Interviews
The Shelly Altman Interview – The Young and the Restless
Courtesy/WGAeast
The Young and the Restless has undergone another change at the top with the recent departure of head writer Josh Griffith, and the announcement of Shelly Altman and Jean Passanante as the newly appointed co-head writers of the series. However, Altman is no stranger to Genoa City having been with The Young and the Restless since January 2013, and working alongside of Griffith for several months. She also has been integral to the stories viewers are currently seeing play out on-air.
With so many controversial storylines stirring up the fans of the series, On-Air On-Soaps thought it was the perfect time to chat with Altman to get her take on what her plans are for the characters you have come to love in Genoa City. And to inquire about all the key recent storyline developments including: the decision to kill-off beloved little gal Delia (Sophie Pollono), making Dylan (Steve Burton) the biological son of Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott), and the continued conundrum of the character motivations of Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) … among others!
In addition, since fans of the iconic series have strongly voiced their concerns that whomever takes over as head scribes understand the history and what is important to the audience who has stuck by the series, we discuss with Shelly her background, how she visualizes the characters, and the passion for the medium she brings to The Young and the Restless. With a string of predecessors that have included; Lynn Marie Latham, Maria Arena Bell, and Josh Griffith, it certainly can not be an easy and often daunting task to keep everyone happy on a show with 40 years of compelling history and story. Can Altman be the one to turn the show around (even though it continues to be the number one soap) with her new partnership with Passanante? Read on!
MICHAEL:
CBS Entertainment Daytime Senior VP, Angelica McDaniel, told me last week at the CBS Daytime After Dark event, that you and Jean Passanante officially start this new co-head writing collaboration this week! What can you say about Jean?
SHELLY:
Photo Credit: Getty Images
On Monday, we launched into this partnership! I have worked with Jean before and I am so excited about it. She has not only been a collaborator of mine in the past, but we are friends. Jean is funny, bright, brilliant, and I could not be happier. We worked together on One Life to Live, General Hospital, and at Another World we were like ships passing in the night. We worked together for like two weeks. We are much on the same page creatively, and we said then, “If we ever had the opportunity to do this together we would jump at it,” and here we are!
MICHAEL:
What in your opinion is the core difference of writing a show like The Young and the Restless, that sets it apart from the other soaps you have worked on?
SHELLY:
What I appreciate and like about Y&R is that sense of families and the anchors around which everything else evolves. I find it’s a very romantic show – traditional in that sense – and yet up-to-date current in story. I appreciate that sense of honoring its own legacy and taking it into the present.
MICHAEL:
When you take a look at the Genoa City canvas, what do you see in a broad stroke of things you want to see fixed, or perhaps driven in a different lane?
SHELLY:
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
We want to integrate the generations a bit more by moving some of the younger characters into story, and have them crossover with some of the core legacy characters.
MICHAEL:
I think this has been a big disconnect for many fans of the series, who felt like with all the newbies something was amiss. They were at times trying to comprehend, “Who are all these new characters?” While thinking, “This is not my Y&R!”
SHELLY:
Right, and we have several stories that we are going to be moving forward with that will do that and cross-populate the canvas in a little bit more of an organic way.
MICHAEL:
How did you work with Josh Griffith on the decision and the creation of the story where Dylan (Steve Burton) was revealed to be Nikki’s (Melody Thomas Scott) biological long-lost son?
SHELLY:
There was a game plan in bringing in Dylan, and in building the controversy between him and Nick (Joshua Morrow). It certainly heightens the problems between them and becomes a very classic brother rivalry. There are going to be further twists down the line that will be again, we are not re-writing history in any shape or form, but rather honoring the history of the show with this story. But, that had been the game plan … that we were looking for a story for Victor (Eric Braeden) and Nikki, and obviously this will affect both of them greatly, and to also further root Dylan onto the canvas.
MICHAEL:
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
Now, we are sure Dylan is the son? Fans are not going to find out this was all a red herring?
SHELLY:
He is the son. It will not change. Stitch (Sean Carrigan) was our red herring!
MICHAEL:
Now that Stitch turned out not to be Nikki’s son, will he remain on the canvas with material to play?
SHELLY:
Yes. We really enjoy the actor and the character. He is not just Dylan’s friend, but by him now being a doctor on staff at Genoa City hospital, he will start crossing with other players on the canvas.
MICHAEL:
Will Dylan be struggling with the knowledge that Nikki is his mother when it comes to light for him? That would then certainly bring up more abandonment issues for the former war vet!
SHELLY:
He will absolutely be struggling with that because both of his prior losses; the loss of Ara the girl in Afghanistan, and the loss of Connor. The one stable datum in his entire experience was his own family, and finding out his mother did to him pretty much what Chelsea did by creating a lie. That is going to shake his foundation. He is not ready to embrace Nikki Newman with open arms. Dylan also has to deal with the fact that his biological father was an evil man, as opposed to the father he practically sanctified and loved.
MICHAEL:
Courtesy/IMDB
Then we have Adam (Michael Muhney) realizing Connor was his son and the little boy losing his eyesight, maybe permanently. And if that wasn’t enough, then came the launch of the big story last Friday … the hit and run accident that killed Billy (Billy Miller) and Chloe’s (Elizabeth Hendrickson) young daughter Delia (Sophie Pollono)! So, a decision was made to kill the character to open up the story for many of the other central characters on the canvas? Many fans have been quite vocal and outraged that Y&R killed-off a child character.
SHELLY:
It is the ultimate human drama for people to have to deal with. Soaps are in the business of family drama, and it’s the biggest tragedy anyone should have ever to deal with … you should not be burying your own child. The stories it will create for the relationships of almost everybody on the canvas are huge. Billy and Chloe’s ability to cope with the death of their child affects Billy’s relationship with Victoria, and Chloe’s relationship with Kevin (Greg Rikaart). Connor now will see the world through Delia’s eyes, metaphorically, and that will be huge. Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) being Chloe’s best friend and how this will affect them is important. And also throughout this, Adam is being humanized becoming a father himself, and his and Chelsea’s relationship will be affected greatly by this event. They will be living together with their child in close proximity, and looking at the world as a family. It will change how they perceive each other as well.
MICHAEL:
Thus far through, all the on-screen drama has provided material for some strong performances, in particular from Billy Miller and Elizabeth Hendrickson. Have you watched the performances back to see how the story plays out on-screen?
SHELLY:
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
I was able to see this past Friday’s and this week’s episodes, and they are amazing. Billy Miller is amazing. The actors feel the emotion of the story as well as the characters they are playing. Everyone had pulled out the stops.
MICHAEL:
A lot of times in soaps, more than any other medium, the actor informs the writer of their character in sometimes subtle ways. For instance, many actors I have spoken to over the years will tell me they play sexual tension into their scenes, so the writers will notice it, and see the spark, and write for it. When you see something you write on the page and you see it up on the screen, do you feel the actors take the material to a level you never expected?
SHELLY:
One of the things I loved about this show coming into it was the strength of the cast. Just as a viewer I thought, “Wow, this is a really good cast.” I would say almost always they get it, and get exactly what was on the page and put it on the stage. That is very gratifying for a writer. If something did not translate, I will take responsibility for that because I must have not been clear.
MICHAEL:
Courtesy/CBS
Many fans have also been vocal at the way that the character of Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) has been handled by recent writing regimes. It was Josh Grffith who told me months ago of his decision to make the character bipolar to explain away some of her out of character behavior and decisions, so it made sense. Last week, we learned Sharon was off her meds, which may have accounted for her seemingly now delusional fantasy that Nick and her would finally reconcile and be a family once again. Now it seems after the emotional scenes, she realizes the error of her ways. What is the purpose of that? Where is this now going for Sharon?
SHELLY:
We want to rehabilitate Sharon and currently, Sharon wants to rehabilitate herself. Once she does get stabilized, she does recognize that she was holding on to a dream that she can’t necessarily have any longer. And, that all the losses in her life, particularly the loss of Cassie, and seeing everyone around her move on and move forward has been very difficult for her. Not having love in her life and having a rather twisted relationship with Adam, that was extremely unhealthy. She is going to try to get herself back on the straight and narrow. If there ever is a possibility of anything ever happening with Nick, or any other man, she has got to love herself first.
MICHAEL:
However, Sharon is carrying around this huge secret about the paternity of Summer (Hunter King) and what happened to Phyllis because of it!
SHELLY:
You hit the nail on the head! As strong and able as she gets, she is carrying around that burden, and the only way she can unburden herself is by telling the truth. But, by telling the truth she stands to lose everything, and that indeed will be her quandary, even as she gets healthy. That will be an issue for her.
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
MICHAEL:
So then, what can you say to Shick fans who were hoping for a reconciliation? Things don’t look good right now!
SHELLY:
Not this week, that is all I will say on that. (Laughs)
MICHAEL:
So here is what I think will happen: Sharon and Nick will eventually get together and then all of Sharon’s lies will come out, and then they will fall apart … yet again!
SHELLY:
It would seem so, wouldn’t it? (Laughs) All I can say at this point is; we are going to see a stronger, healthier, Sharon approaching life and love and relationships in a different way then we have seen while she was essentially suffering a breakdown. Through that healing, she may be able to find other happiness in her life.
MICHAEL:
Hunter King (Summer) did an amazing job when Summer learned that Jack (Peter Bergman) was her supposed bio-dad and not Nick! What direction is she headed now?
SHELLY:
We do have story that will be coming up for her in the next several months. Summer is an Abbott, and a kind of a Newman in her mind, or shall I say, the truth as she knows it, or everyone but Sharon knows it. So Summer is an Abbott, although we really know she is a Newman. (Laughs) That does make her a bit of hammock between two oak trees. We are having her get more involved in the fashion world. This is one of the cases in point where we will be moving her into an umbrella story that will involve all the generations and both the core families. Also, her relationship with her “brother” Noah (Robert Adamson) will be explored. And, as Noah is starting to date her best friend, that is going to begin to create some conflict as well.
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
MICHAEL:
Many fans of the show have also been vocal that they want this Hillary storyline to wrap up soon! It was upsetting to see Neil (Kristoff St. John) get some alcohol in his bloodstream thanks to Hillary’s vindictiveness.
SHELLY:
I can say that the Mishael Morgan (Hillary) is a terrific actress and we are keeping her around. She is going to be getting involved with other characters on the canvas as well. Once she understands the truth of what really happened with her mother, she will start to see things differently. As a result of that, she will be able to move forward and branch out into other arenas. She is not going to be a psychopath, and she never was a psychopath. She was somebody who was hurting very much, because the most important relationship in her life was taken from her. She needed to blame. She was unable to see her mother’s own responsibility for her own actions.
MICHAEL:
What about Neil? Is he now going to become a drunk again?
SHELLY:
No. Neil is not falling off the wagon. But Neil does feel he was impart responsible for Hillary’s mother’s death. Hillary moving forward will maintain a non-romantic form of a relationship with Neil.
MICHAEL:
What did you think of the episodes surrounding the Katherine Chancellor memorial episodes and Jess Walton’s (Jill) performance in it? Did you as the writer have the hankies ready?
SHELLY:
Courtesy/CBS
I had the box of tissues handy. I thought they were a sublime and wonderful series of shows. I also thought it was a great honor to Katherine and the memory of Jeanne Cooper (Katherine).
MICHAEL:
Will Jess Walton be on the show more often?
SHELLY:
You absolutely will see more of the character. We have left her with a mystery to solve. We are going to see Jill going through the journey to solve that mystery.
MICHAEL:
Did you start off as a soap opera viewer? How did this genre come into your life and the desire to want to write a soap?
SHELLY:
As a young person in college I watched my first soap opera which was Somerset. A spin-off of Another World with Ted Danson! Friends and I got hooked on it so much so that we named our volleyball team after the show! But I got into film, primetime, and theatre, but always remained a soap fan. As a writer, I had always written other genres. The opportunity presented itself to me when I became a mother. I was working at home with my children. I started to watch soaps again, and started to love it, and started to dream up ideas and the rest is history.
