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Y&R’s Jermaine Rivers Sounds Off on Toxic and ‘Mean-Spirited’ Fans, and Asks, “What Happened to Watching Soaps For the Love of It?”

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: JPI

Jermaine Rivers (Damian, The Young and the Restless) has a point and a serious question to ponder, “What happened to watching soaps for the love of it?” We all have been privy to some fans who take to social media and use it as a platform to just spew negativity, and to take it to the extreme, as opposed to those who may offer up constructive criticism.

For Rivers, who debuted on the top-rated soap opera as Damian Kane back in February of this year, being on a daytime drama comes with some things that take getting used to, including: reading threads of sometimes venomous comments on social media, about you, your show, your castmates or other shows, and the genre as a whole.

On Tuesday, Jermaine took to his account on X and shared his sentiments, explaining his take on the situation: “I’m convinced that most (Not all) of today’s so called soap fans are far removed from the sweet old ladies who watched it back in the 70’s 80’s and 90’s. The internet has created some Straight Savages who are mean spirited and tune in to just complain about the show’s they watch. What happened to watching Soaps for the love of it? Why are Y’all so mad, hateful and triggered for?”

Photo: JPI

As fans joined in the thread with their comments on Rivers initial post, one wrote, “To be fair, lets put some of this on the shows esp, Bold who’s given us much to complain about. When the shows are good we praise them.”

Jermaine replied, “It comes down to Emotional Intelligence… if someone gets triggered by watching a Soap there’s a deeper problem that’s not being addressed in their personal life. It’s clearly evidence of some unhealed trauma that the viewer hasn’t worked through. Let’s not place blame on a fictional TV character or storyline that’s being played out for entertainment purposes as an excuse for toxic behavior. We’re not dodging accountability over here!”

Photo: JPI

Later, soap fan, Stini the Great responded, “I blame social media. It allows a person to hide behind a keyboard (or phone) and say things that they would never dare to say to someone’s face.” To which Rivers, replied, “Bingo” with an accompanying applause gif.

Later, Rivers qualified that the reason he took to X to air his grievance with the online haters is not about hate he may or may not be receiving about the pairing of Damian and Lily. Rivers responded, “I’m not talking about me… I rarely look at the comments and when I do I shrug it off. But looking across the board … the stuff that I’m seeing online about all Soaps in general is just nasty work. There’s a lot of toxicity out there.”

Photo: JPI

After his initial comments and the remarks made by fans in his thread, Rivers concluded and posted, “Love the fact that we can all have an open, honest and respectful discussion. This is what Social Media is supposed to look like.”

So, what do you think of the point Jermaine is making? Do we all need to go back and remember why we watched soaps in the first place? Is there too much negativity towards the shows and its cast members? Share your thoughts via the comment section.

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Hey, I am beginning to like the character and I can see him with Lily. He can hold his own and I think can exist outside of the Dumas/Cane storyline. The brother is handsome and has a strong personality. I loved it when he put Audra on notice! I hope he is not one of the victims in the coming week/weeks.

I agree. I took a disliking to him when he was so harsh with his mom and Nate at the beginning. I also did not like the way he seemed to almost leer at Lily from glance one.

From those inauspicious beginnings, the actor has slowly won me over. He’s very good and I am now enjoying the character as well. I can see Damien with Lily as well, he is quite handsome. Damien and Lily would be beautiful paired together.

I must say however, that I do have a soft spot for OG Lane. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

There are too many miserable people who only get joy when they can bring others down.

Oh please, fans are allowed to express their opinions. Treating fans like this actor does it. No but seriously, he thinks he’s who. What would happen it if fans stopped to watch ? And of course that comes from a newbie. Actors portraying longtime characters never would act like that. No they even like & retweet our posts. They understand our feelings because they know the show is bad. We don’t blame the actors, we blame the writing. Fans aren’t forced to love the characters or everything they make or every storyline.

Fans should always express their opinions but far too many behave as though they cannot distinguish between a scripted series and reality. So many mean spirited comments are targeted at the actors when they are simply doing a job like anyone else. I understand fans being invested but that doesn’t give license to be cruel or inconsiderate. It’s as if soap viewing causes some fans misery and if that’s the case they need to seek entertainment elsewhere.

A M E N!!! You hit the nail on the head.

But too many fans express their opinions disrespectfully. That’s the problem. People have forgotten to be civil and that actors and, yes, the writers are also human beings with feelings.

