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Sally Sussman Officially Confirmed As Head Writer At The Young and the Restless!

Photo: SSussmanFacebook/Getty

Photo: SSussmanFacebook/Getty

It’s official! Sally Sussman is the new head writer of The Young and the Restless, replacing exiting Chuck Pratt Jr.!  A press release with the announcement today by Steve Kent, senior executive vice president of programming for Sony Pictures Television is below!

“Sally was part of the team that first brought Y&R to its long-standing position as America’s #1 daytime drama and brings with her years of experience writing serialized storylines,” said Kent.  “Her long-standing familiarity with the citizens of Genoa City and her great storytelling make her a perfect choice to take the reins at Y&R.”

“We are thrilled to have Sally return to The Young and The Restless, both as an award-winning writer, and someone who is passionate about honoring the legacy of the series with character driven story,” added Angelica McDaniel, Executive Vice President, Daytime Programs and Syndicated Program Development, CBS Entertainment and CBS Television Distribution. “The powerhouse partnership of Sally and Mal Young, our talented new Executive Producer, sets an even brighter course for daytime’s #1 drama.”

Sally Sussman has extensive writing experience on both episodic television series as well as daytime dramas.  After working for several years as a writer on various episodic television series, Sussman then went to work with William J. Bell on The Young and the Restless. She was with the show for five years as its Story Consultant and Associate Head Writer, and was nominated for three Emmy Awards. She then created the ground breaking daytime drama Generations for Brandon Tartikoff and NBC, and served as Head Writer and Executive Producer on the series.  After creating and writing a nighttime serial for Aaron Spelling as well as writing several television movies, Sussman returned to daytime television and joined Days of our Lives as its Head Writer, winning the show’s first ever Writers’ Guild of America Award and earning two more Emmy nominations. She then served as Executive Producer and Head Writer of MTV’s first foray into a late night serial with the 65 episode series “Spyder Games,” earning another Emmy Award nomination.   After a short break, Sussman returned to The Young and the Restless for another stint as Story Consultant and Co-Head Writer, winning her second Writers’ Guild of America Award and an Emmy Award. Most recently, Sussman completed her first documentary feature, Midnight Return: The Story of Billy Hayes and Turkey, which had its World Premiere as part of Cannes Classics at the Festival De Cannes 2016.

So, what do you think of the news of Sally Sussman returning to Y&R and as head writer of the top-rated soap? Comment below!

 

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Best news out of Genoa City in a long time!

I hope Sally reads ALL these recent comments by the fans. Get a bird’s eye view, as it were.

Does this mean old school Y&R is on its way back?

AT LAST. (singing the song in my head as well) Sense prevails in the management ranks and the two who seemed hell bent to destroy the story-telling legacy of YR are gone for good. Now maybe fans who stuck with the show when it seems all the female characters were totally trashed as characters with a thread of history which was totally ignored for several years of painful, ridiculous plots, will all see again the show that IS the Bill Bell legacy of character driven drama. I am very, very glad to read this shift in the structure of who will be guiding the writers for the hours of YR when the shift will definitely be noticeable as the themes, story lines finally change back to being true to characters. Bill Bell is smiling now.

Beyond thrilled that Sally is back at #YR!!! Now, let’s get rid of some dead weight on the show and bring it back to its glory days!

taken; from Wiki

The Young and the Restless
Associate Head Writer: June 10, 2005 – November 2006
Breakdown Writer: June 10, 2005 – November 2006
Writer: 1984 – 1988
Storyline Consultant: 1983-1987 (hired by William J. Bell), May 17, 2005 – May 12, 2006 (hired by John F. Smith)

Yes yes, terrific news. Y&R will get better storylines now. I always liked Sally.

Do I hear an AMEN? So ecstatic to hear this news…Oh how I pray that this will turn this show around and get back to it’s GLORY DAYS…sorry to sound like a broken record but this is the way I feel and I think from reading a lot of comments on this post that a lot of people feel this way…

after 10 + years of torture from past hack writers lml, mab( sharon/ victor year) and now pratt….
…. the real y n r is back in the house!!!
thank you powers that be!!!
pls bring back faves and return currents to the characters and stories they deserve sally!!!…
ashley and lauren need a story!
bring back jack and michaels edge!
nina needs to return to give jill a real arch nemesis..
the abbotts need traci!
victor needs to show some compassion and stop his evil ways for a moment
sharon and nick need to make their way back together as the super couple they are
olivia needs to come back to support the winters
‘you know bring back the real genoa city!!!

