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Y&R’s Executive Producer Anthony Morina Talks On Daytime Emmy Drama Series Win For Neil’s Memorial & Honoring Kristoff St. John

By Michael Fairman

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6 years ago

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Photo: JPI

Last Friday night, The Young and the Restless was named the Outstanding Drama Series at the 47th annual Daytime Emmy Awards broadcast on CBS. The show won on the strength of their submissions, which centered on the death of Neil Winters; including when the residents of Genoa City find out of his passing, and the subsequent heartbreaking memorial service in his honor.

However, what made those hours of television unlike anything seldom seen; were not only was Genoa City saying goodbye to Neil, but the cast was saying their goodbyes to their beloved friend and colleague, Kristoff St. John (Neil) who had passed away suddenly back in February of 2019.

Y&R’s executive producer, Anthony (Tony) Morina accepted the award for the top-rated CBS Daytime drama during the Emmy telecast, which now makes Morina a five-time Daytime Emmy winner himself!

Michael Fairman TV chatted with Tony on the series emotional Emmy win, and what it meant for him to win the gold for these incredibly moving and special episodes that were at its epicenter paying tribute to Kristoff in the best way the soap opera could. Here’s what Tony shared on the Y&R Drama Series victory and more.

Photo: JPI

Congratulations on your Outstanding Drama Series win. The episodes that you submitted were at every level, so gut-wrenching, sincere, and beautiful.  What did you think about the process that you went through to make these right for Kristoff and the character of Neil?

TONY:  Occasionally, when you are in this business, as you know, you work so hard to achieve certain things, sometimes you think you’re achieving something, and you’re not, and sometimes something shows up that surprises the heck out of you, and this was kind of it for me.  But what didn’t surprise me, of course, were the actors’ ability, the director’s ability, and the crews’ ability, and for these episodes it was at such a high level.  Sometimes there is an emotional element, or an otherworldliness thing that takes over.

Photo: CBS

Yes, because it was all so real and raw; in that we were watching the characters who loved Neil Winters mourn him, but we were also watching all the actors who loved their co-star.

TONY: When everybody was in that church set and were giving their eulogies, it felt like everybody was so behind each other, and everybody just cared for each other so much because they cared so much for Kristoff.  All the eulogies that people were doing were a page and a half to two pages.  They were really long, but you could feel the emotional tension, and you could feel how people just felt.  Kristoff was a very unique special person, who ended up going through some rough times, but he really was beloved.  Sometimes you love people, and sometimes you say somebody is beloved.  Whenever you saw him, he put a smile on your face.  He made you feel like he really cared about you.  Those shows came together really out of this feeling of love.  We did two whole shows that day.  We did that whole show and the show that came after it.  I don’t know how many hours of a day it was, but people had so much emotion attached to it that those shows really kind of took over themselves with everybody just trusting and letting go and supporting each other.  I got a text from Peter Bergman (Jack, Y&R) saying how it was one of the greatest experiences he’d ever had in terms of how it all came together.  Those shows just meant a lot to us, and I really felt that if we didn’t win, I’d be perfectly fine with that, because I was just so glad that we were able to do these episodes, and people got to see it.

Photo: JPI

At what point did you decide, “We are going with this to submit for the Emmy!”

TONY:  I actually knew that day.  I think, I actually said to Josh Griffith (head writer and Co-EP Y&R), “This is going to be our Emmy show … or one of our Emmy shows.”  The other show when everybody finds out Neil died was an incredibly powerful show to me too, but I knew that day when we shot the funeral that you rarely see that kind of rawness.  When you get into this business, and you want to become an actor, it’s tough, but you know that in the end what you want is to get into a position where you can share who you are as a person in an artistic way.  I think the Neil memorial gave people a way to say, “This is why I do this because I get to really share myself, and I get to express how passionate I am and how much I care about other people.”

Photo: JPI

Shemar Moore (Ex-Malcolm) came back to honor his dear friend and on-screen Y&R brother.  How was it having him on set with you to share this experience?

TONY:  Shemar was amazing.  He was there until the bitter end of our tape day.  He could not have been kinder and more supportive of everybody, and really laid out his emotions, and it was like that with everybody.  I would say this was the the most amazing experience I have ever had.

