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‘The Young and the Restless’ Names New Co-Head Writers: Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor

By Michael Fairman

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Jamey Giddens, Dan O'Connor
Photos: CBS, IG, JPI

After much speculation as to how the head writing regime would shape up after longtime scribe Josh Griffith made the decision to step down at The Young and the Restless, soap fans have their answer.

Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor have been named co-head writers of the CBS daytime drama per TV Insider. It was back in June that Josh Griffith announced his decision to step down as the head writer of the top-rated soap opera. A few months earlier, Griffith also made the decision to step away from his duties as the series executive producer as well.

For Jamey Giddens, this opportunity gives the former soap journalist, co-founder and editorial director of Daytime Confidential turned much-heralded soap writer, the chance to steer the ship of a broadcast network daytime drama series.

Photo: JPI

Giddens had currently been on the writing team of the 15-time Daytime Emmy-nominated Beyond the Gates where he serves as writer under creator and head writer, Michele Val Jean.

JAMEY GIDDENS AND DAN O’CONNOR JOURNEY TO THE NUMBER ONE SOAP

Prior to joining Beyond the Gates, Giddens served on the writing team of Days of Our Lives from 2020-2025, and had been a writer for the Peacock spin-off  limited-series Days of Our Lives; Beyond Salem.

Giddens is already a WGA and Emmy winner and has the distinction for being nominated for two Daytime Emmys this year at the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards for his work on both Beyond the Gates and Days of Our Lives. In addition, in 2019-2020, Jamey served as the head writer on OWN’s Ambitions under Will Packard.

Those who followed the career of Emmy and WGA-winning writer, Dan O’Connor know that he got his soap start on the writing team of One Life to Live. When the ABC soap was cancelled, he eventually moved over to General Hospital in 2013 where he had held various positions over the years including associate head writer, breakdown writer and most recently, co-head writer until he left in 2024. He also was on the Days of Our Lives writing team in the summer of 2024.

Photo: JPI

JOSH GRIFFITH WINDS DOWN HIS TENURE

It is noted that Josh Griffith continued in his role as head writer with The Young and the Restless while the series and Sony were looking for his successors. The cast and crew were notified that Jamey and Dan are set to begin next week in their co-head scribe duties.

This move also marks the first time since 2013 that Y&R has gone the co-head writer route. The last duo was Shelly Altman and Jean Passanante. They were followed in succession starting in 2015 with Chuck Pratt Jr, Sally Sussman Morina, Mal Young and then in 2019 by Josh Griffith.

So, what do you think of The Young and the Restless choosing Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor as the new co-head writers of the number #1 daytime drama? Looking forward to seeing how their visions change the landscape of the lives of the citizens of Genoa City? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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A change is a change, and this is a change.

Look, I have disliked Jamey Giddens’ scripts on Beyond the Gates since his debut. And he lives in a fan fiction-type world. But he does have a passionate feeling towards The Young and the Restless, so this could be a good shift for him. Provided he does not bring the nastiness that he learnt from Ron Carlivati or the ratchetness he tried with Ambitions.

Dan O’Connor I always felt he was the stronger co-head when he was at General Hospital. Wishing him luck in his new position.

Let’s give them both a chance to come in, see what shifts they make, and how their stories play out beyond one week.

Sounds promising. I gave up this 30 year old habit about 5 years ago due to redundant, circular writing that seemingly went nowhere. I watched talented actors sitting before uneaten food have the same conversations over and over. Periodically I tube in to check the status quo and last Tuesday there was a one woman show featuring Blind Nikki having a conversation with….well, herself, as she stumbled around in the dark at the Newman ranch house That was the entire show. Sigh. It can only get better from here. Let’s hope both Nikki and Y&R get their vision and footing back.

Let’s hope both Nikki and Y&R get their vision and footing back.

Well, surprise, she got her vision back! We can only hope that this new writing regime, under executive production by Sally McDonald, can begin writing so many wrongs. It will take patience and time.

