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Latest Report On Y&R Josh Griffith Situation Says Headwriter Was Fired?!

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

Over the last week there have been reports starting with Highlight Hollywood that Y&R headwriter, Josh Grifith quit the number soap, and alerted his team via an email that he was stepping down as head scribe due to creative differences.

Now in an updated report over the weekend from Soap Opera Uncensored, the E-zine reports via Nelson Branco, a different story and scenario!

SOU stated on the Griffith exit situation: “According to my high-profile sources. He was let go four weeks ago.” Then added, “Josh was fired,” boldly states a very reliable source. “He didn’t quit.  Jill Farren Phelps (JFP) is now going to insert her own creative vision into the show.”

So with all this back-stage drama it would appear Griffith is out, one way, or the other.  Now comes the question; is Shelly Altman who was rumored to be taking over as interim or co-head writer on board in that position? Will GH’s Jean Passanante join the Y&R team as the other co-headwriter?  Where is this all leading? What and who do you hope is the resolution to the headwriter spot or spots in the writing department?  Comment below!

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quote;
” Jill Farren Phelps (JFP) is now going to insert her own creative vision into the show.””

great!! now the boring stagnate Y&R will get some action drama, that it badly needs ..

(looking forward to new and better stories!!)

This post must be from JFP because no one who is informed about her or loves soaps would want her to remain on this show. “Insert her own creative vision into this show? This makes me shutter, we need deliverance from this plague of a woman before its too late for YR. I dont watch YR to see SB I watch it because of the vets who have kept this show #1. SB couldnt do it for GH what makes her think he will do it for YR?

ditto!!!

By what I’m reading it appears it’s a child with too much free unsupervised time just trying to stir the pot. The responses are very immature writing and just repeat themselves using phrases from other posters to try to sound like they know what they are talking about.

i could not have said it better myself!!!

FIRE JFP now. She is the root of our issues. Why doesn’t Sony & Y&R see that? End the political BS and think of the fans. We want our show back. FIRE JFP.

I and others are not among your ”we”..
I have liked JFP’s writing/ideas ..
Having her take more control is what will being Y&R back..
At least now there will be action and high drama!!!

Su0000, ur crazy!!!!!

su0000, you are the ONLY person I’ve seen who supports JFP’s “vision” and likes it. So I would say those of us who hate her vision are in the majority.

su0000 = Jill Farren Phelps or Steve Burton. With Josh Griffith’s exiting that spells doom for #YR. The show is already almost unrecognizable now as it is. At least Josh understood and cared somewhat about character history and the Bell legacy. Jill Farren Phelps doesn’t and never will.

You are entitled to your opinion. However I tweet and talk to apt of fans who include themselves in the ‘WE’ and this number is growing leaps and bounds for the onscreen Y&R. Now for back of the house you are right JFP is adding a lot of unnecessary drama . She plays favorites, throws people under the bus, disregards vets, history, fans and is very destructive. I for one want her out!

One of the things she will probably add is a violent rape or killing of a female character she loves those. Think Santa Barbara, Another World & GH. Or running over a child she likes that to. Guza will probably end up over there before long.

Y&R has been stagnant on some of the long running secrets. Was looking forward to some reckonings sooner than later so maybe this new team will fill the voids!

JFP never has, does not and never will belong at Y&R. Bring back Kay Alden and Jack Smith.

thank you. This is exactly what I’ve been thinking since news broke that JG is leaving Y&R. JFP is running the show into the ground. What Y&R desperately needs is a jolt of veteran writers who care about the show’s history, and a new EP who won’t hire awful actors for meaningless newbie roles

The ‘Powers That Be” at Y&R need to sit and read the comments of fans on Twitter. I believe they above everyone, have seen the actual end to in-depth characters, the very loved veterans of the show. It is now chop-chop with unrealistic situations, no real connection to who these characters are and had grown to become. The women on the show are now all trashed. They have been turned into manipulative, selfish, weak, indecisive woman who previously were strong, had lives with worth. Now it seems it’s all about lies, taking advantage of another character – no matter what. It’s rather like the daily news – more bad. I believe anyone writing for Y&R needs to be fully aware of the life story of the veteran characters. Bring them back to the forefront of the story lines. Forget the younger actors with their weak, ridiculous story lines. So many fans of the show are fed up and are even are saying they are no longer watching.
Is this long-standing show not the #1 on surveys for many years? If so, with all the complaints from fans and even published articles enough to trigger a shift to returning Y&R to it’s interpersonal drama that is so loved by everyone.
My sympathies are with the cast and crew these days as obviously some, if not all, are aware of the public discontent.

