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Y&R’s Jason Thompson Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week”

Courtesy/CBS

Last week, daytime drama offered up some stellar performances.  We had General Hospital’s Sydney Miykala (Trina) and Jeff Kober (Cyrus) being given some very emotional material and playing the heck out of it, and we had The Young and the Restless, Jason Thompson in what was to be his third standalone episode during his run as Billy Abbott.  Scenes from his last standalone episode helped win Jason the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Award at the Daytime Emmys this past June.

While there has been a very mixed-bag of reviews from fans of the writing of this standalone episode, one thing remains true –  that if given the ball, Thompson will bring the complexities needed to it, make it work, and in-turn make the audience feel the deep emotional pain within Billy.  And that was on full display in one key scene that locked up his Power Performance of the Week honors.

In the set-up, this time Billy is in the slammer contemplating his life while trying to rest and is hit with a series of dream/nightmare sequences in which he is emotionally tortured by many family members, enemies, and friends for his consistently being a screw-up, or so they like to say.  The one person in the episode who stands by Billy’s side is Lily (Christel Khalil).

During the episode, as Billy jumped from different locations within Genoa City, he grew more hopeless given his situation.  However, then he is visited by his late daughter Delia (Sophie Pollano) in the grown-up teenage version.  This is where Thompson broke hearts, playing guilt, loss, and despair.  He tells Delia if he could take one day back to do over again, it would be the night he left her alone for a few minutes to get ice-cream in the convenient store, and she wandered out in the street after her dog, only to be fatally hit by a car driven by Adam.  In this scene, it was Jason at his best, and surely a scene that should be used for his Emmy reel in 2021. What made it all the more notable is that Jason was not even playing the character of Billy back then, but you believed every heartbreaking second of his talk with his daughter about what Billy experienced the the night of her death and for years after.

Two other moments were also stand-outs in the episode.  When Victor (Eric Braeden) comes to see Billy behind bars and taunts him every which way to Sunday.  It was hard to know if that was real or imagined, but both Eric Braeden and Thompson chewed the scenery with that showdown.

Later in the episode, Billy is shocked to be transported to the police station to where his now teenage son, Johnny is in trouble with the law, and Rey (Jordi Vilasuso) is detaining and questioning him.  Billy realizes he has to fight for his freedom as he can’t leave his family in disarray, or let himself or Lily down again.

Billy Abbott continues to be an oh-so-flawed character, which gives Thompson opportunities to shine and play all the beats to perfection.

Share your thoughts on Jason’s performance and our choice for the Power Performance of the Week via the comment section below.

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Sorry Michael I truly think you are a great fan for daytime but I can’t agree I think Jason is a good actor but he is not Billy and it’s time to move on ! Billy Miller was the only Billy for me and get over it the story is over Billy is responsible for his child’s death no one else

No way! The person directly responsible for the death of that child is and always will be ADAM who was driving the car. Jason is most definitely the best Billy Abbott. Billy Miller was a complete bore in the role.

Someday, soon..
The real person that hit Delia will be caught..
Adam will be innocent..
I believe it was drunk Nikki, she is culprit, no doubts.
It will be fitting for it be Niki.
She drove off that night drunk, very drunk.
She might not remember but eventually, she will..

Years ago my husband left a relative child in the car while he went in the store a woman stood outside the car until he came back she let him have it and he deserved it never leave a child unattended in a car so let’s wrap this up ok ???

Honestly, no he didn’t. It was a badly written and predictable episode that was cringe-worthy to watch. Not entirely Thompson’s fault, because he is trying to play a character that has become completely one dimensional, but certainly nothing to celebrate.

And if Y&R writers can’t start writing Billy better, the least they can do is not ruin the character of Lily, too. She finally ditched that lech Cane and embraced her inner strength. Why would she go for another loser like Billy, despite all the red flags? It doesn’t make a lot of sense, as a plot point. She’d be the least likely to fall for his “save me from myself” nonsense.

I agree and I adore Jason Thompson I loved him as Patrick Drake he just has not fit the role of Billy sometimes no matter how great you are in a certain character you just don’t always make another fit! I have thought for a long time they needed to just shelve the character of billy

As for the character of Cane not sure what that was all about ? His exit but I do know he truly loved the show he was a champion I heard rumblings of why he was let go but I don’t like rumors

I am not trying to be hateful but viewers don’t connect when you are on your third Billy since the storyline happened and NO it is not a reflection on Jason Thompson I just can’t feel anything anymore I just wish JG would stop let’s move on.

