Y&R Report (October 24,2015): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

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

Sharon Newman's therapist, Dr. Anderson, is one creepy lady, isn't she?  What is her game?  Why is she taking advantage of the vulnerable Sharon and her bipolar condition? It's become quite obvious that she's not the compassionate doctor she first appeared to be.  She has a sinister agenda and she is not concerned about Sharon's welfare at all. She's been drugging Sharon and isolating her from her friends and family.  Why?

Well fans, there has been speculation on the website Celeb Dirty Laundry (www.celebritylaundry.com) that Dr. Anderson (Elizabeth Bogush) is really Sandra Allen from Nick Newman's high school days.  It was recently revealed that when Nick was a teenager, he held a party at the Newman ranch at which he challenged Sandra to dive into the swimming pool a balcony.  Sandra, a promising athlete, ended up breaking her neck.  Victor paid Sandra's expenses and covered up the incident.

If Dr. Anderson is Sandra, she certainly has a motive to seek revenge on Nick Newman.  Her diabolical plan most likely involves using Sharon as a means of taking baby Christian away from Nick and Sage. She would have no problem convincing a drug-addled Sharon that Christian is really her child. It's interesting that Patty Williams is poised to be the hero who helps Sharon escape the clutches of the villainous doctor.

My goodness, Marisa is full of secrets!  Not only does she have a husband, but she also has a child somewhere out there too - just another minor detail she conveniently neglected to inform Noah about.  Oh yes, we mustn't forget that Marisa placed her innocent baby daughter in the hands of ruthless drug lord Marco Annicelli.  She actually trusted Annicelli, her former boyfriend, to put the little girl up for adoption and find her a decent home. Even though her feelings for Noah appear to be sincere, she carries a lot of baggage and she consistently displays poor judgement. Although Marisa many not intend to hurt young Noah, she always ends up doing so. That's why hapless Noah will be checking into the Heartbreak Hotel yet again.  It's inevitable because he just can't resist the dark-haired beauty an wants to think the best of her.

Some of the characters on Y&R are really vindictive.  Kevin Fisher, for example, didn't think a sentence of ten years in prison was enough for Adam.  Your'd think Adam had intentionally driven that car over poor Delia.  Who is Kevin to be so harsh with Adam anyway?  Adam has been no angel, but Kevin himself has a history of criminal activity, including robbing banks and being an Internet predator.  You may recall that he also burned down Gina's restaurant in an attempt to kill Colleen Carlton.  That's arson and attempted murder, Kevie.

Another Genoa City resident who wanted Adam severely punished was Phyllis Abbott.  Do I really need to make a list of all of the wild redhead's past misdeeds?  Wasn't she the one who wanted to be forgiven for intentionally running down Christine (aka Cricket) and Paul, although they managed to survive. Enough said!  Those who live in glass houses . . .

There is no way Adam Newman is going to spend ten years in prison anyway.  I am also quite sure that he will survive being run over by a white car as he left the courthouse.  As far as I know, Justin Hartley, the actor who plays Adam, is not leaving the show.  In fact, there has been an unconfirmed report that he has signed a new contract with Y&R.  Also, according to the website Celebrity Laundry, Gabriel Bingham may have been the one who ran down Delia, not Adam.

So, we are left with some intriguing questions:  Who was the mysterious person who intentionally ran over Adam in front of the courthouse? (Victor certainly tried hard to pin it on Billy Boy). Right now, I'm baffled. Anyone?  If Gabriel did indeed run over Delia, was Sage aware of the truth?  I suspect she knew because, like Marisa, Sage has a closet full of secrets.  What I don't understand is why she allowed Adam take the heat if Gabe did it.

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.   


From CC in Etobicoke, Ontario

I have always thought that Adam didn't do it, especially because they never really confirmed it was him, nor looked very far beyond who was driving a similar car, Nikki.  

Great idea if they came up with your idea that Gabriel was the hit and runner.  

Do you think Sage knows it was Gabriel?  

The Neil/Hilary/Devon storyline is boring me bigtime, same with who killed Delia.

What do you think is up with Cane?

Evil Victor has his nose in everyone's business.

The idea that Gabe was the hit and run driver is a good one.  Yes, I think Sage knows it was Gabriel.

Yes, I find the Neil/Hilary/Devon storyline somewhat slow moving and boring.  Part of the reason is that there is so much repetition of Neil talking to the comatose Hilary (a body double).  The good news is that Mischael Morgn, who plays Hilary, is back at work after her maternity leave.  Her new scenes will be aired soon and that should put some zest into the storyline.