Agreed, SonniOrSolita (and yes, I’ve been around to get the reference, ha! good for you!). I’m going to be civil and respectful, or try to be, anyway, but I’m also going to tell the truth. I’ve been watching soaps since the mid-1970s, and most of what’s being put on the air today is far inferior to what we were seeing back in the 70s, 80s, and even the 90s (though the decline in storytelling quality had begun by the middle of that decade). Maybe those “sweet old ladies” (not-so-sweet old man here, but I was a young and middle-aged man watching back then, and I take a little umbrage at his characterization of the audience, which wasn’t entirely female–plus, unless he’s much older than he looks, he wasn’t even alive in the 70s or much of the 80s, so I’m not sure how he’d know) were sweet old ladies because what they were watching didn’t give them so much to be cranky about. The real decline in quality began about the time the internet became accessible to a wider group, so it’s hard to say which caused which; I think it’s true that the anonymity of the internet brings out the super-nasty side of some people, and that’s been appalling to see, but I think it’s also true that the internet started letting previously isolated soap viewers compare notes and realize that, hey, “I’m not the only one who thinks what I’m seeing on my screen is crap compared to a few years ago.” So those “sweet old ladies” might not have been so sweet by the 2000s, regardless. Beyond the Gates is restoring my faith that good soap CAN be made in today’s environment, but that has the corollary effect of making me wonder–AGAIN–why the other four shows have storytelling styles that range from uneven, at best, to absolutely awful. I don’t blame the writers; I suspect they’re doing the best they can to deal with what the networks dictate (as well as doing their best to get hired on BTG, if they’re smart). I don’t blame the actors, who, as others have noted, are just trying to make the scripts work (with even less rehearsal time, apparently, than they used to get).

I think it’s worth pointing out, however, that sometimes, even if you’re civil and respectful in the way you express yourself, sometimes the truth is going to hurt. There are tons of talented actors on the soaps, but there are some genuinely bad ones as well, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise when a show hands a big storyline to an actor who’s not remotely capable of carrying it or when somebody clearly starts phoning it in (though I do have some sympathy for the latter). I think most of the writers are much better than they get credit for, but I’m also not going to pretend otherwise when what I see on the screen isn’t working at any level or when a show’s or character’s history has been so badly violated that I’m looking at my TV and thinking, “This can’t be happening. She’d never say that, she’d never do that” or “Wait a minute; that isn’t what happened” or just plain out “WTF?” I can do a better job of not being quite so blunt sometimes, and I work on that; there are multiple ways to say the same thing, and some of them are softer than others but make the same point less stridently. But even without some of the outrageous nastiness I see in some of the comments, some of what needs to be said simply isn’t pretty or pleasant. “Watching soaps for the love of it” is hard when there’s not nearly as much to love as there used to be, especially if you’re in my position, you’ve watched them for years and you KNOW they can be considerably better than they currently are.

Like a lot of “oldies”, I started watching daytime dramas around 1980 with my mom (who swears she never watched…okay mom, I know better). The shows were very well done back in those days. I was mainly a CBS viewer: Capitol, ATWT, Guiding Light, Y&R and Bold. I would catch a little of some of the other shows when they had storylines about the LGBT community and stories about HIV/AIDS (after all, I’m gay). Slowly, a lot of the older shows were dropping like flies. Watched the series finales for Capitol, the beginning of Bold and the ends of GL and ATWT. I kept on watching Y&R and Bold until Brad Bell at Bold did the unthinkable….he fired Krista Allen from her role as Taylor. That was when I stopped watching Bold for good. I don’t know why he felt that it was necessary to fire her (she was doing a great job I might add), although rumors and gossip was basically saying that Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke) told Brad to get rid of her. Whether or not that’s true, who knows. Then, practically a year after KA was let go, her comes her replacement Rebecca Budig! I mean seriously!? She is way too young for that role. I still refuse to watch Bold.

Then along came a brand new daytime drama in the form of Beyond The Gates, the brain child of Michele Val Jean!! After finding out was being cast on the show, I was like….yessss mama! I’m here for it! What took me completely by surprise was the network was more than ready to back a new show that ALSO had the blessing P & G and the NAACP! I was hooked from second 1! Haven’t missed an episode!!

I do agree 100% with Jermaine Rivers and the personal attacks that some of his cast members are getting and attacks that were uncalled for. These are human beings who are playing characters and saying dialogue that is questionable at best.

