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Victoria Rowell Interview Interuptus on Y&R's St. John & McCrary!
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
Oh, what a mess! The Young and the Restless’, Winter’s brothers, Kristoff St. John (Neil) and Darius McCrary (Malcolm), where guests on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Jamie Foxx’s The Foxhole last Friday. During the actors interview, former Y&R star, Victoria Rowell (Ex-Drucilla), called in and shocked St. John, McCrary, and the host, with her banter and calling-out St. John on certain behind-the-scenes situations, and bringing to the forefront again, how disgruntled she is with Y&R’s decisions and politics to not to have had her work behind the camera, and more on her problems with her former cast mates, and the lack of African-Americans on daytime.
On YouTube the audio of the interview was posted in two parts, so you can listen for yourself to this very uncomfortable, informative, and controversial situation! Listen to the segment after the jump!
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‘Tracker’ Stars Justin Hartley, Jensen Ackles and Sofia Pernas on What They Learned Working on a Soap
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.
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.”
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.”‘
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.
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?
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.
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.
When you’re in demand, you’re in demand! Such is the case for The Bold and the Beautiful’s Daytime Emmy nominee for Supporting Actor and writing at this year’s Daytime Emmys, Lawrence Saint-Victor (Carter Walton). While Lawrence did not walk away with either statuette, he was clearly acknowledged by his peers.
Currently, in one of B&B’s frontburner storylines with Carter and Steffy’s (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) surrogacy ploy, Saint-Victor also had some time to film a guest star role on an upcoming episode of famed ABC medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy!
Look for Lawrence to appear on the November 12 episode entitled, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” with a few other soap opera alums and Grey’s cast members: Jason George (ex-Sunset Beach) and Chandra Wilson (ex-Tina Estrada, ex-Dr. Francine Massey and ex-Sydney Val Jean, General Hospital).
Courtesy/ABC
In story, Jo faces a life-or-death crisis when a house call goes wrong, and Ben meets Bailey’s new study partner. Meanwhile, Blue struggles with an unexpected family issue.
B&B fans can catch Saint-Victor’s upcoming guest star role as Mark, Bailey’s “environmental life partner” on Grey’s Anatomy next Thursday night. The medical drama airs Thursdays at 10pm ET/9pm CT and streams the following day on Hulu.
Grey’s Anatomy is now in its 23rd season having premiered on March 27, 2005, The medical series follows the personal and professional lives of surgical interns, residents, and attending physicians at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
Cast member, Harry Shum Jr. (also featured in next week’s episode) is also pulling double duty this coming week, as he is still in the running for the Mirrorball Trophy on ABC’s current season of Dancing with the Stars.
Now below, check out the promo for next week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy.
So, looking forward to seeing Lawrence on Grey’s? Do you like seeing some of your favorite soap stars take on guest star roles on primetime dramas? Do you think Carter and Steffy will continue to get away with their surrogacy deception on The Bold and the Beautiful? Weigh-in via the comment section.
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I listened to the entire interview. Sad, on many levels.
To begin with, Darius was out of control. His repeated use of the “N” word was offensive, and he appeared to make light of the entire issue. Even if he did not agree with Victoria, or have knowledge of the incidents she spoke of, he should have had the good sense to recognize the serious nature of her allegations and behaved more professional and appropriate. Period. He revealed his true colors. Color me UNIMPRESSED. The same could be said of my opinion of his acting abiolities — unimpressed.
Victoria. It is obvious she has an axe to grind. I believe there has to be at leat a kernal of truth to some of what she is saying. I do not, however, agree with her manner of combatting Young and the Restless. It comes off as sour grapes and it is hard to fathom she still says she would like to return to Y & R. Why return if treatment were so bad? Why were these issues not addressed upon her leaving? She admitted she left of her own volition! And why must she handle this in such a public forum if there is truly merit to her accusations? Her twitter history does not make her look that great, more sour grapes than anything.
Sorry that Kristoff was dragged into this. Sounds like he is working and trying to provide for his family and I hope this interview does not have negative consequences for him. I think Victoria was out of line and inconsiderate in pressing Kristoff to back up some of her claims in such a public forum.It was almost like he was ambushed, and Victoria did not give thought to how this could affect HIS livelihood.
I think that Y&R would be wise to sit Darius down, make him listen to the interview and explain his actions and words. It is very shocking that in the same interview Victoria uses to promote African American presence on the soap, Darius presents such an unfortunate portrait of himself as an African American ON the soap with his poor choice of words and ignorance. I would love to hear what Victoria had to say about him AFTER that interview.
