Connect with us

News

6

Y&R’s Eric Braeden Weighs-in on the Controversial Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Paris

By Michael Fairman

Published

on

Photo: CBS

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, got off to a rocky start with a heavily criticized opening ceremony broadcast on NBC and streaming on Peacock. However, the ratings proved otherwise. Nearly 29 million viewers, the highest viewership since the 2012 Games tuned in on multiple platforms to watch the spectacle.

With the weather not cooperating with the planned opening ceremony held on the Seine River, due to rain that got more intense as the ceremony continued, the program mixed prerecorded and live performances. Meanwhile, the athletes were taken down the river on boats, waving their countries flags in the rain. This was juxtaposed against unusual segments played out on the sides of the river to emulate French history and more.

The artistic director for the opening ceremony was Thomas Jolly, an actor and stage director, who brought many theatrical moments to the ceremony. However, the ceremony was not without some poignant moments including when Celine Dion delivered a heartfelt and tremendous vocal performance, her first in five years since battling Stiff Person’s Syndrome. Even Lady Gaga was seemingly plagued by some sound issues during her performance.

Photo: AP

The Young and the Restless’ Eric Braeden (Victor Newman) took to X, to give his thoughts on the artistic direction of the spectacle. Braeden expressed, “The opening ceremony was given to a guy who is a theatre director! This is a visual feast, and should have been directed by one of the many brilliant filmmakers in PARIS! And what was all this tortured imagery about? And the teams on the boats largely out of focus!”

However, Eric also noted some of the high notes, sharing, “The highlights were the lighting of the Olympic fire, the BEATLES SONG AND, finally and gloriously, CELINE DION!! I love that woman’s singing! It’s FROM THE HEART!! And LADY GAGA SHOULD HAVE DONE A MEDLEY OF EDITH PIAF SONGS!”

Photo: NBC

One fan, who responded to Braeden’s message expressed their thoughts on Jolly’s artistic direction, and added, “I think he was trying to recreate let’s say a painting/photo/moment in culture w/a bit of Olympic History mixed in. The problem is it was literally a movable stage no one could control. Maybe the weather & micromanagement did it in. It certainly wasn’t the worst though.”

Braeden responded, “Yeah, well, kind of.. I thought it was pretty awful! Obviously not conceived by a visual artist or someone with a deep appreciation of the extraordinary athletes, all in one place!! Why would I want to see some ridiculous dance numbers, instead of closer looks and interviews with the athletes!”

Courtesy/NBC

Meanwhile, the ceremony has now seen an outcry about the depiction of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” that featured DJ and producer Barbara Butch — an LGBTQ+ icon — flanked by drag artists and dancers, and then French actor, Philippe Katerine, seemingly naked lying on a giant fruit platter, with some gold dust and a smattering of foliage to cover his privates. It led to some social media users to compare him to a Smurf.  There was also a faceless torch-bearer doing parkour on Parisian rooftops and a headless Marie Antoinette figurine, receiving mixed reactions from viewers.  Still others thought the opening ceremony was highly-creative, touching and beautiful.

Courtesy/NBC

So, what do you think about Eric’s sentiments on the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Paris? Do you wish it would have had less imagery and we could actually see the athletes better? Comment below.

6 Comments

6 Comments
oldest
newest

Since they kept weaving pre-recorded footage into it and it was fast-paced: I saw the people sitting there but I mistakingly assumed they were with the runway fashion show. It wasn’t until the next day until I learned what it was. My heart sank a little when I learned. Regardless of their intent, they had to know it was going to be deemed by many as religious mockery. Many religious people are very accepting of all walks of life and want no strife. The segment was about Paris fashion and shouldn’t have strayed into religion. If one wants acceptance, offending half the world is a poor way to achieve it. If Paris wants to be a good host it got off to a bad start. In the grand scheme of things it is supposed to be about the athletes and not about the city….and certainly not about the director’s grievances.

Except it wasn’t the last supper. It was a depiction of the GREEK Bachanalia.

