Interviews
The Sharon Case Interview – The Young and the Restless
Courtesy/QVC
In a major plot twist on today’s episode of The Young and the Restless, Sharon Newman reveals in a discussion with the vision of her deceased daughter Cassie, that she switched the paternity results of Summer Newman, and that Nick is her true biological father, not Jack Abbott! This comes on the heels of recent developments where Nick finally came forward with what he believed to be the “truth” … that he was not Summer’s bio-dad! Or, so he thought! Flashback: Years before, Nick has an affair with Phyllis while she is seeing Jack, and she becomes pregnant. A paternity test is ordered. Only when the test comes back, only Nick sees the results and proclaims that he is indeed Summer’s father. Flash forward: Years later in 2013, Nick starts feeling guilty when Summer takes a liking to Jack’s son, Kyle. He opens the paternity test from years ago to see that it reveals that the results are inconclusive. So, he orders another one secretly, and this time the test comes back from the DNA sample, showing that Jack is Summer’s father. Oh, what a tangled web the powers-that-be at Y&R are weaving now on the number one soap!
As for Sharon Newman, changing the paternity test results is just another shocker from the character who has previously: burnt down the Newman ranch, developed kleptomania and stole things left and right, and fell in love with Adam Newman (the man who stole her baby and made her believe hers had died, while he passed the baby off as Ashley’s in a despicable plot!) But for Daytime Emmy winner and fan favorite, Sharon Case (Sharon Newman) this new plot development opens up a whole new set of circumstances and secrets that will generate so much story for her and others on the canvas in the months, and possibly years to come!
In this exclusive interview, On-Air On-Soaps sat down with Sharon Case in her dressing room at CBS to get her thoughts on: how she justifies Sharon’s action in the switching of Summer’s paternity, what she thinks this means for the future of Shick and Shadam, what will the upcoming departure of Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) mean for the story moving forward, and how Cassie’s Death still resonates years later to Y&R fans everywhere, and how Sharon and Nick losing their daughter many years ago, has been the impetus for so much heartache, change, miscommunication, and missteps, in their lives.
Whether you are on board with the decision that Y&R has made to have Sharon be the woman who pulled the ultimate switch, one thing can be said, Sharon Case has played everything that has been handed to her to the hilt, and after you read our chat, you will come away with the motivations behind it all. Here’s what Ms. Case had to say!
MICHAEL
How long have you known that it would be revealed that Sharon ultimately was the one who switched the paternity results? And, what did you think when you heard that Sharon was responsible for the switcheroo?
SHARON:
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
I have known for a while. I was told in advance of shooting it, roughly what the storyline was going to be, not the whole thing, but I was given enough information so that I knew how to play the scenes. What did I think? I think it was a great idea. I said to Josh Griffith our head writer, secrets in soap opera are key. We have had a secret in place, or sort of secret, for seven years, and that is what is the paternity of Summer? Nick never exposed what it is. So these little secrets that the writers put in, and leave there for years, are what are driving the show in some respect. So, you can’t not have them, and then eventually you have to pick them up. But, the great thing about when you pick them up is that maybe you resolve the secret, but at the same time you create some other secret. So it just keeps going, and that is what keeps the show going. I love how Josh decided to address this secret about the paternity test, yet he put a twist on it, so it still remained unknown, or set wrong, or somebody does not know the truth. But, it’s really only great if you are going to leave it like that for years, just like it was like that for years before. So, that the same game is always in play. How hilarious and wild would it be for it to go on for years that the audience knows that Sharon switched the test, and the audience knows who Summer’s father is, but no one, not Nick, or anyone else in Genoa City, knows except for Sharon? I think that’s a great long-term secret, and one day it can be addressed and come out, and we could re-test the paternity, and then maybe the truth is then… it is Jack’s! There is no reason to resolve or end it, because I think it’s fun to see what happens. All of these things are what creates conflict and high drama, because that is what we are after. This is brilliant, because it is very relevant to every single character on the show. What could be more relevant … Cassie’s death, and then the paternity of Summer. Phyllis getting pregnant in the first place, and Sharon feeling that was wrong. That changed fate in a way it never should have.
MICHAEL:
We had spoken about this before, about how all the different writing regimes had put Sharon through the ringer, and you had to make sense of all of it, and had the task of making it all work on-screen. Were you at all concerned about how your fan base would react now to the revelation of Sharon being the one who switched Summer’s paternity test?
SHARON:
Courtesy/CBS
Well, no. First of all, you are right. The burden was always on me as the actress to make sense of this character, and to try to use a point of view, an opinion, an emotional tone, something that I add to her in playing these storylines that somehow makes this make sense to the audience. And, that was up to me. My writers were not necessarily always giving me that. They always gave me good storylines. And boy, were they dramatic, quirky, fun and entertaining! But it wasn’t all adding up in the end. Finally, Josh Griffith did that when he decided that Sharon was bipolar. That resolved everything from her entire past, and for her entire future. It was the greatest relief to me, because I don’t have to justify Sharon’s behavior anymore, as the actress. I don’t have to rely on my writer to justify her behavior anymore. We now know why Sharon behaves this way, and that probably should have been written or decided upon a long time ago. So, it was a stroke of genius for Josh to come up with that. There are always times when people go off their meds, and people do go off their meds constantly. First of all, no one really remembers to take their meds everyday. You may remember for a whole week, but then you forget a day, that is just how life goes. Or, you go out of town and you just forgot them, or you purposely go off them, because you think you are doing very well. This is a chronic issue with people who take meds on a regular basis, and so you are never always leveled out. So every time you do that, you really rock your boat by missing one day of meds.
MICHAEL:
On today’s episode Sharon sees Cassie, and that precipitates the reveal that Sharon switched Summer’s paternity results. Why do you think she came to her at this time?
SHARON:
Photo Credit: Getty Images
My take on Sharon talking to Cassie, from Sharon’s point of view, is this: Sharon has always been very spiritual. She was a spiritually religious young lady. Remember, when she was with Adam at the feet of angels at the graveyard, and she had gone to seek out the psychic? Sharon believes in all things in the spiritual world. She spends a lot of time at the graveyard since Cassie passed away. Sharon really does believe that she is connected to the spiritual world, and that she does have some kind of communication with it. In some way, that makes sense to her. I think she feels, in really trying times in her life, extra communication with her daughter, and that spiritual mother/daughter connection will never end. When she sees Cassie, she always feels that is her guardian angel. Nick and Sharon have always said that she is. They have always told the other kids that, “Cassie is their guardian angel and watching out for them, and if you really listen, you can hear what she is saying.” Sharon is really listening right now to hear what Cassie is saying.
MICHAEL:
Doesn’t Cassie seem to appear when Sharon feels guilty about things she did?
SHARON:
I think guilt is a time when you are in need of counseling, as well as some other emotions. So Sharon does tell Cassie she switched the results of Summer’s paternity.
MICHAEL:
Courtesy/CBS
So, does Sharon feel justified in switching the test results?
SHARON:
Sharon really does feel justified in what she is doing. In fact, she feels she is doing what needs to be done. She feels that hers and Nick’s destinies, and Cassie’s destiny, and everyone’s life was compromised by Phyllis having this baby, because Nick and Phyllis had an affair, and Nick wanted to get back with Sharon. Sharon said “no” and it ended up not happening because of this baby …that is the thing …. it was because of Summer. Sharon sees it, as that was something that was never meant to be. Sharon is a religious person, and that was the devil’s work. And so, she is going to take matters into her own hands, and set things right for her destiny, and everyone’s destiny to fix things the way they should be in the name of Cassie, who lost her life, and in the name of everything. So she is absolutely convinced that this is the right thing to do. Sometimes there is a point of view that, “OK, maybe some level of destruction is necessary to do right by all.” That is why I think she thinks everybody is going to be better off because of this change that was made. And that is why she goes into it very righteously doing so, knowing this is the right move. I think she’ll take her signs from the universe as to if she did the right thing, or not. And, some more signs come from the universe immediately after this that tell her whether this is her path, the right path, their fate. It’s interesting how it moves along.
MICHAEL:
So many people wanted Adam and Sharon, or better known by many as “Shadam”. Now are you saying that all along Sharon had in her mind that she ultimately wanted to get back together with Nick?
SHARON:
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
I think she thinks again that is the way things were supposed to have happened. But in the meantime, and in those years, because it hadn’t happened that way, and it didn’t seem like Nick was going to leave Phyllis, Sharon met Adam and fell in love with Adam. That was the only other man that has ever come into her life, where she felt the same way as she does about Nick. I would not say that one is better, or bigger than the other. I think they were both equals, and that is what made that storyline so interesting. You have two different kinds of men, and yet they are brothers … and yet Sharon fell in love with both of them, and each of them for opposite reasons, which made it very compelling. I think the events at the time that led to Shadam make perfect sense. She had to realize she wasn’t going to get Nick back, or for the foreseeable future. So she created a great relationship and a future for herself with Adam. You know what? That did not work out. It fell apart. Now she just newly discovered that now this is what is supposed to be … that Summer is really supposed to be Jack’s daughter, and then none of this would have occurred. Sharon is just trying to figure out her life as she goes along, too, like everyone else is.
MICHAEL:
So, Sharon is OK with Nick taking the fall for the latest paternity result fiasco, when she really tampered with the results?
SHARON:
Courtesy/Y&Rfansitefacebook
It’s not that she is really OK with it, but I think she understands, because she went through the loss of Cassie as well. Sharon can understand how really deep that pain is, and how it might drive you to make a bad decision. Nick made a decision that helped him at the time. He did what he needed to do. Sharon can certainly understand needing to feel like you have another daughter to replace the one you just lost. I don’t see how anyone could actually blame Nick for that, even though it’s wrong, it makes a lot of sense. I think Sharon understands it, and so since Nick seemed willing to tamper with the paternity test and allow people to believe something about that test that wasn’t necessarily true, she thinks, “Then, why don’t I let people believe something about that test that isn’t necessarily true, too!” She thinks that they are both on the same page with each other! (Laughs)
MICHAEL:
OY! Nick and Sharon deserve each other! (Laughs)
SHARON:
Yes, they do! (Laughs) I think Sharon figured if he was willing to go that route, then maybe that’s the way we should go.
MICHAEL:
When Joshua Morrow (Nick Newman) found out the twist on the twist, what did he say to you? Everyone was worried about how this paternity test switch would wreck Nick’s credibility as a good guy, and he would look like a jackass for a moment! But now Sharon ultimately sealed everyone’s fate!
SHARON:
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
I have had conversations many times with Joshua and Michael Muhney (Adam Newman) about how we feel about our characters looking like jackasses. No one wants their character to look like that. We all get concerned when that happens, but I think as long as there is some redeemable reason why you did something, and there usually is, then I don’t worry about it Nobody is all good, so why should these characters be? Everyone makes a mistake in life, and can be stubborn about the mistake, or admit to their mistake. That is how people are, and so that is what makes these characters real.
MICHAEL:
What does Sharon think of Phyllis at this point in time?
SHARON:
She thinks this is a dark element that literally moved in and rained over this happy family. She thinks it’s time for her, or someone, but likely her, to literally buck-up and cast it out once and for all!
