The latest Nielsen ratings data is out for the week of April 27-May 1, and three out of the four network daytime dramas posted gains in total viewers, while one showed a loss in audience numbers, which may come as a surprise.

Let’s take a look at the ratings period with data from Soap Opera Network and then provide some context. The Young and the Restless remained as per usual in the top spot coming in at 3,14,000 on average total viewers slightly up +20,000 more eyeballs for the week.

In story, Y&R served up Matt’s plot to blow up the Newmans inside the abandoned gas station on the outskirts of Vegas, Sienna believing she killed Matt, only for him to be revealed alive with a severe contusion on his head by week’s end, Nick going on a bad drug trip thanks to the fentanyl laced with something else via Matt, and Cane and the Winters family learning that he is a donor match to save Malcolm’s life, while Sally got engaged to Billy.

Photo: JPI

FASHION HOUSE PROBLEMS

Y&R’s sister soap, The Bold and the Beautiful clocked in with 2,795,000 viewers for the week up +38,000 from the previous ratings period. In story, The Bold and the Beautiful gave viewers; the fallout from Katie’s successful fashion show for her new fashion house, Logan. Dylan continuing to be freaked out. This time when doing her work at Forrester Creations, out from the clothing rack comes somebody that scares her enough to have her let out a blood-curdling scream. In addition, Liam suggested to Hope that she consider coming to work for Logan where she will be appreciated, after Steffy tells her that ‘Hope for the Future’ is back-burnered for now.

General Hospital, which many have considered being the most entertaining on a consistent basis with their storylines, most likely lost some viewers for the week because on Monday April 27, the show was preempted for a special report on the attempted shooting at the White House Correspondence dinner. If viewers did not catch it on Hulu, it aired on the network after Nightline on Tuesday at 1am. In total, GH was the only soap to lose viewers for the ratings week. GH tallied -1,809,000 which is down from the previous week by -168,000.

Photo: ABC

PAYBACK AND A SHOCKING REVEAL

In story that week, Carly’s double life with Brennan and Valentin caught up with her, Michael initiated a strategic plot against Willow, and Josslyn found herself in immediate danger after a run-in with Cassius.

Beyond the Gates, while having two days of the week fully preempted for UEFA Champions League soccer games, actually increased its viewership. BTG tallied 1,655,00 total viewers which also boasted the highest audience gains across any soap adding +42,000. In story, the soap opera spotlighted: Ashley stealing antibiotics to keep Grayson alive, Smitty zeroing in on a possible suspect in the plasma ring, Vernon taking over Martin’s debt to Joey Armstrong, while Kate recognized a name tied to Lynette’s finances.

It should also be noted for the ratings week; The Bold and the Beautiful once again topped Y&R for the top spot in the key Womens 18-49 demo and in the Womens 25-54 demo, Beyond the Gates once again bested General Hospital for the 3rd spot.

*Nielsen ratings are based on the Live+Same Day Big Data+Panel model.

So, let us know your thoughts on the current ratings picture? Then weigh-in; what soap opera is serving up the best drama right now that is keeping you engaged to catch it every day? Which soap has you the least interested? Drop a comment below.

On The Young and the Restless, Nick Newman’s (Joshua Morrow) addiction to Fentanyl is hitting all-time lows. The Friday, May 15 episode saw Nick meet up with his drug dealer where he scored another baggie and took more pills, escalating his mood swings, outbursts and more.

While Nick wants Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) to hand over Matt Clark (Roger Howarth) to him now (she was keeping him stored in a guest room at the GCAC, but now he’s MIA). Victor (Eric Braeden) and Adam (Mark Grossman) and company, all are using the Matt/Nick rivalry as a part of the play to get Newman Enterprises back in the family. However, Phyllis looks to be setting up a double-cross and working another angle to keep the Newman portfolio for herself.

Meanwhile, Nick has truly gone down the darkest path of his life. During this week’s livestream interview on the Michael Fairman Channel, Joshua Morrow along with his on-screen brother, Mark Grossman participated in a chat and discussed all the complexities of playing this important storyline which has become a medical and social crisis across America.

Photo: JPI

FENTANYL REAL-LIFE VS. SOAP LIFE

“I did some research on Fentanyl, which as everybody knows is obviously a major problem,” explained Morrow when first finding out about his storyline. “We’re doing a different version of what a true Fentanyl problem looks like. We’re doing the more television version (if you will). Fentanyl is obviously a very scary problem. I’m trying very hard to stay true to the story while also properly conveying that this guy has an issue with it. When in all actuality, this drug is way, way, way more serious than we’re able to show.”