Now, let us all stop being cruel to the actors….PLEASE! It’s not their fault that the writing is bad (looking at you Brad Bell and Josh Griffith). Let just enjoy the show(s). Because we never should take them for granted….they’re on our screens one minute and gone the next.

agree.

Well said. He speaks out of insecurity. He knows he is too old for this role and not a sexy bone in his body. Wrong character role. As I have sad many sites ago. He is almost as old as his mother. He does not turn my head.—Holden fits this role to the max. He is fire. . ❤️

Damian’s arrival in GC is a very good thing. Jermaine’s portrayal has a similar essence to when Neil arrived, though not saying anything about him replacing KSJ. I think his arrival is finally moving the Younger of YandR generation forward. He’s grounding yet complex. This character is developing nicely, and yes, he will be a good choice for Lily.

I’d like to see Sally end up with the “new” Cane – I fully see Courtney Hope and Billy Flynn rocking that combo.

And it seems that Chance will probably be the one departing to the heavens since Connor is taking over the DOOL role of Chad DiMero that Flynn left.

I just want to see some on-screen chemistry – not so interested in all of the business sellings and acquisitions.

Agreed with everything you ve mentioned! Hes given the Winters a worthy male head of the fam. Devon wasnt cutting it. Jermaine s been a excellent invaluable addition since the moment he arrived with an attitude, charm and some real acting chops!
I hope he and Lily become a solid couple!

Good for him. Too many soap message boards are full of people making nasty comments and arguing savagely over fictional characters. If you’re full of that much hatred, find another outlet to vent!

Nothing to do with hate, but everything to do with opinion—-Seems to me YOU are expressing hate. This is an opinion piece—If you don’t like it, don’t read it. I can express whether I think this actor fits the role. He definitely does not. It is my truth and you do not have to like it.

Fortunately, I have not seen the nasty comments and don’t want to. People should not be saying nasty stuff. I don’t always enjoy the stories or actors or characters, but I like my soaps overall.

Sorry, but calling/insinuating “most” mentally ill was a poor choice of words. It really was. The concept of what he’s talking about rings true… but his execution was entirely too poor and leaves a poor taste in my mouth.

Last edited 1 year ago by Scott (ATWT fan)

Saying that someone lacks emotional intelligence is not the same as saying they are mentally ill. You are putting words into his mouth and might want to re-read that statement again.

This started with “participation trophies”. Everyone being coddled to. Now when things don’t go the way they want, they throw a temper tantrum to get their “trophy”. Add that to social media allowing people to have no filter (or decency) in the name of free speech and it has all gone crazy!

I’ve watched Y&R since it’s inception in the 70’s. As I’m getting closer to retirement, I have a little more time to record or watch online to see what’s happening in Genoa City. I remember the days they left you with a cliffhanger on Friday, and you couldn’t wait til Monday. Not just Y&R, but mostly all of the soaps were written so much better years ago. We got hooked on soaps not because it was something to watch on tv, but because the writing was so good. The script writers knew what they were doing. People tuned in.

The networks (at least CBS) seems to have little interest in improving the products because in the world of daytime, they are still number 1. But the writing has suffered, especially on Y&R. Story lines start and stop on a dime, some with no resolutions. Having the same person be the Executive Producer AND Head Writer is a big mistake. I always hope Y&R gets better. The actors are top notch. But they are only as good as the material they are given, and frankly, the material over the last few seasons has been mediocre at best. Sorry if those of us who complain bother some posters, but we really do care about the QUALITY of the show, and it’s severely lacking. The fact that Y&R brought in a new wardrobe person to spruce up the actors is good, but it doesn’t solve the problem with poor story telling.

Michael did you forget your interview with Jeanne Cooper? It was on July 26, 2012.

This is what she said:
When there was the ‘Who Killed Phillip?’ storyline and our characters were in court, and being thrown about, a faction of fans lined up at CBS with posters marching, and this group flew in from the east coast. And they were pro- Brenda (Jill). Then, I in turn said to her, ‘Well all these people must have gotten pregnant by someone else’s husband.’ They had to get us out of the studio because we had death threats! They would say that I or she ‘deserved to die.’ Oh, the studio was very quiet about that, and they had police stand there. It was wild!”

Viewers were like this from day one! They were flying across the country and threatening actors and protesting stories in person. It’s no worse now. Social media

I tend to be patient when my soaps enter a period of lackluster writing. It helps that the acting on the shows is almost uniformly excellent. When you consider the tremendous pressure and workload that is presented by preparing more than 250 fresh hours (mostly) of drama each year, it’s truly remarkable that these shows ever achieve aspired heights. That said, while I deplore attacks on specific actors, I think that it’s useful for the producers of these shows to have a way to monitor how their stories are impacting their fans and allow for adjustments. There is tremendous value in constructive criticism, and I urge my fellow fans to focus on that.

