Recaps
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Jack and Nikki Hit Rock Bottom with Riveting Performances by Peter Bergman and Melody Thomas Scott
If you caught the Thursday, May 2nd episode of The Young and the Restless, you witnessed an extraordinary episode filled with two unforgettable performances, that without a doubt will be remembered for 2024’s year-end accolades and next year’s Daytime Emmys.
In what at times reminded us that we were watching a two-person stage play or Y&R’s version of the classic motion picture, Days of Wine and Roses, two addicts hit rock bottom.
The episode only featured Melody Thomas Scott and Peter Bergman. The set-up, Nikki has gone on a massive bender alone in a GCAC suite, with booze bottles everywhere, slurring her words, sweating, the works. Jack, who is Nikki’s sponsor, ex-husband and friend, finds her and tries valiantly to get her to stop drinking and to sober up. He wants to get them to an AA meeting, he wants to get her to rehab. Throughout, while she is self-loathing on herself, Jack is reciting to her all the things she has to live for including Victor, her children, her charity work, etc.

Photo: JPI
All of this is falling on deaf ears because all Nikki wants is for Jack to leave, so she can continue drinking and be left alone with her vodka bottles.
At one point, she shoves Jack and says, “You have to want to get sober, but I don’t.” Nikki throws an empty vodka bottle in disgust and tells him to stop with his damn positivity. She wants him to leave and smugly says,“You really think you can fix me?” She finds another bottle and opens it, but it’s empty. She smashes the bottle on the floor and runs into the bathroom.
Jack continues to plead with her that she is not to blame about Jordan and for Harrison being kidnapped. Trying to distract her, he talks to her about happy times with her family, orders food and coffee and water to help sober her up, but nothing is getting through to Nikki.
Next, Nikki says all his talking is making things worse, as he tries to grab the vodka bottle from her hands, but she won’t let it go. “I’m sorry I picked you as my sponsor,” Nikki angrily says to Jack. That moment stings Jack. She tells him he ‘failed’. He couldn’t help her and now Victor can say, “I told you so.”
Slowly, Jack is losing his grip, with all the frustration and hurt Nikki has thrown at him. Nikki tells Jack to join the party or get out. Jack says, “Fine. I will.” He grabs a bottle and pours a drink. “Wow, that’s smooth. I see you sprung for the triple-distilled.” Nikki sneers, “Do you really think you can get me to stop by drinking half of my supply?” Jack suggests they order some vermouth. “Let’s see if Ol’ Smilin’ Jack can have fun again.”
Next, in a harrowing moment, Jack dials his former drug dealer, Kieran, to make a delivery to the suite. Jack tells Nikki she’s right. “I’ve been wound too tight for too long. It’s time to get loose!” Nikki is shocked at what she is seeing.

