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Y&R’s Eric Braeden Reflects on 45 Years as Victor Newman: His Co-Stars, the Storylines, Celebrity Fans, and Those He Misses Most

By Michael Fairman

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Photos: JPI and CBS

February 8th, marks a game-changing day for The Young and the Restless, as it was 45 years ago today that Eric Braeden first appeared on the CBS daytime drama series in the role of Victor Newman. Braeden’s performances and the powerful character have made “Victor Newman” synonymous with Y&R and the soap opera genre.

To mark yet another milestone in Braeden’s extraordinary professional career, both the CBS soap and Michael Fairman TV celebrated Eric’s accomplishment when yesterday, his co-stars, colleagues and Sony and CBS executives honored Braeden with a lunch time on set celebration.

Following the party, Eric was the special guest on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel for a livestream conversation, where we revisited the past, the present, and the future of Victor Newman as well as important moments for Braeden throughout his four-and-a-half decade run.

Photo: JPI

In addition, fans in the live chat were able to pose questions to Braeden, as he spoke on his co-stars, the story he regrets that was not fully told, those cast members no longer with the show that he misses or have passed on, the celebrity guests who have come to visit Y&R, and more. As has been previously reported, Eric and his wife, Dale, sadly lost their beautiful home in the Pacific Palisades last month during the tragedy of the Los Angeles wildfires. During the livestream, Braeden discussed the loss in a very emotional moment.

Now below are some notable of the excerpts from the interview with Eric.

Photo: JPI

Recently, Y&R aired the showdown between Victor and Ian Ward (Ray Wise). In it, Ray Wise and you went toe-to-toe which ended up with Victor and Ian both being shot, as Victor protected his family from the mad man at all costs. What did you think of those scenes?

ERIC: Ray Wise is a wonderful actor. I have a deep respect for him. He and I are old timers and Ray is a joy to work with. We laugh a lot, you know, you can’t take yourself too seriously in this business. I enjoyed the scenes very much.

Photo: CBS

A fan in the live chat asks, “What was your first reaction upon meeting your eventual longtime scene partner, Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki)?”

ERIC: She was very attractive. That’s what I remember the most, at first. Then, a relationship developed and evolved after that. I can’t really put my head around the fact that we have worked together now for 45 years. It’s stunning. It’s just stunning. I adore her. Melody gets me. She knows how to deal with me and I’m not always the easiest guy, you know, but I try to make a scene good and real if I can. She understands me. She is very good and has a great sense of humor. We laugh a lot as I laughed a lot with Jeanne Cooper (ex-Katherine Chancellor).

Photo JPI

Speaking of Jeanne Cooper, do you and the rest of the longtime cast, still miss her presence on the set?

ERIC: We often think of Jeanne, and I often think about Kristoff St. John (ex-Neil Winters) as well. I miss him a lot. He was a good friend. I trusted him. I also think of Dougie Davidson (ex-Paul Willians). Dougie Davidson was a very good friend. I don’t know why he is not working. I don’t understand it. I really don’t. I understood it initially, but I don’t understand it now. Dougie is part of this and should be here. I do think back on how Kristoff St. John exited this life, and it was very sad. But Kristoff and Dougie were the two guys I trusted.

Photo: CBS

What do you remember about meeting your on-screen son, Joshua Morrow (Nick) for the first time?

ERIC: I remember that Joshua Morrow was a great guy from the very beginning. He’s a man’s man. He has a great sense of humor. I love working with him and we have a lot of laughs. When we are all together, Melody, Joshua and Amelia Heinle (Victoria), it’s wonderful. In addition, Mark Grossman (Adam) is a great actor. So are Joshua and Amelia and Melody. Peter Bergman (Jack) as my nemesis is always good.

Photo: JPI

Throughout the years, many celebrities have appeared on Y&R or been superfans of the show. I remember when WWE Hall of Famer and the former Governor of Minnesota, Jesse Ventura, attended an on set celebration in your honor.

ERIC: I have great admiration for Jesse. He’s a man who speaks his mind like I do.  He comes from the world of sports, so do I, and amongst athletes, there’s a kind of an immediate camaraderie. You drop all the b*s, and you’re honest with each other. Now, do I always agree with what he has to say? I haven’t listened lately, but we had interesting conversations and that man can tell stories. Wow! He’s a raconteur.

Photo: JPI

Your son, Christian Gudegast, is having much success as a filmmaker and his latest films Den of Thieves: 2 has been a hit. What can you say about the career that Christian is having in show business?