MICHAEL:
Many times fans have often commented about the more recent writing regimes of the series: “They don’t know what they are doing. They are running the show!” Shelly, what is it that you feel you bring to the table in this new position of co-head writer of Y&R?
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
SHELLY:
I said to Jean the other day, “It is absolutely amazing that you and I have not even started working together and apparently we already suck together.” (Laughs) What I think I bring to the table is certainly enthusiasm, and a love of the genre. I think of the characters as people. I really do. There are voices my head. I feel like I channel them. My children used to watch me at work, and I would be talking to myself in voices! (Laughs) I feel like I let the characters tell me who they are, and as I said, I am an idea person. Having worked with Jean before, we share that. We are practically a burlesque show together! (Laughs) Obviously, the characters need to do something. You need a plot, and you need a strong plot. But as opposed to my work in primetime, where a lot of an episodic is plot-driven, soap opera serialized drama is character-driven. I also think this is the difference in what has happened in primetime television. They have co-opted the genre, “the soap opera” and so has a show like Homeland, and Breaking Bad. They certainly were character-driven, and the plot was almost secondary where they want to see how this character will relate to that character. You need a good story to keep it going, but I do think that what makes the genre so special is that it is character-driven. And that is why you have to think of each character as a very real fully-rounded person. You don’t want cartoon characters. I create a complete bio-sheet on every character that tells me things that may never appear on television. But it tells me things like … do they have allergies? How were they brought up? So in my head, it is a complete person I am thinking about.
MICHAEL:
What can you tell me about working alongside Y&R executive producer Jill Farren Phelps? As part of her producing signature style, she often has cataclysmic events occur that are designed to have a ripple effect on the canvas such as currently Delia’s death, or a big splashy spectacle such as General Hospital’s carnival sequence a few years back. Can we expect more of that in the future?
SHELLY:
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
Absolutely! There are things in the works. I have worked with Jill Farren Phelps in every show I have worked on. She was at Another World when I started there. I left Another World and joined One Life to Live to work with her. And then, when the announcement came that OLTL was going off the air, I moved to General Hospital where Jill was producing, and here I am with her again at Y&R. It has always been a wonderful collaboration. Jill is a very visual producer, which I very much appreciate. She knows what she wants to see on the screen, and she is extremely creative.
MICHAEL:
What would you want to say to the fans of what is to come as you move forward as co-head writer of Y&R? What message do you want to convey to them since have expressed concern for their favorite soap?
SHELLY:
I would like the fans to understand that we are fans. We love the show. It is our intention to honor the great tradition of this show and to grow with it, and continue to tell great stories for characters who we are already feeling are a part of our own families.
MICHAEL:
If the audience does not like a certain character or story, does it ever change the course for you, or would it, in regards to what you might do with a planned plot line? Do the fans have an actual voice that is heard by the writers?
SHELLY:
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Very often if there is throng of fans that feel very strongly about story, and remember they are seeing on the air what was written a minimum of two months before they are seeing it … when there is such a strong reaction, more often than not, we are ourselves have had the same reaction. If something really isn’t working, frankly, it really isn’t working. We certainly have people (and I am not going to read every nasty tweet about myself) on staff that will. We will be informed on a regular basis, “Geez, the fans are really hating this, or the fans are really loving that.” But, if we are in the middle of the story that we believe in, then we ask that the fans take the journey with us. Trust that we know where it’s going, and where it’s going is somewhere good. I would just ask the fans to know that there is always in the beauty of soap opera days without ends, and there is a tomorrow. We are taking people somewhere.
MICHAEL:
What are you plans for the pace of Y&R storytelling? In the past, this genre had the luxury of telling a tale and stretching it out to infinity, but in the world we live in now, things move at a much faster pace. In general, television shows move, and story move, at a much faster pace, or they could potentially lose their audience.
SHELLY:
I think that seems to happen naturally, as you say, because of the time we are living in and because of the ways stories are being told. I personally think it’s a mistake to try and accommodate a traditional form to make it something that it may not be. You go back to Dickens, and serialization. This genre has existed in some form for a very, very long time, and it is continued drama. Certain stories may move at a certain pace, but I don’t think you need to change what has worked for a very long time. The Internet is now a fact of our lives and things do move faster, and our characters are contemporary. They are using the Internet. They are communicating with each other at a much faster pace. Simply, because it is contemporary drama … the result of that is things moving a little faster.
MICHAEL:
Certain soaps, and as a most recent example, General Hospital, every day in story has been a BAM, BAM, BAM. Something always happens that moves the plot and unveils another layer of the story. That is amazing for soap viewers when that happens, because then it becomes every day is a can’t-miss episode, where if you miss a day, you will regret it! Do you want that to happen on Y&R?
Courtesy/CBS
SHELLY:
Again, there are stories that are filled with daily BAMS, and there are stories where you gotta get me there, which is something network executives say. I believe that is true. If people are falling in love, you want to see them fall in love on screen, and you need that to take time. There will always be those BAM- BAM stories, like “Oh my God” such as this story with Delia’s death. Hopefully, your heart will be in your throat and you can’t miss a scene, let alone an episode. I don’t think you have to come in with some new rule: now we are changing up because we are losing viewers, and we have to be something that we are not. I think it is story dependent and character dependent.
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Sadly, no truth or growth here, either. YR is doomed. She doesn’t even realize fans do not care about Dylan, Stittch, or Hillary. Katherine was not honored at all……
You could see from the article itself where the interest lies with this regime vs where it lies with viewers. I will add Tyler, Avery, Mason to the sentiments of not caring about Dylan, Stitch, or Hillary. Those characters, including Chelsea and others who are front burner without fail always get more screen time than the characters I am invested in – Cane and Lily – and for this reason I no longer care about Y&R. I am sick of the blatant favoritism shown by the writers towards certain characters. There is no valid reason why Chelsea, Avery, Dylan, Adam… Read more »
it sure sounds like it matters to you!!!!
Cane and Lily are BEYOND boring. Their big “blogger storyline” has been silly, stupid, and unwatchable. I have NO problem with them being backburnered. Neither one of them has any business attempting to carry a storyline.
If I hear Cane say “smokin’ hot wife” one more time, I think I’ll be sick! (Neil, too). NO ONE talks like that!
LisaJ – everybody knows you hate Lane. You go from message boards, to twitter, to facebook, joining Lane private boards, to blogs preaching your gospel of hate against Cane because he cares about Lily, hatred against Lily and her portrayer. We know how deep your hatred of them goes. I guess twitter and the other boards are not enough to contain your posts against Lane, lol. As for the blogger storyline being Lane’s big story – you wish. It has been Neil’s story from the get go, but as usual Lane is used to prop newbies they can’t get viewers… Read more »
From reading your blurb about Cane and Lily I surmise that you have missed many episodes of Y & R. They have had a huge story line surrounding them when no one else mattered!!! Y & R started out a rivalry of three family businesses, Newman’s, Abbot’ts, and Chancelor’s. All these other characters were created along the way, depending on the story line. My point being, the Newman’s, Abbott’s, and Chancelor’s should get top billing, they were the originals and should remain the originals. Now that the Chancelor’s have collaborated with the Newmans with Jeanne’s death it only stands to… Read more »
NOOOOOOOOO I WANT SHARON HAPPY WITH ADAM! So tired of Sharon having to be getting healthy when these criminals like Chelsea just keep sleeping with all the men and tricking them . This is ridiculous! Now this Delia saga is the worse. It seems yet again the fans are being told what we should like! When will we ever get a writing team that cares what the long time viewer wants? WHEN! SO TIRED OF IT! P>S Drucilla? Please Drucilla! 🙁
Mandy , LOVE YOUR COMMENT! I agree sadly it does seem it will be the same thing . The Chelsea show and that baby! BORING ZZZ Hey, By the way why does Sharon need to continuously need to be fixed? Why can’t this beautiful women be happy in a relationship? Let the girl be happy!
Mandy, Excellent, excellent posts. I now believe YR is dead. They have zero interest in writing towards what fans truly want to see, & there is no one, in upper management, who has the common sense to lead the show properly. When I read about what fans what, I see the names Jill, Cane, Lily, Sharon, Nick, Adam, Lauren, Michael, Victor, Nikki, Billy, Victoria, Jack, Tracy, Ashley. Yes, the Newmans are important, but they were never meant to be written superior ro every other family.I DO NOT SEE Dylan, Avery, Stitch, Hillary, Tyler, Abby, Chelsea, Leslie, Mason yet these are… Read more »
Shelby, To correct you, Cane is NOT nor was he ever thought of as Katherine’s son Phillip III, but Jill’s son. You should have re-read that and corrected yourself before posting it and making yourself look silly. Everyone else, As for Cane and Lily, they are tired, boring, and USELESS! Daniel Goddard cried his way back into a job (when Maria Arena Bell wanted him gone) and Christel Khalil should be out of a job because of her recent scandal involving her former talent agency that resulted in her supposedly being sent out on an audition to the show that… Read more »
I am a masters social worker. In my opinion, Sharon’s symptoms don’t exhibit a bipolar disorder. She sleeps well, eats, isn’t suicidal, grandiose and has a good grip on reality. Instead, as I perceive Sharon she may suffer from a borderline personality disorder or some facsimile to that. She is manipulative and has a tendency to harm others or their property. Sharon may need medication and therapy, but bipolar is a mis diagnosis. When assigning a diagnosis on a story the executives should consult an expert.
I hate to say it, but evidently Black characters are always secondary. Some people complain that Abby and Tyler don’t belong together, it’s the 21st century. The story line of Hillary should be explored. I believe she may be Gus’ child and Leslie and Tyler’s sister, an interesting plot. Reviewing the operations of Abbott Industries could include Neil, Devon and Cane who will probably return to work for Jack. A final question I have been pondering on for a while is Sophia and her child/ Neil/s son.
Thankyou for posting about Sharon Case! With all the death surrounding Delia and looking for eyes for a newborn the show has been so depressing! I skipped the show for the past two days. When I seen posts Sharon would be on I tuned in for Sharon! Fast forward through the rest of the show. Sharon was the only bright light of todays show ! I can’t stand Avery or Chelsea boring and annoying!
I want jack as summers dad and nick as faith fad not watching anymore of this junk
DONNA’S FAN SITE SENT me here and i would like to tell you to please bring Pylis back and get rid of Sharon she is a nimpho and has been married or in bed with every one in GC, Please don’t make it out the Adam is the killer of little D as this is such a sad and ruthless storyline couldn’t you of replaced her instead of killing her off, Mrs C didn’t get what she was entitled to i felt her honor was a joke after all those precious years she spent on YR. I am not liking… Read more »
please bring back delia abbot,and not make adam the killer.
I disagree with you all you talk always about Sharon how bad she is but she is not a bad person and you all speak about getting rid of Sharon but I don’t that they should she is a great actress…
Why is everyone saying “Donna sent me here?” Does she win a toaster oven or something if people mention her enough?
I don’t see them bringing Delia back, only because they’ll probably use her corneas for Conner’s eyes. Yes, Adam is the killer…but it REALLY was an ACCIDENT! He didn’t know he hit anyone, especially Delia!!! He swerved so he wouldn’t hit the dog and instead he hit her without even knowing it. Now he’s going to be going through the tortures of the damned knowing what he did! And we all know he can’t say anything because that will only make matters much worse for him than they already are now.
