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THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Neil’s Loved Ones Mourn

By Michael Fairman

Published

7 years ago

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Photo: CBS

What viewers saw on Thursday’s and Friday’s episodes of The Young and the Restless was in essence beloved castmates and friends going through cathartic moments themselves as the lines blurred between reality and fiction, and how could it not.   Y&R lost Kristoff St. John back in February and promised the audience that it would honor the character of Neil, and his portrayer in fitting tributes for all he has meant to the daytime drama series.

Neil’s memorial service aired on Thursday.  In it, St John’s longtime friend, Stan Shaw, presided over the service as the reverend.  One by one the key characters in Neil Winters life gave their eulogies and paid tribute to this man.

As Lily (Christel Khalil) tries to get up to speak, she breaks down as she cannot bring herself to address those in attendance.  So, Malcolm (Shemar Moore) steps up and reflects on how different his brother was then him, and brings up their rocky relationship.  Malcolm wishes he could tell his brother how much he helped him become the man he is today. As he cries, he tells Neil he misses him, loves him, and prays to God that he knew.

Photo CBS

Then, it was Victor Newman’s (Eric Braeden) turn.  He struggles to contain his emotions and hold back the tears, but it’s no use.  Victor loved Neil and respected him.  He saw him as a son, and said that Neil was one of the few men he trusted.  Victor said that Neil was a good man, a good friend, and member of the family.  With tears streaming down his face, Victor says. “I shall miss you my friend.”   Next, it’s Jack’s (Peter Bergman) turn to speak and he talks about the lives Neil saved which included his own.

When Devon (Bryton James) takes to the podium he poignantly says that Neil was his father, the one he never had, and was also his best friend.  Devon reminisced how when he came to Genoa City he had a chip on his shoulder, but Neil never gave up on him and it meant everything in the world to him.  In heartbreak, Devon says he doesn’t carry Neil’s DNA, but he can hear Neil’s voice calling him “My man.”  When he finishes, he turns to Neil’s picture and casket and signs “I love you” to him.

When Lily still cannot get up to speak, she asks Cane (Daniel Goddard) to please go up to the podium.  Cane speaks to his regret for the times he let Neil and Lily down more than once, Neil was a role model for Cane on how to be a father, he confesses. Cane brings up Neil’s strength when he lost the love of his life, Drucilla.  He says Neil passed that spirit and strength to Lily.  Cane encourages Lily to speak.  Lily finds the strength through her tears, as she cries, she says how she has now lost both her parents and she feels so alone.  Lily cries that Neil should have had more time on this earth.   She looks to all Neil’s friends and family and says they all have to be there for each other now to honor him, and that they owe him that.  She turns to his casket in tears and tells her father she loves him.  As the service ends, Devon thanks everyone for coming.  At the end of the episode, Lily and Devon hold hands and look at the portrait of their father.

On Friday, Neil’s family and friends gathered at Devon’s penthouse and try to lighten the mood through their tears to celebrate Neil’s life.  Ana sang, everyone joined in, jazz records (Neil’s favorites) were played, Malcolm toasts his brother, and Sofia mourns the father of her child.  Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) tried to figure out how she will go on without her good friend, who shared her addiction and understood her.  Jack embraces Malcolm and says “We both lost our best friend.”  As friends exit the penthouse, it eventually ends up just being the family. Malcolm sets up a photo with everyone as a family memento with Neil’s photo in a frame with them.  Sofia (Julia Pace Mitchell) and Malcolm announce they need to head to the airport to get on their flights, but before he leaves Malcolm hugs Devon, then Lily.  Later, back at her home with Cane, Lily tells Cane that she is ending their relationship, while Devon is sitting and crying at the penthouse when Elena (Brytni Sarpy) arrives.  He breaks down.  The episode featured retrospective clips of characters illustrating the traits of Neil featuring St. John.