Photo: JPI
Now, Nikki is trying to to get the vodka bottle out of Jack’s hands but he won’t let her take it. Jack pours another drink and says he’s been a failure as her sponsor so to hell with it. “Don’t you try your reverse psychology on me,” Nikki spouts. After doing a toast to their marriage, friendship and Jordan, Jack tells Nikki, everything is not all about her.
He goes into the hell he has been through with Harrison, Ashley, Diane and Kyle and Nikki. He wants some relief! Nikki reminds him alcohol was never his problem. Jack says he needs something stronger. Just then, a knock comes at the door. Jack pushes Nikki away and a delivery comes from Jack with a bag of pills. Jack says ,”Now, this is what hits the spot.”
Nikki is freaking out, but Jack says he has to remember what it feels like. When he holds the pills in his hand, that gives him comfort. Jack is grateful for their bond. “I would do anything for you.” He says he will go to rock bottom with Nikki, so they can climb out together. Jack remembers Diane was worried that helping Nikki might tempt him back to the pills. He told her there was no chance. He says, “It would help everyone else if they didn’t have to deal with Mr. Uptight.”
Even after all that, Nikki wants Jack out of the room. “Too bad, you’re stuck with me,” Jack says. He pours another drink and takes a pill out of the plastic baggie. Jack puts the pill in his mouth as Nikki shouts, “No!” Jack wonders how it feels to know you’re unable to help someone you care about. With that, he takes a drink to swig down the pill.
Nikki thinks he faked taking the pill, so Jack takes another one “There’s something liberating about just giving up.” Jack sadly says he let her down as a friend, and as a sponsor. Jack now blames himself for her massive bender. As he continues to down the pills, Nikki says she’ll get sober and will have something to eat.
However, Jack says this feels too good to eat. He takes yet another pill. Nikki tells him to give her the pills, because he can’t mix them with alcohol. Nikki’s phone makes a noise, so Jack grabs it and pretends it’s Victor on the other end, and then does his impression of Victor raising his eyebrow. Jack wants to continue his party, as he gets higher on the pills. Nikki says she does need a meeting. Jack pulls her close and says, “Dance with me.” As Nikki, pulls away, Jack passes out on the sofa. Nikki screams and we fade to black.
All we can say is, what towering performances by Peter Bergman and Melody Thomas Scott, and a great script for them to play these scenes in. It was gut-wrenching and raw, and one of the best episodes on the soaps in a long time.
So, what did you think about Jack and Nikki hitting rock bottom? What did you think of Peter and Melody’s performances? Do you think Jack will now be back with a drug habit, while Nikki will finally sober up? Comment below.
You’ve got to be kidding! What an insult to recovery and those who work hard to stay sober one day at time. Done with Y&R!
Bye bye
I’m sure both actors were great, but I hated that the entire episode was taken up by this storyline. Once (my recording) hit the 20 minute mark, I figured it was a stand-alone, and FF’d through the rest of it.
Can this story end now please since you have Peter & Melody’s Emmy reel for next year? Such an obvious ploy!
Today’s episode better be putting Nikki in rehab for the next month and getting Jack back on track.
Obviously this is JMHO, so please don’t jump all over me!
Honestly, it came across more like a budget dictated episode, reducing the overhead and trimming the cast even more than they usually do from day to day. With a B and C plot thrown in, better pacing would be achieved.
Onyx
I agree! I watched this episode today and it was riveting! I, and people I love, have had issues with alcohol/drugs and I think their performance was spot on. When Nikki called Jack out for still having his dealers number and he called her out for keeping vodka at the ranch, they pointed to their failures of coping with their addictions. Their love for one another was truly felt and I have never seen these two actors nail a scene like they did this whole episode. I hope to see them both get Emmy nominations for this, they deserve it.
I agree with your assessment and it’s too bad some of the other viewers couldn’t appreciate it. They just didn’t get or understand what it was all about, or what message they were giving and I say it was their loss.
The storyline of Jack taking narcotics to save Nikki is VERY IRRESPONSIBLE. How dare the writers glorify this !!! Y & R have sunk to a new low.
Sharon case the most popular actress on this pathetic show no where to be seen ! Pathetic but yet we see these people five days a week. Now wake up call if you have an alcoholic in the home you don’t have booze sitting around. Recovering means recovering you never tempt a alcoholic they are one drink away from it going back again ok anybody with a brain knows that so stay away from these stories you are too ignorant to know anything about this terrible disease
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sidwell Surfaces; A Twist in Britt’s Condition

On the Thursday, June 18 episode of General Hospital, Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) makes his shocking return right in Port Charles, after fleeing (thanks to Cassius) to supposedly parts unknown to escape capture for trying to kill Dr. Lucas Jones (Van Hansis).
How does he show up in town? First, Ezra (Daniel Cosgrove) gets a text from Jacinda (Paige Herschell) to meet in his hotel room. Ezra thinks the two are going to have a sexcapade so he puts champagne on ice for his favorite escort.
Suddenly, there is a knock at the door. Ezra’s excitement turns towards fear as instead of Jacinda, Sidwell is standing in front of him. Next, Sidwell blackmails Boyle telling him he has plenty of leverage he can use against him. Sidwell wants to use Ezra to help him takedown, Sonny (Maurice Benard), Lucas, Laura (Genie Francis) and Cullum.