I don't find Delia's storyline boring.  The truth is finally coming our as to what happened the night Delia was run over.  It has taken two years, but all the pieces of the puzzle are finally coming together.  Adam and Billy are coming to terms with the tragedy.

No, CC, I don't think Cane is guilty, but the Aussie is certainly not helping his cause with his angry, defensive behaviour.  Of course, slimy Joe Clark is lurking in the shadows, trying to make inroads with Lily.

Yes, dastardly Victor certainly has his nose in everyone's business and now he's controlling the lives of his grandchildren.   I wished he's stick to his own concerns, but he wouldn't be Victor Newman if he did that, would he?  Someone has to stir things up or there wouldn't be any storylines.


Regular viewer, Fifi in Collingwood, Ontario has informed me that she really enjoyed the scene in which Victoria Newman had a heart to heart talk with daddy Victor.  She thought the acting was good on the part of Amelia Heinle (Victoria) and Eric Braeden (Victor).  I highly concur with you, Fifi.  I have to say that the writing was good too.  Y&R fans were given a wonderful view into what makes that father and daughter relationship tick.  It was a very tender scene, filled with humour and pathos.

Amelia Heinle also deserves credit for that poignant scene in which Victoria urges Billy (Burgess Jenkins) to forgive himself over Delia's death.  Jenkins' performance in that scene should also be applauded.  He was very good, although I can't help but imagine the same scene with Billy Miller in the role of Billy Boy Abbott.

CAST NEWS

Soap star Jensen Buchanan headed to Genoa City

Soap veteran Jensen Buchanan is on her way to Genoa City.  She will portray a new character on The Young and the Restless, socialite Elise Moxley,  Buchanan, a native of Alabama, has a stellar background in soaps.  She has played Vicky/Marley McKinnon, on Another World, Sarah Gordon on One Life to Live; and Melissa Bedford on General Hospital.  "I was really honored that Young and Restless would come to me and say, 'Do you want to do this part?'" the actress told Soap Opera Digest.  "I wasn't exactly playing hard to get. I was just kind of retired and was sort of finished with that chapter in my life, but then I found myself beginning a new place in my life, and my children are both grown now - which is amazing because I had them on Another World - and found myself saying, 'I have the time, and I definitely have the passion again."

The Emmy-nominated actress will make her first appearance on Y&R on Friday, November 13 on CBS (Thursday, November 12 on Global TV in Canada).  As a member of Genoa City's social set, her character will undoubtedly be involved in the forthcoming Newman ballroom gala which will end in a disastrous explosion.

Kristoff St. John and Victoria Rowell reunite for Yuletide movie

Kristoff St, John and Victoria Rowell, formerly super couple Neil and Drucilla on The Young and the Restless, are working together again.  Their fans will be pleased to know that they are making a holiday movie called A Baby for Christmas.  It is a UPtv film and it's the sequel to Marry Me for Christmas and Marry US for Christmas.

Y&R REPORT READER'S POLL

Cane Ashby (Daniel Goddard) is suspected of taking the ransom money his brother-in-law Devon shelled out to a kidnapper in return for Hilary's freedom.  The indignant Australian swears up and down that he has been set up.  He is upset with wife Lily for what he perceives as her lack of trust in him.  

Is Cane guilty or has he been set up?

He's guilty. He's been acting very strangely and suspiciously.

Of course he's innocent. Joe Clark set him up because he wants Lily.

He's innocent. Neil Winters set him up to distract Devon and the police.

I don't know.

Quizzes

That's all for now.  I would like to remind you that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, November 7, 2015.  Get ready for the November sweeps!

- Joanne

Y&R Report (October 10, 2015): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

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

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There is a lot to talk about as the autumn leaves begin to fall in Genoa City.  Everyone in town has been informed that Adam Newman is still alive and that he has been pretending to be "Gabriel Bingham.". As usual, Clueless Paul Williams was the last person to learn the truth.  Now that the cat is finally out of the bag, Adam has become a pariah.  Without a doubt, he is the most despised person in Genoa City.  Yet, I don't think he deserves that kind of treatment.  He is definitely no angel and I'm not condoning his wrongdoings. Still, he's not a killer.  He did not set out to deliberately run over Delia. At first, he was not even aware that his car had hit her.  Yes, Adam definitely should have gone to the police and reported what happened. Yes, he was a coward and he was afraid of the consequences. Being a coward and a liar, however, is not tantamount to being a murderer.  Yet, everyone in Genoa City says he "killed" Delia.  He's been labelled a child killer.  Everyone shuns him.  The only person who would vouch for him in court was his father, the great and powerful Victor Newman."  The only reason Victor posted the $10 million bail for his black sheep son is because it suited his agenda. He didn't do it for Adam's sake.  He never does anything without asking for something in return.  This time he is desperate to to save his company from the computer virus known as "Paragon."  He needs Adam's help to rescue his beloved Newman Enterprises, but Adam may come to regret his deal with the devil.

