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Y&R’s Melissa Claire Egan Delivers The ‘Power Performance of the Week’

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: JPI

The Young and the Restless prepared its viewers for last Friday’s episode with a warning that viewer discretion should be advised. The daytime drama series tackled an important issue of our time, mental health, and in particular, a person’s battle with depression and where it can lead them.

In the trustworthy and capable hands of actress Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea), the story illustrated how the culmination of difficult decisions and moments in our lives – that often are compiled one on top of the other – could drive someone who feels there is no hope to consider ending their life.

Photo: JPI

Chelsea, who just had a run in with her biological son, Johnny (Paxton Mishkind) and Victoria (Amelia Heinle) is banned by Victoria to ever see him again. In the park and devastated, Billy (Jason Thompson) comes upon a broken Chelsea. She fills him on what Victoria told her and admits to him that she misjudged the situation and shouldn’t have pushed for Johnny to know she is his mom, too.  Billy tells Chelsea to be careful not to set her expectations high, especially when she says she will be patient, and maybe a few years from now, Johnny will come around to accepting her.  Chelsea asks Billy to assure both Victoria and Johnny that she won’t be bothering them again.  That prompts Billy to realize that something is very off about Chelsea’s demeanor.

Now alone in her hotel suite, Chelsea begins to eerily hear the voices of Billy, Chloe, Victoria, Connor, Johnny, and Adam all saying upsetting things to her and she becomes overwhelmed.  Sad and isolated, Chelsea pulls up a pillow and lays down. Next, Adam (Mark Grossman) arrives trying to lift Chelsea’s spirit and she agrees to go get a drink with him at Noah’s club.  However, once in the bathroom to freshen up before heading out with Adam, Chelsea looks in the mirror and hears voices in her head. She begins to sob as she stares at herself in the mirror. Chelsea screams out “Stop!” as she holds her head in agony.

Photo: JPI

Things go from bad to worse once Adam and Chelsea are at the club. Chelsea sees Noah (Rory Gibson) and Allie (Kelsey Wang) kiss, and Billy and Lily (Christel Khalil) happily dancing together as Adam talks at her, but she doesn’t take in a word he’s saying.  She is focused on the couples in front of her and how she has no one in her life. Now the voices in her head have returned, and Chelsea quickly excuses herself to Adam to go to the restroom. Billy looks on and is extremely worried by what he sees.

Chelsea needs air.  She goes to the rooftop to breath, but soon the voices catch-up with her again.  She utters, “I can’t take it anymore. I just need the pain to go away.” Just then, she looks down from the ledge of the building and sees the streets and cars below, contemplating ending her life.

Throughout all of the aforementioned scenes, Melissa Claire Egan never overplayed a moment. Even though we are watching a soap opera, Egan pulled us in and made the audience understand how Chelsea got to the place she is at – feeling there is nothing left to live for.  It was compelling and raw, and for that, and everything we have previously noted, Michael Fairman TV names Melissa Claire Egan’s work, The Power Performance of the Week.

There’s more to this story and this performance to come on Monday’s episode of Y&R, when Billy tries to come to Chelsea’s rescue. Melissa could be right back here next week with back-to-back nods for her work. Stay tuned!

So, what did you think of Melissa Claire Egan’s performance and how Y&R has written Chelsea’s depression? How do you feel about a Billy/Chelsea pairing? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Well since I have been there a long time ago I sincerely hope as much as I hate to say that Billy saves Chelsea! But they need to send her to a hospital where she can get help please! She is doing a great job showing how severe depression looks! Chelsea can always come back,but really not on this show! Melissa Claire Egan is a fantastic actress to pull this off too!I have lived through two really bad marriages for very short times; so I know of what I say here both are gone now, thank goodness! I asked God to help me get through the abuse, HE took their lives! I made it through and finally found the right man now after 25 years of marriage, I am very happy and have a really dear husband now! Who I can trust without reservations too! I know how much he trusts me and vice versa! God has really blessed me big time!

Why don’t you think she should come back to this show? She has done such a good job esp when they had her sitting in that wheelchair saying nothing for so long. I think she is doing an amazing job of portraying someone who has tried to turn her life around but seems to be spiraling downwards. BUT she has Connor to live for so why isn’t she thinking of him? I could never do that to my child.

MCE can really deliver. I first saw her in AMC where she and Billy Miller were brother and sister, and she had amazing scenes there too. I’m not unfamiliar with depression and this is heart wrenching to watch; but a great showcase for Melissa. She finally has something to sink her teeth into. Performance of the Week is well deserved.

JenW
I remember the two of them on AMC.He was so scary and believable. Iam not a MCE fan and FF through a lot. We knew why she was there and Billy would talk her down and Adam the eternal fool was just in the way thinking he was the only one who could help Chelsea.

I thought Sharon was married to Rey and why is she crying around about Rey?? Oh and when is she going to burn down Victors Ranch ? Oh and didn’t she rape Billy? Only on a soap opera!