MICHAEL:
How do you feel about Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) leaving the show? You two have had a lot of amazing scenes over the years!
SHARON:
We have had a lot of amazing scenes! I remember I was in Paris not that long ago and they were showing me what episode was airing there. It was Phyllis and Sharon arguing in one of their typical fights in the Restless Style office, back when Sharon was working there, and Sharon was married to Jack. I thought, “That really brings me back. We really had a lot of stuff!” There was so much that I forgot a lot of it! I think the triangle of Sharon/Nick/Phyllis went on for a very long time. It was a fantastic triangle. But eventually these triangles end, and they eventually move on to some new triangle. What I think was we sort of merged out of that to the Nick/Sharon/Adam triangle. We just barely merged in to that, but I see that is the triangle that is coming for the future. Before Sharon/Nick/Phyllis, it was Sharon/Nick/Grace, and people loved that one! Those things last for a period of time and then you move on to the next one, and then the next one is even bigger and better. I think, as far as the Phyllis character, I think that maybe that character has played this part of its storyline out. If the character were to come back for any reason, I don’t know if it would be the same storyline, as now this is moving in a direction and progression that the show has to take. The show has to keep moving. But once you get a really good triangle, it’s good to stick with them. We usually do stick with them for four or five years, or more. I am excited about where the storyline is going now.
Photo Credit: Duffimages.com
MICHAEL:
Do you think Michelle Stafford exiting Y&R will be a huge loss and hit for the show?
SHARON:
We have had two key actresses leave the show this year for one reason or another. We have had key actors leave before, but I think the show is strong, because it’s about the show. It’s the ensemble of the show, and the characters on the show, and the show will be fine and survive things like this. While at the same time, I think it’s important to keep key characters and key actors visible on the show, more so than newbies leading the airwaves. Otherwise, you start losing the audience, and as long as we don’t start slipping into too much of that, then the show should be fine and stay stable. We are all horribly sorry about the loss of Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor). We miss her dearly. It was a real hit to our show. She had a lot of great storylines, even in recent years. Michelle decided she wanted to go and try other things. Everybody’s feeling about that here is: we wish her luck and have our fingers-crossed.
MICHAEL:
We have discussed this in other interviews, how you have such devoted and passionate fans and followers on Twitter. Have you checked out what they have been saying? What do you think they will say when this all comes to light?
SHARON:
I have read a lot on Twitter that the fans are concerned. They don’t like it when the writers write Sharon doing bad things. I agree with them. Bad things that are not explained don’t need to happen for Sharon. I saw some complaints right off the bat. But I am telling you, once you see the whole thing, and the great twists in it, I think they are going to like it. So right now, I am just not replying too much. I want them to get to see a little more of the storyline, and then we will see.
MICHAEL:
Courtesy/CBS
The death of Cassie was the most important event in the history of Nick and Sharon’s life together, because it really changed everything. How much longer can this go on that Nick and Sharon don’t get back together? Do you feel it’s time?
SHARON:
You would think that they would. You have this core couple on the show that have not been together that much in the last seven or eight years … other than one quick bit together when they had Faith, and that did not last too long. But, you know that is what happened when Nikki and Victor split, too. When Nikki and Victor split they were split for like ten or more years, and when they got re-married it was the “Wedding of the Century”. I was relatively new on the show then, and Sharon and Nick were married, and we were having Nikki and Victor’s wedding, and it was a big deal. And so I thought, “That is why Nick and Sharon have been apart for a long time.” It’s kind of like the same story told again with the new generation. Who knows, if they will get together now? Or, if it will be like Nikki and Victor and ten years will go by? We will see, but I think it’s all good.
MICHAEL:
The Y&R audience adored the Cassie character. It’s interesting to see how she is still weaved into the show.
SHARON:
People love the Cassie character. She is one of the most beloved characters on the show of all-time, and to bring her back as a regular character, not just one time in somebody’s flashback, is a phenomenal idea. Talk about losing actresses on our show that the core audience wants to see? Well, we lost her a long time ago, and it created the best story for years and years. But the show found a way to bring the character back in a way, it’s the best of both worlds … where we did lose her … but the actress is back and the character is still in some shape or form on the show. I am sure it was nice for the audience to see Cassie on-screen again. I am sure it would be comforting to know that the relationship would always be there. This is a big core family on our show.
MICHAEL:
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
Now that this reveal is out, do you think we will see more of Sharon and Adam?
SHARON:
I think in the future that is ultimately where it may go, but that is not what is happening right now. It is my guess that the future of it is the triangle of Nick/Sharon/Adam. I just don’t see it being someone else in the triangle. These are the men in her orbit. I am not saying she is going to get back with Nick, and then get together with Adam, and go back and forth. That is not what I am saying. My writers did not tell me this, that is just my projection, and it’s my impression of what is happening, because after all, these are the men that have been in Sharon’s life for a while now. It just makes sense.
MICHAEL:
Do you remember shooting the Cassie “death” scenes? Whenever there is a Y&R retrospective clip package that is in it, and it evokes such emotion from the audience, and it still holds up!
SHARON:
They were so hard for everyone. That is the most interesting thing about those scenes. That no matter who is watching it, and I have never seen this before, but whether it’s you, me, or Joshua, or any member of our audience, or any one of the crew … it does not matter who you are when you watch that scene you start crying, and its hard not to. It’s hard to talk about those scenes with someone without starting to cry. Something in those scenes struck a chord. I am sure there have been scenes in a drama where someone’s child died, but this was special. There was something about the scene.
MICHAEL:
Courtesy/CBS
It was the writing, and the production, and the performances that made those scenes some of the most gut-wrenching, powerful moments in the history of the show, or soap opera.
SHARON:
It was everything. It was Jack Smith’s writing. It was the way the story was told. It was who these character were, and how beloved they were, and how long the audience has known all of them, and the way that Cassie died, the relevancy of the drunk driving part of the story, and the utter tragedy. So many people were touched by the drunk driving. It was not that Cassie was drunk, but Daniel, who was supposed to be driving wasn’t responsible and drank. And so, an alternative plan came up and that was a bad plan, and to it was Phyllis’ son. These are things that happen when kids are out drinking. These tragedies touch all of us in so many ways. Even when we watch other families go through this, we are devastated. I think this story was so true to form, and touched everyone as though it really happened in real life. It wasn’t a story that just happened on a soap opera, where things can just be overly dramatic, or whatever. This wasn’t that, it was real. It was too real for Joshua and me to even go through it. We did it in one take. The scene is still devastating in my mind and Joshua’s. It’s almost not watchable. If it comes on, I can’t get through it. It’s so interesting how something that is on a television show can be so real to you.
MICHAEL:
Are you worried about how Sharon keeping this secret will destroy Jack again down the line? Does Sharon even care about Jack in all this deceit?
SHARON:
Courtesy/CBS
I think that Sharon sees the bright side of that. Jack wanted a child. Once upon a time he and Phyllis wanted a child, and they were not able to have one. Wouldn’t this be a blessing for that couple? And, wouldn’t this put solidarity and family in their lives? Maybe there is a happy ending in this, and also it’s not going to change Nick and Summer’s relationship. That is already established. It’s not like anyone is being ripped apart from anyone, in reality. Instead, if Jack and Phyllis are going to get together, which it seems like they are, this would be a really good catalyst to fall in love and solidify a family.
MICHAEL:
Do you think Sharon can ever be a mother to Summer if Nick and Sharon were to get back together?
SHARON:
Sharon is a good mother figure in the way that she says things to people when they need to hear them. Sharon has that with anyone. But beyond having that basic ability with all people, I don’t think she is ever going to see herself as Summer’s mother, or step-mother, or ever be able to take Summer under her wings to much of an extent. Phyllis was a poison in hers and Nick’s life, and Summer came in between Nick and Sharon, ultimately. Sharon does not blame either of the kids… not Daniel either, and he is more directly related to Cassie’s dearth. She does not feel that familial feeling with Daniel or Summer … they are Phyllis’ kids. In that respect, that is an element that Sharon feels should never cross paths with her and Nick.
MICHAEL:
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Who knew that Cassie’s death would supply so much continual ongoing story for years and years to come! We knew when Cassie said on her deathbed, that Nick and Sharon would have another little girl, that would come to pass, but so much has happened! And look at where we are now?
SHARON:
I have not watched Y&R for the entire 40 years, but I did watch some of it before I was on, too, and I was on GH and ATWT before that. So being on soaps you want to check out the other soaps. I was aware of the characters on Y&R for some time, but I was not that closely related to it. But, I remember there were these great couples on the show like Nikki and Victor, and Ryan and Victoria were just great, and Paul and Christine. I remember when I was a kid I would see then on the show with Peter Barton (Ex-Dr. Scott Grainger), and I remember to this day and these were great love stories all around. But I don’t know that the show has ever had an astounding significant story that affected the characters in Genoa City, and the show, the ways Cassie’s death had. If that ever happened, prior to Cassie’s death, I don’t know what storyline that would be? That fact that happened, at least in these recent decades, that is The Young and the Restless.
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tis crazy but its goood soap. love Sharon
We are back again to the hate bashing on social media RE: Sharon Newman character! She is my huge reason I watch. I am so disappointed the writers again are making Sharon look crazy. When will it be Sharons turn to be happy.?But thanks for finally doing a article for Ms. Case Love Her <3 🙂
I agree. I have been waiting for years for them to reconcile Sharon and Nick. I, too, feel like they were cheated out of their life together by the affair with Phyllis. Just when Sharon needed her husband the most, Phyllis moved in on Nick when he was vulnerable. Unfortunately, it seems like every DAMN time it looks like they might have a shot at getting together, the writers move it in a different direction. I love Adam, but I could NEVER wrap my head around someone marrying the person who freaking kidnapped her baby and let her believe her… Read more »
I am ready to see Nick And Sharon back togeather ! Tired of Phylis and Nick story . He should always be with Sharon ! They are great togeather
Sharon is the best character! I am so not happy with how her character still has not married her true love Adam. Seems like they changed Adam. He always loved Sharon and not Chelsea ever. Chelsea was a rebound. Sharon is now being written that she changed the paternity. No way! Sharon would not do something so cruel to hurt Summer or even her own kids that this will effect. I really would hope it is time to STOP making Sharon the worst person on the show when you have characters like Phyllis and Chelsea doing the worst things to… Read more »
Sharon & Adam Are each other’s true loves. Not Chelsea. Not Nick. Sharon needs to be truly happy for once. Adam & Sharon need to be married & start a family of their own.
Team Sharon! Love her! I really thought we would of had a summer fairy tale Wedding for Shadam . Adam and Sharon should be the happy ever after. I do not like the hate speech I have to see on the web because the writers keep writing Sharon now worst than when they made her with Victor. PLEASE LET SHARON BE HAPPY she is the only character with a loving pure heart <3
Ditto from me. Love tour post.
