson

8. Why did Carroll O'Connor miss the taping of four episodes of All in the Family?

A, He missed the episodes due to a contract hold out.

B. He was ill with mononucleosis

C. He missed the episodes due to the death of his brother in a car accident.

D. His doctors ordered him to rest because he was run down.

E. He missed the episodes because his contract provided him with some time off.

9. Where did Archie and Edith's daughter, Gloria, work?

Sally Struthers as Gloria Stivic

A. Gloria worked as a receptionist at a dental office.

B. She worked at the cosmetics counter at Kressler's department store.

C. She served food at a Donnelly's Diner.

D. Gloria was employed as a grocery store cashier.

E. She worked at a daycare centre.

10. Which of these actors was offered the role of Mike Stivic?

A. Al Pacino

B. Michael Douglas

C. Harrison Ford

D. Tim Allen

E. Kevin Costner

11. What was the name of the Bunkers' Irish-American neighbour whose husband enjoyed cooking?

A. Molly O'Rourke

B. Jane Connelly

C. Margaret Russo

D. Irene Lorenzo

E. Milly Wilde

12. The Bunkers' next-door-neighbours were an African-Americans couple named George and Louise Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford). What was the name of George Jefferson's brother? (This is your bonus question. Give yourself a bonus point if you answer it correctly.)

A. George Jefferson's brother was Henry Jefferson.

B. His brother was Albert Jefferson.

C. His brother's name was James Jefferson.

D, The name of George Jefferson's brother was Tom Jefferson.

E. His brother was Sam Jefferson.

13. In a 1973 episode of All in the Family, Gloria does something that Mike really finds alluring. What does she do?

A. Gloria loses a great deal of weight.

B. She wears an attractive red dress.

C. She wears a dark wig.

D. She tries a new French perfume.

E. She changes her hairstyle.

14. In a classic 1972 episode of All in the Family, Archie Bunker meets Sammy Davis Jr. who pays a visit to the Bunker home. How did Archie meet Sammy?

A. Sammy left his briefcase in Archie's taxicab.

B. Archie and Edith attended a performance of the singer in Manhattan.

C. Archie bumped into Sammy at LaGuardia Airport.

D. Archie's car was hit by a limousine in which Sammy Davis was a passenger.

E. Lionel Jefferson (son of George and Louise) asked Sammy to give a speech at his college and introduced the entertainer to Archie.

15. After the departure of Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers, Archie and Edith took in a 9-year-old child named Stephanie Mills. Who was Stephanie Mills?

Danielle Brisebois as Stephanie Mills

A. Stephanie Mills was the daughter of Archie and Edith's neighbours, Jack and Fiona Mills. Her parents had been tragically killed in a car crash.

B. Stephanie was the daughter of Archie's cousin, Ralph Mills, who had been sent to prison for assault and robbery. Her mother had died of a drug overdose.

C. She was an orphan whose parents had died in a fire in the Bunkers' Queens neighbourhood.

D. Stephanie was the daughter of Edith's step cousin Floyd Mills (from her aunt's second marriage). The child had been abandoned by her alcoholic father and her mother had died in an automobile accident.

E. She was the granddaughter of a friend of Archie's who had died of cancer. Her parents were both severely ill and could no longer take care of her.

ANSWERS

1. E

Mike was of Polish-American background and was born in Chicago. Interestingly, in the original pilot, Gloria's husband was named Richard and was portrayed as an Irish American by Tim McIntire while Kelly Jean Peters played the role of Gloria.

2. C

Mike was raised by his uncle because his parents died in a car accident when he was quite young.

3. C

James Cromwell as Stretch Cunningham

Jerome "Stretch" Cunningham was Archie's friend and co-worker from the loading dock. Archie thought of Stretch as "the funniest man in the world" and described him as the Bob Hope of the loading platform. Stretch was Jewish. a fact that Archie did not know until Stretch died of a heart attack and he attended his friend's funeral. In one memorable scene, Archie delivers a eulogy for Stretch. Note: The episode about Stretch Cunningham's death is entitled "Stretch Cunningham, Goodbye (Season 7, Episode 19, Air Date: January 29, 1977).

Actor James Cromwell portrayed Stretch Cunningham. Cromwell, now 73, was arrested last February for disturbing a meeting of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents while protesting the alleged mistreatment of animals on campus.

4. D

Edith Bunker was born Edith Baines.

5. A

Norman Lear's first choice to play Archie was Mickey Rooney. Rooney was offered the part but turned it down when told he would be playing a bigot. According to Lear, the actor told him, "They're going to kill you dead on the street. Norm, they're gonna kill you. They're gonna shoot you dead on the street." Rooney wanted to do a show about a blind Vietnam veteran who was a private eye.

6. E.

Archie constantly referred to his son-law Mike as "Meathead" in a derogatory fashion, meaning that Mike was "dead from the neck up."

7. C

Archie Bunker often flubbed names. For some reason, Archie never get Richard Milhous Nixon's middle initial right. He always referred to him as Richard E. Nixon rather than Richard M. Nixon. It's an interesting bit of trivia that at the 1960 Republican National Convention, Nelson Rockefeller mistakenly introduced Nixon as Richard A. Nixon. Could there be connection there?