In intense and heartbreaking scenes, Nick told his father Victor, his mother, Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) and sister, Victoria (Amelia Heinle) that he had developed a drug problem, but was goig to get help. Joshua explains how he approached each admission to the Newman family members.

“Nick had to which I loved, go to three family members that didn’t know about his pill addiction,” began Joshua. “So, his explanations of what was going on with him were all very different. With Victor, he told him it was just shame: ‘I’m sorry I let the family down. I know you count on me, and I’m so sorry.’  With his mother, it was, ‘I’m okay, because I know that you have dealt with this. I’m going to be OK. I don’t want you to worry about me.” He says that because Nick knows what Nikki’s gone through. With his sister, Victoria, that’s his ride or die homie, his best friend. They are inseparable. He said to her, ‘You and I agreed, we’re never going do anything like this to the family because we’ve seen it. And, you know, we always have to step up and protect the family at any cost.’ Nick just knows that he is going to disappoint his best friend in that moment.”

Photo: JPI

WHO WILL ULTIMATELY GET NICK INTO RECOVERY?

So far, Nick says he will go to rehab, Adam says he is going to get his brother into rehab, and on and on. Problem is, Nick won’t go until he puts an end to Matt Clark’s reign of terror himself and wants to end the guy and his threat to all his loved ones. But the way things are going, he may not even make it that far to make his plan come to fruition. Leaving the question, who will make a big enough difference to get him the proper help he needs? Joshua Morrow weighed-in.

“Coming up, I think his mother is going to be pretty integral in helping Nick with this process,” revealed Joshua. “I think, I can comfortably say that without conveying too much of what’s ahead. Nick knows that there’s a completely different dynamic with his mother with this issue than it is with his father. Nikki knows what’s going to happen (in rehab). She knows what he can expect. Nikki can give Nick, hopefully, the blueprint on how to deal with it. So, we shall see.”

Photo: JPI

Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) might also be in the ticket to Nick’s sobriety having actually battled his addiction to pills himself. Could Victor’s nemesis also be the person to save his son, which will either make Victor more determined to destroy Jack, or could it end the long-running feud for now if he helps out Nick?

“Jack and Nick have a very good relationship,” reminds Joshua to viewers. “I think that is certainly something that is in the cards, but I also think that Jack’s got a lot going on right now with his crazy super sexy, stalker chick (Patty). Jack’s dance card might be a little full right now, then to help his old boy Nick with his pill problem.”

Photo: JPI

Then, there is Sienna Bacall (Tamara Braun), who is currently with Nick’s son, Noah (Lucas Adams). Previously, she dropped that her brother went though an addiction problem. Might she be the one to help Nick turn a corner? Can she even be trusted?

“Nick and Sharon (Sharon Case) both are not completely trusting of Sienna,” explains Morrow. “The credit for that goes to Tamara Braun’s (great) choices on Sienna. She plays her with always an element of ‘I don’t know what this girl’s doing or what her agenda is or what her past is?’ There’s a mystery always surrounding her. She and Noah seem to be pretty tight, but it doesn’t really give Nick a ton of good feelings yet. It’s probably mostly because of the Matt connection, but it doesn’t seem like a relationship without a ton of promise to Nick.”

Courtesy/CBS

GIVE ME THE BALL

This June, will mark Joshua’s 32nd anniversary with The Young and the Restless, and thus far this has been the best storyline for Morrow in his enduring career with the top-rated soap. Joshua knows the importance of being given something to play that is you own in the world of daytime drama.

“I’ve been saying that to Josh Griffith (head writer, Y&R), or to whoever was at charge at the time, give me the ball. Just trust me. I say it all the time. It’s a sports reference, obviously. It’s like everybody on the show feels, ‘If you just gimme the ball, I promise you I will deliver.’ We all want (as actors) to show everybody what we can do. This is tough work for me (in this storyline), but it’s very fulfilling work.”

ICYMI: you can watch the replay of our conversation with Joshua Morrow and Mark Grossman from their visit to the Michael Fairman Channel below.

Now, let us know your thoughts: Do you think it will be Nikki, Jack, Sienna or someone else that will be there for Nick at his darkest time and help him get into rehab and deal with his addiction? Share your picks in the comment section.

This week, The Young and the Restless, Mark Grossman is celebrating the beginning of his seventh year as Adam Newman. Viewers first saw Mark make his debut on the CBS daytime drama series back on May 13, 2019.