Sharon I love you first off! But however not happy they still have Sharon not happy. So pissed I have to see her be so sad. Really! This must stop. I do not like the Avery character at all. I really hate the Chelsea character! When I say this this is not because I love to hate them. They truly ZZZZ Bore me that I do not watch them when they are on. I really wanted Drucilla back but still can’t have my fav. back it seems. The Rose story has dragged on and on.. I will not miss Phyllis… Read more »
Sharon and Adam must get back together very simple. This thing with that paternity stop it. This Chelsea person needs to go. Period. I really wonder why they are doing this again to Sharon making her the town crazy person. As a fan of the show for 30 yrs so not happy the way they are changing the characters.
Shadam 🙂 Want my Sharon and Adam to get married again and have a baby boy together 🙂
Sharon would never ever ever change a paternity test only the evil like Phyllis and Chelsea do that sort of deal. Sharon would and should not forgive Nick. Nick lied all those years and made Sharon not let Adam see Faith when Nick did worse. Let Sharon adn Adam be happy and have a baby. I never liked Chelsea on this show. Liked her better as a crazy Annie because that is better for her.
Sharon did change the test and that is that. Phyllis is a wonderful and important part of the show and I don’t see her as evil as you do. I know Sharon is glad and some of her fans love that she has left but there are many of us wish that she hadn’t. Phyllis and the actress Ms. Stafford are great! Evil….Sharon could be called a sugar sweet evil person…evil hiding behind the false front.
Sharon better be nominated next year for best actress. I was shocked she did not win a Emmy for her bipolar story. The writers give her a script and she turns even sour lemons into lemonade. Bravo Sharon. I would love to see Sharon and Adam re marry and have a son.
WOW Sharon Case will be doing a live interview with the actress who plays Cassie. I have been waiting and waiting because Sharon is my favorite character since she first came on the show. Problem! The amount of bashing hate comments is so over whelming. sad that the writers changed our sweet loving Sharon. The writers are making her seem like she is the town pariah and she is so not! Even Victor who is one of the badist characters with his crimes and Phyllis and Chelsea and even Nikki just ask Kyles mom, Diane . Really writers please get… Read more »
SHOCKED and horrified The writers choose once again to make Sharon who is my FAVORITE character the town crazy! Been a fan longer than I can remember! The Sharon we all know and love would never of done this to a child (Summer) or even that it effects her own children! Even if some may say Sharon may of not always made the best judgement about the men she chooses , Sharon ALWAYS loves her kids and all kids. Also Jack! What about Jack??? Sharon would not do this to Jack! Sorry I am so outraged when the writers promised… Read more »
I’m all on Sharon’s side. Wish Cassie wasn’t no ghost though. They should of had her come back as a twin somehow lost in the hospital! Victor just nasty forgiving Nick but Not letting Sharon and Adam be together!When someone crosses old saint Nick he punches walls. When he is a sinner he wants forgiveness.let us see if nick gonna forgive Sharon. Sharon should kick Nick in the nuts! Her daughter died all them years ago and he goes and hooks up with Phyllis. Damn.
Love Sharon! She is the most talented actress. Thanks so much Michael for giving her fans this wonderful interview !
OMG!! she can’t even talk correctly, what I have read doesn’t even make any sense, this sharon character is so full of herself,.. Phyllis is and will always be the best actress besides Mrs C,… R.I.P.god bless her soul) , how can any one play such a inmoral character and then talk of sharon being spiritual…OMG! are you kidding me? I have watched this show since 1980, and nick and sharon WILL NEVER be another nikki and victor!! and how cruel of (case) to say phyllis’s cahracter has played out, once (michelle) is gone im done with this show CBS… Read more »
I thought and I hope that I was reading more into what Ms. Case said in reference to the Phyllis character. I think the awesome Ms. Stafford and Ms. Case are friends but when I was reading Ms. Case’s interview I was like wow she didn’t sound nice reference Phyllis or Ms. Stafford, she didn’t say anything negative towards Ms. Stafford, it was just what she said in the end of question reference Phyllis and Ms. Stafford. In all fairness, I may have read more into than what Ms. Case meant. Team Phyllis and Team Ms. Stafford always!
She wished her well and said MS wanted to do other things their is absolutely no hostility between these two women they do not take their work home with them. That is fans pitting the characters/actors against each other they are role playing nothing else. I just wished she had not been thrown under the bus again but so it goes.
I think it’s stupid, IMO.. They built up the storyline, then Phyllis acts like an idiot and kisses Kyle to keep him away from Summer, now this? I wanted Jack to be the father..
I agree Jewell. I was routing for smiling Jack. I know this is TV but this is cruel for Jack as well as NIck.
this is ridiculous all t his heartache for what I have no words for the disgust I feel for this regime this could’ve benn a great s/l but they’ve ruined it
I want Jack to be the real father. Maybe it was Faiths hair Nick sent in by mistake.
Ooooo, and Ah ha!!!! I love this plot. Maybe so. Never thought about this twist!!
You are so beautiful Sharon! You are the Best!!
Agreed! 🙂
You are the Best Sharon!! a big Fan French!
Love Sharon also. Sharon and Adam need to get back the way there characters always loved each other. What happened to Dylan and Sharon being siblings? I thought that was a fantastic idea.
This storyline has turned into a JOKE
I couldn’t agree more its a joke
Agreed, how many times can they throw Sharon under the bus, until there is nothing left to retrieve?
Why does Sharon keep calling Josh Griffith and his staff “my writers”. Very egotistical. And she seems to brush off Michelle Stafford’s departure.
She sounds as delusional as her character.
I agree…
that’s pretty rude, she wished her well what is she supposed to do cry and said the show will no go on it will. she spoke about facts noting wrong with that.
Yes I noticed this too! She doesn’t sound all that upset over losing Jeanne or Michelle!
Yes, she did totally brush that off lol I see you Sharon! But delusional? Ummm, no, not sure how that was inferred (unless you mean in regards to her speaking positively of the story line, then ok). There are some delusional actors on this show when it comes to their characters, and Sharon isn’t one of them, but apparently, some people cannot separate reel life from real life. Just because you dislike/like the character doesn’t mean YOU have to be delusional. I see this a lot on those raggedy boards. Good interview, and she answered the questions and threw as… Read more »
If she said “I hate the story and Michelle Stafford leaving was a big mistake” she’d find herself fired and not able to work in soaps (I can think of one outspoken soap actress who’s done that and now she’s not working). Privately I’m sure she’s devastated both Jeanne and Michelle aren’t on the show. Privately I’m sure she HATES the story, but do you trash your boss in an interview then go to work the next day like everything’s fine? NO! Would you? And considering she’s been there since 1994-1995 Im ok with her saying “MY WRITERS” as most… Read more »
Well said David, common sense goes a long way. If you are speaking of VR, then she is definitely working. She has always had a lot on her plate.
Because there are always a set of specific writers for each character and story line. This is not news.
THANK YOU FlixX. This I didn’t know. So there IS a headwriter whom says “I want A, B, and C to happen” then there is a set of writers to say “I will take character X in story A?” WOW That’s pretty interesting. It makes sense though. I’ve been watching the show since 1992 on and off and NEVER knew lol It’s not VR. In fact she didn’t say anything till after she left. There is another multiple Emmy Award winning actress whom bashed her producers/storyline while on the show. I personally love her and miss her on screen, but… Read more »
YW 🙂 Yes, it is true, but I believe they switch off, kind of like a musical chairs kind of thing. I have heard (or read actually lol) actors say this in interviews. I believe it all has do be approved though, or at least they piggyback off of a them or idea, or something to that effect. Trust me, you will get varying answers to this question, just like some say that the actors have input and some say they don’t, which they do…to an extent, and it also depends on who it is I guess lol I really… Read more »
*theme
Love Sharon! She is the best
The Ed/Lillian/Maureen story was actually very well written. It was adult, mature, and utilized beloved veterans in a very meaningful way. The fact that it resulted in Maureen‘s death was sad and a legendary industry mistake, but if you go back and watch the aftermath on Youtube….wow! Awesome acting and writing. It was really soap opera at its finest, despite the fact that it was a very unpopular decision. I don‘t know why JFP feels it is her duty to kill of core characters at all of her shows. GL-Maureen, AW-Frankie, Bridget. OLTL-Drew. GH-half the cast. She has not killed… Read more »
Personally, I have been a long time fan of Y&R and I don’t like the way this storyline is going regarding Summer. This is the cruelest thing to do to anyone. I could take the old switcheroo but to do this to Nick and Jack is unforgiveable. That is messing with peoples lives. Now Jack and Summer will bond and only years later or when either of them get sick when they find out the they are not kin.
agree!
Nick is the one that did not get it retested, just because the results are now switched doesn’t change what he did either. I think its a great storyline and have waited years for this to come out. Soaps are about entertainment and drama and that is exactly what this is! We got some amazing scenes already some of the best acting I have seen in years. Just that alone makes it worth it and I am sure we have more to come.
I cant believe someone at y&r thinks this is the way 2 go im sick as a longtime viewer im done this wqs the chery on the sundae for me along with all the other idiotic s/l’s right now on y&r
OH I SO AGREE Kerry,.. this s/l is so cruel, yet an actress can say its what needs to be done!! this is bad writting … i think my boots are walking away!!
Well this is NOT a TWIST- this was a GIMMICK– never mind Nick losing credibility— for me the show has LOST it with this gimmick. As a viewer I do not wish to be manipulated and that’s what this story line was– now whenever there is a big reveal or emotional scene it will be meaningless to me, because with a stroke of a pen some writer can undo it all. I think it was pointless to redeem Sharon only to have her go back to altering tests just because she thinks it is right- what is she off her… Read more »
I totally agree!!! I am NOT happy. We have waited patiently for YEARS for it to come out that Jack is Summer’s father and we didn’t even get a week to enjoy it.
It should not take years for this plot to get undone. Undo it now!!!
Who is “we”? There are many of us who love Nick being her father and never wanted it changed. Shick and Jacks fans may have wanted it to happen but many more of us did not want a switch.
“WE” are the fans who have waited years for them to come back to this story that they eluded too when Summer was born. Now they finally do, and the other shoe goes and drops before the first one even hit the floor!! It makes the whole story pointless now. They could have milked this story for a long time with wonderful implications and repercussions. Now that we already know Nick IS the father all of the suspense is gone. And I hate that they are turning Sharon into a total nut case. Hoping they do a better job with… Read more »
I don’t understand how she can think anyone would be happy about this story line. So many people love her character and are tired of the blatant assassination. I am thinking that she is hoping that people will appreciate that the character isn’t a goody two shoes and that it is something different for her to play. Believe it or not, some people want bad Sharon. I can understand why, as an actress, it would be interesting to her though.
speaking the truth mary.. i so agree…. no moral writting at all…. its a sad day for Y&R…
I agree with every word you said, this paternity storyline is a HUGE disappointment and a LOT of fans are not happy with it. I’m not watching the show anymore because of it. What was the point of this storyline when the results are the same? I would be interested to hear from the writers and why they thought this was necessary to throw Sharon further under the bus!
I have waited so long for Summer to be Jack’s. I am not all that happy with the new twist. I hope they keep it a secret a long, long time. Poor Jack never gets any long term happiness!!! And I don’t like that they have turned Sharon into some psycho person like Phyliss used to be….switching paternity tests and all. Sharon , for so many years, was the good girl and Phyliss the coniving b..atch I liked it that way!!