8. A

In the summer of 1974, Carroll O'Connor missed the taping of four episodes of All in the Family due to a contract dispute with Tandem Productions, owner of the popular CBS sitcom. His contract dispute disrupted the beginning of the shows's fifth season. At the time, according to Associated Press, O'Connor's weekly salary was between $25,000 and $35,000. The actor claimed that money was not the real issue, although he did want "certain back money due me." He said that he was holding out for "different working conditions." He desired a Monday-through-Friday work week rather than a Wednesday-through-Tuesday week and at least 12 weeks off during his 24-week-a-year schedule.

The dispute was resolved, of course, and Caroll O'Connor returned to the show. During O'Connor's absence, three episodes were filmed about Archie's failure to return home from a convention. A fourth episode, not shown in sequence, made no mention of Archie at all. The producers warned O'Connor that the story could end with Edith discovering that Archie had been murdered if an agreement were not reached.

9. B

Gloria worked at the cosmetics counter at Kressler's department store. She was fired from her job, however, when she became pregnant. In December 1975, Gloria gave birth to baby boy named Joseph Michael "Joey" Stivic. Mike and Gloria, both agnostics, wanted their baby to choose decide his own religious beliefs. In an episode entitled "Joey's Baptism" (Season 6, Episode 22, Air Date: February 23, 1976), Archie is determined to have his grandson baptized. Without Mike and Gloria's approval or knowledge, he sneaks little Joey to the church, takes him to the baptistry and sprinkles him with water.

When Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers left the show, Mike and Gloria were written out. At the end of the 1977-78 season, Mike accepts a position as a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). The Stivics move to Santa Barbara with son Joey but their marriage becomes troubled. Mike eventually leaves Gloria and Joey and moved to a California commune with one of his students.

Sally Struthers reprised the role of Gloria Stivic in her own sitcom entitled Gloria. In the short-lived series, Struthers portrayed Gloria as a single mother employed as a veterinarian's assistant in Fox Ridge, New York. Burgess Meredith co-starred as veterinarian, Dr. Willard Adams, Gloria's boss and her landlord. Christian Jacobs.played her young son Joey. Gloria lasted for only one season from September of 1982 until April of 1983. A pilot and 21 episodes of the show were produced .

10. C

Harrison Ford was offered the role of Mike Stivic but turned it down because he felt that Archie's bigotry was too offensive.

11. D

Betty Garrett as Irene Lorenzo

The Bunkers' feisty Irish-American neighbour was named Irene Lorenzo. Irene and her Italian-American husband, Frank, did not fit the stereotypical male-female role models. Frank enjoyed cooking and made all the meals while Irene was more comfortable doing household repairs and other traditional "male chores."
Frank, meanwhile, wore an apron and cleaned. Not surprisingly, this really annoyed Archie. In one classic exchange between Archie and Irene, Archie asks how she feels about her husband doing all the cooking. He inquires if she is worried that people will think Frank is gay. "Is that what you think?" asks Irene. Archie replies, "Oh no, I don't think that 'cause he's Eye-talian and Eye-talians are always bothering women." Irene retorts, "Then there must be a little Italian in you."

Vincent Gardenia as Frank Lorenzo

Irene Lorenzo was played by Betty Garrett who passed away on February 12, 2011 at the age of 91. She died in Los Angeles of an aortic aneurysm. After All on the Family, Betty had a role in another popular shows. She portrayed landlady Edna Babish on Laverne & Shirley. She later made TV appearances on Grey's Anatomy, Boston Public and Becker. Vincent Gardenia portrayed Frank Lorenzo. Gardenia died in Philadelphia of a heart attack on December 9, 1992. He was 72.

12. A

Mel Stewart as Henry Jefferson

George Jefferson's brother was named Henry Jefferson. The Jefferson family was introduced on All in the Family in 1971. Henry's character actually appeared on the show before his brother George. George was not seen by viewers until 1973 because Sherman Hemsley, Norman Lear's first choice for the part, was performing in a Broadway musical and refused to break his commitment to the show. Lear kept the part open for him until he had finished with the musical. George Jefferson's on screen absence was explained by the fact that he would not set foot in the home of a white person. He was, in effect, a black version of the bigoted Archie.

Mel Stewart, who played the role of Henry Jefferson, left the show when Hemsley joined the cast as George. Thus, the Jefferson brothers only appear together once, in an episode in which the Bunkers host a party for Henry who is moving away to start his own business. The episode is entitled "Henry's Farewell" (Season 4, Episode 6, Air Date: October 20, 1973).

From 1983 to 1987, Mel Stewart had a recurring role as Billy Melrose in the Kate Jackson/Bruce Boxleitner series Scarecrow and Mrs. King. Stewart died on February 24, 2002 in Pacifica, California. He was 72 years old and had suffered from Alzheimer's disease.

13. C.

In an episode entitled "Black is the Color of My True Love's Wig" (Season 4, Episode 11, Air Date: November 24, 1973), Gloria purchases a brunette wig and models it for husband Mike. He really likes her new look but they end up having a fight about it.

14. A.

In a memorable 1972 episode of All in the Family, Sammy Davis Jr. leaves his briefcase in Archie's cab (Archie was moonlighting as taxi driver). The episode, "Sammy's Visit," (Season 2, Episode 21, Air Date: February 19, 1972), ends in a famous scene in which Sammy plants a kiss on Archie, much to Archie's horror.

