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Victoria Rowell Takes To Twitter To Let Fans Know She Will NOT Be Returning To Y&R And Much More!
The outspoken Victoria Rowell, who many fans have hoped would finally get a shot at returning to The Young and the Restless as Drucilla Winters, let her followers and fans know on Twitter this morning that it is not happening.
In a series of tweets aimed squarely at Sony, CBS, and Y&R executives, Rowell started with mentioning a moment last Friday when Sony Television Sr. VP. Steve Kent stated that a Drucilla return is not the creative direction the show is going in. Rowell then took to task the issue of minorities working behind-the-scenes at Y&R, something she had wanted to do with the number one sudser for quite some time. Here are Rowell’s tweets below!
Victoria Rowell: “Sony TV Sr, VP STEVE KENT stated Friday that bringing back character DRU WINTERS is NOT the creative direction Young & Restless is going in. Head of Diversity at CBS, Josie Thomas asks if I can find work w/ another Network? CBS helmer, Leslie Moonves does not want me affiliated. ”
“Here’s the scoop ppl – for years I tackled diversity issues behind the camera re: unfair practices for minority hiring on Young & Restless. Nat’l Urban League Pres. Marc Morial, Bill Bell Jr., Sony VP Steve Kent, and me met on Wall Street in NUL offices 2discuss hiring practices. Young & Restless soap in its history had NEVER hired an African American producer, writer or director, and its audience is over 50% black. I was told Steve Kent was trying to gets off Young & Restless while I was still there. And I knew that without anyone telling me. As a result Bell Dramatic Serial & Sony Pictures TV were forced to hire FIRST black female writer, Susan Dansby, a 4time EMMY winner on Y&R, There is nothing easy about speaking up for change – especially the blackball-bullying but rest assured there is more than CBS & soap opera! I gave 22 years to CBS on two shows…so, now you know the truth and it doesn’t take a Charlie Sheen moment to send a smart girl packing.”
“The Y&R dirty soap issue of lack of minority hiring in writing, directing, producing went all the way to #1 sponsor, Proctor & Gamble. Thank National Urban League for pulling back the Y&R sheets and demanding change in the 21st century on a billion dollar CBS licensed show. WHY was Sally McDonald demoted from her producer position on Y&R – a woman, a mother, an enormous talent? They don’t want NORMA RAE there;) New Y&R Exec Prod, Head Writer Jill Farren-Phelps hawking costumer, Jen Johns…no style? DRU brought her own clothes to set. U know it. A reason, a season, a lifetime. Young & Restless finally has begun hiring minority directors as well. CBS helmer, Leslie Moonves, and I have a standing lunch meeting, now two years old. I worked for the network collectively for 22 years. I just ask that you FOLLOW me to my next gig!”
So soapers, what do you think of a Y&R without a return from Drucilla as played by Rowell? What are your thoughts on Rowell’s series of tweets this morning? Weigh-in!
Quite frankly, I am relieved the show is going in a different direction. The show already has enough bad morale behind the scenes.
IF the rumors are true, then they do not need Victoria Rowell returning to add to this. I have to believe there is some truth to all these arguments and, I remember when she was on a panel with some of her costars and they were not all that warm and friendly to each other so it makes me believe she was not that liked or that she made it difficult for them. I’ve seen her in person before and she is quite cold.
So many believe that Drucilla is the end-all-be-all for Neil, but I disagree. Okay, she worked for 15 years on Y&R, but Neil and Drucilla are not as iconic as Victor and Nikki and I do not believe it has anything to do with race except that African Americans are not featured on magazine covers like caucasians – that I will give you … and that is unfair.
Kristoff St. John is a VERY charismatic man and they just need to chem-test him with some new blood or someone already on the canvas. Sharon would have been a good match years ago, but they threw her at Brad instead and now she is tied to Adam plus she really needs to be single for about 6 months, at least. What about Phyllis? Michelle Stafford oozes chemistry with ANYONE and everyone. She doesn’t need to go back to Jack. Or they could recast Drucilla if they really wanted to go that way.
I think Victoria Rowell ought to close this chapter on her life and use her many talents for something else. She is a very talented and outspoken woman, but it would be healthier to let this thing go.
All that being said, I am extremely sorry she has had to endure racism. The fact that this disgusting practice continues to this day makes me sick and this is coming from a white woman. I am so sorry for all that African Americans have had done to them in this country. I could not even fathom what it must be like to deal with this on a daily basis. This country makes me ill sometimes.
Christine, Victoria Rowell was so amazing it isn’t funny! I still see so many people every day on one blog or another request her return. I don’t think I have ever seen that in all these years.I love that she is Sharons Best friend and Neils true love. I would pay VR the highest pay for her return it I were CBS/SONY if they were smart
I agree everyone loves VR and Drucilla she is requested every day for her return
Yes, I remember watching that Y&R panel and noticing how “tight” everyone was, too. Dru no Dru, it appears the show’s days are numbered. Y&R is not worth me DVRing and watching anymore. Y&R is no longer a refreshing 60 minute escape to unwind with after work. There is NOBODY on Y&R to ROOT for anymore. I like rooting for a cause or a couple, that’s why I watched. Y&R isn’t and hasn’t been entertaining, but rather PAINFUL to watch for more than 6 years now. DVR has helped endure it. For me, it all started going downhill when the NETWORK allowed Y&R to kill off Cassie. That ruined Y&R’s future Nikki and Victor couple (Nick and Sharon) bc of the way the writers were allowed to write FOR Phyllis and Nick (she wasn’t written like an Ashley)…Phyllis is NOT a sympathetic character (she is Shiela, Jr)…and I can’t root for her (she is that good of an actress). I did and can root for Dru…Dru was easy to root for (and she was a terrific actress too). Now, no Y&R couple or cause is worth me rooting for. I’ll miss the old Y&R, (JT carrying out Colleen and handing her to Brad, Nick and Sharon’s enduring love, Neil & Dru’s realistic squabbles ), but the current Y&R, no…that handwriting is already on the wall: greed, lack of professionalism and petty jealousy will cause the cancellation of what once was a truly great escape from reality…a well-written, produced and acted soap opera.