Sharon was never a good girl, but she was never a psycho either! This is out of character and soooo left field…when was the last time she was even checking for Nick?
omg..i love sharon case…but im soooo glad i tuned this show out when they fired genie francis,,,i giv it 3 years tops…
this is an out right lie, we have know for seven years that JACK was the FATHER & to change it now… We the FANS are not buying this story line. this is the same story line with Victor & Ashley baby. NEW WRITERS WANTED!!!!!!
Again…who is “we”? Stop speaking for all of us. Summer always has been and always will be a Newman.
WHO Summer’s father ends up being is not the issue. The issue is, after several years of horrible writing, it looked like WE, THE FANS, were finally going to get a good. meaty story and they killed it before it even got off the ground. No one is speaking for you.
Agreed, the “revisionist” history is a bit disturbing. This was stuff “other” soaps did, not Y/R, if one does not include that whole Cole/Victoria mess from the mid 90’s. I predict the same for Kyle/Summer/Noah, with poor Summer headed for the nearest Sanitorium. 🙁
SC is as delusional as Sharon Collins Newman Abbott Newman Newman Newman almost Tucker
sorry, but Nick is Summer’s father, Saint Cassie of Genoa City is dead and rotting in a grave, too bad she can not go the way of other dead soap characters – FORGOTTEN!
Hope SC has put away a nest egg, JFP hates female soap characters over the age of 40!!! I have a feeling SC will be the next gone.
She really is. I think she must be off her meds. HOLY COW
…But…isn’t that why she changed the test though? BECAUSE Nick was the father?…I don’t understand your comment.
GMAFB, Sharon is a lot more evil then Phyllis ever thought of being. Sharon has committed more crimes and committed adultery over and over again and has no problem having sex with relatives.
Ms. Case seems to think that her character is some teenage virgin who does no wrong
and the whole Cassie crap, being used by both her mother and adopted father like this is sickening.
Ms. Case may think she is lead character material, but now that role is with Jessica Collins and Melissa Claire Egan, JFP does not write for over 40 females, she gets rid of them
LOL LIES. BTW, Reel life does not equal real life, not to mention, your hostility is misplaced and out of context. I could see if I actually said Sharon was a saint and Phyllis sucks, but I said neither. Heck, I didn’t even bring up Phyllis’s NAME LMAO. Crazy. And where did she say or imply that her character was a teenage virgin?! TF…
Crystal…very well said!!!!! Also, ever since Jess Walton came back to Y and R, why do you think Jess is currently on recurring status (or whatever)??? Yep…because of that Soap-Zillla W-I-T-C-H Jill Farren Phelps. And, you know how Steve Burton is JFP’s current golden boy??? Well, back in the day, A Martinez was also one of JFP’s golden boys. This goes way back when A was on Santa Barbara…another soap that JFP gradually RUINED with her godawful, controlling and bullying antics. Bottom Line here: JFP’s tenure at Y and R is rapidly (and even more inanely) becoming an unnecessary KISS… Read more »
Sharon is a lot ore evil than Phyllis!? GTF out of here with that. You obviously do not know these two characters or their history. Your comment is a joke.
Almost McCall you mean. Tucker was his first name.
And Crystal…um…Sharon is more evil than Phyllis ever thought of being?????? Well. Possibly if you have only watched the show since last summer, I could see how you might think that. But Phyllis has committed murder, attempted murder, and she was a certifiable psychopath back in the day. She did stuff that would have made Patty Williams blush like a schoolgirl. So…you can hate the character of Sharon, but you cannot realistically say that she is more evil than Phyllis because it‘s just not true. For the longest time, Sharon‘s biggest problem was the fact that her legs could not… Read more »
Crystal…SAY W-H-A-T????? Jill Farren Phelps actually HATES female soap characters over the age of 40????? W-O-W…I did not know that. Crystal, check this out: Back in the day, that manipulative and controlling vulture JFP herself pretty much openly feuded with Robin Strasser (aka Dorian from OLTL) and especially Beverley McKinsey (aka Alexandra from GL). Also, get this: I once read somewhere that JFP HATES working with ANY soap actor or soap actress older than her. When JFP was the so-called executive producer of GH, why do you think she VERY UNFAIRLY fired/got rid of Stuart Damon and Anna Lee????? And,… Read more »
I love Sharon, but I HATE this story line. :'(
I so agree with Sharon saying that the Cassie Death scene and storyline is the most dramatic, on-going emotional plot with overtones today of Y&R. Even just readng through Sharon’s answers about the scene of filming Cassie’s death, I have tears in my eyes. Several years ago, at one of Kate Linder’s Vancouver Afternoon Teas, Christian LeBlanc asked everyone there about what they thought was the most emotional story of Y&R. Almost unanimously everyone shouted out Cassie’s death. It was a great scene with all three, seeing as Cassie was acting lying very still too and Joshua and Sharon absolutely… Read more »
Those were great scenes, now imagine those scenes happening, going through all that grief and pain and then the next day, Cassie heart starts beating out of the blue- and she is not dead after all. Those scenes stood the test of time, because they were rooted in reality- there didn’t undo the death. They didn’t have her die to get ratings, then have her live to get ratings- it was about the story and that is what made it great. This is why so many are upset at this new story line, they had this whole week of powerful… Read more »
Very good message Mary. More love from Canada here. 🙂
You know, I think if one person could relate to Sharon in all of this, it would be Sheila. If Kimberlin was on the show right now, I think they would have a strong friendship since Sheila always did the wrong things for the right reasons and we see Sharon has been heading down this same path for some time now.
Sheila was a loon lol come on now
hahaaaa , awesome! i so agree ,
No if anyone could relate to Sheila it was Phyllis.
Before Cassie’s death, it was the death of another Cassie- Cassandra Rawlins – way back in 1991 that launched a really intriguing umbrella storyline where Paul and Brad were both potential heirs to her huge estate. Victor, who was also in love with Cassandra had to justify his sentiment for her to Ashley and Paul was worried about telling Lauren who had just gone into labour. In fact, the episode where Cassandra was killed trying to get to Paul marked a major MAJOR zenith in Bill Bell’s creativity on the show for it was that very SAME episode where Nina… Read more »
Im sorry to hear that Phyllis is leaving Y&R! She will be missed ! Always loved Sharon& Nick together -Hope to see you in Vancouver for Kate’s Tea- Ive been watching the show for years-
Ms. Case is always promoting the triangle that keeps her relevant on the show. I hope that triangle is never revisited. I hope the Adam/Sharon thing is permanently destroyted. You would think that flip flopping again between brothers is a sicko sitiation and she would be tired of it Ms case wantst stay employed and her ticket is JM and MM. I find her a complete waste of airtime. No matter what story she is in it is boring, boring. Not even MM can make her interesting. SC is as dilusional as SN.
Ms. Case is always promoting the triangle that keeps her relevant on the show.
…someone’s mad
no we are just stating our opinion!
What does that have to do with them being mad though? NOTHING. Here we go with these out of context replies again…
agree again,…. SC is as dilusional as SN
Sharon has always been one of my favorite characters, and so is Jack. I hate what this “twist” has done. Finally, Sharon’s neurotic years had been explained, and now this! I know that those with mental illness have ups and downs, but this is ridiculous. I have waited since Nick was announced as Summer’s father for it to come out that Jack was really her dad, and that too has been destroyed. Sharon would never destroy a child’s life, even Phyllis’ child. Remember when Summer had the allergic reaction and since Nick and Phyllis were being investigated, Sharon sat at… Read more »
Bring back Jack Smith! Fire JFF now!
Who is JFF??
Sorry i meant JFP (Jill Farren Phelps). And really they need to rehire both Kay Alden and Jack Smith.
Sharon Case is so wrong. Her fans HATE what is going on with her story line & the Y&R fans are crucifying her character. I have been a devoted fan of Y&R & have been waiting for a SHICK reunion for the past 7 years. When I watched Monday’s episode I was disgusted. I cannot believe what Josh griffith has done to SC’s character. When JFP took over last year we were all lead to believe that one of the top priorities was to “fix” Sharon. They diagnosed her with bipolar & had her getting back on track, then this.… Read more »
What she said in this interview is correct.
The scene with Summer & Jack at the Abbot from door when they saw each other for the first time, thinking they were father & daughter, was beautiful and amazing. Hunter and Peter’s performances were simply outstanding. The whole storyline was, I felt beautifully done, by all actors. However, just when I was so moved by those moments and seeing Cassie again ( which was a dream come true) I was thrown the curve of Sharon going in and changing the test results!! While I understand Sharon Case’s view that this gives a basis for continued intrigue & drama, in… Read more »
Awesome interview Michael with Sharon. I watched Y&R in the very beginning in high school. Then adult life pulled me away and have really watched again for about 2 yrs. Sharon has not been a fav of mine but now I see/think she is not taking her meds. This is causing her to do the things she is to get her “almost perfect life back”. She wants those happy times. So yes Sharon is a fav of mine her warts and all. I do feel bad for Summer and Nick because of the pain it will cause. But I will… Read more »
Ms. Case, I love ya – you are so talented and beautiful – but have you been drinking the JFP koolaid, or perhaps you are trying to keep your job? I know you are a smart woman, so I am disappointed on how you try to justify this crap, but I suppose you have to play it this way. Sharon has been vilified so badly by the writers – she has no friends, no family other than her kids, she has BP, she does totally un-Sharon-like crazy things, everyone in town hates her, etc. I thought Sharon was going to… Read more »
I’m holding out that this is all a dream ala Dallas. A result of her not taking her meds. This is soOOoo out of character for Sharon, it’s not even funny. She having conversations with her dead child, so I’m inclined to believe, the poor dear got her dosage messed up.
Well at least if that were the case Sharon the character would have a chance- obviously at some point they would need to address her illness head on. But as a twist on the paternity test story line- it was unnecessary to have this side to it. I get writers wanting to prolong the suspense of ” who will be Summer’s father?” but sometimes in story telling the direct approach is best– even if they undo it by saying Sharon dreamed it all- the fact they threw it in there at all tainted the story line for me– it is… Read more »
With respect, Miss Case does not yet realize the character of Sharon has been murdered. She can not be redeemed. It is too much. The destruction this will cause is not entertainment. JFP, JG, & AM are killing this show way faster than MAB & the 2 writers of the apocalyspe ever did.
If they can redeem Michael Baldwin for attempted rape, anyone can be redeemed!
Michael also strangled his accomplice Rebecca to death in 1993 and tampered with the brakes on Hilary’s car so she would crash. Y&R views seem to have forgotten.
I took y&R off my dvr today I refuse to watch this nonsense I love s haron case but after reading this interview all I come away with is she’s drinking the kool aid to im very disappointed that anone would think that this is a good s/l ive watched well over 25yrs and this has to be one of the worse s/l I see it as yet anoterh way to make Sharon the villioan and the guy who kept the lie for years becomes a victim due th her actions I feel this show as a whole is at… Read more »
I think this story is stupid. What they are putting Jack, Summer, Nick and Phyllis through and for what?…never mind what they are doing to Sharon’s character. Y&R is so bad right now. The acting is great…the show sucks.