Courtesy/ABC
ARE SIDWELL’S DAYS NUMBERED?
Meanwhile, Sonny confides in his brother, Ric (Rick Hearst). He says he knows who killed Marco an he is going to use that intel to lure Sidwell out of hiding. Sonny also shares he is going to kill Sidwell, and handle this by himself. He gave the PCPD a chance, but they failed to nab Sidwell for good and lock him up.
Sonny also has been tracking the whereabouts of Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) and Rocco (Finn Carr) through Brick, and learned they took a flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and then boarded a fairy to take them somewhere off the island.

Courtesy/ABC
BRITT’S ‘SYMPTOMS’ RETURN
Turns out, Britt and Rocco are hiding out in the British Virgin Islands. Britt set up Rocco with a burner phone and a VPN on her tablet, that is not traceable. Rocco reads on the tablet about Lucas’ shooting. Britt starts to have the shakes and passes out. When she comes to, Britt won’t let Rocco call a doctor, but he uses his phone to step on the balcony and call Charlotte (Bluesy Burke) and ask for help. Charlotte looks shocked to hear from her brother as Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) looks on!

Courtesy/ABC
However, Joe (Jonathan Bennett) could be the one to put two and two together! While at General Hospital and after questioning Lucas about a syringe he found that was in someone’s possession. the toxicology report showed traces of saline solution, not actual medication. He asks Dr. Jones, why someone would inject themselves with saline? Lucas responds saline is harmless and would have no effect on someone.
So, does this mean that this entire time, Britt has been led to believe that the medication she was taking to treat her Huntington’s disease was placebo? Has Britt been lied to into believing she is dying? Is something else wrong with her instead?
Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below, and if you are ready for Sidwell to finally get his comeuppance from Sonny! But first, watch the scenes where Sidwell comes out of hiding and blackmails Ezra Boyle.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Dante and ‘Nathan’ Have It Out, Valentin and Carly Share Passionate Moments Which May Be Their Last
On the June 16 episode of General Hospital, the PCPD under acting police commissioner Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) is in a bit of mess and does not go unnoticed by ADA Turner (Nazneen Contractor).
First, there is the whole Chase (Josh Swickard) defending Willow Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) over Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot), who he arrested for allegedly tossing Willow in the waters next to the Quartermaine boathouse. Turner has had it with Chase’s good guy act and how he tampered with evidence in her case against Willow for shooting Drew.
Later, Dante and Justine question “Nathan” (Ryan Paevey) about Sidwell’s escape while in his custody. Turner is not buying his cover story that he was ambushed by Sidwell and his men. Once “Nathan” left the interrogation room, Turner went in on Dante about having “Nathan” on the force after seven years away, and Chase she views as a “dirty cop.”
However, Dante defends both of his officers, but Justine warned that “Nathan” and Chase’s behavior would reflect poorly on Dante as commissioner and she should really think about that. Later, Dante has a terse confrontation with “Nathan” on how he botched a prison transport and that he better watch his back as Justine is one step away from turning this over to Internal Affairs.
COP MADNESS
Next, “Nathan” apologizes for the way he handled the situation with Rocco and says he feels badly. But then in the twist, Dante said that he was grateful that “Nathan” had been there for his son in his time of need (referencing after Rocco shot Cullum and covered it up).
Then, there’s the newest police officer in the precinct, Joe Fitzpatrick (Jonathan Bennett). He may actually be on to “Nathan’s” double life when he questions him about a syringe found in Britt’s room at Bobbie’s. “Nathan” made up a story to counter Joe’s, that he was not aware that his sister was taking anything for her Huntington’s disease diagnosis. Joe called the forensic department lab wanting to know what drug was exactly in the syringe.