Y&R brought all of its viewers to tears with his send-off for Neil Winters; which in turn honors Kristoff.  The eulogies delivered with such emotion, sadness and heart by Eric Braeden, Bryton James, Christel Khalil, Daniel Goddard, Peter Bergman, and Shemar Moore were heartbreaking.  As we watched Genoa City mourn, we mourned.   Neil was such a part of our viewing life, as much as Kristoff was part of so many of our personal and professional lives.

So, what did you think of the funeral episode and its aftermath on The Young and the Restless?  Were you moved to tears and then some? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

 

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Okay, I have really enjoyed these tear-jerking episodes, but one critical observation…

There was no scenery left after Shemar Moore’s performance: he chewed it ALL up!

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Jamesj75
He was great. I swear, this man gets better and better. Do you watch him on S.W.A.T? It’s a really good show. When not in “cop” mode, it shows his loving and compassionate side that Malcolm was known for.

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Hi Violet: I haven’t seen him in S.W.A.T., but I do know what a great actor he is. One thing I will never forget about him: He is the one who presented/announced the Emmy Award to Susan Lucci for her lone win, and he was so classy and so enthusiastic for Lucci.

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Having watched Thursday’s funeral episode, where I’m sure I’m not the only one that cried my eyes out and then watching Friday’s episode where I couldn’t help but remember all the times and stories of all things Neil, I was grateful that Y&R did this.
These shows were much more difficult to watch and get through, more so than when Jeanne Cooper died.

Here’s what I’m really hoping: that Y&R will submit these episodes for Outstanding Drama Series Emmy next year. While these episodes are not typically what a show would submit when going for a Daytime Drama Emmy award, these episodes were so well done from the writing, to the camera work, the directing, the producing and lastly, the acting, which was something that the cast didn’t have to work hard at when these shows were taped. They were so eloquently done and sublime, something you rarely see on TV anymore.

Kristoff got his start in this business when he was a young boy from being on ‘Roots: The Next Generation’ to ‘Bad News Bears’, a show that I vividly remember watching back in the 1970’s (as a side note, I remember a conversation that I had with Kristoff years ago when I had a twitter account and I told him that I remember him from that show), to his many other roles on TV and in movies to his breakout role on NBC’s ‘Generations’ to the role on Y&R as Neil Winters that really catapulted him to fame. A role that won him two Emmy’s and numerous NAACP Image Awards. But those accolades almost didn’t come to fruition after he and Victoria Rowell (Drucilla) made a huge statement and stink about there needing to be more diversity on daytime television. His and Victoria’s stance could have easily destroyed their careers but it didn’t. It actually helped the industry to become more diverse on camera as well as behind the camera.

I remember when Shemar Moore came on to Y&R as Malcolm as an absolute unknown having only been in the modeling industry before starting his acting career. I truly believe that Kristoff made him understand that being humble along with understanding that respect is earned, not given. With that sage advise, it propelled Shemar into a movie and primetime career having starred on CBS’s ‘Criminal Minds’ and currently on ‘SWAT’. Shemar has no ego and I believe that Kristoff had a role in shaping who Shemar is as a human being and as an actor today. Shemar made that clear in the two episodes he appeared in this past week.

Kristoff is well respected in this industry and you certainly saw that with the many tributes that came in after he passed away. But most importantly, Kristoff was a husband, brother, uncle, friend but more importantly, he was a father to Lola and Paris as well as his late son Julian. Kristoff was never able to get over the loss of Julian when the demons of mental illness took a hold of Julian.

I am certain that Kristoff is running through the lily fields laughing, joking and smiling with his son Julian.

As Kristoff as Neil would say, ‘My man’, be at peace and run with Julian. You will be remembered fondly and you will be sorely missed. Rest well, my friend, rest well.

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Thank you Michael. Your review is so kind and well received!

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Very well said Michael…LOVED all the shows featuring Kristoff…

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Recaps

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Has Dylan’s Mystery Caller/Stalker Been Revealed to Be an Alive Luna Nozawa?