Adam made the deal because he was desperate too.  He was desperate to see his son Connor one more time before Chelsea leaves town with the child, which of course won't happen.  Adam really does love Chelsea and Connor.  I guess it's not enough to override his "daddy issues."  He just can't get over his sense that Victor abandoned him.  The irony is that Adam would be a much better father to Connor than Victor has been to Adam.

When Adam informed Victor that he had delivered Sage's baby, Victor commented that maybe he has some humanity in him.  Now that's a laugh!  The Black Knight, of all people, talking about humanity. Victor Newman has also condemned Adam for his part in unleashing the Paragon virus.. Who is he to judge his son?  Victor has committed far worse crimes than Adam and he has never owned up to his evil deeds.  For heaven's sake, he brought a dangerous drug lord into Genoa City!.  Nevertheless, he always blames someone else for his transgressions or justifies his actions with the excuse that it was the only w to protect his family and his company.  By the way, if I hear him say he had to protect his family one more time, I'm going to be sick.

Somehow, though, Victor, is nearly universally respected.  Almost everyone tries to please him and few stand up to his bullying.  He's is always called "Mr. Newman" and given the VIP treatment.  Due to his wealth and power, many people just accept that Victor always gets what he wants. The man is constantly honoured too.  His son Nicholas and current wife Sage have named their newborn baby son after him, despite the fact that Nick constantly denies wanting to be part of Victor's world. They have called the child "Christian Andrew Newman," since Christian is Victor's real name.  That should make ol' Moneybags proud!  He'll continue to brag that his namesake is a fighter because he has that precious "Newman blood." running through his veins.  I have to wonder whether "Newman blood" is red like everyone elses's. Is it another colour because it contains super powers?  (Remember that Nick used to refer to Summer as Supergirl).

It is quite obvious that Adam's actions have always been motivated by his desire to win Victor's approval and acceptance.  Adam has always been an outsider, never accepted by his own family, including Nick, Victoria, Nikki, Abby and Dylan.  Victor claims that it was his mother Hope's choice to raise him on her farm in Kansas.  That may be true, but it doesn't make up for Victor's neglect and disapproval of this son.  One could argue the Victor's longtime enemy, Jack Abbott, has been more of a father figure to Adam.

Before the residents of Genoa City cast stones at Adam, they should ask themselves if they've been any better,  Isn't that right Phyllis and Kevin and Billy?  I could make a long list of their foul deeds. As for Billy, he's so consumed with revenge against Adam because he's guilty of this own part in Delia's demise.  He was certainly negligent in leaving Delia unattended in the car while he went to buy ice cream, but that doesn't make him any more responsible for "killing" Delia than Adam is.

What's up with Sharon's therapist, Dr. Andereson?  Her behaviour has been very suspicious.  She has been giving Sharon high dosages of drugs and has encouraged her to remain at the hospital.  She also seems quite interested in Nick and Sage's baby and she peered into the room when they were embracing.

Chloe (Elizabeth Hendrickson) is back is town!  I have to admit that she's never been one of my favourite characters, but her presence is needed for storyline purposes.  She's arrived in disguise and her presence is going to spice things up.  Will she come between Kevin and Mariah?  Who is the father of her baby, Kevin or Billy?  Now that Chloe's mother, Esther, is back on the scene, this is a great time for her to return.  I'm glad she's back, even if it's just on a temporary basis.

CAST NEWS

Is Dr. Stitch (Sean Carrigan) on his way out?

There have been online rumours that Dr. Ben "Stitch" Rayburn is going to be killed off.  In the last edition of Y&R Report, I mentioned that there will be an explosion at a fancy Newman gala (Disaster always strikes at these events).  It will happen during the November sweeps, of course.  According to Internet spoilers, there will be a fatality, maybe more than one.

Apparently, head writer Charles Pratt has teased that four characters will die and that one will be a contract character who loses his life in an attempt to rescue others.  Dr. Stitch is considered a prime candidate to be a victim of the tragedy.  As a doctor, he wold be on the front line trying to save the injured.  Also Stitch's storyline has been in the background for a while now and Sean Carrigan's contract is coming up for renewal soon.  All this sounds like bad news for Dr. Stitch fans.  Will they even get to see him romance Ashley?