OK – I KNOW BELIEVE IN GOD!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Bring on the drama, Sally!!

Great News!!!

Y&R is definitely on the right track.

Versus GH, which is basically muddling along while FV slowly kills it.

I’m not sure it’s Frank so much as Jean and Shelly who have proven once again they can’t write intriguing stories. Their time at Y&R should have been a sign for GH that they can not be trusted to helm the creative direction of the show.

I don’t know what this means for Y&R. She seems to have an impressive resume. I guess we’ll see.

Great news! I’m already playing catch up so I can enjoy her stories. Bill Bell must be smiling on this. Can hardly wait!

HIP.HIP HOORAY HIP HIP HOORAY HIP HIP HOOOOORAYYYY!!!!! That’s all y’all I’m done HIP HIP HOORAY! Now I’m done.

The Best news of the Year! I’m so excited to have a writer that will honor Y&R’s legacy and is familiar with the characters. There is a God!

Maybe she will give Jack back his manhood!

Good news— let us hope CBS will actually give her the time to craft the stories soap viewers long to see– this is the first writing change that has me hopeful–and I look forward to making Y&R my must watch everyday soap again.

Whoo hoo! There is a Y&R God!

I’m so grateful that Sally is coming back to Y&R. I think Mal is the right EP, I think Sally will be the right Head Writer. I have hope for the first time in years that Y&R will now head in the correct direction! Let’s just hope she cans some of those sorry hacks that were working for Pratt.

Maybe the storylines will get endings now!

I remember a soap that she created and was a head writer of that existed in the late 80’s early 90’s . I think it lasted 2 or 3 years before cancellation . the soap was called ” Generations ” and ran on nbc . it was about a black family and a white family . kristoff st john started there . I felt it carried humanity and spoke so much about american history and the history of black people in this country . But Generations failed to deliver in terms of romance , love , mystery , emotionality , action , adventure . The key ingredients that make a soap great weren’t there or rather they were dumbed down and very weak . I am very worried that she is head writer of young and restless as i feel that we want a soap that is exciting to watch and i don’t think we will get that . Generations was very sociological and young and restless should not be in 2016 a purely driven sociological show . It is a soap opera ! I would have wanted a writer who had worked closely with bill bell especially in the early days of the show . My choice would have gone to Kay Alden instead . A head writing ticket made of Maria Arena Bell and Kay Alden would have made the show very interesting to watch . Maria had worked a lot with bill both on young but on bold as well . I feel that we the viewers want to be excited watching our soap . I loved the Ricky Williams story , the gaslighting of Ashley by Adam and the loss of the baby , Skye and the volcano , the story arcs with crazy Patty , the diane murder , Marge and Katherine … when these stories aired myself and friends of mine were watching or recording the show every day ! We found it exciting and we couldn’t get enough . I am afraid that Sally sussman will fail to deliver these types of stories that the show needs . I am worried when i look at Generations .

I would say that if Chuck Pratt got a chance then Sally Sussman more than deserves another crack at the show, and she knows what she’s doing, I truly believe that, and I don’t think she would write Y&R like she used to write Generations, that was decades ago, and some writers actually grow, and I believe she is in the growing category. Some go from bad to ok, some go from good to great, I think that she is already great and will continue greatness from her track record on Days, that’s what I recommend watching to get a feel for her work, and the Y&R episodes she worked on, her track record speaks for itself, but give her at least 6 months to clean up that huge mess, she wasn’t handed a perfect show and she’s got her work cut out for her, but I believe she will not only rise to the occasion, but she will exceed them. I have a great feeling about Y&R that I haven’t had in years. It has the right producer, and the right writer, so I’m just going to let it fall back into place. She does write action, look at Sami’s execution years ago, that was wild as hell. I understand your hesitance, but she’s a different caliber than the past 3 or 4 writing teams.

and we see what happens when a soap focuses on fantasy alone…big loud pointless stunts…and disregard for the actual word …drama.. Generations was a good show and critically acclaimed…there was just a glut of shows and a push to be over the top..i watched from day one to the end..Viveca Fox started there too and Kelly Rutherford..and the fabulous jonelle alan…her history and knowledge and writing expertise are sorely missed..and just what is needed…people will complain but i guarantee the numbers will go up…hope you give her a chance and watch.