ERIC: Bill Bell (co-creator and former head writer, Y&R) asked me if Christian wanted to play my son on the show. There was part of me that wanted him to do that. He and I talked about it, and the day came when he had to make up his mind whether he wanted to be on Y&R. He said, “Dad, I love you, but that’s not what I want to do. I want to direct and write. You’ve always told me to follow my dreams, and that’s my dream.” I said, “I’ll support you no matter what.” I was kind of sad initially, because I was looking forward to acting with him. But, Joshua Morrow is sort of like my son. They’re similar in some ways. I’m very proud of  Christian’s films and Den of Thieves: 2 Pantera was number one at the box office just after my house burned down.

Photo: JPI

How are you dealing with the terrible loss of your home amid the Los Angeles wildfires? I know it has been devastating to all that have suffered during this unimaginable tragedy. My thoughts have been with you and your wife, Dale.

ERIC: To be very honest with you, you go through ups and downs. There are moments when you drive through town and you want to go back to where you’ve lived for 40 years, and then you say, “Wait a minute, that ain’t there anymore.” I mean, flat. And then you catch yourself and you say, “OK, what’s the next step? What do we do now?” I don’t like to reminisce too much about it, no sense in it. I talk to my wife Dale about it, and it was really an enormous loss, that was her home. We had antique furniture and fossils and paintings from all over the world. She had made it a beautiful home and for her, it’s been tough.

Photo: JPI

A fan asks, “Is there a story for Victor you would still like to get the opportunity to play that you haven’t before? If so, what would it be?”

ERIC: I’ve been so blessed with so many rich stories that I’m hard put right now to say that I’m really dying to play something. I regret that Victor and Ashley (Eileen Davidson) didn’t have more of a storyline over the years. Eileen is a beautiful woman, and an interesting actress. I think it would’ve been constant tension. In the nature of this business. You have to talk. Everyone has to always explain things. I don’t think that’s necessary. I personally think that at a party scene, for example, there’s just a glance between Victor and Ashley that says everything. You don’t need anything else.

Check out the entire live chat with Eric in honor of his 45th anniversary as Y&R’s Victor Newman below.

Then let us know, what did you think of Eric’s thoughts on Melody Thomas Scott, Ray Wise, Joshua Morrow, Eileen Davidson, Jesse Ventura and more? Is there a story as Eric heads towards 50 years in the role of Victor Newman, you would love to see him play on the soap? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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I miss the character of Paul williams still.and how kind to talk about the ones who passed away .lovely interview.

What they did to the character of Paul confusing I have no idea why they went that route but Doug has moved on he has no hard feelings . It’s part of the system is what it is he has moved on

I love that he brought up Eileen’s Ashley. Up until MAB the writing team honored Ashley and Victor’s unique and special relationship. Often sweet and sometimes strained it’s a gold mine of history. Between Nikki, Jack and Abby there’s so much to play off of. Lately since Victor s been meddling everywhere why hasn’t he checked in on Ashley since her treatment in Paris. I think Ashley’s the only person who always Victor to be tender and sensitive. I miss their bond. I hope Griffith and Scott fix that.

Great interview. I did not like the Ashley reference though – not a fan.

I think she’s supposed to be in Paris, and hopefully while shes there, she’ll learn something about which Twin is really in Genoa City romancing Tracy.

I like this man. He’s real and tells it like it is and appreciates the things and people in his life. Congrats on 45 years!

The triangle between Ashley and Nikki was great soap that was the best years . This story with Ray Wise is nothing but camp and Eric knows it just not wanting to go there and that’s his choice 45 years a long time and he had some great stories . Wish him well he is coming up 84 has beat cancer and still strong so sorry about his home /wish him only the best

God Bless you Eric—Your talent has impacted me in more ways than one. At times I resented your insidious machinations —-and, other times I loved you—You are the best—many more years, PLEASE❤️
Aside—is today’s episode ( Valentine’s Day a figment of everyone’s imagination? Doesn’t seem real.

Am not liking new SL with Nate and Audra or the silly dream sequences with Sharon and Phillis, among others. That does not really have anything to do with Eric Braeden and his 100% take on Victor Newman. I just saw Eric on an old Western series , 1978 or so. ,How The West Was Won, and he made an excellent Western villian, and remember seeing him on a very old Gunsmoke too.

I guess I’m in the minority but I cannot stand the character of Victor. I’m also not a fan of Braedon’s mumbling monotone portrayal of Victor. It would actually be nice if the writers would have him mellow out into retirement, but writers just have Victor doubling down on his senseless ruthlessness. Though I feel the current storyline is leading to a “who shot Victor” event. For me any scene with Victor is meant for fast forwarding.

I agree with you about the character of Victor. I always found Victor to be a bully. I don’t like bullies… Yet I certainly respect the actor. His domination on the show is similar to that of GH’s Sonny who is much more abusive, immoral, and dastardly — bastardly, if you will!

