Y&R Report (October 29, 2016): 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.

It's about time!  Sharon's dirty little secret will finally be revealed on Tuesday, November 1 on CBS (Monday, October 31 on Global TV here in the True North.  Sharon Case, who plays Sharon, made the following comment to TV Insider: "I guess a good soap secret is one that's kept for a long time.  Half the people in Genoa City are involved in this and a lot of lives will be changed once the news breaks."  The news will break on GC Buz and Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott), for one, will be livid.  According Case, there will be some good scenes between her character and Nikki who already loathes Sharon.  They'll have quite the confrontation.

I don't know if I completely agree with Sharon Case on her first point, that a good soap secret is kept for a long time.  Yes, a soap secret definitely should remain hidden for a time, but there are limits. After a while, viewers tend to lose patience.  They want the secret to come out.  Otherwise, they lose interest and they don't really care when the truth comes to light.  Sharon's baby secret regarding Sully has reached that point.  It's a good thing her lies will soon be exposed.  As for Case's second point, that Sharon's actions will affect the lives of many Genoa City residents, I couldn't agree more.  Sharon is about to become one of the most unpopular persons in Genoa City, a pariah.  So,who will lend her some support?  The only one I can think of is Mariah.

There is, of course, another secret, that has nothing to do with Sharon.  In fact Sharon doesn't even know about it.  She isn't aware that Adam is Sully's biological father.  So, only part of the story is soon to be revealed.   For the foreseeable future, Nick will continue to believe he's Sully/Christian's father.  Chelsea knows the truth, but she promised Sage that she would never tell Nick.  Will Chelsea honour her pledge to Sage?  That is hard to predict.  However, someday the truth will be revealed, whether it comes from Chelsea or not.

Abby and Dr. Stitch 'em Up's marriage doesn't seem likely to survive.  Neither does Princess Victoria's relationship with Travis.  As I wrote in the last edition of Y&R Report, it is quite obvious that Victor's interference will come between them.  Travis has already gotten on Daddy Victor's bad side  by suspecting that someone in Newman's own family was leaking sensitive information to Jack Abbott.  Then he had lunch with Abby to try determine whether she was the culprit.  That didn't sit well with Dr. Stitch and it certainly didn't sit well with Victor.  It won't be long before Victor will be referring to Travis as a "punk and a playboy."

 A heartbroken Abby informed Dr. Stitch that she'll be filing for divorce. She made that decision after seeking advice from Daddy Victor who was been married and divorced so many times he's lost count. Actually, neither Abby nor Stitch have tried very hard to keep their marriage together.  They appear to be throwing in the towel without putting up that much of a fight. They are unwilling or unable to deal with adversity.  It also seems to me that Abby quite enjoyed the attention from Travis and her champagne lunch with him.  I wouldn't be surprised if those two eventually hook up.

Computer nerd Natalie Soderberg is back in town and she has a new job.  She's Victor Newman's executive assistant.  I have to admit the character has grown on me a bit.  I've been trying to figure out why Victor hired her.  After all "The Moustache" doesn't do anything without a reason.  Natalie says she has to work again because she squandered most of the money she made on the Pass Key deal.  I wonder if she's telling the truth about that.

Dave, the silent security guard is a fun character.  I get a kick out of watching him as he keeps an eye on Billy Boy Abbott.  He provides some comic relief from all the tension between Jack, Billy, Phyllis and Ashley.

Y&R text messages are now being blown up on the screen for viewers.  That's a good move.  It was terribly difficult to read the text messages on the phone.  They camera zoomed in on them so quickly and they were gone before you could finish reading them.  You couldn't read them at all if you had poor vision.

There have been  more outdoor scenes this past year on the show, especially in Chancellor Park.  I enjoy those scenes.  We've seen the stars of the show in their cool sunglasses.

It's good to see Esther back in the swing of things.  However, I don't know why she chose to dress up in her French maid uniform for Halloween.  She wore that silly outfit everyday for years when she worked for Katherine Chancellor.  You'd think she'd be sick of it.  You'd think she'd never want to wear it again.  I'm surprised she didn't get rid of it.

It was interesting to hear Jack Abbott admit his doubts about his ability to bring Victor down.  He complained to Phyllis that Victor always ends up on top and wondered why his latest scheme to dethrone his enemy would turn out any differently.  Jack is like Wile E. Coyote in the Road Runner cartoons.  He will never catch the Roadrunner, but he continues to chase him.

Hillary is really a piece of work and she really enjoys being a gossip queen.  If it weren't for Devon reigning her in, she'd really get down and dirty.

Why doesn't Mariah show Kevin that there are other fish in the sea?  She should find someone else instead of waiting around for him. Isn't she tired of playing second banana to Chloe and Natalie?

CAST NEWS

Abhi Sinha will play new character on Y&R

Indian-American actor Abhi Sinha has been cast to to play the role of Ravi Shapur on The Young and the Restless.  According to Soap Opera Digest, he will be employed at one of Genoa City's most successful companies.  Would that be Newman Enterpirises by any chance?  Ravi has been described as an "attractive nerd."  He sounds like a good match for Natalie, doesn't he?  She works at Newman now too.  Our little Snowflake, Summer, is another possibility for Ravi.  He'll certainly run into her at Newman.

Sinha, 26, was born in Mumbai (Bombay), India and raised primarily in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He will be appearing on several episodes of Y&R beginning on Monday, December 12 (CBS), Friday, December 9 (Global-TV, Canada).  His previous acting credits include The Social Network, The Conjuring II, NCIS and Freeform's Chasing Life.  

