A day many fans of The Young and the Restless have been dreading, and others are down for, is here. Beginning with the Thursday, August 27 episode of The Young and the Restless, Kyle (Michael Mealor) and Victoria (Amelia Heinle) will have sex taking their growing attraction to each other to another level.

But why is Y&R heading down the path of an older woman/younger man, Newman/Abbott, former love interest of Victoria’s daughter Claire (Hayley Erin) and all the complications with longtime waring families? Because to the series, it will generate story to come.

Two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Amelia Heinle revealed to TV Insider, how she found out what she suspected that the powers-that-be were setting up a romance between Victoria and Kyle.

Photo: JPI

“At one point a while back, I noticed Kyle was always coming to talk to Victoria or we’d run into each other and I told Michael, ‘I don’t think they would ever put us together, but this is kind of funny because it feels like they’re trying to test our chemistry, which would be really, really odd,” recalled Heinle. ”

“But that memory passed quickly. And then I walked off set one day after finishing a scene with Michael and I got called up to our executive producer, Sally McDonald’s, office and she said, ‘We’re giving you a romance with him.’ And I’m like, ‘Who?’ And she said, ‘Him,’ and she pointed at the monitor because Michael was still on set. I was like, ‘Oh, OK. Are you sure?’ And she was like, ‘Uh-huh. Yup. You’ve got chemistry.’”

Once she learned the news, Heinle talks with Michael Mealor to make sure he was OK with the romantic story turn. “I walked up to him one day on set when I found out and said, ‘Do you know about this yet?’. Hw was like, ‘Yeah,’ and then I said, ‘So, are you OK?’ And he said, ‘Are you OK?’ And I said, ‘I’m good. I think we could make something out of this,’ and he said, ‘I do, too. I plan on leaning into it all.’ So, we were in agreement. Michael and I have always gotten along. We’ve always liked each other.”

Amelia Heinle, Michael Mealor
“The Young and the Restless” Set
CBS television City
Los Angeles
05/22/26
© Howard Wise/jpistudios.com
310-657-9661
Episode # 13419
U.S. Airdate 07/15/26

The storyline was started by now former Y&R head writer Josh Griffith. So now that Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor are in place as the new co-head writers of the top-rated soap, things could change dramatically or go full steam ahead.

Heinle offered up, “It’s not going to be boring, that’s for sure. I feel like right now with the new writers coming in, it’s a work in progress. I feel like we’re seeing how it goes. They’re fully committed to it, but nothing is set in stone in terms of the story yet.”

So, where do you stand? Do you want to see Kyle and Victoria rip the clothes off of each other, have sex and have a torrid affair? Do you think it’s wrong for Victoria to be sleeping with her daughter’s former boyfriend? What side of the fence do you land on with this pairing? Let us know via the comment section below.

The world is in mourning on Tuesday, August 25 with the news of the passing of iconic and beloved country western singer/songwriter/actress Dolly Parton. The 11-time Grammy winner crafted and performed memorable hits such as “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” 9 to 5″, and “Here You Come Again, ” to name but a few.

Parton died in Nashville today. She was 80-years-old. Not only was Dolly an iconic name in the world of music, she was also an actor, producer, playwright, theme park founder (Dollywood), and a noted philanthropist.

One of the people lucky enough to know and experience the life of Dolly through a different lens was Alyvia Alyn Lind, the one time Faith Newman of The Young and the Restless. Lind played the role of Nick (Joshua Morrow) and Sharon’s (Sharon Case) daughter on and off from 2011-2021.

Photo: HallmarkChannel

ALVIA ALYN LIND PLAYED A YOUNG DOLLY

However, it was Lind, who portrayed a young Dolly in the television movie adaption of Parton’s song and book “A Coat of Many Colors” in 2015, and its sequel in 2016 Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.

Parton and Lind shared a close bond following the project, famously performing a touching, emotional duet of Parton’s song “Angel Hill” together on Hallmark’s Home & Family.

Taking to her Instagram just a short time ago, Alyvia paid tribute to the one and only Parton, expressing, “I am truly at a loss for words. There are some people who come into your life and leave a mark that can never be erased. Dolly was one of those people.  will forever be grateful that I had the privilege of knowing her, learning from her, and carrying a piece of her with me through such an important and formative part of my childhood. Getting to play Dolly changed my life, but getting to know her changed my heart. Memories, lessons, laughter, and a light that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”

Alyvia added, “The world will never be the same without her, but that light will live on in all of us who were lucky enough to experience it. Thank you for believing in me, for teaching me, for letting me be a small part of your story, and for being such a meaningful part of mine. Rest peacefully, Dolly. You will be missed more than words can ever say. Thank you for everything. ❤️

FAMILY ANNOUNCES THE DEATH OF DOLLY PARTON

Parton also starred alongside Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman in the smash 1980 film 9 to 5, and later roles in films including: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Rhinestone, Steel Magnolias, Straight Talk, and Joyful Noise.