Sammy Davis Jr. kisses Archie Bunker

15. D

Although Stephanie Mills referred to Archie and Edith as her aunt and uncle, she was actually the daughter of Edith's step cousin Floyd Mills (from her aunt's second marriage). Floyd, an alcoholic, had abandoned her, His wife, Marilyn, had been killed in a car accident.

Stephanie was portrayed by Danielle Brisbois. Brisebois is now 44 years old. In the 1990s she began to pursue a career as a singer/songwriter and became a member of the New Radicals, an alternative rock band. The New Radicals, who had a hit single called "You Get What You Give," were active between 1997 and 1999. In 2012, Danielle achieved success with a song she co-wrote for the female-fronted band Halestrom. The song, "Here's to Us," was highlighted on the television series Glee.

END NOTES

* The Jefferson family proved so popular that Norman Lear decided to spin the characters into their own television series. When George Jefferson's dry cleaning business flourished, the family left Queens and moved on up to a luxury apartment on Manhattan's East Side. In 1975, The Jeffersons premiered on CBS and was so successful that it remained on the air for 11 seasons, until 1985.

Sherman Hemsley died of lung cancer on July 24, 2012 in El Paso Tesas. He was 74. His television wife, Isabel Sanford, passed away on July 9, 2004 in Los Angeles at the age of 86. Below is a photo of Hemley and Sanford as the Jeffersons with their television son Lionel Jefferson, played by Mike Evans.

* On September 12, 2012, Sally Struthers was arrested in Ogunquit, Maine where she was appearing in a local production of 9 to 5: The Musical. She was charge with driving under the influence and jury selection for her trial was scheduled for September 23, 2013. According to the Portland Press Harold, the drunk driving charge was dropped when Struthers, now 66, pleaded no contest to the lesser charge of driving to endanger. She was fined $1,218, which she has paid, and her driver's licence was suspended for 30 days.

* In the fall of 1979, All in the Family was retooled and retitled Archie Bunker's Place. It centred around the bar that Archie now owned. When Jean Stapleton decided to leave the show, her character, Edith, died of a stroke in 1980. Archie Bunker's Place ran for four years, until 1983.

* Archie often referred to Edith as a "dingbat" and told her to "stifle herself." The father of Norman Lear, the creator of All in Family, treated Lear's mother in the same manner.

* In 1976 the Ideal Toy Company produced a "Joey Stivic doll" (called "Archie Bunker's Grandson"), which was advertised as the "first anatomically correct male doll." Although slightly controversial then, the doll is a collector's item now. It is available on ebay for $69.99 U.S.

* Caroll O'Connor died in Culver City, California on June 21, 2001. He was 76. Jean Stapleton passed away at the age of 90 in New York City on May 31, 2013.

- Joanne

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Y&R Report (Nov. 9, 2013): 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.

1. Brrrrrr! Brrrrr! Are you still shivering? This week, Sharon and Nick Newman were locked in freezer at The Underground, Nick's restaurant. It's a good thing that Nick was able to warm up his ex-wife with both his shirt and with his body heat. After all, she was starting to develop hypothermia and they couldn't call for help. Wow! What a coincidence that Sharon left her cell phone inside the restaurant and that Nick's phone wasn't working! Gee, what a surprise! Of course Sharon was quick to remind her ex of the time they were locked in a bank vault and how hot it was in that vault.

It's all part of the soap opera technique of having characters get stuck stuck in elevators and cabins et cetera. This time it was a freezer. Fearing that they would not survive, Sharon told Nick that she had to tell him about a terrible thing she had done. However, just as Sharon was about to confess to Nick about tampering with the results of the DNA test regarding Summer's paternity, Noah came to the rescue and released them from the freezer. Gee, what a surprise!

Nick later called Sharon over to his restaurant to ask her what she was about to tell him while they were locked in the freezer. Rather than tell him the truth, she quickly thought up some story about how she regretted using Faith to get him to spend more time with her. Gee what a surprise!

It's quite obvious, fans, that Nick and Sharon will reunite, at least for awhile. It's a just matter of time. Faith will be ecstatic and everything will go well until Sharon's secret is revealed. The secret can not come out until then. When it does, Nick will never forgive her. Despite his own past behaviour, he is judgmental and he will not accept Sharon's bipolar disorder as an excuse for her behaviour. Speaking of Nicholas Newman, I have a bone to pick with the writers. Nick has declared that he will always love Sharon as the mother of his children. Aren't they Sharon's children too? Why can't he say that she's the mother of our children? Good grief, Y&R! This is 2013.

2. This week, we learned that Summer Newman's best friend Courtney is not so sweet and innocent. She is one of the best customers of Fen's drug dealer, Raven. How could Summer not know this? After all, Courtney is supposedly her closest friend and confidante. Is the Teen Queen that clueless? Is she that naive that she doesn't have any idea what her best friend has been doing or is Courtney so devious that she has been able to conceal her illegal activities from Summer? It seems that Summer doesn't know the real Courtney at all. She's never been invited to her best friend's home and has no knowledge of her family. This could spell big trouble for Noah since he is beginning to fall for Courtney.