Thank you. So Nikki must have regained her eye-sight on that episode I mentioned? I confess, I lost interest and stopped watching when she started yelling,” Stop it! Stop it!” at some invisible enemy- I think it was Patty-Cake Williams. Let us look at Nikki as a metaphor that suggests Y&R will regain its vision.

It was sometime this week that she regained her eyesight. I admittedly stopped watching this week as the storylines are just so insulting to me to watch. I’ll probably check back in next week.

Is it a good thing (or bad) that neither of them has a history with Y&R?

Giddens has shown promise in the industry. O’Connor proved to be the weaker of the Chris & Dan pairing. That said, this combination could work.

That TV Insider broke this story shows how far DC has fallen since Giddens departed.

Finally! Hoping the days of silly chat over coffee in every scene will be gone for good!!!

Y/R is a mess right now and has been for many years, except when Gina T was on it as Phyllis. She had the role and the show on a roll, sometimes it’s takes someone like her to get fans back and scripts too. I couldn’t miss a day of Y/R when she was on. After letting her go for the former Phyllis the show went to hell and it’s been that way for years now, BB for the 30min it’s on is on fire currently. Y/R storylines are awful and boring, and I am like why am I wasting my time with this when Inside Edition is better to watch.

i don’t understand the feeling that people have of Gina T as Phyliss Michelle Stafford owns the role hands down

We’ve been asking for a change and hopefully we get it. The multiple kidnappings, the AI mess along with the corporate takeover storylines from Griffith, hopefully we are in for something that will knock our socks off and have us tuning in on the regular.

The one thing that worries me about GIDDENS is that he takes ranch to an extreme. I could only watch the first episode of ambitions, and I was disgusted and never looked at it again.

His idea of passion/romance is not for me I do not want to watch soft porn on daytime television on any television for that matter. I hope that that is not the type of stories he will be pushing for a young and the restless..

I know what you mean. That kind of soft porn on daytime is so appalling that I almost have to look away. Thank God for my pearls!

He will have to answer to CBS and Sony Pictures Television, and I do not imagine they are going to allow the Ambitions-type storytelling. At all. Plus, that was a cable-based primetime series. CBS and Sony hold a lot of weight right now, plus they also have Sally McDonald as executive producer to contend with and the stories she is going to want to have be told.

This is a good thing, but do they know the characters on Y&R, since they haven’t written for them?
In any case, the show needs more action and a faster pace! I like action (catfights, deaths, weddings, mysteries, new characters, villains, fistfights).
Besides 80s Y&R, I really enjoyed it when Maria Arena Bell was the head writer. I remember during her time, every episode was like a Friday episode (that’s what we need nowadays with so many other options).
I’d like for the new writers to pair up Audra & Adam, Kyle & Victoria and Sharon & Det Burrows.
The show should bring on Ashley fulltime (I love my Abbotts).
Sorry, just giving my 2 cents!
Peace!
p.s. Loved the recent scene with Lauren and the Abbotts women! Classic Y&R!
p.s.s. Who do we need to contact to tell them to bring back the classic Y&R background musical cues???

This is a good thing, but do they know the characters on Y&R, since they haven’t written for them?

While I am not a Jamey Giddens fan, I can say that based on their tenure at Daytime Confidential, they did have a pretty good view point on The Young and the Restless and its history, et al.

Glad to know these 2 new writers know the characters! 🙂
Looks like they SHOULD bring back Summer, since she’s talked about every week on the show! LOL And how come Nikki’s sister Casey is NEVER mentioned, especially when Nikki was blind for a few weeks! I love to see her again (so would Nikki, literally)!
And I can’t stress this enough…Please bring back the background music/musical cues, heads @ Y&R!!!

Bring back Paul Williams!!!! He was on the show from 1978 until Josh Griffith took over. He was with Nikki and was married to Lauren and really could rile things up if he came back to Genoa City.