Mark along with his on-screen brother and co-star, Joshua Morrow (Nick Newman) took part in a livestream chat on the Michael Fairman Channel were a myriad of subjects from current to past storylines, to his beginnings as the black sheep of the Newman clan were discussed.  In addition, Mark teased what he is looking forward to coming up in story for Adam and what he thinks lies ahead.

On recent episodes of the top-rated soap opera, Adam has been by Nick’s side, trying to help him bring down his nemesis and standing by his brother, after learning that Nick is suffering from a fentanyl addiction. Playing the good side of Adam has been rewarding but will he be the good-natured Adam down the line?

Photo: JPI

THE EVOLUTION OF ADAM

“I think, Adam has definitely evolved a bit and he’s just not as reactive,” shares Grossman. “So, there definitely has been a lot of opportunities to where, maybe if he doesn’t always see it, his instinct is always going to be to protect the family. We’ll see how long it lasts.”

Part of the recent trip to Adam’s old haunting grounds in Vegas, reunited him with none other than Riza (Tina Casciani) which is where in 20189, Mark was first introduced to Adam going by the name of “Spyder.” But will seeing Riza spark something in Adam that is yet to come?

“It was amazing that they got Tina that played Riza all those years ago. So that was really cool,” expressed Mark. “We really didn’t know much about their relationship but after talking with our head writer Josh Griffith and kind of getting a little backstory that maybe there was more to their relationship. It was really fun to go back to Vegas, kind of back where I started. Who knows where that’ll go, or if anything will come with that, but Adam’s very happy with Chelsea (Melissa Clare Egan). So that definitely would throw a wrench in that.”

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BABY DRAMA HEATS UP

Meanwhile, Adam is still in the dark that his ex-Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) is pregnant with Billy Abbott’s (Jason Thompson) child and they are engaged, given Adam’s heartbreaking past with Sally and her losing their child, Grossman knows this sets up a potential emotional windfall.

“Adam’s going to find out and it’s going to definitely weigh on him. That’s a big deal, especially with Billy, who is a huge rival,” shares Mark. “There’s a lot there. We will see how the storyline goes, but there’s a lot of story to be had there. I’m looking forward to seeing what they’re going to write for that.”

Joshua Morrow and fans in the live chat agreed that as Mark marks 7-years on Y&R, that they loved his performances surrounding Sally losing the baby. Grossman agreed it was one of his favorite stories to play to.

“Sally losing the bay was an excellent story, and Courtney Hope was phenomenal and that was a lot of fun.  It was obviously a heartbreaking storyline, but working with Joshua and Courtney and everybody else that was in that storyline, that was great,” expressed Mark.

Photo: JPI

FIRST TIME MEETING TV DAD

As Mark recalls his first day on the set back in 2019, he certainly remembers the moment he met his TV dad, the icon, Eric Braeden (Victor Newman).  “I still remember the first time I met him walking on the set. He was talking to Jordi Vilasuso (ex-Rey, Y&R now Grayson, Beyond the Gates) at the time. I was so intimidated to talk to him. He’s just such a big teddy bear. I love working with him. It’s just been amazing to work with him and to get to be a Newman and share the scenes with him.  It’s been an honor and a pleasure. He is amazing. I just love that guy.”

Photo: JPI

FROM ONE AMNESIAC TO ANOTHER

With the Newman family undergoing so much drama with Nick’s drug addiction, Matt Clark (Roger Howarth) back in town, Victor trying to get his company back, and more, Mark gave his outlook for what fans can expect.

“We are going to have to see where the chips fall with Newman. As of now, Newman Media is nowhere to be found and Adam and Chelsea ae out of a job. So that’s definitely a priority. And as far as Matt Clark’s amnesia, I don’t think Adam believes him. After all, Adam had amnesia more than once, right?  Nick needs to figure himself out right now. He’s got some other issues to deal with. Adam definitely has his eye on Matt Clark and is a little skeptical and also wants to be there for his family.

So, what do you think will happen with Adam coming up on all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless? Will he continue to stand by the Newman family as they struggle to help Nick with his addiction and get Victor’s company back? Is there more to Adam’s relationship with Riza that we don’t know?

Will finding out Sally is pregnant and having a baby with Adam’s enemy Billy Abbott flip Adam out? Can Chelsea and Adam keep their relationship together without outside forces tearing them apart? Share your thoughts below and give a shout out to Mark for 7 years and counting as Y&R’s Adam in the comment section below.  But first, check out the full chat with Mark and Joshua Morrow below.