I can’t stand the fact they killed off little DD Abbot , I can’t watch please just let me know when it is all over!! no one want to see a child die.. and to play it out over and over is just cure to the fans of the show.. I’ve watched everyday for 30 years but the last 2 days I chosen to tune out!! And the Sharon story line geez she use to be one of my favorite characters now i’m just sick of all the craziest that is with her story line! and biopolar is in mood… Read more »
LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER WRITTING TEAM GIVING THE FRONT STORY TO CHELSEA! May the writers be reminded Adam loves Sharon . Chelsea was a rebound hired pro by Victor enough and when will Victor and Nikki relise Sharon lost a daughter and STOP saying poor Nick lost a daughter! He wasn’t her REAL father1
I too want Phyllis and MS back. Killing off Didi was just awful. JFP is the same woman that killed Jake off to save Josslyn. And then the killer was Luke, cause he was drinking, now I have the feeling that it was not Adam who hit Delia. First I don`t think that even with the broken headlight he hit her. Yeah, he tried not to hit the dog, but he pulled of the road and there was not a scream or anything strange happening. I think after the Monday episode that Nikki is the driver and she just blocked… Read more »
so is this the young and restless are is this the victor and Sharon show ,please make them the villians and give jack and billy and adam a break im so sick of the Sharon story and victor always portrayed hes bigger than god please ive been watching for 47 years but now im gettn really tired of same ole same ole
do something good for jack,billy,adam for once
I think it is so obvious the killer will be someone not on the screen now. They will make us think it is Adam or Nikki. BOOOOOOOOOO and then it will be some unknown. Everything on this show is so predictable. Who did not know Dylan would be the son. Red herring my ass. I am furious that MS had to leave because of this crap. Phyllis is needed and a recast will never work. Nick the prick is as dull and useless as his dump of a bar. There is NOTHING exciting going on. No good character to cheer… Read more »
Hope Shelly and the team fix the show for real! Not empty words like the former JG! Josh Griffith and Jill F. Phelps trashed everyones past writing in this former article back in 2012! Well look where Josh Griffith is today Fired! Jill F. Phelps is next. Fingers crossed! They had big mouths but the show a year after this article was written the show is in complete devastation! Killing a child and ridiculous long boring waste of time stories! What a crock this TVG article is! Goodbye Josh Griffith!
No one cried when Carmind was killed, but Delia? taking a break after 40 years, day 1 with the Brooks, Snapper and Greg. Good times.
LOVE SHARON 🙂 love Sharon with Nick or Adam that was when the show was so great! Love to see Drucilla back. I really have been watching talk shows these days. I want my Sharon happy with a man .
The last writers promised to repair Sharon but made her worse! I still want Drucilla back for Neil and Sharon and Adam together like before! I stopped watching this week because killing kids was to sad!
oh yes bring back Drusilla , at first I thought she was going to be Ann!
I want Sharon happy with Adam Nick or someone really great. I was holding on to see if they will ever do right by Sharon but they ruined her WHY? I can’t even stand they really had to kill a child! Really not happy Neil still is not really in love. Nobody can replace Drucilla! Avery and Chelsea have monopolised this show for the past year! Please STOP!
The day Y&R should ever bring back Drucilla will be my last watching the show. I was never so happy to see someone fall off a cliff. Keep her dead!
OH PLEASE I LOVE DRUCILLA! OMG THAT WAS THE BEST! TO HAVE SHARON AND DRU BESTFRIENDS 🙂
Hi, Donna sent me here, Ok, can you not make it a dream and bring back Dee Dee back, what is Chloe going to do without her daughter and poor Billy, he is a great father, just get another actress to play the part…Hate this storyline… Get rid of Hillary, put her in jail, hate that storyline, what a waste of good actors and actresses to put Neil through that…Quit making Adam the bad guy, he has been enough on this show, you made Michael and Kevin reformed so enough with making Adam bad…Let Nick find out that Summer is… Read more »
I cannot believe some of the storylines you are going with on this show. I am trying to give up watching this show . I do not understand why you killed off a child, Why are you bringing more negative to Billy and Adam for that matter. Adam has tried so hard and you keep letting him be brought down, Alcohol is really showing its ugly head with Adam, can t you give him a positive role for a change. Can you lay off with Victor being so controlling and convincing everyone that Billy is such a bad guy. He… Read more »
I agree! Victor needs to leave Billy alone and stop calling him Billy Boy. That is so annoying. He needs to allow Victoria to lead her own life and she and Billy are good for one another. I keep hoping that Victoria is pregnant with Billy’s baby right now and soon we’ll hear some really great baby news. Fingers are crossed.
well said Deb
Time for Sharon to be in a marriage. and not with a ghost. They are wasting the best character ! I really hate how Victor is always on Billy! So tired of so much! We asked and begged for better writing a year ago. It got worse. Why kill a Abbott? She can’t come back all grown up now! Newmans are always so hostile to everyone that gets old! Neil and Lily need Drucilla aka Victoria Rowell. How long do fans have to wait for VR return? Will Shelly listen to us? I did not like Avery and Chelsea in… Read more »
I would love to see Sharon and Adam reunite one day. Once she is strong and healthy again, perhaps they’ll be able to try again. And if that is not meant to be, then I hope that Sharon will find the right man for her. It’s about time she has something good in her life again.
Sick of Chelsea sick of Avery sick of the Rose story and now you killed Delia Y&R! PLEASE fix the show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO MORE GHOSTS!
I would love a little comedy back and not ghosts and death! Loved crazy Patty and her Kitty and Kevin and his Chipmunk outfit. We need more believed love like Sharon and Adam had. Neil is being played and that is so dumb! Chelsea and her baby blues is so ridiculous. Who decided to make her and Avery the shows front runners? Please really? No way! recast crazy phyllis but let Sharon be happy! So sick of Sharon and Jack and Billy being the doormates of the show and criminals get away with giving the kids away and running people… Read more »
I love Young and Restless, but please quit making Adam the bad guy all the time, finally thought he could have relationship with Victor. now this! please give his story line a break please. I don’t know how anyone could every get over running over a child. hate it.
I agree! It’s time to stop having Sharon, Jack and Billy as doormats. Time to bring in a new Phyllis too. And I so agree, Lily is so boring. Same old same old with her all the time. Too predictable. Her character needs something fresh and original or something.
Been watching FOR 40 YRS…what has happened to the 4th of July cookout..the romantic sets of Nick and Sharon..the NEWMAN hOLIDAYS…YOU MISSED THE BOAT COMPLETELY KILLING A CHILD…SHOULD HAVE LEARNED FROM cASSIE..MAYBE THAT IS WHY SHE IS BACK AS A GHOST..YOU SHOULDNT HAVE A JOB FOR A WOW AFFECT…ONLY IF YOU HAVENT WATCHED THE SHOW FOR 40 YRS..SHOULDNT BE WRITING THIS….
Maybe Victoria Rowell could come back as a ghost. But, oh that might cause the show to surpass the Black token quota.
I have watched this show since it started way back when. The new writers have ruined it for myself & a whole lot of other fans.
Really, did you have to kill Delia off?
There is WAY TOO MUCH Victor, his hatred of Jack & Billy is so old and boring. Making Sharon a nut job is not good writing.
I also agree there is too much Avery & Chelsea. BORING !!!
If this is the best you can do, cancel the show….
Have been a Y&R fan since it’s beginning. Wish I could say it’s the quality today that it was even 5 years ago. I’m getting so disappointed and disenchanted with the Y&R storylines, not the actors. The actors are getting the shaft. I still love and respect Victor, Nikki, Nick, Victoria, and Jill. Don’t see enough of Jill. I hope the writers don’t kill them off, too. Killing Delia was the sickest, most cruel thing to do. Yes, children die under horrific circumstances every day, Ms. Altman, but don’t be so flippant about it. Delia!!! Now, there was a great… Read more »
I could just spit
How flippant and arrogant is this:
when there is such a strong reaction, more often than not, we are ourselves have had the same reaction.
Trust that we know where it’s going,
We are taking people somewhere.
————-
I’m dumbfounded
but then again…. Y&R both production and cast alike… jump on the bandwagon for press….. and they do get the word out their…. I’ll fall off the soap box…. if I hear ONE more time… how it’s the #1 show for the umpteenth forgettable year
I am in total agreement with Carolyn, after reading the interview with the writers,. First of all, they are new to the whole Y & R story dynamic and just don’t understand the history here,. It’s getting more and more obvious that certain cast members are getting much more screen time, than other, some are getting story lines that can only be explained as evil and cruel and they keep getting away with illegally setting up people to entrap them, in whatever way the can. I’ve lost count of all the evil and hurtful things Victor Newman has done over… Read more »
Sharon belongs with Adam. period. These dumb writers are ruining the show. That is what makes soaps interesting. THe dynamics of the couple. That is why young and restless is sinking. I will not watch until Sharon is back with her love Adam
ITA Laurel! Although the photo is nice there was no mention of Lily and Cane story! Take note Chica HW! That’s who I want to see, not the low rent version with Tabby and HillAnn!
Granted, children die in real life but I was hoping you could have Adam offer to give his corneas and be blind so his son could see. It is time for Adam to stop always being the selfish jerk. Also, enough with Victor hating on Billy. Victor needs to come down off his pedestal and stop being so judgmental. Hopefully, Sharon will get better and move on without Nick. The truth needs to come out SOON about Summer. Too many stories going at once.
I agree with you Laura, except about Sharon I’m really getting tired of her story line and I agree why not tell Nick the truth about Summer, Nick should have married Avery he needs a family life and to be happy…
Finally, someone who agrees that Nick and Avery belong together. They make a good team. When Sharon married Victor that should end any feelings that Nick had for her. Dylan can go back to Chelsea, they are still married.
return Adam and Sharon together! Victor needs to leave Billy alone it is disgusting how he treats people. Adam is on my list of useless the way he is hiding this tragic killing but I will forgive him if he gets back with Sharon and has a baby of there own! Chelsea was a mistake from the start
I agree with you Danielle! Bring Sharon and Adam back together! They sizzled as a couple! And Chelsea was a huge mistake. No spark there whatsoever.
Oh come on the death of Delia was terrible and Sharon is my favorite . I don’t understand why is she the only person who is on meds> Sharon should be happy not used and abused.
I have watched this story since the onset in 1972. I am hooked on the story but for the 1st time I had to take a break this week. Delia’s death was senseless to me. Yes, Connor can see the world through Delia’s eyes but the same outcome could have been accomplished via the donors bank, miraculously. Victoria and Billy have just reconciled and hopefully can depend on each other besides alcohol and gambling. Three deaths in a sequence was too much, Katherine, Carmine and now Delia, finally Phylliss in a coma. Another request is to prioritize Sharon’s storyline. Sharon… Read more »
Oh Lord, more of the same old, same old from these writers. All talk and no show. Three regime changes in the past several years and the continued destruction of Sharon, so I don’t believe one word out of any of these writers’ mouths any more. Until they truly fix Sharon (don’t “try”, “do”) I’m tuning out, maybe for good. I’m sick of all the double-speak! Disregard what we the fans want to see and we tune out. It’s that simple. What’s so hard to understand about that?! Time after time after time we’re told the history of the show… Read more »
Fans do care about Dylan. Why do some believe they can speak for all! I and many I know love Dylan can’t wait to see what happens. So speak for yourself not others.
Actually, Tracy, she speaks for me as well!!! I agree 100% with her comments about Dylan. Maybe you and many others love Dylan, but I’d venture that many others feel exactly the way that Tracy and I do.
and many don’t give a damn.. the steve burton show needs to end. He is NOT Y&R.. send him back to GH
I have been watching Y and R since the beginning . It Haas’s been a rough year losing our beoved Jeanne Cooper. Now we are dealing with the tragic loss off beloved character Delia. This is disgusting and going to be the ruinastiion of this soap. There has been nothing but tragedy in every family. Generally we have at leeassst one or 2 families doing OK .Hilary ans stitchtto me are useless chharacters. Although I do love Dylan and Chelseey together. Frankly I am sick of Adam throwing his weight arrouund with threats etc he is no different than Victor.… Read more »
WELL I HAVE READ ALL THE COMMENTS AHEAD OF ME ONE THING I CAN SAY IS (I AM FINISH WITH Y&R).THE WRITERS DON”T CARE WHAT WE WANT OR CARE ABOUT THE SHOW AS WE DO OR DID . THE SHOW HAS BEEN CRAP FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS THE LOSS OF MRS.C & DEDE IS ENOUGH. AS FAR AS I CAN SEE YR MAYBE HAS 1-2 YEARS LEFT . VICTOR HAS MR. COMPANY NO! ALL OF THIS IS CRAP. MAYBE IF YOU GET HIT IN YOUR POCKET YOU WILL THINK TWICE ABOUT MESSING UP ANOTHER SOAP. I AM FINISHED AND… Read more »
I agree This writer is going to make Y&R disappear just like the others.Having watched this show from the beginning I have now started for the First time to skip past a good share of the stories . Bring back the old Abbey -and get rid of the new abbey and Tyler !!! Cannot stand either one! Why why why are you making Sharon such a huge part in the stories???? You are losing more and more people every day and soon it will be myself too . All of these years this has been the best Soap ever and… Read more »
If the goal is to make the show like General Hospital is now, then I will stop watching Young and the Restless. I stopped watching the new GH because it’s a hot mess of nonsense and camp and silliness with stories that make no sense. I seen better plots on cartoons. If you read this Altman, take into consideration what makes a good show, spend time with the writers to create good stories instead of spending time on twitter bashing fans who criticize the show, and focus on stepping up what makes a great drama instead of contributing to the… Read more »
Oh I know, I hate the new GH. I haven’t wathed a full episode since spring and can’t see myself doing so anytime soon. That show is a hot mess & a charicature of what it used to be. I hope that Y&R will not turn into that but it has gotten very unrecognizable IMO.