We don't know yet if Courtney is buying the drugs for herself or for Zach, the guy who was texting her.. Whether she's a user, remains to be seen. Either way, Noah and Summer are going to be caught up in the situation and it isn't going to be pretty.

3. Hilary Curtis is a good girl now and it was the fastest conversion since Paul on the road to Damascus! Are we to believe that this vindictive, scheming women has reformed so suddenly and so easily? Poof! Just like that! Viewers are being asked to believe that she was just hurt by her mother's death. She was grieving. Now she sees the light and she has a brand new job working for Jack Abbott at Jabot.

It seems to me that Hilary's quick-as-a-flash reformation has been contrived by the writers for storyline purposes. They no longer want her to be wicked and deceitful so that viewers will have some sympathy for her. Having her work at Jabot will bring her in closer contact with billionaire Devon. If he sees her in a more positive light, he may fall for her, especially since his girlfriend, Roxanne, is nowhere to be seen. Speaking of Roxy, Devon mentioned this week that he has used his newly acquired wealth to buy some things for her. Well, at least we know that Roxy has been informed that her boyfriend's a billionaire.

4. Well, fans, it was good to see Eileen Davidson in her role as Ashley Abbott again, although her visit was far too brief. The good news is that she will be returning to Genoa City for an Abbott Thanksgiving. It's disappointing, though, that Eileen has not returned on a regular basis - at least for now.

5. I contacted Helen from Scarborough again. She still thinks that Carmine Basco committed suicide. I doubt it but I will say that if Helen is correct, she deserves credit for calling that one.

6. Is there anyone better at rolling her eyes in disgust than Melody Thomas Scott as Nikki Newman? She's especially good at expressing disdain whenever Sharon is mentioned. I'll never forgot the look of revulsion on Nikki's face when Nick married Sharon all those years ago.

7. Jack and Jill went up the hill to bring down Victor Newman. Yes, folks, Jack Abbott has launched yet another scheme to topple the Big Man from his throne. This time his ally is Jill and the two of them endeavoured to bring Cane Ashby into the conspiracy too. Sugar Cane wisely declined the invitation.

When will Smiling Jack ever learn that it's folly to go to war with the Black Knight? A case can be made that he's insane when it comes to bringing down Moneybags. He performs the same action over and over again, only to achieve the same results. Victor always wins in the end. It's better just to stay clear of him and away from his controlling clutches. Of course, Jack will never learn that lesson because the eternal feud between Abbott and Newman is a source of conflict and high drama. The writers know this.

8. Some new faces are coming to town. Four new characters will be making their debut in Geoa City. One is named Josh Williams and is assumed to be a relative of Paul. Another is Andrew Abbott, an Abbott cousin who is described as "handsome and educated."

Also, according to daytime writer Dan J. Kroll, Emmy winner Cynthia Watros will appear in a recurring roll as Kelly, a recently divorced teacher by trade. She will become involved in the lives of Billy, Victoria and Chloe. Kelly is grieving the tragic loss of her son and she will meet Billy and Victoria in a support group.

The fourth new character is Esmerelda, a young model whose path crosses with Teen Queen Summer Newman.

HAIR AND FASHION

Fenmore Baldwin looks so cute in his prison toque. It's really becoming on him. Perhaps it will catch on and become a prison fad. Soon all the other inmates, including Fen's father, Michael, will be wearing toques in jail. Fan can even star in his own music video called Jail House Toque. Move over Elvis!

Sigh! Billy Boy Abbott had his hair cut again. It's too short.

MELODY THOMAS SCOTT IN TORONTO

Melody Thomsd Sott (right) on stage with Lilana Novakovich

On Sunday, November 3rd, Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman) appeared at the National Women's Show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Melody looked beautiful in an orange print dress and she was slimmer than I though she'd be. The turnout was large but the crowd, consisting mostly of women, didn't seem quite as excited about seeing her as they had about seeing Eric Braeden (Victor Newman) and Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott) in previous years. At least, that was my impression.

Sunday was a gorgeous fall day, sunny and somewhat cool. Although the temperature was fairly normal for a November day in Toronto (or New York or Boston), Melody remarked that as a resident of California., she felt really cold in this kind of weather. The daytime diva informed the crowd that she had spent the week in T.O. at the home of her friend Lilana Novakovich, a long-time Canadian agent to the soap stars. Lilana appeared on stage with Melody and hosted the event.

Unfortunately, Melody was unable to provide the audience with any really juicy scoops. She had no idea if Michelle Stafford would be returning as Phyllis or if another actress would be taking over the role.. She explained that Y&R cast members no longer receive complete scripts. They only receive the script for their own scenes. As a result, the actors are less aware of what's going on in other storylines.

Melody revealed that her pet peeve is people who text while driving. When questioned about the kissing ability of Eric Braeden and Peter Bregman, she reminded the crowd that it's acting and that there is more concern about positioning before the camera.

Melody also mentioned that Y&R has filmed a special Veteran's Day (Remembrance Day) episode which she found very moving. She also said that the Dylan storyline is really going to heat up. When ashed about her favourite scene on the show, she replied that she didn't have a specific favourite but that she really enjoyed playing a drunk Nikki. She also stated that "in the soap world, happiness equals boredom" because there is no conflict. That, fans, is why soap couples don't stay together We all want our favourite couples to get together, but when they do, it's difficult to find storylines for them.