Let me start out by saying I love Sharon Case the actress. She and Michael Muhney are my two favorites on Y&R. I have been watching Y&R off and on for over 30 years and it has always been my favorite soap. For the first time I am very disappointed in the story lines. Not disappointed in the actors on the show. Paul, Summer, and Nick had me crying. Very well written and the emotions were running so high I cried and cried. I could not wait for Jack to find out about Summer being his daughter. We all new… Read more »
Very well said– I don’t understand why tptb can’t put two and two together and realize what attracts viewers are good old fashioned story telling based in reality, with characters we love, acted by talented men and women. What we want is simple- but what do we get- gimmicks and cheap stunts that try to cover up the fact the writing is poor. I love this show, been loyal to it, will even forgive them for this latest goof, but they lost credibility for me, and I will never get emotionally invested in any story because I can’t trust in… Read more »
Wow Michae!, what a great interview with Sharon Case, But the shocker of the revelation that Sharon switched the test results again to win back Nick doesn’t surprise me at all. I am not a big Sharon fan . Sharon has now lied to Faith that NIck and she will be a family again. Such machinations! The show is getting redundant in their story plots. It will be interesting to see the next switch. Soaps are eternally recycling story plots. Well, onward and upward!!…
I am very distressed at the turn of Sharon’s character, I am tired of her being the town slut, nut job, and yes the gold digger, when we know her great down fall after Cassie’s death was the Newman’ s, however this is what I believe that while she is in wacky land she is hallucinating that she changed the test results …..or some computer glitch because um how did she get into a lab when the door is usually some type of lock or key pad and would not the computer lock? I believe that she is going to… Read more »
I love Sharon Case however, if she think Sharon fans like me are satisfied with the direction of this character, she may be as delusional as Sharon Collins talking to ghost Cassie. She is a team player but she nor Josh Griffith realize how many people will stop watching. I am on strike unless it turns out that she hallucinated the whole thing or if Jack is really the father. Otherwise, I must say Josh Griffith and Jill Phelps will be the end and cancellation of Y&R by the end of 2014!
I think Sharon Case is only defending this storyline because she wants to keep her job. She’s a smart girl. The downside to working on a soap opera is that job security tends to override artistic integrity – if Sharon were to strongly protest, she would risk her character getting recast. You know what these soap producers are like- they LOVE playing God.
Wow. Just wow. I have loved and supported the character Sharon since SC started playing the role in 1994, and I understand that professionally you don’t bite the hand that feeds you, but I think SC is missing the mark regarding how her fans feel. This storylin twist is far from “brilliant” and the writers need to undo it NOW, not years from now! The storyline twist destroys the character of Sharon, perhaps beyond repair, and no matter how it’s written, not even Meryl Streep can make any part of this storyline make sense to the audience. The character Sharon… Read more »
I couldn’t agree with you more. Well said.
Thanks for saying or writing this because this is exactly how I feel after being a daily viewer of Y&R ever since mid 1980’s. The Sharon character is so unrecognizable and destroyed and this latest paternity twist takes the cake for me. I don’t understand why other actors fight for their characters and yet Sharon Case does not. Josh Morrow indicated in an interview that he spoke with the people in charge of writing that he was worried about how he will be depicted in Summer’s paternity storyline and lo and behold: Nick character is being protected at all costs… Read more »
There is so much organic drama involved in the fallout of the Summer story that there is NO NEED to do these silly plot devises. These writers are incapable of writing a real drama and have to resort to over the top story telling. Instead of focusing on the feelings of the characters (PB, HK, MS can really convey their pain and anger) they throw this curve at us. I read somewhere that Sharon is hallucinating that she switched the results. Even if that is so, the damage has been done. Such lazy writing depending on shock value to entertain.… Read more »
I agree George- even if the twist isn’t real and Sharon dreamed it, or there is some way to undo it all– the damage has been done– as a viewer I will never ever really trust any “big reveal” or “moment” on the show- because it could just be a stunt, a gimmick a way to create buzz. Good story telling depends on empathy, for viewers to be able to put themselves into the character’s lives, which I did with the story line- up until the “twist”- after that every scene before that seems like a lie- all the scenes… Read more »
Another great interview Mr. Fairman!!!
I so love Sharon Case and her acting skills.
But I’m so not loving this story line at all. I think Y&R should have waited a while longer before telling the viewers that Sharon had changed the results to help her get back with Nick.
I can’t believe that Jack is going to have his heart ripped out, again, when this is all said and over with. But I am so ready for the performances that will be coming from PB, MS & HK!!!! I know that they’ll be bringing their “A” games!!!!
Sharon C. seems to have reasoned this plot out well for herself , if not for me as a fan– and as I posted on the board, the actors see SLs primarily as it relates to their air time and careers. I don’t think they really get the attachment the fans have to their characters. Interesting that she talks about them discussing when their characters look like jackasses; but I don’t think she gets that we don’t like her character being the loser all the time. Seems like they’ve gone from the persecution of Adam to the persecution of Sharon.… Read more »
I think this is a joke,this is just going too far.
I am just about ready to stop watching Y&R. I don’t understand why they don’t just bring Sharon and Nick back together and let the viewers have at least one rock solid couple. I thought that Michael and Lauren would be that couple but look what they have done. I am so sick of the changes they make with Sharon. The whole marriage to Adam and Victor was ridiculous. I was also hoping that Summer really would be Jack’s daughter. I hate Phyllis and Summer and Jack and Kyle.
Look up bi-polar on the internet enough said! They are pulling a fast one on you she imagined the whole thing!
Just one more reason why Sharon should be dumped from the show, c’mon, do you really think she will get Nick back after seeing the pain he’s in? God, I hate this character so bad, Sharon go away, go far away.
You keep forgeting the pain Nick caused Sharon for 18 years and then being the last person he tells. And he is not suffering from BPD. If anyone needs to leave it is Nick. I love Sharon and i get where the actress is coming from. I want her to stay for a long time. As SC mentioned, Sharon is not malicious, she honestly feels she is supporting Nick.
well said shelley……Sharon go away, go far away.
lol
No…it’s the writers that should go away, far away. The fans could write better material.
Ruth, your comment is TRULY HILARIOUS…LOL!!!!! And, very true…I totally agree!!!!!
I am new to the show and loving it! I knew one of them was going down those stairs! it was so good and so soapy!
I love Sharon Case but I hate this story line. I want to see her get back with Adam and have true love. She deserves to have it after so long. I feel the writers are missing out on an epic couple. They have so much chemistry, so much tenderness and love in their interactions. I miss seeing them together. They just explode on the screen.
She is as crazy as her character.
I’m giving up on this show until jfp and jg are fired. They have ruined the Sharon character,changed the background music, and the show is the most boring show. I have watched for fifteen years. I’m switching to gh maura west is great on that show:))
The writers appear to have no creativity at all. The Y&R has gone down. It is not interesting anymore. Too many main and excellent characters have left. When Phyllis die, I will not tune in to the Y&R anymore. Is it really that easy for someone go and switch a paternity test? They couldn’t come up with something else. Why this? All this back and forth; you are his daughter, no you are his daughter. It’s a stupid plot. Then there’s Sharon at the cemetery talking and Phyllis just happened to walk through the cemetery, when she was on her… Read more »
Amen!
I started watching the Y&R with my grandma yrs ago,I haven’t been watching it as much bc haven’t cared much for the story line. I’ve been very disappointed bc Nick & Sharon never reunited,I don’t like how they have made Sharon out to be. Please Please! Let Nick & Sharon get back together & stay together. Let there be one decent couple that has been on the show for yrs have a life together again. RIP Katherine,you will be deeply missed……..
I started watching Y&R yrs ago with my grandmother. I have always loved Sharon & Nick but I don’t care for Sharon’s storyline. I still haven’t understood why Sharon & Nick haven’t reunited. Please Please! let them get back together. Let two people that have been on the show for yrs have the relationship they once had & stay that way. RIP Katherine you will be deeply missed,the show will never be the same without you…….
“Sharon is a good mother figure in the way that she says things to people when they need to hear them.” IN WHAT UNIVERSE??? WHAT WORLD? Sharon Case is as Delusional and Narcissistic as Sharon Newman! Sharon is a TERRIBLE MOTHER!!!!!!!!!! TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!! She Loves and beds a man who both STOLE HER BABY and Subsequently TOLD HER the baby was dead! She JUST finished manipulating her impressionable daughter Faith into coniving with her to remove Avery from Nick’s life … who does that? Come on ….. “Mother of the Year??????” NO FREAKING WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And Bi-polar explains it all? Check the… Read more »
Deborah…girlfriend…in more ways than one, you are so RIGHT ON!!!!! Sharon Case is acting so STUPIDLY CLUELESS that it is BEYOND PATHETIC!!!!! As far as I’m concerned, BOTH Miss Case and her soap character each live on the, um, planet of…TOTAL DENIAL!!!!! Deborah, remember when Sharon slept with (and married!!!!!) Victor? ICKY ICKY ICKY ICKY!!!!! I lost all respect for the character of Sharon from that point on. Yep. And Sharon using Faith (her own daughter!!!!!) to break up Nick and Avery is BEYOND DUMB AS HELL!!!!! More and more, Y and R is becoming UNWATCHABLE TV!!!!! Not good at… Read more »
Interviews
Y&R’s Brytni Sarpy Talks On Her Emotional Week of Scenes & The Fallout From Elena and Devon’s Break-Up
Talk about self-sabotage! Over the last few weeks, fans of CBS’ The Young and the Restless have seen how one decision, or moment in time, can have an effect on several residents of Genoa City, such as the case with Elena Dawson (Brytni Sarpy), after she had sex with her colleague Dr. Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic) … at the clinic they work at!
It all starts unraveling for Elena when her fears get the best of her thinking that the current-love-of-her-life, Devon (Bryton James) will fall for the sister of his late wife, Hilary, in the form of Amanda Sinclair (Mishael Morgan). And thus sets the stage for a potential quadrangle, and perhaps … some baby drama?
Since coming to Y&R from General Hospital, actress Brytni Sarpy has been developing the character of Elena and playing her for all she is worth and then some in recent heavy-duty heart-tugging scenes where viewers saw Elena confess to Devon that she cheated on him with his cousin, Nate! Then later, she gets kicked to the curb by the man she loves, leaving her wondering, “What did I just do … and why?”
Well, Michael Fairman TV has some of the answers as we chatted with Brytni to get the lowdown and the insight on these pivotal moments in Elevon’s love story, and if there is even a future for them, or is it on ice for good? Plus, Brytni opens up about falling for her co-star and recent Daytime Emmy winner, Bryton James, and taping what would normally look like a red-hot passionate sex scene on the soaps with Sean Dominic, but having to do it under strict CDC Covid-19 protocols. Here’s what Ms. Sarpy had to say about it all!
Courtesy/CBS
You’ve got this big storyline unfolding now on Y&R. Did you know when they brought on Sean Dominic that they were going to bust up Elena and Devon?