Speaking of Ashley (Eileen Davidson), I wish she'd come home from Europe soon.  As far as I'm concerned, Genoa City isn't the same without her.  Actually, Eileen visited Europe herself recently. On September 9th, she posted this photo on Twitter of herself and husband Vince Van Patten whooping it up and sipping on cocktails in Florence, Italy.  Now that explains Eileen's absence.

Mischael Morgan (Hilary Curtis Hamilton) is back at work

Mischael Mrgan with "welcome back flowers"

We'll be seeing Mischael Morgan on screen again soon.  She's returned to work after her maternity leave (She gave birth to a baby boy named Niam on August 9th).  Thoughtful fans welcomed her back with a quilt for her baby, for which she expressed her gratitude on Twitter.  She also received a bouquet of flowers.  During Mischael's absence, Y&R hired a body double to stand in as the kidnapped Hilary.

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.   

An anonymous reader sent me the following email:                                                                                                                                           

Bring Chloe and Delia back to Genoa City this week.  I want Adam bailed.  I think Sage framed him.  I'd love Sage's baby to be with Sharon.

Well, you've got your wish about Chloe.  It's very interesting to have her back in Genoa City.  As for Delia, she has departed this moral coil and it would be ridiculous to bring her back to life now.  Your other wish has come true too. Victor has paid Adam's bail.

I doubt very much that Sage framed Adam.  Although Adam is far  from perfect and he has caused a great deal of pain, he is not the monster many in Genoa make him out to be.  As for your fifth wish, there's a good chance that it will happen.  Sage's baby will probably be with Sharon for a while.  Patty Cakes Williams is likely to make that happen.

So, two of your five wishes have already come true.  A third is very likely to happen.  However, don't count on Delia coming back to life and don't expect to find out that Sage framed Adam.



Here are some comments from regular contributor Patsy from Sarasota, Florida.

Young and Restless is great now.  Victor will get away with everything!  No more evil twins please.

Yes, Patsy, Victor continues to get away with everything.  It's so annoying.  I agree and I echo your sentiments about evil twins.  Enough already!



Another regular contributor, Fifi from Collingwood, Ontario, sent me the following remarks:

I would like to comment that I don't like the violence on Y&R as of late.  In the past, the regular characters were not always smashing each other.  There was an element of class in that respect. Now Victor stands there as Billy almost kills his son.

Well Fifi, I have to agree with you wholeheartedly.  Almost every citizen in Geona City is prepared to commit murder or take the law into his or her hands.  Vigilante justice seems to be the order of the day.  I think this attitude has become more widespread since Charles Pratt took over as head writer. Your example of Billy and Victor is a case in point.

Y&R REPORT READER'S POLL 

Most people in Genoa City despise Adam Newman and many want him dead or severely punished. Does Adam deserve such contempt?

Does Adam deserve to be the most unpopular person in Genoa City?

Yes, he is a chronic liar and he mowed down an innocent little girl.

Not if he is truly sorry for what he's done.

No, but he should be punished for not reporting that his car had run over Delia.

He's guilty of many things, but he is being judged to harshly. Victor and others have done far worse.

I'm not sure.

Quiz Maker

That's all for now.  I'm looking forward to watching the debut of fan favourite Michael E. Knight on Y&R,  Michael will make his first appearance on the show next week.  He will portray Dr. Simon Neville and will try to help Neil Winters. Knight has a recurring role, but if he's popular with the fans, I'm sure it will be expanded and he will be put under contract. To my Canadian readers:  I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!  Don't forget that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, October 24, 2015.


- Joanne

Y&R Report (September 26, 2015): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

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

Could it be that the producers of The Young and the Restless are actually heeding the advice of viewers?  I sure hope so.  After all, the unpopular storyline about Michael Baldwin's prostate cancer seems to have been dropped.  There's been nary a mention of it for a long time. Michael also seems to be reconciling with Lauren. Marco is in jail, at least for the time being.  I hope he doesn't return because we don't need the "two Jacks."  One is sufficient, thank you very much.

The producers have also brought Esther (Kate Kinder) back into the limelight and her character is moving in a new and interesting direction.  It's about time they released Esther from that stuffy Chancellor mansion and took her out of her maid's uniform (Kate's been on the show for 33 years).  I think it's just great that she's found employment at Crimson Lights, Dylan's coffee shop.  She'll shake things up there, won't she?

Best of all, however, is the glorious return of Ian Ward.  Ray Wise, who portrays the dastardly cult leader is such a good actor!   He appears to be having the time of his life in the role.  Wasn't he hilarious when he sang "Chelsea 2.0."  I laughed my head off when he warbled that little ditty.   Wouldn't it be fun if Esther were to fall head over heels for him?  Esther has a history of making bad choices in men.  Ian's may be a scoundrel, but he can be very charming and charismatic.  I can easily imagine her falling under his spell.  Given the fact that Mrs. Chancellor's long-time maid is starving for male attention, she would be particularly vulnerable to his sweet talk.  If he romanced her, she'd be eating out of his hands in no time.  She wouldn't have a clue how wicked the man is.