That’s why I stopped watching the Bold & the Beautiful, constant incest.
See I don’t see anything different. Just the same old, same old. And I still don’t get how Adam is going to be a family with his son if he’s the one that killed Delia. I don’t want to see him involved in this to begin with. But I don’t want him to be quiet about it either. If he did it I want to see him turn himself in and be man about it. The family part doesn’t make sense to me if Adam’s ends up in jail. I just don’t trust these writers or JFP. I hope for… Read more »
AJ didn’t cheat on Liz. She told him it was over, and told Nikolas that AJ wasn’t her boyfriend even before that.
I do not trust either. I thought Sharon and Adam were the true core couple. They split the best couple ever booooo
He stole her child hard to get past that. So Sharon and Adam should move on.
I so agree Wendy, regarding Adam.
I am seriously thinking of starting a “protest Y & Y page, so see how many fans will stand up and boycott the Young and the Restless for 6 months. Anybody wiling to get on board> I;d be happy to start a page here…
Well Marion am already there. Since this storyline started and what’s happening to MM. I refuse to watch this. So am boycotting already.
I will be on there with you. I hope the new writer sees these comment and takes are begging seriously. Sharon deserves to be in a romance not dealing with ghosts. I really hate it has become the Chelsea hour. I mean really enough with her and this baby and her over fertile womb. Avery totally needs to GO!!!! She is a waste of all our time!
Hoping for more Billy and Victoria. And that they finally succeed in having a baby together. Love this pairing. Amelia Heinle and Billy Miller are GOLD together.
Agree completely. I would love to see Billy and Victoria have some happiness that last longer than 30 days before a new crisis hits them. They are wonderful together and should be together.
Aj admitted to setting Sonny up before he got involved with Elizabeth. The relish storyline is AJ and Tracy being Quartermaines, I’m sure Edward would approve. Nothing AJ’s done since he’s been back can compare to some of Liz’ past loves, who include a professional killer, a psycho who tried to kill her twice, and a deadbeat who walked out on his kids. And let’s not forget the guy who went after her while she was engaged to his brother, then moved another woman into his home while she was out of town, after he said he would be there… Read more »
Admits to his shortcomings, yoy say, Lori. Did I MISS the episode where he told Liz about jumping into bed with Carly? Didnt think so, he wants Carly to kmeep it a secret from her, even roped Monica into keeping it a secret. Yea, he’s changed allrite. Ur just wearing blinders where he ia concerned and it WILL come back and bite him on the butt!
Yes they are can you PLEASE keep them together and let them have a baby
Yes please
Billy and Victoria have to start moving forward and Victor has to start to accept their marriage,, and quit being such a downer,,, he should accept adam and help him out…
speaking of adam,, what were the writers thinking when they started getting him back with “family” and now have him involved in this hit n run….
I totally agree! Billy and Victoria need a baby to be on the way soon. I hope she’s pregnant right now and will have some wonderful joyful news to share with Billy very soon. This show is in desperate need of some joy and happiness after the death of Delia.
I think it is way past time for Billy to leave that whiny shrew who never stands up to her father when he trashes her husband.
Another BS interview…
Amen BS interview she just trying make herself look and sound good,
I so agree.BS to the highest degree.This last s/l did it for me.Dont think they could fix this show now if they tried, but I dont think they are going to try anyway.
MAB & JG said the same things and look what happened. I’ll be open minded. I just want YR to get better and to see a healthy Sharon again. Maybe…just maybe a Shick reunion down the road.
I agree we want a healthy Sharon and times back when they had Cassie. Speaking of Cassie why do you have to ruin Cassie’s memory with bring her back this way. If you were going to bring her back then it should have been for the good. Not to put things in her mother’s mind. I am very disappointed. I have a Y&R fan site. I would like for the writers to take a look at it. The fans are not sitting on the edge of there seats to get to the show. They are turning it off. They are… Read more »
Shick is what started sharin on her descent into crazy land..The last think she needs is Nick. She needs to move off that ranch and start a life after the Newmans. They have all treated her like crap from day 1 and then all of the men passing her around. Shick should never happen. I do think that they will get back together in time for Nick to find out what the freak did. She is such a nutcase.
I wish a question could have been asked about my favorite couple, Lily & Cane. I’d also like to know why Lane weren’t allowed to confront Hillary but based on the amount of airtime they have been given they will continue to just be an afterthought . I wonder if she watched the show lately because romantic is surely not a word I’d use to describe it.
Daniel Goddard and Crystal what’s her face are not strong enough actors to be on the front burner. Big story lines require the heavy hitters. The few few stories they have had have been epic failures except to their very small, vocal fan base who would be completely happy watching Cane and Lily watch paint dry. Cane and Lily will always be Just filler” because that’s all they are really good for. Plus their fans are IMPOSSIBLE to please. They are never happy, ever. TPTB know this and have undoubtedly grown tired of bending over backwards trying to please a… Read more »
You are so right Lisa. Cane and Lily fans are never happy. Also, they’re characters are really not strong enough to be on the front burner continuously. Also, they get boring to watch very quickly.
This is so true. She giggles and he calls her smokin hot. Neither one of them is very good and they really need to be split up.
Ahh – How did I know LisaJ would be found railing against Lane in response to other posts. What did you call Christal? Crystal What’s her face. At least its kinder than what you have called her other places. This hate of Christel is so personal for you LisaJ. It really hurts you to see Cane with Lily doesn’t it, regardless how infrequent since they are barely ever on. Don’t worry. I understand where you hate of him with her originates from ;-). Still frequenting the Lane Private message boards LisaJ? I will be reading more posts in response to… Read more »
I guess the same way we all knew you would be here bashing Lisa for her opinion. She is allowed to not like them. You get that right?
I want Billy and Victoria to stay together and have the baby they have wanted for the last three years.BILLY AND AMELIA ARE PURE GOLD TOGETHER
agree! 🙂
i agree
AGREE 🙂
My favorite couple.
My favorite Newman
My favorite Abbott
it would be soap opera heaven if Victoria could carry full term and deliver that beautiful baby – they both deserve… especially Victoria
I agree! Billy and Victoria are pure gold! I love them and want them to make a baby! Wouldn’t that upset The Great Victor Newman? I hope it happens very soon.
haterz gonna hate.
Good performances this week. This story is bound to set up a lotta drama for a long time. Hoping we see LOTS more Jill and continued story for vets.
She spent 95% of this interview talking out of her ass. Phelps trained her well. Plus she is flat out LYING about Jess Walton. Jill’s entire *mystery* has been off screen. She’s been missing for a MONTH.
I agree I agree ! She sounds like she will make the show even worse.
The same team killed Another World shyer taking over.
Lisa…YES…THANK YOU…AGREED!!!!! It’s like Shelley Altman is an obedient soap puppet and that Jill Farren Phelps is the evil puppet-master DEFINITELY pulling the strings!!!!! Beyond lame.
I know. I was like wtf? We haven’t even seen Jill in a month yet her story is riveting LOL
Michael I love that you asked great questions. I’m cautiously optimistic where the new writers are concerned. Their past ventures speak for themselves and lets be honest, neither writer is the cats meow in the industry. Their biggest failures are 2 cancelled soaps. Altman with AW and Jean with ATWT. Yes fans say they suck…for good reason. That’s not a “trust me, I’m good at my job” label by any stretch of the imagination. Personally, I would have left out how much she’s worked with Phelps. A polarizing producer who many feel have hurt shows more than shes helped. It… Read more »
Love your comments.
LOVE your comment so true these writers seem like they don’t care what us vet viewers want. No more Chelsea I can’t take it and omg stop killing children its beyond sick. That is not a drama we want. We want love in the afternoon not death! Michael Fairman please send all our cries and comments from this article to this Shelly writer Thanks so much we are afraid of a repeat JG and JFP attitude that gave us the year of Y&R disapp ointment BOO!
Yes the story of Delia is very sad with alot of emotions…trust me alot of tears and tissues here. I have watched YR since….well let me say alot of years. True it can reflect real life and that can be in a movie, reading a book or in our daily entertainment of a soap opera, if it’s not up to par for most viewers:stop watching. I see alot of spinoff stories that can come from this. BUT please please do not have Adam as the person that did the dreadful hit and run. I agree with other people..yes he was… Read more »
THIS IS NOT IN THE TRUE SENCE A HIT AND RUN ,ADAM DID NOT KNOW HE HIT ANYONE, IF HE HAD HE WOULD NOT HAVE LEFT ,AND EVEN IF HE SEEN DEE ,SHE WOULD HAVE DIED, BILLY FOUND HER MUNUTES AFTER SHE WAS HIT,HE WON’T GO TO JAIL IF HE HIT HER .IT WAS A ACCIDENT!NOT HIS FAULT ,HE DID NOT SEE HER IN THE BUSH,SHE WAS DRESSED IN BLACK.I JUST HOPE HE COMES FORWARD AND TELLS.I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO HIM CHELS AND CONNOR.YES ,IT WAS A SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE BY ALL.!
Please let Adam not be the one hit Delia and I agree let him come forth and tell them about swerving, the dog. He has a lot to deal with and he needs a break…
I agree. I am pretty fed up with Adam being the fall guy for every horrific deed in GC. When it’s not Adam, it’s Sharon, and it’s getting very tiring. I have been a huge Adam/MM fan from day one, and being an Adam fan, while never boring (see Dylan), is sometimes no picnic. Love him, but geesh..it’s killing me watching him go to kick the football only to have it yanked away at the last second. When, if EVER, is Adam freakin’ Newman going to be able to string five minutes of happiness together? Michael Muhney can deliver the… Read more »
Donna sent me, but I am with all of you I am so tired of Adam being the fall guy for everything. I wish they would do something to knock Victor off his high horse, I am so tired of his crap also. I really did not like the story of Delia being killed off no matter how it happens in real lives. I think she was just saying what she thought we wanted to hear. I am so close to stop watching this show again
All we need now is to see Victor stick his nose in and get nasty (as only he can) with not only Billy but Adam also. He just won’t be able to keep his opinions to himself but he’s got a nasty shock coming to him from Nicki, that he has to deal with. I so agree with Henriette. Adam is a very powerful actor but it gets very disappointing to have to watch him only deal with having to fight for his survival. When does he get to have something positive happen to him….this situation is NOT real life.… Read more »
How ridiculous that Adam even thinks he hit her. Hitting a person is something that you would feel and it would leave a lot more damage than a broken tail light. I hit a raccoon once and it caused 2 grand in damages.
Thanks for the great interview. I can’t miss Y&R every day and I think I must have missed one because I missed the part when Nicki found out that Dylan really was her son. That was certainly a surprise because I really thought it was Stitch. I love Michael Muhney, Billy Miller and Steve Burton. They are are some of the most talented actors on daytime. Heck, the whole cast is!