You are correct, Audra!

I wonder if that POS would mock the religion of Islam ? I doubt it real tired of your in our face your sickening crap you dish out every day you want to be accepted then start acting like humans

I would rather hear what Erik Braeden thinks about the current state of affairs at Y&R. Like, everything that’s wrong there. But no, we get a story about what he thinks about something not even remotely linked to his show or this website???

You do realize Eric is a human being and he is allowed to voice his opinions on events that occur outside of his show!

News

Susan Flannery and Ian Buchanan Visit the Set of ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’; Daytime Emmy Winners Reflect on Show Then and Now

Published

on

By

Susan Flannery and Ian Buchanan

The one and only Susan Flannery (ex-Stephanie Forrester) dropped in to see her former co-stars on The Bold and the Beautiful at their Sunset Las Palmas Studio in Hollywood, along with her good friend and another B&B co-star Ian Buchanan (ex-James Warwick) on Tuesday October 20.

It was the first time in a very long time that The four-time Daytime Emmy winning actress was reunited with Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy), executive producer and head writer, Brad Bell, Jennifer Gareis and even her TV sister, Alley Mills (Pam, B&B now Heather, GH) showed up for the day too!

Flannery played the Forrester matriarch from 1987 until 2012. It was then that after playing the part of Stephanie for 25 years that Susan made the decision to retire from acting and in one of the most heartbreaking sendoffs, passes away from lung cancer in Brooke’s arms in November of 2012. During her B&B tenure, Flannery won 3 of her 4 Daytime Emmys, the other being for her first soap role as Laura Horton on Days of our Lives back in 1975.

Susan and Kelly

Photo: Bell-Phillip TV

As for Ian Buchanan, he played Dr. Warwick, psychiatrist, from 1993 to 1999.  He returned for other runs in 2014 and 2017.  Buchanan took home his Daytime Emmy in 1997 for his work as James. Soap fans also remember, Ian as mobster Duke Lavery on General Hospital, and Dr. Greg Madden on All My Children,

Both Susan and Ian shared their thoughts on coming back to The Bold and the Beautiful, for Susan 14 years later since he exited and for Ian close to 9 years since his last appearance below.

Susan said, “It’s definitely like coming home in a way, even though it’s not the same studio. It’s really lovely to see old faces and old faces with new faces. It takes you back mentally. You start remembering what it was like back then, even things like how much your feet would ache at the end of the day from wearing six-inch heels. It was just lovely to be back and see everybody.”

Susan Flannery and cast

Photo: Bell-Phillip TV

Ian expressed, “It’s a mind trip, you know. When I was sitting looking at the big Forrester set, it was like stepping back in time, almost. It takes you back mentally, and you start remembering what it was like when you were here before.”

“It’s lovely to see all these people again, even if you don’t know everybody,” explained soap vet Buchanan. “There’s something really special about coming back and seeing the show and the people who have been part of it for so long.”

So, happy to see Susan and Ian with some of their former castmates? Do you think Stephanie and Brooke is one of the greatest frenemy stories in daytime history? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

Continue Reading

Beyond the Gates

Tabitha Brown and Kandi Burruss Guest Star on ‘Beyond the Gates’ for Dani’s ‘Welcome to Your Life’ TV Special; What Could Go Wrong?

Published

on

By

Kandi Burress, Tabitha Brown, Karla Mosley

As previously announced, Beyond the Gates is bringing chef, author and actress Tabitha Brown and Grammy Award-winning songwriter, singer and actress Kandi Burruss to Fairmont Crest in a special episode of the CBS daytime drama airing Thursday, October 22.

In the episode, Dani’s (Karla Mosley) best friend Pamela Curtis (Cady McClain), arranges a “Welcome to Your Life” television special for her. As it turns out, Brown will play the show’s host, Tia Allen, while Burruss takes on the role of Dani’s first modeling agent, Kalista Kilroy, who turns the celebration of her life into a bad trip down memory lane.