Dante, I totally agree.

the below reply is actually to you nicholas in regards to your well put comment. I get it but it can’t be all that all the time. Back in the day Harding Lemay eschewed all that over wrought drama for character driven stories on Another World that drove the ratings straight to the top.

Generations was generations ago!

Her best and brightest accomplishment in my books was creating, writing and producing Generations, a show I loved so much, from beginning to end.

When oh when will General Hospital drop its current head writing team? Yup, they need to go.

If they dont, it tells me ABC wants out of the soap biz!

This is just flat out good news!!! She writes with humanity and heart! But her work on Generations proves she can also do some fun, far out stuff! I am shocked and happy that she gets this opportunity!!

She’s great!

If she brings back the balance and fairness so the characters of YR get to be on screen instead of backburned like so much garbage i will back her. I withhold all judgement been burned by MAB and CP cant stand another let down. Barely watch now so lets see how she handles the characters and if she is going to share the screen time with all or just her favs…Lauren/Michael Baldwin have been my favorite couple since 2004 I love them and they have been badly treated by MAB and CP so lets wait and see

OK,
don’t throw shoes at me, but
Isn’t she like 70?
Why oh why can’t there be young 30-40yrs old 21st century writers, just for one soap..
I really would like new youngblood writers, just once..
I’m sure she will bring back the 80’s and do a good job.
looking forward to the new writing..

((However , I was happy with Pratt))

I’m not sure Pratt was a spring chicken either, he’s 61, and Agnes Nixon is older than all of them, and made a cutting edge All my children on line. I get what you’re saying, but she at least deserves a chance, in my opinion, and youth doesn’t always guarantee great, up to date stories, or respect for the source material. Pratt was/is an acquired taste and I think with all his weekly explosions he is better suited for night time work, he works much better with fewer episodes and is way better at action shows, that are light on character development and heavy on shocks and surprises. I think Pratt just went back to what he does best, but that’s just me. I’m giving her 6-8 months to clean up the mess and reboot the show, but I have a feeling she’s the one to bring it back. She’s overdue, and should’ve been there in 2014, but they went with Pratt for some reason. Maybe some new young writers will be part of her team and they can be her proteges, just like she was with the great Bill Bell; it’s just too early to tell who else will be there with her.

She’s 60.

This is so exciting! I hope we see better storylines that don’t center around recycled nonsense (doppelgängers, babies who can’t seem to stay with their mothers once the umbilical cord is cut) and an egomaniac who gets mentally ill women like Sharon, Patty, Kelly, Chloe to do his dirty work while he remains unscathed. The Y and R is so much more than storylines revolving around Victor’s “love” for his family that always ends in horror for which he never pays.

This is really good news! Combine this with the new WP, and Y&R will continue to get better and better.
I have already noticed huge improvements with the writing and the direction.

Best news I heard all day! Now maybe the show will return to what it once was. I see positive changes since Mal Young was named EP, and now with Sussman returning, it should be even better. I know Bill Bell is smiling from above! He’d be very proud that she’s taking over the soap he created. CBS and Sony did a good thing by hiring her back.

I heard/read.. some fans of Days were not happy with her writing..

This is good news.

I hope it means even better news for Eileen Davidson (Ashley). I believe she was involved in bringing the Abbotts to the show and that she was working for DAYS in the 90’s when Davidson was on that show and used heavily. This leads me to guess that she and Davidson have a good working relationship and that she might get the value of Ashley.

Ashley has been completely underused in Davidson’s current stint on Y&R and the writing for her in the other plots in the past decade has been sub-par. I’d like to see a writer focus on the character (give her an age appropriate new beau; make her a strong businesswoman again) and let her drive some of the plots. Ashley has been nothing more than a prop for Abby and Jack for the last two years.

I’ve always liked the Jack-Ashley dynamic. They both love their father, love their family but also realize each other’s weaknesses. It is a fairly realistic sibling relationship. Somewhere in the past decade, the writers have reduced Ashley to a supporting role for Jack, rather than being an “equal” player in plots.

Eileen Davidson may be getting a little older (like the rest of us) but she still looks fantastic, maybe even better than she did 25 years ago (unlike the rest of us!). She easily could carry a decent romantic storyline or a well crafted Jabot business plot.

Yes Eileen Was On Y&R From 1981 or 1982 Until 1988

She Was At Santa Barbara From 1991 to 1993

Then DAYS From 1993 to 1998

Then Y and R Again From 1998/9 To 2006

Then From 2007 to 2008 Bold And The Beautiful

Then By The End Of 2008 Back On Y&R Again.

