News
REPORT: Jill Farren Phelps OUT as Executive Producer At The Young and the Restless!
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto
Tuesday night numerous reports and items have surfaced on the Internet that Jill Farren Phelps has been fired from her position as EP of the number one soap opera, The Young and the Restless.
Daytime Confidential, who first hinted at the behind the scenes shake up in a blind item back in May, now reports they have heard through multiple sources that Phelps is out at the long-running CBS Daytime Drama.
They also hint that they have been hearing Phelps days may have been numbered with the soap opera since British soap producer, Mal Young came aboard the show as Supervising Producer.
In addition, Highlight Hollywood’s Tommy Lightfoot Garrett, who has been a longtime friend of the legendary Bell family (creators, Y&R), posted an item that he has heard that Phelps is now gone from Y&R.
Thus far, there has been no official statement issued, or any confirmation, by the show on Phelps.
Stay tuned for more on this developing story …
So if the reports hold true, what are your thoughts onJill Farren Phelps being ousted from her position at Y&R? What do you think the restructuring at the top will look like at the soap without Phelps? Chuck Pratt Jr, does currently hold the title of executive producer and head writer, but will that remain? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
There will be dancing in the streets!
Heteroflexible.
That is harsh .. The woman has lost her livelihood and all she has done has been for the soaps..Seems her life has been dedicated to the soaps.
I have not cared for all her stories or at times the way she took a soap, but JFP is one of the remaining last of the vets. Give her due respect.
It is nothing to whoopie over, no one losing their job is a good thing.
I knew when ” Mal Young came aboard the show as Supervising Producer” that either Pratt or Jill was about to be let go.
I believed it would be Pratt, I was wrong.
I doubt Y&R will hire anyone on to replace JFP, Mal already has her job.
Looking forward to the upcoming changes.
su0000, your best post ever!
Sorry, but I have to disagree. Sometimes a person losing there job is a very good thing, which is absolutely the case here. JFP should have been booted out of daytime YEARS ago! She has ruined so many shows it’s astonishing to me that people keep hiring her. She did on Y&R she does on every show – gets rid of legacy characters to make room for her certain little circle of friends. She completely ignores a shows history and often totally rewrites it thereby ruining certain characters and destroying a shows foundation. She has made Y&R so unrecognizable that I can’t bear to watch. All I can say is HALLELUJAH!!!!!
I also heard but it’s not confirmed, that Pratt is also out.
She has destroyed every soap she has been on. She may have dedicated her life to it, but she’s not good at it and she is more concerned with hiring her friends than putting out good stories, always has been.
Su0000 go back and read how she worked with her writers ..intimidation.,firings..what goes around comes around and karma is always looking for boody cheeks to lash onto..JMO
Is there more than one Su? The writing and tone is different. And since when has “Su” cared about vets? Interesting…
Yeah!!!
Stopped watching this disaster months ago. Good Luck to her successor , they have an epic chore ahead if them!
lol,,, at least she left without killing a main character off. I think Y&R should count their blessings.. Can never forgive for killing off FF on AW.
Max you’re right, Y&R fans lucked out. I’m still not over losing Alan Quartermaine, well and almost the entire Quartermaine Family, because of Jill.
Amen!! Now that was a brutal killing!!
FF?
Boy, the “suits'” love playing this merry-go-ring game, don’t they? Where is she headed next–GH? NOT!!!
Nancy…E-X-A-C-T-L-Y!!!!! I don’t think that ABC/Disney would be dumb enough to let that woman come back to GH. N-o-p-e.
Have a good one, Nancy.
I think Days is the only soap she hasn’t crippled.
Good riddance to one of the most despised tyrants in daytime history. Her lifetime of soulless backstabbing and hideous arrogance gets the public humiliation she deserves. Fly away on your broom.
RIGHT ON, LEXIE!!!!! VERY, VERY WELL SAID!!!!!
she should have been out when she screwed Michael Muhney over…
Just watched today’s episode just to see the mess for my own eyes! My gosh she has gutted the sets the writing for the characters it’s like they all had lobotomies . I do not see anyone salvaging this show Pratt has to go too and beg Kay Alden to take HW duties! Very sad!
Chuck Pratt should go next. Anyone who argues that Pratt has to write this way to keep stories fast paced for today’s audience should check out old episodes of Y&R on YouTube. The soaps were actually very fast paced in the late 80s and early 90s. Storylines moved by very quickly and each day the story advanced with some interesting development. Now the stories just repeat every story beat over and over till the story ends. There is no buildup or nuance or anything interesting that advances the story. We just get reminded that Adam is being framed over and over and over and over. The story doesn’t grow or take turns or weave in other characters. Shocking events happen to characters, for example, almost everyone has been run over or had a car accident the past year, lol. But there are no shocking twists that build up any kind of romance or mystery. People just fall into love in one episode and the relationships have no romance or arc. I think Pratt is one of the worst writers in the history of daytime. And I think Phelps has allowed him to poison the roots of the show. You have to give credit to the actors who just make this dreadful material come alive. Losing Kelly Sullivan was one of the final blows for me in another story that repeats the same beat. Sharon has Christian and nodody knows, repeat 500 times till the story ends. That is not telling a story. For me my heart is not in watching this material and unlike a lot of posters who say they give up and still post. I truly have given up in the weeks since Kelly has been gone. The show is an embarrassment. I read that they paid Pratt so much money that he had to be given an EP credit to justify all that money. When I was in high school, I could have written better scripts for this show. Should that awful writing be rewarded by one of the highest salaries in the history of daytime?
And Michael Baldwin, they dropped his cancer story like a hot potato!