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Jack Abbott is leading the charge against Victor again

The feud between the Newman's and the Abbotts is heating up again with Jack plotting a new plan of revenge against Victor.  We all expect Victor to win, as usual.  Jack himself has acknowledged that Victor always comes out on top.  So, fans, is the feud becoming tiresome or do you still enjoy it?  Do you still watch even though you know the outcome?  After all. people still watch Road Runner cartoons even though the coyote will never capture the Road Runner.  The feud is the source of many secondary storylines too, even though it has been going on for years.  What do you think, fans?  Have you had enough of it?

Are you tired of the feud between the Newmans and the Abbotts?

Yes, it's been going on too long.  It has become boring and predictable.

No, not at all.  It creates excitement and it's fun.

No, but I'm tired of Victor winning all the time.

No, but the writing could be be better.

It makes no difference to me.

Don't know

Other

Please Specify:

Inspirational quotes

That's all for now.  Please remember that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, November 12, 2016.  The November sweeps will be well underway by that time and there will be lots to discuss.  Fans, don't forget that if you have any comments on Y&R or on anything I've written, I welcome your feedback and I will publish your comments.

My email address:  jmadden16@yahoo.ca

- Joanne

Justin Hartley: Star of This is Us

I'm blessed in that what I do for a living is actually something that I love and enjoy.  It's a dream of mine.  I really don't feel like I have a job.  I'm just constantly at play.

- Justin Hartley
CW Start Now Interview Series: Behind the Scenes with Justin Hartley
October 31, 2012

Justin Hartley is one of the brightest stars on television right now. He's also on one of the hottest new shows - This is Us.  This is Us  premiered on NBC on September 20, 2016 and it follows characters in different locations who are connected by a shared birthday. The one-hour ensemble drama chronicles the lives of twins Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Kevin Pearson (Justin Hartley) and their adopted bother, Randall (Sterling K. Brown).

Kate and Kevin were initially part of a triplet pregnancy, but their brother was stillborn.  Randall, who was born on the same day as the twins, was abandoned by his biological father and left at a firehouse,  He was taken to the same Pittsburgh hospital where the Pearson babies were born and was adopted by their parents, Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore).  Ventimiglia is known for his role as Peter Petrelli  in the TV series Heroes and Moore for her role as Jamie Sullivan the 2002 film A Walk to Remember.

Jason Hartley's character, Kevin Pearson, was originally a Los Angeles actor.  He becomes discontented with his career direction and his role as the lead actor in a television sitcom.  After suffering an on-set breakdown, he moves to New York to pursue a career in the theatre.

Justin Scott Hartley was born in Knoxville, Illinois on January 29, 1977.  He was raised in Orland Park, Illinois, along with his brother Nathan and his sisters, Megan and Gabriela. He graduated from Carl Sandburg High School and then majored in history and theatre at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
 
From 2002 until 2006, Justin played Fox Crane of the NBC soap opera Passions.  Hartley then had a recurring role a billionaire named Oliver Queen (Green Arrow) on the CW series Smallville.  In 2008, he joined the regular cast of Smallville. Smallville ended its run in 2011 and from 2012 to 2013, Justin played Will Collins on the short-lived medical drama/comedy Emily Owens MD.

Juatin as Green Area on Smallwille

From 2013 to 2014, Hartley played Patrick Osbourne on the mystery series Revenge.  He also portrayed plastic surgeon Scott Thompson  on the drama series Mistresses in 16 episodes from 2014 to 2016.  Scott was a love interest for Josslyn Carver, Jes Maccallan's character.

Justin's breakout role was that of Adam Newman on the popular CBS daytime soap The Young and the Restless.  Justin won the plumb role of Adam in 2014 and attracted a large fan following.  The hard-working actor remained on Mistresses while starring on Y&R.  “I did Mistresses on the weekend and Y&R that week,” he stated. “It’s unbelievable. Not even the same network, but they’re playing nice with each other. They’re very good to me here. It’s a good place to be -  And I get to see my daughter everyday. I love it.”

After This is Us was picked up by NBC, Justin decided to leave The Young and The Restless, much to the chagrin of his legion of Y&R followers.  Many of them tuned in to This is Us because they wanted to watch him.


On May 1, 2004, Justin Hartley  married actress Lindsay Korman, his co-star on Passions.  Their daughter, Isabella Justice, now 12 years old, was born on July 3, 2004, but the marriage did not last.  On May 6, 2012, Lindsay filed for divorce in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, citing "irreconcilable differences."  She requested joint legal and physical custody of Isabella.

Justin with daughter Isabella Hartley

In 2014, Justin began dating actress Chrishell Stause (born July 21, 1981 in
Draffenville, Kentucky), who is best known for for her portrayal of Amanda Dillon on the ABC daytime drama All My Children from 2005 to 2011.  After All My Children went off the air, Chrishell played Jordan Ridgeway on Days of Our Lives from 2013 to 2015. Beginning in May of 2016 , she made some appearances on The Young and the Restless as troublemaking barmaid Brittany Bryant.  In July of 2016, Justin and Chrishell announced their engagement.  At the Television Critics Associatin summer press tour, he said that he and his fiancee had yet to set a wedding date.  "It just happened. I proposed on one knee like you’re supposed to. It was my right knee, and I was lucky enough to have her say, ‘yes'. It was perfect," he added.

Justin is an avid baseball fan.  His favourite teams are the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs.  His feeling were probably torn when the Dodgers played the Cubs for the National League championship.  However, he certainly must be supporting the Cubbies wholeheartedly, now that they are playing in their first World Series since 1945.


END NOTES

* On September 27, 2016, NBC picked This is Us for 18 episodes - a full season.

* This is Us was created by Dan Fogelman.  Fogelman is an American television producer and screenwriter whose screenplays include Crazy, Stupid, Love and Cars.  He also created the 2015 musical comedy series Galavant and the 2016 baseball drama series Pitch.


- Joanne

Y&R Report (October 15, 2016): 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.