WE DEMAND HER RETURN!!!!!!! HER AND SHARON ARE THE TALENT
SHARON? LMAO!!!!
YOu are so right…i hate what they have done to power couples like Nick and Sharon…even Nikki and Victor I no longer respect…really he sleeps with ur daughters best friend and son’s ex wife and u have the audacity to act like ur above all other women on the show (excluding Katherine Chancellor-RIP)..ha what a joke..I miss the thrill of the show with key characters like Dru,Sharon, nick, (the old Victoria) and jack..I stopped Dvr a year ago bcuz most of the shows were too boring or had developed character plots that did not interest me…this show needs to do something….
Son of a bitch that Steve Kent! I hate Y&R now I thought Dru would return! Those racist pigs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CHRISTINE, THANK YOU FOR THOSE REMARKS. I, TOO, LIKE VICTORIA ROWELL AND THINK THAT SHE WAS AN ASSET TO EACH SHOW SHE WAS A PART OF. I HAVE BEEN BLACK FOR 65 YEARS AND STILL DEAL WITH RACISM ALMOST EVERYDAY. IT HURTS THAT IN THE 21ST. CENTURY WE ARE STILL FIGHTING THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE. HOPEFULLY, THIS YOUNGER GENERATION WILL BE ABLE TO PUT IT TO REST.
Shazam!
Christine are you crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The show was never ever ever better when Victoria Rowell was drucilla! They MUST bring her back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
I agree Drucilla is almost as important as Sharon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
I think it’s a HUGE mistake!!! Victoria Rowell is one of the best in daytime and she made Dru so interesting and a spicy character. It is a pity they don t bring her back…Y&R needs strong female characters like Dru!!!
YAWN!
She is always on a soapbox, no pun intended. While I think she is a talent and I dont think anyone else could ever play Drucilla, its done…move on.
I LOVED Victoria Rowell as Drucilla everyday i think about it hoping she returns!!!!
I love Drucilla this show needs her back! She is the best character I love Victoria Rowell
The ratings would sky rocket with Drucillas return so said this show will not do what the fans want!
WE NEED DRUCILLA BACK NOT ONLY FOR NEIL BUT SHARONS BFF! WHAT CAN WE DO TO CHANGE THIS!!! We LOVE her! 🙂
I am pissed I really thought Dru was coming back I almost want to ban the show. I love Sharon and Adam and Sharon are the only reason I still watch! Please bring Victoria R back ASAP! <3
This is such BULL! I want Drucilla back! Michael they need to see the fans want her and demand her back!
Sharon could use a friend, Lily could use her mother, Neil could have a love life…it would be a great return. But is it just me or does VR always sound angry, bitter, and arrogant in her interviews? Sometimes the way she talks, its like she truly feels and believes that she has been the sole reason for the success of the show. I feel that if she humbled herself a little, and stopped being the bull in the CBS China shop, both parties could successfully negotiate. It sounds like there is a little too much pride and ego happening from both sides, and that is never a good clash.
No it isn’t just you. She always speaks like she is above everybody else and that her sh*t don’t stink. Her book said nasty things about YR so to come back and make it sound like she’s the poor widdle victim and it’s all big bad CBS’s fault is such BS. Don’t talk smack, and you’ll be asked back. Simple.
I completely agree, Jules!
You are right on! When I read the first sentence, I was ready to disagree with you…
Lily is a grown married woman with two children of her own. She doesn’t “need” her mommy anymore. Sharon is beyond needing the help of just a friend. Neil does need a love life, but not with someone as polarizing as Dru/Victoria.
Ms. Rowell may be a good actress, but she’s just not worth the trouble she brings. There are enough huge egos on the show!!
We love Victoria Rowell! MICHAEL. can you spread the word we loved her as Drucilla!!!!! PLEEEEEASE!!!!! Michael Thank you! ….:)
Id pay Victoria Rowell the most money she IS THAT GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3
A girl always needs her mother it doesnt matter how old she is. She is your mother. As for Victoria we dont know what all was said, there is always two sides to a story, so how can you judge what who really said or what who did what. Everyone has a right to stand up for themselfs. Do you always let people walk all over you? Or do you stand up for your self when you feel you have been wronged?
Sucks, cause Y&R could use some spicing up on the show these days. And Drucilla would definitely do that! Can Phyllis please take a back seat, be on the back burner for a while and let Dru take that spot?
I think Victoria Rowell is making an ass of herself! Everyone knows she started so much shit when she worked at Y & R, why in the hell would they want her back?!?!