I think Michael having cancer was to get rid of Christian Leblance but with fan backlash they changed the storyline. You can tell when a story line has been changed around all of a sudden because they just put it away without a finish.
absolutely not. he’s terrible
lol
Awesome post!
You said what I been thinking for months now…Over the years when others have complained about the writers, I kept quiet and still enjoyed the show because I can deal with one or two changes but with Charles Pratt and JFP at the helm, they did so many changes that the soap is unrecognisable now. Most sets are not shown or it is changed around, and the main core characters are not shown anymore. It is like JFP brought in her own actors to take over the show and cast the long time actors aside. They go around in circles in their story telling, repeat story lines, drag them on for too long, and don’t really have an ending to any story line and most of all change how the characters are suppose to be….I am not a writer but even I could do better then that. I agree Charles Pratt is the worse writer I ever seen…People complained about Maria Bell, but even her writing is better. Yes some storylines she wrote I didn’t agree with, but at least to me, it was watchable. I find myself falling asleep to the show now and I been a viewer for over 30 years.
OMG THIS IS THE BEST NEWS EVER!!! Now someone track down Ed Scott, Kay Alden, Jack Smith and Hogan Sheffer!!!!!!! OMG I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!!! bring back the classic Bell soap of the 90s and Bring back the real Sharon Collins Newman!!!! I bet u Steve Burton is shaking in his boots!!!! Send him back to GH and give us back Billy Miller!! Haha
Richard I like your “Soap Trade!”
Thank you!! I love tuning in for yalls comments too!!!
Richard…I HEAR YA’…AGREED!!!!! Oh…and now that his ‘Soap Opera Mommy’ JFP is being shown the door (Y-A-Y!!!!!!!!!!), I hope that Steve Burton I-S shaking in his boots!!!!! Oh…and let the Y&R ‘housecleaning’ continue………..
Later.
In total agreement, Jaybird369! For Y&R to rewrite history and painstakingly craft a storyline simply to allow Steve Burton, a close ally of JFP, to become front and center as part of the Newman clan was not only a disservice to the fans, it was a joke! The wooden Burton has been an albatross on Y&R since day 1.
One down, one to go!
YES to ALL of that!!!! ITA!!!
And Michael Muhney and I may come back!
Y&R would clearly benefit from having you both back! 🙂
NOT Hogan Sheffer. He was a MAB hire and much worse than Pratt/JFP, and I hate Pratt/JFP.
Sheffer had most of our beloved characters having quickie sex on the floor, or on top of desks. It was so gross. Remember Victoria couldn’t figure out how to open a box? Or the playboy bunny painting? Genevieve? The bloody massacre of Cane, and Diane’s head be bashed in with a rock( after Victor tossed her out of an ambulance)? Tucker screaming into Katherine’s face? It was all disgusting. I felt Sheffer’s love of violence and HATE of the female sex coming across onscreen daily.
Actually I like Steve Burton’s character that is one thing that soap killer JFP did do right by getting us Steve Burton. I don’t watch GH but for them to lose SB is their loss and our gain…I say don’t get rid of him…I like Jason Thompson too but change his character instead of sleeping with his brothers wife.
THX ,MICHAEL.
YEAHHHHHHH! YESSSSSSSS!!!! YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!! I’m sooooo HAPPPYYYY!!!! Pratt is NEXT!!
Good riddance ! Hope Pratt ‘ s not far behind.
Suzanna…MOST DEFINITELY!!!!! That Pratt chump (also) needs to be shown THE DOOR…SAYONARA!!!!!!!!!!
I Hope And Pray To God This Is True. If It Is – I Will Be Watching This Again After My 3 & 1/2 Year Boycott (Though I Stopped Regularly When We Lost Katherine / Jeanne – I Cried For Days)
Anyway I Hope She Retires….. And She Does NOT Need To Go Back To “General Hospital” The Show (I Am Still Watching Since The Boycott Started) Is Fine And Better With Out Her
Since Her Successors “Saved” General Hospital From Almost Cancellation
I Mean Look At JFP’s Track Record She Left The Other Soaps And Look What Happened After She Left
Santa Barbara – Cancelled
Another World – Cancelled
One Life To Live – Cancelled
And All Of The Other Stories That Went On When She Was EP
The Firings Of: Beverlee McKinsey & Ellen Parker On Guiding Light
Barbara Berjer, David Hedison, Paul Michael Valley & Alice Barrett On Another World
Stephen Markel, Marva Hicks, Laura Koffman, Clint Ritchie On One Life To Live
Shell Kepler, Brad Maule, Stuart Damon, Anna Lee, etc On General Hospital
And Not To Mention The Stuff She Did On Y&R Changing Katherine’s Mansion
Hiring More Of Her Best Friends From Other Shows, Firing Actors Across The Board
Ugh, I Hope This IS THE END Of Her Career In Soaps
And Killing Of Beloved Characters (Younger and Older) Or Changing Them 180 Degrees Different And Breaking Up Super Couples On Daytime
Ed & Maureen Bauer (Guiding Light)
Roger & Holly Thorpe (Guiding Light)
Alan & Monica Quartermaine (General Hospital)
Luke & Laura Spencer (General Hospital)
Michael/Donna/John & Sharleen Hudson (Another World)
Vicky Hudson & Ryan Harrison (Another World)
Bo & Nora Buchanan (One Life To Live)
Andrew & Cassie Carpenter (One Life To Live)
Mel Hayes & Dorian Lord (One Life To Live)
I Can Go On More – But I Won’t
The character killing was even more egregious than the decimating of supercouples in my opinion.