In response to your first question, Josh Griffith knows more about the characters than most recent writers, given how long he’s been a part of the Y&R team in various roles… and look at all the good that’s done for the writing. This change is badly needed.

For once, I think I’m glad Y&R doesn’t air down here in Hell.

I don’t know exactly what Giddens wrote while he was at Days, but the timing suggests he probably had something to do with that “Body and Soul” fiasco. And O’Connor was definitely writing GH during their worst period in recent history, the three year long nightmare of Tricky Dick Nixon Falls, and the aftermath of that which dragged the show down into the sewer until March 2024.

I also saw rumors elsewhere that a certain void of talent person who stunk up GH during the ReRon era might also be joining Y&R.

In either case, y’all have sympathy FROM the Devil for what you are about to deal with.

I don’t know exactly what Giddens wrote while he was at Days, but the timing suggests he probably had something to do with that “Body and Soul” fiasco.

Giddens was only a scriptwriter at Days of Our Lives, so he was only in charge of dialogue, not story.

And O’Connor was definitely writing GH during their worst period in recent history, the three year long nightmare of Tricky Dick Nixon Falls, and the aftermath of that which dragged the show down into the sewer until March 2024.

I attribute that to Chris Van Etten more than I do O’Connor. O’Connor is a much stronger writer than Van Etten could ever hope to be.

Well, Satan. I liked Nixon Falls. It was the first and last time I liked Sonny. So there’s that.

I am absolutely tickled pink! Jamey’s dream of writing for #YR!! Jamey’s journey to Co-Write this once proud and shining show! It’s also extremely thrilling that those of us that have been around when Jamey was writing for DC! What a ride, Jamey! Come on, let’s get rid of the dead weight that’s weighing the show down, always give an actor/actress at least 6 months to gel with the cast and perform in the manner in which the head writer wrote and in which direction the writer wants the character to go in.

As for Dan O’Conner, I know absolutely nothing about his writing as he’s been onshows that I don’t watch. But I will give him some latitude during the first 6-10 months that he’s writing #YR.

Here’s my 2 cents on what I would like to see from the new co-head writers:

1–Get rid of sets that just don’t work anymore

2–Stop stunt casting (it just doesn’t work and it’s ridiculous)

3–Get the younger set woven into the fabric of this show (Connor, Johnny and Katie).

4–Bring Mattie and Charlie back as the post teen set. Can’t have Lily and Cane on the canvas getting serious again and not having their kids giving them an earful before they go too far relationship wise.

5–Age Aria and Dominic and have them hang out with each other and Kyle’s son, Harrison.

6–It’s time to bring Summer Newman back. She’s been absent since she left GC and to wherever she went.

7–TBH, I really didn’t want Cane back at all because the character was an Aussie and finding another Aussie that is in the age range sounds daunting for me to play the role was the one reason why I didn’t want the character back. However, Billy Flynn has won me over.

8–Indulge me on this one……Bring Paul Williams back…..played by someone else since there’s no way that they would bring Doug Davidson back for a short stint. Anyone have any ideas as to who you would like to see take over the role temporarily?? Too many people would be seizing over if that happened. I say this to bring Paul back and remand his sister Patty to a maximum security prison for women overseas. In doing so, she never darkens GC’s front door ever again.

9–Wind down the Matt Clark SL (I love me some Roger Howarth, trust me, but I’m sick and tired of all of the times that this show brings a villainous character back) and put that man in a grave in which everyone in town watched get buried for good. Sienna and Noah…..an odd pairing given that both actors played Mom and Son on DOOL. Granted yes, they seem to have shaken their previous pairing on another show.

Someone asked either on here or another site about bringing back the music crew that was at the show until Jill Faren Phelps came in and fired them as one of her initial decisions with the show. Is she even still listed as a Producer with Y&R? I swear Josh hired her back but I also don’t recall seeing her name in the credits. Last I heard was that they got scooped up by Brad Bell to work at B&B. Are they even still working at Bold or not?