Agreed. And this coming from a Dru fan. I wish she would have learned a thing or two since she went over that cliff so many years ago. I like Victoria Rowell as an actress, but STFU and do your job and maybe you’d be employed! I mean no disrespect, but get over yourself! I can think of several actresses who could pull off Dru. Renee Elise Goldsbury comes to mind, but she may be a bit too young.
Ha. Ironic choice of actress since REG was let go without a fight by ABC during her contract negotiations & she’s as diplomatic as they come! It seems AA actors All experience some of this whether or NOT they shut up or shout out! Victoria Rowell is the ONLY one speaking because she is the only one who can. I don’t believe for a minute she believed they would let her back in. Not really. That’s why she is relentless with her diversity message. If she was lying TPTB could just sue & be rid of the bad publicity. Why don’t they? I would, especially if It was my business. I thought American’s were into frivolous lawsuits…Yet Victoria Rowell manages to evade even a subphoena to an arraignment? Hell, Oprah got sued for saying she didn’t eat meat by the “Beef-Lobby” & we got Dr Phil outta that [raw] deal. But I digress…
Victoria is on Message & has its been the Same Script Different Day since Day1. Nuff Said. Victoria Rowell | I en Klass för sig!
Drucilla is a staple character and a must need I am not interested in what she did or said she is a fantastic actress!…:)
I hope VR can find peace and work elsewhere. This young woman has a huge ax to grind and unfortunately she is only hurting herself. I commend her efforts to bring minority writers, directors and actors to the canvas. Finally they have hired these roles, unfortunately diversity and minorities include not just African Americans but Latinos, Asians ect. Hope she can let it go, after all she chose to be let out of her contract early.
Agreed!
Not so young!!!
I want Victoria Rowell back yesterday and I think the show owes it to us already this is crazy just give this fantastic actress what she wants already!
Y&R is not the same without VR. We all need to campaign harder to Sony to bring her back!
It’s better!!! No backstabbing, no drama, and no bs since she left. Like I read in another post….enough big ego’s still there 😉
Pamela we love Drucilla the ratings will be through the roof! The show must have the most stupidest people alive in the WORLD that don’r beg her to come back and give her the highest salary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pamela I agree we need and love Drucilla she is a icon!
I will Champain to bring Drucilla back lets all go on the CBS soaps in depph and other pages to say we want her back!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Too many people in this industry stay silent on issues of fairness and diversity (not just racial) and discrimination because they are afraid of being blackballed. If you decide to do it and you do it quietly or politely you are often dismissed and then disappear. The only way to guarantee your message isn’t swept away is to shout it from the rooftops and even then you have to KNOW that you may be signing away your livelihood, especially in a small community like soaps. VR knew the cost of what she was doing. She knew that she would be seen as crazy and a reverse-racist, and that the issues she was bringing up would cost her a lot. And I personally do think she has, especially in the past, been way too strident and possibly overly confrontational (just because there IS racism doesn’t mean every individual thing is racist–even though it’s easy to see it that way from your already shaken POV), but no one in power has ever agreed she has a point and she does. Y&R benefits the most from AfAm viewership and has since the VR/SM/KsJ heydays. It is THE soap for black women and many men, and it has had some of the worst track records for AfAm characters and stories with the exception of the time when Victoria Rowell, Shemar Moore, Keith Hamilton Cobb, and Kristoff St. John were doing their thing. While shows like OLTL were breaking new ground in the 70s on race relations, AMC was creating the first black supercouple in the early 80s (who was still together and front burner the day the show went off the air in 2010), Y&R was lagging. Then they became the flagship show for black characters in the 90s, only to head in the reverse direction and essentially barely play KSJ in the years that followed Dru’s death with a revolving door of barely there black characters and actors. They surpassed OLTL and AMC during that time and put the P&G shows and GH/DAYS to shame. But it makes no sense that black actors have to fight so hard for screentime now and that they had to beg (only to be turned away) for jobs as writers, directors, and producers on the #1 show—#1 because of it’s loyal and unwavering minority audience that blew all other soaps away. I think VR may have shot herself in the foot here, stylistically, but someone needed to say what she was saying and I’m glad she did. I also firmly believe the ratings would skyrocket if Dru returned. Both sides are holding a grudge like no other, but a network/production company like CBS/Sony are always going to win over a single person. I don’t find VR to blameless in how ugly this has gotten, but I do find her more virtuous on balance. If no one ever speaks up, things do not happen. And everyone else stays quiet lest they lose their job. And why shouldn’t they? Look at what’s happened with VR? And note that there was not a hint of this when she was on DIAGNOSIS MURDER. Her reputation on Y&R was confrontational–it’s not her reputation on every show she works. And you know neither Dick Van Dyke nor Les Moonves would take any crap. She would have been out on her a*s if she had been a troublemaker. And she brought a lot of attention to Y&R back then–got the producers to do a Y&R themed D:M and always proudly spoke of Y&R in every D:M interview and encouraged viewers to watch. It would be wrong to see her as a villain in this, though she certainly could have made a few better strategic choices.
Please use paragraphs if you want to be heard. This hurts the eyes.
LOL. Point noted. I think I just got carried away with my thoughts. What was supposed to be one paragraph’s worth of writing became arguably a handful.
I agree…I didn’t bother even reading it.