What do you think Kristoff would say?  I think he would be very proud that you gave Neil a real proper sendoff.

TONY:  Absolutely.  I also think Kristoff, would have thought that Neil deserved it, and would have loved it, a, it’s an interesting question because you have got to say to yourself, “Does Kristoff feel he deserves it?” As a character, he’d definitely feel he deserved it.  He was a part of that community.  He was a part of Genoa City.  Those were his friends and his family.  Would Kristoff feel he deserves that?  I don’t know if he would have felt he deserved it, but I know he would have loved knowing how much people cared for him.  I think that would have meant the world to him.  I really do.

Photo: CBS

I loved your acceptance speech.  I thought it was one of the better ones of Emmy night. 

TONY:  Thanks so much.  Matt Kane (publicist, Y&R) has been amazing.   He gave me a lot of guidance on where to go, and my wife, Sally (Sussman Morina) really helped write the speech because the rules were you’ve got 30 seconds.  I really believe in the notion that when you have an opportunity to speak in front of people about something, it has some meaning to you and to other people.  I think you have to put thought into it because how many opportunities do you get in life to share about yourself and how you feel about people?  So, I really appreciate you saying that.

Photo: CBS

What did you think of your Y&R actors: Bryton James’ (Devon) and Jason Thompson’s (Billy) major Emmy victories?

TONY:  Well, personally, I am enormous fans of both people.  I like when nice, good people have nice things happen to them, and you know them.  First off, I was so happy for Bryton because I know he and Kristoff were close, and I know he was deeply affected, as Christel Khalil (Lily, Y&R) was, as everybody was, but they were like family.  I love Bryton personally, and he laid his heart out there.  As for Jason Thompson, people think the world of him, and I think he is an unbelievable actor.  I taught for years, and I have worked with a lot of actors, and I think Jason has such control of his work.  I’m impressed by him.  I’m just as impressed by who Jason is.  I think he’s deserved it other times too, and this was his first win; which must be very special for him.

Photo: deCazotteFacebookPage

During the In-Memoriam tribute on the Emmy broadcast, former producer, Lisa de Cazotte was also featured.  What can you say about your time working with her at Y&R and over your career?

TONY: I’ve known Lisa De Cazotte since Santa Barbara when Paul Rauch (former executive producer) brought her there, and that’s where we first met. Lisa was probably my favorite producer to ever be in the booth with because she let you be yourself, and she let you do your job, and yet, she still had control over the room and the studio.  She was a great touchstone for me, because when you are in this position, you need someone to bounce stuff off of or just say, “Am I really being an idiot here?” because we were old friends, she could say, “Tony, you’re being an idiot.”  (Laughs)  We miss her terribly.  She was really a loved person, and she was just fantastic at what she did.  I just miss her as a friend.

Photo: JPI

And of course, the In-Memoriam featured the late Y&R co-creator, Lee Philip Bell who also passed recently. 

TONY:  Yes, and that’s what was interesting about that speech I gave, because you had to mention those three people: Lee, of course, Kristoff, and Lisa – three truly linchpin important people in daytime drama for many years. Losing all three made it a particularly rough year for The Young and the Restless family.

I also wanted to talk about Eve LaRue (Ex-Celeste Rosales), who had never won a Daytime Emmy but she did for her work on Y&R! She was very emotional and moved by her win as Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series.  What can you say about Eva?

TONY:  She is such a lovely person and she did a great job for us.  I’m just glad for her because I know she had ever won before.

Photo: JPI

One of the clips shown on the Emmy broadcast that Y&R chose for air from Neil’s memorial was Victor’s emotional eulogy; which Eric Braeden delivered so beautifully.   I know how found he was of Kristoff; so it made that on-screen moment all the more heartbreaking. What can you say about Eric?

TONY:  Eric feels as deeply as anybody who I have ever known.  Really, he can come across sometimes as a certain kind of image for people on-screen, but he cares deeply, and is the most supportive actor of every other actor.  Eric has a depth and is a fantastic actor, and he knows how to use his talent.  He actually called me last night and left a message.  He just said, “Hey, I saw you on TV,” and then he just laughed for 5 minutes.  It was really very funny.  He’s not used to seeing me on TV, and so he just laughed.  It was hilarious.

