News
The Making Of Y&R's Plane Crash! Production Designer David Hoffmann & Cast Give A Behind-The-Scenes Look!
Courtesy/YahooTv
The Young and the Restless is about to have some major catastrophic events hit the residents of Genoa City beginning on the Friday, February 13th episode!
In one of the story set-ups: Devon (Bryton James), Hilary (Mishael Morgan), Neil (Kristoff St. John) , Colin (Tristan Rogers), Jill (Jess Walton), Cane (Daniel Goddard) and Lily (Christel Khalil) are aboard a plane that is traveling to Chicago, but it hits turbulence, and a snow storm, and crashes.
This is one of the main stories being delivered for February Sweeps by Y&R’s newest head writer, Chuck Pratt Jr. known for some heavy duty disaster storylines on his previous written works on daytime and primetime soaps .
Yahoo TV has a story and a video package on how the plane crash was executed on the production side through the narrative as told by Y&R production designer, David Hoffmann. He related that to make the plane crash “look” as real as possible that the design process actually started with research: looking for pictures of actual plane crashes and finding resources for where to get pieces of wrecked planes. Once the props were found, the production team only had a few days to get the sound stage transformed. In addition to fork-lifting huge pieces of plane wreckage to the site, more than 300 platforms of varying heights were installed, snow equipment was brought in, and tons of “snow” blanketed trees that were added to create the wintry crash scene.
Included in the video package, and behind the scenes look are Y&R cast members: Kristoff St. John, Mishael Morgan, Bryton James, Daniel Goddard, and Jess Walton.
Watch the video after the jump on the making of the plane crash. Then tell us, what you think of the set? Do you think any of the characters will die? How will lives be changed from the passengers on-board the flight by this incident? Comment below!
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Cynthia Watros Honors Former ‘Titus’ Co-Star Stacy Keach Following His Passing
General Hospital star Cynthia Watros, who can currently be seen in on the ABC soap opera in the role of Nina Reeves, has had a enduring career in television. That included her time on the 2000-2002 Fox sitcom, Titus.
In Titus, Watros starred along with Stacy Keach as Erin Fitzpatrick and Ken Titus, respectively. After the November 10th news that Keach had passed away at 85 while living in Poland, Cynthia took to her Instagram on Thursday, November 12 to pay tribute to the great actor.
Watros expressed, “My first prime time show was along side Stacy. I loved him instantly. What an amazing talent and man.❤️”
Photo: ABC
In Titus, Stacy played stand up comedian Christopher Titus’ heavy-drinking, chain-smoking, five-times-divorced father who frequently pulled cruel pranks and tried to toughen his kids up. Cynthia played by Christopher’s level-headed, big-hearted girlfriend trying to build a normal life with him. In fact, Cynthia’s role on the sitcom was first series regular role after her Daytime Emmy run of Annie Dutton on Guiding Light which ran from 1994-1998.
STACY KEACH’S WIFE ON HIS PASSING
Keach’s wife, Malgosia shared the news of the actor’s death publicly in a statement with PEOPLE. Malgosia expressed, that Stacy had, “a long and difficult battle with a serious heart condition and heart failure.”
She added, “Stacy peacefully departed this world. He fought for so long, with extraordinary courage, determination and strength. He was a true warrior, facing his illness with the same remarkable spirit and resilience that defined his life.”
Małgosia continued, “Stacy was not only a legendary actor, admired and loved by audiences the world over, but also my beloved husband, my companion and the heart of our family. His passing leaves an immeasurable emptiness in our lives. But his extraordinary spirit, his unforgettable voice and the love he gave so generously will remain with us forever.”
Now, let us know do you remember when Cynthia made her sitcom debut in Titus? Share your thoughts via the comment section on Cynthia’s many TV roles and the passing of Stacy Keach in the comment section. But first, check out the very first episode of Titus with Cynthia Watros below!