I agree WE LOVE VICTORIA ROWELL I HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR HER RETURN EVERYDAY > I ONLY WATCH FOR THAT REASON WAITING TO HEAR AND I LOVE SHARON CASE!!!!!!!!!!
I agree with you. She could have approached it a different way and maybe she’d still be on. I don’t think any of the new characters can hold a candle to the former icons. John’s ghost appears to Jack all the time. At least let Dru appear to Neil or Devon occasionally.
I’m so sick of Victoria Rowell’s bitching and moaning. I don’t find this to be an issue of “standing up to diversity”, I see this as another diva actress who just wants attention and a pity party. I don’t feel sorry for her in the slightest. She had a job for over two decades and SHE was the one that chose to leave it. If Y&R and CBS do not want her back, it’s probably because they want to focus on running a successful show, not fretting over when Ms. Rowell will lash out again. Was the character of Dru dynamic on the program? Yes, I won’t argue with that- but, I rather have the morale behind the scenes be steady than have this bitch return.
No kidding! Talk about a liability and morale killer. The soaps are hanging by a thread, they need teamwork, not divas.
I love Victoria Rowell ! Drucilla and Sharon are the best characters to of ever been on the Y&R show
No need for name calling. Especially since you’ve probably never been behind the scene to know how morale was. The only thing any of us have to go on is what we read on sites like these. None of us were there to really know what happened. It’s up to us to choose to believe or not believe the rumors that are all flying around. But to call someone you don’t know the “b” word is not necessary.
I agree. The B word is never a necessary word to use.
Les Moonves Totally Blows To Moi! 🙁
Victoria Rowell Gave Her All To 3 CBS shows–Y&R, Diagnosis Murder, & A Brief Stay As Nella Franklin On As The World Turns In The Middle 1980s! 😀
Thank God she is not returning. I enjoyed her acting until the last 2 yrs of YR she was so over the top it was painful. We also do not need somebody coming back from death. I hope YR improves gets some great storylines not ghosts from the past.
I liked Rowell and Drucilla but I am completely worn out by her continued rantings about this topic. The show has moved on from her and she needs to focus her attention on her future and not her past.
For several years, she has rehashed these same points ad nauseum. If she is difficult and doesnt’ get along with many of the actors, the show is wise to completely dismiss the chance for Rowell to return. On the other hand, if Rowell is dead on accurate about what she is saying and the place was that lousy to work for, why does she seem to pining away to return??
Rowell needs to ditch all of this and do something else. These tweets from her every few months about the possibility of her returning are getting old. She is not coming back. If Drucilla ever returns to the show, I’d bet $$$$ that it will be a completely different actress in the role.
Probably for the best……
Honestly, I’m not upset by this. Too much time has gone by and Dru isn’t needed on the scene. Victoria, while I love her, can be a bit of a Brenda Dickinson. Overly dramatic about things and events. I think it’s time if VR wants to return to daytime to find a new soap home!
Debbi Morgan should have been cast as Dru. If so, maybe she wouldn’t have been axed.
Debbi has stated she wouldn’t take the role of Dru, due to her friendship with Victoria Rowell.
That’s extremely loyal of Debbi and I appreciate that. If that’s the case, however, then there are other talented African American actresses who could do Drucilla justice, if she is perceived as important to the canvas. I liked VR a lot in the role, but it’s become clear she’s not coming back–either they flat out will not hire her, or they won’t do what it would take to get her back.
I really do wonder how much of the change that VR is outlining really came about because of her efforts. I applaud her for sticking up for a just cause, but I wonder if her tactics aren’t actually slowing things down rather than moving them forward.
LET IT GO! They call it baggage for a reason, it weighs you down. MOVE ON! Use your talent while you’re still potentially employable elsewhere. I think you’re talented and loved Dru, but your axe is so ground down, it no longer has a point.
We need Dru back! We loved her with Neil, as a buisness women and also my favorite Sharon’s best friend!!! BRING HER BACK! Michael Fairman please show CBS/SONY the requests for her back! I see it every day requests for her return like no other soap character! Thank you!
I agree. we need her back on the Young and Restless. These other women they bring in for Neal are just fly by night and a few months in the sack and then they are gone. Doesn’t make Neil a very good impression on Lilly and his grandchildern. It tells her its okay to go on and make the same mistakes he has. She needs a mother to guide her and the grandchildern. A good role model.
I liked her on DM, but I think she brings too much drama with her. That said, I totally agree with her for standing up for what’s right. I too have tried to do it where I work and it’s not met with any welcome.
I know absolutely nothing about the entertainment industry, but it seems to me all these diva rants aren’t going to bode well with network execs. Sorry I’m in the minority here; I never liked the character anyway. I always liked Neil with Olivia. They’re both classy and I was sick of Olivia wasting her time being Dru’s babysitter.
Bad form. You don’t bad mouth an employer in public. Though it didn’t seem to hurt Charlie Sheen.
There’s many fans that do want her back but CBS and Sony have the last word and that word is “No”!
they need to reconsider. get over yourselfs CBS. do what is good for the show.
Actually, I admire Rowell’s candor! African-Americans have been greatly underserved in soap operas, and she was one of the few to have a front-burner role. The magnificent Ellen Holly (Carla, OLTL) was featured prominently from the show’s inception until about 1973, when she became everyone’s “supportive Black friend.” These artists have REAL talent, and are often wasted in segregated storylines or supporting roles that do not serve either the artists or these shows’ audience.
