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Y&R’s Eileen Davidson Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/CBS

Taking on a DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) storyline on the soaps can be extraordinarily challenging for the performer who is tasked with making a clear distinction and delineation between the various alters of their character.

However, the other trick to playing this kind of story, is often having the various alters trying to hide the fact from those they know and love of what is truly going on with them, so as not to tip them off, as to what is happening to them as they battle for control of a person’s psyche.

The gold standard is One Life to Live icon Erika Slezak’s (ex-Viki) Emmy-winning and gut-wrenching and riveting DID storyline where we met Tori, Niki (although we met her earlier in the life of the show), Tommy, Princess, Jean and even her father, Victor.

Photo: JPI

Now in 2024, The Young and the Restless’ Eileen Davidson is playing out a new DID storyline for the first time as Ashley Abbott. We knew decades ago that Ashley had a breakdown and has suffered psychological issues, but this has taken it to a new level. And, let’s be real, if you are going to give someone currently on a soap a DID story, who better than Davidson, who is used to playing multiple characters at one time as she did on Days of our Lives. Although on DAYS, each of the characters were their own distinct person, while now on Y&R, Ashley’s alters are fighting for control of her being,

Last week, on the Thursday, April 12th episode of the CBS soap opera, Davidson truly got to shine, as in front of the Abbott family and through what was supposed to be an intervention (they hadn’t figure out what the hell was happening to her), Ashley was flipping from alter to alter. We know there is Ms. Abbott, and Ash thus far, but there is said to be one more alter a-coming.

Photo: JPI

In the key scenes, Davidson’s internal struggle was played pretty masterfully in a scene where she literally is in a tug of war with her alters and flings herself on the couch, while Jack (Peter Bergman), Diane (Susan Walters), Billy (Jason Thompson) and Traci (Beth Maitland) look on. Of course, there are the soap trope scenes of alters in handcuffs while the other is on the loose. And leave it to Billy to figure out Ashley is suffering from DID from his past experience.

Photo: JPI

While this all seemed to spring from Ashley’s messy relationship with Tucker (Trevor St. John) and a throw back to an old car accident where she lost her unborn baby, is there some other underlying issue in Ashley’s past that was even more traumatizing that will be revealed as another trigger for this massive personality split? We shall see.

Photo: JPI

In the meantime, Michael Fairman TV names Eileen Davidson’s work the Power Performance of the Week, and rest assured, come 2025, Davidson will find herself going for the third Daytime Emmy win as Lead Actress for this storyline.

So, let us know, what did you think of Eileen’s performance? Are you enjoying Ashley’s DID storyline? What do you think will happen to her next? Comment below.

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Am I the only one to notice, once again the character of Abby, her daughter, is excluded from this entire storyline and “family” intervention…. Did they reach the limit of “actors” per scene? Remove Diane, include the daughter.

I agree. Soaps anymore overlook what to us seems obvious. Cost cutting is cast cutting.

And what would that airhead contribute to the already crazy situation?

I was thinking about Abby and Adam during the anniversary show as well when Nick and Victoria were hosting their parents. I was guessing that since Adam and Abby are only half Newman, they didn’t rate being front and center like their older siblings

Yup, why would they need to include her. And for most of the issues with the Newman’s, she’s the forgotten child over there several times as well. My thinking is as soon as Eileen wraps it up, Melissa will be gone too. Pity.

Diane is Jack’s wife, so she should have been there too. You’d have probably thought it would have been fine if Phyllis had popped. Some viewers will never get past the fact that Jack finally woke up and saw Phyllis for who she really is. If faking her own death (like Diane did years ago) and then her marrying Jeremy Stark, didn’t make viewers see that Diane has never been any worse than Phyllis, then there’s no hope.

The subject is Ashley. Her daughter should be the most prominent character there—not Jack, not his wife, not her sister or nephew.

Abby is a buttinsky. She has enough of her own crap to do without insinuation herself into something important.

Mother or not – this situation with Abby will be worse if Abby butts in and starts throwing her theories and weight around.

I for one am thrilled to NOT SEE HER!

For sure! She and Summer, two dumb blondes.

I completely agree! Diane has no reason to be there What so ever! Abby NEEDS to be there! I’m sick of Diane!

That’s what I was going to write. Abby is her daughter and she should have been there instead of Diane. It’s not just with the Abbotts, but she is excluded from.Newman meetings and gatherings as well. What the heck??

Well deserved. Eileen is so damn good that she made this story compelling.

Eileen Davidson has been wonderful in this storyline and I know she’ll continue. But Beth Maitland is the one that gets to me. So understated, yet so believable in her role. Kudos to her for her many years on Y&R. I love it when they focus on families, not businesses.

Agree 100s% re: Beth Maitland. She is carrying this storyline forward. She’s captivating in her portrayal of Traci. I could watch her every day; a pleasure to watch her craft.

You’re right, Susan. Beth brings in the humanity, the history. She’s so good she makes it look easy- she’s a treasure. And did you know that the quilt Traci put in Ashley was one Beth made in real life?

Love it and I agree where is her daughter in all this?????