Published

14 hours ago

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May 1, 2026

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We have another scream machine on her hands at The Bold and the Beautiful after the dramatic ending of the May 1 episode, and that would be Dylan (Sydney Bullock)!

B&B is finally making some headway on just who was the person behind the mystery call that Dylan received telling her they have some “unfinished business.” At the time of the mysterious call, it was clear that the voice was altered to disguise the true identify of the person on the the other line.

On today’s show, after Dylan and Electra (Laneya Grace) exchange words in the wardrobe room about Dylan wanting to rebuild their trust and friendship and how Electra has issues stemming from way back trusting anyone after what Remy (Christian Weissmanm) did to her by befriending her and then plastering deep fake nude photos of her across social media.

Photo: JPI

The timing of Electra bringing up Remy is also interesting to us, as we had previously reported now that Christian Weissmann is back and on on contract with The Bold and the Beautiful, he’s already teased that Remy has another connection to someone on the canvas, which many are still believing its Dylan.

At the end of the episode, after Electra leaves the room, Dylan hears noises coming from behind the dress rack. She asks, “Jamie” is that with you? After no answer and a bit more hangar and dress ruffling, a figure steps out behind it, while Dylan is looking down at her tablet trying to get back to work.

When Dylan looks up, she lets out a scream that could be heard to Nebraska, as viewers see partial view of what looks to be a woman with long dark hair from the back. Dylan in shock, says, “It’s you!” We fade to black.

So, what’s going on here? Is the reason the caller said to her that we have “unfinished business” because on Monday, it will be revealed to actually be an alive and well, Luna (Lisa Yamada)? Did the two strikes some sort of deal, that allowed Dylan to help Luna escape after Luna supposedly died after Dylan ran her down with her car, which was all off-screen? Another theory, is the mystery caller is Remy and he is doing some sort of Luna fakeout on Dylan for a yet to be revealed reason.

What do you think is going on? Did Lisa Yamada just make an on-screen return to The Bold and the Beautiful? Share your thoughts and theories below, but first check out our recent interview from back in March on the Michael Fairman Channel when Lisa who attended the BBTV app launch party.

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Recaps

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Nick Confesses His Drug Problem to Victor; Joshua Morrow, Mark Grossman, Eric Braeden Bring the Newman Bond

Published

14 hours ago

on

May 1, 2026

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When The Young and the Restless can deliver an emotional side to their stories and their family dynamics, it usually makes for some great scenes delivered by their A-list cast.

Such was the case on the Friday, May 1 episode when Adam (Mark Grossman) and Nick (Joshua Morrow) returned to Genoa City and gave their father, Victor Newman (Eric Braeden), an update on what had gone down with Matt Clark (Roger Howarth) in Las Vegas.

As Victor questioned, “What the hell happened?” Nick piped up, “We both made mistakes along the way, but we’re here now and we’re sorry for giving you so much worry on top of everything else that you’re dealing with,” which was in reference to Victor trying to reclaim his company Newman Enterprises et al.

Courtesy/CBS

NICK’S CONFESSION

Next, Nick, explains one of the ways he messed up while trying to go after Matt Clark, when he admitted to this father with tears in his eyes, “That’s one of the ways I messed up … I took Fentanyl willingly. Some of it was because of Matt, but most of it was on me. I was in a lot of pain, dad, after my accident, I was burning through my prescription meds really quickly after I left the hospital. I could see that it was becoming a problem. But honestly, I thought that I could manage it.  I was wrong. I was out in LA and Matt had taken Noah (Lucas Adams) and Sienna (Tamara Braun) and he gave me this bag of pills and said I could use it to trade for information. When I went out to that drug warehouse, he was trying to convince me and Sharon (Sharon Case) that Noah was a drug addict. I just put the pills in my pocket of my jacket and I came back to Genoa City and I was in a lot of pain, dad, and I was wearing that jacket. I put my hands in the pocket and the pills were there.”