Like Rowell, Cady McClain, George Reinholt and Eileen Fulton, I have enormous respect for performers who call out their bosses. Indeed, this is more admirable than those “go along to get along” types who are only interested in a sustained paycheck and NOT the integrity of their work.
You had me until you put George Reinholt in the same group as the other three.
If a person is going to “call out their bosses,” then they have to be prepared to suffer the consequences. I don’t care what your job is, if you’re famous or Joe Blow down the street, you DO NOT call out your boss and get away with it. If I had caused a ruckus like Victoria at any of my jobs over the years, I would not have lasted at any of them. It’s called “sucking it up and doing your job.”
I dont agree. If your boss is wrong you call them out on it. that is why so many people are so stressed out. If you have a bad seed for a boss call them out on it. If they fire you then it is their loss. there are other jobs out there. I dont believe any job is worth sucking up to a person that is no better than you. I dont care how much money they have or what they are paying you for your job. It dont pay to be a brown noser. victoria had every right to say what she thought. Everyone is intitled to their own opinion. Just because it is your boss it doesnt mean they are right. A boss and an employee need respect for each other. if you dont have that and power goes to your head then the one that lets the power go totheir head is wrong. Two wrongs dont make a right.
Sandy, I agree with you. No one should be intimidated or afraid to voice their concerns to their boss. They should be able to do so without fear of repercussions. But keep in mind that there is also a proper way to do it without being insubordinate.
She has been calling out her employers and fellow actors si
nce she left by own choosing, years ago, if she was so adamant why didnt she stay and fight her fight.? If i difch complaining as she did at my minimum wage job i would be out so fast. She screwed up she lost a good thing .She is and was arrogant.
I feel sorry for Victoria Rowell she has to understand that white people don’t care if black people are treated fairly. Y&R is a white show period they really dont want black on they show;I just wish Afrian Americans would stop supporting Racist White People.Not one black person should watch Y&R boycott CBS.
whydont the writers find drus corpse ,,,pull itout of the river and give a final funeral farewell to the character…maybe all this drama about a rowell return will stop..and thus giving her fans closure to a character they have loved and hoped for a safe return,,
I disagree with you. They need to bring Dru back and get over themselfs.
Agree….viewers need closure!!
If I had a million dollars, which I don’t 🙁 , I’d bet it all on the believe that Y&R’s ratings would skyrocket if these morons behind the scenes would get over themselves and bring Victoria Rowell back as Dru. No doubt in my mind. With the soap genre dying, the focus should be about keeping viewers plugged into watching the few soaps left. Victoria Rowell, love her or hate her, is a HUGE draw for Y&R and the executives need to tell those actors that have a problem with VR to just get over themselves. It’s about survival of THE SHOW, not their fragile egos. I believe VR’s version of events. Period.
I agree
I think dru should be brought back to the young and restless. victoria rowell would bring some life back to the show. now that Neal is getting interested in other women they need to bring her back. I think it would really stir things up.
I think what the show executives and Victoria need to do is to put everything in the past back there in the past and go on. Many people have requested to bring Dru back with Victoria playing her. So Mr. Griffith needs to bring her back. In present times the execs need to pay attention to what the fans say, otherwise the show will go down. We all don’t want to see that happen, do we?! So BRING BACK DRU! The plot could be that Neil or Lily go on a business trip and they happen to run into Dru, but she doesn’t remember who he or she is. They take it from there where she eventually gets her memory back a little bit at a time.
While I am a fan of Y & R, I respect the decision of anyone that determine that this is not the best for them. Victoria R. is a beautiful person, her career seems to speak very loudly to her what she values most. Peace of mind.
I am an African-American woman who has watched, off and on, since the days when David Hasselhoff was “Snapper”. Victoria Rowell is quite correct when she says that 50% of Y&R is African-American. It just might be 50% +. A stylist who used to do my hair would book me sometimes, so we could watch the show together. Hair salons all along and across this country turn to Y & R, religiously. I’m surprised and hurt to know what the attitudes of CBS are. My favorite network; home of Walter Cronkite, and Dan Rather, Ed Bradley and many others, is still perpetuating bias in the work-place. What difference does it make what color a person is, who is writing a story ? When Victoria started in her role as Drucilla, and the day that Neil followed her, as she left Aunt Mamie. Neil found out that she was a dancer. When the camera cut over to her dancing and her reflection shown in the mirror, it was like magic ! It was a beautiful scene, shot beautifully, and it emanated the right amount of pathos, as it pulled the audience into who this girl was. Victoria is Drucilla. The Bells saw quickly how the woman soaked
up the persona of Drucilla like a sponge.
I hope you know that the majority community will not keep you afloat. I never thought I’d hear them say goodbye to shows like “All My Children” and “One Life to Live” but
they’re gone. The reasons why the majority communities will not hold you up is because
most of the women, who were normally at home in the old days, are now earning
money; and even the “taping to catch-up on weekends” is cumbersome. Few have the
time or the inclination, with all of the other things pressing on what little time they
have. I”m very disappointed. When my daughter was 12 yrs.old, CBS sent a crew
to my daughter’s school and she was picked to be interviewed about inner-city
educational standards and whatever else. Richard Threlkeld was doing the story.
He and the guys came to our house and talked with me and my daughter, Kelli.