There is no disputing Jason Thompson is a good actor. But his interpretation of Billy is not one of my favorites. He has no chemistry with any of his female counterparts (remember him and Robin on GH?) His version is just unlikeable. I would be happy if Billy were locked up for life and gone, so if that’s his objective on how to play Billy, it’s working! As far as his solo episode. Yawn. It felt gratuitous and was much less effective then last years…

Sounds like Billy was truly tortured…or was it Jason Thompson tortured from still having to play the beats of this crapfest ?
I think most viewers would agree that this storyline is torturing them the most
Didnt Billy have a standalone eppy last year when he supposedly had a breakthrough!?
Why was Adam only in the looney bin for like 20 min but Billy ‘ going to jail’ was played for eternity when the viewers knew very full well it wasnt going to happen?
Why wont tptb permantly keep the cute replacent Chance over cowboy Chance?

And for heavens sake when will y n r finallllyyyy get a new headwriter? Josh Griffith is the bottom of the barrel. …oh and ditch the music director and bring back the original. Everytime the classic music plays in the background during flashbacks it reminds me of how special the scores were. Not the synthesizer shit played now randomly

Jason Thompson is much better than Billy Miller as Billy.
Miller could have never portrayed this Billy as Thompson has.
I see Jason as the best actor on Y&R.
He is a powerful actor and brings it home every time.

I have always liked J.T as Billy. As much as I love Billy Miller, Jason just looks like I imagined Billy to look and is so compatible with every other character he has contact with. I am not too crazy about he and Lily as a couple though and I did not enjoy the dream/hallucination thing in jail. Too boring and F.F. thru most of it.

I think if anyone deserves The Power Performance of the Week it should be Marci Walker as Abby on DOOL. Today she was outstanding as she tore in to Gwen for all her lies and deception towards her family and herself personally. She was literally shaking with her hurt, anger and betrayal from Gwen.

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny and Jason Trade Threats on Each Other

The love affair that once was mobster Sonny (Maurice Benard) and hit man Jason (Steve Burton), and having each others back, is now apparently over! On the Thursday April 25th episode of General Hospital, an increasingly paranoid Sonny is confronted by Jason.

Jason wants to talk to Sonny about a “family matter”, but Sonny says they aren’t family now because he’s working with the Feds. Sonny goes on to say how he cannot trust Carly (Laura Wright) or Jason and he knows about Jason buying back the Metro Court for Carly from Nina (Cynthia Watros).

When the conversation turns to Josslyn (Eden McCoy) and Dex (Evan Hofer), Jason informs Sonny that Kristina (Kate Mansi) knows Sonny ordered a hit. Jason is worried about Dex’s safety. He tells Sonny that if he does something to Dex, Kristina will figure out that he is responsible.

Courtesy/ABC

Sonny goes on to say how much he loves his kids and how he will protect them. He then tears into Jason for abandoning his sons, Danny and Jake, for two years and how he has no right to stand there to tell him what to do.

Jason warns Sonny again to leave Dex alone or he’ll personally stop him. Sonny snaps at Jason, countering, “You’ll die trying!” And at that point, Jason walks out and Sonny slams the door behind him.

What do you think about this split in the longstanding relationship of Jason and Sonny? Do you like Jason and Sonny at odds? Will Kristina be the person to ultimately figure out what is happening to Sonny, or it might it be Nina, who knows Ava (Maura West) is up to no good? Share your thoughts in the comment section, but first watch this clip from part of the Sonny/Jason scenes below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Brook Lynn and Chase Have Their Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties

On General Hospital, Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard) both were treated to Bachelorette and Bachelor parties to shake off any of those pre-wedding jitters. At The Savoy, the ladies have a touching and fun time with Brook Lynn.

The bride-to-be gives a speech to thank everyone for coming, while Lois lets everyone know to try the signature cocktail the “Brooklynn Chaser”, which gets everybody eventually and mostly, drunk.

When Tracy (Jane Elliot) questions Lois (Rena Sofer) as to why there is no music for the party, Lois realizes she forgot, and somehow, who does she call to the rescue? Spinelli (Bradford Anderson)! Saving the day, he winds up playing some tunes and later gets on the dance floor to ‘shake it off’ with the gals.

Photo: ABC

Lois makes a speech as the mother of the bride, and shares how proud she is of the woman Brook Lynn has become. Wedding games begin, including one of “hot potato” with a wedding bouquet.