Parton’s death was announced via her official Instagram post by her nephew, Bryan Seaver on behalf of the Parton family. He shared the news in a video statement. You can see that below.

 

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There has been mixed reactions from fans of the The Young and the Restless, as they tell the story of Nick Newman‘s (Joshua Morrow) descent into drug addiction.

However, on the Thursday, August 13 episode of the CBS daytime drama series, it provided one of the more gut-wrenching turns in the tale, which showcased three performances that broke our hearts from Joshua Morrow, Sharon Case and Jade Harlow.

In the pick-up of the previous episode, after Nick phones Sharon for help, Sharon arrives at Crimson Lights disheveled and in tears and hugs Mariah (Camryn Grimes). She explains to her daughter that Nick is back in the rehab facility, and when Mariah asks how he’s doing, Sharon says she’s not even sure Nick knows how he’s doing.

Courtesy/CBS

SHARON COMES TO NICK’S RESCUE

We then get a flashback of how Nick grabbed onto Sharon’s waist and just cried from the motel bed. Sharon says he was just broken, and he needed a lifeline and called someone he trusted. She thinks in the moment Nick knew his addiction would be a lifelong battle.

Sadly, Sharon is gutted when she realized he used and had sex with another junkie the night before and breaks down. Sharon explains that even she is only present in her own life right now because someone one helped her over and over again, and if she can do that for Nick, she always will. In the scenes, Sharon Case played Sharon’s anguish over seeing her soulmate in such a terrible state, and it was effective and heartbreaking.

As for Nick, he is now in rehab in a group meeting confessing his relapse. He left his home for one night and didn’t want to come back. Instead, he hit up his drug dealer, ended up in a dump of a motel room, had a horrible nightmare (Monday’s episode), and relapsed with the addict in the room next to his, who then OD’d and almost died. Nick realizes he finds himself deep in the throes of addiction and can’t seem to get out. Another strong performance by Joshua Morrow in the storyline of his soap career.

Photo: JPI

NICK AND MARIE TRY TO COME TO TERMS WITH THEIR RELAPSE

Next, Marie shows up at the meeting, fresh off almost losing her life and illustrates just how much emotional pain she in. Marie sits next to Nick. She’s there because the hospital handed her a flyer after a night with bad and great moments. She breaks down, but gives herself a pat on the back for showing up at a meeting.

After the meeting, Nick asks Marie if she’ll check into the program. She says needs a little more time, but assures him she will not forget last night anytime soon. As they say goodbye, Nick asks if she’ll be back. She flirts with him then makes her exit. Jade Harlow was also heartbreaking in her scenes showing the deep conflict within an addict.

After the airing of the episode, Jade Harlow shared with Michael Fairman TV, “I’m really proud and really grateful to work with this incredible team & show (through the constraints we have) how addiction can touch anyone. And all we can do is try to survive it, and love each other through.”

VIEWER DISCOURSE OVER THE ADDICTION STORYLINE

Fans of course took to Michael Fairman TV’s Instagram with different perspectives on the story, from: “Great actors. But the story lines just drag out so long that it ruins the show,’ to ‘Incredible performances from everyone. This episode definitely hit home, and I was absolutely gutted. What an emotional, powerful episode. All the actors bravo take a bow.”

Other Y&R fans jumped into the comment thread with, “Agree the acting was absolutely superb BUT and I say this genuinely respectfully, THIS IS NOT WHY PEOPLE WATCH SOAPS! In fact it’s the opposite! I watch Y&R at the end of my crazy days as a treat to myself. It’s not heavy, it’s not deep, it softens my day. This story does the opposite. 50 yr viewer and I’m done until this story is over. It’s too much,” and “Today’s show was incredible! Totally agree the actors were in their prime. Sharon was so real, she brought you into the situation like it was real life. Nick was exceptional as well, we feel his desperation and utter disappointment and fear! Marie- such talent to drop into a show and portray this character on their worst day! Wow! Great job to the writers and cast!

While yes, this is a soapified version of the harrowing effects of addiction, the work by Y&R’s Morrow, Case and Harlow within its confines should not be discounted. They delivered.

So, how did you feel about the scenes where Sharon rescues Nick, he goes to meeting in rehab, and Marie shows up  after their night together in the seedy motel room? Are you all-in with this storyline and going on the journey with it, or are you a viewers who wants it to stop? And, what did you think of the performances of Jade Harlow, Joshua Morrow and Sharon Case? Let us know via the comment section below.

 

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