I never saw the one where she found out either, I told my hubby that Stitch will be her son, I think Nikki is just guessing, because I tape them everyday and never saw that… Hope it turns out to be Stitch, she doesnt need a son with all his war problems..I like Dylan but hoping it is Stitch…
I missed it, too,. I record the show and I replayed the whole week of shows multiple times to try to find it, but could not. I think something got cut.
When she was at Victoria’s watching Johnny, when Victoria went to the hospital. She told Johnny that he has another uncle named Dylan.
As a Sharon / Shick fan I see I am going to get my heart broken again..
Sharon will still be the pariah of GC and Nick will get to berate her for things she has done..I was so hoping that Summer would remain an Abbott…but instead, it will ALL BE SHARON’S FAULT…:(
When will Sharon pay for her messing with the blood tests and when will Nick find out the he really is Summer’s Dad?
Maybe in about 18 Yrs or so…
I cannot wait till this witch (b) is caught. I hope Summer and Jack and Nick all freak out. She needs to be the town pariah. She is already the town bicycle where everyone takes a ride.
Non-sense. This woman is a flack for Phelps. Y&R is headed for the cliff. Delia’s death is a horror show. These people have destroyed Adam’s tiny shred of happiness. Steve Burton has been shoved down the audience’s throats. If I wanted to watch General Hospital, I’d turn the dial to ABC. If Y&R can recover, Sony & CBS have to clean house.
I hope those writers and producer stay away from Days of our Lives.
I have already written and called NBC and Corday Productions, threatening
to quit watching DOOL if they hire any of those soap killers!
Face it, Y&R is dying because they are killers. Do yourselves a favor, choose
a different path that leeds you to glorious DAYS!!!
I have very little faith in the new regime. This feels the same as it did last year. Talk about caring for dabs & tradition and then bringing in their favorites and crushing what the fans have loved. Why they feel we should trust anything they say is asking a lot.
while you are going through changes ,recast DeDe and wake her up and let this be a dream all the fans are upset over this storyline , it is awful so do us a favor and make it a dream
I am NOT enjoying the way the show is going. Yes, the acting is great, but the story lines suck. I totally agree with Chris above.
I was shocked on how badly Katherine’s memorial was done. It seemed like the writers didn’t know any of the past so they had nothing to offer, so instead they threw a random wedding into it??? One that made no sense in regards Kay since she loved Danny & Cricket together. Jill was Katherine’s lifelong story-mate she should have been front and center for some sort of story. Instead just more a few more lines, for the routine two-three days of Jill, we get every, or every other, month. I don’t want to just SEE more of Jill I would… Read more »
I don’t care about Hilary or Mason or any newbies I want to know about The Winters and their family when are they gonna stop being background nobodies and have some good stories and air time. Micheal ask about Neil and Altman go into Hilary and what is coming up I don’t give a shit about her I care about Neil and his family,grandkids and Moses . This show is so depressing ,even writing about it depress me. Hoping things change but won’t hold my breath.
Hilary, Mason, Tyler, Leslie, Avery, courtney all of them need to go. They need to give Noah a real story. This show is just so bad right now I really cannot believe it.
Pathetic writers, even worse producer JFP — the infamous nail in the coffin creature equals one boring, sick soap opera! Replacing all the old characters with JFP drones and rewriting history = no story line worth Y&R! Talented actors need something to work with! Need new creative writing team and NEW PRODUCER!!!!!!!!
I hope they throw Sharon in a padded cell and throw away the key. She is useless. I also hope that they don’t have Chloe talking to a dead person like they do Sharon. Leave those people in the past, stop bringing their ghosts back. I am sick of watching Sharon talk to Cassie.
They probably will, Jack talks to his dad, Sharon to Cassie, who knows!!!
I agree Sharon talking to Cassie, who was a sweet girl, was really bad writing. Along with all the other stupid idea’s that you have been coming up with. Who actually wrote the story line presented this last Fri. ? Why not replace her, you have replaced almost everyone else! Wonderful acting but shameful writing. I can’t say I am going to watch anymore of this. Bring back the Old Y&R. I really am sick of most of the story lines now. Where is Jill? Dillon and his new mother–That is a joke. Love Billy, I feel he is ready… Read more »
Umm….can the new writers attempt to fix Sharon first before you throw her to the wolves please?! Grrrr.
I don’t appreciate anyone referring to Sharon and Adam’s relationship as ‘twisted.’ Just because it wasn’t the norm, doesn’t mean it was wrong. They were very much in love. In fact, what’s twisted is how those feeling got turned off like a light switch when whatever regime felt they waned a insta-soulmate situation with Chelsea and Adam. I have been a fan for over 20 years and Sharon/Adam was one of the most exciting and passionate love affairs as of yet.
yep like Chelsea and Adam are not unhealthy and twisted..and now they will be a ‘family’..seriously Shelly Altman ?! EYEROLL
EYEROLL, this is the weakest, unhealthy and twisted pair.
I have a question? How much input do the actors have in how their particular story line is being written? They all have contracts, and I wonder what it’s like to be playing a part that one does not believe in. I would love to know the answer to this, from someone, anyone, on the show. Hearing Adam’s comment would be great as I think he is one of the most talented actors the show has ever had.
Sharon and Adam were hot! Let’s hope we’ll get some of that back with them one day!
Sharon/Adam was one of the most exciting and passionate love affairs as of yet.
righting this “original” pair’ing: will save the show
Hot!
Turbulent!!
Fire!!!
Passion!!!!
Fan following
it was twisted.. he stole her baby… there is nothing normal about her sleeping with the man who stole her kid. It is beyond sick and twisted… but sharon will do anything to have a Newman Heir.
What I find sick ,is those who say it should have been Faith. Faith is just alittle girl who wants her mommy n daddy together ,just like Dee wanted Kevin n Chloe together.Faith’s father and aunt were terrible to Adam when he was small b/c they blamed Hope for their parents separation.I hope they finally see how their father has harmed all his children.AND victor ,I hope he will lose them all ,Niki too.until he finally sees its all on him.He needs to get help to deal with being abandoned by his parents.Wanting it to be another child who died… Read more »
SORRY SHARON IS NOT A SOCIOPATH ,SHE HAS A CHEMICAL IMBLANCE .HOWEVER PHYLLIS CAME PRETTY CLOSE TO BEING A SOCIOPATH ,JUST LIKE VICTOR.
I love Sharon but STOP the excuse..bipolar people DOESN’T DO what Sharon did !
i am sick of victor newman,,
I agree Meg. Sharon has a chemical imbalance. Let’s hope she gets well and strong and on the right path here soon.
Judith I’V KNOW PPL WITH BIPOLAR ,SOME AS SICK AS SHARON, I’D LIKE TO SEE SHARON WITH DYLAN ,MAYBE ,I PREFER ADAM WITH CHELSEA,I’M SICK OF VICTOR TOO,BUT I WOULDN;T WANT HIM TO LEAVE,NEED SOMEONE TO HATE.I WANT HIM TO FINALLY GET WHATS COMING TOHIM .FOR HIM TO REALIZE THE HARM HE HAS DONE TO ALL HIS CHILDREN,ESPECIALLY ADAM.
I know this ilness too MEG and NEVER EVER people with bipolar disease do what the Sharon character did..NEVER.
she is a total wack job.. Sharin has the wrong diagnosis. She is doing things that Bi Polar people do not. Sharon and her crazy is something she turns off and on. Getting drunk and burning down the newman ranch was disgusting .. it was cuz she was drunk not crazy.
I’ll wait to voice my opinion till I see the material.
i think it is BS that crap like that had to happen to a lil kid. i k now you trying to make it based on every day life but damn get real. in my opinon you took it way to far now.
I don’t think any thing is gonna change on the show. The other writer might as well stayed.
Very very disappointed in the recent story line with Delia. It’s been bad enough loosing a lot of the main characters and several people who have played those roles for quite some time. But to get rid of a child. It’s just ridiculous. I know every single person I’ve spoken to about the Delia story line is NOT pleased and a lot have even said they will quit watching. I sure hope the writers change their mind on this! Great having a mixed family and one that had such a connection. Why ruin that with losing a child? Especially they… Read more »
Same old junk. NOT the Y&R I’ve watched since Nikki was a hooker!! You’re RUINING all we have left!
You said it perfectly
NIKKI WAS NEVER A HOOKER,JUST B/C SOMEONES A STRIOOER DOESN’T MEAN SHES A HOOKER.
STRIPPER
Stripper, whatever. The POINT WAS, they’re RUINING the show.
won’t and can’t watch this storyline about delia. it could have been handled so differently! she did NOT have to be killed!!! in general, the show has been pretty pathetic. thank goodness for dvr/fast forward and delete! i now watch about 10 minutes of the show, if that! 🙁
I have read so many posts and I agree with almost all…Sharon being bipolar and not even correctly, why? Adam always being the evil one, Why? Too much of Chelsea and Avery, what made them be center stage and oh so important? Delia WHY..she was the best little actress on that show, why not replace her? Keep together Billy and Victoria, Kevin and Chloe, Jack and Phyllis (if she is back or replaced), and Lily and Cane. Put together Dylan and Avery, Nickki and Dylan as mother/son. I agree that Neil, Cane, Lily, Tyler and his sister are not my… Read more »
I am not happy that little delia was killed off. I am now done with the show. I haven’t watched it since the accident happened almost a week ago.
I find it truly disturbing that the writers have yet again “killed off” another child on this show… & one that is so brilliant… Delia was an awesome little actress that deserved better than she got… Young & the Restless has been my favorite soap for many many years… Not so much anymore… Not watching it anymore 🙁
i think killing off delia was pure nonsense. i know the actress wanted to leave to do another show but it could have been recast. this is starting like gh where they are killing of kids so another kid can get their organ donations. i turned that show off too because of the same reason. they could have done a different story for connor’s cornea transplant. did not need to kill off delia. if adam did it how can he be a family with chelsea. it is going to come out and then he will go to prison. plain and… Read more »
I agree, they should of recast….and Connor will probably end up with Dee Dees corneas, I am hoping the writers read all the comments and make it a Dream someone was having…they did it on Dallas, hope they do it on Y&R… Please
Good interview however does not change my feelings on killing off a child. I surely understand there is a better future for this young character, but she could have been replaced just as so many others have been. Having Adam, once again, pointed as the “bad guy” is once too often. It is time for him to find some happiness in his life with the sly fox of his father in him to disrupt the business place. Haven’t we had enough with stranded children coming to surface? Make room for the young ones to start new story lines……I really would… Read more »
I applaud the writers for taking on a realistic storyline. Children die everyday and that is a fact. While sad to see Delia die, it gives the actress a chance to move onto bigger and better things. I also see Emmy’s for several of the cast members because it allows for them to shine and truly shows their talent. Bring back some beloved characters from the past..Number one choice…Kimberlin Brown as Sheila. Some are tired of her storylines but she always sends the ratings soaring and she is a fantastic actress. Would love to see her character redeemed somehow and… Read more »
Don’t like the DD story line at all. Should have replaced her like you did Faith. There is so much sadness in most everyone’s lives right now. Don’t like that you killed DD and compounded the sadness of those who religiously watch the show. I think for any of us it is easier to handle the death of an adult on television, but not a child.
I hate this story line Deliah was a bright spot in the show just was not necessary at all, And Victor has become so vindictive going to be another day time casulaity been watching forever but about to give it up
Honestly, it is just too much drama! I have quit watching, and I have watched for the better part of 35 years. I think daytime dramas are losing their following. And who wants to watch families go through burying a child, they get enough of that in their own lives.
Sad story with Delia passing but please leave Billy and Victoria together. The chemistry they have it awesome together. Still not sure why the show could not recast Delia as they do everyone else or age her.
Yes they should have recast the part, that was mean, an only child for Chloe , hope they make it a dream like they did on Dallas, Wont be the same without Dee Dee
Many years back, when an episode ended, it left me yearning to watch more and I couldn’t wait for the next day!!! There were twists and turns that you never saw coming and it was so cleverly and amazingly written (and acted)!. Besides Y&R and Bold & The Beautiful, I never got into any other soaps even though I did try. I found them to be too unrealistic and never kept my interest. I felt Y&R was very different. And now you have the same writers of those other soaps writing now for my favorite soap….and I feel myself watching… Read more »
great post.. I totally agree with you.