Well the proof will be in the pudding—in the end– viewers will determine the vision for the show– if we like what we see we will watch, if we don’t we won’t. In end the only thing network’s care about is ratings— so viewers ultimately have the power—to tune in or tune out is our choice– and that is the one thing JFP can never control.

I would love to see David Shaughnessy, Jack Smith, and Kay Alden run Y&R That is my dream team for the show. Also add in some others who are familiar with Y&R history to help in the writing department.

JFP is the one who needs to be going! She almost killed General Hospital, and now she’s doing the same. She also killed off beloved characters like Guiding Light’s Maureen Bauer and Another World’s Frankie Frame, and viewers and fans were up in arms over those choices.

And she’s making the show so bad that long term vets leave or want to leave. And she’s made Steve Burton the centerpiece of the show. Ugh!

Nonsense 🙂

yes she almost killed G,.H. now she killing Y&R. she need to go.

Su000 are you kidding me? Jill Farren Phelps is the kiss of death. The day she left GH waste a rebirth. The show is fantastic now and the numbers reflect that. JFP cares about “her” vision and could care less about the actors (she plays favorites and doesn’t even try to hide it) and even less about the fans. Just remember one thing if GH didn’t let her go it would not be on their today.

You said it dee and Angela.

I completely agree with you. JFP systematically destroyed GH, the show was hanging by the thinnest thread, and it was saved by Frank and Ron. Y&R needs to return to its roots and rebuild the dream Bill Bell had for it. that won’t happen with satan’s understudy sitting behind the big desk.

Big mistake!!

Jill farren phelps inserting her vision for the show. Lord help us and the veteran actors if y and r

I disagree.. Jill has done some great work..
She has been doing this most her life and she is still doing a good job and being offered work.
Jill needs more hands on, she has a great imagination..
I am looking forward to seeing the changes in Y&R which is now as boring as watching hair trying to grow on a statute.

She will put some drama and action into Y&R.. 🙂

JFP needs to be removed from daytime permanently.

R U JFP? LOL!

lmao aria, must be JFP, or Steve Burton! lol

The veteran actors like EB, MTS, AND DD, got to keep their jobs, it was the talent of MS, BM, AND MOST IMORTANT MM, who got the axe. She set MM up to get fired, so she could put her pet peeve SB front and center.

The ONLY possible good resolution to this mess would be for SONY/Y and R to fire JFP!!! Nothung less!!!!

JFP’s vision….a blank screen.

lol
It would fall on the Y&R headwriter, Josh Grifith what we are seeing came mostly from his work, his responsibility to write good stories is his job…
therefore her decision to now step in 🙂

It can only get better now, Josh Grifith’s writing stank ..

I’m not saying Josh has been a fantastic writer, but I will bet anything that JFP didn’t let him tell the stories he wanted to tell, the way he wanted them to be told, because she needed to fit Steve Burton into the show somehow, and fill the rest of the canvas with newbies that can’t act. JFP is the one who needs to go, and if you can’t see how she systematically destroyed Another World, General Hospital, and other soaps, your ignorance is impairing your good sense and judgement.

lol Chaz

I too am absolutely mystified that JFP got this job and remains in it. I have resolved, after 13 years, to switch to DAYS after Katherine’s funeral. I have been sampling it at night since ED joined and even though she is leaving, I think it will be my daytime appointment. It has everything Y&R lacks. And that hurts. I started with Y&R in high school 13 years ago but aside from some actors, nothing has been recognizable since about 2 months after JFP started. it feels like a different show. 🙁

I hope Sony steps in and removed JFP. Bill Bell created a wonderful serial with Y&R. It deserves to remain true to the vision that began its excellent run. I would like to see Bradley Bell be EP of both Y&R and B&B. he sould have co-EP of Ed Scott and/or David Shaunessey – folks that have experience and vested interest in the credibility of the original show.