So Yes It Was Her, John (Jerry Douglas) Dina (Marla Adams) John’s 1st Wife, Tracey (Beth Maitland) And The Original Jack (Terry Lester) Who Brought The Abbotts To Life;

First thing she has to do is dim the lights a little- The show looks too lit up and i have hated that for a long time. Other than that, I think her stories will be good.

James, we don’t want it to dark…Lighting is very important to the sets…Also, have I said this before…PLEASE bring back the classic background music score.

What? TPTB at Sony actually making a decision that’s logical and sane and in the best interest of the show?

I’m sorry, my brain just cannot process this piece of information.

Does not compute. Does not compute. Does not compute. Does not compute.

I agree with all those who have said Bill Bell is smiling.

Meanwhile GH is keeping it’s head writers and EP, big mistake–HUGE!

Good news someone who loves the show is back in town! Whoopee!!!

Echoing the comments above, this is fantastic news. First Phelps got the boot, then Pratt opted out, and now we have a very talented team at the helm of Y&R again. Hopefully Mal and Sally bring Y&R back to its roots. The great news for Y&R continues!

Ditto Jimmy 🙂 SSM Has Since Been With Y&R On And Off Since 1983….. She Is The Right Fit. 🙂 Indeed.

After watching these “payoff” shows for the last 2 days, where Phyllis makes the big reveal to Jack, it just looks like the current writing regime put little or no effort into this. Writing was bland, not even suspenseful. I’m also realizing now that Jason Thompson has been miscast in this role, or that the writing was so bad, that even he couldn’t act his way out of the dialogue the last 2 days. There are days I really miss Billy Miller in this role. Sally’s material probably won’t be seen on air until end of November at the earliest, I just wished it could be sooner.

Long time “lite” viewer. The best wishes to the new team.

I traveled for many years, but when returning was always able to pick up who was who on Y & R. There was a core that lasted; not necessarily with the same actors, but the core was there.

Some stories were stupid beyond belief. Don’t know how I would feel about them today; things have changed. It was when the Underground blew up and all of Genoa City appeared to be blowing up that this site was found. The program watched, off and on for years, was no longer pleasant.

II don’t ask for much, and in general so admire the actors. Soaps can’t compete with “Downton Abbey” but there is a type of connection. I am not sure ratings, as they work, play to improvement.

For me I wish success.

I want a writer who hasn’t forgotten that Phyllis isn’t holier than thou. Everyone seems to have amnesia when it comes to her trying to kill Paul and Christine ; even Christine. It’s difficult for me to forget that someone tried to kill me!

I totally agree with that this is hugely overlooked. Christine and Paul should throw it in her face whenever they can.

Pratt has been a failure everywhere he’s been. Look at what he did to AMC. He completely wasted the great Beth Ehlers after ABC made that enormous casting coup. How do you get a job after that?

Can someone tell me what stories she wrote, characters she created? Thanks, Gang. Seems like many of the long term fans are happy with this news. I’m always optimistic. Staying tuned …..

in the 80’s Sally Sussman helped Bill Bell create the Abbott family.

Now bring back. Michael Muhney and the world will be right again!

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Robin Strasser Meets Kristen Alderson’s Baby Kiera in a One Life to Live Reunion

For years, Robin Strasser (ex-Dorian) and Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) have been the best of friends and the best of co-stars. On One Life to Live, Kristen was only six-years-old when she began her journey as Todd and Blair’s daughter and met the iconic Strasser.

Now in 2024, Kristen is a new mom to her baby girl, Kiera. Strasser, who lives in New York, along with her best friend, John, traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just a few days ago to visit the Alderson family and spend the day with Kiera.

Taking to her Instagram a very happy Kristen shared, “Look at who came to visit today! Robin & her bestie John! Robin and I got all misty eyed when she met Kiera today!”

Photo: JPI

In a very touching part of her post, Alderson expressed, “Robin is such a special person in my life, it means so much to me that we’re as close as we are. She’s just the best❤️ A great day of laughs & a great brunch spread😍”

Robin added, “I’ve been smiling since I met her. I’m a big softie for babies, but what a doll Kiera is!” The Daytime Emmy-winning star, also shared, “I’m so grateful for my ongoing friendship with Kris and Kathy. Amazing women and loyal friends!”

What do you think about Kristen and Robin’s enduring friendship and recalling their time on One Life to Live? Comment below.

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General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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