Interviews

B&B’s Crew Morrow Talks Will and Dylan Romance, Heather Tom’s Success, and Dad Joshua Morrow’s Inspiring ‘Y&R’ Performance (Exclusive)

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Crew Morrow

The Bold and the Beautiful’s Crew Morrow (Will Spencer) is one of the brightest younger male leads in the world of daytime drama. Crew has quite the soap pedigree being the son of The Young and the Restless’ long-running star, Joshua Morrow (Nick Newman), but similarities aside, is forging his own path and success.

Currently on the CBS soap opera, Will is falling for Dylan (Sydney Bullock), after continued interference (by many) put a wrecking ball through this relationship with Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace). Now, it seems Will has softened towards Dylan, despite his mother, Katie Logan’s (Heather Tom) warning of mistrust of the young woman.

Michael Fairman TV caught up with Crew on the red carpet at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards  where he weighed-in on: the future of Will/Dylan, finding out his on-screen mom, Heather Tom, had the opportunity to become the winningest actress in Daytime Emmy history, and his thoughts on his dad’s touching performances in Nick’s drug addiction storyline.

Crew Morrow and Sydney Bullock

Photo: HuthcinsPhoto

WILL’S SECOND CHAPTER AT LOVE

When asked if it’s real love brewing for Will with Dylan, Morrow expressed, “Love is a tricky thing. He does love her. It’s been a journey for Will moving on from Electra. That’s always the most difficult thing is acceptance, and the courage to move on, because it’s so easy to be comfortable with someone. Everybody has fallen in love. Everybody knows what it feels like to be in love.”

Crew added, “And that was Will’s first love and as it was Electra’s, as well. So, we’re in a new chapter for Will. He’s found new love and not without its own difficulties. because now he’s got to convince his mother (Katie) that Dylan is not a bad egg.”

Speaking of momma Logan, Crew was surprised to learn that on-screem mom, after winning six gold statuettes, was in the running for what would be be her record-breaking 7th on Emmy night! Heather’s career has spanned roles on The Young and the Restless (ex-Victoria Newman) to One Life to Live (ex-Kelly Cramer) to The Bold and the Beautiful.

Heather Tom and Crew Morrow

Photo: JPI

LEARNING YOUR TV MOM IS ONE STEP AWAY FROM THE EMMY RECORD BOOKS

“Wow. That like almost makes me tear up,” an emotional Morrow shared. “That’s so amazing. I’m so proud of her. I came upon a scene of her and my father from Y&R. It’s just the weirdest thing in the world, because I do see the resemblance, and my dad had some swag back then. But, he doesn’t anymore (laughs), but he used to have swag! I’m just kidding, he does!”

Next, Crew shared a behind the scenes story of an exchange that went down between father and son; just before Joshua Morrow took to the sound stage to perform the scenes where Nick admits to his father, Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) that he has a drug addiction.

Crew recalled, “In the drug addiction storyline, I was just telling my dad, it it was one of the most inspiring pieces of television that I’ve seen in a long time. And I don’t know if it’s because I’m so close with him, and I feel a lot of the same things that he does, but the scenes where he confesses that he has a drug issue to Eric Braeden as Victor were amazing.”

Nick and Victor

Courtesy/CBS

CREW AND JOSHUA MORROW TALK THROUGH NICK’S ADMISSION TO VICTOR

The Nick/Victor moment is one of the most memorable moments from the soaps thus far in 2026. Crew shared just how proud of his dad he truly was. “I was with him that day and we were talking about it and I was like, ‘What’s the process like?’ And we just began talking about it and I asked him, I go, ‘Dad, what if I had a drug issue? What if I was addicted?’ He looks at me and he says nothing and that was it. Then, I saw him go out to set and perform that scene, and he looked at me the same way that he looked at Eric Braeden, and it was just really special. He was incredible.”

Check out our conversation below with Crew Morrow from the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards now on the Michael Fairman Channel.

Then let us know: are you rooting for Will and Dylan at this point as a couple? What did you think about Crew’s reaction to learning some Emmy factoids about his on-screen mother, Heather Tom, plus the exchange Crew had with his dad Joshua Morrow, before the moment Nick admits to Victor he has a serious drug addiction? Let us know via the comment section.

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Days Of Our Lives

‘Days of our Lives’ Kyle Pryor Debuts as Dominic Marino and Says of Alleged TV Mom, “Deidre Hall is the Absolute OG, Amazing” (Exclusive)

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Kyle Pryor and Deidre Hall

Earlier this week on the November 2 episode of Days of our Lives, Kyle Pryor made his Salem debut when a key scene at the end of the episode, with Rita sitting in a chair, the long-talked about character of Dominic Marino unmasks himself!

