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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Learns Britt Died and Tells Anna He Has Been Working For Cates Since November 2021

On the Tuesday, March 26th of General Hospital, Anna (Finola Hughes) and the viewers learn about where Jason (Steve Burton) has been for over two and half years. However, Jason gets some news of his own.

Anna is visiting Jason at the PCPD interrogation room. She asks him if he shot Dante (Dominic Zamprogna), which he flatly denies. Anna believes him, but she tells Jason it doesn’t matter, because video footage shows him on the roof at the time of the shooting

When talk turns to Jason not willing to speak without his lawyer present, Anna can’t grasp why Jason would instead spend an hour alone talking with John Cates (Adam J. Harrington).

Photo: ABC

It is then that Anna brings up that John went by “Jagger” and that the two of them knew each other in high school. Jason doesn’t recall much of his time in high school following his brain injury, but then he gets furious realizing John knew about “Jason’s” past. That is when Jason slams the table and tells Anna, “I’ve been working for John Cates since November 2021.”

Next, Jason explains further that he has been working as an informant for the FBI. Anna wants to know how this came about and he tells her that after the tunnel collapsed, and he couldn’t make it to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud)… all of a sudden he sees Anna’s face drop.  Anna is the first person to tell him that Britt died and was murdered. She tells Jason the killer is in custody, but he continues to be shocked, overwhelmed with tears welling up in his eyes. Realizing he has to pivot to save his life, Jason continues telling Anna how he wound up working with John.

Jason explains that after the tunnel collapse in Greece, FBI agents grabbed him and placed him under arrest and took him to Quantico where he met John. At Quantico, John played a recording of RICO violations and offered Jason a deal if he agreed to be an informant against Pikeman, the illegal arms dealer.

Anna hears from Jason that he thinks Pikeman is selling illegal arms to anyone flagged by the NSA but has ties to the WSB which they needed a civilian to infiltrate their organization as a military soldier, a mercenary.

Jason tells Anna he was a part of the team brought into eliminate Sonny (Maurice Benard). Every time an attempt was made on Sonny’s life over the last two years, a different team was sent to do the job. Anna gets furious when she learns that John told Jason his job was to kill Sonny and she was with John at the warehouse that night. Jason ensured the sniper missed Sonny and left the rifle behind. However, they were supposed to meet an extraction team. Before he was shot, Dante saw it was Jason on the roof and when he turned around with his hands over his head, Dante was shot by the other guy. Jason says if Dante dies, he’ll be charged with capital murder and then will be useless to the FBI.

Photo: ABC

Meanwhile, John visits Bobbie’s and runs into Carly (Laura Wright). She learns Jason is in custody and is going to head to the PCPD. Before she does, Carly has some words with Cates when she learns not only does John have a vendetta against Sonny, but Jason too.  Carly tells John he should recuse himself from the case.

So, what did you think about the moment when Jason learned Britt died? What do you think of Jason’s return storyline thus far and what we learned about Jagger/Jason and more? Comment below. But first, check out a moment from today’s GH with Jason and Anna.

 

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American Idol

AMERICAN IDOL: Should Former ‘Bachelor’ Juan Pablo Gervais’ Daughter Camila, Been Voted Through to Hollywood Week?

On the final round of audition to make it into Hollywood Week, Sunday night’s March 24th episode of American Idol brought with it some top-notch musical performances by contestants around the country.

An interesting moment occurred when the former ‘Bachelor’ Juan Pablo Gervais revealed himself. Gervais’ daughter, Camila, who we watched grow-up before our eyes, before and after Juan Pablo’s season on the reality dating series is now 14-years-old and entering the competition.

When Camila explained who her dad was to the judges: Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Perry, he was brought into the audition room.

Photo: ABC

Katy asked Juan Pablo, “You know what it’s like to be on television, and you’re trying to throw her in this lion’s den?” Juan Pablo admitted he has been actually trying to temper Camila’s musical aspirations until he felt she was ready to audition and be a part of ‘Idol’.

When it was time to perform, Camila choose to performance Joaquina’s “Rabia.” Her audition drew mixed reactions from the judges. It was a “no” from Lionel Richie. It was a “yes” from Katy Perry although she expressed her concern about Camila’s vocal limitations as measured against the other singers who made it through.

Photo: ABC

The deciding vote was from Luke Bryan who gave Camila another “yes”. However, Luke was originally a “no.”  He said with the right producer she could make it. Katy mentioned that Spanish music is the industry’s fastest growing genre, and Camila is “authentically that.”

Many on social media and viewer reaction felt if her father, former ABC star Juan Pablo, was not standing in the room awaiting the judges decision, they would have given her a hard pass, since they continually brought up she needed more time to develop her potential and to come back and audition in a few years.

This was yet another controversial pick by the judges.  You can watch Camila’s performance below.  Then let us know, do you feel Camila should have been voted through to Hollywood Week? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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Recaps

WWE SmackDown: Roman Reigns Reminds Cody Rhodes How Seth Rollins Backstabbed Him While in ‘The Shield’; Will He Do the Same to the ‘American Nightmare’?

On WWE Friday Night SmackDown on Fox, the March 21st episode hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, brought with it a major showdown ahead of WrestleMania 40 between WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, and Royal Rumble winner and challenger, Cody Rhodes.

After Reigns and special counsel, Paul Heyman, enter the ring and address the crowd, Roman announces that he came alone tonight, no members of ‘The Bloodline’ would be with him. When Cody Rhodes makes his entrance to the ring, Reigns asks if he kept his word, like he did. Rhodes answers as long as Roman came alone, then he did too.

Next. Roman calls Cody a “fool”and “stupid” for thinking that everyone wants the best for him including his tag partner at WrestleMania 40 night one, Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins.

Courtesy/WWE

Reigns reminds Rhodes that Rollins and he were part of ‘The Shield’.  Reigns considered Seth his younger brother. So, Reigns asks Cody, just where is Seth tonight? The Tribal Chief admits that while he and Rollins didn’t do good things when they wrestled together in the clique, he thought they were becoming brothers once in The Shield.

However, it was there that Seth stabbed Roman in the back (with a chair shot, no less) and “The Shield” was no more. Reigns asks Cody, if he did this to The Tribal Chief, what do you think’s going to happen to you? And that has been a part of this building storyline many fans in the WWE Universe have been questioning and theorizing about. In addition, Cody pushed back on Roman and said, how does he know that he can trust The Rock not to stab him in the back?

Could it be that Seth will actually stab Cody in the back in their tag match against The Rock and Roman Reigns, or at WrestleMania 40 night two, when it’s The Tribal Chief vs. The American Nightmare for the title?

Courtesy/WWE

To further egg Cody on, Roman says Cody will always be the best at being number #2.  He will never be #1 as he can never deliver just like politicians who make promises they never keep.

At the end of the episode and their 21-minute segment, Rhodes tries to shake Reigns’ hand, but the champion walks out with his special counsel. Now at ringside and backing up the ramp, the champ snaps his fingers. Just then, “The Bloodline’s” Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso arrive on the scene ready do to harm to Rhodes. However, Rhodes came prepared in his own right and with back-up. Next, Jey Uso and Seth Rollins show up to stare down “The Bloodline” as the show went off the air.

So, do you think Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins will stab Cody Rhodes in the back at WrestleMania 40? Comment below. But first, check out the entire segment where Reigns and Rhodes come face to face in the ring on SmackDown.

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