The autumn leaves are falling in Genoa City and Sharon is in crisis, as usual.  Patty Williams is spooking her and she is living in fear that her big secret about Sully will be revealed to Dylan and Nick.  I'm glad that Patty is back and I enjoyed the scene between Pattycake and her brother, Paulie. Sharon's secret will probably be revealed in time for the November sweeps.  That means that Sharon and Dylan will not be together much longer.

As for Nick, I wish the writers hadn't started pairing him with Chelsea so soon.  It seems so contrived.  Their scenes in the park with Connor appear awkward.  I haven't been able to detect much chemistry between Nick and Chelsea either.  They are obviously being brought together for storyline purposes.  It could be because Adam is still alive somewhere out there.  It could also add to the problems when Sharon's secret is revealed. Don't forget that Chelsea and Victor are the only ones who know that Adam is/was Christian/Sully's biological father.  Will Chelsea tell Nick he is isn't Sully/Christian's father?

Travis Crawford made a huge mistake when he agreed to work for Victor Newman.  He will come to regret that decision and it will eventually cost him his relationship with Princess Victoria.  I don't think Travis is aware of how controlling "The Moustache" can be, especially with the men in Victoria's life.  If he had any idea, I doubt he would have agreed to work for Newman Enterprises.  It won't be long, however, before he finds out.  It won't be a pleasant experience.

It turns out that Travis isn't so squeaky clean either.  He has a skeleton in his past.  It seems he was involved with a woman named Michelle, who just happened to be his boss's wife/  When his boss caught wind of the affair, Travis was fired and blacklisted on Wall Street.  Nobody's perfect, of course, and Travis did come clean to Victoria.  However, he did so after being cornered by Ashley Abbott.  Ashley was acquainted with Travis in New York and she knew about his past.

Is Travis just a gigolo?  Did he use Michelle and Victoria to advance in the business world?  Not surprisingly, Victoria was initially upset and suspicious when Travis revealed the truth to her. He quickly defended himself by claiming that he really did love Michelle  He also pointed out that Victoria came into his bar and that he did not seek her out.  She has forgiven him, but who can blame her for having trust issues after Billy's shenanigans?  Travis isn't out of the woods yet, though.  Don't be surprised if Michelle eventually turns up in Genoa City to cause trouble.  

It's obvious that Billy Boy Abbott and Travis are competing for the affections of the fair Victoria.  I enjoyed the scene where they were both thrown in jail.  It provided dome comic relief.  Although Victoria pretended that she was disinterested in their childish antics, I think the opposite is true.  I think she's flattered by the attention she is receiving from the two men.  She'd never admit it, but I think she's enjoying the competition.

On the anniversary of Delia's death, Chloe introduced Billy Boy to Bella, who is presumably his daughter - although he doesn't know it yet.  When Billy finds out, he will have to deal with a lot of complications (as if Billy needs any more complications in his mixed up life!).  For example, will he seek custody of Bella if Chloe is returned to the psychiatric hospital?  Billy won't be the only one affected when the truth about Bella's paternity is revealed .  What if Kevin Fisher marries Chloe again?  Kevin has grown quite attached to Bella and he really wants to be a father to her.  Will he someday fight Billy for custody of Bella?

Surprise!  Surprise!  Hilary's good behaviour won't last much longer.  She'll veer off the high road and drive right into the gutter.    According to an Internet spoiler, she'll go too far while chasing a hot scoop.

Phyllis want to help Jack in his quest to bring Victor down.  What a waste of time!  When will they ever learn?  The writers have made Victor invincible.  He may spend time in prison.  He may be reprimanded by his family and by his friends and foes.  Yet he always rises up like a phoenix.  He always returns to his office and his desk.  As for that infernal portrait of him, it will always hang on that wall.  It may be taken down sometimes, but it will always be returned.  So, good luck, Jack and Phyllis.  You'll need it because you're embarking on a voyage of futility.  It may be of benefit to Phyllis, though.  It may bring her closer to Jack. The redhead is very attracted to men who are out for revenge.

CAST NEWS

Steve Burton (Dylan McAvoy) to leave Y&R

There is some sad  news for fans of Steve Burton.  The actor has announced that he will be leaving his role as Dylan McAvoy on Y&R.  After three years of playing Dylan, Burton has decided to exit the show when his contract ends in December.  He feels it's time for new pursuits.  Here's what he wrote on Twitter:  "I've had an amazing time, but it feels right to move on to new adventures in my life.  I can't say enough about the AWESOME cast and crew.  Much respect!"  

The announcement comes as a surprise to disappointed fans of Steve Burton.  Remember, though, that his wife Sheree and their three children live in Nashville, Tennessee.  That's a lot of commuting from Los Angeles and I'm sure it's difficult for Steve and his family.

As of this writing, it's unclear if a new actor will play the part or whether the character will be written off.  Dylan may leave town when he discovers Sharon's secrets and lies.  He may also be killed off.  In fact, he may dihie heroically saving someone's life.  Another option would be to have him leave Genoa City for a while and then return with another actor playing the role.

Mara McCaffray to return as Natalie for a brief stint

Mara McCaffray will be back in her role as super computer hacker Natalie Soderberg during the week of October 17th.  I am not a big fan of the Natalie character, but she's obviously returning for storyline purposes.  McCaffray last appeared on Y&R in early August, 2016.

BEST LINE

I enjoyed Billy's reaction when Victoria informed him that it was Travis' first day on the job at Newman Enterprises.  Billy said it was Travis' first day as an MIT - Moustache-In-Training.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Would you like to see a new Dylan after Steve Burton leaves

Yes, I really like the character of Dylan and he's an important part of the storyline.

Yes, but not until some time has passed. He should leave town for a while.