BRYTNI: Yes and no. When Sean was first brought in, there had been another actor playing his role, so technically his character has already been on-screen. So, I didn’t necessarily think it was going to cause any type of conflict, or a love triangle, or anything like that. However, I think that there were little hints about it along the way in the writing, and our characters similarities in both being doctors. The writers are pretty tight-lipped, so I only know things two or three weeks in advance.
Were you playing that Elena had this attraction to Nate for a while now?
BRYTNI: There was a point where I decided to play it, and that is when I felt that it was in the material. It was when things got a little crazier with Amanda coming around and Elena being at the height of her insecurity about that, and her really choosing to only confide in Nate. I think that kind of relationship and comfortability that she was finding and that dynamic of being at the clinic with Nate, and establishing that with him, she was not having with Devon.
Courtesy/CBS
Right, and so do you think once Elena knew Amanda was interested in Nate, she subconsciously stepped up her own interest in him?
BRYTNI: No, I think around this time she was hoping for Amanda to date Nate, and she was asking a lot of questions and things to egg on that whole relationship. I think in her subconscious she really felt like, “Oh good, if I can put these two together, then my fears about this woman who looks exactly like my boyfriend’s dead wife… that resolves that.” I think for Elena it was just kind of putting them together. It wasn’t about Nate. It was about someone to occupy Amanda so that Elena’s insecurities didn’t have to come out and she didn’t have to worry about Devon, or anything with those two being together.
But didn’t Elena have a nightmare/dream about Amanda and Devon having sex? Wasn’t she freaked out about Amanda being Hilary’s sister?
BRYTNI: This was when she had already jumped down the rabbit hole of being insecure about what was going on about Amanda and Devon and how much time they were spending together and hoping that he didn’t fall back into those feelings he had for Hilary that he had just gotten through. For Elena, I think it was a lot of PTSD; for her. She felt the first half of their relationship was trying to get over Hilary. Once it finally turned to a point where Amanda was spending a lot of time with Devon. and she had started only confiding in Nate and not Devon about how she felt, that’s when I think those insecure feelings came up, and her talking about it so much manifested into her dreams, and she set herself up for her own trauma.
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So, you have to do this sex scene amidst Covid-19 protocols with Sean Dominic. How was filming that scene with Sean because Nate looks at Elena, she looks at him, signaling they want to have sex right now, right there at the clinic, and then it cuts out. Was it awkward filming it?
BRYTNI: Yes, it was certainly awkward because his double was Bryton, so it’s hard to play that you’re cheating on a character with the actor who plays the character that you’re cheating on. (Laughs)
We are going to give you the Emmy right there for that! (Laughs)
BRYTNI: Right! (Laughs) Then in some of the scenes we are looking into each other’s eyes, and we appear to be close, but of course we are not that way. So, I am staring up at a mannequin that it is at Sean’s eye-level, and he is staring down at a mannequin that is at mine. It is not easy to try to sell that energy that is between two people in such an electric, heated moment, so it was definitely challenging.
Do you buy Elena’s rationale that they were on a euphoric high from saving Jared’s life at the clinic, as the impetus that leads her and Nate to have sex?
BRYTNI: I don’t think she really understands what happened. I think she is trying to put it together. Right after it happens, she goes into that whole monologue about how, “I’m not blaming you, but this happened, and we were just coming down from a high.” I think it’s just her trying to figure out why her emotions brought her to this place because I think this is one of the few times in someone like Elena’s life when she has acted without thinking or without forethought to the consequences. I think she has just been exhausted with trying to battle her emotions, trying to be a doctor with a residency in a hospital, and then also trying to do as much work as she is doing at a clinic. Then, coming off of an emotionally-charged partnership with Devon after seeing what he was going through with the ghost of Hilary for so long, and going back into this after finally having a calm and peaceful few months, it rocked the whole boat again.
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Viewers have seen what played out over the last week and half, a lot of scenes were you as Elena are called upon to do a lot of breaking down, and crying. So, how are those scenes to perform? Do you like those types of scenes, or are you like, “Oh, God! These are so soapy!”
BRYTNI: For me, personally playing that, I think with all the tears and all of that, it’s been exhausting, because there are certainly levels of reality to this where I have to go for it to not be me just trying to emote on-screen, but actually feel the depths of what my character would be going through. It’s a lot. I’ve had a few migraines after work sometimes, but I do enjoy it. I enjoy getting those emotions out. I think that because of what I’ve established with her character for a little over a year, I’ve been building up Elena, and more importantly, building up her relationship with Devon. I think to understand her actions, it had to come from a really solid place. I don’t think she is ill-intended in any of her emotions. I think she really cares about and wants to protect her partner, Devon throughout all of this, and then she finds herself unprotected and vulnerable in making decisions that inevitably do the complete opposite. So, I think at the end of it, she really is disappointed in herself and also, she has just created this entire disruption of her life in the matter of a moment, and I think there is a lot of mourning, and there is a lot of guilt. I just don’t think that it is intentional of her character to do something like what she did. I think that for me to make it what it was… something that my character would do or did … it had to come from a real place that didn’t sit well with her, and it just happened, and she feels guilt-ridden. It’s as serious as a character attempting to murder someone, or any other kind of character who would go to the extremes of who they are in their characteristics.
Courtesy/CBS
For you, since you are romantically-involved with Bryton James in real life, does that make it harder or easier to play?
BRYTNI: I’d say both. It makes it harder because it’s more real, but it also makes it easier because it’s more real. These are situations that could at some point come up or have come up, and to put yourself in those positions, and to have him look at me the way that he does and to jeopardize something that real, to go to that place, is a dark place to have to portray.
… And then Devon throws her out!
BRYTNI: He does.
Devon tells her to leave the penthouse and he tells her to pack her stuff and go.
BRYTNI: Rightfully so.
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Doesn’t Elena deserve that reaction for her actions?
BRYTNI: I think so. She made a mistake, and she has to learn from it. I think if there is any potential for these two to ever reconcile, there has to be space given, and there has to be understanding. You can’t just pretend like everything is normal even though she is sorry. Sorry isn’t a reason why and sorry isn’t proactive. She has to fix the issue.
They brought Jared (Michael Maclane) back to be the catalyst that was ended up being the spark that ignited Nate and Elena’s passionate moment together at the clinic. What did you think of that plot point?
BRYTNI: The point was actually, that it was a patient who they had invested in and cared about, and she was able to do something for this kid and save his life with someone who she has been leaning on, someone who she has had a shared connection with, someone who shares her perspective, and helped her through situations with Devon, and who has seen her ugly side and her insecure side, and it was a bonding moment, I guess, that they were able to save a kid’s life who they both knew added another layer to their relationship that caused things to go grey.
Coming up, it appears that Amanda is going to be instigating a lot of stuff, and Nate is going to still have feelings for Elena.
BRYTNI: Yeah, I mean, it’s not over. Now that the cat has been let out of the bag, they still have residual feelings. I think Nate is starting to make it very clear why he went the direction he went. I think he has more of an understanding of where his feelings lie and that they are with Elena. I think with Amanda, maybe a part of her ego just got bruised, and maybe she wants to unearth the truth of all of this because she was kind of caught in the middle of it.
When you and Bryton are together in real life, are you rehearsing all of these scenes and playing all of the other characters in them?
BRYTNI: Typically, we run lines together. I have voices for everyone. I have a Nate voice. (Laughs) I have an Amanda voice; I have a Lily (Christel Khalil) voice.
Photo: Sonja Fleming/CBS
You are in one of those interesting situations where you are with the person in real-life and in story. I have talked to Bryton about this, but what was the moment when you knew it clicked with him?
BRYTNI: We certainly liked each other since day one just as people. He was a great scene partner to do a screen-test with, very giving, just really professional, but just a down-to-earth nice guy. Then, just moving forward from that and working with him as my scene partner on Y&R, I think it was during our first group scene, it was the opening of Society, and we did a tribute to Neil Winters (Kristoff St. John), and that was the first time I had spent long hours on a Y&R set. You’re with the whole group all day because you’re doing group scenes. We just discovered and learned that we are both really goofy, and we were just laughing and talking about stories. I think we found that we had a lot more in common than we would have realized… very similar pop-cultural references, and upbringings, and all of that. From there, we’ve just gotten along really well, and it progressed.
Photo: Sonja Fleming/CBS
Back in late June, there was this viral video of you jumping up and down when Bryon’s name was called as the winner of the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series during the 47th annual Daytime Emmys telecast. What do you remember of that night with him? You seemed more excited than he was!
BRYTNI: Yeah! I was really excited for him. The year before – well, I didn’t know that it was our first date – but, I guess it was our first date at the 46th Daytime Emmys, because I honestly thought that Matt Kane (publicist, Y&R) had asked me if I wanted to go along, and apparently, Bryton had asked if he could invite me. So, we spent that time together, and he was nominated that year as well and lost. Cut to this year where Bryton is a person who I have actually worked with and have seen how he works, and after Kristoff’s passing, and just seeing the amount of work that Y&R put into it, and the time that they spent on those episodes, and how beautiful they came out, everyone deserved an Emmy for that. It was really beautiful work, and it was really touching, and it was really true and honest. I really thought Bryton deserved it. I think he was just as happy. He’s just more reserved than I am.
What do you want to see happen for Elena moving-forward? Do you want to see more of her extended family pop up so she is a character who has more ties to Genoa City?
BRYTNI: I do, I do. A lot of the characters never know who their father is. I’d love to know who that is. (Laughs) Like when I played Valerie on General Hospital, she didn’t know who her father was either. Things like that are interesting to play. I’d love to start closing those little holes about her because that helps me. It helps me to create more dimensions in her character and to make firmer choices, and give her somewhere to go, and it gives more richness in her story. I would love to also cement her to the Y&R canvas if she has any relation to anyone else there.
Courtesy/CBS
There have been rumors that Elena will become pregnant. What would you say to that?
BRYTNI: What do I think of that? I don’t know. It could happen. Crazier things have happened on soaps. Will it be the classic, “Whodunit?”
You mean, who could be the baby daddy?
BRYTNI: (Laughs) Yes, that would be interesting, and yes, I’ve seen those rumors, too.
Do you think Elena will fight and claw her way back to Devon, or do you think she is going to let it be?
BRYTNI: I think even from the scenes that aired this past week, you can see the extent of how sorry she is. She is laying it all out there, in a puddle of tears, exactly how she feels even though she is not able to really understand why she did what she did, her sorrow is there. I don’t think there is really much more for her to do as far as pleading to get him back until he is ready, if he ever is ready. I think her respecting his wishes in the situation is probably the best thing that she can do at this point.
Photo: IG
Meanwhile, if you have any more romantic scenes with Sean Dominic, Bryton will step in, so you will still be in scenes with him, even if Elena and Devon aren’t together.
BRYTNI: (Laughs) Yes, that’s true!
So, are you rooting for Devon and Elena to get back together quickly? Do you think she may end up in a relationship with Nate? What have you thought of Brytni’s performances in this storyline? Comment below, but first watch Devon tell Elena to move out!