These new story lines are impossible. Been a fan for 30 plus years but starting to make me hate to watch it.
I so agree , it’s very hard to watch , I’ve been skipping shows since you all started with the Summer daddy switch and now with the Adam killing a child he didn’t even see , what’s wrong with you people ???????????
Me too Sandra, I have been a loyal viewer for over 30 years and this past summer I started watching less and less….sick of the same old thing day in day out!
I have been watching Y&R since I was in the 9th grade in 1974. Lately the storylines are getting crazier every day. I hate Delia dying off the show. And I really hate the fact that Adam may be the one who did it. I have seen where it may end up beind Niki instead and I hope it is. Why can’t the writers ever give Adam a break. He is already cursed with being Victors son. He deserves some happiness in his life. And now that he has the son he has always wanted you try to get him… Read more »
because you don’t like the acting of one actress, her character needs to be for you a little girl’s killer..ugh.
Its a good idea because Niki’s character has not had a good story line for months if not years. Adam always gets dumbed on and its getting old. And the new storyline about Dylan being her son is crazy too. What are the chances that a son she gave away 40 years ago would be someone she already knew. And yes he would have to be in his 40’s because she was suppose to have been a teenager when she had him and she is easily in her 60’s in real life and so would her character be as long… Read more »
Doesn’t need to be Nikki EITHER ! And yep she already has a story with the long lost son Dyllan..maybe you don’t like it but it is a story !
OUIT persecuting Adam!!! Do not make him the one who hit her…it doesnt make sense. Victors kids accepted everyother halfling Victor spawned but not Adam. Victor claims family is the most important thing to him but wont love Adam…why? because he is the smartest,most savy of all of them..toomuch like Victor. Beginning to hate Victor, so evil and pretentious and never any consequences for him. Give Jack a break already and Sharon and Nick belong together, Phyllis moved in on a grieving couple to steal the man. Bring her out of her comma so she can go after Billy. Hate… Read more »
shick were the most toxic couple of all.. they should NEVER get back together.
You writers suck. You messing up a good show the last while, where are your brains? I know where they are they got lost in some ocean, your running out of ideas so your coming up with crap. That’s what . I think you either need to shut this show down or let some other people who have more sense take over. Worst storyline ever the last while and to top it off you heartless in killing off a kid. So wrong. You all need to take like a twenty year vacation.
I also do not want Michael Muhney(Adam) in this drama about Dehlia. He has been rip over the coals enough. Let him enjoy his son and I hope Chelsea gets over herself and quites letting Chloe lead her around by the nose!
I cannot believe that Delia has been a victim and is gone!! And why Adam??? As I read through the above and the mention that this show will soon follow the type of show GH is – then I’ll be gone. I left GH years ago because of the so-call story lines that had no depth. The characters on Y&R have been slowly developed and are interesting to follow. This being a ‘soap opera’ they need to continue to develop but not to outlandish events. I can see that this show might be going by the wayside – sorry to… Read more »
Your last query re: General Hospital BAM BAM BAM is exactly how I feel about soap operas. This is how they should be acted, viewed and portrayed. I noticed this change in the last year and have gravitated over to GH because I love the characters. The layers are so well mixed that it makes you want to watch. Bringing back characters a few months after a jammed packed plot is the best idea. They have it right on GH and the other shows are going to dwindle. I’ve watched Y & R since 1990 and religiously took it all… Read more »
It is TOTALLY ridiculous that you would even consider Nick and Sharon back together. Her storyline is a train wreck!!! Horrible job at killing off Delia and having Adam be the culprit, that’s a no win story line there!! Terrible job celebrating the life of Katherine Chancelor too. I could have written a much better storyline for her death than that!! Shameful!!! After you killed off Delia, I vowed to turn your show off!! These reasons are why soaps are going off the air!!! Get a grip and get some better stories written. Bring Delia back recast!!!!!! Enough already!!!!
What a shame that YOU do NOT care what the fans think!!!!! I have watched this show for years-my Mom & I used to talk about it on our weekly phone calls,I bet even she is rolling in the grave over this ROTTEN story!! To take that sweet baby girls is just WRONG!!! SHAME ON YOU!!! I am soooo done with this show- I do not care if Connor will see,or if Adam becomes a man-he is a man-take that nasty Victor & put him on a road !!!! It must not take much to think this stuff up. AGAIN,… Read more »
Way to go writers!!! Your storylines have the “opinion” pages on fire!!! Well done! I had my hankies nearby all week!!!
General Hospital
GH’s Laura Wright Talks on Mob Boss Carly and Her 30-Year Evolution in Daytime
She’s a fierce, force to be reckoned with, one who delivers raw and emotional performances time and time again, while never forgetting from where she came, and always willing to pass on to her newer co-stars’ the wisdom she gained from the grind of performing in front of the camera in the toughest acting genre there is … daytime drama.
General Hospital’s Laura Wright’s (Carly) real-life soap journey actually has a very humble beginning when in 1991 – fresh off a job at a gas station – she landed in Corinth and the role of Ally Rescott on ABC’s Loving. Up next, a jaunt to its re-imagined version, The City, until the series ultimate demise in 1997. But that was just an appetizer for soap fans of Wright’s burgeoning talent, when next she ventured to Springfield and CBS’ Guiding Light to take on the role of a stripper with a heart-of-gold who ultimately would be crowned a princess, Cassie Layne. Then, after a popular 8-year-run, she would head to General Hospital, and one of the most coveted roles in soaps, that of Port Charles’ Carly Corinthos following in the footsteps of powerhouse actresses, Sarah Brown and Tamara Braun. In her 20th year in daytime, Laura took home the gold for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series back in 2011, and that brings us to now. Next week on June 7th, marks Laura’s 30th year in daytime filled with memorable on and off-screen moments that she has cherished.
Meanwhile, currently on GH, Laura is getting to play Carly in a whole new set of circumstances as she enters her three-decade soap anniversary. In story, we find Carly stepping up to run the mob, now that she and everyone else believes her husband, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) is dead, and while her best friend and mob enforcer, Jason (Steve Burton) had to go on the run. And from the looks of it, Carly is adjusting to the mob boss role quite well … but is she really?
Michael Fairman TV spoke with Laura to get the lowdown on Carly’s life without Sonny, which has pushed her front and center into managing crimes and misdemeanors, mafia-style, all to protect the ones she loves, and to reflect on her amazing ride in daytime; which has made her one of the all-time leading ladies of the soaps. Here’s what Laura shared about it all.
Photo: ABC
When you first found out what the structure of this storyline was going to be, where Sonny was going to “die” along with Julian (William deVry), and then he turns up alive and has amnesia, what was your initial thought? Did you know how far they were going to take this for Carly, as far as her now running the mob in Sonny’s place?
LAURA: I had no idea about the mob part of it until about two months ago. As far as Sonny having amnesia and having another life now, I love those kinds of stories. It also gives you as an actor something to play, and what else are you going to do with Sonny and Carly? You can’t really break them up. You’re talking to the person who is game for almost anything, so I loved it. What does Carly’s life look like now as everybody believes that Sonny has died? How does she even take care of herself? For me, it gave me great material to play because of how it all started to crumble. Ava (Maura West) takes Avery, Cyrus (Jeff Kober) starts taking over the territory and the town, and Carly starts losing all of this security in her life as she knew it in trying to protect her family, and it was scary for her.
Photo: ABC
Of course, viewers could see where this storyline was heading once Carly lit in to Nina (Cynthia Watros), when Nina was in Nixon Falls and saw that Sonny was very much alive! You could see that Nina was going to seek revenge on Carly and not tell her about Sonny, aka “Mike”, all the while getting closer to him. What do you think Carly would do if she found out that Nina was with Sonny and kept it from her?
LAURA: You know, Carly before taking over the mob would have been awful, but now… and I was thinking about this the other day … I’m like, “Carly would go after her with a gun!”
For years, I’ve always loved this idea of, “What if Carly became a mob boss?”
LAURA: If they did have Carly go after Nina, then Jason and Sonny would be like, “You cannot do this.” I think there is this blind rage, at least for a moment. It can’t just be standing there and yelling at her, do you know what I mean? Carly would probably take action and then Nina would disappear, or it’s like ‘get me away from her because I am going to kill her’ for what this woman did. So, you have to have at least an episode of that before you come to your senses and realize that you have children and responsibilities, and you’re going to have to do this the right way, but you have to have the moment of losing it. It’s stealing their life. It’s great stuff. My other thoughts are, “Poor Cynthia,” (laughs) because she’s got to be the nicest human being on the planet, and she is so fun to work with, and so great and committed, so we are going to have some interesting times getting through whatever they write. I have no idea what they’re writing by the way, and I have no idea when it’s going to happen, but I am sure it will be great.
Photo: ABC
With the way GH shoots their taping schedule, I am assuming now you barely see Maurice, because you are basically in two different parts of this interconnecting story?
LAURA: We shoot by set. So, if Maurice is working in the morning, and I am scheduled at let’s say at noon, by the time I get there, he’ll be gone. So, it’s fascinating. It’s kind of running parallel of what is happening on and off screen because I don’t see him at work, either.
Photo: ABC
Carly seems that she is becoming pretty comfortable in this mob role. There was a scene that recently aired between Diane (Carolyn Hennesy) and Carly, where Carly was discussing her options of what to do with Gladys (Bonnie Burroughs). Does Carly like the power this brings her?
LAURA: I think so, but it’s not like she’s sitting around going, “Oh, this is amazing.” It’s seriously what she has to do. What she is seeing is that there are so many moving parts that she didn’t realize how difficult it was. Sonny made it look easy. There’s not a time to even take a breath. You’ve got to always be on your toes. You know, she is doing it in ‘Carly fashion,’ so it’s always entertaining, and trying as a woman to put out all the fires, but there’s 20 fires behind it, because there is just someone constantly trying to take your seat, trying to hurt your family. There’s just always something to look out for whether it be from the other families or law enforcement. I think that Carly is surprised that she is good at it and surprised at how making these decisions is becoming easier and easier for her, but I don’t know if she sits back and enjoys it. At this point, from air to what we are taping, the decisions don’t stop, and the danger doesn’t stop, and more decisions have to be made, and there is no one else to do it. This is a world that is life or death. This isn’t like, “Well, if they don’t like me, I’ll just find someone else to do the job.” There’s nobody else to do that job. It’s not that world. You don’t get to walk away, and she is learning that more and more, as she plays in the big world.
Photo: ABC
So, Jason went on the run with Britt (Kelly Thiebaud). How does Carly feel about that?
LAURA: Britt saved his life. She said that on camera. “She saved your life; she can take you wherever. I trust her.” Carly saw how Britt stepped up and helped him. I don’t think there is anything else that Carly is thinking right now. Carly doesn’t have the luxury of being old Carly and being snippy, catty, wanting to vet every person in Jason’s life. It’s just not her reality right now. That would be a luxury if she could go back and be that person, but that’s not it. Right now, it’s assessing the situation. “Is he safe? Is she taking care of him? Great. I don’t care about anything else right now.” This is the difference between old Carly and mob-boss Carly. Those days are gone. She would give anything to go back to those days because she didn’t have to have the world on her shoulders because Jason was safe, and Sonny was alive. It’s not where she is now. It’s a different dynamic that she was forced into.
Photo: ABC
When you and Steve Burton are in scenes together, whether it’s just in your eyes, or expressions or emotions, there is so much going on, or at least that’s how it plays to the audience. Is the relationship between Carly and Jason one of your favorites to play, because it’s so unique and deep rooted into their history?