No, I can do without the character. He should leave town permanetly or be killed off.

No. I really like Steve Burton and I don't want another actor to play Dylan. If the character dies, he should die a hero.

Maybe. It depends on how important Dylan is to the storyline.

I don't know.

It doesn't matter to me.

Other

Please Specify:

here

That's all for now.  Don't forget that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, October 29, 2016.

- Joanne

Y&R Report (October 1, 2016): The Latest on the Young and the Restless

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

Well fans, Jack Abbott has declared that the old Jack is back!  He's bitter and cynical and very unhappy.  I don't mind if he stays that way for a while, but I hope it doesn't last too long.  It can get tiresome.  Eventually, "Smiling Jack" should return.  I don't have much sympathy for Phyllis, though.  She is the author of her own misfortune.  Jack may take her back someday, but I can't see it happening anytime soon.  

Even though Justin Hartley has left Y&R and Adam Newman is presumed dead, that doesn't mean we've seen the last of the Adam character.  He could easily turn up alive (this is a soap after all). That's why rumours abound online that Michael Muhney will eventually return to the show as Adam.  As of this writing, the rumours have not been confirmed or denied by Muhney or anyone at Y&R.  If Adam does turn up alive, it may not be for a while.  I really don't want a new actor playing the role.  It would only work for me if Michael Muhney came back or Justin Harltley returned.  

Muhney recently underwent a skin biopsy.  Fortunately, he does not have skin caner.  However, after the surgery, he was left with 10 stitches and a bandage on his head.  He tweeted the following: “Wear your sunscreen kids. #noskincancer Had surgery today. Ten stitches. Yikes.”

We all know that soaps distort time and that some characters age quickly.  However, Chelsea has just lost Adam, the love of her life.  It's too soon to be matching her up with Nick or anyone else.  I don't even think she and Nick have much chemistry.  It seems so contrived, as if they had to match Chelsea up with Adam's brother to cause future conflict. Sharon and Dylan will break up when Dylan finds out about Sharon's secrets and lies. The needy Sharon will seek a male shoulder to cry on.  She will turn to Nick in her moment of despair.  That means that Sharon will do everything in her power to come between her ex and Chelsea.

I really enjoyed Faith's birthday scenes.  I particularly enjoyed Victor Newman's rendition of "Happy Birthday."  I think that's the first I've heard him sing.  Of course, he also gifted his granddaughter. with a stock certificate and her own pony.  She's not very spoiled, is she?  Her dress was even a Chelsea.2 original. Wow!  Actually, Faith is a sweet and intelligent little girl.  Unfortunately, with Victor Newman for a grandfather and her mixed-up family life, I predict that she will be a very troubled teen.

Now that Sally Sussman is back as head writer, here's further evidence that The Young and the Restless is trying to return to its erstwhile glory.  The CBS daytime drama has rehired former top scribe Kay Alden as well.  Alden began as a script writer back in 1973 and she became head writer in 1998 when co-creator Bill Bell retired.  Alden last wrote for Y&R in 2006.  This time she is returning as a story consultant.  

Sussman is trying to focus on Y&R's core characters and core storylines and her return couldn't come at a more opportune time.  The show really  needs a shake-up.  The departure of the popular Justin Hartley has hurt the show immensely and the show had dismal ratings for the week of September 5 through September 9 with a loss of 136,000 viewers.  It also tied its all-time low with younger viewers in the 18-49 age range.


VIEWER FORUM

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

My email address:  jmadden16@yahoo.ca

Fifi from Collingwood, Ontario writes:  

Are the writers of Y&R toying with the idea that it's better to tear Billy away from Phyllis to cause trouble between Victoria and Travis.  It would also enrage his ex father-in-law Victor Newman.  Although Victor is being cordial with Travis, he really believes no one is "good enough" for his princess daughter Victoria.

On another note, my friends and I are really enjoying watching Justin Hartley on the new drama This Is Us.  His departure was a huge loss to Y&R.  It appears that things will develop between Chelsea and Nick and then Sully's true paternity will be revealed sending Dylan, Sharon, Chelsea and Nick into a tailspin.

Yes, Fifi, I also think Victor Newman is going to come between Victoria and Travis.  He has already offered Travis a job at Newman Enterprises,  Although, Travis initially turned down Victor's offer, the Black Knight, as usual, couldn't let the matter rest.  He is relentless when it comes to getting what he wants.  He eventually persuaded Travis to take a position at Newman and you can be sure that he will continue to interfere in Travis' relationship with Victoria.  "The Moustache" has meddled in every relationship that Victoria has ever had.  He has also caused every breakup she has ever had.  He may not want Victoria with that "useless Billy Boy Abbott," but he doesn't really want her with Travis either.  The day will come when he will call Travis a "punk" too.  Oh yes, Victor has already established the pattern with his granddaughter Summer, his junior princess.  He made sure that "The Snowflake" broke up with Luca Santori.
  
It is evident that Billy is becoming more and more jealous of Travis.  It also seems that Travis is not as perfect as he appears.  Billy Boy may be right.  "The Blond One" may have a skeleton or two in his closet.  After all, he didn't have enough will power to resist Victor's job offer.  There is a lot we still don't know about his past.  It will all be revealed in due time.  For example, Travis told Victoria that he had been in love once before.  Will more come of that?  Will the woman from Travis' past make an appearance in Genoa City?  I also wonder if there is more to the story of why he suddenly decided to leave his position as a hotshot Wall Street mogul in New York.  He claims he wanted to try something new and that he was tired of that rat race.  So, he moved to Genoa City and bought a bar.  I wonder if that's all there is to it.