I loved how Bev McKinsey (Iris on AW and Alex on GL) did a number on Jill and left the show. Google it it is so bitchy but Bev abided by her contract but JFP apparently had never read it!
Yes! Her list of transgressions is very, very long but nothing was worse than what she did to Anna Lee. She fired that woman when she was in her 90s when she had previously been guaranteed a job for life. It broke the old lady’s heart and she died a short time later. JFP is a BITCH and I am so glad she has finally been give the boot! I have been able to watch Y&R for two years because of her.
I never knew that about Ana Lee. I thought she left because she was ill. 🙁
OK, wait a minute. I am not a particular JFP fan (she has some positives, but they’re almost always outweighed by the negatives), but not everything you’re accusing her of stands up well under scrutiny.
Though it’s true that Santa Barbara, Guiding Light (which you didn’t mention), Another World, and One Life to Live were all cancelled after she left, none of them was cancelled very soon afterward. It’s a little hard to pin their cancellations on her (and in fact, One Life to Live’s ratings were higher when she left than when she came). You might be able to make the case that Guiding Light’s cancellation was on her, simply because killing off Maureen Bauer so badly wrecked the show’s structure that it never recovered–but even there, I’d point out that the cancellation came more than a decade after she was gone. She certainly didn’t help matters at Another World, but AW bled to death from a hundred cuts from a hundred different people through more that two decades of incredible mismanagement. JFP was one of the butchers, certainly, but it’s not realistic to blame the death on her.
Also, Beverlee McKinsey was not fired. She left of her own accord at the end of her contract, and she took particular pleasure in doing so in a way that really stuck it to JFP—so I think it’s clear she didn’t have much use for JFP. You could accurately point out that JFP worked her to death and didn’t respond to how unhappy she was, which was incredibly stupid/inept of JFP and points to lousy people management skills—but JFP didn’t fire her.
The rest of what you said, I can’t argue with.
Well, one could add on to the critique of lousy people management skills by what JFP did to Genie Francis at GH in 2001. That was a big negative for that show too.
I don’t watch any of the soaps that you mentioned above so I cannot argue there, but what I do know, I been watching young and restless for over 30 years and majority of the main core characters are not shown anymore…They have changed characters around, changed sets and majority of JFP’s friends who she hired get front and centre screen time while the other long time actors are cast aside (the ones who made the show become no.1). When JFP first came to young and restless, I heard so much back talk saying how she hires her friends, changes things around, and a soap killer and as much as I say these words now, I defended JFP back telling fans give her a chance etc etc etc…That is probably because I don’t know JFP’s work as I don’t watch any other soaps but my Young and Restless, but after 30 years of being a viewer of my favourite soap, I am glad she is going. My soap I been watching for many years is unreconizable now. I tune in every day to watch the same people I been watching for many years and I see majority of the people she hired…Melody Thomas Scott and Jess Walton, the two matriarchs of the show are even cast aside for Summer and Luca etc. Yeah Eric Braedon is still shown, but they totally changed his character around…I am so glad she is gone because if she wouldn’t be, I believe the young and restless would be the next one cancelled.
JFP did a lot of damage to this genre. she ruined a lot of soaps
As a huge fan and viewer of Santa Barbara i disagree with you 100 % . Jill Phelps was in charge of the show and it was during her run that it won the emmy awards : cruz and eden being front and center was thanks to her , keith and gina , Jeffrey and Kelly , the Elena Nikolas story . The Capwell mansion was remodeled under the authority of the new executive producer who replaced her : John Conboy . The loss of Santa Barbara was due to Conboy , Paul Rauch ( the executive producer who replaced Conboy ) and Pamela K Long ( the head writer who was in charge during its last year : Bj walker , Cruz paired with Kelly ( played by Eileen Davidson ) etc … and finally stupid new world television always in conflict with nbc , when SB was due for renewal in 1993 nbc who was not satisfied with the ratings asked new world to give them access to some of the profits the soap was making internationally , new world said no and nbc said : let’s cancel it and they did . It was under Rauch and Long that the decision was made to not bring back A and Marcy for the last few shows . She owned the fact she made a mistake killing off Maureen Bauer , Frankie Frame was not her decision but that of the writer and the network .
Ive heard that Chuck is gone too and a new HW has been hired. Whether this is true or not, time will tell. Either way, Chuck needs to go too. Get some people back that worked with the Bells in the 90’s up until the regime of LML. I am pretty sure Mal Young will replace JFP.
The wicked witch is gone, rumor is Pratt will be fired too.
he needs to go. Pratt has ruined a lot of characters. you can see the disdain this guy has for daytime
Ecstatic!! Phelps hurt so many actors and created the most unwatchable storylines. Hope Pratt, Kent, McDaniel and Moonves are next to go. Executives are ultimately responsible for Phelps actions which they did nothing about…chastised the fans who are their customers. They need to go also!!.
Yes, yes,yes. Now they just need to get rid of Chuck Pratt. Because someone complained about the story line being so boring the writers before Pratt were pushed out or what ever happened all I know they brought in someone who has destroyed #YR@YandR_CBS enough that the first #Talented actor @ChuckPrattJr gets rid of is my Most Favorite Fella @JMATTATKINSON (Austin). Pratt CHEATED and ROBBED him of his Contract. Yes, i’m sure they paid him 4 the rest of his Contract but it’s #NOT the same as letting Matthew Atkinson finish it. He should’ve had it for a full year, from Sept. 25th 2014 and Sept. 25th 2015. All Chuckie did was pull the rug (CONTRACT) right out from under Matthew Atkinson (Austin). Honestly, I have been stuck because of what Pratt did to my Most Favorite Fella. @ChuckPrattJr took a very #Talented actor and threw them away. PRATT a long with Jill Farren Phelps were #Blind and didn’t see the #Treasure they had in front of them. I have counted 57 people on twitter who MISS Matthew Atkinson and of course I am at the top.
