News
Y&R Head Writer Josh Griffith on Decision to Revive Matt Clark Story: The Con, Audience Has to “Suspend Belief,” the Pros “Nothing Better Than Being Able to Draw From History”
The Young and the Restless recently launched a soap opera all-star tale with Daytime Emmy winners, Roger Howarth and Tamara Braun joining the iconic daytime drama series Mitch (aka Matt Clark) Bacall and his wife, Sienna Bacall. In addition, to bringing back the character of Noah Newman now played by Lucas Adams, along with seemingly corrupt Detective Burrow played by GH alum, Matt Cohen.
The foursome has been put into a story crafted for Sharon (Sharon Case) and Nick (Joshua Morrow) at its epicenter, and that eventually will bring trouble to the entire Newman family. Soap Opera Digest spoke with Y&R’s executive producer and head writer, Josh Griffith to get his perspective on how he landed on bringing back the nefarious character of Matt Clark, and how he sees his LA noir story tale going down for viewers of the long-running soap.
Looking back at the history of Y&R and noting that Matt Clark died in 2001, and that no one is ever really dead-dead on the soaps, Griffith shared on his decision to go forward with Roger Howarth as the resurrected Matt Clark, when the role was last played by GH’s Rick Hearst. “To me, the only con is that you’ve got to just be able to get the audience to suspend disbelief so they go with it,” shared Josh.”But the pros, for me, much outweigh that, because there’s nothing better than being able to draw from history for a new story.”
Photo: JPI
In getting Sharon and Nick to Los Angeles and to intersect with Matt Clark, the head scribe had to think on a larger overriding element and mystery: “What would pull Nick and Sharon to L.A. would be something horrific happening to Noah. So I wanted the car accident to happen. Out of that, I said, ‘Well, if Noah’s having an affair with Mitch’s wife, then that could lead to the car accident.’ And we start wondering, ‘Was this all a setup for Matt? Did meeting Noah bring back all his anger and all the past, and he set this train wreck of a story in motion because of that?’”
Griffith teased that Matt Clark’s revenge has just escalated. He is angered that his plot to eliminate Noah Newman didn’t work following the car crash, and who he knows is having an affair with his wife. Add to that his hatred of Nick and Sharon, and we have just seen the tip of the iceberg with the guy. As Nick and Sharon eventually head back to Genoa City, they think by leaving Los Angeles, it will scare him off to not come after that, now that they know he is alive and living under a fake identity
Josh explained that the “Second act is definitely they return (to Genoa City), and Matt and all his trouble follow. It becomes a nightmare, not just for Nick and Sharon, but to the whole Newman family.”
So, what do you think thus far of Josh Griffith’s decision to revive the character of Matt Clark, and how the LA noir story is unfolding? Is it holding your interest? Excited to see what’s next? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
Looking back at the history of Y&R and noting that Matt Clark died in 2001, and that no one is ever really dead-dead on the soaps, Griffith shared on his decision to go forward with Roger Howarth as the resurrected Matt Clark, when the role was last played by GH’s Rick Hearst. “To me, the only con is that you’ve got to just be able to get the audience to suspend disbelief so they go with it,” shared Josh.”But the pros, for me, much outweigh that, because there’s nothing better than being able to draw from history for a new story.”
While I am all for suspending disbelief, especially in soap operas, I also must admit: this kind of stuff is exactly why American daytime is mocked and not taken seriously, and I wish it to be one of the tropes dropped altogether from the genre. Yes, it is amazing to draw from history, but it is also one thing to completely ignore it (which I feel Josh Griffith does often) for one’s own perceived worthwhile storyline.
That being said, I am intrigued with the Noah/Sienna connection.
Very excited to see the hell Matt Clark is going to inflict on Nick and Sharon!
I couldnt care less but as much as i admire Mr Howarth why not bring back Eddie Cibrian who is so cute. Just sayin
DING, DING, DING??? You hit the nail on the head.
No, we don’t have to suspend belief! Instead of giving us reworked movies, why not just give us good story and characters. There was no reason to resurrect Matt Clark. Roger Howarth is an amazing actor and could have brought life to any new character. He would have been a perfect match for Phyllis, instead of trying force a relationship between her and Cane. I can’t tell you last time I have watched a full episode of Y&R.
I don’t mind suspending disbelief—as a long time viewer, I accept this as part of watching them. But, suspending disbelief doesn’t work if the story is crap. This one is, as are most of JG’s. It’s almost as if CBS is trying to sink the show by keeping him on the show. Fire him!
In your interview, did you ask about his inability to complete a story line – examples Mariah – when will this non story end? Why Sharon and Phyllis were locked up by a day player and the results? His obsession with the redecorating of the Abbott living room and Diane buying a new couch. I fast forward thanks to the dvr. My watch time is about 18 minutes an episode.