Please, if you do not stand up for injustice, you have no right EVER TO COMPLAIN OF IT. If half of what she spoke of was going on, all the black folk should have stood up as a groups and said “no more”. There are no excuses regardless of whether folks had families or not. You want to play BS, then let BS play you. Weak MFERs. You always want someone to stand up for you, but never stand up for anyone else. That is why black folk never progress. You reap what you sew.
The thing is, she has been making these claims for years. She is angry that she was not allowed to direct shows because Susan Flannery, a woman who has been in daytime since the 60’s directs occassionally for their sister show. The fact is, they hired Victoria as an actress. They had no obligation to allow her to direct. There are also two sides to this story. I have heard that she was a complete diva and quite difficult to work with. At any rate, we will all get to see just who she really is when she becomes a part of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta.
I could not agree more. You are 100% right on target with this one. Who could blame Y&R for not wanting VR back. Her behavior is ridiculous. I think they should bring Drucilla back with another actress and then talk to VR. Just a thought.
Why is she complaining now if she quit the show so long ago? She should have addressed it then, if that is why she left.
McCrary should be ashamed for himself. He did nothing positive for the African American community in that interviw, only made us look foolish and ghetto. He sounds ignorant and like he could care less, like the only thing he wants is the paycheck.
Oooh…Renee Goldsberry would make a great Drucilla! I would luv to see her back on a soap. Now that One Life has killed her off, she should go to Y&R.
When she first started making claims of what goes on behind the scenes, I was angry. After years of books, tweets and interviews, however, she lacks credibility. Apparently she has no concern for what others may think and is no friend of Kristoff even after years of working with him. The fact that she chose to ambush him and drag him into her fight, while he is still working on the show, tells me she is a self-centered, narcissistic person. Where is her husband, mothers, sisters, girlfriends? Someone love her enough to tell her that she needs to let this go. She left the show and the character is now dead. If they do resurrect Drucilla, please let it be a recast. I will pray for you, Victoria.
Victoria – You are a reallly good actress and your talents will be appreciated elsewhere. BUT, you need to let this go!!! Years have past and there are other roles to play. Y&R is not the only game in town. Release this from your heart.
i am totally embarrassed my the in entire interview…………….
i don’t know if this will make it on here since i’ve tried to post several times but the moderators remove my post. michael, what do you think and what does maria bell say about everything? i also cam across some music you put out, love it. when will you release more?
Let’s stop the talk and blaming her for the way they acted, and walk the walk, Please sign the Victoria Rowell petitiion : https://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?VRowell
I think Vicki is a fabulous actress who is ireplacable as drucilla, thats why I feel like she needs to drop the knife on this, she claime she cares about what the audience want, but what the audience want is both Vicki and Dru back. The more she keeps this war going on the more determine the show is to not let her back and then no one is happy!
It’s too bad this discussion took place in forum that apparently could not appreciate Victoria’s points. What I heard was as much effort among the host and other guests to discount her arguments and discredit her as she has probably encountered among the white Hollywood establishment she has been battling. Whites who have no intention of recognizing their own racial prejudice, discriminatory practice, or hatred never have to self-examine or self-correct and need never lift a finger to keep black people down so long as we continue to do it to ourselves– by beating each other down, accepting less than we deserve, and continuing to subscribe to a mentality that says “stay in your place.” So what Victoria was hired initially as an actress? Acting is the stepping stone to directing. She KNOWS that. She has SEEN that. She WANTED that. That’s what Clint Eastwood, Ron Howard, Kevin Costner, and Mel Gibson have been able to do with great success. Why shouldn’t Victoria aspire to the same? Rather than allow this episode of the Foxhole to become an intelligent exchange, it became a minstrel show. And rather than transition into sober discourse, it became an attack on an individual, Victoria, who though not perfect in her strategy, nonetheless had a significant, viable issue! If Kristoff didn’t want to join the fight with the same weapons Victoria was using, so be it. He fought with what he felt he had, and she is using what she’s got. Each of us stands at a different place on the battlefield and has access to different weapons, talents, and tools. Our choices determine whether we get wounded, destroyed, martyred, or elevated to victory. So I do not scorn Kristoff, and I scorn not Victoria either. But I can’t help shaking my head at people like the host of the show or whoever it was who kept using the N-word. People like that are unenlightened and are perhaps evidence that ignorance truly is bliss. To those who have seen the light, do not berate Victoria for exposing the truth. Help her! If her strategy is flawed, recommend an alternative rather than folding your arms and sitting back just because your belly is full. Don’t tear her down.
She sounds like an obsessed, crazy beeotch. I truly doubt if Ms. Stafford spit on her.