Hi Jane make that 58.
She earned this fire back in 1994. Never should’ve been allowed the career she’s had in killing shows and beloved characters. Good riddance!
I’m glad. All of these shows need to stop recycling these writers and staff. They come in and put the same brand on the new show ruining it the same way they did the previous show. Same thing is going on at GH now. That show is a hot mess too.
I have noticed a positive shift in the show’s writing quality since Mal Young came aboard. It’s been subtle and with JFP out now that could grow further toward making this show actually watchable again. I do hope Mal Young takes over as top EP and replaces Pratt Jr. with a fresh head writer. It would be fascinating to see an outsider (perhaps one with international soap opera/ telenovela writing experience) take the writing reins.
What’s the difficulty behind the scenes, other than the dismal failure to launch Jason Thompson properly, this chronic merry-go-round with Victor, Adam and Nicky, or the unbelievable craziness of Sharon! Michael, you pick
BYE…..FELICIA…….
Unfortunately it takes a soap a long time to recover after she’s been at the helm. Wish she could take some with her!
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer gal! LOL! Now let’s get Y&R back on track and get rid of all of these nonsense storylines.
this show needs a overhaul. all these storylines are stupid,lazy,and boring. lets hope Y&R can get back on track
if she is infact gone i wonder if the “special deal” that she made with steve burton will still be intact??? hmmm
Hopefully she’ll take Steve & Summer with her.
Heck!!! I’ll throw in a couple of free tickets to Disney world is Jill takes Dyldo and Tweedle Dumb with her.
I wonder when Burton’s contract is up. I remember the rumors when it was signed. It was major $$$ and a special fly-in deal where he only had to work Tuesday afternoon through Thursday.
I happily trade Dylan for a return for some of our favorite vets. How about a tasteful restoration/update of the Chancellor mansion complete with the return of Jill Foster Abbott Fenmore Atkinson?
the only thing is jill (jess walton) said she prefers to be recurring – i always wondered if she went that route because of the crap JFP was doing to the characters on the show…………………
YES YES YES! Bring back Jill, Billy Miller, Gloria etc.
I think it was Jess Walton’s decision. Ever since Jeanne Cooper died, Jess walton hasn’t been shown much. I personally believe it is probably hard for her…For over 30 years, her main scenes were with Jeanne. Once Jeanne died, I believe she stated she only wanted to be shown once in a whiile. She is still on contract as every time she makes an appearance, her name is credited in the front and that only happens if you are on contract.
Honestly, I’m curious if she’ll land at DAYS, which is always a revolving door. While JFP didn’t seem to be well liked among fans, It seems that every soap EP these days has good ideas & bad. Personally, as long as good, well executed stories come from the show, I don’t have a dog in the fight so to speak concerning EP.
I highly doubt that since Steve Kent from Sony and part head of young and restless let her go. Steve Kent is also head of Days too and I can’s see him firing her over there and rehiring her in another one of his soaps so I think she is screwed. The Bold and Beautiful head honchos are steve Kent and Angelica Mcdaniels and same with young and restless. CBS and Sony are in charge of Young and Restless and Bold and Beautiful And Steve Kent is head honcho for days as days is run by Sony, so only soap she can go back to is GH since their are only 4 soaps left which is not in contact with the ones who just fired her
lol
Wave your little hand and whisper SO Long Dearie !!!! I still hold a grudge of what she did to GH and esp to Genie Francis and Jackie Zeman ! May we never hear her name again !
Hear, hear!
More like raise your middle finger instead of hand lol, but I know what you mean about changes and holding a grudge…I get that feeling when I see what they did to the Chancellor mansion…That is a disgrace to Jeanne Cooper’s (Katherine) memory…Yes Jeanne died in real life, but all we have to hold onto now is her set and they changed it. That is the only set apart from the Abbott household, which by the way we don’t see anymore, that is what is left that Bill Bell created and she destroyed them or written them out of the script.
Jill is a fantastic producer known her for 15 years. Good luck Jill thanks for the memories you are loved……
By Who?
Nikki…MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!
Later.
Uh, Jimmy…GET REAL!!!!!!!!!!
JFP had four years to get the show back on track from the debacle that was Maria Arena Bell. Her tenure started out promising with the bullying storyline, Nicki’s MS, the fire at the Newman Ranch – I was liking what I was watching. Her tribute show to Jeanne Cooper was beautiful too.
But then Chuck Pratt became head writer and it all went south, IMO. Over the last 17 months, we have been subjected to silly doppelgangers, a baby stealing story (still on-going!), 2 fires, a plane crash, 2 brain tumors, PassKey, a silly computer virus, the lame Santori family (please go away!), a psycho child who hurts pregnant woman – I could go on, but why?
I have no clue about this Mal Young guy from across the pond, but if he is named EP, I hope he knows enough about the show to get it back on footing with character-driven stories like Y & R used to have many years ago. Maybe then I can start watching on a regular basis again without cringing.
Dont forget the Newman Oil Spill!
This storyline is so ridiculous and convoluted. What business is Newman in anyway? Cosmetics, oil, computer programs, trucking….it’s so confusing.
And that fact that when Victoria leaves the office she leaves Summer in charge is ridick. Who is the COO? It’s not a one-woman show. Someone else would have gotten the alert about the spill and done something.
@Mo.
Lol, my friend. Best question yet, Mo.
What business is Newman in you ask? Why! EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE.