There are a cadre of ecellent writers assigned to 30 min soap, B&B. I would like to see Kay Alden return as HW with several of the more experienced key writers from B& B – like Patrick Mulcahey.

Jean Passanante belongs with Valentini and Carlivati at ABC now. Y&R needs writers who know the roots of the show. I hope this disruption leads to a restoration of a wonderful show with a rich history. Not another recycle of showrunners who have had mixed career results at 3-5 lapsed shows.

Shelley Altman does not have strength and experience to lead the writing of a show like Y&R – and stand up to a force like JFP. Sony needs to intercede now.

No kidding. Remember when Y&R was the power horse of daytime? Sad.

Exactly, and I liked your previous comment about Ed Scott or David Shaughnessy returning as EP or Co-EPs. Personally, it would be a dream come true for me if Kay Alden and Jack Smith came back to Y&R, as well as other veteran writers to round out the writing team. But NOT Jean Passanante! She shredded ATWT down to the bare bone and it got cancelled. We don’t need another spawn of satan at Y&R right now!

The thing is, if Shelly Altman is elevated to head writer, all she’ll be in JFP’s little minion, carrying out her narrow-minded “creative” vision for a show she knows nothing about.

I don’t know anything about JFP except for tons of fans saying she is a soap killer, if she is known for getting soaps canceled why in the world hire her, also I’m hearing of a spoler, going around that Dylan is Nikki and Jack’s son. so that is her vision?

PLEASE!!! FIRE JFP!! She has ruined Y&R; it’s nothing like the show I’ve loved watching since it’s beginning. Sharon’s character is painfully hard to watch, Nick has become a wishy washy character, Nicky is teetering around babbling useless dialogue like she’s drunk, and I’m sick to death of the whole BORING BORING BORING Winters clan. Poor Jack has been crying for the past 6 months, and too much emphasis has been placed on Billy and Victoria and their non-relationship. Where’s the fire? The romance? The heartwarming story lines Y&R is famous for? Surely the loss of Jeanne Cooper and the response from fans, should highlight what soap opera fans really want – Strong Characters!! Jill needs to stop into Catherine’s shoes and start breathing some life into Geneoa City!

Jill needs to “step” into Catherine’s shoes….

JFP destroyed GH and now she is trashing Y&R. I stopped watching GH after she took over and almost didn’t come back to it. If not for the three OLTL characters’ crossover and Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati taking over, I would have given up on GH all together. Luckily that show’s been revived. How the powers that be over at Y&R thought it would be a good idea to bring the queen of gloom and doom to the number one soap is beyond me. Please Y&R, stop the nonsense and give JFP the boot!

For me, it no longer matters who takes over.

I’ll hang around until I’ve seen Katherine’s funeral (September 3 & 4 ),
then I’ll “pull a Jeanne Cooper” and say “Good Night” to Y&R.

JFP is a nightmare. I always thought Y&R would be safe from her. I may have to switch to GH because its finally getting good again with her gone. So Sad.

I just would love to know who the little birdy is over at Y&R that gives him all the scoop! I want their number! The bottom line is it is what it is their have been stories in the past that I have shook my head over I really think he wanted to straighten out the Sharon mess but JFP needed a villain. And I do know he had always wanted Summer to be Jacks kid but at this point who cares. And if Sharon Case loses her job she will be part of a list of some fine actresses that JFP got rid of on other soaps.

She sounds like a control freak. Little we can do but sit back and see what happens. I really didn’t think Josh was doing a bad job.

She always has been. She drove Guiding Light’s fantastic Beverlee McKinsey (Alexandra) away by not listening to her, and the show wasn’t the same after she left. Lost a LOT of class after that. But she doesn’t care.

Phelps needs to go NOW and Altman doesn’t have the qualifications to write a show like YR…she doesn’t know the history.

Get rid of the poison that Phelps is!

If Josh Griffith was fired 4 weeks ago, who the hell is the Head Writer? Why don’t they confirm or deny all these rumors? When will they announce that Josh Griffith is gone?

I find it weird that he’s been gone for a month already and NOBODY at CBS or SONY will address it!

We know Josh is out since Brent Boyd and Eric Braeden have responded to tweets on this subject, so when is Angelica McDaniel or Jill Phelps going to speak?