Interviews
Y&R’s Peter Bergman Talks On Dina’s Death & How It Will Impact Jack, His Final Scenes With Marla Adams & Taping During COVID-19
The Abbott family is reeling from the death of their mother, Dina Mergeron, who passed away from complications from Alzheimer’s disease at the end of last Friday’s episode; signaling the end of an era for Dina’s portrayer, Marla Adams. In a pivotal and heart-breaking scene, Dina shares one last goodbye with her children: Traci (Beth Maitland), Ashley (Eileen Davidson) and of course, Jack (Peter Bergman).
Today, the drama continues as the Abbott’s grieve Dina’s death and its aftermath while they remember the life of their flawed mother. This puts Jack at the epicenter of the family, and like it, or not, the new head of the clan. What does the future hold for him now?
Michael Fairman TV chatted with three-time Daytime Emmy winner, Peter Bergman, who has embodied Jack for over 30 years on the top-rated CBS Daytime drama, to get his thoughts on: how Y&R needed to handle Dina’s death within the confines of the coronavirus pandemic and its safety protocols, what he felt about playing those final scenes with Marla Adams and the significance of the ‘teardrop of love’, and a preview of what fans can expect in the coming days as the impact of Dina’s death will be felt by the Abbott children and extended family.
An actor’s actor, you can always expect a conversation with Peter to be forthright, candid and enlightening, and this one was no different. Here’s what one of the genre’s absolute best had to share about the significance of this story and more.
How has it been returning to Y&R during the pandemic? I bet you never thought in all of your years in daytime, that you would be doing your scenes socially-distanced, sitting or standing, so far apart from your castmates.
Courtesy/CBD
PETER: Just getting back to work felt great, loved that. I wasn’t involved really in romantic scenes at this point, so that I didn’t have to do. So, all in all, I was very happy to be back, and socially-distancing didn’t really bother me at all, and then Dina died. Doing that from six feet away was just awful. You saw the limits at a time where not any of us could be within six feet of each other; where you would usually hold a hand, stroke a brow, and talk softly. So, I think the writers did what they needed to do to make it work for Dina’s exit. We are in the middle of COVID, in case anybody forgot, and so you have to ask, ‘Does America really want to watch an elderly woman die in the middle of the Abbott living room or anywhere else?’ So, we had to have Dina’s exit without looking at a dead body, out of respect for the times we are living in. We had to do a strong, powerful, pivotal scene with our hands tied behind our backs.
Courtesy/CBS
It’s so interesting that you say that because that’s how I felt watching it, knowing what it would have been like, if Jack, Ashley and Traci would have been with Dina at her bedside, up till the end, for instance. But all of that said, Peter, I got so choked up in your last moments with Marla. Jack is just sitting there and Dina is telling him how much she loved him and you’re doing the thing that only Peter Bergman can do as the tears well-up in your eyes. As we have talked about previously, my mom died from complications from Alzheimer’s, so these are always tough types of scenes for me to watch. I am sure it was also for those in the audience, who have lost a loved one to this disease, many of whom reached out to me on social media following its airing.
PETER: It’s got to be tough for you to watch. I get that.
Photo: Ed McGowan/Plain Joe Studios
Yes, so I felt for Jack and Dina in the moment as a son and his mother. But what did you think about how the scene was written, and what Dina was saying to Jack and his sisters as her final goodbyes to her children and their reactions to it?
PETER: As written, something in this necklace triggers something in Dina that brings her out of a stupor, brings her out of the murk, the fog for a brief instant to tell the people who she cares the most about that she loves them in slightly different ways. I have, with everything in me, a struggle to always add in there, “I have a complicated relationship with my mother.” I’ve added that line in there so many times over the years, you have no idea. It was a complicated relationship because by the time she dies, there is no kind of straightening that out, there is no kind of Jack looking for answers. The depth of what Ashley is feeling, what Traci is feeling, what Jack is feeling, were kind of lost because of the way we had to do it. The writers had to do it, so I’m not blaming anyone, but because of the way we had to do it, there was no, “Wow, why isn’t Ashley crying? Why is she just so stoic that this isn’t touching her at all?” because she can’t go there. Traci feeling like she found her place in the family simply by Dina saying, “You’re the beating heart of this family,” and Jack, who is doing the right thing, “She should leave peacefully, she should leave feeling loved, we should all be here, we should give her nothing but love,” damn, this is complicated. You couldn’t have any of those things. . Hopefully, some of that slid in there and we wedged some of those complexities into it, but it was hard to write a complex scene with the situation as it was. We needed to get it done it one day. We did not need to drag this out. Again, were it not COVID time, sure, let’s drag it out. Let’s spend some time on this. People die. Let’s watch the family process a death.
Photo: CBS
I just think of what it all means for Jack moving forward. Dina basically tells him, “You’re in charge of the family. Look after the family.” That’s kind of where it’s been going for Jack this whole time. I don’t know if that’s what Jack wanted, but that’s where he is ending up.
PETER: Right! That’s where he ends up, and you know, this has been a long time coming. Dad dies, and it is pretty clear that he’s got to step up, and his mom comes into town, and she’s not just his mother. She’s Ashley’s mother; she’s Traci’s mother, we’ve got to look out for her and give her the dignity and things like that. Now, there is just no getting around it. Jack is the head of the family. That’s the way it fell. Twenty-five years ago, was Jack ready to be head of anything? Absolutely not, but I think enough has happened to Jack now: enough heartache, enough growth, enough introspection, enough losing people, that Jack might just be ready for this job.
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When Marla Adams came back to Y&R 2017, and they started telling the Alzheimer’s storyline, it brought up such abandonment issues for Jack and rightfully so, about how a mother could just leave her family and children, Throughout all that, you did such poignant work.
PETER: I wanted that to be in there at the very end. One of the powerful parts in this whole thing is that Jack wanted to scream at Dina every bit as much as he wanted to hug her. That was there for quite a while, and Jack had to kind of come to terms with, “Hey, you’ve been leaning on this excuse for quite a time. She’s here. She can’t do you any harm. She feels bad about what happened. What do you want, Jack?”
Photo: CBS
One of the highlights of this storyline was when Y&R explored the history and relationship between the siblings, Jack, Ashley and Traci. We saw their younger versions as the show flash-backed to when Dina left John and the Abbott family.
PETER: Between the writers and Peter Bergman, we built this story that the night that Dina left, Dad was upstairs with the girls, they were weeping inconsolably, there was no fixing it, there was no telling them that everything was going to be all right. He didn’t want to lie to them and say she will be right back, he told them, “She’s not coming back,” and he comes downstairs, and Jack is fourteen-years-old, and a little confused, but decided to say to his dad, “Hey, can I help?” He looks across the room, and his dad is weeping, first time he had ever seen that. His father is weeping, and he said, “Jack, you’re going to have to help me with the girls. I can’t do all of this,” and it changed Jack’s life forever. Jack was a parent to Ashley for a good part of their relationship. So, all of this stuff with Jack’s identity, all of the fighting with Ashley, all of the Jabot madness is Ashley finally getting to say, “I don’t need a father! You’re not my father. Stop talking to me like you’re going to fix things for me! I’m sick of it.” All done by Dina … all truly caused by Dina.
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In my interview with Marla, she told me that at the end of her last scene, you and many others came back to the set to pay tribute to her.
PETER: We did. The show had arranged it, and Tony Morina, the executive producer, stepped out on the soundstage with a microphone, and Marla sat on the sofa in the Abbott living room. Tony began telling a lovely, lovely story about how far back his relationship with her goes because Marla and Tony wife’s, Sally Sussman (Ex- head writer, Y&R), also had a long-standing relationship. Tony was just so grand and gracious in saying that there are some people who, if they weren’t an actor, they’d be this or that or the other thing, but that Marla was born to be an actress. That’s what she is, and it was so generous. I think she got three and a half years that she didn’t expect to get out of this. It was supposed to be a six-month storyline, and four years later, she was still there, and it was a good thing for her, and a unique story turn for the rest of us. It really was. It was a powerful thing, and now the Abbott family has a new shape. There are three adults there: Ashley has established her independence, she is not around as much, she is back and forth between Paris, and Genoa City, Traci is trying to be as supportive and kind as she can be, but essentially, Jack is in the big house by himself.
Yep! Well, now we’ve got to find Jack a good woman.
PETER: Yes, or a bad woman.
… Or a bad woman! I’ll take him in a relationship with someone to stir things up. I also hear coming up, there will be the reading of Dina’s will. Is there anything you can tease about that?
PETER: There is a will read, yes. No one knows what to expect, and Dina … in the end… comes through for almost everybody…
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Well … that ought to be good.
PETER: Yep… really comes through for almost everybody, and you know, the Abbott children are wealthier, and all three of them are alone, and in no small thanks to Dina for that. These are three adults who have been very unlucky in love. Of course, this is the next challenge. I don’t mean to assume that I have any idea of what you went through in losing your mom, but there is a point at which you also have to let go and say, “Okay, now it is just me, and what do I want to do with this life? I’ve used this as a reason not to move forward for a good while. What am I going to do now?” I think the next turn in the Jack Abbott story comes pretty organically. Dina’s death frees Jack to be just as alone as he has ever been.
No matter what Jack does, including the bad things, you always see the inner-pain that is very palpable within him, as you have portrayed him.
PETER: Yes, but he really has grown in the last 30 years. Jack is hungry for more right now, and he couldn’t really be that way with Mom in the house. He didn’t have time for that. Now he has all of the time in the world. So, we’ll see what he does with that.
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I understand there is a funeral for Dina, but it will be off-camera? I guess, because of COVID, it is better that way.
PETER: That’s true and it’s off camera, that’s correct. What’s important at most of these things isn’t what happens at the gravesite, it is what happens at the reception afterwards, and that is also a fun turn. So, they all agree as a family they are going to do it at Society, and they kind of close the joint and make it their own little party, and someone shows up who isn’t expected, and it throws a really, really different vibe into the whole thing, and everybody has to adapt. It’s actually fun, what it turns into. It turns into a memory fest with crazy stories of Dina.
Courtesy/CBS
Do you have a favorite moment, or memory, of a scene you played with Marla?
PETER: I think I had a day where Jack tried to get through to her and tell her, “Do you realize the damage you did? Do you realize?” and she wasn’t able to take it in, and he went to Traci, and he said, “I want to shake her. I want to yell at her… and I want to protect her.” I thought there was something just so rich about that. That was my favorite moment, my favorite part of it, when Jack finally said, “She’s going, man. We’ve got to get this conversation done now. We’ve got to talk this through,” and he was too late. She was too far along with Alzheimer’s. She wasn’t up to it. She couldn’t do it.
Photo: JPI
And now here is Jack; and his parents are both gone. There is no Jerry Douglas or Marla Adams on the show as both John and Dina have passed on within the history of The Young and the Restless.
PETER: Again, you were generous enough to share your own personal experience, but isn’t it amazing? Wow, you’re the grownup now. Isn’t it amazing? That’s what the Abbott’s are going through: just what you went through. There is no older generation to turn to for anything. We are the older generation. It’s powerful stuff, and I’m really, really grateful for anytime that Ashley, Jack, and Traci are together talking about those things, talking about, “Wow, okay, that just happened… where do we go from here?” It’s going to be really interesting. If you asked me, “Over the last 30 years that you’ve played Jack Abbott, have there been many times where you’ve thought, ‘I’ve got no idea where this is going!’” I would say, “Yeah, right now.” I’ve got no idea where we are going with this.