Oiling her scalp

I smell another Daytime Emmy, for Eilleen Davidson. She is a wonderful actress, love her as Ashley Abbott. Loved her on Days Of Our Lives.

I love the fact that Beth Maitland has been used in this story. But I have always wondered, for decades, why there is never any interaction between Traci Abbott and Victor Newman. I have always viewed the character of being the peace bridge between the Newmans and Abbotts.

I am along the thought process where are Abby and Kyle? Kyle needs to put his big boy pants on, and leave the business dealings at Jaboť! There are a lot of other things, but they would take away from Ashley’s performance, which does not need to happen!!!

I would watch Eileen read the phone book so I’m thrilled. Hopefully the alter murders Diane.

ED rocked those scenes – as fully expected….

Love her and love Tucker !!

How about put an end to this storyline please co ti use with Nikki and Jordan.

She is doing a horrible job doing this. Very unbelievable. This story line is getting very boring. I fast forward through this. I record this show and takes about 15 minutes most days to watch it after I FF through it.

Which she are you referring to? Certainly not Eileen or Beth/ Tracy. The only unnecessary one is Diana.

I think that Eileen Davidson will win Best Actress Award for Y&R this year. Her acting with the DID is on point. She is doing a remarkable job portraying the disorder. I enjoy watching Y&R on days when they are showing Eileen.

The Jordan story seems to be draging along slowly. I hope we don’t have to wait until next year before Jordan is caught and put away for good where she can never escape again. Summer needs to get somewhere and sit down with her immature self. She has a lot of nerve passing judgement on anyone while sleeping with her Aunts EX husband. She behaves like a spoiled Brat. Plus, Harrison is no relation to her. He has a Mother. What is she going to do whenever Tara comes back, if they decide to bring her back? IJS

What I’m dying to know is, what the hell is Ashley’s problem ? Jack asked his sister today the same thing. What is she protecting herself from, etc, etc. We know Tucker is a jerk but that alone can’t be what brought her other selves out for help and why does she want to kill him?

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Heather Webber Makes a Surprise Return Stunning Trina; Alley Mills Weighs-In on Her Comeback

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Alley Mills

The Friday, October 30 episode of General Hospital came to a conclusion with a one-two cliffhanger. The first, as Trina (Tabyana Ali) and Gio (Giovanni Mazza) finished rehearsing their song at the Cats Eye Lounge, a woman’s feet where seen entering the club.

When the camera panned up it revealed a well-dressed Heather Webber (Alley Mills) applauding and yelling “bravo!” at the two young performers, but with Trina absolutely shocked to see her!

While General Hospital fans knew two-time Daytime Emmy winner was rejoining the show as the supposed reformed “Hook” killer (after cobalt poisoning due to her hip surgery played with her mind), what is Heather’s ‘state of mind’ now?

Trina

Courtesy/ABC

For months, GH has been teeing up the mystery of who is stalking Trina, with someone adding clippings of Trina to their “obsession” board.

Many viewers have felt that it will wind up being Heather who is seeking revenge on Trina, since Heather’s daughter Esme Prince (Avery Pohl) went overboard a boat and into the Siene in France, and is believed to be dead, after Spencer (last played by Nicholas Alexander Chavez) saved Trina from her.

Speaking with TV Insider about her GH return this fall, Alley Mills shared on her first scenes back: “That was so fun because I love working with Tab, but I’ve never worked with the other kids before. I’ve seen them on TV, but I have never met them before, and they’re really talented, and they definitely got in Heather’s face. And the blessed Shawn Reeves, the wonderful costumer, put me in this fabulous outfit.”

Alley Mills

Photo: ABC

With Heather soon to mix-up with the residents of Port Charles, Mills added that Heather now has some wealth to boot! “It’s been an uphill battle, and she just hopes that people will understand and forgive her,” explains Mills. “But with the wonderful voice of Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte (co-head writers, GH and this year’s Daytime Emmy winners for Outstanding Writing in a Daytime Drama), she just has so much spunk.”

Mills added, “I love the way they write her (Heather). She doesn’t really have a ton of boundaries and social awareness and softness. But she just won’t let people get her down. She’s like one of those dolls outside the gas station. You throw them down, and they pop back up. I feel like Heather is kind of like that now, but in Gucci.”  

So, were you stunned to see Heather Webber dressed quite elegantly and showing up at the Cat’s Eye Lounge? Do you think that now more than ever Heather is Trina’s stalker? Let us know via the comment section. But first, you can check out when Heather makes her presence now below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Chase and Brook Lynn Sign Divorce Papers; Are You Glad They Ended Their Marriage or Hoped for a Reconciliation?

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Chase and Willow

Any hopes for a last minute reprieve were dashed when filled with sorrow, Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) and Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard) signed their divorce papers in front of a judge in the Dominican Republic on the Monday, October 26 episode of General Hospital.

The judge asked if they really wanted to go through with this, as a teary-eyed Brook Lynn and Chase both hesitated to sign the court documents. They admit that neither of them wants to get divorced, but they both came to the conclusion that too much mistrust has permeated their relationship, and too much has happened between them to stay married.