This is all very strange. Why all the secrecy? Everyone knows Josh is gone so just make a statement already!

it is because the cowards at Sony and CBS know how much the fans hate JFP and their will be an uproar when fans learn she is the head writer. which would explain the crap we see

JFP is the kiss of death to fans of any soap she gets her hands on. She does irreparable harm to a show – killing off characters, especially babies and children. Because nothing screams entertainment to a fan like a dead child, right?
Y&R isn’t even recognizable anymore. I have zero respect for a producer that has the arrogance to put their own “creative stamp” on a long running, highly rated daytime drama. Seriously – who do you think you are? JFP inspires more dislike than any other daytime producer.
Compare her with current GH producer and what do you see? A hated producer and a loved producer, because the fans are listened to. History is respected and celebrated on GH.

She’s an egomaniac and should only do those teen dramas, but even those were canceled lol.

I thought Jill Farren Phelps was the person who was messing up Y and R. Please bring back Maria Arena Bell.

At this point I’d rather have MAB back.

I don’t doubt there’s more to the story than meets the eye, but Nelson Branco as a source? Um, not exactly the most credibly guy in the business.

Like most executive producers who work or have worked in soaps, Jill is only as good as her headwriter(s). Case in point: Guiding Light. When she was teamed with Nancy Curlee as the headwriter, it was phenomenally good; several other writing teams followed Curlee’s departure, and it was . . . so-so, and occasionally just dreadful. If Jill’s “creative vision” is so vital, one would have expected a different outcome.

They took creative control away from her at General Hospital for a reason.

Do you mean Kill Farren Phelps will be taking over ?Will Y&R be filled with FOJ’s? The main reason I don’t watch Y&R is kill Farren Phelps. So SB is still there.I shut off GH becasues of too much mob, killer hit man, so I will never watch Y&R with them there. Those of you who like her ,great .She loves to kill off characters and bring on her FOJ’s. Hey maybe she can hook Guza and Maurice Bernard. Now that would be great for the GH fans.

If CBS/SONY really wanted to fix Y&R they would pull out all the stops to put Kay Alden back in charge of the writing team and bring back either Ed Scott, David Shaughnessey or Jack Smith as Executive Producer.

These were the people who worked with and were groomed by the late Bill Bell and these are the ONLY people who can fix this mess and salvage these characters.

It is a shame beyond words to see what once was the most stable, intelligent, and classy daytime drama go down the same horrible path that all the other soaps have already gone down and failed miserably. Wake up!! Changing the show’s writers and producers and replacing them with other writers from other soaps DOES NOT WORK and NEVER WILL. You can’t just jump into the head writing position and expect to know how to write for a show. You need years, decades of grooming by writers already in place. You need to work your way up. This is what Y&R had in place under Bill Bell and then Alden. Why did they destroy this? How can they be so stupid?

Breaking News

Kim Kardashian, Emma Roberts and Marlene King Land ‘Calabasas’, a Soap in the Vein of the ‘O.C’ and ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, at Netflix

There has been lot of soapy projects coming to life and in the works of late, and now comes word that Kim Kardashian is executive producing a new series in development for Netflix called Calabasas.

After a bidding war last week, it looks like Netflix cemented the development deal from Kim, and her producing partners American Horror Story co-star Emma Roberts (pictured below) and Pretty Little Liars creators Marlene King and Alexandra Milchan.

The concept of Calabasas is based on the book If You Lived Here You’d Be Famous By Now by Via Bleidner.  King set to write the adaptation and will serve as the series showrunner.

Photo: JPI

According to Deadline, Calabasas is said to be in the vein of primetime young teen and young adult soaps the O.C. and Beverly Hills 90210. The story follows “Via, a 16-year-old sheltered Midwestern Catholic school girl whose world is turned upside down when her family moves and she’s forced to transfer to the fast world of Calabasas High where nothing is as it appears and where everyone is trying to be someone else. It’s a place where dreams come true … but not without complications and sometimes unforeseen consequences.”

Photo: Hulu

As fans of the Kardashians know, Kim and her family made the town of Calabasas a household and worldwide name. Kim being attached to this project helped make its sale. This marks her fourth project to sell since the writers and actors strikes concluded at the end of last summer.