Nick sadly added, “I was desperate. I couldn’t get anymore prescription meds, so I took the fentanyl  I’m deeply ashamed that I was so weak, but all I can do is stand here and tell you the truth that I’m going to make this right and I’ll get better.”

BROTHER TO BROTHER

Adam stood up for his brother and reconfirmed to Victor the plan for help Nick through his pill addiction, “Nick is already on his way to doing that. Sharon has set up an appointment with an outpatient facility. He’s going to do the meetings and he’s going to push through this better than ever.”

Courtesy/CBS

“You should also know that the only reason I’m standing here is because of Adam,” Nick confessed to Victor. “Every time I fell, you were there to pick me up. You risked your life to save me, and that’s not something I will ever forget.”

In the climatic and emotional ending of the scene, Nick in tears admits his shame to his dad, who comes in to give him hug. Nick says, “I’m so sorry. I know that this is the last thing you or this family needs.”

All three actors, Joshua Morrow, Mark Grossman and Eric Braeden, were excellent in this exchange in their scenes, but at its epicenter continues to be the Emmy-worthy performances by Y&R MVP, Joshua Morrow. Nick’s heartbreaking journey and fall from grace with his pill addiction problem has finally shown the clinks in the armor of the man who is always on the ready to help others … now he needs to let others help him through this. Can we do it?

So, what did you think of the scenes between the Newman man featuring Joshua, Mark and Eric on the Friday episode of Y&R? And though who watched also know that at the very end, Matt Clark who clearly has been injured wakes up from being conked out, so there is more revenge to come on the Newman clan. Share your thoughts below, but take a look at these scenes from a Canadian viewers who saw them air yesterday.

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Days Of Our Lives

DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Sophia Seemingly Plans to End Her Life, But Not Before Setting Fire to Johnny’s Apartment With Him Trapped Inside

Published

1 day ago

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April 30, 2026

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The final few moments of the Thursday, April 30 episode of Days of our Lives, will pave the way, to what just may be the end of Sophia Choi’s (Rachel Boyd) life, but not as you may think!

After an unhinged Sophia paid a visit to Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman), maced him in the eyes, knocked him out and then tied up to a chair, now conscious, she lets him know that she holds him responsible for all the trouble and trauma she has gone through from adopting her child, and her being sent to a mental institution.

So instead of the unregistered gun Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) gave her to finish off Johnny, Sophia sets up a plan to light candle, use nail polish remover and turn on the gas on the stove to ultimately create a mass explosion, which although Johnny pleaded to her not to that to all the innocent people inside his apartment building, she doesn’t seem to care.

Photo: JPI

FIERY FACE OFF

The plan was supposed to be, after she takes care of Johnny she will toss the gun in the Salem River, then focus on payback to Holly Jonas before leaving town to start a new life.

Now, Sophia makes her exit, leaving Johnny to be a few moments away from an explosion or gas inhalation, when Chanel (Raven Bowens) comes home after awaiting the results of her mammogram. She sees Johnny tied up, as he panics and tells her to put out the flame on the candle, things go awry, and a fire has begun and everything may go up in flames with Johnny and Chanel inside.

Photo: JPI

A BROKEN SOPHIA

Back in her room, Sophia breaks down after reading the social media comments about her, she planted, and then starts writing a suicide or farewell note which says. “I’m tired of begging for forgiveness for my mistakes. All I wanted was to move forward, to be loved and understood. But it’s clear that I was never going to get that. Holly Jonas said that I was dead to her. So, as her former BFF, I’m going to make her dream a reality.”

Photo: JPI

A DEADLY TRAP

Now, the fate of Johnny, Chanel and Sophia will be revealed on tomorrow’s May 1st cliffhanger, which may be the end of Sophia when she crosses paths with Kirsten at the bridge near the river. We do know Rachel Boyd is no longer appearing in the show credits section and is now off contract with the soap.

So, what did you think of the climatic final moments of DAYS? What did you think of the performance of Rachel Boyd as Sophia Choi? Let us know via the comment section.

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