Even though, I did television myself, locally for public service, I was as nervous as
anybody would be. I wasn’t nervous about Kelli, she’s a very brilliant young woman;
but Richard and the crew treated me, as if they’d worked with me ! I know he
hasn’t been around for many years, but the way the piece was done and the
kin-ship they showed me, was something I thought it was particular to “my
network;” the station that I got MY news from. I thought they represented
CBS and what it stood for. Please stop this stubborn I-will-wipe-you-out-attitude.
It’s not helping the show. It’s not helping the fans and eventually if the word gets
around people might turn away from “the stories” and look at Court TV.,
or anything. I, too, will spread the word; I’m no longer in media, in even that small way,
I have preferences, like everyone else; I prefer to see Drucilla being played
by the woman who brought her to life; Victoria Rowell.
Thank you.
Respectfully,
Patricia A. Peoples
I have been watching Y&R since I was 13 …I am 43….lol…..Wow—that is astounding but true…..
On the subject of Drucilla—-She was a great character and I waited for her to come back….especially when they had her fall off that edge and never found her body. I thought FOR SURE they would bring her back. So here is the question—Why in the world would they not have killed her off completely ? Instead… the fans thought that she was coming back because of the way they killed her off….however….eventually I accepted that she was gone forever……She was very good at her part and her clothes were awesome….I now know that she brought her own wardrobe so to that point–she deserves props. On the subject of her being mad at YandR for them not letting her write…..I have to say that the fans are probably somewhat confused on that because in our eyes either one is an actor/actress OR they are a writer. Sum it up as this—-She thought that there were not enough africanamerican writers,directors etc…(which she admitted to saying) so she could not get over that which sucked for Dru fans but a split was inevitable to the highest power……obviously. The new love of Neil’s life is doing an okay job but she is no “Dru” for sure…..lol
Please do not put my last name in…ty
I don’t have twitter but I googled to see what happened to Victoria. That is the way I found out about everything and I have to say that she probably could have been a bit more mature. I mean did she have to basically call CBS and Y&R racists? That is ridiculous……! Obviously she was miffed about them not letting her write so that’s it……but Y&R should have DEF killed her off better bc the fans kept hoping that she lived thru the fall……
I met her once….in a Home Depot, of all places. We talked for a few minutes about “Dru”. I found her to be very friendly and gracious. She seemed to glow when she talked about the iconic character she played. She seemed so proud of her work. I hope one day it works out that she will come back and we will get to see more of Dru’s attitude and antics.
Would really like to see her come back to the show , i’m sure i’m not the only one .
I miss B&B (awful scripting) and Y&R (explanation follows) they are like old friends that start behave strangely, you miss them and would take them back if only they would start acting like their old selves again. I don’t know, I’m sure I have the order wrong, because it’s all just a messy blur of memories now. William Bell left, Dru left, John left, brad left, then these minor characters kept coming and going. Sometimes the plot would almost get good then suddenly change or someone would leave, die or be replaced. I think the whole time just hang in until victoria rowell comes back, she’ll bring back some of that old black magic, then I realize she’s not coming back and I give up. That was years ago.
Sidenote: I mourn “As The Word Turns”. My old friend that died, it was a faithful friend. Why did these two wierd friends live and ATWT die, Why?!!
Hi I would like it very much if they would bring back VR as Drucilla I really like the way she played her character I watch Y&R everyday until they took her off the show now I don’t watch it. So please bring her back we beg you too.
You put TOO much time and energy in trying to be the next Rosa Parks, Y& R had black,white yellow and green audience with the original writers… QUIT BEING A FOOL! YOU HAD LOYAL FANS!! YOU TURNED YOUR BACK ON THEM… THEY SHIULDNT FOLLOW YOU TO CRAP!! Next you’ll say its all racial… Honey Hollywood is ALL Jewish!!! GROW UP OR GET OUT!! ACTORS ARE A DIME A DOZEN…
Victoria. You are an amazing actress and I would love to see you back a at the Y and R. Get over the racial thing! Look at the cast. Racial? No, the cast is so representative. Get off your soapbox and embrace what Y and R offers
If the writers and main people who direct the show did not intend to bring back Dru, why did they not have a stranger or police find her body eventually to prove that she is dead and there’s no way for her to return? The show just decided to keep it a mystery for no reason? Do they not know that the long-time running characters are what makes the show a classic?
Just do everybody a big favour and bring back Dru. The new girl that’s with Neil now is just not his match at all.
Dru was hilarious on the show, great actress, I miss her, we want her back. Dru please come back your fans need to see you on y&r
I will probably stop watching it if Dru Winters doesn’t return. The storylines are getting to be boring. There will never be excitement like it was when she was on there
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Shares He Was ‘Happy to Hear’ of The Triangle Storyline Developing Between Dante/Elizabeth/Ric
General Hospital’s Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) opened up about the burgeoning love triangle forming between his Port Charles alter-go, Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) after recently aired scenes, plus his hopes for the future of a Dante and Liz pairing, during his appearance on the Sunday, April 23 edition of the That’s Awesome podcast with Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli).
On last week’s episodes of GH, Ric has made the decision that he wanted to propose to his ex-wife, only when he showed up at Elizabeth’s front door, he misread the scenario he walked in with Liz tending to Dante’s injured leg from the softball game. From there, the legal eagle’s jealous streak is reemerging which may cause him to act out and do something unforgivable, or will he take the high road? Stay tuned.