The problem is that Ian Ward is very recognizable in Genoa City and so many GC residents know the truth about him.  He would have to woo Esther secretly, but that shouldn't be a problem for him.  He's very sly and resourceful.  He had no problem tricking Phyllis into believing that he is a kindly widower named Fred, and Phyllis is a lot more sophisticated and worldly than Esther.  A con artist like Ian would have no problem deceiving Dylan's new employee.

Speaking of deception, Marisa is certainly hoodwinking poor Noah Newman!  It turns out she's married to a man from a wealthy Spanish family, a fact that she conveniently thought she could sweep under the rug.  She has led Noah to believe that she was poor and desperate.  Perhaps she was desperate, but she certainly wasn't destitute.

Noah continues to be unlucky in love.  However, given Marisa's association with a drug lord, he should have been more careful before getting involved with her,  Red flags were everywhere and he was still grieving the loss of Courtney.  Now the unfortunate Noah is about to have his heart broken yet again. As for Luca Santori, Marisa's long-lost hubby, he is a rich, powerful and controlling, and he also surrounds himself with thugs.  He reminds me of a younger Victor Newman, although Victor is self-made whereas Luca was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.  Luca is suave, self-confident and very determined to get Marisa back.  Not only that, but the Great Victor Newman is supporting Luca's cause by blackmailing Marisa.  She knows too much and she is a threat to him..  He wants her out of Genoa City and away from his grandson. Meanwhile, Marisa is caught in a web of her own making.  She cares for Noah, but she can't be honest with him.

In Marisa's defence, I can understand why she wanted to get away from Luca.  He's very possessive and controlling.  Why, however, did she have to get involved with a terrible criminal like Marco Annicelli?  She simply exchanged one thug - Luca, for another - Marco.  There's still a great deal we don't know about Marisa.  I guess she likes Noah because he's the exact opposite of Luca and Marco. In other words, he's not a thug. Still, Noah should have steered clear of her until he learned more about her past.  He put his trust in her prematurely.

Are we witnessing Victor Newman's last stand?  Are his enemies finally closing in on him?  Will the Newman empire finally come tumbling down?  "The Moustache" is facing more adversaries than he's ever had to deal with in his life, and they are coming at him from all sides.  Marco, Ian and his own son, Adam, are formidable foes. The "Paragon Project" is a real threat to him.  Still, he has the annoying ability to survive all challenges to his power.

Even the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation bows down to Victor the Great.  He demanded that the Abbotts be arrested and the FBI wasted no time in arresting Billy Boy Abbott.  They did this despite a lack of solid evidence that the Abbott' family tampered with Newman's computer system.  How long can Victor stave off his enemies before the House of Newman collapses like a house of cards? Answer: As long as the writers and producers want him to.

At least Noah and Victoria are finally starting to realize that the "Black Knight" is not just a kindly patriarch trying to protect his children and grandchildren.  Now that Marisa has told Noah about the "two Jacks" and how Victor unleashed the Marco Monster on Genoa City, Noah is finally starting to see his grandfather for what he truly is - a tyrant and a bully.  As for Princess Victoria, she has devoted herself to her father's company and usually comes to his defence.  Yet he won't trust her judgment and says his plan is to make Nick the next Emperor of the Newman empire, despite the fact that Victoria much more capable and experienced in business.  Victor has even given greater responsibility and a higher position to his other daughter, ditzy Abby.  There is no comparison between the two sisters when it comes to business.  Abby's not even in Victoria's league.  Why then is daddy Victor shutting the Princess out?  It's partly male chauvinism and it's partly to punish her for reconciling with that "obnoxious punk," Billy Abbott.

Well, isn't Adam Newman is behaving like a chip off the old block?  He's in league with Ian Ward, of all people. He even managed to get Ian released from prison (through bribery, I assume).  There seems to be more of Victor in him than his mother.  The late Hope would not be too pleased with her soon if she knew how he was behaving.

As Adam's partner-in-crime, Ian Ward, pointed out, Adam is going to have to choose between his picture-perfect family and his overwhelming desire for revenge on his father. He can't have both.  By the way, how was sly Ian able to purchase or rent the apartment across from Adam and Chesea so easily?  Ooops . . .  that's a question we're not supposed to asked.  At any rate, I couldn't help grinning when Ian greeted Adam with a hearty "Howdy neighbour!"