Maybe, it’s because you are in the wrong role, sir—I , for one, do not question your performance. I question TPTB trying to couple you with Lily—no tension, no sexiness—Holden would have been a better choice. My opinion.

Not a good look when you bite the hand that feeds you. He makes some good points, but don’t attack your customer base!

News

Y&R’s Jason Thompson and Mark Grossman Deliver the ‘Power Performances of the Week’

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Jason Thompson and Mark Grossman

In what was one of the most tearjerker of episodes from The Young and the Restless in a long time, last week’s Tuesday, October 20th episode and its aftermath (for the rest of the week), gave viewers several standout moments by two of its leading men, Jason Thompson (Billy Abbott) and Mark Grossman (Adam Newman).

The story unraveled such that it played into the deep history between Billy and Adam that dates all the way back to when Billy’s daughter Deliah was struck by the car Adam was driving and died. The heart-tugging scenes following Billy and Sally’s (Courtney Hope) wedding, also played into the history of Adam and Sally.

As Y&R fans recall, Sally was carrying Adam’s child when she was rushed to surgery and their baby was stillborn. Fast-forward: When Billy received a gut-wrenching call from Snapper about his mother Jill (Jess Walton) having a heart attack in London during his wedding reception, he was beside himself and fighting back his tears.

Photo: JPI

Meanwhile, Sally was up in her room at the GCAC getting a visit from Adam when her water broke, and Adam was with her through the birth of her new little bundle of joy … a daughter.

When Billy finally made it up to Sally’s room, Adam was leaving to find him and the two come face-to-face! Sally tells Billy to come over to the bed to meet his daughter, leaving us with that heartbreaking shot of Adam with tears in his eyes at the door.  A bittersweet moment, indeed.

Throughout the drama of the wedding reception, and the scenes that followed, Jason Thompson and Mark Grossman were given the opportunity to  show their acting chops given the meaty material that was well-written and they broke our hearts.

Photo: JPI

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Special mentions also needs to go to Courtney Hope as the new Mrs. Abbott with mew baby in tow, and Billy Flynn (Cane), who along with Thompson had many reaching for the hankies when they learned about Jill.

The scenes between Billy and Cane were fueled with such history as the two “brothers” try to commiserate over what might happen if Jill were to die.

However, when all was said and done, it was Jason Thompson and Mark Grossman, who while not the OG Billy and Adam, brought their rivalry full circle, while each commanding the screen when the moment called for it.

Photo: JPI

That’s why, Michael Fairman TV names Jason and Mark are picks for the Power Performances of the Week.

In case you missed it, check out our livestream chat with Jason Thompson and Courtney Hope, right after Billy and Sally welcomed their new little bundle of joy on the Michael Fairman Channel.

Now let us know, do you agree with our picks of Jason Thompson and Mark Grossman for the Power Performances of the Week, or did you have another pick? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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Breaking News

53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Presenters Announced

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Daytime Emmy Presenters

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) revealed on Thursday, the lineup of presenters for 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards taking place on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California.

The ceremony will stream live on the NATAS YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@theemmys and watch.TheEmmys.tv.

Scheduled to present from the current soaps are: Katelyn MacMullen (Willow, General Hospital), Delon de Metz (Zende, The Bold and the Beautiful), James Preston (Nick, The Bay), Paul Telfer (Xander, Days of our Lives), Tamara Tunie (Anita, Beyond the Gates) and Susan Walters (Diane, The Young and the Restless).

Genie Francis

Photo: NATAS

In addition soap alums, Crystal Chappell, Lesli Kay, Joe Lando, Eva LaRue, who is also a nominee this year,  A Martinez, Juliet Mills, and Alicia Leigh Willis, will also be on hand to present.

The ceremony which celebrates nominated lifestyle programs and dramas will also include presenters: Eva zu Beck (Superskilled with Eva zu Beck), Danielle Chang (Lucky Chow), Sunny Hostin (The View), Derek Hough (Extra), Pati Jinich (Pati’s Mexican Table), Star Jones (Divorce Court), Michael Jr. (Stand Up and Do Something), Judge Greg Mathis (Mathis Court with Judge Mathis), Keke Palmer (Glam Through the Ages), Nischelle Turner (Entertainment Tonight), and Andrew Zimmern (Andrew Zimmern’s Wild Game Kitchen).