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Emmy Winner Ambyr Michelle Wants to Compete on ‘Dancing with the Stars’: ‘Pick Me’ (Exclusive)
Soap opera fans are always clamoring for when Dancing with the Stars reveals their cast each season, that they would include a familiar face from daytime drama, but it rarely happens, if ever, anymore.
Over the last several years, the series has leaned heavily into casting celebrities with massive TikTok or Instagram followers, which in turn, have helped this season and last have their best ratings numbers in years.
But, how about for next season’s cast of Dancing with the Stars, that it could include newly-awarded Daytime Emmy winner, Ambyr Michelle (Eva Thomas) of Beyond the Gates?
Photo: CBS
LOVE OF DANCE TO LOVE OF ACTING
Michael Fairman TV spoke to Michelle about her dance background and if she would love a shot at lifting the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy during Wednesday’s November 11, livestream chat on the Michael Fairman Channel.
Ambyr explained to fans (who joined in on the live chat), how she began her show business career. “I started off as a dancer, first and foremost. Acting wasn’t really something I wanted to go after. I did plays when I was younger, but it was just something we did in school, but I really wanted to be a dancer. I moved out to LA to dance, and I fell out of love with dance, which was so weird.”
This year’s Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series winner, added, “I was like, ‘What is going on?’ I moved all the way out here for dance. I found I was forcing myself to go to dance class, and I just didn’t have the passion for it. I was working at this restaurant at the time, and one of my coworker was like, ‘What about taking an acting class out here?'”
Next, Ambyr took the coworker up on the idea. “So, I took an acting class and I fell in love with it that day,” shared Michelle. “I was like, ‘I want to do this for the rest of my life.’ I thought, I would love to book a role, of course, as a dancer, but I think acting has a little bit more longevity.”
Photo: ABC
A SHOT AT THE LEN GOODMAN MIRRORBALL TROPHY
When the talked turned to if Ambyr would consider or be interested in appearing on the ballroom dance competition series, she piped up with, “I would love to do Dancing with the Stars! Pick me!”
As those in the live chat rallied around this idea, it made us think, Ambyr could be the first contestant from Beyond the Gates, and someone representing the soaps. It checks off so many boxes! To which Ambyr replied, “That would be beautiful.”
You can check out the full conversation with Ambyr below.
So, what do you think soap fans? Can we make sure Ambyr’s name gets in front of the producers and casting director for next season’s Dancing with the Stars? Would you like to see her in the competition? If so, who would be your dream pro professional dance partner for her? Let us know in the comment section.
The latest ratings are out for the week of October 26-30, 2026 and the big takeaways include: that CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates was separated by only 23,000 viewers behind third place (of the soaps) General Hospital! For the last several weeks, Beyond the Gates has been closing the gap on this year’s winner for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series, and continuing to best GH in the key demos.
According to the latest Nielsen ratings breakdown from Soap Opera Network, the final week of October brought Beyond the Gates 1.790 million on average tuning-in and the show set a season high in total viewers. Meanwhile, General Hospital hit a new season low! The long-running ABC soap had 1.813 million for the week, and once again the series did not go over the 2 million mark.
Meanwhile, in the key Women 18-49 demo, Beyond the Gates was firmly ahead of GH with a rating share of 0.21, while General Hospital had 0.17 rating share.Then, in the key Women 25-54 demo, Beyond the Gates was once again ahead of the ABC soap with a ratings share for that demo at 0.30 while GH came in with 0.26.
Photo: CBS
MORE BY THE NUMBERS
In addition and comparatively, Beyond the Gates +22,000 viewers week-to-week, and had the largest gains in viewership year-to-year in daytime TV with +267,000 from this in 2025.. However, General Hospital seems to be going in reverse. The show was down -56,000 viewers week-over-week and down -22,000 year-over-year .
