This week, The Young and the Restless veteran, Beth Maitland (Traci Abbott) is vying for her second gold statuette at the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards some 41 years later after winning the CBS soap’s first acting award ever back in 1985.

That year, Maitland took home the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series Award making Y&R history as the first performer to ever have her name called. A little bit later in the ceremonies, Tracey Bregman took home Y&R’s second Emmy for the Outstanding Ingenue.

Fast-forward to 2026, and Maitland, who has appeared on the soap both on contract and recurring since 1982, has been on the series now for over 44 years. Over the weekend, Traci talked with good friend Lawrence Zarian for a segment on KTLA Morning News. 

Photo: JPI

HOW TRACI REPRESENTS WOMEN ACROSS AMERICA

Maitland discussed how Traci has evolved over the years, where now she is the voice of reason for the Abbott family, and where more often than not, characters come to her with their issues.

“Aunt Traci is who everyone comes to with their problems, and what it’s taught me is to really take that seriously. I represent women of a certain age. I represent women over a certain dress size, and I feel it gives a lot of America and a lot of viewers a voice,” expressed Maitland, adding playing the role, “Really is meaningful to me.”

It was back in 1985 that Beth’s name was called as the winner of the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama  at the Daytime Emmys besting the likes of: Norma Connelly (ex-Ruby, General Hospital), Eileen Herlie (ex-Myrtle, All My Children), Maeve Kinkaid (ex-Vanessa, Guiding Light) and Elizabeth Lawrence (ex-Myra, All My Children).

FIRST DAYTIME EMMY WIN WAS ONE FOR THE Y&R RECORD BOOKS

Recalling what happened after hearing her name called 41 years ago, Maitland reflected, “It was a Cinderella moment. I was so stunned. I was in the company of mature actresses who had been doing daytime for decades and I was this absolute newbie”

She also remembered, “Honestly, I was so nervous I walked right out of my shoe going up the stairs at the Waldorf-Ast0ria on live television. That’s what I remember. I was absolutely overwhelmed, absolutely unexpected, and it was a really important moment in my young career. I never expected it, not in a million years and here we are again!”

2026 DAYTIME EMMY NOMINATION

Speaking of vying for the same prize 41 years later, Beth is nominated for her work in the Traci and Alan/Martin Laurent (Christopher Cousins) storyline which featured Traci’s love life blowing up in her face amid deceit and twins!

This year, Maitland is nominated alongside of: Linsey Godrey (Sarah, DAYS), Amanda Setton (Brook Lynn, GH), Trisha Mann-Grant (Leslie, BTG) and Camryn Grimes (Mariah, Y&R).

Maitland shared on the moment she learned she was in the running:  “I am absolutely flabbergasted. I’m in the company of amazing actresses, all these years later, but mostly I am honored to be a part of the daytime community. It’s a place in a world gone mad, people can tune-in and forget their problems for just a few minutes, laugh and cry, and take a break for a second and escape for the moment. To still be a part of that almost 45 years later, I never thought I would be here and I could not be more grateful.”

So, is Aunt Traci one of your favorite legacy characters of The Young and the Restless? Are you happy to see Beth included 41 years later after her first Emmy win in the Supporting Actress category at this year’s 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards? Let us know via the comment section.

In what was one of the most tearjerker of episodes from The Young and the Restless in a long time, last week’s Tuesday, October 20th episode and its aftermath (for the rest of the week), gave viewers several standout moments by two of its leading men, Jason Thompson (Billy Abbott) and Mark Grossman (Adam Newman).

The story unraveled such that it played into the deep history between Billy and Adam that dates all the way back to when Billy’s daughter Deliah was struck by the car Adam was driving and died. The heart-tugging scenes following Billy and Sally’s (Courtney Hope) wedding, also played into the history of Adam and Sally.

As Y&R fans recall, Sally was carrying Adam’s child when she was rushed to surgery and their baby was stillborn. Fast-forward: When Billy received a gut-wrenching call from Snapper about his mother Jill (Jess Walton) having a heart attack in London during his wedding reception, he was beside himself and fighting back his tears.

Photo: JPI

Meanwhile, Sally was up in her room at the GCAC getting a visit from Adam when her water broke, and Adam was with her through the birth of her new little bundle of joy … a daughter.

When Billy finally made it up to Sally’s room, Adam was leaving to find him and the two come face-to-face! Sally tells Billy to come over to the bed to meet his daughter, leaving us with that heartbreaking shot of Adam with tears in his eyes at the door.  A bittersweet moment, indeed.