Okay, I’ve done enough writing for now. I’ll check back and see if anyone has anything that they’d like to share. I’m so looking forward to Jamey and Dan’s scripts!

1–Get rid of sets that just don’t work anymore

Writers have nothing to do with sets, lol. They only work with the sets available to them.

8–Indulge me on this one……Bring Paul Williams back…..played by someone else since there’s no way that they would bring Doug Davidson back for a short stint. Anyone have any ideas as to who you would like to see take over the role temporarily?? Too many people would be seizing over if that happened. I say this to bring Paul back and remand his sister Patty to a maximum security prison for women overseas. In doing so, she never darkens GC’s front door ever again.

HELL NO! Keep MAGA off of that set. Plus, he’s been given offers to return (per his own admission) and has declined them each and every single time.

Is she even still listed as a Producer with Y&R?

She is in the booth, where she is happy being uncredited (per her own choice).

Scott, if you go back and re-read what I said about Paul Williams. I said that it should be played by someone else OTHER THAN Doug Davidson, if only to just usher Patty off to an international maximum security prison. There’s no way in sam hell that I would want Doug Davidson back for even an under 5 line scene, no way, no how.

They’re not going to recast a character that was played by someone for 40 years. I’m sure everyone’s favorite frustrated publicist will correct me if I’m wrong though.

Again, it’s not needed. The character of Paul is not needed to usher Patty off-canvas, nor is a recast needed. They have handled the character of Paul Williams at this point. There is no need to backtrack for a simple guest spot.

Have a lot of faith in Dan O’Connor

as long as Eric Braiden/Victor continues to be the focal point then il give them a chance…the minute we get ppl like Devon as the focal point im out

Congratulations to Jamey Giddens. This is a dream come true for him. Wishing him the best. I hope that he and his co head writer look hard at what has worked and failed to work on the show. The show has its moments but has not been consistently good since the maligned Maria Bell tenure.
My take. There is too much corporate drama on this show. And the corporate takeovers always lead to no where. Rinse, Repeat. There are no working class people on the show. There are no doctor’s, teachers, policeman or nurses and not even a hospital set. There are too many criminals on the show. Almost everyone woman on the show has committed a crime that deserves jail time. The show has no romance other than Victor and Nicki. There needs to be romance for people under 60. There is no younger couple on that show that a viewer can say this is the one. They are destined to be together. It has no teen scene. Billy needs to win one and it’s time for the aging starlets to settle down and act there age.

Please please let the new writers research the history of Y&R so they can continue what we already know about the characters!

They need this younger very talented duo so bad. PLEASE give Phyllis good storyline and please I beg of you get rid of this SATAN AWFUL MATT CLARK MESS. Phyllis deserves a hunk of a man like Nick and Noah of the past! But little Cane and seemingly mentally stunted deer in the headlights Matt have gotta go NOW.

Yes! Such talented actors with such sad story lines. Welcome new writers!

Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ Daytime Emmy Winners Ambry Michelle and Tamara Tunie to Chat Live on the Michael Fairman Channel

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Ambry Michelle and Tamara Tunie

Just over a week ago, Beyond the Gates stars Ambyr Michelle and Tamara Tunie broke ground becoming the first performers in the history of daytime’s newest soap opera to win Daytime Emmys!

Michelle became the first, when she took home gold statuette earlier in the ceremonies in the Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series category. Later, Tunie joined her when she took home the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series, the first Emmy of her veteran career.

Now, both actresses visit the Michael Fairman Channel live for two separate chats! Ambyr Michelle will be with us on Wednesday, November 11 beginning at 6pm ET/3pm PT, while Tamar Tunie follows the next day on Thursday, November 12 beginning at 7pm ET/4pm PT.