This sets the stage for the new umbrella storyline that long-running soap opera set to turn 61 on November 8 is launching into. What we know thus far is the viewers are led to believe from a birth certificate discovered that the late Stefano DiMera and Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) are the billionaire’s biological parents, but is he? Does Marlena have another son she will come to love?

Ahead of his debut, Michael Fairman TV caught up with Kyle Pryor on the red carpet at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards where he teased to us, whether Dominik will be all bad or just misunderstood?

Kyle Pryor

Photo: Peacock

Pryor revealed, “I feel like having a bit of a good side makes it a bit more nuanced, but, we always want to see that sort of character development and not be too predictable. Just keep it a bit of a mystery and sort of surprising.”

Speaking about working with Days of our Lives icon Deidre Hall as his alleged mother on the show, Pryor had nothing but winning things to say about the legend. “Deidre is the absolute OG, amazing,” shared Kyle.”She’s so experienced on the show and her character has been through so many sort of trials and tribulations.”

As to his Days of our Lives father, Stefano DiMera, played by the late Joseph Mascolo, Nick shared he heard plenty of stories from the cast about Joe. “I heard that he was quite sort of method in his approach. as well. That behind the scenes, he would be his sort of usual casual self by the sounds of it. And then as soon as he gets on set, he’s in ii! An absolute sort of legacy … amazing character.”

Stefano DiMera

Photo: JPI

In addition, TV Insider spoke to the former Home and Away (ex-Nate Cooper) and Hollyoaks (ex-Laurence “Laurie” Shelby) soap star, where he was in for quite the shock at how far ahead Days of our Lives was taping in advance of streaming new episodes on Peacock.

Kyle expressed, “Every other show that I’ve worked on in the past, it’s been a much faster turnaround, Usually somewhere around five, six weeks, so it’s been really interesting keeping a secret for 10 months. Also, this is the fastest soap that I’ve ever worked on, so you have to become very good at being instinctual, which in a weird way works for me. I’m a bit of an over-thinker, so it’s nice to be just very reactive and in the moment. It’s a lot of dialogue to get across, and Dominic loves a chat, so there’s always a lot to deal with.”

You can check out our quick chat with Kyle Pryor on the red carpet at the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards below and make sure to check out more video coverage of Emmy night via the Michael Fairman Channel here.

So place your bets! When all is said and done will Dominic Marino be the true biological son of Marlena Evans she never knew she had? Or is someone else his mother? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GH’s Finola Hughes and Laura Wright Tease Anna/Valentin/Carly, “It’s Not Your Typical Triangle, We’ll Say That”

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Finola Hughes and Laura Wright

On General Hospital, Carly (Laura Wright) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) are now dealing with the fallout of their discovery, the dead body of Jack Brennan. While Carly became a suspect, now the two need to figure out just who was responsible for the former WSB Port Charles Bureau chief’s sudden ending.

Meanwhile, Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) is trying to put her shattered life back together, after almost killing Dr. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud), hallucinating she was seeing a dead Peter August (Wes Ramsey) and trying to shake off years of trauma at the hands of Cesar Faison (Anders Hove).

While it has become apparent that Valentin and Carly love each other, the same holds true for Valentin and Anna, but is it differently, now that the former lovers are apart? However, it appears when Anna is in trouble, Valentin shows up to save her. That is not lost on Carly, who up until now has tried to be adult about the whole situation, but how long will that last?

Carly and Valentin

Photo: ABC

Michael Fairman TV caught up with both Daytime Emmy-winning Lead Actresses on the red carpet at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards and asked them to weigh-in on what viewers can expect, and what’s it has been like working with leading man, James Patrick Stuart.

Laura Wright explained, “James is hilarious. I would say most of our dress rehearsals are laughing it out because we’ve got to show up for taping, but he’s very funny.” Finola Hughes echoed that with, “He’s a very funny person, always,” adding, “I couldn’t be in a scene with him and Amanda Setton (Brook Lynn, GH). It was him, me, and Amanda one time. We couldn’t get through the scene!”

Valentin and Anna

Photo: ABC

The discussion turned to if GH viewers will see Anna and Carly fighting over the love of Valentin. Laura Wright shared, “Not in the way you would think. It’s not your typical triangle. We’ll say that.” Finola Hughes concurred, “It’s not your typical triangle!”

Watch our chat from the red carpet with Finola and Laura below, and make sure to check out all the moments from Michael Fairman TV at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards here.

So, do you think Valentin will be caught in an actual love triangle between Anna and Carly, or will he be fully in his relationship with Carly, only to find himself constantly coming to the rescue of Anna Devane, causing an ultimate riff in his relationship with Carly? Who would you like to see Valentin with … Anna or Carly? Let us know via the comment section below.

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