After answering questions from fans, Melody auctioned off some items to raise money in support of ovarian cancer research. The items included a Y&R script, a pair of Melody earrings and an album from Joshua Morrow's boy band days.

That's all for now. Don't forget to read my next Y&R Report on November 23.

- Joanne

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Y&R Report (Oct. 26, 2013): 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.

1. Some violin music please! This has been quite a melancholy time on The Young and the Gloomy with everyone grieving the death of 7-year-old Delia Abbott. Both Billy and Chloe are absolutely distraught while poor Esther has taken to her room in utter despair. Billy Boy has engaged in an interminably long bout of self-loathing. He is closing himself off from the rest of the world, just as Nicholas did when Cassie died. He is hitting the bottle and blaming himself for leaving his daughter unattended in the car. Chloe, meanwhile, has been focussing all her pain and anger on Billy, adding to his guilt. It seems to me that the most cool-headed and mature person of the bunch has been Kevin Fisher. Kevin is grieving too, but he has told Chloe to stop playing the blame game. He has wisely pointed out that pointing fingers will not bring Delia back. I have to say that I am impressed with Kevin's good judgment, a rarity for him. Fisher has never been known to be a paragon of wisdom.

As for all the grieving, I know the death of Delia was a tragedy but the show has been downright depressing lately. Could we have some lighter moments soon?

2. So Fenmore Baldwin has stepped up and confessed that he was the one who took the life of oily bartender Carmine Basco, who stalked Lauren and her family. Is he telling the truth, though, or just trying to take the rap for his father, prominent Genoa City attorney Michael Baldwin? Michael, who admitted to the murder in order to prevent Fen from going to prison, was sentenced to ten years in the slammer. I'm still scratching my head trying to figure this one out. If neither Michael nor Fen actually committed the deed, then who did? I can't think of anyone else with a motive for killing Carmine unless his connection with the mob (remember gangster Angelo and his daughter?) did him in. I don't really think that's the answer but I also find it hard to fathom that Fen really killed someone in cold blood. The teenager doesn't remember what happened because he was in a drug-induced haze at the time. So why is he insisting that he killed Basco?

3. I don't know about you, fans, but I find it difficult to accept Devon's new status as Genoa City's latest billionaire. Yes, I know it's a soap and it was done for storyline purposes but I don't think it's plausible that Mrs. Chancellor would have left Devon all that loot. Sure, he is her grandson and she would definitely have bequeathed him something substantial in her will, but the wealthy socialite was much closer to others than to Devon. It would have been far more believable if she had left him her treasured vinyl record collection and a large sum of money - but not billions. That's so contrived and unrealistic. Yet, as we all know, soaps are not known for their realism.

Didn't you just love that Abbott press conference and the way Devon stepped up to offer a one million dollar reward for information leading to thee capture of the driver who ran down Delia. By the way, whatever happened to Devon's girlfriend, Roxanne? Don't you think she would be aware that he is now a billionaire? Where are you, Roxy baby?

4. How about Genoa City's dynamic law and order duo, Paul Williams and Christine (also known as Cricket or, as Phyllis likes to call her, The Bug)! Law enforcement is certainly in good hands in G.C. with those two in charge. Only in a soap would Paul Williams become chief of police. He was a private investigator, never a police officer. He was also arrested for the murder of his own son, Ricky Williams. In real life, it is highly unlikely that anyone with that background would become chief of police.

Speaking of Paul Williams, how many of you remember that there is a fourth Williams sibling besides Paul, Father Todd Williams and the mentally ill Patty Williams. His name is Steve Williams and he has not been mentioned for years. He is a journalist who moved to Washington, D.C. a long time ago. Perhaps, in the future, if the writers are searching for a new storyline, they'll have him return to town.

5. I have consulted a longtime Y&R viewer, Helen from Scarborough, Ontario for some comments on the latest happenings in Genoa City. Helen had a few observations about the show that I'd like to pass along to you. Here they are.

Why did Billy go to an ice cream parlour in such a remote place? Why was the ice cream store located so far off the beaten track? How could the shop attract customers in the middle of nowhere?

Now that Paul Williams and the Cricketmeister are married, isn't there a conflict of interest with him being police chief and her being the District Attorney? They were both involved in the sentencing of Michael Baldwin.for Carmine's murder.

Carmine may have committed suicide because he was cornered and did not want to return to prison.

Well, Helen, I doubt that Carmine killed himself. He loved himself too much and was very egotistical.

6. It was wonderful to see the return of Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson). I hope Eileen's return is not just temporary. It would be great to see back on Y&R on a permanent basis. I also have to say that Ashley looked very lovely in her red dress. If the late John Abbott had been there, he surely would have called her "my beauty" as he used to do.

This week, Ashley and the Abbotts (sounds like the name of a band) stood united in their determination to help Billy Boy. It's always great when the show centres on its core families. The Abbott clan even tried to recreate its traditional Abbott breakfast. Alas, it was not the same without the strong presence of John Abbott and Mamie serving her delicious cinnamon buns? Why did the writers have to kill off John Abbott anyway?