Patty Williams and her kitty cat have also returned to Y&R.  I don't think her return is permanent, though.  She's obviously back for plotline purposes and is going to play a role in the Sharon storyline. She already knows that Sharon miscarried and will probably become involved in some baby drama involving Sage's unborn child.


CAST NEWS

Daniel Goddard (Cane) breaks elbow in accident 

                                                                                                                                                               
Unfortunately, Australian heartthrob, Daniel Goddard, who plays Cane Ashby, was injured during the filming of an episode of the Y&R.  Here's what he wrote on Twitter about the incident:  I broke my elbow on Friday at work while filming a fight scene.  I am just bummed out . . .

Ah, the perils of being an actor!  I guess the writers will explain the cast by having Cane injured in the fight too.

Sofia Pernas (Marisa) signs contract with Y&R

Here's some good news for fans of Sofia Pernas, who plays the role of Maria.  Sofia is now under contract with the show for one year.  That means Marisa will be staying in Geona City, at least for a while.

Y&R REPORT READER'S POLL

It's Esther's word versus Colin's word!  Whom do you believe?

Esther claims that Colin hit on her.  I wouldn't put it past that scumbag.  However, Esther may have her own reasons for lying.  Perhaps she just needed an excuse to get away from Jill and the Chancellor estate.  At any rate, it's a case of "he says," she says"

Who is telling the truth, Esther or Colin?

Esther, of course. Colin is a sleazebag.

I believe Colin. The Aussie may be a cad, but I can't see him harrassing anyone without his usual motive - financial reward.

Esther may truly believe Colin hit on her. Howver, she could be unstable. She could be imagining the whole thing in her mind or she may be lying as an excuse to get away from living in the Chancellor mansion with Colin and Jill.

I don't know who's telling the truth.

Quizzes

That's all for now.  Don't forget to check out the next edition of Y&R Report in this space on Saturday, October 10, 2015.  We will see what changes autumn brings to Genoa City - and they won't just be the colour of the leaves.  According to an online spoiler, there is going to be an explosion at a Newman ballroom gala and there will be casualties (The Newsmans and Abbotts just can't have an event without disaster and mayhem).

- Joanne

Farewell, Batgirl: The Death of Yvonne Craig

Before Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman, before Joanna Cameron's Isis, before Scarlett Johannsson's Black Widow, Yvonne Craig was a pioneer of female superheroes on screen. As an actress, she originated the role of Batgirl in the 1960s Batman television series. As a trained dancer, she did her own stunts.

- Henry Hanks, CNN 

Yvonne Craig, who is best known for her role as Batgirl in the 1960s Batman television series, passed away on August 17, 2015 at her home in Pacific Palisades, California.  She was 78 years old at the time of her death.  For two years, she had battled breast cancer and, according to an obituary posted on her website, the disease had metastasized to her liver.

Here are some tributes to Yvonne from her Batman co-stars:

I was deeply saddened for us to lose Yvonne. It was too soon. She always brought humor and a fine attitude to our stage. She was a joy to work with. A good person. My heartfelt condolences to Yvonne's family. We will miss her.

- Adam West, the actor who played Batman in the classic TV series
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Adam West and Yvonne on Batman set, 1967

Yvonne was a very, very sweet person who had a love of animals. She was a very spirited happy energetic person. When she entered the room, everything seemed to light up. It was a tragic loss.

- Burt Ward, who portrayed Robin, 
quoted on CNN website

Below is a photo of Yvonne as Batgirl with Burt Ward and Robin and Adam West as Batman.

In an interview with Dan Greenfield, who writes a comics blog called 13th Dimension, Julie Newmar, who played the villainous Catwoman, paid tribute to Yvonne (Although Julie did not appear in the third season of Batman, the two women became acquainted at conventions and other events). “My memory of her, especially, was her ebullience,” Julie told Greenfied.   “I’m looking at a pale, pink dahlia in my garden. They’re the dinner-plate dahlias, bigger than your face and they’re just bursting with joy and that’s the kind of person she was"  Newmar reminisced about how Yvonne "would always show up in these marvelous clothes. They were all made of this silky kind of material. It’s body-hugging. It’s what our Catwoman and Batgirl costumes should have been made out of. Kind of similar but very clinging and comfortable."

Below is a photo of Yvonne (far left) with Julie Newmar (centre) and Lee Meriwether, who also played Catwoman in the 1960s Batman series.