So, would you be interested to see a teen soap called ‘Calabasas’ on Netflix from Kim and company? Comment below.

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General Hospital

Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital

If General Hospital’s Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) nuptials are on, you didn’t think Grandma Gloria Cerullo would miss out on the festivities, now did you?

Casting news from Soap Opera Digest reveals that Ellen Travolta is back taping scenes that will air the week of May 13th on the ABC daytime drama series.  When viewers learned that Carmine Cerullo, was also on his way back to Port Charles, now in the face and body of actor George Russo, it only made sense that Grandma Gloria would join Grandpa Cerullo. Look for them both mid-May.

As most people know, Ellen is the older sister to John Travolta. She first make appearances as Gloria back on GH in the mid-90s. Most recently, she returned to the Quartermaine mansion to meet up with daughter, Lois (Rena Sofer) and granddaughter Brook Lynn for Thanksgiving in Port Charles in 2023.  Michael Fairman TV interviewed Rena Sofer and Amanda Setton late last year where they shared what it had been liking working with Ellen, who remains very close to Sofer in real-life.

Photo: JPI

Amanda shared: “We fell in love immediately. What’s crazy is my maternal grandmother was Grandma Gloria. I had her till I was 30 and we were so close. She was really like a second mom to me. So, when I got this script and I’m reading “Grandma Gloria”, it was so bizarre. And then in meeting Ellen, she looks like my grandma – same haircut, same high cheekbones. It really did feel like I had a few days with my grandma. It was very, very special for me. Ellen is sweet, prepared, professional, talented and funny to boot. So, it was one of the best weeks I’ve had at work. I hope she comes back. My fingers are crossed.”

Photo: ABC

Now, we can’t imagine Brook Lynn and Chase’s wedding day to be smooth sailing, in fact, expect just the opposite, but could it be Grandma Gloria who is ultimately the hero or the calming voice of reason for any pre-wedding jitters? Stay tuned.

So, glad to know that Ellen Travolta will be back for Brook Lynn and Chase’s big day? Comment below.

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Days Of Our Lives

Kristian Alfonso Returns to Days of our Lives for Tribute to The Late Bill Hayes

After a few weeks of Days of our Lives fans being upset that Kristian Alfonso (Hope Williams) was not on the first list of initial returns for Doug Williams’ funeral and episodes honoring his portrayer, the late Bill Hayes, comes word that the popular star is back and taping scenes.

Kristian reported to work on the Peacock streaming soap opera on Monday, April 22nd. She shared how important it is for her to be back for this particular return to the show that made her a household name.

“My return is very bittersweet,” Alfonso told TV Insider,  “because it is the end of an era with Bill gone. So to return to Days is very sad. I am appreciative that they came to me to include me in their series of shows honoring Doug and I’m very happy to see everyone, but I’m entering the studio with a heavy heart.”

Photo: JPI

It was back in 1983 that Kristian first debuted as Doug’s daughter, and now 41 years later looking back at it, and her time with Bill Hayes is very emotional for her.

“I remember my first scenes with him/ He was very loving, very welcoming. That he was very talented and an incredible actor and an icon, that all goes without saying, but my personal relationship and my working relationship with Bill, it was home,” expressed Alfonso. “Doing the scenes with Bill, I felt like I was with my dad because there was so much warmth and reality.”

Photo: JPI

Alfonso did express some deep regret, in that she had wanted to work with Bill Hayes during her last appearance on the soap back in 2023, but according to the iconic actress, there was something in the works but it never materialized.  “I’m sad that I did not get the opportunity to do the storyline that Ron (Carlivati, head writer) had planned/ It was great; we returned to Salem to reunite with our families and I would have had father/daughter scenes with Billy. What Ron had written was beautiful and emotional and it was a fantastic story. I was 100 percent for it and the fans would have loved it.”

Photo: JPI

As for if Bo (Peter Reckell) and Hope will be back on-screen together anytime soon, Kristian would only say, “What I will say is don’t give up hope.” Doug’s passing and memorial episodes will stream later this year come late November into December.

So, are you happy to learn that Kristian Alfonso is back taping episodes surrounding Doug’s memorial episodes? Comment below.

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