When Sully's true paternity is revealed, Dylan, Sharon, Nick and Chelsea will definitely go into a tailspin.  Don't forget Faith, too. She'll freak out when the truth comes out.  I think that Dylan will be the most upset.  Of course, Nick will be upset too.  He'll also be pleased that Sully is still alive. He won't be too happy to find out that Adam is Sully's father, though.  However, I don't think he'll discover that secret until later, possibly much later.

Here are some comments from CC in Etobicoke:

After watching a couple of episodes of This Is Us,  Justin Hartley's new prime time show, I am hoping to see the return of Adam on Y&R.  I don't think the show is the vehicle to success as predicted.

Maybe Adam's return will happen in time for the November sweeps.  Before that can happen it looks like the writers will have to get us through the sparks between Nick and Chelsea to set up a rivalry between brothers Adam and Nick for Chelsea's affections.

It's time to out Sharon about Sully, and Chloe about her role of revenge on Adam.

I have to admit, CC, that I have not watched an episode of This Is Us yet.  I've been busy and just haven't gotten around to it.  However, I do intend to catch up with it as soon as possible.  All I can say is that as long as the ratings for This Is Us remain high, Justin Hartley will not be returning to Y&R.  So far, the show is doing well.  In fact, it has been given a full 18-episode order.  I doubt he'll be returning to daytime even if the show is not the success it's expected to be. Hartley's  a good actor an he's in high demand.  He would have no trouble finding other prime time roles.  He may even try to launch a film career.

I think that the Adam character may return at some point, most likely with another actor replacing Justin Hartley .  It may happen, as you suggest, in time for the November sweeps.  The reason I think Adam may come back is that a relationship between Nick and Chelsea appears to be brewing.  As you point out, this sets up a rivalry between Adam and Nick over Chelsea.  On the other hand, that seems like such an obvious plotline.  A rivalry between two brothers is a very common storyline on soaps.  I hope they come up with something more original than that, or at least put a different twist on it.

By the way, Melissa Claire Egan, who portrays Chelsea, has weighed in with her opinion. She doubts the role of Adam will be recast.  "I really don't think they'll [do another story in which Adam returns with a new face] and I'm not just saying that.  I truly don't think there's going to be another Adam... but who knows? As of now, I don't think there is a plan to [recast him]."  Hmmm.

I completely agree with you that Sharon's secret about Sully should be exposed soon.  It's dragged on too long.  Fortunately, you can expect the truth to come out really soon.  All the previews and Internet spoilers point in that direction.  As for Chloe, I think it's going to take longer for her actions to be revealed.  I'm amazed how she's been able to take on Victor for so long.

CAST NEWS

Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) is back

Stacy Haiduk is back for another stint as Patty Williams.  That means big trouble for Sharon.  Patty Cakes knows Sharon's dirty little secret.  You can be sure that the cat is finally going to be out of the bag soon.  You can also be sure that it will mean the end for Dylan and Sharon.

Casting call for a new female character

According to Soap Central, Y&R has put out a casting call for a new character named "Marnie."  "Marnie" will be a recurring characcter.  She is described as "a beautiful, lively, easy-going woman in her later 20s /early 30s."  I wonder if she could be the woman from Travis' past.  

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

What do you think, fans, about a Nick and Chelsea romance, assuming Nick is done with Sharon forever? 

How do you feel about Nick and Chelsea being together?

Yes, they would make a good couple.

No, they don't have good chemistry.

It's too soon after Adam's death. Maybe in time.

I'm not sure.

Other

Please Specify:

Poll Maker

That's all for now.  Please remember that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, October 15, 2016.



- Joanne

Trivia about the 1960 Nixon-Kennedy television debates

It's now common knowledge that without the nation's first televised debate — fifty years ago Sunday — Kennedy would never have been president. But beyond securing his presidential career, the 60-minute duel between the handsome Irish-American senator and Vice President Richard Nixon fundamentally altered political campaigns, television media and America's political history.

- Kayla Webley
Time magazine, September 23, 2010

On September 26, 1960, the first televised presidential debate in American history took place.  Tonight, 56 years later, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will face-off in their first debate of the 2016 presidential campaign.  As we all know, the world has changed enormously since then.  For one thing, there were no 24 hour cable news networks back then.  There was no CNN.  There were no cell phones and there was no Internet.  The U.S. was engaged in a fierce Cold War with the Soviet Union.  Fidel Castro had taken power in Cuba, fuelling fears of the spread of Communism in the Western Hemisphere.

The September 26th debate was the first of four debates between the Democrat, Kennedy and the Republican, Nixon.  It focused primarily on domestic policy.  Here is some trivia about that historic debate.

* According to the website of the Museum of Broadcasting, 70 million U.S. viewers watched the first Kennedy-Nixon debate.

* On September 26, 1960, the CBS network preempted The Andy Griffith Show in order to present the first of the four televised debates.

* The debate was broadcast live (in black and white, of course) from a studio in Chicago, Illinois.

* The physical appearance of the two men differed.  Kennedy appeared rested and fit.  He looked calm, cool and collected on camera.  Nixon, on the other hand, seemed nervous, tired and somewhat haggard.  He sweated.  He also had five o'clock shadow which gave him a sinister appearance, especially on a black and white television set.  On the way to the studio, Nixon had exacerbated a sore knee by hitting it against a car door.  He declined to wear makeup and one observer reported that he went "all white and pasty." In addition, he had recently suffered a bout of flu and had a low fever. After the debate, his mother, Hannah Milhous Nixon, called him and inquired about his health.

Kennedy was relaxed while Nixon perspired.

* It was obvious that John F. Kennedy was more comfortable on television than Richard Nixon.  He was more attuned to television as a medium,  Kennedy appealed directly to television viewers, while Nixon used a more traditional debating style and addressed Kennedy directly.  After the event, radio listeners polled thought Nixon won the debate, while a majority of TV viewers believed Kennedy was the victor.