Ambry Michelle

Photo: CBS

Find out what happened on their Emmy night both behind the scenes and in front of the camera, and in the celebration afterwards, plus what’s next for Eva and Anita in story on the CBS soap opera.

AMBYR TOOK A ‘SEAT AT THE TABLE’

Daytime Emmy viewers will recall Ambyr’s heartfelt Emmy acceptance speech, when she shared, “I don’t just see an award. I see every audition, every rejection, every moment I questioned my artistry. And to Eva Thomas, thank you, girl. Playing your pain made me process my own.“

She ended her speech with, “To my beautiful Black women and girls, take up space, be undeniable, create your tables, and fill those seats. When the tables are full, and those seats are full, make the table even bigger. So that the women coming up behind you never have to ask permission to belong.“

Tamara Tunie

Photo: CBS

TAMARA HONORED THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE HER AND HER MOM

Tamara Tunie received a standing ovation when her name was called after her win in an enduring career. Tunie began by sharing, “My heart is so full right now. This is the best welcome back to daytime ever, There is a host of Black actresses who paved the way for me, and I feel them as I stand here tonight, beginning with the legendary Cicely Tyson, the first Black woman to appear on a daytime television show, The Guiding Light.”

Tunie went on to thank her co-stars and everyone at Beyond the Gates and soap opera fans, plus getting to share the screen with the legendary Clifton Davis as Anita’s husband, Vernon Dupree. However, it was Tunie’s mother, who at 92, was with her on Emmy night that she thanked the most.

“There is one person who has been on this journey with me every single step of the way, who has traveled across states, countries and oceans to support my dream,” she expressed. “I would not be who I am as an actor or a woman without her love, support, encouragement and mere presence, She has been my example, my role model and my inspiration. I accept this honor on behalf of my mother … who, at 92 years young, crossed the country yet again to see me take this goal tonight. I love you, mommy!”

HOW YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Make sure to join us in the live chat with your questions for Ambyr and Tamara in what is sure to be emotional conversations.

If you cannot be with us live, but have a question you would like posed to either actress, make sure to drop in the comment section below and we just might pose it during the live broadcasts.

So, were you happy to see Ambyr and Tamara win Emmy gold? What are your hopes for Eva and Anita as the holiday season approaches and with 2027 just around the corner? Let us know in the comment section.

 

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‘Tracker’ Stars Justin Hartley, Jensen Ackles and Sofia Pernas on What They Learned Working on a Soap

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Tracker Stars

Tracker’s season four is underway on CBS, and that means daytime fans will also be able to see soap alums in primetime when Justin Harley continues as series lead Colter Shaw, Jensen Ackles returns as brother, Russell Shaw and Hartley’s real-life wife, Sofia Pernas also returns in the role of Billie Matalon.

Recently, Entertainment Tonight caught up with the trio to discuss how their soap opera roots prepared them for longevity in their careers in primetime and motion pictures, and to talk more about what’s ahead the rest of the season on the popular nighttime drama series.

As soap fans know, Justin Hartley got his start as Fox Crane on NBC’s Passions from 2002-2006 and later went on to play Adam Newman on The Young and the Restless from 2014-2016. Jensen Ackles was the original grown-up Eric Brady on Days of our Lives from 1997-2000 and Sofia Pernas played Marisa Sierras on The Young and the Restless from 2015-2017.

Justin Hartley

Photo: JPI

WHAT’S MY LINE?

So, what’s the trios take away from working on the soaps? Justin Hartley said, “The ability to memorize lines quickly so that you can then start working on them. I can’t really go to work on a scene until I have it memorized. That’s kind of how I work. So, to have to be able to do that quickly and then be able to start working on it.”

Jensen Ackles echoed his Tracker TV brother, and added it’s all in the lighting too! “I would say yes, memorizing lines, but also the technical aspect of acting that I don’t think a lot of people really think about. Understanding that if you’re not on your mark, that light’s not set up for you. You’re going to be out of focus. So, you’re going to block someone else. You’re going to block somebody else’s light.”