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There has been much speculation that the “teardrop of love” necklace will lead Jack to a new romance, or some new adventure in his life. They spent a lot of time mentioning it in short order, that it would seem it’s not just to bring Dina some closure. What are your thoughts on it?
PETER: I think it has legs. I think you’re going to hear about it again. There is something in there, and I don’t know if it’s the teardrop’s magic charm or that its history is not what it was, or it gets stolen. I don’t know, but I think we have spent enough time saying ‘teardrop of love’, that there could be a story there.
In Dina’s final moments where Jack brings her the ‘teardrop of love’, wasn’t it symbolic to her because it was her acknowledgement of having her family back together and with her at all times? There is a back-story to that piece of jewelry as well.
PETER: The point of the necklace is, “This was when I was truly happy, when I had this necklace, when it is all back together,” and maybe we are to know something more about the teardrop…? I don’t know. So, this was a gift to her before Jack was born. She wore it home from the hospital when she brought him home, but we don’t know exactly what year she got it, and we don’t know exactly what year she lost it. It was stolen, and it was on the black market for a while, and Victor (Eric Braeden) was looking into it. It was clear that it was very important to Dina. So, Jack, against his own wishes, said, “No, I’ve got to do the right thing. I’ve got to try to trace this thing down. It clearly means something to her. Maybe she is trying to tell us something. God only knows.” So, he did the right thing, not because, “I want to make Mommy happy,” but because he forced himself to do the right thing, to find the damn necklace, and to see what this is about. Then, we saw the affect it had when he gave it to her.
Photo: CBS
It’s always good to chat and check-in with you during these key and historical moments in the life of the character of Jack Abbott. There have been many throughout your time on Y&R, and it will be interesting to see where this goes from here.
PETER: It will be, and I’m telling you, this is a real moment. Normally, we just go from one story into the next, into the next, and this one has been hanging for so long that, “Okay, now that it is over, wow, what is going to happen to Jack?” I’m just as curious as everybody else.
So, what do you think will happen next for Jack? Did you reach for the hankies in Peter’s final scenes with Marla Adams? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
Interviews
Marla Adams Talks Her Final Scenes As Dina Mergeron, The Alzheimer’s Storyline, and Her Touching Farewell
Today on The Young and the Restless marks the end of the enduring run of Marla Adams in the role of Dina Mergeron. In story, Dina passes away from complications from Alzheimer’s disease. It’s a storyline that started four years ago when the CBS Daytime drama brought back the character and Adams; and one that has deeply affected many in the viewing audience who have also had their own personal experience of losing a loved one to this dreadful disease.
If you have not seen today’s episode yet, you may not want to read any further, but needless to say, make sure you have the hankies ready for Dina’s final moments with her children and how she leaves this earth, which will be remembered for quite some time to come.
Marla originated the role of the rich and spoiled Abbott matriarch back in 1983 and portrayed the role on and off for what amounts to five decades. Her classic scenes with Jerry Douglas (Ex-John), Eileen Davidson (Ashley) and so many more from the iconic soap, always made for great and complex stories.
With this her final airdate on Y&R, it also puts an exclamation point for Marla on an incredible daytime career having also appeared on: The Bold and the Beautiful. Capitol, Days of our Lives, Generations and The Secret Storm
Michael Fairman TV chatted with Adams in this very special conversation where she shared with us how it was to play these heartbreaking last scenes, the importance of the ‘teardrop of love’ necklace to the story, how Y&R gave her the most overwhelming and beautiful send-off, and her ‘thank you’s’ to all of you, who have been her extended family and are sad to see her go. She is one-of-a-kind …and now, here’s Marla.
Photo: Getty
Marla, I am so glad we have the opportunity to chat in this full-circle moment as you have brought the character of Dina to a close.
MARLA: It’s such a joy to talk to you. It seems like yesterday and an eternity as well. I thought of you so much, and I remember talking to you specifically with all of the different interviews over the years, when I was at the studio. But I will always remember the interview you did with me and Beth Maitland (Traci), my darling soul sister, and you talked to me about your mother who has since passed on from Alzheimer’s. I’ll never forget what you had to say all those months ago
Photo: HallmarkChannel
Yes, and when as audience members we watch these stories unfold with characters we have loved, or watched on our screens for years, and there is a death, we feel connected to them as well. And in this case, as a child who has lost a parent to Alzheimer’s, like many in the audience, you ask yourself first, “Can I watch this?” It hits very close to home, but I’m sure when people watch today’s episode of Y&R and see Dina pass away, they will be extraordinarily moved.
MARLA: Oh, my gosh. Wait until you people see Friday’s show. I know they will be moved. They should be! I’ve got friends who I’ve already said to, “Get your Kleenex box out.” It’s so beautiful what happens at the end of the episode.
Courtesy/CBD
How did you feel about playing Dina’s final scenes?
MARLA: It was wonderful because it showed her lifetime of sorrow and regret, and what was so wonderful was the fact that the hero of the whole thing is the kindness and respect that she really did have for her whole family. They had the most beautiful sendoff for me. They sent me a limo! I went to the studio, and dear Patti Denney (Make-up artist, Y&R) was there, of course with all kinds of makeup and everything else, and she looked like she was entering the ER room for Covid-19, because of all the safety protocols we must have. It was unbelievable, the kindness that was served to me. After we finished taping my final scenes, I came back to the soundstage and they totally surprised me. Dear Tony Morina (executive producer, Y&R) and Sally Sussman (Ex-head writer, Y&R) were there, and Tony spoke about me, and so did my Y&R extended family and on-screen children: Peter Bergman (Jack), and Beth Maitland, and Eileen Davidson, and much of it was put on tape (see excerpts in video below). Afterwards, Tony gave me beautiful flowers. I was driven back home after this, and I felt really special, and it was just amazing to me. I had written Josh Griffith (Current head-writer and co-executive producer, Y&R) a ‘thank you’ for writing the show with his wonderful people, but I never heard back, but when I walked in my apartment, the phone was ringing. Guess who? It’s Josh! He said, “I waited until I knew you would be home to thank you,” and I felt so lovey-doved up, I couldn’t believe it. I want to read something to you that I received in the wonderful flowers that came the next day from CBS Daytime executive Margot Wain and others. The flowers were so big that they didn’t fit on the bar! The card read: “Thank you for bringing the amazing force that is Abbott matriarch, Dina Mergeron to countless fans of The Young and the Restless. Your vast contribution to Y&R and CBS for more than five decades is unparalleled. We are forever grateful for all you’ve brought to Y&R as both a consummate professional and a cherished co-worker. All our best wishes.” I was just so touched by the sentiments.
Photo: CBS
I also want to share something with you. When it was revealed in the promo that came out last week that this would be your last show, I received so many notifications on social media, saying, “Oh, my God! We love Marla! You have to interview her!” You are loved by the Y&R fans. I hope you know that! They’re sad to see you go, because you’re a legacy character to them, and soap fans have deep connections to characters that have been on their favorite soaps for decades.
MARLA: Five decades! My God! I’m eighty-freaking-two. I can’t believe it.
Courtesy/CBS
In story, Jack was on a mission to get the ‘teardrop of love’ necklace back to Dina before she died, hoping that she would have one last moment of lucidity and would recall it and it would hopefully make her happy. He moves heaven on earth to get it, and does, and brings it to her and viewers saw her reaction.
MARLA: The necklace had never been anywhere before in story except recently, but I said to myself that I would play it ‘quietly and graciously’, because it made for such a beautiful moment for Dina with her children.
Courtesy/CBS
For Dina, the necklace was a symbol of remaining connected to her family and her children, even when she was not with them all of those years. In your final scenes, Dina had these moments to say goodbye to each of your children. Do you remember looking at Eileen, Traci, and Peter taping those highly emotional beats?
MARLA: Yes, they were so there for me. They are an extended family that is so precious to me, and playing this iconic character has been, too. I remember when Sally Sussman told me a few years ago, “ I’m going to bring you back on The Young and the Restless, but you’ve got Alzheimer’s,” and I said, ‘What!? You’re bringing me back so you can kill me off?’ and she said, “Oh no, it’ll be about a year.” That dissolved into four years, and now five decades had passed and I was still on Y&R. I am beyond grateful.
Courtesy/CBD
As an actress, was it hard to play Dina’s final moments when she goes to the light to join her beloved, John?
MARLA: It was heart-wrenching for me. In the story, Dina died when she went outside and to the front door of the Abbott home. They did not tell me before-hand, and that’s why it was so wonderful. I hope they came in for a closeup of that because I had no makeup on, it was beautiful, and then, Dina said, “Oh, John.” I’ve done everything from movies, to daytime, to nighttime, to Broadway, but that was the iconic moment for me, to do this gig with wonderful, wonderful actors and friends, and to do this particular storyline.
Photo: CBS
It was 1983 when you first appeared on Y&R. And through the years, Dina did not do such great things! She had an affair with Brent Davis who was the biological father of Ashley that caused such a rift between mother and daughter for years. She abandoned the Abbott children and walked out on them and her marriage to John, and that’s just for starters! Dina was a complicated character. Did you love the fact that she could be very selfish at times?
MARLA: You think? That’s why I loved her. Of course! I can be very selfish, too. You have to be selfish if you’re an actor, good God. (Laughs).
Courtesy/CBS
It was great that The Young and the Restless brought you back four years ago so that through the telling of the Alzheimer’s storyline that Dina was able to somewhat repair her relationships with her children. Obviously, over the last many months the audience could not witness the more day to day progression and toll the disease took on Dina and her family in its final stages, but unfortunately with the way COVID-19 has affected shooting daytime soap operas, and all of our lives, including safety protocols, I am sure plans had to be altered,
MARLA: Of course. As an actress, this was the most important role of my life, and to have her final moments spread out in one day really is because of all of the fans who have been writing in and wanting to see Dina again,
Photo: CBS
People were rooting for you to win the Daytime Emmy back in 2018 when you were nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. That must be a nice moment to carry with you from playing Dina’s final storyline.
MARLA: Yes, and I should have won! Eric Braeden (Victor, Y&R) was furious. (Laughs) He said, “What do you mean, darling, you should have won! Goddammit!” He’s a wonderful man and a good friend. He came to pick me up several times to go to the studio for my last few shows, and that’s the kind of mensch he is. So, I feel just so blessed and I feel great love and loss. I would like Dina to come back as a ghost, but I have no idea, if that will happen or not. But if the fans would be interested in seeing Dina as a ghost … make sure to write in to the show and tell them!
Courtesy/CBS
Speaking of the fans that have followed you for decades on Y&R, what would you want to say to them now that Dina has passed on?
MARLA: Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for all of the love, the support, and the chance to play Dina out… and I’m thankful that you cared, and loved her, up till the end.
So what did you think about Dina’s final moments on today’s Y&R? Will you miss Marla Adams? Share your thoughts via the comment section below. But first check out the special behind the scenes tribute for Marla, followed by The Michael Fairman Channel’s interview with Marla and Beth Maitland from Y&R’s 45th anniversary celebration referred to during the above conversation.
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