Victor is superhuman. Best boxer, best father, husband, grandfather, businessman; but, most of all, he is the kind of lover all us women wish we had. WOW!!
Who else would get so much action in prison AND with the resident doctor????? Genoa City is an upside-down, sideways place. I am waiting to see how long it will take for Victor to replace his battery.
Y&R was decent in 2013,but it has really declined since Pratt came in. his stories are so bad and have no depth. a lot of actors are being wasted in nonsense plots
Jill was the problem BEFORE Chuck and now he is the problem. I’m guessing they see how it goes without her first?
Really, you like the changes she did? She got rid of the Newman ranch (which we can live with that one change), but her changes didn’t stop there. She got rid of glo-worm…Do you see the Abbott mansion or Lauren and Michael’s home anymore? Not to mention she changed the Chancellor mansion. Where does Lily, Devon and Neil live, they must live at the GCAC because you don;’t see their homes anymore either. She hired Summer and Abby and got rid of the older actors who played them. She changed Billy four times. Count how many times Summer, Luca, Travis, Dylan and all the other newbies she hired get screen time compared to Nikki, Jill, Neil, Cane, Lauren, Michael and all the other actors Bill Bell created and are the reason the show was brought to no. 1…Look at Victor’s character, is this his actual character like or did she change that too? Do you want me to stop there or would you like me to continue on all the changes she did? It is normal for a new writer, or new EP to come in and make a few changes, but she went overboard to the point the young and restless is unreconizable now. Even the background music that Bill Bell created for a sad scene she took that away too.
Glad, but I’d hate to see Mal Young take over and turn the show into a British type soap.
I hated what she did to gh so im thinking it’s time to retire.
As I said in another post about GH, all soaps need to take a good hard look at the original vision for the show when it was created and EVERYONE from the suits at the network and Sony to the producers, to the guy who sweeps the floor at night and everyone else in between mush share the same vision. The soaps have stopped being about anything other than a collection of stories happening in the same city without anything to bind them together as a theme for lack of a better word. Right now they write for ratings and that kind of vision, is like building on a foundation of sand. Go back to the beginning, what was the foundation the person who created the show- what did they want to say through those characters, why were their stories important to tell? Figure all that out and write from there, the ratings will come because story telling is old as the hills, so there will always be an audience for story telling– but you have to actually know what story you telling and why in order to make people interested in this story over all the stories out there.
Jill and producers of her style try to manipulate viewers into watching, and in the short term it works but long term, if your show doesn’t have vision, if it doesn’t have a point of view, if there isn’t something to bind the characters together, what is the point.
Only time will tell if her leaving will improve the show, but at this point if someone doesn’t make a honest attempt to get the show’s heart back, it might not matter who is running it.
Amen!
So why was she fired.Nothing good has been happen on Y & R Lately..Ir all mess up bringing back the dead ,Bring back some that should never have been let go
Best news ever. JFP has done her best to ruin this show. I’ve watched since ’81 and the last year or two have been the absolute worst ever. Unbelievably bad. Terrible storylines, terrible writing and it all falls at her feet. She was in charge and she has run it into the ground. Practically unwatchable at this point. FF through most of the show & have questioned whether to even keep recording it. But with JFP finally getting tossed I have hopes that the Y & R just might be saved. I bet there’s more than a few very happy actors on that set this morning!
Hope if Justin leaves for his prime time show they bring back Michael Muhney. They need some of the actors they lost under her regime back to get Y&R back where it once was.
Sadly, I dont think MM returns as long as Eric Braeden is there.
From your mouth to God’s ear. I like Justin Hartley but if he leaves I would like to see Michael Muhney back as well.
I agree, Nikki. I just can’t see MM with Melissa, though. Justin and she fit so well tight now.
I did like Michael with Sharon when they were together. But, so much has/is going down with Sharon….I don’t know anymore.
“…Hope if Justin leaves for his prime time show they bring back Michael Muhney. ”
yeah, with JFP being …. drumroll…. FIRED ! and Hunter King on recrurring….
bring back Michael Muhney !
Michael Muhney and his career are DONE. Many women find his behavior objectionable and talented or, not he is a financial workplace risk based upon his reported behavior which you will note – he never categorically denied.
I really do not understand anyone supporting him, especially a woman. I take comfort in the fact that he is gone and I’m willing to bet any and all his fans, he will NEVER darken any soap’s doorstep again because he’s just not worth the risk. Every woman is entitled to a harassment-free workplace. That’s the law of the land. It has cost plenty of men and a few women their livelihoods. He’s done and hallelujah!
OMG! This is the BEST news I’ve heard all year. I’m so excited, perhaps Pratt will be quick to follow. I’d love to see Mal Young in as EP and a head writer with experience with the show’s rich history. I may even pray for the return of Billy Miller, Judith Chapman, Michael Muhney and Michelle Stafford. One can hope! LOL I’m going to go Dance in the streets. Awesome News!
Hope it means better story. Y&R isn’t awful, but improvements can be made.
HALLELUJAH!!!
hopefully the story lines will get better
Interesting considering Y&R’s rates are still really good. Say what you say about JFP but she is a good EP in that she can balance cost with bringing new formats to shows. I don’t think JFP was liked by the CBS brass but is liked by SONY so I could see them bringing her to DOOL at some point since that soap is sinking like the Titanic.
Hummm … Nop! I would take Wendy Rich over Jill anyday of the week!!
I wish Wendy Rich would replace Frank Valentini at GH. I thought the show was at its best when she was EP. And with Tony Geary gone I bet she could do a great job!
