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THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: 50th Anniversary Of Newman Enterprises Gala Brings Retro Clips, Speeches & Icon Eric Braeden

Photo: JPI

Wednesday’s episode of The Young and the Restless brought with it a very special episode to honor Eric Braeden’s 40th anniversary with the top-rated soap operas as the one and only Victor Newman.  Braeden has made himself and Victor Newman a household name throughout his four decades in Genoa City.

Since back in 1980 when Eric first came on to the scene as Victor, Y&R knew they had struck gold.  To celebrate the milestone, the series crafted an episode that centered around Newman Enterprises 50th anniversary and held a gala in its honored, steer-headed by Victor’s wife, Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott).

Photo: JPI

 

With special returning guest stars including: Meg Bennett (Julia), Robert Parucha (Matt), Robert Adamson (Noah) and Eileen Davidson (Ashley), throughout the hour, characters stood up from their tables delivering a few endearing …. or sometimes contentious thoughts at their relationships with Victor over the years.

From children, Victoria (Amelia Heinle), Nick (Joshua Morrow), Abby (Melissa Ordway) and Adam (Mark Grossman) to business rivals, Jack (Peter Bergman) and Jill (Jess Walton) and more, emotions ran high.

What Y&R delivered best in the episode was finding retrospective clips that fans have not seen in awhile, while also reminding us through Braeden’s two most towering performances – when Victor confronts his mother (Dorothy McGuire) and later his father (George Kennedy) – the depth of his performances which to this day can make you reach for the hankies all over again.   One of our other favorite clips was the simply-stated scene between Abby and Victor; where he supports his daughter while her love life has fallen apart.

Photo: JPI

In addition, if you watched Braeden throughout the episode, several time he had tears in his eyes, as the viewers felt what Victor must be feeling during this walk down memory lane, and Eric, himself.   The series also went all in creating pieces of photographic art of Eric as a time capsule to this special occasion, which showed the attention to detail everyone at Y&R had for this special actor.

Braeden tweeted after the episode aired: “I was very moved,I’ve got to admit! Tony MORINA did a great job supervising it all! They chose some great scenes outbof sooooo many more!! And the art director did a great job,?and so did the editor!”

What did you think of the tribute episode to Victor and Eric Braeden? What was your favorite part of it? Your favorite clip? Comment below, but first watch a montage of Y&R opening sequence shots featuring Braeden through the years, and then the final moment of Wednesday’s episode.

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Violet LemmDr Helen RuthsoapfanSoaphoundKay Recent comment authors
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Kay
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Kay

I thought it was well done however the clips were a double edge sword for me it showed you how great the writing was then.

Dr Helen Ruth
Guest
Dr Helen Ruth

It was better than I thought it would be. That said, if I were a guest, then I would have been bored to death.
Did they ever explain Victor’s German accent in past years? Both parents on Y&R have American mid-western accents.

Soaphound
Guest
Soaphound

So true, Dr Helen. And about halfway thru, I thought it was going to morph into a roast rather than a tribute. So many dual-pronged barbs! And I wish they could have highlighted some of Victor’s classic “isms” like:

“You were nothing but a pole strippah! I can’t stand you!”
“Now you listen to meeeee”
“Jackabbitt”
“My byoootifull Ashley” (or Sabrina, or ….)
“My boy”.

And so many more.

Kay
Guest
Kay

So funny you have it down!! Sharon’s port suddenly disappeared shame on them she could have worn a beautiful dress without the low neck viewers catch these things audiences are a lot sharper then they think. I am also disappointed that the revolving door of Nick’s ex lovers and ex wives continue the man is still acting like a horny teenager the only person he truly loves is Nick. I guess you know Doug Davidson has been there 42 years a little sad how they have done him.

Dr Helen Ruth
Guest
Dr Helen Ruth

My favorite is: “Well I’ll be damned!”

Violet Lemm
Guest
Violet Lemm

Dr Helen Ruth
I love when he says Ya got that? it ain’t gonna happen and now you have a good day.

Soaphound
Guest
Soaphound

I agree with Kay that the clips, though great fun, really exposed the poor modern plotting of the last couple of years. And why were the sets so DARK? It was a CELEBRATION, not a wake. And Noah’s “brilliant” photography exhibit more resembled a bad night at Studio 54 than a day at the museum. But it was great having Robert Adamson back even briefly. Overall, it was a mixed bag for me and Victoria’s stabbing left a bad taste.

Momo
Guest
Momo

That art installation was amazing. Why isn’t Noah doing art full-time? 😉 They really went all out.

I thought it was well-done and I enjoyed the episodes.

soapfan
Guest
soapfan

Are the writers even trying though? I gave up a couple of months ago and tuned back in this week out of curiosity. It is SO SO bad. Completely unwatchable. The crap they are writing doesn’t even make sense! Abby saying it’s so hard to see her loving big sister in that hospital bed. What? They can’t stand each other. Adam saying he should run Newman after making such a show a couple of months ago about having no interest in it? Pick a direction, writers, any direction! And can someone please, please tell Josh Morrow to stop rocking his… Read more »

Soaphound
Guest
Soaphound

Soapfan, how about the endless idiocy of Paul Williams? Victoria is stabbed. Billy catches her mid-air, calls for help, comforts her, tries to stop the bleeding… And then Paul accuses him of being “the only one around who could have done this.” Where the heck is the knife, dummy? The blood on Billy’s jacket? The motive? And what better place to commit murder than a public art exhibit. Poor Doug Davidson must wince at the dialog he has to sell!

soapfan
Guest
soapfan

Agree! Also, I’m no Stafford fan, but wow I feel sorry for her coming back for the circular drivel they’re giving her!