7. The walls are closing in on the Black Sheep, Adam Newman. It's only a matter of time, especially now that Victor knows he burned something (Delia's scarf) in the fireplace. Although Adam has certainly been no angel, I think he has also been misunderstood and maltreated by the other Newmans. He never intended to run over Delia and he sincerely wants to be a good father to baby Connor. When it is discovered that he was driving the vehicle that killed Delia, he is going to become the most hated person in Genoa City.

No matter what he does, Adam is never going to please Big Daddy Victor. He's intelligent enough and has enough business acumen to run his own successful company. Why doesn't he just do it. He could even go into partnership with Jack Abbott.

HAIR AND FASHION

What do you think of Billy Boy Abbott's short haircut? I give it thumbs down. I prefer it longer with a more wave.

Have you noticed that since Paul Williams became chief of police, he is dressing less casually. He has started to wear suits and ties, as befits his lofty new position.

NOTE TO CANADIAN Y&R FANS

Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman) will appear in Canada this weekend and also on the first weekend of November. Here is her schedule.

Today, Saturday, October 26, Melody will take part in Calgary's Women's Show at the BMO Centre in Stampede Park.

On Sunday, October 27, she will visit the 13th Annual West Coast Women's Show in Vancouver. B.C. The event will take place at the TRADEX: Trade and Exhibition Centre in Abbotsford.

On Sunday, November 3rd, Melody will be attending the National Women's Show in Toronto. She will appear on centre stage at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre at 1:30 p.m.

That's all for now. Be sure to read my next Y&R Report on Saturday, November 9, 2013.

- Joanne

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Mike Connors: TV's Mannix

Mannix was the last of a certain type of American manhood, circa early '70s. He wore a tie and a wistful smile. He did not know doubt but was a friend of irony. He didn't worry about giving women "their space," and he wasn't "in touch with his feelings." He was kind to small dogs, little old ladies, and femmes fatales in deep trouble and short skirts.

- Neely Tucker
From "Mannix Was the Man," Washington Post, November 18, 2007

If you watched the television detective series Mannix during the late 1960s and into the mid-1970s, then you are familiar with Mike Connors. Mike portrayed Los Angeles private eye Joseph R. "Joe" Mannix on the show - and yes, he is still alive!

Mike Connors was born Krekor Ohanian on August 15, 1925 in Fresno, California. His mother was a first generation Armenian-American. His father, a lawyer, had migrated to the U.S. from Armenia as a teenager to escape the turbulence in the Ottoman Empire. Connors is extremely proud of his Armenian heritage and in an article in the Armenian Reporter (May 17, 2008) by Connie Llanos, he is quoted as saying, "I never forgot the stories my dad would tell me about the atrocities he witnessed in Armenia." Mike also told the Armenian Reporter that there was a great deal of prejudice against Armenians in the Fresno area.when he was growing up and that they were derisively referred to as "Fresno Indians."

Connors' father never had the opportunity to enjoy his son's success. He died when the actor was only 17 years old. In order to honour both his father and his heritage, Mike made it clear that he wanted his Joe Mannix character to be of Armenian descent. That is why Mannix was shown visiting his father's grape farm and they would speak to each other in Armenian.

During World War II, Mike, served in the United States Air Force. Upon returning to civilian life, the young man attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on a basketball scholarship. Oscar-winning film director William Wellman, who was attending a game with his son, apparently noticed Connors' expressive face on the court and encouraged him to pursue an acting career.

In an interview with the website Party Favors, Mike stated that after the game, Bill Wellman told the coach, "Ask the kid if he'd be interested in being an actor." When Connors replied, "Yeah, sure." Wellman promised to give him a call the next time he directed a picture." Days later, Mike was asked by the head of the UCLA drama department if he'd be interested in trying out for plays. Although a law student, Mike was soon bitten by the acting bug. He began taking acting lessons at the university and eventually gave up basketball for a career as an actor.

Billed as Touch Connors, the aspiring actor's first film role was the 1952 Joan Crawford vehicle Sudden Fear. He was subsequently cast in movies such as William Wellman's Island in the Sky (1953) starring John Wayne and Flesh and the Spur, a 1957 Western. He also portrayed Amalekite Herder in the Biblical epic The Ten Commandments.

Beginning in 1954, Connors began appearing in television roles on such series as Mr. and Mrs North (1954), City Detective (1955), The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955), The Loretta Young Show (1956), The Millionaire (1956), Gunsmoke (1956) and Maverick (1957). From 1959 to 1960, he had the starring role in a crime series called Tightrope, playing a police undercover agent who infiltrated organized crime. His character, originally referred to as "Nick Stone" (and later just "Nick"), changed his name in every episode to secure his safety. The series ran for 37 episodes on on the CBS network.

Although Tightrope was popular with viewers, it was cancelled due to complaints about the amount of violence on the show and a dispute between CBS and the show's sponsors. The network and the program's sponsors disagreed over CBS's unilateral decision to move the series to a later time slot. The show's advertisers adamantly refused to go along with CBS's plans. Since neither side would compromise, Tightrope met its demise.

Below is a 1960 photo of Mike Connors with Tightrope guest stars Leigh Snowden (left) and Claire Kelly. Snowden and Kelly appeared with Connors in an episode of the series entitled "Three to Make Ready" (Season 1, Episode 2, 1960, Air Date: February 2, 1960).