Well, listen, I’m a mature adult who needs to work. I woulnt want to lose my job and wouldnt want someone else to lose their job BUT, she has run the show into the ground! Yes, before Charles Pratt arrived she was tainting a legendary show. Yes, it was and is number one BUT it has been horrible! Ironically, the ONLY scenes I watch these days are the prison scenes with Eric and Ray. Yes, people may not like Victor or think Ian is too sugary BUT those two make ANY scene interesting and entertaining! NOTHING else peaks my interest! NOTHING! My only hope is that Jill Farren takes her three pets with her! Hunter, Steve and Jason add NOTHING to the show. In theory, yes, I would have tried it, the two men are amazing talents BUT their characters new or recasted are sleep worthy! Y&R is still #1, now lets start writing and producing #1 stories!
I think some of the reason Y&R remains #1 is the perfect lunch hour time slot and that CBS is the #1 broadcast network. People watch out of habit and loyalty, and the hope things will get better.
Thats true. In my market at 12:30 they have on “Access Hollywood on ABC. Why wouldnt they put GH in that slot?
Exactly Iakovos!
I agree with you Timmm but I knew Summer-H.K. and Dylan we’re her two pets but I didn’t know Jason was. They really keep missing the mark. I think the perfect Billy Abbott besides Billy Miller would have been that good looking bar owner that’s involved with Victoria. He’s cute, well built and flirty just like our old Billy Miller. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Nail on the head Nikki, the bar owner is a doppelganger for Billy Miller AND I think the show knows this and are lighting a spark between Vic and him because it doesnt exist with Jason Thompson.
F-I-N-A-L-L-Y!!!!! IT’S ABOUT DAMN TIME!!!!!
When the blind item came out, this is exactly the person I felt would be gone! Let the celebration begin!!!
She has more lives than Stefano DiMera. She’ll probably pop up at DAYS.
Lol just as long as she stays away from GH!!!
Good one lol. I really think Jill is done. Sony also owns Days and Y&R. GH will not hire Jill again.. She is the soap killer.
pls
pls
pls
pls….. let pratt follow right out behind her!
and bring back… the abbott and newman mansions!!!
and bring back the classic y n r musical score s that wese signature y n r
and bring back loved and missed characters that phelps and pratt had fired or forced out like nina, avery and summer s murdered ex austin!… austin had the best chemistry with summer and mariah too! a triangle with austin wld ve been much hotter than with kevin!
pratt deserves to go now since the stories are boring and drawn out currently … the sharon / sage baby mess had such potential and after the climax of sages murder the stories dwindled to yet another repeat of vic framing his son adam when a possible sage / adam / chelsea/ nick/ sharon/ dylan story cld ve had endless revireberations long lasting
hopefully with phelps and now pratt gone , our real y n r can return!!
I recall how happy I was when she left GH, so I imagine there will be a lot of the same emotions from Y&R fans.
I really hope this is true; but Pratt should be fired as well!
Thank God I can stop boycotting Y&R. The show I watched since Day 1, when I was only 13 years old. It’s been a long few years since Michael Munhey was fired. This is a long time coming. And I’m SO HAPPY TO START WATCHING Y&R AGAIN. IM THRILLED!!!!!
Long time coming … should’ve happened way before now!
Maybe some of the actors Jill handpicked from Highlight Hollywood will go too, now that she’s gone. Better days are here to come.
I think it was Hollywood Heights. Highlight Hollywood seems to be a blog/Web site, not show.
Melissa (Abby), Hunter (Summer), Robert (Noah)–were all on that show.
OMG!!!! I didn’t think JFP was the executive in the blind item. My first guess was Frank Valentini.
Maybe she can go to DOOL and put the final nail in their coffin.
Scary. But it could happen!!! Sad thing for DOOL: the nail is already there, it just needs someone to finish driving it in!!! And if anyone can do it, JFP can!
H@77 NO!!!! Keep her rancid @$$ away from days.
A-n-d…far away from B&B.
Lou…’Dyldo’ and ‘Tweedle Dumb’…LOVE IT…LOL!!!!! And, so true. Y-e-p.
Have a good one, dude.
Im confused, Is this suppose to be sad news? Why wasn’t she let go before we lost Sage,Austin and Courtney. I wonder if C.Pratt is going to? Well one thing is good besides her leaving. NO MORE FAVORITES!!! I also think that the one’s who have been there for a long time have too much of a say instead of doing their work. I read that if they don’t like their lines they go to the boss to discuss it. What happened with “this is your job-do it?” There are a lot of young actors/actresses that would & could do your job for a lot less JMO.
Bye bye Jilly!! Hehe finaly!!!! I would never repeat a Trump quote (Canadian- Sorry) but this applies : “FIRED”!!’
Ha Ha Ha Hey I like the Donald but your right FIRED!
Its about time. . I quit watching regularly a few months after she took over. I didn’t like her stories or casting decisions. Good riddance.
There’ll be swingin swayin records playin
Dancin in the Streets!
Mark…I remember the Beverlee McKinsey-JFP drama. Also, as far as I’m concerned, Miss McKinsey beat JFP (and the other TPTB at GL) at their own game…and she did it by honoring and following the rules of HER OWN CONTRACT!!!!! To me, that was BEYOND EPIC!!!!! Y-e-p.
Have a good one, dude.
Half of my prayer was answered. PLEASE fire Charles Pratt now!
How this woman ever got hired again is beyond me. She did so much long-term damage to soaps that some never recovered. Her ideas were short-term ratings-grabbing ideas that took away beloved characters. Lets hope and pray she stays far away from the other three remaining soaps.