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Marcus Learns He’s Not Trina’s Biological Father

On Wednesday’s episode of General Hospital, Trina (Tabyana Ali) opened the DNA test results that would conclude who is her actual bio-dad. Would it be the man who raised her, Taggert (Réal Andrews) or, the man she more recently has come to know, Curtis (Donnell Turner)?

At GH, Marcus, Curtis and Portia (Brook Kerr) gather to learn the results.  It turns out that Curtis is Trina’s biological father, not Marcus.

However, are these results, correct? Are DNA results ever correct on soaps? Did Selina Wu (Lydia Look) have something to do with switching these in favor of Curtis? Are we digging into this too much?

After the revelation, Trina tells Curtis. they will need to take some time need to figure out their relationship.  Trina makes it clear she’s not looking for a replacement father, and hopes he can understand and accept that.  Curtis promises he will let Trina take the lead on things.

Meanwhile, Taggert, who promised Trina no matter what happens that nothing will change between them, decides to take off and breaks down in the elevator.  Marcus is devastated and in tears, and is left using the elevator as a punching bag for his fists.

You can watch the final moments of the scene, featuring a heart-tugging performance by Réal Andrews below.

Now let us know, are you glad Trina’s bio-dad turned out to be Curtis and not Marcus … or were you hoping it would turn out the other way around? Share your thoughts in the comment section. 

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Recaps

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Hope is Drowning in a River of Denial Over Thomas: “Is it so Wrong to Admit I’m Human?”

Tuesday’s episode of The Bold and the Beautiful, brought Hope (Annika Noelle) more confrontations on the matter of her feelings for Thomas Forrester (Matthew Atkinson).

First, after telling Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) off for going to her husband, Liam (Scott Clifton), about her suspicions that she has feelings for her brother, Hope then had to contend with her mother, Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang).

When Brooke comes to Hope’s design office, after receiving a text from her daughter, Hope launches into how Steffy is back at interfering in her marriage. Hope goes on and on about how Steffy is planting seeds of doubt with her husband, who was blindsided to hear she has feelings for his arch-enemy, Thomas.  When Brooke learns what prompted Steffy to say such things to Liam, Brooke asks, “Is there any validity to this? Have you developed feelings for Thomas?”  From that point on, Hope is talking herself, and to her mother, in circles.

Courtesy/CBS

Hope claims she doesn’t want anything more from Thomas than to be co-parents, designing co-workers, and friends.  However, she then takes a pause, and tells her mom, “Is it so wrong to admit that I’m human?” Brooke wonders, “What does that mean?”  It is then, that Hope admits that she thinks Thomas is good-looking and funny, and that after all, they do spend 14 hours a day working together.

When Brooke pushes her on this, Hope tries to underplay it by admitting, “I felt a little something.” A shocked Brooke says, “For Thomas?! It’s not nothing!” Then, Hope, who is drowning in the river of denial, claims she wouldn’t cross the line with Thomas … that she is happily married, and she’s in control.  She just wished Steffy would have kept her big mouth shut.

Photo: Gilles Toucas/Bell-Phillip TV

However, the more Hope says to Brooke, the more her mother realizes that Hope is struggling with her true feelings for Thomas.  Hope in tears says, “Liam is the love of my life.”  Hmm. We think, the lady doth protest too much.

Photo: CBS

No matter how Hope tries to fool herself, or say the words out loud, that is clearly not how she feels.  Hope wants Thomas, and now the question is … just when and how will her affair with Thomas begin?  Throughout the scenes, Annika Noelle played them to perfection, even though many viewers are quite annoyed with Hope at this point.

So, what do think should happen next? Clearly, Hope wants to think she can keep her feelings for Thomas under wraps when she can’t.  Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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AEW

AEW ‘Double or Nothing’ 2023: MJF Retains, Takeshita Turns Heel, Kris Statlander and Toni Storm New Title Holders

Sunday’s AEW Double or Nothing live on pay-per-view emanating, once again, from Las Vegas, had a stacked double main event, which saved the show after a lackluster beginning.

There were some title changes, major spots, a heel turn, blood and guts and tables, that kept it entertaining for AEW wrestling fans.

Let’s break down some of the key matches:

MJF vs. Darby Allin vs Jack Perry vs, Sammy Guevera – The Four Pillars four-way for the AEW Championship

Photo: AEW

AEW has developed these four wrestlers and more into stars in their own right. When the bell rang, all four delivered high-flying maneuvers with clever storytelling along the way. Selling their in-ring personas, mixed with real-life emotion.