What did you think of Y&R’s win for Outstanding Drama Series knowing they submitted the episodes of Genoa City finding out Neil had passed, and his funeral? Share your thoughts on Tony’s remarks via the comment section below.

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Congratulations to Y&R on your win ❤️❤️❤️

Reply

Well deserved, well deserved, well deserved. #YR was the odds on favorite to win it again this year, Kudos to the entire cast, producers, directors, writers (Y&R was robbed of the Writing Emmy), camera people, make up, wardrobe, lighting and so on.

I can remember watching those episodes and bawling my eyes out, in the same way that the episodes for Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor) did.

Reply

Personally I think it’s pretty embarrassing that they submitted two episodes centered around their black characters to win an Emmy, but those characters were either let go or put on the back burner for the rest of the year. If they’re good enough for Emmys, they should be good enough to regularly lead story like the white characters.

Reply

I thought the reel Y&R submitted from Kristof‘s funeral, he portrayed Neil winters. He wasn’t terminated from the show, he passed away. They had to write the character in the same way to honor him and his legacy on the show, and how well loved and respected he is. So what black character are you talking about?

Reply

My problem was that Y&R wasn’t good hardly at all during 2019. The writing was mostly awful. It won because it submitted the right episodes but that doesn’t make it deserving. GH was the most consistent show in 2019 and deserved to win but it submitted one great episode and one poor choice (the Christmas Carol nonsense). Days was the 2nd best and submitted well. B&B had the one storyline about baby Beth but was otherwise repetitious and dull in 2019. I disagree that it was well-deserved; GH deserved to win for it’s entire year and simply made a mistake with their second episode submission.

Reply

Freeman, the problem with you is you’re looking at the whole year’s work instead of the reels submitted.

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Interviews

B&B’s Sydney Bullock Weighs In on Future of Dylan and Will: ‘I Think She Can Hold on to Him for Awhile’ (Exclusive)

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1 day ago

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November 11, 2026

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Crew Morrow and Sydney Bullock

It appears that Melissa Dylan (Sydney Bullock) has thus far successfully been able to swing Will Spencer (Crew Morrow) over to her side, and have him actually develop strong romantic feelings for her.

The one problem in her way is Will’s mother, Katie Logan (Heather Tom), and there is always the possibility that Will and Electra (Laneya Grace), who were each others first loves find their way back to one another.

However for now, Dylan’s portrayer, Sydney Bullock is confident that her soap opera alter ego’s got her man and that she can handle anything that can come her way Speaking on the red carpet with Michael Fairman TV at the recently completed 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards, Bullock explained where Will and Dylan’s relationship is at now on the CBS soap opera.

Crew

Photo: JPI

“Dylan is our lovable anti-hero. She’s messy, but she’s a human,” shares Bullock. Adding about keeping Will Spencer as Dylan’s guy, Sydney commented, “I think she can hold on to him for awhile. I think she’s got it in her.”

When asked how it is sharing the screen with young leading man, Crew Morrow, Sydney joked, “Crew, what a doll! It’s a hard job, my goodness! How do I do it?”

Kelly Sullivan

Photo: JPI

In the last few months, Bullock received an on-screen mom when General Hospital and The Young and the Restless alum, Kelly Sullivan (ex-Kate/Connie, ex-Sage, respectively) joined the show as Darcy Dylan.

“I love working with Kelly Sullivan,” said Bullock enthusiastically. “She’s always down to break down the scenes with me, and we go through so much, and she’s really like my mom on set. She’s so amazing.” Sullivan visited the Michael Fairman Channel for a live chat after her B&B debut here.

So, what’s ahead for Dylan and will be exciting? Hold the phone! Sydney explained, “Oh, man! Is it going to get exciting?! Dylan, she’s a survivor and we’re just going to keep seeing her surviving. She finds a lot of ways to do that.”

In the end, Bullock has high-praise and love for her B&B character: “I think she’s super strong and I’m really honored to play her.  I’ve been rooting for her, and as for the fans, I think they will be (rooting for her) too.”