LAURA: Oh, I love the Carly/Jason relationship. It’s the loyalty and that their dedication to each other is unbendable, unbreakable. It’s so unwavering. It’s great to play because it’s like being in a really good relationship, even though he’s not her ‘person’, but he kind of is. It’s being in a great relationship that means that you get to be 100% you and everything that means, and that person loves and accepts you. There’s such incredible love and freedom, and that’s what it’s like to work with Steve because Steve approaches our scenes – and almost every scene when I watch him with other people – that there is no undercutting judgment, only help. If I’m struggling with a line or I don’t want to do something, he’s either like, “Yeah, I agree. That’s unnecessary; cut it,” or he gives me a really great way of looking at it, where I’m like, “Oh, that is a really interesting thing, thanks!” So, then you have full freedom to feel and play and do anything, and that’s kind of what you see. There’s just a confidence, and I think it is also the relationship. I think it has to be there when I work with Steve because the relationship between Carly and Jason is that way.
Photo: JPI
Carly and Jason accept each other for who they are, all their flaws, and the dangers that come with their lives. Wouldn’t you say?
LAURA: She accepts him 100% for who he is. She wants to manipulate the world around him, so he is safe, and perfect, and always there, but she still accepts him when nobody else does and vice versa. He knows that Carly is going to destroy things, and mess up, and spiral. Like, she had that scene where she said, “Even when Jason knows I’m wrong, he supports me.” It’s really that right there that is everything between the two of them, and it’s the hardest thing to find in any relationship, real life, TV, etc. We always want to change people to make them be who we want them to be so that we feel okay. It’s a great soap opera relationship because it causes conflict in every other relationship that they have, which is great for storytelling in a show because then there is always a challenge, always a hurdle, always a problem built-in if you need drama. It’s because there is so much acceptance and unconditional love and support that they are free to be who they need to be, and I feel that as an actor working Steve as well. I think that’s what you see when you say there’s ‘a lot going on’.
Carly’s plan for Gladys took quite a turn!
LAURA: Well, Carly thought the second that Cyrus finds out that Brando (Johnny Wactor) is the father of Sasha’s (Sofia Matteson) baby that Cyrus is going to want to take him out, so she basically said to Gladys, “Look, I’ll set you up. I’ll give you all the money you want. Hell, I’ll even buy you a house. Leave town, but you have to tell everybody that you lied about Jason,” and she doesn’t bite the bait. So, you then have Carly saying, “Well, we can do this the easy way where I just pay for your life and you go, or we can do it the hard way,” and the hard way is me letting her know that, “You have a grandchild on the way, and your son is going to be murdered if you don’t do this for me,” because it puts Cyrus back in prison because he is on probation, and he has now obstructed justice. It’s all on Gladys’s testimony. That was Carly’s plan. Right now, her biggest threat is Cyrus and obviously as viewers have seen things did not go as planned!
Photo: ABC
June 7th you will be celebrating 30 years on daytime! Do you remember your first day on Loving? What happened?
LAURA: I do. Oh, God! I remember what dress I had on. I remember how my hair was.
Were you like in “Oz”?
LAURA: I looked like Oz. (Laughs) I looked like Dorothy… the dress they had me in, the hair, are you kidding? I didn’t know what a boom was! I was really loud. I had one line: “Grandma!” and that was it, and then they had to note that because I kept saying, “Grandmaw,” and they were like, “It’s not ‘Grandmaw.’ It’s ‘Grandma.’” Then, I did whatever they said at first, but then the longer I was on the show, I was like, “I say ‘Grandmaw.’ I’m not saying ‘Grandmuh.’ I don’t care. (Laughs) Everyone gets their own personalization of how they say what they say.” That was my big argument, and now I’ve had a thousand arguments over 30 years, but that was my first big pushback because I would be doing, what in my mind was great work. I got all of the lines out, my God, and that was before we could do pickups, and when we shot the show in order. Those cameras had wheels. So if you were on set, and they shot the scene before us, you had to be ready to go, and they would fly down the studio on those cameras to set up to start shooting the next scene. If I got through a scene and they had to do it over again because I said, “Grandmaw,” I would be so angry. (Laughs)
Photo: ABC
Who helped you the most on Loving?
LAURA: Nada Rowand, who played my grandmother, Lisa Peluso, who played my aunt on the show, and Eric Woodall was my best friend and he played Matt Ford. He and I would get together every Sunday night, and here’s a little bit of trivia for you … Eric lived with Billy Porter! They graduated from Carnegie Mellon together. So, I would go over to his apartment, and on Sunday night, we would go over all of the scripts together for the whole week because Eric graduated from Carnegie Mellon; I worked at a gas station. (Laughs) We had very different talents that we were bringing to the table for this soap opera job. Eric helped me a great deal, my gosh, and so did Bernie Barrow (Ex-Louis).
Bernie was an amazing actor and the only Daytime Emmy winner, ever from Loving!
LAURA: I had scenes with Bernie because he played my grandfather on the show. I had no idea about half the notes that they were giving me. Bernie would pull me aside and explain what they meant and teach it to me in a way where I knew how to incorporate it into my scenes and adjust and take the notes. He was extremely helpful. Then, there is the famous Noelle Beck (Ex-Trisha) story, where two weeks after starting the show, Eric and I were invited to go to the Daytime Emmy Awards. I was dying because I grew up watching daytime television, and I grew up watching the Daytime Emmys. So, when I was allowed to go, I told my mom to ship me my prom dress from my senior year of high school, which was this poufy, emerald green thing, and it looked like something from Dynasty with jewels all over it. I got it, and I was so excited, and everyone on the show was like, “Oh, my God, someone has got to tell her … she cannot wear that dress.” I didn’t know you could go to wardrobe and ask to borrow a dress, because I’d only been on the show for two weeks maybe. The same day, they came to me and said, “So, if Susan Lucci (Ex-Erica, AMC) doesn’t win, you’re going to be interviewed on Good Morning America the next morning about how the gas station girl got a job.” So, it was a big deal. I’m getting ready for the Emmys, and to put this emerald-green dress on, and there is this knock on my door, and it’s Noelle Beck. She has this beautiful, black, strapless dress. She’s like, “Your dress is beautiful, but I don’t know, I think this is really simple, and I think you might really look beautiful in it if you want to try it on.”
Photo: JPI
Her dress?
LAURA: Her dress! It was a dress that was in Noelle’s closet on the show because she went to wardrobe and was like, “Laura cannot wear that emerald green prom dress. She will be laughed at.” I would have been mortified because I did not know what people wore. I had never been to a red carpet! Noelle went to wardrobe, and they all came up with this dress, and so she came to me and said, “Your dress is so pretty, but I think this might go better with Eric’s suit,” or however she sold it! I tried it on, and I just felt so sophisticated, and I was like, “It’s okay if I wear this!?” and she’s just like, “Oh, my God, yeah!” When I think back to that story, I’m like, ‘thank God for Noelle Beck’. It was one of the funniest stories ever, and her dressing room was right across the hall from me, and she was from Maryland; I was from Maryland. She was like a sister. Noelle was always looking out for me, personally.
Photo: ABC
Over the years, you have become one of the great leading ladies of daytime. Was there a moment, when you were like, “I’ve got this down now … I really know what I’m doing.”
LAURA: There have been different moments. I remember the first time where I felt like ‘an actor.’ It was when they shot and killed Casey (Paul Anthony Stewart) on Loving, and he had to die in my arms. I embodied something and felt it in a way that was different. I didn’t know what it was at the time because I was playing my emotions of Paul leaving the show. I was really confused because I was like, “Do I really like this guy?” like in real life, because I didn’t know. I didn’t have any tools of acting to know how to separate. I was so in love with the characters’ love story, which was also my feelings at the time because I didn’t know the difference. I didn’t know where Ally stopped, and Laura started. I was just kind of playing myself. I remember they called Paul to the set for a goodbye, and they were giving him a big cake and everything, and I could barely hold it together. I couldn’t believe he was leaving. I was like, “You’re going to say, ‘I changed my mind,’ right?” and I really believed that. I really was like, “There’s just no way he’s going.” Then, we had to shoot his scene, and I was very emotional and upset. But, it was the next day where I had to go and play the scenes where he is dead and talk about it to the family, and that was when I just lost it. I just changed as an actor in those scenes. I remember having an opinion. When the writers were telling me the story that they were going to tell, I remember saying, “Well, I think the interesting moment is she is not going to believe it,” and they were like, “What do you mean?” I say, “When she comes home from the hospital, I think she needs to be like, ‘We have to go back. Casey is at the hospital, and he needs us,’ and they were like, “That’s such a great thing to play.” That’s what shifted for me. I just remember there was a moment where Ally couldn’t lie anymore. She couldn’t convince herself, and then she had to tell her son that Casey wasn’t coming back. I really understood what it was to get lost to a scene; what it was to not be Laura going, “I’m going to act now and play this scene.” I learned how to become the character and transform in the moment.
It’s was on-the-job training.
LAURA: Oh, for sure on-the-job training, because I went to one acting class thinking that in New York City I need to know what I’m doing, and I was so terrified to get up and speak in a scene that I literally could not talk. I couldn’t even function outside of the safety of what I knew on a soap opera set. I had that happen with my meditation teacher training a few years ago. I almost left the training because it was terrifying for me to get up and not know what I’m going to do and have the script, no cameras in front of me! It was very bizarre.
Photo: CBS
And later, Guiding Light came your way!
LAURA: When The City got canceled, I shot a pilot that did not get picked up, and my agents were like, “What do you want to do?” and I was like, “I’m really good at daytime… can we just stick with that? I don’t really want to do this auditioning thing.” So, then all of the sudden within a week of me saying, “I think I’ll do daytime again,” I had a screen-test for All My Children and Guiding Light at the exact same time. I was like, “What are the parts?” and I wasn’t going to pit them against each other because my agent was like, “It’s bad taste. We don’t represent that kind of negotiation.” You have to pick because before you go into any screen-test, you already have a pre-negotiated contract, and the deal has been placed. So, you know going in what your situation will be. So, it was All My Children, playing a doctor, or a stripper with a heart-of-gold on Guiding Light. It was the role and that Guiding Light just had a better money offer that pushed me towards that screen-test. Then, I had to go in and meet Paul Rauch (Former EP, GL) before I screen-tested, and then Jim Brown and Barbara Esensten who were now the head writers at GL. They wrote for me on The City. They were the ones who said, “Let’s get Laura Wright in here and see if she wants to do this.” It’s interesting, because when they were shooting Annie’s (Cynthia Watros) big trial on Guiding Light, and Kim Zimmer (Reva) had these incredible, long days and tons of dialogue in the courtroom scenes. Then, they throw this screen-test at her with me in the middle of the afternoon! I remember when we were doing the scene. Kim had jumped to another part in it, and of course, I knew the script backwards and forwards because I’ve had it for a week and a half. Kim had probably looked at it that day because she’s got a thousand other lines that she’s learning for that week of shows. We were in the middle of the scene, and they’re rolling cameras, it’s very emotional, we’re going at each other, and Kim had jumped to the next page of a line, but I knew exactly where she went, so I went right there. We got back on track and ended the scene, and Kim goes, “She just saved my ass in that screen-test!” and we just started laughing. It was a great moment.
Photo: LWInstagram
The cast of Guiding Light was so amazing!
LAURA: So amazing, and that’s where I met my man.
Wes Ramsey (Ex-Sam, GL, now Peter, GH) at the time had a crush on you if I recall the story.
LAURA: Yes, he had a crush. I don’t know if he wanted to go out with me because when I first came on, I was pregnant, so that would have been weird! (Laughs) We have a funny story that he told me four years ago when we got together. Wes was going through old photos that he had logged into his computer and was trying to put things in different files, and he’s like, “Oh, my God.” He had come back a few times on Guiding Light after he’d left, and one of the times was after I’d had my son, and this was when Richard had died, and Cassie had chopped all of her hair off. So, he was going through these photos and he showed me that he had snuck a picture of me. (Laughs) Then, he’s like, “See, I told you I had a crush!” I’m like, “Oh my God, that’s so funny!”
Do you and Wes run lines together at home, even though you are in different storylines on GH?
LAURA: If he needed me too, I would, but Wes has a totally different way of learning his lines than I do. His prep work is very different than mine. His is very professional and probably how you should do it. He is a Juilliard graduate. So, he was taught well, and I’ve just figured it out. Mine is just pure survival …’the gas station girl’.