Guevera is still, to us, the one with the most exciting moves, while MJF stands as the complete package, getting the fans riled up, while showing his in-ring prowess. Allin is one of the hardest working wrestlers out there and ‘Jungle Boy’ Jack Perry has come so far.

In a key moment in the bout, when Perry had the championship belt in hand and could have ‘legally’ used it on Allin to secure the victory, in a moment of conflicted emotion, tossed it out of the ring.

That allowed MJF to eventually plant the world championship belt on Perry’s chest while Allin went for his signature ‘coffin drop’ off the top rope ring corner. However, Allin landed on the belt in pain. That opened the door for MJF to seize the opportunity to secure the win with a head-lock takeover to retain the title.

Tay Conti and Sammy Guevera Expecting a Baby

Courtesy/AEW

Before the match, Tay Conti and Guevera emerged on the entrance ramp.  Sammy brought along his old gimmick of poster boards with messages on them.  The surprise message was for all of AEW and the fans in attendance.  Conti and Guevera, who are married in real life, revealed that Conti is pregnant with their fist child!

The Blackpool Combat Club vs. The Elite – Anarchy in the Arena

Photo: AEW

Imagine a wrestling match all over the T-Mobile Arena going down while a band plays The Troggs, “Wild Thing” the entire time! That’s what happened during the capper to Double or Nothing.  AEW fans know that Jon Moxley’s entrance theme song is that track.  So, this year, why not play it live? The lead singer wore a disturbing black mask, where he eventually received a boot to the head from The Elite for his troubles of aligning himself with the BCC.

This match (if you can call it that) was literally all over the arena and in the parking lot.  Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli vs. Kenny Omega, ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson brought out the barbed wire, forks, screwdrivers, tables, thumbtacks, and anything else you could find lying around the arena or under the ring, as weapons.

It finally came to a conclusion when Omega’s trader-of-a-former manager, Don Callis, distracted Kenny Omega and his new protégé Konosuke Takeshita emerged disguised as a camera man and kicked and attacked Omega.  Next, Yuta hit Omega with the actual screwdriver (the latest favorite weapon of the BCC) and pinned Kenny.

Now, questions remain. Are Callis and Takeshita aligned with the BCC? Why did Takeshita who was a fan favorite turn heel? With the Forbidden Door pay-per-view coming up shortly, it would seem this turn was to infuse a main event featuring Omega and a few of his friends! After the show went off the air Kenny previewed he may have one or two buddies on the way to help him out.

Jade Cargill vs. Taya Valkyrie – Jade Cargill vs. Kris Statlander

Photo: AEW

The best ring entrance of the night belonged to Cargill. The Women’s TBS Champion came down to the ring accompanied by a performance by Big Boss Vette of her track ‘Pretty Girls Walk’.  Along with her A.K.A. sorority sisters, Cargill also busted out some dance moves.

Putting her amazing 60-0 streak on the line, many thought Taya Valkyrie who has the size and the moves to give Cargill a run for her money, would win the title on her second attempt against Jade. That was not meant to be.  Cargill pinned Valkyrie. Then, getting too big for their britches, Jade’s manager, Mark Sterling took to the mic and offered up an open challenge.  Shocking everyone, Kris Statlander came out from the back and ran in the ring and quickly defeated Cargill to win the belt.  It should be noted, Statlander was out of commission from her ACL surgery, following a previous surgery on her other knee.  The crowd went nuts. Cargill was an outstanding champion though, by her own design.  What a great story to have Statlander comeback and win a title! She shared her emotions and emotional story during the AEW post show media scrum.

Toni Storm vs. Jamie Hayter

Photo: AEW

We kind of saw this one coming, did you? AEW Women’s champion, Jamie Hayter, was obviously hurt, so taking the belt off of her to heal up was the move … but, this also seem to be the move to have Hayter win back the belt in front of her hometown crowd in August when AEW has its first live show in London, England at Wembley Stadium.

In the storyline, Toni Storm, who previously held the belt as ‘interim champ” when she was a babyface, defeated Hayter. Her win comes with the help of her bff’s The Outcasts (Saraya and Ruby Soho).  During the post-show media scrum, Storm stayed in character, defiant, and related how this title reign will be much different than when she was more innocent and let people walk all over her.

Chris Jericho vs. Adam Cole

Courtesy/AEW

The worst match of the night, unfortunately, belonged to Chris Jericho and Adam Cole in their unsanctioned duel. The crowd was dead during it, the action just felt forced, Sabu’s appearance was useless, and all of it led to a fireball in the face to some guy in the back post-match, setting up a mixed tag match for Jericho and Saraya vs. Cole and Britt Baker D.M.D, this week on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite.

In Other Bouts … 

Courtesy/AEW

Orange Cassidy finished off Swerve Stickland to retain his AEW International Championship in a 21-man battle royale,

FTR defeated Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal to retain the AEW Tag Team belts after special referee Mark Briscoe had enough of Double J’s antics.

The House of Black retained their Trios championship titles against the The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn.

Wardlow defeated Christian Cage to retain the TNT championship.

So, what did you think about the double main event at Double or Nothing 2023? What are your thoughts on who kept their titles and who was crowned new champs? What was the best and worst part of the PPV? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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