Mike Connors in Tightrope

After supporting roles in films such as Good Neighbour Sam (1963) and Where Love Has Gone (1964), Connors was cast in the starring role of a weekly television action series about a private eye named Joe Mannix. Mannix ran for eight seasons, from 1967 until 1975, on the CBS network and 194 episodes were produced. In The Complete Directory To Prime Trime Time Network TV Shows: 1946 - Present, the series is described as "one of the most violent detective shows of its time." Joe Mannix was constantly shot, wounded or knocked unconscious. Throughout the course of the series, he endured a tremendous amount of physical punishment. According to the website IMDb, Mannix was knocked unconscious 55 times and shot 17 times.

During the show's first season, Joe Mannix worked for a detective agency called Wickersham at Intertect. Intertect was a computerized agency and it's interesting to watch the first season in order to see how 1960s high tech was presented. Mannix, however, was averse to the scientific and computerized approach to crime fighting. This brought him into conflict with his Intertect superior Lew Wickersham, played by Joseph Campanella.

Mannix,was a loner who preferred to use his own wiles to solve crimes. By the second season, wary of the rules and regulations of the agency, he stuck out on his own, hiring a personal assistant named Peggy Fair. Peggy, who sometimes went undercover for her boss, was the widow of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. She was portrayed by Gail Fisher, one of the first African-American actresses to have a regular role on a U.S. television series.

Gail Fisher and Mike Connors

Mannix was rife with car chases and private eye Joe Mannix was very partial to dark green Plymouth convertibles. During the first season, however, he drove an Oldsmobile Tornado. Later on, his cars included a Plymouth Barracuda convertible and a Plymouth Challenger. The art of the television car chase, a prominent feature on Mannix, was further cultivated on The Rockford Files starring James Garner.

In 1971, Mike played Joe Mannix for laughs in an episode of Here's Lucy starring Lucille Ball. The episode is entitled "Lucy and Mannix are held hostage" (Season 4, Episode 4, Air Date: October 4, 1971). In 1997, he reprised his Joe Mannix role in an episode of the Dick Van Dyke series Diagnosis Murder entitled "Hard-Boiled Murder" (Season 4, Episode 17, Air Date: February 13, 1997). The episode was a follow-up to a 1973 Mannix episode called "Little Girl Lost" (Season 7, Episode 4, Air Date: October 7, 1973). Many of the same actors appeared in both episodes.

After Mannix ended its run in 1975, Mike Connors secured roles in several television shows and movies.and he also played a part in a major TV miniseries. He appeared in two 1976 TV movies as Karl Ohanian (his real last name) in The Killer Who Wouldn't Die and as Travis Green in Revenge for Rape. In 1977, Mike had a guest role in an episode of Police Story entitled "Stigma" (Season 5, Episode 2, Air Date: November 9, 1977). He played Curtis "Manny" Mandell.

Mike took on the leading role of Nick, the debonair owner of a floating hotel/casino, in the 1980 TV movie Casino. From 1981 to 1982, he starred as Ben Slater in the short-lived crime drama Today's FBI. Only 18 episodes of this post-J.Edgar Hoover FBI series were made.

Connors portrayed Air Force Colonel Harrison "Hack" Peters in ABC's epic 1988-1989 miniseries War and Remembrance. In 1993, he appeared in the TV movie Hart to Hart Returns along with stars Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers. He also guest-starred in three episodes of Murder, She Wrote. He played a character called Walter Murray in a 1989 episode of the series entitled "Truck Stop" and he portrayed Boyce Brown in two 1995 episodes entitled "Flim Flam" and "Shooting in Rome." Mike also played movie mogul Jack L. Warner in James Dean: Race with Destiny, the 1997 television movie about the ill-fated 1950s actor James Dean who died in a car crash.

From 1998 to 1999, Mike Connors provided his voice in eight episodes of the animated television series Hercules. He played his Mannix character again in the 2003 large screen comedy Nobody Knows Anything! Connors last appeared in a television role in 2007 when he was a guest star in an episode of Two and Half Men entitled "Prostitutes and Gelato" (Season 4, Episode 24, Air Date: May 14, 2007).

In 2011, he sued Paramount and CBS Television Studios in Los Angeles Superior Court claiming that he had never been paid royalties for Mannix despite being owed millions of dollars. He sued for unspecified damages, stating that he had entered an agreement with Paramount in 1971 which guaranteed him 10 percent of gross and net proceeds from the show.

Mike Connors married Marylou Riley in 1949. The couple met at UCLA and they had two children - a son, Matthew Gunner Ohanion (born November 1958) and a daughter, Dana Lee Connors (born July 1960). Sadly, Matthew died unexpectedly of heart failure in 2007. Of the death of his son, Connors told the Armenian Reporter, "I guess everyone has a cross to bear, everyone has a tragedy in their life . . . We are just trying to get on with ours."

Mike is now 88 years old and he and his wife reside in Encino, California.

END NOTES

* Mike Connors' nickname is "Touch." It comes from his college days as an athlete at UCLA where he was teased by his teammates about having a soft touch. Mike was billed as Touch Connors until 1957 whereupon he changed his professional name to Michael Connors.

* In 1970, Gail Fisher won an Emmy Award for her portrayal of Mannix's secretary, Peggy Fair. She was the first black actress to win the coveted award, besting Susan Saint. James of McMillan and Wife. After Mannix was cancelled, however, Gail had a difficult finding acting roles.and she battled drug addiction. Gail Fisher passed away in Culver City, Los Angeles, County, California on December 2, 2000, reportedly from kidney failure. She was 65 years at the time of her death.