Yvonne Joyce Craig was born on May 16, 1937 in Taylorville, Illinois, the daughter of Maurice, a tool and dye worker, and Pauline Craig, a department star clerical worker.  About 1940, the family relocated to Columbus, Ohio.  Yvonne began studying ballet at the age of ten  and she was very talented.  In 2002, she told the San Francisco Chronicle that she was "born turned out - a natural dancer."

Around 1950, her parents decided to move again, this time to Dallas, Texas, specifically Oak Cliff. She spent most of her teen years there, attending W.H. Adamson High School and then Sunset High School.  Although accepted by the famed George Balanchine for the prestigious School of American Ballet; the young ballerina decided to take a different route.  In 1954, at the age of 16 or 17, she became the youngest member of The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, with which she toured for three years. She left the ballet in 1957, apparently over a casting disagreement, and headed to Los Angeles to continue her dancing career.  Instead she found herself on film and television.

In an interview with CNN, Yvonne Craig described how she got into acting quite by chance.  While still touring as a dancer, Yvonne was invited to dinner by a producer who wanted to make her a film star.  She told him she wasn't interested, but then movie director John Ford's son, Patrick, walked by and asked her if she were an actress.  As Yvonne shook her head, the producer stepped in and claimed to be her manager.  Ford explained that thy were making a film with John Wayne's son, also named Patrick, and that they were searching for a lead actress.  Despite her lack of acting experience, Yvonne was signed  to co-star in The Young Land, a Western drama, along with Patrick Wayne and Dennis Hopper.  She never looked back.

One of Yvonne's earliest television appearances was on Perry Mason, starring Raymond Burr.  She had a key role in a 1958 episode entitled "The Case of the Lazy Lover" (Season 1, Episode 35, Air Date: May 31, 1958).  It is interesting to note that Neil Hamilton, who portrayed Police Commissioner Gordon, Barbara Gordon's father on the Batman series, played her stepfather in the Perry Mason episode. Below is a photo of Yvonne as she appeared on Perry Mason.

Below is a scene in the Case of the Lazy Lover with Yvonne and Neil Hamilton (foreground).

Yvonne appeared in the 1959 pilot episode of The Many Lives of Dobie Gillis and in five regular season episodes of the sitscom during the 1960s: "The Flying Millicans" (Season 1, Episode 18, Air Date: February 2, 1960), "Dobie's Navy Blues" (Season 1, Episode 24, Air Date: March 15, 1960), "Like Mother, Like Daughter, Like Wow" (Season 2. Episode 28, Air Date: May 2, 1961), "The Sweet Success of Smell" (Season 3, Episode 28, Air Date: April 24, 1962) and "Flow Gently, Sweet Money" (Season 4, Episode 9, Air Date: November 21, 1962).  She played a different role in each episode.

Yvonne with Dobie Gillis star Dwayne Hickman

During the early to mid-1960s, Yvonne appeared in episodes of numerous television series such as 77 Sunset Strip (four episodes from 1960 to 1964), Dr. Kildare (1964), Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964), McHale's Navy (1965). The Man from U.N.C.L,E. (1965), My Favorite Martian (1965), Ben Casey (1965), The Big Valley (1965), The Wild Wild West (1966), and My Three Sons (1966).

In the the My Favorite Martian episode, "Keep Me from the Church on Time" (Season 3, Episode 4, Air Date: October 3, 1965), the martian (Ray Walston) has a special camera that reveals the future.  It shows journalist Tim O'Hara (Bill Bixby) marrying a woman named Louise Babcock,(Yvonne) within 24 hours. By the way, Yvonne and Bill Bixby actually dated for a time during the mid-1960s.

Yvonne and Bill Bixby in a scene from My Favorite Martian

In 1967, Yvonne had her big break.  She was cast as Batgirl in Batman's third and final season of the campy superhero series. To revitalize the series for a new season, DC Comics was approached to create a new "Batgirl" for the show.  It was Batman executive producer, the late William "Bill" Dozier, who came up with the idea of making her Police Commissioner James Gordon's daughter, and that even her own father wouldn't be aware of her secret identity.  Yvonne said that she was probably chosen for the role because of her dance backgound.  "Although they didn't want me to do my stunts (and I ultimately did my own stunts).  I mean, I kind of talked them into it.  They knew that I danced and what they didn't know was that I rode a motorcycle so I could do the stuff on the bikes."

Despite the fact that she only appeared on the series for one season (26 episodes), Yvonne made quite an impact as staid librarian Barbara Gordon whose alter ego was the high-kicking crime fighter Batgirl.  Clad in a vivid purple and yellow costume, her red wig cascading behind her, Batgirl sped through Gotham City on her custom motorcycle, constantly in pursuit of evildoers.