You can check out our Daytime Emmys red carpet chat with Sydney Bullock below, and for more interviews with your favorite stars from the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards, click here. 

In addition on Wednesday, BBTV posted a new video with Crew Morrow and Sydney Bullock about the pairing of “Dill.” You can also check that out below.

So are your rooting for Dylan to keep Will all to herself? Do you think she will have to fight and claw to keep her man? Are you enjoying Sydney Bullock’s portrayal of Melissa Dylan? Let us know in the comment section below. 

 

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Favorite Amanda Setton Talks Brook Lynn and Chase’s Divorce, Jude Jacks, Baby Phoebe, and What’s Next (Exclusive)

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4 days ago

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November 9, 2026

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Amanda Setton

On General Hospital, Brook Lynn Quartermaine’s (Amanda Setton) life as she knows it has turned upside down. First, she and Chase (Josh Swickard) signed divorce papers while in  the Dominican Republic. As much as they loved each other, they just couldn’t get past all the trust issues between them.

Then, right after that, Jude Jax (Wil Traval) shows up at the Q mansion and demands to see his daughter, baby Phoebe! Brook Lynn is thrown for a complete loop. Is this guy claiming to be the biological father of Delilah Wilson’s daughter, which had been adopted by Brook Lynn and Chase, telling the truth? Brook Lynn is on her way to getting to the bottom of his claims.

Meanwhile, Brook Lynn’s portrayer, Amanda Setton just celebrated her first-ever Daytime Emmy nomination, and in the very competitive Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category. While Amanda ultimately did not take home the gold statuette, that honor went to The Young and the Restless’ longtime veteran, Beth Maitland (Traci Abbott), she was in great spirits when Michael Fairman TV caught up with her on the red carpet.

Photo: ABC

THE END OF THE LINE FOR BROOK LYNN AND CHASE

When asked how she felt about Brook Lynn being the first (between her and Chase) to put pen to paper on their divorce papers, Settton recalled, “She did. But I’m like, ‘Did she or did he kind of?’ They did it (both of them).”

Getting a new co-star and cast member can go one of two ways, great or not so great, but Amanda had nothing but high praise for Wil Traval’s entrance and performance as Jude Jacks!

THE ARRIVAL OF JUDE JAX

“Wil Traval is fabulous to work with. His debut was so amazing the other day, wasn’t it? He was just such a force and everybody’s faces and reactions when he says that he’s, ‘Jude Jacks, Jerry’s son.’ It was so good and well-played! Wil’s awesome. I’m excited for what’s to come. We’re going to have a lot of stuff together.”

Photo: ABC

According to Amanda, Brook Lynn will have her hands full in the months to come: “There’s a lot of stuff coming down the pike with Baby Phoebe. Will Chase and Brooklyn work together? Will they not? Is it really Jude’s daughter? Lots of questions!”

GRATITUDE TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY HER PEERS

For Setton, being an Emmy nominee meant the world to her, and to finally be acknowledged by her peers in a television career that spanned daytime and primetime including her performances as Kimberly Andrews on One Life to Live. But most importantly for her work in 2025 in the emotional rollercoaster of a story where Brook Lynn learns Gio (Giovanni Mazza) is her biological son.

“It means so much to me,” expressed Amanda. “It really does. I keep using this line, but I really mean it. It feels like a big hug. You know, not everybody who votes for these categories works with you. It’s really a very humbling feeling to know that your work actually touched someone and moved someone enough for them to vote for you. And getting to play the storyline that I got to play was such a privilege. It really was, with the actors I got to play it with. To be a little rewarded for it feels so nice.”

You can check out our chat with Amanda Setton on the red carpet at the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards below. Then make sure to check out all the Michael Fairman Channel red carpet interviews from daytime’s biggest night here.

So, do you think Brook Lynn and Chase will unite to keep baby Phoebe away from Jude Jacks? What do you think of Wil Traval’s performances thus far as Jude? How do you see this story for the custody of baby Phoebe playing out? Were you rooting for Amanda to take home the Supporting Actress gold? Let us know via the comment section below.