BEYOND THE GATES
Let’s take a look at some of the storylines that had people tuning-in to Beyond the Gates during the ratings week:
Hayley (Marquita Goings) attempted a massive shocker regarding her pregnancy and tried to use it to extract money from Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). Although, Bill saw right through her game, he demanded a paternity test, and made it clear he has no intention of raising the child—planning instead to pay her off to take the baby and leave. Meanwhile, Hayley confided her plan to her cousin Randy (Maurice P. Kerry).
Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges) and Naomi Hamilton (Arielle Prepetit) clashed over Jacob’s ongoing investigation into The Impaler, causing significant strain in their marriage. At the same time, Smitty (Mike Manning) considered taking matters into his own hands—including potentially heading to Mexico for evidence—while Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) worried about what comes next.
Photo: ABC
GENERAL HOSPITAL
Over at General Hospital for the ratings period, the story served up included:
Carly (Laura Wright) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) teamed up to investigate what really happened to Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna). Later, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) leads them to Jack’s dead body.
Jude (Wil Traval) dropped a bombshell claim to Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn); that he is Phoebe’s father, while Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard) signed their divorce papers.
Then, Danny caught Rocco (Finn Carr) and Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarski) sharing a kiss, plus the shocking return of Heather Webber (Alley Mills) capped the week.
Now the questions become; without having much promotional synergy in the ABC day-part to draw more eyeballs it is not helping but hurting General Hospital. It seems Beyond the Gates is also a benefactor of a one-two-three punch of CBS soaps (Y&R, B&B and BTG) and promotion.
However, that still doesn’t take away the fact that Beyond the Gates is close to besting GH in all ratings category as they go head-to-head in some markets across the country.
So, are you excited to see Beyond the Gates climb in the ratings? Are you concerned for General Hospital? Do you think they can stave off Beyond the Gates in total viewers or will the upstart soap overtake them in the next ratings report? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
‘General Hospital’s’ Cynthia Watros Honors Former ‘Titus’ Co-Star Stacy Keach Following His Passing
‘Beyond the Gates’ Emmy Winner Ambyr Michelle Wants to Compete on ‘Dancing with the Stars’: ‘Pick Me’ (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie Kicks Bill to the Curb … for Now
RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Inches Closer to ‘General Hospital’ in Total Viewers
B&B’s Sydney Bullock Weighs In on Future of Dylan and Will: ‘I Think She Can Hold on to Him for Awhile’ (Exclusive)
Y&R’s New Head Writers Share Vision for Genoa City: Contemporary Homage to Bill Bell, Mixing Heightened Escapism and Grounded Reality
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Episodes From New Co-Head Writers, Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor, Begin to Air
‘General Hospital’ Casts Ayla Bullington as the New Avery Jerome-Corinthos
‘Days of our Lives’ Celebrates 61st Anniversary: EP Ken Corday Teases New Character’s Arrival in Spring 2027
‘Days of our Lives’ Kyle Pryor Debuts as Dominic Marino and Says of Alleged TV Mom, “Deidre Hall is the Absolute OG, Amazing” (Exclusive)
‘General Hospital’s’ Cynthia Watros Honors Former ‘Titus’ Co-Star Stacy Keach Following His Passing
‘Beyond the Gates’ Emmy Winner Ambyr Michelle Wants to Compete on ‘Dancing with the Stars’: ‘Pick Me’ (Exclusive)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie Kicks Bill to the Curb … for Now
B&B’s Sydney Bullock Weighs In on Future of Dylan and Will: ‘I Think She Can Hold on to Him for Awhile’ (Exclusive)
‘Days of our Lives’ Veteran James Reynolds Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis
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News3 days agoY&R’s New Head Writers Share Vision for Genoa City: Contemporary Homage to Bill Bell, Mixing Heightened Escapism and Grounded Reality
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Previews4 days agoTHE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Preview: Episodes From New Co-Head Writers, Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor, Begin to Air
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General Hospital3 days ago‘General Hospital’ Casts Ayla Bullington as the New Avery Jerome-Corinthos
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Days Of Our Lives4 days ago‘Days of our Lives’ Celebrates 61st Anniversary: EP Ken Corday Teases New Character’s Arrival in Spring 2027
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Days Of Our Lives1 week ago‘Days of our Lives’ Kyle Pryor Debuts as Dominic Marino and Says of Alleged TV Mom, “Deidre Hall is the Absolute OG, Amazing” (Exclusive)
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Looks harrowing! Set designers did a good job.