The 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards will bring together an exciting mix of presenters representing the full spectrum of daytime television,” said Adam Sharp, President & CEO of NATAS. “From familiar faces in daytime drama to the personalities and creative voices behind talk shows and lifestyle programming, this year’s lineup reflects the breadth of talent that makes daytime so special. We look forward to celebrating the people who continue to shape the genre.”

Matthew Hoffman (Love Island USA, Cheap A$$ Beach Houses) will serve as the ceremony’s Voice of God, bringing his signature comedic narration to the evening’s celebrations. As previously announced, Lifetime Achievement honoree Genie Francis (Laura, General Hospital) will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by her husband, Jonathan Frakes.

So, what do you think about the list of presenters for the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards? Let us know who you are looking forward to seeing via the comment section below.

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Recaps

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Adam Delivers Sally’s Baby as Billy Reels from Jill’s Health Crisis in Tearjerker Episode

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Billy, Sally and Adam

The Tuesday, October 20 episode saw The Young and the Restless deliver some deeply-poignant moments in the aftermath of Billy (Jason Thompson) and Sally’s (Courtney Hope) wedding.

The scenes which will be talked about for some time to come, because of how they can impact longterm story, had Adam (Mark Grossman) being the one to deliver Billy and Sally’s baby, while Billy was gut-punched by a phone call from Snapper Foster that Jill had suffered a heart attack in London.

In story, while up in Sally’s room at the GCAC, wishing his ex all the happiness, (because Adam and Billy have no love lost, and he didn’t want to cause waves), Sally’s water broke. In true soapy fashion, all phones were dead. Sally’s phone was missing because it was with Audra (Zuleyka Silver), Adam’s battery ran out etc. Prior to that, Adam did try to call Billy, but Billy did not pick up his calls, as he was with Cane (Billy Flynn) coming to terms with the news on Jill.

Photo: JPI

TORN BETWEEN RUNNING TO HIS MOTHER OR HIS NEW WIFE AND BABY

Now in the perfect storm of circumstances, Adam is the one to help Sally deliver her baby when she begged him to stay with er screaming, “Please don’t make me do this alone!” Adam reminded Sally that he’d already delivered a baby twice before. She assured him that it will be OK, and not to be scared, because this isn’t the same set of circumstances when she lost their daughter, Ava, during childbirth.

Downstairs, Billy is in tears over his mother. So too is Cane. Cane speaks to Jill on the phone when Snapper holds the phone to her while at her hospital bed. He tells her he loves her. Billy cannot bring himself to talk to his mom.

Cane decides he will go to London. Billy doesn’t know what to do with a new wife and a baby on the way. It’s clear how much losing Jill would devastate Billy. Cane tells Lily (Christel Khalil) what has happened to Jill, and Billy informs Jack (Peter Bergman) before he tries to find his bride who is upstairs in her room.

Photo: JPI

A NEW ABBOTT

Back in Sally’s room, eventually Adam asks Sally (who is deep in labor), if she thought she was having a girl or boy, and she said a boy. But then, Adam introduced her to her “beautiful, perfect baby girl.” It was a moment laced with so much history for Adam and Sally and Adam and Billy, when you think of the deaths of Ava and Deliah.

As Sally cradled her newborn little bundle of joy, Adam went to go get Billy at her request, and as he made his way to the door, Billy was standing there. Billy is stunned to see his rival standing, but then Sally tells Billy to meet his daughter!

Billy rushes to the bedside to be my his new wife and daughter, with the heartbreaking final shot of Adam emotionally overcome thinking of the baby he has lost with Sally. and how he wishes things could have turned out differently in a bittersweet moment.

Photo: JPI

EMOTIONAL PERFORMANCES

The episode was laced with hankie-inducing moments from Jason Thompson, Courtney Hope, Mark Grossman and Billy Flynn, who each delivered, to bring this story so much heart and history.  There is plenty of Emmy material within for next year for these four.

You can check out the final moments of yesterday’s episode where Billy meets his daughter for the first time, followed by the final shot of Adam at the door below, followed by our live chat replay with Y&R stars, Jason Thompson and Courtney Hope which streamed immediately after this episode aired in all timezones on the Michael Fairman Channel.

Now let us know, did you reach for the hankies during the episode? Did you like that Adam was the one to deliver Sally’s baby? Do you think something more will happen with Jill? Share your reactions in the comment section.

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