* Nixon fared better in the other debates.  Unfortunately for him, however, the TV audience was smaller.

The Clinton-Trump debate tonight is expected to attract a record audience.  However, it was that first Kennedy-Nixon debate that had such a tremendous impact.   "It's one of those unusual points on the timeline of history where you can say things changed very dramatically - in this case, in a single night," Alan Schroeder, a media historian and author of the book Presidential Debates: Forty Years of High-Risk TV, was quoted by Time magazine (September 23, 2010) as saying of that groundbreaking 1960 debate,


- Joanne

Jewish characters on American television sticoms: From The Goldbergs to Seinfeld

Jewish writers, producers and actors have made an enormous contribution to television.  It is intriguing, therefore, to examine how Jewish characters and Jewish life have been depicted on TV sitcoms.  I have decided to focus on some of the most interesting and prominent shows.  One thing they all have in common is that they all take place in New York.  Has there ever been an American sitcom with Jewish characters that takes place outside of the Big Apple?  Let's see now . . . Well, Rhoda lived in Minneapolis for a long time, although she eventually returned to New York. Oh yes, there was Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud) on Murphy Brown, an executive at a Washington, D.C. TV news magnazine show . . .


The 1950s

THE GOLDBERGS

. . . for all the Yiddish humour, we don’t initially see the Goldbergs observe Jewish holidays, go to temple, or show any signs of living Jewishly - aside from an almost concealed menorah on the sideboard. At least that’s how it seems in the earliest episodes here, but hold the phone. As we get deeper into the series, we go deeper into real Jewish tradition.

-  Michael Barrett
From "The Goldbergs: The Most Jewish Show on Television"
PopMatters, April 27, 2010


The Goldbergs was one of the earliest sitcoms on U.S. network television. It originated on NBC radio in 1929 as a 15-minute comedy/drama about the domestic life of a Jewish family in New York City.  It was initially called The Rise of the Goldbergs and was created by writer/actress Gertrude Berg.  The show moved to CBS radio in 1939 with its title shortened to The Goldbergs.  According to the website of the Museum of Broadcast Communication, some critical Jewish issues were raised on the radio program.    In an April 3, 1939 episode, the ominous situation in Nazi Germany was invoked when the Golderg family's Passover Seder was disturbed by a rock was thrown at their dining room window.

After a near 20-year run on radio, Gertrude Berg transformed her material into a 1948 Broadway hit entitled Me and Molly.  The next step was TV.  Berg was able able to persuade CBS to develop a television version.  The TV adaptation, which ran on network television from 1949 until 1954, chronicled the everyday life of  a middle-class Jewish family.  The Goldbergs lived in the Bronx and their home was supposedly located at 1030 East Tremont Avenue, Apartment 3B.  The family consisted of matriarch Molly Goldberg, played by Gertrude Berg herself, Molly's husband Jake Goldberg, played by Philip Loeb, and their two teenage children, son Sammy (Larry Robinson) and daughter Rosalie (Arlene McQuade). Eli Mintz  portrayed the erudite and philosophical Uncle David.
Every episode began and ended with Molly at her apartment window, delivering a Yiddish-accented monologue and pitching the sponsor's product.

Jake Goldberg was in the clothing business, a stereotypical Jewish occupation, while Molly was a kind-hearted but gossipy Jewish housewife.  She was prone to chattering with her neighbours across the courtyard of the apartment building.  In that sense, she was alo a stereotype.  Yet, at the same, as Michael Barrett points out in his April 27, 2010 article on PopMatters (The Goldbergs: The Most Jewish Show on Television), "Molly is always shown exploring new outlets, pushing Rosie to practice the piano and go to college, and attending night school herself. Indeed, she seems to have more activities than humanly possible, including Girl Scouts and nurses’ aide work."  By no mans, can she be dismissed as just a one-dimensional caricature, a cartoonish stereotype.

Berg and Loeb as Jake and Molly Goldberg

In 1951, The Goldbergs ended its run on CBS in a flurry of controversy surrounding actor Philip Loeb.  Loeb found himself blackmailed for alleged left-wing sympathies and he was forced to swear under oath that he was not a member of the Communist Party.  Although the charges against him were never proven, CBS executives and General Foods, the show's sponsor, were nervous about maintaining Loeb.  Even though Gertrude Berg strongly supported her co-star, it was not enough to persuade the network brass and General Foods to change their minds.  According to The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows 1946 - Preseent, they were adamant that Loeb had to go or the series would not not continue on CBS.

In 1952, The Goldbergs resurfaced on NBC but without Philip Loeb.  The role of Jake Goldberg was taken over by Robert H. Harris.  In the spring of 1954, The Goldbergs moved to yet another network - the long-defunct DuMont network.  Tom Taylor replaced Larry Robinson in the role of Sammy Goldberg and the family moved to the suburban community of Haverville

The following year, a devastated Philip Loeb, besieged with personal problems, his career in tatters, committed suicide by ingesting a fatal overdose of sleeping pills.  Tragically, on September 1, 1955, the 64-year-old was found dead in a New York City hotel room.

From 1955 until 1956, there was a syndicated version of The Goldbergs


The 1960s


THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW:  MOREY AMSTERDAM AS BUDDY SORRELL

Morey Amsterdam played a Jewish character on the popular 1960s comedy The Dick Van Dyke Show. Amsterdam was born Moritz Amsterdam in Chicago on December 14, 1908, the youngest of the three sons of Jewish immigrants from Austria-Hungary.  On The Dick Van Dyke Show, he portrayed wise-cracking Buddy Sorrell, Rob Petrie's (Dick Van Dyke) co-worker and fellow comedy writer for fictional The Alan Brady Show.