Speaking with Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson about where Elizabeth stands in the annals of the long-running soap, Zamprogna said, “She’s up there with Steve and Maurice (Maurice Benard) as one of the most legacy-filled people on the show.”
Courtesy/ABC
HOW DANTE AND ELIZABETH CAME ABOUT
Dominic jokes it’s a far cry for where Dante and Elizabeth previously, recalling, “We had some scenes together years ago and we were both laughing. Becky’s like, ‘Well, I guess we’re not going be paired up anytime soon.’ I remember we laughed immediately after they yelled ‘cut,”‘and said to each other, ‘Well, so much for that!'”
Fast-forward to early 2025 and as Zamprogna remembered it, “Elizabeth Korte (co-head writer, GH) came up to me at the General Hospital Christmas party, and I think it was a year and a half ago and she said, ‘We’re going to have you in scenes with Elizabeth,’ My internal monologue is going, ‘I’m not with Lulu (Alexa Havins) anymore and Sam’s (Kelly Monaco) gone, so maybe they want to see if this works.’ I didn’t want to get scenes with Becky and try to find the chemistry. I just wanted to play whatever honestly was written and came across for both of us and hope it was what people liked, and I don’t know if it is … or not.”
Knowing how beloved Elizabeth is to the GH faithfuls, Zamprogna added, “She got a big fan base with Ric … and a big fan base with with Jason … and you know, you’re going to piss somebody off. But, didn’t Ric drug Elizabeth and put Carly in a panic room?”
Photo: ABC
DANTE AND ELIZABETH PAIRING COULD STIR UP STORY FOR OTHERS IN PORT CHARLES
In closing, Dominic felt that the wide-reaching tentacles of a Dante and Elizabeth relationship is something he is 100% down for. “The triangle thing; I was happy to hear it was with Ric and her, because I felt it’s important to have her the top of it as opposed to Dante, Lulu and Elizabeth.”
Zamprogna added, “When you get into relationships on a soap, things seem to fizzle out a little bit, The buildup is what’s the fun part, and the getting to know each other, and the people who are affected by this coming together. When with this case it’s going to affect: Ric, Sonny, Lulu. There’s so much more story here. To me, it’s going to be a fun story to play.”
You can check out Dominic’s visit to That’s Awesome with Steve and Bradford below.
Now weigh-in: Are you rooting for Dante and Liz, or Dante and Ric at this juncture of the story, or neither guy for Elizabeth? Let us know your thoughts and picks via the comment section.
While Smitty tries to hold the fort down in his marriage to congressman Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) and their two teenaged children, Samantha (Najah Jackson) and Tyrell (Jaden Lucas Miller) on Beyond the Gates, Emmy-winner Mike Manning has also landed another feature film role.
According to Deadline, Manning has joined the cast of Deify with 6 other new cast members for the indie psychological horror film starring Neal McDonough and Skeet Ulrich, which was previously announced last week.
Joining Manning as the latest cast addition are: Dennis Haysbert, Ashley Greene, Casey Harnett, Kirk Avecdo, Anji White, anf Nicholas Chimera who’s directing the pic also has a part in the film.
WHAT’S THE STORY OF DEIFY?
Taking to his Instagram with the news of his casting, Manning shared, “A movie about a cult? What could possibly go wrong? Come for the enlightenment. Stay because they won’t let you leave. DEIFY is coming…”
The movie is currently shooting in Chicago and in story, “a cult leader is put on trial after causing his devoted followers to be burned alive. The film is inspired in part by events surrounding the 1993 Waco, Texas, standoff between members of the Branch Davidians church and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, one of the largest civilian firefights ever recorded on American soil.”
MIKE MANNING IS A DAYTIME EMMY NOMINEE
In addition, the multi-talented Manning is a producer on the feature. Previously, Mike was nominated last month in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. He previously won an Emmy for his role on The Bay and for being a producer on the digital drama.
Mike’s previous credits include the role of Charlie Dale on Days of Our Lives and the Manny on This Is Us, plus various primetime and screen credits.
So intrigued to find what role Mike will play in the upcoming horror/cult film, Deify? Enjoying him as Smitty on Beyond the Gates? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
General Hospital
GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)
At the conclusion of today’s August 21 episode of General Hospital, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) sings a lullaby to baby Dez, that went into a montage to close out the episode as her father Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) reports to Pentonville and winds up in his jail cell.
However, in a fun fact, the song entitled, “A Lonely Heart To Give” was actually written by none other than former One Life to Live and General Hospital actor, Patrick J. Gibbons.
Daytime fans first met Gibbons as Sam Manning on One Life to Live. At the time, when he started on the soap, he was just 5-years-old. Gibbons played the part from 2010-2013 on ABC and Prospect Park’s editions of the show. Fast-forward to 2018, Gibbons shows up on General Hospital as Wyatt Hoover, the scout who seemed always be injured, but in the thick of the drama. Patrick had appeared on GH multiple times as Wyatt including: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023.
Photo: ABC
FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER’S DEATH CAME THE INSPIRATION FOR HIS SONG
Now in 2026, General Hospital fans are getting to learn about another side of Gibbons’ talent as a songwriter and guitar player after “A Lonely Heart to Give” debuted today! Michael Fairman TV caught up with Patrick, who is now a senior at Penn State entering his final year as a finance major, to get the back-story of how his song wound up on GH!