This summer beginning on July 21, Netflix streams the return of WWE: Unreal for its third season. The behind the scenes docudrama series gives fans a glimpse of life in WWE and inside the writers room, as injuries, last-minute pivots, and career-defining decisions reshape WWE’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania 42.
WWE Unreal is taking fans deeper than ever inside World Wrestling Entertainment’s creative process, The hit docuseries will once again pull back the curtain on some of the biggest moments, boldest decisions, and unforgettable storytelling with some of the WWE’s greatest legends who’ve shaped the industry and new stars who are emerging as prominent parts of the future.
In the new season of ‘Unreal’ which consists of 5 episodes at 50 minutes each: John Cena says goodbye, a fan favorite returns, and the next generation of Superstars rise to the occasion.
Photo: WWE
The cast and WWE superstars featured include: the aforementioned Cena, plus Cody Rhodes, Liv Morgan, CM Punk, AJ Lee, Trick Williams, Lash Legend, Stephanie Vaquer, Oba Femi, Bron Breakker, Chelsea Green, Matt Cardona, Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.
As previously reported AJ Lee revealed on General Hospital star Maurice Benard’s (Sonny Corinthos) mental health series, State of Mind, that she was part of the cast of WWE: Unreal.
WWE: Unreal production credits include: Directors/Showrunners: Chris Weaver and Erik Powers Executive Producers: Peyton Manning, Jamie Horowitz, Ross Ketover, Keith Cossrow, Ken Rodgers, Jessica Boddy, Lee Fitting, Ben Houser, Marc Pomarico Sr. Producers: Harley Glantz, Brian Decker, Michael Flynn Producers: John Galiani, Dan Gati, Jeremy Lundblad Production Companies: Omaha Productions, NFL Films, Skydance Sports, WWE.
So, what do you think of the loglines for the new season of WWE: Unreal? Who are you most excited to see featured in the behind the scenes drama from the list of WWE superstars and the twists and turns leading into this past April’s WrestleMania 42? Let us know via the comment section below.
If you have ever tuned-in to the soap opera genre over the last 50 years, and witnessed some of the greatest romances, drama, classic and outlandish storylines of all-time, you would have seen Deidre Hall smack dab in the middle of it as longtime Salem heroine, Dr. Marlena Evans.
It was 50 years on this date, June 21, 1976 that Hall first appeared on DAYS on NBC which was its home for 57 years before it moved to its current streaming platform on Peacock in September of 2022.
In Hall’s first episode she was introduced as a psychiatrist treating Mickey Horton (John Clarke) at Bayview Sanitarium after he suffered a complete mental breakdown. Mickey learned that his brother Bill Horton (Edward Mallory) was the biological son of Mike Horton (Wesley Eure) with his wife Laura (Susan Flannery) and that he had been lied to for years and years. From that moment on, the rest is television and soap opera history. Days of Our Lives put Hall front and center.
Photo: NBC
There were so many heartbreaking and shocking story twists involving the beloved Marlena. One of the first was the historic crib death of baby DJ (Don Jr.) in 1980, Marlena’s infant son with Don Craig (Jed Allan). The story had never been told on daytime television and Hall’s performances received accolades from TV critics to fans when Deidre received thousands of letters from grieving mothers who had gone through the same thing in their own lives.
DAYS also brought Deidre’s twin sister, Andrea Hall Lovell to the show as her on-screen sister Samantha, who had a grudge and even locked Marlena up in a sanitarium and took her place! Fast-forward and in 1982, DAYS launched the Salem Strangler story where everyone believed Marlena was his next victim, only it turned out to be Samatha. Jake Kositchek (played by Jack Coleman) was revealed to be the actual serial killer.
Later, Deidre would assume the role of Marlena’s look-alike, Hattie Adams in 2004, once played by her sister, Andrea. Over the years, Hattie has come back to Salem and caused trouble giving Hall a chance to play a different type of character, then the always upstanding Marlena.
Photo: JPI
THE LOVES OF MARLENA
Deidre Hall struck gold with all her leading men: from the late Jed Allan, to Wayne Northrop as Roman Brady, and of course, her enduring love story with the late John Black played by the iconic Drake Hogestyn. In fact, Marlena’s 1986 wedding to John (who was believed to be Roman at the time) remains a favorite of fans to this day.
TOP MARLENA STORYLINES OF ALL-TIME
While the list is long, here are several that were some of the memorable during Deidre’s five decades in Salem!
The Possession (1994- 1995)
Considered one of the most ambiguous, outlandish and unforgettable story arcs in soap opera history, then Days of Our Lives head writer, James Reilly went there! Marlena was possessed by the devil! That included; the demonic eyes, hissing at father John (Black) the priest, morphing into creatures, and the classic levitating in her bed! It became a cultural phenomenon and cemented Deidre Hall’s status as a daytime television legend. Just ask Ryan Gosling!
Photo:JPI
The Affair with John Black (1993)
John and Marlena’s forbidden love could not be denied and they had passionate affair, while she was still married to the real Roman. Problem was her daughter, Sami (Alison Sweeney) caught her mother having sex with John on a desk that changed Sami forever.
The Salem Stalker Mystery (2003-2004)
In a shocker, Marlena was revealed to be a serial killer who bumped off several Salem favorites residents who were all alive on the island of Melaswen (spelled “New Salem” backward). Turns out, she was manipulated and gaslighted by Andre DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) to do the “killings” and had no memory of her actions.
The Pier Scene (1991)
This remains Michael Fairman TV’s all-time favorite Deidre Hall moment, which featured some of the best acting in the storied careers of both Hall and Drake Hogestyn.