In one memorable 1966 episode, entitled "Buddy Sorrell - Man and Boy" (Season 5, Episode 22, Air Date: March 2, 1966), Buddy decides to have a Bar Mitzvah ceremony since he had never had one as a boy of 13.  Thirty years later, at the age of 43, he secretly takes Torah lessons..  However, his nervous behaviour leads his friends to suspect that he is seeing a psychiatrist or cheating on his wife (who is nicknamed "Pickles)".  The episode ends with a touching scene showing Buddy's Bar Mitzvah ceremony and his call to the Torah.

Morey Amsterdam, as Buddy Sorrrell, has his Bar Mitzvah 

The 1970s


BRIDGET LOVES BERNIE

Publicity photo of David Birney and Meredith Baxter

Bridget Loves Bernie was a 1970s sitcom about an affluent Irish-American Catholic woman (Meredith Baxter) who marries an aspiring Jewish playwright named Bernie Steinberg.  Bernie (David Birney) drives a taxi for a living and his family owns and operates a New York City delicatessen.  Meanwhile, Bridget's wealthy parents have servants and her brother, Michael, is a priest.  Thus, Bridget and Bernie not only come from different religious background, they come from different social and economic classes.  In the opening sequence of the series, when the couple introduce themselves, Bridget reveals that her full name is Bridget Theresa Mary Colleen Fitzgerald.  They then declare in unison, "We have a problem!"

Bridget Loves Bernie was loosely based on the 1940s radio show Abie's Irish Rose and the series was somewhat controversial for its time.  It ran for just one full season, from 1972 to 1973.  Only 24 episodes were ever produced.  Although Bridget Loves Bernie didn't have poor ratings (it had a prime time slot between All in the Family and The Mary Tyler Moore Show), CBS executives decided to cancel the show due to some negative response to its portrayal of inter-faith marriage.  The Rabbinical Assembly of America, for example, described the series as "an insult to the most sacred values of both the Jewish and Catholic religions."  Rabbi Abraham Gross, president of the Rabbinical Alliance of Orthodox Rabbis and Educators, stated that the show was a "flagrant insult" to Jews.  He protested that intermarriage was strongly prohibited under Jewish law.

In 1974, after co-starring in Bridget Loves Bernie, Meredith Baxter and David Birney wed in real life. The couple had three children together and divorced in 1989.  During their marriage, Meredith was known as Meredith Baxter-Birney.  In 2011, she published a memoir called Untitled in which she accused Birney of abusing her and claimed that he had hit her.  She stated that she dealt with the marital violence by drinking heavily.  Apparently, according to an NBC interview, Birney denied the allegations.

David Brirney was born in Washington, D.C. to non-Jewish parents. California-born Meredith Baxter is the daughter of the late Whitney Blake, who starred in the 1960s sitcom Hazel.  



RHODA

Although Valerie Harper is not Jewish, she is best known for her portrayal of Rhoda Morgenstern, a Jewish woman from the Bronx.  The character of Rhoda first appeared on The Mary Tyler Moore Show back in 1970.  After relocating to Minneapolis, Minnesota, Rhoda became best friends with Mary Richards (Mary Tyler Moore), the associate producer of a TV news show.  A former art student, Rhoda resided in Mary's apartment building,and made her living as a window dresser/costume designer.

Even though Rhoda Morgenstern was a very likeable character, she was also very insecure.  She was obsessed with her weight and her attitude toward men was neurotic. She didn't hide the fact that she was desperate to end her single status.  Yet, despite her negative stereotypical traits,, Rhoda struck a chord with audiences. Women identified with her problems.  She was so popular that she CBS developed a spin-off series about her.  So, after four seasons,in Minneapolis, Rhoda Morgenstern returned to her hometown of New York,  The first episode of Rhoda, on September 9, 1974, set a ratings record.  It had a larger audience than ABC'S Monday Night Football.

As the series progressed, Rhoda  married Joe Girard, played by the late David Grogh, to whom she had been introduced while visiting her family and friends back in New York.  Joe ran a wrecking company, and was the divorced father of a ten-year-old boy named Donny. The show's hour-long wedding special was highly publicized and it broke television ratings records, garnering over 52 million American viewers.  Unlike Bridget Loves Bernie,, just two years earlier, the fact that that Joe was not Jewish was not really an issue, not even with Rhoda's family.

Nancy Walker had the role of Rhoda's meddling mother.  Walker, who died on March 25, 1992, first played Ida Morgenstern in an episode of the Mary Tyler Moore entitled "Support Your Mother."  Her character was so well-received that she became part of the cast of the Rhoda spinoff series.  Although Walker was convincing as a stereotypical Jewish mother, the diminutive Philadelphia-born actress was not Jewish.

Nancy Walker (right) with Valerie Harper in Rhoda

In her article "A History of Jewish Mothers on Television: Decoding the Tenacious Stereotype" (Journal of Interdisciplinary Feminist Thought, Volume 5, Issue 1, July 1, 2011), Myrna Hunt points out that although Ida Morgenstern was a loving mother, she was not such a benevolent presence in Rhoda's life:

Molly Goldberg, the "gold standard," for the Jewish mother, is originally portrayed as the buxom and benevolent meddler who can solve all problems by mixing common sense, a considerable dab of compassion, and predictable wisdom. Although a hovering mother, she is lovable and respected.  This portrait of the Jewish mother dramatically changes in the situation comedies of the 1970s when she becomes a devouringly negative, albeit loving presence, in her daughter's or son's life, well represented by Ida in Rhoda . . .

Julie Kavner, who played Rhoda's insecure younger sister, Brenda, was born in Los Angeles and is Jewish in real life.  Kavner now provides the voice of Marge Simpson on the popular animated series The Simpsons.  Harold Gould, who portrayed Rhoda's long--suffering father, Martin Morgenstern, passed away on September 11, 2010 at the age of 86.  Gould, born to a Jewish family in Schenectady, New York, was known for playing older Jewish characters and grandfatherly types.