When it’s time for the “Silly Poses” section of the party, Spinelli has now morphed from DJ to staff photographer taking memorable photos of the ladies to remember the evening by.

Photo: ABC

The best part of the event, was when Brook Lynn tries to get her grandmother Tracy out on the dance floor, which, at first, she refuses. After several of the guests bust a move, a tipsy Tracy joins the dance party after Joss mentions that if her grandmother Bobbie was here, she would dance. Tracy says “she agrees” and begins to cut a rug on the floor, much to the delight of the other women.

Photo: ABC

In the final moments, a tipsy Joss and Kristina (Kate Mansi) have a confrontation about Sonny, and Joss lets Kristina in more on Sonny’s behavior, which looks to have clued in Kristina a bit more as to how something is way off about her dad.

Photo: ABC

Across town at the Hatchett Bar, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) and the men with the exception of Anna (Finola Hughes) and Jordan (Tanisha Harper), all attend Chase’s Bachelor Party where throwing hatchets into a dart board for supremacy is the order of the day. Drew (Cameron Mathison) and Ned (Wally Kurth) get into some words over ELQ, while Dante makes a toast to his police partner, Chase.

Photo: ABC

Suddenly Dex (Evan Hofer) shows up. Chase thanks Dex for coming, but Dex gets some dirty looks from other cops on the force. Dante gives Chase his present, which is a signed baseball by the Boston Red Sox.

Ned (Wally Kurth) makes a speech that although no one is good enough for his daughter, Brook Lynn, Chase has come closer than anyone has, so welcome to the family. Running in at the end is Blaze (Jacqueline Grace Lopez), who just left Brook Lynn’s party, and she toasts her singing partner, Chase, and to the great man that he is.

Photo: ABC

What did you think of Brook Lynn and Chase’s pre-wedding celebrations? What was your favorite moment? Comment below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Nina Confronts Ava for Sabotaging Her Relationship With Sonny and Signs the Divorce Papers

Looks like Nina (Cynthia Watros) and Ava (Maura West) are back to be each other’s sworn enemy number one. By the end of the Monday, April 22nd episode of General Hospital, the women know where they stand with each other after Nina goes in on Ava accusing her of wanting Sonny (Maurice Benard) all to herself, while her marriage has been on the rocks.

In story, at Nina’s office, Ava shows up to see Nina and says she is sorry about what happened with Sonny and that he reacted the way he did, acknowledging that is was over the top, even for Sonny. Ava says she’ll smooth things over, but Nina says she now understands how manipulative and transparent Ava really is.

Given their horrible history, Nina goes in on Ava and how she should never have trusted her. Nina wants to know how long has Ava had this agenda dating all the way back to telling Nina to turn Carly (Laura Wright) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) into the SEC. Ava says she never told her do to that, but Nina wants to know how long Ava has been playing her for a fool.

Courtesy/ABC

Ava says she moved in with Sonny to keep Avery safe and she wants to be on good terms with Avery’s father, Sonny. Nina thinks she likes being in Sonny’s inner circle. Ava tells Nina if she goes to him about her advising Nina to call the SEC on Carly and Drew, it won’t work.  Sonny still considers Nina a traitor and he will think she’s lying because she’s so desperate to win him back. Ava says if Nina would stop blaming everyone else that maybe Sonny would respect her.  Nina says “like he does you?” Ava says Sonny not only respects her, but he also counts on her.

From there, Ava launches into why she and Sonny understand each other, after all, Sonny is a powerful, turbulent, and sometimes violent man. She goes so far to say if Nina wanted someone to just sit by the fire with and play with their grandchildren, she’s got the wrong guy.  Ava then talks about Mike from Nixon Falls (Sonny with amnesia) and how Sonny hid the darkest parts of himself from Nina back then, whereas with Ava they are the same similar creatures, so he doesn’t have to hide anything.

Courtesy/ABC

Nina wants to know just what Ava wants with Sonny? What is her end game? Ava responds that they understand each other, in ways she can’t with Sonny. Nina tells Ava she can go ahead and have it all and signs Sonny’s divorce papers. Ava walks out with the documents, while Nina in tears at her desk, takes off her wedding rings and has her assistant come in so she can messenger the rings back to Sonny’s address.

The episode and these scenes featured great performances by Cynthia Watros and Maura West. You can check some of the scenes below.

Now, let us know, what is Ava’s next move? Is she going to become Mrs. Sonny Corinthos? Do you like Ava and Nina as enemies? Comment below.

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