In the story, a presumed-dead Marlena returns after four years. One foggy night on the pier, John is alone, and Marlena steps out of the fog to reveal herself, and is reunited with the love of her life. You can watch it any year, any decade, and in any moment, and it will have you reaching for the hankies again and again. (best music score fo a soap scene of all-time too!)
Photo: NBC
Kristen’s Secret Room Reveal (1997)
Marlena was caught in Kristen Blake’s (Eileen Davidson) elaborate web of lies, when she was held hostage in a secret wine cellar/room until John managed to track her down, leading to an iconic on-screen reunion. The classic catfight between Hall and Eileen Davidson was one for the ages.
It should be noted that Maison Blanche, Queen of the Night, Possession, Aremid and Lady in a Cage were all a part of classic DAYS storyline and all featured Hall at the epicenter of it from 1993-1996.
THE RECENT YEARS OF MARLENA
In recent years, DAYS brought back the possession 2.0 storyline under then head writer Ron Carlivati in 2021 where the devil leapt back in Marlena after taking advantage of a frail Doug Williams (the late Bill Hayes)
In 2025, viewers watched the end of the love story of John and Marlena, as John succumbed to injuries sustained in an explosion saving a vial of medication needed to bring Bo (Peter Reckell) back to life. Marlena has been a widow on-screen since June of 2025 as Hall as portrayed the good doctor struggling with her grief and to move on with her life since his death.
Photo: JPI
One story that never goes away is Stefano DiMera’s (the late Joe Mascolo) obsession with Marlena, his “Queen of the Night.” Even in death, Stefano is toying with her from the great beyond with the mysterious chess set and the missing “pawn,” that he had gifted John and Marlena in his will. The mystery is currently unfolding on all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives.
Tune-in to Days of our Lives on the Monday, June 22 episode as Marlena looks back at her 50 years in Salem.
Share your congratulations to Deidre Hall for this incredible 50-year milestone as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives in the comment section. Then let us know, what is your all-time favorite storyline or moment in the life of Marlena over the past 5 decades? And, just for kicks, and to celebrate this amazing milestone, here is Marlena levitating below circa Christmas Eve 1994.
General Hospital
Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric
With the highly-anticipated returns of Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) on this week’s June 24 episode of General Hospital, Steve Burton’s (Jason Morgan) upcoming return on July 13, which also serves as the ABC daytime drama’s 16,000 episode, things are about to fire on all cylinders in the story, as noted today by series star, Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos).
On Father’s Day, the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning actor and mental health activist took to his Instagram and expressed in a video that he has some unbelievable upcoming senes with the aforementioned Burton and Hughes. Add to that Nazneen Contractor (Justine Turner) and Rick Hearst (Ric Lansing), where Benard gave credit where credit is due to the GH writing team, which is led by co-head writers, Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten..
In this video, Benard said, “I just want to get on here and say that I did some work with Steve Burton, Finola Hughes, Rick Hearst, Nazneen Contractor, and they’re all just fantastic. Truly fantastic. But, I want to say the writing was just exceptional. It truly was. It was exceptional. So, thankful for that kind of writing. I know writers don’t get the credit a lot, but I just want to say to the General Hospital writing team, keep rolling!”
GENERAL HOSPITAL PREVIEW
So now the question becomes, with a major tease like that, what is about to go down between Sonny, Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric? Will we finally get to the end of the line for Sidwell (Carlo Rota), as previously teased by the GH co-head writers? Will we learn what happened to Jason and Anna, fully? Will Justine and Sonny becomes closer or stop their liaisons? And what of Ric? Will he be true blue to his brother or double-cross him? There is a lot at stake as we move further into the summer and one that looks like it could be one of the more exciting ones in years!
FINOLA HUGHES CONFIRMED AMAZING SCENES WITH MAURICE BENARD
As a punctuation point to his video, Benard also shared this written message in the post: “I just did some wonderful scenes with Steve Burton, Rick Hearst, Finola Hughes and Nazneen Contractor and and unbelievable writing, freaking amazing scenes that you will see in the near future on General Hospital.” In fact, Finola Hughes jumped in the post comment thread and responded, “I loved our scenes so much xxx”
Fans will most likely see all the scenes Benard referred to later in July, since GH tapes approximately six weeks ahead of air.
So, are you excited to see what Maurice is talking about? Are you hyped for what’s to come on GH? Any clue on what you think will go down between the main characters on the soap with the returns of Anna Devane and Jason Morgan to the mix? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Marlena Looks Back at 50 Years in Salem
‘WWE: Unreal’ Season 3 Premiere Date, Cast of Superstars, Announced by Netflix
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Carly and Lulu Make Plans to Rescue Their Children; Anna Looks Determined to Secure Her Freedom
Deidre Hall Marks 50 Years as ‘Days of Our Lives’ Dr. Marlena Evans
Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric
Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric
‘General Hospital’s’ Controversial Luke and Laura Rape Episode: Writer Sheri Anderson Reveals Behind the Scenes Decisions and Admits ‘I Was Wrong’ to Defend It (Exclusive)
‘Days of Our Lives’ Eric Martsolf Recalls Moment He Learned He Was Cast as Brady Black, and Last Scenes with Drake Hogestyn (SOAPY Exclusive Preview)
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‘WWE: Unreal’ Season 3 Premiere Date, Cast of Superstars, Announced by Netflix
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Carly and Lulu Make Plans to Rescue Their Children; Anna Looks Determined to Secure Her Freedom
Deidre Hall Marks 50 Years as ‘Days of Our Lives’ Dr. Marlena Evans
Y&R Preview: Matt Clark Asks Phyllis on a Date, Would You Be Down for the Pairing? Roger Howarth & Michelle Previously in GH’s Franco/Nina Romance
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