In her interview with CNN, Yvonne declared that her time on Batman was "a wonderful experience." She said, "The crew liked one another, the cast liked one another. It doesn't happen often, and when it does, it's a joy to go to work every day. I got to work with people that I would never have the chance to work with. We had Ethel Merman, I would never have met Milton Berle, I got to work with him, and he was a delight."

  

After the cancellation of Batman, Yvonne Craig continued to take guest starring roles on television. She appeared in 1968 episodes of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and It Takes a Thief.  That same year, she appeared in an episode of The Mod Squad entitled "Find Tara Chapman!" (Season 1, Episode 7, Air Date: November 19, 1968). Yvonne portrayed Tara Chapman, a young woman who arrives in Los Angeles unaware that she has meningitis.  The Squad tries to locate Tara, but she believes they want to murder her because she witnessed a mob killing.

Yvonne had a memorable role in a 1969 episode of Star Trek entitled "Whom Gods Destroy" (Season 3, Episode 14, Air Date: January 3, 1969).  She played Marta, the green-tinted Orion slave girl who tries to woo Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and then attempts to kill him with a dagger. The actress was familiar to science fiction fans for her role as Dr. Marjorie Bolen in the 1967 independent cult film Mars Needs Women.  She auditioned for the part of Vina in the Star Trek pilot "The Cage" and was considered for the role due to her dancing abilities.  However, the late Susan Oliver was ultimately cast as Vina.

Yvonne as the Orion Slave Girl on Star Trek

In addition to her many television roles during the 1960s, Yvonne co-starred in two Elvis Presley films, It Happened at the World's Fair (1963) and Kissin' Cousins (1964).  According to an article by Glenn Flanagan in Jam Showbiz, Yvonne had barely heard of the singing heartthrob when she was cast to co-star with him in It Happened at the World's Fair.  'My sister Meridel had to tell me who he was, but only because I had lived such an insular life as a dancer. I didn't know he was hot stuff'."

Elvis and Yvonne got along well, spent a lot of time together and filmed Kissin' Cousins a year later. Of her relationship with Presley, Yvonne stated in the Glen Flanagan article, "'It wasn't the love of your life or the love of his life',  'It was just kinda hanging out'."

Yvonne and Elvis in Kissin' Cousins

During the 1970s, Yvonne guest-starred on many popular TV shows,  In 1970, she worked with Billy Bixby again in an episode of The Courtship of Eddie's Father entitled "Don't Look Now, But Your Scorpio's Rising" (Season 1, Episode 25, Air Date: March 4, 1970).  She also appeared in episodes of
Land of the Giants (1970), O'Hara, U.S. Treasury 1972, Kojak (1973), Emergency! (1974), The Six Million Dollar Man (1977) and Starsky and Hutch (1979).  In 1983, she appeared on Fantasy Island with Ricardo Montalban in an episode entitled "Remember . . . When?" (Season 6, Episode 21, Air Date; May 7, 1983).

Yvonne was married twice.  Her first husband was singer/actor Jimmy Boyd, who had a Yuletide hit with "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," which he recorded in 1952 at the age of 13.  Jimmy and Yvonne met while they were filming the Bing Crosby movie High Time.  They married in August of 1960, the year the film was released. The bride was 23 years old and the groom was 21.  Not long after the wedding, Boyd was drafted into the U.S. Army and stationed in Texas.  The union ended in divorce after two years.   Jimmy Boyd died of cancer at a convalescent hospital in Santa Monica, California on March 7, 2009. He was 70 years old at the time of his death.

Jimmy Boyd

Yvonne and Jimmy

Yvonne was survived by her second husband, lawyer and real estate entrepreneur Kenneth C. Aldrich, whom she wed in 1988.  She was also survived by her sister,  Meridel Carson.and nephews Christoper and Todd Carson.  She did not have any children.

Kenneth Aldrich

END NOTES

*  In the year 2000, Yvonne Craig published her autobiography, From Ballet to the Batcave and Beyond.

*  Yvonne's favourite villain on Batman was Egghead because she liked Vincent Price, who portrayed the character.

*  In later years, Yvonne Craig pursued various business ventures. She worked as a real estate broker and went into the prepaid phone card business with her sister, Meridel,  Yvonne also did voiceover work, including the role of "Grandma" in the recent Nickelodeon cartoon series Olivia.  She continued to make appearances at comic and science fiction conventions in the United States.  Below is a 2008 photo of Yvonne taken at the Screaming TikiCon convention.  She is holding a drawing of herself as Batgirl.

* Yvonne Craig was a philanthropist and a tireless advocate for workers unions, free mammograms for women who cannot afford them and equal pay for women.

 - Joanne