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Interviews

B&B’s Crew Morrow Talks Will and Dylan Romance, Heather Tom’s Success, and Dad Joshua Morrow’s Inspiring ‘Y&R’ Performance (Exclusive)

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6 days ago

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November 6, 2026

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Crew Morrow

The Bold and the Beautiful’s Crew Morrow (Will Spencer) is one of the brightest younger male leads in the world of daytime drama. Crew has quite the soap pedigree being the son of The Young and the Restless’ long-running star, Joshua Morrow (Nick Newman), but similarities aside, is forging his own path and success.

Currently on the CBS soap opera, Will is falling for Dylan (Sydney Bullock), after continued interference (by many) put a wrecking ball through this relationship with Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace). Now, it seems Will has softened towards Dylan, despite his mother, Katie Logan’s (Heather Tom) warning of mistrust of the young woman.

Michael Fairman TV caught up with Crew on the red carpet at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards  where he weighed-in on: the future of Will/Dylan, finding out his on-screen mom, Heather Tom, had the opportunity to become the winningest actress in Daytime Emmy history, and his thoughts on his dad’s touching performances in Nick’s drug addiction storyline.

Crew Morrow and Sydney Bullock

Photo: HuthcinsPhoto

WILL’S SECOND CHAPTER AT LOVE

When asked if it’s real love brewing for Will with Dylan, Morrow expressed, “Love is a tricky thing. He does love her. It’s been a journey for Will moving on from Electra. That’s always the most difficult thing is acceptance, and the courage to move on, because it’s so easy to be comfortable with someone. Everybody has fallen in love. Everybody knows what it feels like to be in love.”

Crew added, “And that was Will’s first love and as it was Electra’s, as well. So, we’re in a new chapter for Will. He’s found new love and not without its own difficulties. because now he’s got to convince his mother (Katie) that Dylan is not a bad egg.”

Speaking of momma Logan, Crew was surprised to learn that on-screem mom, after winning six gold statuettes, was in the running for what would be be her record-breaking 7th on Emmy night! Heather’s career has spanned roles on The Young and the Restless (ex-Victoria Newman) to One Life to Live (ex-Kelly Cramer) to The Bold and the Beautiful.

Heather Tom and Crew Morrow

Photo: JPI

LEARNING YOUR TV MOM IS ONE STEP AWAY FROM THE EMMY RECORD BOOKS

“Wow. That like almost makes me tear up,” an emotional Morrow shared. “That’s so amazing. I’m so proud of her. I came upon a scene of her and my father from Y&R. It’s just the weirdest thing in the world, because I do see the resemblance, and my dad had some swag back then. But, he doesn’t anymore (laughs), but he used to have swag! I’m just kidding, he does!”

Next, Crew shared a behind the scenes story of an exchange that went down between father and son; just before Joshua Morrow took to the sound stage to perform the scenes where Nick admits to his father, Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) that he has a drug addiction.

Crew recalled, “In the drug addiction storyline, I was just telling my dad, it it was one of the most inspiring pieces of television that I’ve seen in a long time. And I don’t know if it’s because I’m so close with him, and I feel a lot of the same things that he does, but the scenes where he confesses that he has a drug issue to Eric Braeden as Victor were amazing.”

Nick and Victor

Courtesy/CBS

CREW AND JOSHUA MORROW TALK THROUGH NICK’S ADMISSION TO VICTOR

The Nick/Victor moment is one of the most memorable moments from the soaps thus far in 2026. Crew shared just how proud of his dad he truly was. “I was with him that day and we were talking about it and I was like, ‘What’s the process like?’ And we just began talking about it and I asked him, I go, ‘Dad, what if I had a drug issue? What if I was addicted?’ He looks at me and he says nothing and that was it. Then, I saw him go out to set and perform that scene, and he looked at me the same way that he looked at Eric Braeden, and it was just really special. He was incredible.”

Check out our conversation below with Crew Morrow from the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards now on the Michael Fairman Channel.

Then let us know: are you rooting for Will and Dylan at this point as a couple? What did you think about Crew’s reaction to learning some Emmy factoids about his on-screen mother, Heather Tom, plus the exchange Crew had with his dad Joshua Morrow, before the moment Nick admits to Victor he has a serious drug addiction? Let us know via the comment section.

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