Photo: ABC
What was the impact Guiding Light had on the trajectory of your career?
LAURA: Guiding Light was 100% an actors show. They told a different kind of story, and the actors across the board were serious and wanted you to take it just as seriously. You were either going to sink or swim on that show, and I had to figure out how to swim. I think I spent the first six months in my dressing room crying when I wasn’t on set, trying to figure it out. I was really taken care of on Loving. I was 20-years-old when I got that part, 27 when I left. When I went to Guiding Light, it wasn’t like I wasn’t taken care of and protected, but it was a new energy. No one knew me. No one knew what I was capable of. I didn’t even know what I was capable of at the time, and you weren’t going to phone it in there. I started working with Kim Zimmer and Jordan Clarke (Ex-Billy Lewis). My God, you’re thrown in with people who make you feel things and play things that are uncomfortable, because that’s what we do as actors. We make it uncomfortable, and we stretch the boundaries, and we play these emotions that are so raw and real. One day I was freaking out over a scene with the characters of Edmund and Dinah, and I just said I would never do this. I was just adamant. The director, said, “We have to do this. So, you have to give me one reason where you could stay in this room.” I said, “I guess my daughter could walk in the door, and I don’t want to leave her,” and he goes, “Great! That’s great,” and I go, “Or…” and it just opened this door of there’s a thousand ways I could play a scene.
Photo: CBS
When you came onto General Hospital and embodied Carly, did you feel like this was it now… and that you were in command of your craft?
LAURA: No, because it took me a long time to get comfortable. I’m the fourth Carly, so you want to honor what they’re writing, you want to honor the fans and what they love about the character, and there were three women who played her before me and somebody loved something about all of them. So, you want to bring that, as well as make your own mark. You’re taking over a leading female role of the show with that much passion and dialogue that comes with the character, so it was a lot of pressure at first, but I was excited for it. I showed up every day ready to kick ass, but as far as feeling like, “Ha ha, it’s mine; I’ve made it!”, I’ve never felt that.
Photo: ABC
I have spoken to many of your co-stars through the years, and they often share how you helped them within a scene, or with something they were struggling with. That is where experience can be a great asset for a performer in this medium.
LAURA: As a female lead on the show, I do think it’s important to lift other women up to become their own female leads, and I do mean that. If I’m working with someone, and I see them get a note that they don’t understand, or it’s a technical note, but gosh, it’s an important scene for them emotionally, anything I can do to help them in that moment, whether it has anything to do with me or not, I am there for. There was a bathroom scene that I think aired a week or so ago with Carly and Sasha. In the scene, Sasha (Sofia Mattsson) has all of her makeup in front of her, and the shot they need to get is through the mirror. Sasha has a full conversation with Carly, who is standing upstage. It’s very difficult to do that when you don’t have rehearsal time to figure it out. They gave her the note that they needed her to say her line into the mirror, or they can’t get her face, right? I’m like, “Hey, do you have any idea how you’re going to do that?” because it’s so hard! I wanted to help. Having 30 years’ experience in something feels great, and it’s shocking because where did those 30 years go? What incredible memories I have, but what it’s gifted me the most is being able to help people through my experience, and through what I have learned along the way. The whole show shines when we all shine, not just when one person does.
Photo: LWrightInstagram
What do you think your late parents would say about your 30 years in daytime?
LAURA: Oh, they would be so proud… so happy. It’s just so crazy that it’s been 30 years, and 2020 being the longest year with what we all experienced with Covid-19. Looking back on my daytime career, I don’t know why, the shows didn’t let me go. I think it really was work ethic. I can really say my work ethic is a huge part of me sticking around because I never got lazy. I was never not going to figure it out. I was never one to show up not knowing her lines, or being a problem, or not caring. I think that’s what kept me going, and then listening, watching, feeling, and I’m just so grateful. I’m like, “Wow, what a ride!”
Photo: ABC
… And what can you say about what your time as Carly has meant to you within your now illustrious daytime career?
LAURA: I love every second of it. It’s my choice how I show up on that soundstage. After 30 years, I am not bored. I have had my moments of trying to find the fun in it and caring about Carly’s storyline at the time. That’s my own choice though, right? It’s a choice – how I choose to show up every day there – and what I choose to find interesting and challenging, and I do. No matter what storyline they’ve given me, I can choose for it to be, “Okay, I’m here. I’ve been doing this for so long, I could do it in my sleep,” or I could choose to show up and go, “Where am I going to kickass today? Where is the moment?” Now, I don’t love the amount of time it takes for my hair to get blown out; I’ll be honest (Laughs). I’m an antsy person. But when I get on set, it’s my choice to find the love and the fun of it, whatever that is for me. I choose to open up every script I get, the second I get it, and am always excited to see what I’m doing.
Photo: ABC
Finally, what would you say, as a tease of what we should look forward to in the coming weeks involving Carly?
LAURA: All I can say is there is amazing stuff coming, amazing performances, amazing excitement, amazing heartbreak, amazing surprises. It’s all coming.
So, are you into Carly running the mob? What do you think will happen when and if Carly finds out Nina has been with Sonny aka Mike for months? What has been your favorite moment of Laura’s on the soaps throughout her 3 decades in daytime? Share your thoughts and congrats to Laura in the comment section below.
Interviews
Y&R’s Telma Hopkins and Bryton James Talk on their ‘Family Matters’ Connection, Amanda Sinclair’s Past, and the songs of Tony Orlando and Dawn
This week, kicks-off a very special guest appearance by Telma Hopkins on CBS’ The Young and the Restless. Hopkins plays Denise Tolliver, a private eye with some very important intel for Amanda Sinclair (Mishael Morgan), about her past, her father, and her biological family drama.
Photo:CBD
Telma’s guest stint on Y&R reunites her with her dear friend and former on-screen son, Bryton James (Devon Hamilton) after they appeared together on the late 80’s and 90’s sitcom Family Matters. Fans of the comedy series remember a very young Bryton as Richie Crawford and Telma as his mother, Rachel. Year laters, they now have the opportunity to work together in Genoa City.
Photo: CBS
In a new interview out today on the Michael Fairman Channel, Telma and Bryton chat virtually with Michael, and we learn that Telma is a longtime fan of Y&R, a huge fan of Mishael Morgan’s, and just how Denise Tolliver’s arrival in Genoa City will set the stage for fireworks to come.
And while Telma and Bryton reminisce about first their first impressions of each other on the Family Matters set, we also delve into another key part of Hopkins career as part of the iconic singing trio Tony Orlando and Dawn, whose hit singles included: “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole’ Oak Tree”, “Candida”, “She Don’t Love You” and more.
Photo: CBS
So, excited to see Telma and Bryton together again? What were your first impressions of Telma as Denise Tolliver on today’s Y&R? What is your favorite Tony Orlando and Dawn tune? Did you watch “Family Matters” with Telma and Bryton years ago? Share your thoughts in the comment section. But first check out their full interview below.
Days Of Our Lives
WATCH: Daytime Emmy Nominations Special 2021 Replay
Last night, during the Daytime Emmy Nominations Special Livestream on the Michael Fairman Channel, 15 nominated performers who will be going for gold on the upcoming 48th annual Daytime Emmy Awards, shared their reactions and their excitement at learning they were in the running in the major Daytime Drama performer categories as chosen by their peers.
Throughout the livestream, the actors also shared what scenes they chose for their reels in the competition that landed them in the top spots in their respective categories.
Photos: ABC, CBS, JPI, NBC
During the broadcast, Michael welcomed: The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darin Brooks and Courtney Hope, General Hospital’s, Maurice Benard, Finola Hughes, Max Gail, Briana Lane and Dominic Zamprogna, The Young and the Restless’ Bryton James, Melissa Claire Egan and Alyvia Alyn Lind, and Days of our Lives nominees: Victoria Konefal, Cady McClain, Wally Kurth, George DelHoyo, and Tamara Braun.
In addition, NATAS President and CEO Adam Sharp shared insight into this year’s nomination process, the year in daytime, and teased what to look for on the upcoming Daytime Emmy Telecast on June 25th on CBS, where the award show recently got a two-year pick-up.
In case you missed it, enjoy this kick-off to Emmy season and watch the Daytime Emmy Nominations Replay below. Then let us know what moments you enjoyed the most during our show, and who you are rooting for to take home Emmy gold in the comment section.
B&B’s Don Diamont Granted Restraining Order Against Alleged Stalker
Soap Veteran Executive Producer Jill Farren Phelps Virtual Interview on Tap
THE BACHELORETTE: Katie Tells The Men To Get Out If They Are There for the Wrong Reasons
‘The Talk’ Renewed for its 12th Season
General Hospital’s Sofia Mattsson Reveals Pregnancy
‘Ryan’s Hope’ Star and Soap Vet, John Gabriel Has Passed Away at 90
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Raven Bowens is the New Chanel on DAYS
‘This Is Us’ Star Milo Ventimiglia to Appear in Season 4 of ‘Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’
Lil Jon, Lance Bass & Tituss Burgess Added To Celebrity Guest Hosts Replacing Chris Harrison on ‘Bachelor in Paradise’
GH’s Kirsten Storms Shares More Details on Her Brain Surgery and Recovery
GH’s Ingo Rademacher Becomes a Dad for the Third Time
WATCH: All My Children Stars Recall Multi-Generational Impact of the Soap & Zany Plot Twists On E!’s ‘Reunion Road Trip’
General Hospital’s Sofia Mattsson Reveals Pregnancy
Michelle Stafford Shares Emotional Journey on Alicia Coppola’s Podcast
Raven Bowens is the New Chanel on DAYS
Sheryl Underwood to Host the 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards
B&B’s John McCook To Appear on Upcoming Episodes of The Young and the Restless
Chris Harrison Exits ‘The Bachelor’ Permanently With Reported Eight-Figure Payout & Promise to Keep His Mouth Shut
‘Ryan’s Hope’ Star and Soap Vet, John Gabriel Has Passed Away at 90
WATCH: All My Children Stars Recall Multi-Generational Impact of the Soap & Zany Plot Twists On E!’s ‘Reunion Road Trip’
DAYS Billy Flynn Opens Up To Maurice Benard About His Battle with Addiction on All-New ‘State of Mind’
Greg Vaughan Makes a Return to DAYS; and a SORAS’d Johnny! Watch the New Summer Preview
WATCH: Daytime Emmy Nominations Special 2021 Replay
THE BACHELORETTE: Katie Thurston Meets the Men in New Promo for Summer Season
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Quinn and Carter Agree to Take Their Secret to Their Graves
GENERAL HOSPITAL Touches on Racial Profiling, Social Injustice and Bias In Key Scenes with Portia and Jordan
B&B’s Scott Clifton and Don Diamont Talk on the Plight of Liam & Bill and Their Cover-Up of Vinny’s Death
PREVIEW: Cameron Mathison Guests On Maurice Benard’s ‘State of Mind’
DAYS Stars Try to Stump Contestants on All-New Episode of ‘Soap Opera Know-It-All’ Game Show
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General HospitalJune 7, 2021GH’s Kirsten Storms Shares More Details on Her Brain Surgery and Recovery
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General HospitalJune 7, 2021GH’s Ingo Rademacher Becomes a Dad for the Third Time
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All My ChildrenJune 8, 2021WATCH: All My Children Stars Recall Multi-Generational Impact of the Soap & Zany Plot Twists On E!’s ‘Reunion Road Trip’
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General HospitalJune 14, 2021General Hospital’s Sofia Mattsson Reveals Pregnancy
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NewsJune 9, 2021Michelle Stafford Shares Emotional Journey on Alicia Coppola’s Podcast
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Days Of Our LivesJune 10, 2021Raven Bowens is the New Chanel on DAYS
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Breaking NewsJune 8, 2021Sheryl Underwood to Host the 48th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards
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NewsJune 8, 2021B&B’s John McCook To Appear on Upcoming Episodes of The Young and the Restless