Courtesy/ABC
BEFORE YOU GO
At Carly’s (Laura Wright), Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) tells her that he must travel to Geneva to speak to the head of the WSB, named Z. Valentin feels it’s the only way to save Josslyn if he informs Z about Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) being a double agent. Valentin shares with Carly that he has to stop Cullum from bringing his dangerous cold fusion device online. Carly is beside herself. She doesn’t want Valentin to sacrifice himself by turning himself into the organization who has made him a fugitive in the first place. Valentin stands firm that he must meet Z in person.
Knowing that revealing himself to the WSB meant he was likely going back to prison, Valentin asked Carly if she’d get in touch with his daughter, Charlotte so he could say good-bye to her. Next, Carly and Valentin make their way to the bedroom to make love, which may be for the very last time, if Valentin is caught and put back in Steinmauer Maximum Security Prison.

Courtesy/ABC
CAUGHT BY CULLUM
At the same time while at Wydemere, Cullum is talking with one of his WSB operatives. Now, he is pondering if Valentin and Sidwell were working together all along. Next, Cullum entertains the idea of involving the FBI to locate Britt and Rocco. He says he plans to kill them both once he knows of their whereabouts. Cullum sees the only other threat to the completion of the cold fusion project to be Anna Devane.
Cullum wants to track the location of the unidentified person who called the private clinic in France trying to get in touch with Anna, while pretending to be Kevin Collins. When the agent came back with a report, he says it emanated from a cell tower near Shoreline Road. It’s in the that moment that a light bulb goes on for Cullum! Valentin is in Port Charles and hiding at Carly’s!
So, what do you think of the PCPD cops, Chase, Joe and “Nathan?” Who should Dante fire? Do you think Valentin will go the run?Are you digging Carly and Valentin’s relationship and want it to continue, especially with Finola Hughes on her way back as Anna next month on-screen? Weigh-in via the comment section, and in case you missed it, you can check out our latest interview with Dominic Zamprogna below from his appearance on the Michael Fairman Channel, where he talks the PCPD cops, Rocco on the run, and more.
Beyond the Gates
BEYOND THE GATES: A Tornado Hits Fairmont Crest Part 1: Eva and Martin on Seriously Injured List

On the Thursday, June 11 episode of Beyond the Gates the highly-anticipated tornado struck the Fairmont Crest Country Club while Martin Richardson was holding a fundraiser with the most prominent citizens of Genoa City and the D.C./Maryland area attending.
Martin tells the guest that weather reports indicate a tornado warning, and as he tells them to exit the ballroom to safety, the twister strikes sending everyone into peril,. Richardson and Dupree and Abbott family members are calling out for each other as chaos ensues.
Here is who got stuck with who: Dani and Bill are stuck in an elevator and begin to get hot and bothered after trying to escape. Hayley is stuck in a closet with Kyle Abbott and they makeout, and then to pass the time she puts on some tunes and they dance.

Courtesy/CBS
THOSE IN NEED OF MEDICAL ATTENTION
Things are much more serious for Kat and Eva who winds up in a closet but a mental wall comes crashing down upon them. As Kat rails at her sister, Eva says she doesn’t feel well and begins to spit up blood. Kat is a wreck and is trying to deal with her sister’s plight, but they are trapped.
Leslie is helping Anita with her injured ankle, while Vernon goes to try to restore some power, get walkie-talkies and do what he can for everyone inside Fairmont Crest. Nicole and Smitty hear a noise and realize Andre is buried under the rubble in the ballroom. As it turns Andre’s leg was injured when a piece of metal got stuck in it. Ted gets Andre stitched up and tells him to stay put.
The Genoa City contingent can’t locate Victor Newman or Kyle Abbott, as Jack and Diane try to help others. Meanwhile, suddenly yells out that someone is under the tree. Smitty and Nicole gasps as its Martin! He is not moving in and needs medical attention. Smitty fighting back tears asks Martin to squeeze his hand if he can hear him. But there is no response.
Abby Newman worried for the whereabouts of her father, walks away just as chandelier begins to fall from the ceiling, Diane screams out to Abby to watch out. We fade to black.
Beyond the Gates delivered as they had promised, a riveting episode and one of the best soap opera tornadoes harkening back to the days of All My Children. But what did you think of part one? Martin and Eva as the two characters currently most in trouble? What about Dani and Bill getting hot and heavy and Hayley kissin on Kyle? What was your favorite part of part 1? Let us know via the comment section below.
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