Gibbons explained he wrote the song in honor of his grandmother who passed away a few years ago with whom he was, very, very close with. “Randomly, my grandmother had a downfall and passed away during the second semester of my sophomore year. I was in my dorm a lot and I was just playing with my guitar. And at the time, I was really into finger-style playing. I wrote the lyric and music to it (with a little help from my guitar teacher Lou), and my mom showed the rough demo to Frank Valentini (EP, General Hospital). He’s like an uncle to me. Frank loved it so much he said, “Finish that up. I want to hear the whole thing, and I want it on the show.”
MAKING MUSIC FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL
Gibbons and his parents took the next steps! “So now, all we needed was a female voice, because I thought that would fit the song well,” Patrick shared. “At the golf club we go to my parents were at a dinner. They liked the singer that was performing and spoke to her about the song, and she says she would like to bring it to her ‘boss’ who ended up being Eric Bazilian of the Hooters fame!” (Bazilian also wrote the smash hit song “One of Us” for Joan Osborne).
Next, “We went in the studio and recorded it and the song came together and it was beautiful. We loved it. They loved it at General Hospital and now they’re putting it the show and they are coming in with a piano, instead of a guitar. Paul Glass, the GH musical director, has been keeping us updated over the last six months of how it was coming along, and when it would air, and how GH put their own arrangement to it. I can’t wait to see and hear what they did with it.”
Photo: JPI
PATRICK’S ONE LIFE TO LIVE FAMILY
Everyone knows that the One Life to Live extended family share a very tight bond, and Patrick said he does stay in touch with a few of his former One Life to Live co-stars, especially those from the Manning family! “I stayed in touch with Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair) and sent her little videos here and there. She was like my second mom for five years. We keep in contact with Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) over X the most, and she can’t believe how big I’ve gotten. Like, none of them can! (laughs). I also loved working with Roger Howarth (ex-Todd) and Trevor St. John (ex-Todd and Victor Jr.), and to me since I was so young, they were just my friends, ‘Roger and Trevor,’ not Todd Manning or Victor Jr.”
It was a trip to California and a visit to Port Charles that ultimately led to Gibbons second soap role of Wyatt Hoover. Patrick explains, “In 2016, Frank Valentini invited us out to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital. I think he heard me say, ‘This is so much fun. I miss being on the set.’ He goes, ‘You should come out. I’ll bring you on the show. We can make you a character.'”
A few years later, Patrick’s dream became a reality! “Then, by the summer of 2018, I was playing Wyatt, the scout, and shared scenes with Wes Ramsey (Peter August), and the best was when I shared a scene with Roger Howarth and Michael Easton (ex-John, OLTL and ex-Silas, Finn et al, GH), it was like chemistry from the old days.”
Photo: PGibbons
IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS
As to his future aspirations, it’s a career in the finance game that has piqued Gibbons’ real-life interest. But never say never to a return to acting. Patrick explained, “I’ve always enjoyed numbers. And on top of that, one of the biggest parts of finance is being personable and outgoing.”
He continued, “That’s one of the greatest skills I developed growing up. I really love the markets. I’m super interested. I’m never going to close the door to acting. I’m always open to that because I just love it so much. It’s such a great art.”
Take note! If there are any investment bankers or private equity folks among the GH faithful looking for a young analyst next year, Patrick’s DMs are open. You can find him on X at @PatrickJGibbons.”
So, what did you think of the song sung by Trina on today’s GH that was written by Patrick J. Gibbons? Did you enjoy Patrick’s performances as One Life’s Sam and GH’s Wyatt? Would you like to see him back on GH at some point? Let us know via the comment section.
‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Shares He Was ‘Happy to Hear’ of The Triangle Storyline Developing Between Dante/Elizabeth/Ric
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Preview: Kelly Sullivan Debuts as Dylan’s Mom; Suspicion is Raised About Carter and Steffy
‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Mike Manning Lands Role in Indie Horror Feature ‘Deify’
GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)
‘Guiding Light’s’ Grant Aleksander Shares Heartfelt Remembrance of TV Daughter, Hayden Panettiere On What Would Have Been Her 37th Birthday
‘General Hospital’s’ Maurice Benard Talks: New ‘Sonny’ Storyline, His Contract, and Three Characters He Would Want to See Back in Port Charles
How John Oliver’s ‘Days of Our Lives’ Guest Star Turn as ‘Devlin St. John’ Came to an End
‘Veronica & Julian’ Feature Starring ‘Days of Our Lives’ Alums Nadia Bjorlin and Kyler Pettis Releases Key Art and More (Exclusive)
John Oliver Recaps His ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘General Hospital’ Soap Opera Experience on ‘Last Week Tonight’
‘General Hospital’ Alum Bryan Craig Cast in ‘The Weapon’
‘Guiding Light’s’ Grant Aleksander Shares Heartfelt Remembrance of TV Daughter, Hayden Panettiere On What Would Have Been Her 37th Birthday
‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Admits That He Didn’t Expect the Role of Michael Corinthos to be Recast, and Would Consider Working on Another Soap (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ric’s History of Jealousy Where Elizabeth is Concerned Has Come Back Around
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Steffy and Carter Get Lame Excuses From Their Spouses, and Try to Shake Off Their Night Together
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