The 1990s


MAD ABOUT YOU

Paul Reiser, a comedian from New York City, created and starred in Mad About You, a highly successful television series about a married couple in the Big Apple.  Reiser comes from a Jewish family and he attended East Side Hebrew Institute, a traditional Jewish day school in Manhattan.  In Mad About You, he portrayed a documentary filmmaker named Paul Buchman.  Buchman's non-Jewish wife, Jamie, played by Helen Hunt, worked as a public relations consultant.  The series ran from 1992 to 1999.on NBC.

Although Mad About You featured an inter-faith couple, religion was never mentioned on the show.  According to Vincent Brook in his book Something Ain't Kosher Here: The Rise of the "Jewish" Sitcom,  the show's producer, Barnet Kellman once stated: "Resiser never wants religion and religious differences specifically mentioned on that show.  I don't think he's afraid of it, by the way, and I certainly don't think he wants to pretend that he's anything but Jewish.  I just think he doesn't want it to be the issue, and he doesn't like the contentiousness of the exclusiveness of it."

Paul Buchman didn't talk much about being Jewish, but his family's Jewishness was clearly evident. Much like Ida Morgenstern, Paul's mother, Sylvia, played by Cynthia Harris,was an overbearing, stereotypical Jewish mother. His Uncle Phil, portrayed by comedian Mel Brooks, came from a Polish immigrant background and knew German.



SEINFELD

Seinfeld, the so-called "comedy about nothing," was a landmark American sitcom. It was phenomenally popular.  The series ran for nine seasons on NBC, from 1989 to 1998.  It featured four neurotic New Yorkers who were not really very nice people.  In the final episode of the series, they all end up in prison for breaking the Good Samaritan Law and mocking the victim of a mugging.

Most of the show's producers, writers and actors were Jewish.  It's co-creators, Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld are both stand-up comedians and they were both born to Jewish families in Brooklyn, New York. Seinfeld is the son of an immigrant Jewish father from southern Ukraine and a mother of Syrian Jewish descent. When he was a teenager. he volunteered at a kibbutz in Israel.

Jerry Seinfeld played a version of himself on the series.  Not surprisingly, his TV character, also named Jerry Seinfeld, made his living as a stand-up comedian.  Jerry's TV mother, Helen Seinfeld, was portrayed by Liz Sheridan.  Helen was an interfering Jewish mother, but she was not known for making chicken soup or home-cooked meals for her son.  Jerry was usually seen eating cereal or dining out at a restaurant.

Elaine Benes, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, was the only female member of the quartet of friends.  Elaine was not Jewish.  This was made clear in an episode of Seinfeld entitled "The Serenity" (Season 9, Episode 3, Air Date: October 9, 1997).  In the episode, Elaine discovers her "shiksa appeal" ("shiksa is a Yiddish term for a non-Jewish woman).  As a result, several Jewish men in New York City, including her former boss, become attracted to her.

Elaine Benes was most likely raised a Catholic.  She celebrated Christmas and in some episodes she is seen wearing a crucifix.  However, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the actress who portrayed Elaine, was born in New York City to a Jewish father and a non-Jewish mother.  Her parents divorced when Julia was a toddler and the youngster was relocated to Washington, D.C. when her mother remarried.  During Julia's childhood, she sometimes attended Unitarian church services with her mother.

Michael Richards, the actor who played Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld, was born in Culver City, California on July 24, 1949.  His father was killed in a car crash and his mother never remarried.  Michael's parents were not Jewish.  His ethnic background is Italian on his mother's side (her maiden name was "Nardozzi") and English on his father's side. Michael was raised by Jewish mentors who influenced him greatly.  Kramer, however, was Jewish.  The character was loosely based on an ex-neighbour of Larry David, the show's co-creator and its head writer and executive producer from 1989 until 1996.

Jason Alexander (birth name: Jay Scott Greenspan), the man who portrayed George Costanza, was born in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Jewish parents.  Despite his Italian last name, George exhibited stereotypical Jewish behaviour.  In his book Something Ain't Kosher Here: The Rise of the Jewish Sitcom, author Vincent Brook describes George's characteristics:

Beyond dispute is the fact that George Louis Costanza, Italian surname withstanding, both looks (short, pudgy,balding) and acts (whiny, tight-fisted, nebisher) stereotypically Jewish.  George has been described as "one of the most Jewish characters in TV history'. by The Jewish Journal, as "a man weaned on the milk of Jewish neurosis" by Entertainment Weekly.

George's mother, Estelle (Estelle Harris), although not specified as being Jewish, displayed all the stereotypical characteristics of a Jewish mother  Harris, now 88 years old, was born in Manhattan to Polish Jewish immigrants.

George's father, Frank Costanza, had an Italian Catholic background.  In the episode "The Doll," Frank travels to Tuscany to meet a supposed long-lost cousin.  In the episode "The Fatigues," it is implied that Frank is a member of the Knights of Columbus, a male Catholic organization.  Nevertheless, the  the role of Frank was played by two Jewish actors.

The original Frank Cosstanza was John Randolph, who passed away in 2004 at the age of 88. Randolph, born Emanuel Hirsch Cohen in New York City, was the son of Jewish immigrants. In 1993, he made his only appearance as Frank in an episode of Seinfeld entitled "The Handicap Spot" (Episode 4, Season 22, Air Date: May 13, 1993).  He was later replaced by comedian Jerry Stiller, another Jewish New Yorker.  It's interesting to note that Randolph's scenes in "The Handicap Spot" were reshot for syndication with Stiller as Frank.

Jerry Stiller as Frank Costanza

- Joanne