It’s one thing to suspend disbelief but this has happened countless times under Josh Griffith and his writing regime!Honestly nothing against Howard he’s a great actor but if you really wanted the audience to fly with it you would have brought Eddie Cibrian back !
He will never reunite Sharon and Nick though it’s a popular decision but saying that the show is not the show I loved and I will not bitch about it anymore I promise! Do what you want but if this idiot thinks bringing on his friends will increase ratings he really is a fool . The only other pairing Nick had was Phyllis and I don’t need to see that crap again.
I was interested in this story until it was reveal Mitch is Matt Clark. First off the reveal happened too fast. It might have worked if Matt Clark having survive his “death” not only changed his name, but his face, so Nick and Sharon wouldn’t have recognized him– and it was only after months of tormenting them, in some climatic scene he reveals himself to be Matt Clark.
The other major thing wrong with bringing back Matt, is it falls too soon after JG bringing back other characters like Cameron and Ian Ward— and why does mining the past always have to involve bringing back all the psychopaths– when there are so many other former characters that could have spiced up stories– and why do all the storylines have to be about threatening the Newman family either their business or them personally–
The sad truth is these set of characters have run their course, and without investing and developing the younger characters all any head writer can do is rinse and repeat until the show is cancelled, or when the characters that were once Young and Restless are Dead and Buried. Harsh I know, but without new characters to replace the aging out characters–this soap is reaching it’s expiration date.
So well stated. These stories stumble at the gate with the ace card played without suspense.
I totally agree with everything you said. Great post!
Can Josh Griffith bring something new to Y/R not Matt Clark character that died, the bring him back to life again. We who watched the show for years don’t need a repeat of what Matt Clark character might do this go around, he died. Old stuff get rid of JOSH we need new material not material from 2001. This is not creative, its dumb!
Soaps bring back dead people all the time. Wouldn’t it be miraculous if in real life, Bill Bell could be resurrected, then what would Bill Bell do??
Matt Clark died in 2001. Let’s just say I have an imagination, and before Matt died, he got someone pregnant. That offspring would be 24 years old, or older on soaps. Why couldn’t Griffith have had Matt Clark’s son seek whatever revenge he wanted on the Newman family? Clark’s son hears stories from his mother about the Newmans….and this is what sparks his son to terrorize Nick and Sharon! Heck, even GL after Michael Zaslow’s passing, years later, brought his unheard of son to Springfield. Griffith has a vivid imagination, except that it hasn’t worked on Y&R. As another posted, we’re sure this story won’t have a good wrap to it, and Griffith will just leave things hanging as he’s done with other story lines. He’s a lousy head writer, heck, just a lousy writer.
I agree with you Joe 100%
YawneR is in trouble.
I see what they are doing and so I pulled It so making Sharon crazy again enough and Noah is a punk! When does it stop
Josh Griffith needs to go…no mention that Matt came back in to town with a different face. So is this supposed to be Matt with the original face or the new face?? What an absolutely stupid storyline.
It’s okay, Hope it’s not a long story line
General Hospital
Double Emmy Nominee Jeff Kober Reveals He Would Be Open to Return to ‘General Hospital’ If He Could Work Again with Genie Francis
Jeff Kober (ex-Cyrus Renault, General Hospital) has been in celebration mode since July after receiving not only a Daytime Emmy nomination for his role on the ABC daytime drama series, but a Primetime Emmy nomination for his dramatic turn on the HBO Max series The Pitt where he played patient Duke Elkins. The dual nominations mark the first-time in Emmy history that a performer has been nominated for both Emmy awards at the same time.
As GH viewers know, Kober made his debut in General Hospital as Cyrus Renault in 2020. He appeared in the show on-and-off for five years until his character was killed off in an episode that aired on February 20, 2025 ending Renault’s reign of terror.
In fact, it was Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) who shot and killed him, and along with Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna), covered it up. It was that moment that eventually turned Josslyn into an avenge-seeking WSB agent. Kober came back one last time to GH back in December of 2025, when he reprised the role in a dream sequence with Cyrus’ on-screen sister, Laura Collins (Genie Francis).
Courtesy/ABC
JEFF KOBER AND GENIE FRANCIS PLAYED TV BROTHER AND SISTER
Speaking with PEOPLE, Kober talked about his time on General Hospital and if he would ever consider returning to the soap opera if they were to resurrect the now deceased troublemaker Cyrus Renault, or if he even where to play someone else in Port Charles?
“I love to work and I would do anything with Genie (Francis),” expressed Kober. “She’s a great actress and a great scene partner. She’s someone who’ll go anywhere you want to go with them So, if they bring me back and let me work with her, I wouldn’t mind making the drive over to Prospect Studios.”
Kober added, “I would say I’m closest to her in that we both get excited when we can work together because both of us want to make it as rich as possible and find the dangerous areas of it, and see what happens there.”
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Previously, Kober won the Outstanding Supporting Actor in Daytime Drama Series for his performances as Cyrus Renault back in 2022. He was also nominated in 2021. Now in 2026, Jeff finds himself among the nominees in the Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series category.