Throughout the drama of the wedding reception, and the scenes that followed, Jason Thompson and Mark Grossman were given the opportunity to  show their acting chops given the meaty material that was well-written and they broke our hearts.

Photo: JPI

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Special mentions also needs to go to Courtney Hope as the new Mrs. Abbott with mew baby in tow, and Billy Flynn (Cane), who along with Thompson had many reaching for the hankies when they learned about Jill.

The scenes between Billy and Cane were fueled with such history as the two “brothers” try to commiserate over what might happen if Jill were to die.

However, when all was said and done, it was Jason Thompson and Mark Grossman, who while not the OG Billy and Adam, brought their rivalry full circle, while each commanding the screen when the moment called for it.

Photo: JPI

That’s why, Michael Fairman TV names Jason and Mark are picks for the Power Performances of the Week.

In case you missed it, check out our livestream chat with Jason Thompson and Courtney Hope, right after Billy and Sally welcomed their new little bundle of joy on the Michael Fairman Channel.

Now let us know, do you agree with our picks of Jason Thompson and Mark Grossman for the Power Performances of the Week, or did you have another pick? Weigh-in via the comment section.

General Hospital introduced the character of Hudson Parker back on July 30, 2026 marking the first appearance of Troy Lennon Appel in the role.

Quickly, we learned there was some connection to Ethan Lovett, after Hudson tracked him down and beat up the guy, the potential that Hudson is the biological father to Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase’s (Josh Swickard) adopted daughter, Phoebe, and that he is now Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) right hand man at JJE.

On Sunday, October 25 in a brand new episode of the That’s Awesome Podcast with Steve Burton (Jason) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), the Stone Cold and the Jackal duo welcomed Troy Lennon Appel to the show to delve into his background, landing the role of Hudson, and what may come next in a teaser for upcoming episodes of GH.

Photo: ABC

A NEW CHARACTER CREATED JUST FOR TROY WAS THE TICKET TO PORT CHARLES

As it turned out, Troy revealed that he had actually auditioned for General Hospital on six different occasions before being cast as Hudson, the last audition being for the role of Joe Fitzpatrick that went to Jonathan Bennett.

Appel explained, “Every time I showed up (to audition), I was like, ‘All right, I gotta nail this because it’s General Hospital.‘ It was my sixth one where I auditioned for Joe Fitzpatrick, Jonathan Bennett’s character. That was last November. Then, it was February of this year when I came in for an in-person callback. My wife and I were just like, ‘You gotta nail this.’  I didn’t get that character. Obviously, Jonathan got that, but then, they created Hudson Parker for me. I’m shocked I’m even on this show right now!'”

The General Hospital newcomer was even more stoked when he realized that not only did the producers and writers create a role just for him, but that he was going on contract as a series regular.

Appel recalled, “All at once, they were like, ‘We’re going to offer you a three-year contract and we’re creating a character for you.’ It was just something you never expect to hear. I was on the phone and I just fell down to the ground. I went through the range of emotions you could have. I know I cried. I hyperventilated. I’ve never hyperventilated in my life. But now, I get to essentially live the dream I have.”

Photo: ABC

HUDSON AND JOSSLYN

Eden McCoy shares many a scene with Troy, and he gave her major kudos for getting him through the beginning weeks of his run as Hudson. “We did a chemistry test, together and I give her so much credit because obviously, she’s a pro. She’s been doing it for so long. I’ll do scenes with her where I’m like, ‘I got to just try to meet her where she’s at because she’s just so talented.'”

Troy added, “Eden took me under her wing, and just helped me out so much with understanding the process of all of this and even just knowing where to go, when, when to be where I need to be. I don’t know how I would be feeling if I didn’t have her always working with her and just helping me out the entire time.”

The mystery of just who this guy is will become clear in the weeks ahead as Appel revealed, “We actually just shot what Parker’s background is. Right now, I am the Vice President of Operations for JJE. I manager the company’s financials, essentially. But, there’s more to Hudson which we will eventually find out.” Getting the chance to mix it up with the cast, Troy added of Hudson, “He’s up to some stuff.”

Check out the full conversation with Troy Lennon Appel with Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson below.

Now weigh-in: what do you think about Troy having a role specifically creating for him after 6 auditions for GH? What do you think will be revealed of Hudson’s background in the weeks to come? Do you want to see a Josslyn and Hudson pairing? Weigh-in via the comment section below.