So, does Neil admit he can see?
Looks like Hilary is injured and Devon is tending to her.
Looks pretty good…someone, maybe Colin, will notice Neil can see and later blackmail him…hope the plane lands on the long thought dead Dru Winters and we see a pair of ruby slippers she was wearing sticking out from underneath the wreckage…lol
Ha Ha 🙂
Aww, jimh. Another decomposed body, on another soap? LOL
Jim, dont say the word “Blackmail!” Sictoria Rowell may be listening!
Wished Sharon found out it was her Adam . They are the best couple ever to hit the sheets on Daytime 🙂
Chelsea or Victor would be fine by me if they are gone. Chelsea does not belong to Adam. The days of Sharon and Adam were the most romantic steamy loving tender. Nick can have anyone he wants but threatens Sharon by taking Faith away and yet he was the reason Faith was stolen leaving Sharon for Phyllis in a mental hospital and playing with Sharons emotions. Nick doesn’t deserve Sharons love. Why does Victor and Nikki and Phyllis always get free passes to do criminal acts and Sharon is the person who is never allowed to be happy
This show is FANTASTIC! There are so many different stories peaking at this time. The airplane crash is very real. The Penthouse fire is unbelievable! Really a way to get Adam back with Chelsey and have a hidden secret of identity! Then let’s not forget the Underground disaster. Then the murder at the Abbott cabin. Cannot wait to see the show tomorrow! The writers are great ones! Just keep us entertained!
Chelsea can be so fake. I have no idea why she is still on this show . Sorry I find her annoying
Towards the end of the video everyone has blood on them but I can’t see anyone worse off than the other so maybe the one who dies is not on the plane. That Abbott cabin in the woods Summer’s husband left the party. Sharon is with Faith but the lights flicker, and the underground has drywall falling from the ceiling. The first video we saw showed Nikki,Victor, Phyllis so I think a lot of people are going to the underground & that’s where someone dies.
I hope its not another storyline where Dullyn does a repair job to the “Underground” like he did at Sharon’s house!
I have to give a BRAVO for the plane crash set. well done!
I am one of very few who likes Pratt..
I knew he would create a huge entrance to tell all ; I HAVE ARRIVED!
My only disappointment is– the plane did not crash into Cassies gave..
Picture it– Sharon at Cassies gave for the 3045th time giving one of her sniveling speeches and BANG the plane crashes on it and takes them out, now that would be AWESOME!!
Nonetheless, it was a great moment for Y&R to finally have some action (thanks Pratt!
Now let’s get to the kill list… (Pratts like to kill-off the big ones for sensational stories 😉
Totally sick!
Yeah, that is a bit much.
Su…how can it take ‘them’ out if Sharon is the only one at the grave…Cassie is already dead!!!
lol good one, jimh.. 🙂
but-
Cassie is always still there she is not dead enough..
that grave is a pulpit for Sharons rantings for a decade and more..
the plane crashing on the grave while Sharon was doing her 34423erd grave rant, would be cool ..
LOL ohh it was just a dream, jimh, just a dream, is all ..
Kudus to Pratt– he gave us some action and it was good!
I hope he keeps the action going!! I always liked Pratts mind/writing ..
People grieve for dead children every day, they aren’t just plot points and people forget about them. YR should be applauded for keeping Cassie’s memory alive. That’s a bit harsh.
Hey, Su. You are kidding, right? You are aware that a cemetery is Holy ground, right? I know you are kidding. That’s sacrilegious , so I will assume you are totally being cute…
Let Sharon have her pulpit, su. I will take into consideration that probably you never lost a child. That pain is a breathing, living companion for the rest of a mother’s life. Trust me, I KNOW.