Gail Fisher

* The late Robert Reed of Brady Bunch fame had a recurring role on Mannix as Lieutenant Adam Tobias in 22 episodes of the show from 1969 until 1974. Tobias, of the Los Angeles Police Department, was Joe Mannix's friend and also served as the private investigator's contact on the force.

* Veteran actor Joseph Campanella appeared as Lew Wickersham in 25 episodes from 1967 to 1972. Campanella will celebrate his 86th birthday on November 21, 2013.

* For its first four seasons, Mannix was produced by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's production company, Desilu, before being picked up by Paramount. It was the the final series produced by Desilu Productions.

- Joanne

EDITOR'S UPDATE (January 27, 2017): Mike Connors died on January 26, 2017 at the age of 91.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Y&R Report: The Latest on The Young and the Restless

Hey Y&R fans, every second Saturday, beginning today, TV Banter will discuss the latest happenings and provide 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 discover some things in advance.

I cordially invite Y&R viewers to email me with questions and comments.

1. This has been quite a tragic week on the Y&R. Little Cordelia Katherine Valentine Abbott, better known as Delia or Dee Dee, was run over by a car driven by none other than the Black Sheep himself, Adam Newman. It's hard to believe that Adam would not have realized that he had hit someone. He just looked out and observed that Delia's dog Dash hadn't been hit. Then he drove away. Why didn't he search the area a bit more? Nevertheless, having Adam drive the vehicle that struck Delia was a great plot twist by the writers.

It's not often that a child dies on a soap. Delia's demise follows the death of another child on Y&R - Sharon's daughter Cassie who now appears to Sharon in the form of a ghost. It is likely that Delia will provide a cornea transplant for baby Connor, son of the Black Sheep and his ex-wife Chelsea. There's a really difficult time ahead for Adam and his tortured soul.

2. I'm not surprised that Nikki's long-lost son has turned out to be Handyman Dylan himself, although the writers wanted viewers to think Nikki's offspring might be Dr.Stitch. The storyline will be more interesting and there will be more conflict once it becomes known that NIck and Dylan are brothers - especially because of their feelings for Avery. The Big Man, Victor Newman, is not going to be very happy at all when he discovers that his beautiful Nikki is Dylan's mother and that she gave him up for adoption.

If Dylan and Sharon ever get together, Nikki will be really rankled. She has never liked Sharon, believing her to be a gold digger. I'll never forget Nikki's expression at Nick and Sharon's wedding. She was one of the most unhappy mothers-of-the-groom, I have ever seen on TV. Nikki would really be annoyed if Sharon were involved with her other son.

3. Although Nicholas Newman continues to rebuff Sharon's attempts at rekindling their lost love, I think that the former lovebirds will get together again, at least on a temporary basis. I can't see Nick forgiving Sharon for hiding the truth about Teen Queen Summer's paternity.

4. I wish Michelle Stafford would return to her role as Phyllis. It seems as if Phyllis is going to come out of her coma soon. If Michelle doesn't return, a new red-headed actress will be cast in the part. At present, Michelle seems quite involved with her new web comedy series, The Stafford Project, so it's doubtful she'll be back on Y&R anytime soon . . . but maybe someday, a year or two from now.

5. Okay, fans, who do you think shot Carmine Basco, the demented bartender? Was it really Fen? That seems too easy and obvious. If not Fen, then who did the deed? I can't seem to think of another suspect. Does anyone have any ideas?

Hair and Fashion

Why has Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle) had that long strand of hair in front of her face lately? It's distracting and she has to keep pushing it back. I feel like getting a pair of scissors and clipping it. By the way, I also think that both Amelia and her TV mother Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) should tone down their eye make-up (especially MTS). It's too heavy. Are they trying to achieve the raccoon look?

Y&R Actor of the Week

This week's award goes to Billy Miller as Billy Boy Abbott. He gave a gut-wrenching performance as Delia's heartbroken and grief-ridden father.

Runner-up goes to Michael Muhney, a fine actor, for his portrayal of the most complex character on the show - Adam Newman.

Your Favourite Y&R Couples

Who is your favourite Y&R couple? Lily and Cane? Billy and Victoria? Victor and Nikki? Lauren and Michael? Others?

I vote for Billy and Victoria. Lauren and Michael are my second choice.

Do you think Dylan should be paired with Avery or Chelsea or Sharon? As for Nick, does he belong with Avery, Sharon or Phyllis? I don't have any strong feelings about those pairings.

Do you think Adam should be with Chelsea or Sharon? I prefer Adam with Chelsea.

Just once . . .

Control freak Victor Newman often phones people and summons them to meet with him. He expects them to drop everything and run to his side. He usually says, "This is Victor Newman. Would you kindly come to my office. I need to speak with you." When residents of Genoa City are summoned by the Great Victor Newman, they are required to see him immediately - and they always do. Just once, I'd like to hear a Y&R character inform Victor that he or she is busy with something of greater importance and that their meeting will have to be delayed until a more convenient time.

That's all for now. I'll have more Y&R commentary on Saturday, October 26th.

- Joanne