For the Primetime Emmy Awards, and also as had been previously reported, Kober submitted himself in the Guest category when the studio/network did not. Speaking to his decision to self submit, Jeff shared, “There are so many great performances on this show (The Pitt), and they have a limited number of people that they can submit. But I knew it was a job that I wanted to have seen. I knew the material and my particular wheelhouse were perfectly aligned, so I really wanted to at least have it be seen.”
The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards are set to air live on Monday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, while the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be streamed live on watch.theemmys.tv and associated apps on on Friday night, October 30 from Hollywood.
So, would you like to either see Cyrus Renault turn out to be alive … or Jeff Kober return to GH in another role and share scenes and a story with General Hospital icon, Genie Francis? Let us know via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
Brandon Butler, Who Once Played Zack Brady, Returns to ‘Days of Our Lives’ in New Role
Days of Our Lives has revealed another addition to the cast of the Peacock streaming soap opera; only this time his face is familiar to fans of the soap opera. Brandon Butler is taking on the new role of Mason Whitfield, but he previously played Bo (Peter Reckell) and Hope’s (Kristian Alfonso) deceased son, Zack Brady for a stint back in 2025!
In a post on Thursday, August 27 on the official DAYS Instagram account, they shared a video of Butler telling 5 interesting things about himself caption with, “Get to know Brandon Butler, who will be playing Mason Whitfield! Here are five fun facts about the newest addition to the Days of our Lives cast before his first episode on September 1.”
That means that viewers will see Butler’s debut as Mason next Tuesday! When Brandon named his fifth fun fact, he shared, “Last but definitely not least for me: Days of Our Lives was my late mother’s favorite show. So this one’s for you, Mom. Love you.”
Photos: Peacock
Previously on DAYS, Butler took over the role of Zack Brady from Scott Shilstone, who last played the adult version of Bo and Hope’s son back in 2022 during the Peacock limited series, Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem Chapter Two. Fast-forward to the June 2, 2025 episode on Days of Our Lives.
In story, as Bo Brady finally comes out of his coma after receiving the critical dose of Versavix, thanks to the late John Black (Drake Hogestyn), he is visited by his deceased son, Zack in heaven and he helps push his dad to return to the land of the living.
Brandon’s previous TV credits include roles on: 13 Reasons Why, Hysteria!, Trinkets, and Seal Team, to name but a few. He also appeared on General Hospital back in 2016 for one episode.
It should be noted that also heading to Salem on-screen in September is actress Sydney Malakeh who as previously reported is starting her run in a ‘mystery role.’ Malakeh’s first airdate is September 9. Does this mean that Butler’s Mason will cross paths with Malakeh’s Salem alter-ego? Stay tuned.
So, intrigued to see Brandon Butler back on DAYS in the new role of Mason Whitfield? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section.
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General Hospital
‘General Hospital’ Alum Nicholas Alexander Chavez Lands Role in Action-Thriller ‘Supermax’
Nicholas Alexander Chavez (ex-Spencer Cassadine, General Hospital) has booked another motion picture role, and this time it’s in the upcoming action-thriller Supermax. The Amazon MGM and Miramax feature is currently in production.
According to Deadline, character details for the film which stars Will Smith and AnnaSophia Robb, are being kept under wraps. Production began on Monday, August 24 in New South Wales, Australia, with support from the NSW Government through Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Fund.
In story, Supermax follows two FBI agents (Smith & Robb) who investigate a seemingly impossible murder within the impenetrable walls of a maximum-security prison. Jaafar Jackson and Jason Clarke are also set for roles in the film.
SUPERMAX IS NEXT FEATURE ROLE FOR THE FORMER GH DAYTIME EMMY WINNER
Chavez’s casting announcement came with the addition of the former General Hospital Daytime Emmy winner, and three other actors who joined the production.
David Gordon Green directs the film from script by David Weil and David J. Rosen, with The Picture Company’s Andrew Rona & Alex Heineman producing alongside Smith and Adam Fishbach for Westbrook Studios. The plan is for Supermax to be released on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
After departing his role as Spencer Cassadine on General Hospital in early 2024 (in a part part he had played since 2021), Chavez went on to star as Lyle Menendez in Ryan Murphy’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. He then reunited with Murphy for the FX horror drama Grotesquerie as father Charlie Mayhew.
Coming up, Nicholas will be seen in The Technique, a psychological thriller, where he stars alongside Emma Roberts, Ben Platt and Noomi Rapace, as well as and the remake of the horror flick, Possession.
So, what do you think of Nicholas Alexander Chavez’s upcoming role in Supermax? Wondering what he will be playing in the action-thriller? Do you miss him on General Hospital? Let us know via the comment section.
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Brandon Butler, Who Once Played Zack Brady, Returns to ‘Days of Our Lives’ in New Role
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