Sharon is the personification of every mother mourning(not ranting) the loss of her child forevermore and beyond. Cherish what you have . This is a soap but it exemplifies reality….at least, this aspect of Y&R. I have found that this is the only soap that remembers its dead, especially children.
It Pratt’s intention is to repel the sanctity of what is dear to people (especially their departed loved ones) then, I see very sadistic writing in the making. I find no joy in other people’s misfortune. Therefore, I pray Pratt will not accommodate your lust for gore, Su.
You will not believe, Su, how many charities I support……mostly anonymous for sick children.
Thank you Cee-Cee lovely post!
the soap is not real life..
it is campy fictional stories.. no one is dead ..
no other soap has a tombstone as a pulpit for speeches and many many children have died on soaps and none have their tombstone used as a prop..
I agree with k/kay about your lovely post…i too know what its like to loose a child…i was not the parent but i had to bury an infant nephew whom i was going to raise…he’d be 15 this year…ill always wonder how he’d turn out…his gravesite is near my mothers and another nephew who passed from cancer in his 30s and left behind a wife and 3 daughters…i visit the gravesites of my relatives several times a year…it makes me still feel very close to them…i even update my mother on Days Of Our Lives…she was preparing to watch it on the day she died but had a stroke before that day’s episode air…some might think thats corny but its my way of keeping them a part of my life…peace!!!
jimh ,,I’m so sorry for your loss.. I buried most of my family..
but- that is real life real people not a make believe characters..
Cassie is not dead, no actor is dead, no one is dead..
it is not a real tombstone
it is not a real cemetery ..
Cassies tombstone is a prop and a tool for Sharon’s rantings for over a decade to depress people and is very campy overkill for a dead character ..
It’s horrible to use a child’s character, a dead child character as a story tool to make some people feel sad it is just not right to use the death of a child to generate snivels in a scene, its just not right to use the childs death even if a character, to make some people feel bad….
(people grieve, pay homage give respect and tears for real people in real graves.
Sorry, I still want both gone .. ( no cookies for me lol ..
Looks like an amazing set for an even more incredible storyline; I’m very excited about it!
Nice to see some money being put into a soap story.
Charles Pratt was the one behind the killing of AMC. He was the worst writer. Good luck Y&R. Between he and JFP things are not good.
AMC died 2 years ‘after’ Pratt was gone..
He gave a great tornado and one kill,,
It was Pratt who killed Dixie with poison pancakes, yes?
I never could stand Dixie so another gold star for Pratt!! 🙂
Y&R is going to have some needed changes!
GO PRATT !
Pratt didn’t kill Dixie with poisonous pancakes, that was McTavish.
He did not kill AMC it was being talked about taken off the air long before he came on the scene.
This is amazing. The crew (ALL) did a wonderful job. I can’t wait to see it unfold. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Yes!
It was very good. indeed !!!
double take on: “amazing”
this makes for giddy production excite
yes, LOL… excitable happenings
hey : I will bring up Days of OUR Lives in it’s entirety… plays out in the horton square and surrounding park….
oy! lame … a diss on OUR show of shows
this generates top draw… kudos to Y&R product
some serious bore going on with Neil, Devon, and Lilly… specifically with Devon… did I say DEVON … Lilly never really triggered any thing… other than Cane in all his presence ooh la la’d for Lilly. Neil has grown in to his own… and just needs a good costar… when will that ever happen?
ps: Sharon and Adam would generate this much excite as well
it looks damned GOOD
Should be a great show.
So looking forward to seeing this tomorrow. I guess Neil will sober up instantly after he downed the glass of scotch today before he delivered his bombshell that he could see. Glad that Canadian fans are 1 day ahead of the US.
Well, you know the only thing we’ll probably see on Friday is the plane descend. They want us back on Monday!