With that, Brook Lynn decided to put her pen to paper first. She signs the divorce papers. Next, Chase follows suit. They look at each other with tears in their eyes that their marriage is officially over. When the judge went to filing their divorce papers, Chase and Brook Lynn agreed to split custody of baby Phoebe straight down the line 50/50.

Josh Swickard

Courtesy/ABC

THE END OF THE ROAD

Next, the judge returned and gave each a copy of their paperwork. Chase says to Brook Lynn that he thinks that they should each fly back to Port Charles separately, and that he would take another flight home. Chase says goodbye to Brook Lynn and exits. Now alone looking at the empty room, Brook Lynn utters,“Goodbye, Chase.”

Later in the episode, as Brook Lynn flies back home to Port Charles alone, she listens to the message from Tracy (Jane Elliot) telling her she is doing the right thing by divorcing Chase.

Cut to: an emotional Chase who went to the beach. He looked at his wedding ring. Mourning the loss of his marriage, Chase buried his ring in the sand, at the same time Brook Lynn was removing her wedding ring on the airplane.

The drama won’t stop from here for Brook Lynn, because as teased in the GH video spoilers preview for the week, Jude (Wil Traval) will come calling wanting to see his “daughter,” and potentially staking claim to baby Phoebe!  As for Chase, now that he is a free man, will he begin a relationship with his ex-wife, Willow Tait (Katelyn McMullen), with whom he has been completely duped? Stay tuned.

So, were you happy that Brook Lynn and Chase actually ended their marriage? Were you hoping that the two would reconcile at the last minute and realize love can conquer all, or do you think they were being adult about the situation that they couldn’t get out of their own way and feelings to make their union work? Share your thoughts in the comment section. But first, check out the scenes from Chase and Brook Lynn’s divorce and its aftermath below.

 

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Brook Lynn and Chase Hesitate to Sign Divorce Papers, Elizabeth Reveals Aiden’s Leaving For Paris, Willow Flashes Back to Her Crimes

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Brook Lynn and Chase

As the week came to a conclusion on the Friday, October 23 episode of General Hospital, Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) wrestled with becoming an empty-nester, while Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) and Monet (Blythe Howard) conspired to keep Lulu (Alexa Havins) and Ric (Rick Hearst) at legal bay, and Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase’s (Josh Swickard) frozen relationship thawed, but how much?

Let’s take a look! First, in a moment that was written to bring Liz and Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) closer, the GH head nurse is wistful over the fact that she just learned that her talented bakery chef son, Aiden, secretly earned his GED and got into a prestigious pastry school in France and to top it off received a scholarship to attend the school.

Liz is concerned that allowing him to go wasn’t the smartest move because of his young age. Dante suggested that maybe it’s her fear of being alone that is causing her to feel hesitant for Aiden to go abroad. He shared a story about the support her received from Olivia when he moved away from home for the first time; that he understood mothers and sons are close, but she needed to let him go build his own life.

Elizabeth

Courtesy/ABC

After coming to terms with it, she revealed that Aiden is leaving in four days and had to make cupcakes for the Halloween party, Dante offered to help her do the baking. They smile. So, what this means to GH fans? All of Liz sons: Cameron, Jake, Aiden are all now officially off the canvas!

WILLOW VS. LULU

At Miller & Davis, Willow strolls in to meet Monet to go over their strategy in their meeting with Ric and Lulu. While discussing their next move, Willow flashes back to the night she shot Drew (Cameron Mathison) twice in the back, and then later, how she first stuck a needle in his neck to use the paralytic drug that kept him in a locked-in state for months.

Willow

Courtesy/ABC

When Ric and Lulu arrive, the four end up in a stalemate. Willow refused to drop the lawsuit, and Lulu refused to retract the story on her. Willow’s stance is that Lulu had been manipulated by the Quartermaines, who wanted to take her children away, so Michael can have sole custody of them. Lulu fired back that she was doing her job as an investigative reporter to expose crimes perpetrated by a congresswoman.

Now at an impasse, Ric and Lulu tell Monet and Willow they will see them in court as now a judge will hear the case. Not what Ric wanted that to happen, but now he tells Lulu, they will figure out a way to bring Willow down.

DIVORCE BLUES?

Finally, Chase and Brook Lynn head to the Dominican Republic to get a quickie divorce after how their lawyers dredged up awful things about both of them in Port Charles. While on the plane, the two discuss that they still want each other to be happy.

Once in front of the judge in the Dominican Republic, he asked if the two were mutually consenting to this divorce, but instead, the two sang each others praises.

This left the judge to ask if the two wanted to go through with ending their marriage and he left the room. Later, when he returned with the divorce documents to sign, Chase and Brook Lynn stared at each other hesitating to sign on the dotted line.

So, what do you think will happen next? Will Brook Lynn and Chase end their marriage, or decide to try to make it a go? Is it upsetting to you that all of Elizabeth’s sons are off the canvas? Should the soap recast them all, like they did with Alexis’ daughters and restart the story of these young men? Do you think now will be the time that Willow’s crimes will be publicly exposed, and she will lose her kids and her seat in a congress? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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