Dani’s parents Anita and Vernon (Tamara Tunie, Clifton Davis), sister Nicole (Daphnee Duplaix), and daughters Chelsea (RhonniRose Mantilla) and Naomi (Arielle Prepetit) all join the show to celebrate and support her but also witness how things so south. Also appearing in the episode are Molly Figueroa as Tatum Stewart and fan-favorite Anita Williams (Tunie) impersonator Jackie Tyree!

Beyond the Gates

PhotoL JPI

THE 411 ON TIA AND KALISTA

Speaking with TV Insider, about their soapy experience in Fairmont Crest, Tabitha Brown previewed about her host with the most, “Tia is very professional, but she’s a girl’s girl. She is a protector of women and wants to tell their stories in a beautiful way, but she also wants to make sure they’re seen in a very good light.”

However, Burruss previews that Kalista arrives with a score to settle. “She’s spicy,” shared the recording artist. “I always love playing somebody that has come to start trouble. It’s always fun to play a villain of sorts, but Kalista feels like she’s been done wrong and she’s hurt by what she feels has been done to her. So Kalista is stirring up trouble, but she feels justified putting Dani on blast. Kalista is ready for some payback.”

Beyond the Gates is produced by CBS Studios, as part of the CBS Studios/NAACP Venture, in partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble. Created by head writer Michele Val Jean, executive producers include Val Jean, Sheila Ducksworth, Julie Carruthers, Tracey Thomson, Leon W. Russell, Derrick Johnson, Anna Saalfeld and Lela Coffey.

Beyond the Gates is broadcast weekdays on CBS (2:00-3:00 PM, ET/1:00-2:00 PM, PT) and is available to stream on Paramount+**.

So, looking forward to this special episode of Beyond the Gates when Dani is put on a blast during a blast from her past and Welcome to Your Life TV special? Share your thoughts via the comment section.

Continue Reading

Days Of Our Lives

‘Days of our Lives’ Reveals Kyle Pryor Cast as Dominic Marino

Published

on

By

Kyle Pryor

For months now, Days of our Lives has teased the character of Dominic Marino. In recent weeks, viewers learned that Marino is on the down low working with Sami Brady’s (Alison Sweeney) apparent fiancé ‘Dante Vitali (Franco LoPresti), and that he is the never-before-heard-of child of Stefano DiMera (the late Joseph Mascolo) and Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall)!

Up until now, the Peacock streaming soap opera has never revealed his face, but that all seemed to change on the Tuesday, October 2o episode of DAYS. In story, Dante met Sami’s parents for the first time, Roman (Josh Taylor) and Marlena.

He shows them a photo of Dominic, which he happened to have on his own phone and even commented he kind of looked like he could be Marlena’s son. The photo, which has quickly made it around Soap Twitter/X, revealed that British-born actor Kyle Pryor is the man in the photo and eagle-eyed viewers actually located said photo on Pryor’s Instagram.

Dominix

Photo: Peacock

Deadline revealed Pryor started taping at the end of 2025 and will first be seen in the role, on air Monday, November 2.  In addition, Days will celebrate its 61st Anniversary with two special episodes featuring Dominic’s arrival, as well the returns of Tony and Anna DiMera, played respectively by Thaao Penghlis and Leann Hunley, on Friday, November 6 and Monday, November 9.

Those in the know, are are that Pryor previously held series regular roles on Australia’s Home and Away, and the UK’s Hollyoaks and guest starred on Emmerdale. In an ironic twist, Pryor appeared in the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand which is the same action series his apparent TV brother, Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera), once appeared in before coming to DAYS.

So excited to see Kyle Pryor take on the role of Dominic Marino as Days of our Lives sets its anniversary story to kick-off with is arrival in Salem? Share your thoughts in the comment section. And in case you missed our latest conversation with Conner Floyd (Chad DiMera) he weighs-in on how Dominic’s appearance will shake things up in Salem. You can check that out below.

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

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

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Heather Tom

The Bold and the Beautiful

Airdate: 7-24-2026

Popular

6
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x