You were right…they didnt show the crash…and want us back on Monday…p.s. and thats about the blackmail warning above…lol
Looks like a lot of ff for me. One of the last things I’m interested in is a plane crash and the fallout from it. Enough of that type stuff on the news, and I won’t watch that either.
I think a plane crash disaster is a good way for CP to come in shake things up. A disaster like this will be great motivation to drive characters to act both in character and out. He may be able to right some wrongs that have been done by previous wirting regimes.
Kinda’ sorta’ like this:
Hilary dies. We can totally do without her. Because we don’t care about Devon either. A ba-zillionaire? C’mon!
Colin dies. This character has gone no where anyway. Leave Jill on her own and she’ll be way more fun.
THe crash causes Neil goes to go blind again. (By the way, he should continue to meet Nikki at the dive bar. I’m loving these two gettin’ drunk together and I hope that they start laughin’ soon and havin’ fun. Its’ a bar!)
Since Neil is blind again and never ‘fessed up to seeing, he’d have no credibility with anyone but Devon that he saw his boy and his wife in the sack. Devon could convince Lily that Neil doesn’t know what he’s talking about and Colin is dead so he can’t give him away. And Cane is a wimp.
I’m still hoping that Neil gets Hilary in the sack and has a great time and then gives his son the elbow and a couple of wink winks! They talk like that. Ewww.
Devon has tremendous guilt and continues to lie to his dad about his relationship with the now dead Hilary (buh bye) but promises to be a better man. Maybe he’ll even leave town to do good charity work somewhere and leave the big businesses to actual business people.
So, what, the plane crashes into the Newman cabin where all the other people in Genoa City are having a VD party? Ok.
Victor crashes the party because no one would invite him and after the plane hits and he’s injured he’s alone with Sharon who saves him. He starts remembering how much he loved Sharon (remember, Sharon and Katherine were the only two people that Victor always stood up for. They were the only ones that Victor had compassion for.) Katherine is dead and Sharon, while off her meds, burned Vic’s house down. And he finally remembers that she’s one of the two people he truly loves and forgives her.
Nikki, is sitting on the edge of the couch when the house rocks and falls on her butt, and says, “oh, my MS!” but no one notices because the house is on fire and other people are dying.
Austin dies and this ultimately motivates Summer to become a nun and stop pouting, and she does good work in GC. She’s an important legacy character and needs to stick around. Phyllis will ask her why she wants to wear the long black dress all the time.
Chelsea, Billy, Sage, Gabriel/Adam, Victoria, Stitch and Nick are all trapped together …. under the roof of the Abbot Barn, yeah …. and like the Ricardo and the Mertzs stranded on the Alp, each confesses who they really want to be with except for Nick who is still wishy washy and realizes they just might be saved ……
This is a good way for Pratt to get rid of the fat. Hilary and Devon survive because Neil has to screw with them for a while. Although Colin is a waste, he just signed on for another year. Austin wont die because him and Summer will be in a triangle with Kyle. I dont know, maybe Lilly goes? She is holding Cane down for sure.
Oh brother, Pratt’s BS is here. Death & destruction hits Genoa City. How predictable can you get? Get the morgue ready, the bodies will be piling up quickly.
Honestly, if there were no survivors on board would it really be a big loss to the cast? Oh, and can we have Dylan be a pilot! Oh, alright, Cane survives BUT only if he gets a good story line!
In a perfect storyline Cane and his dad are gone forever. Lily finds a new and interesting lover. Meanwhile, back in Genoa City, Kelly, Ben and Billy are buried underground never to be found.
I thought I was the only one who couldn’t digest Cane, penny…Ugh. He brings Lilly down. I wish Daniel would come back…sigh!
lily and tyler were hot and real! lily was helping the bad boy face his father! too bad ptb dumped that because lane fans were threatened by their chemistry.
nows a perfect time to bring back tyler for lily and leslie for neil!!