Jensen Ackles

Photo: JPI

WHERE’S MY LIGHT?

“So, I think being very aware of of the technical side of things is something you learn very very early, especially as a soap actor,” shared Ackles. “And then, you don’t have to think about it when you’re doing other things. It just kind of becomes that you’re way more present with your scene partner because everything else you already figured out.”

The trio also spoke to how on the set of a primetime show or movie, when you come in to film your scenes during a hectic day to the actors, crews and producers, its not for them, because of their experience working under pressure, and fast from their time on the soaps.

Justin Hartley explained, “Those chaotic days where you come in and people turn to you and go, ‘You came from soaps as well.’  So, you come to set and everyone’s like, ‘Okay, just so you know, there is a lot going on today. You got to be here, then you got to be here, then we’re going to do this. And it’s just a lot. So, bear with us.’ I’m in my head, I’m going, ‘That doesn’t seem like that much.”‘

Sofia Pernas Y&R

Photo: JPI

Tracker returns with an all-new episode on Sunday, November 15 entitled, “Blind Spot” beginning at 9pm ET/PT on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

Check out Justin, Jensen and Sofia talking Tracker and their soap opera pasts with ET below.

Now, let us know, have you been watching Tracker season 4? Do you agree that former soap actors can handle anything thrown at them in other projects, due to the pace and learning curve working on a daily soap provides an actor? Did you enjoy watching Justin on Passions and Y&R, Jensen on DAYS, and Sofia turning her time on Y&R? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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Beyond the Gates

Yvette Nicole Brown and Husband Anthony Davis Head to ‘Beyond the Gates’

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Yvette Nicole Brown and Anthony R. Davis

Next week on the Friday, November 13 episode of Beyond the Gates, Yvette Nicole Brown and her real life husband Anthony Davis guest star. In story, Brown takes on the role of Temeka the cousin to Shanice (Ernestine Johnson Morrison).

When Temeka comes to Fairmont Crest she will be accompanied by her husband, Tony, played by real-life hubby Anthony Davis. The castings come as the soap opera continues to expand the family of Shanice. Previously, we met her brothers, Cedric and Lamont.

As Shanice gets ready to head down the aisle with Dr. Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) will the presence of Shanice’s family members actually deter the nuptials from ever taking place?

Shanice and Ted

Photo: CBS

This now makes the third daytime drama appearance by Yvette Nicole Brown. She first popped up on The Young and the Restless in 2016 and 2017 as reporter Lois Thompson.

Then in 2023, she played a nurse on General Hospital when she appeared in the March 29, 2023 episode honoring her real-life friend, Sonya Eddy who past away in real-life in December of 2022, The soap honored her in death when her character, Epiphany died.

Sonya Eddy

Photo: ABC

Brown and Eddy first met in 2003 while testing for an ABC pilot titled “The Four Divas” alongside Octavia Spencer and Carla Renata and became very close friends up until Eddy’s passing.

It was actually Brown’s character, who came forth to Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and shared that Epiphany died saving her life which gave some sort of solace to Elizabeth; knowing Epiphany died doing what she loved, helping people.

As for Anthony Davis, not only is he an actor, but a writer and minister known for TV and film roles including: He Wasn’t Man Enough (2025), The Family Business: New Orleans, and The Upshaws.  

Brown is also recognized from her roles on: Community, The Odd Couple, The Mayor, That ’70s Show, The Office, Boston Legal, Chuck, Mom, Big Shot to name but a few.

So, looking forward to see Yvette Nicole Brown and her real-life husband, Anthony Davis on Beyond the Gates? Happy to see more family members from Shanice’s life showing up at Fairmont Crest? Do you remember the heart-tugging episode where everyone learned Epiphany had died on General Hospital and Yvette Nicole Brown’s part in the story? Let us know via the comment section.

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