She’s always been underrated. I rarely tear up while watching soaps but Melissa’s performance was so compelling and realistic, that I gave into a wave of resonating emotions. Chelsea sinking into hopelessness, self-loathing and depression was so strong that it was palpable. It did not just come through her words but through her mannerisms and facial expressions. Juxtapose the aforementioned when Chelsea was earlier speaking rapidly and almost manically and you get a sense of the roller coaster-like plunge of emotions that clinical depression affords. This is a case when great acting merges powerfully with solid writing, direction and production which sends the message to viewers who suffer from depression that they are not alone. Well done!

NO! Please don’t do that to Lily! I’m quite sick of Chelsea’s mental issues!

I do not like the way this story is going. I am tired of all the cheating and relationships not lasting. No one is loyal or respects the lives of others or is happy. Money isn’t everything. Chelsea needs therapy and so does Chloe and the entire Newman family. Nate is an idiot and he needs therapy too. To be honest, the entire cast would benefit from therapy. I am going to stop watching and focus on the positive feel good shows like the Hallmark Channel. This soap opera is depressing.

Yeah Queen. One would think it was a soap opera or something.

I believe Melissa Claire Egan deserves an award for her performance as someone battling depression. She exuded raw emotions that can go from one end of the spectrum to the other when battling severe depression. My sincere hope is that people will see that depression does not have to end in suicide, and that help is available.

She was amazing such great work very powerful suicide is one big killer in the us played her part very well emmy comes your way girl

A fabulous job done by MCE. I was really drawn into her state of mind. I’ve never been severely depressed but I felt her pain. Great job!

It was a powerful performance I cried an I never cry I watched it a second time an I cried again , I guess that’s why they said viewer discretion. She is a excellent Actress .

She should of jumped.

People like are are part of the problem…

I can’t handle an episode like this.I lost my son’s father to suicide.

Does it cost anything to subscribe?

No Billy/Chelsea pairing please.

They were already a pairing back when a blonde haired guy played Billy. Right???

Yes, she did. Grammy worthy

I’ve been an avid watcher of Y&R since the 1970’s, which makes me pretty damn old. Today’s episode with Chelsea’s mental break on the roof, is she or isn’t she going to jump was one of so many powerful episodes I’ve ever seen. I broke down and cried. Our world is so full of uncertainty, people in despair, whether it be financial, societal, families, personal.
Thank you to your wonderful writing staff to bring some powerful insight into our lives. Suicide should be brought into our drama even though it’s a very uncomfortable subject even for daytime entertainment.

I thought Chelsea’s (Melissa Claire Egan), performance on Monday was fantastic, she was so convincing, I was pulling for her all the way! She plays such a convincing role all the time, I actually didn’t like her…as her character, but what a good actress!
Billy, Jason Thompson, gotta love him. He too plays a winning role and on Monday, he really came through. Great work!

An amazing performance this week by MCE!!! Haven’t cried this much in a while. Felt her pain. Also thumbs up to Jason Thompson for his compassion and wonderful acting skills!

I surely hope that Melissa Claire Egan wins an Emmy for her extraordinary performance this week, she had me sitting on the edge of my seat in tears because she was so realistic!! This was the best performance, hands down, in a long time!!

it was awesome.

I have felt that she is a sub par actress. She plays the mousey character well because that is what she looks like. Her character is not a power role person. I do think giving the boring relationship between Lily and Billy a change somehow would be good. It is mundane. Locking Chelsea in a ward for care would be the best time to get rid of her
tmz

Tina
Omg, you might make a good roommate for her, show her what NOT to be!

The haunting look MCE was able to convey on that rooftop was shattering. Her performance was on par with any I’ve seen from A listers, and surprising for a Soap. What great work! She deserves all the credit coming her way.

Well done!! Soaps should use their platform to tackle these serious issues. I’ve suffered with depression all my life and this performance is spot on! Broke my heart but done beautifully.

Melissa and Jason both deserve awards!!! They were able to draw me into the storyline and neither of them overacted their parts. Bravo!!!

So proud of Jason Thompsons work lately. I know a lot of people dislike him but as Billy he seems to care and is always there for family and friends. Lily doesn’t deserve him and criticized him for being just that.As usual, Adam will be blaming Billy for Chelsea’s breakdown and ” putting her in an institution” because Adam is the only one that does the right thing and because she’s Connor’s mom, thinks he owns her and should be making all the important decisions in her life. As much as I can’t stand Chloe’s ranting about him all the time, she knows what she’s talking about.

Violet, my friend, the reason you feel that way about Adam is because bad writing keeps backing him into a corner. Just when he makes progress, they put him in an impossible position so they can make Nick and, heaven save us, Victoria, look like the “good kids”. PLEASE! It gets so old! And I agree about Jason Thompson. Though I’ll never be a fan, he’s doing his best work lately.

Soaphound
You are the last person I want to argue with and have tried to avoid it by not disgussing Adam with you. Yes, I know you like him and I never have, so let’s agree to disagree , if it’s OK with you. I have liked Nick since he was a kid but his sister, Victoria is everything you say about her and more. Glad you kind of agree with me about Billy. I have come to admire the man he’s become but not his choices in women.

MCE delivers performance of the year not just the week. Perfection personified. Mesmerizing. Felt so real. One of the best performances in any genre. “Tell Johnny I slipped” were going to be her last words. But Billy (Jason Thompson) came to the rescue. And Jason’s performance was also terrific. Subdued and on point throughout. I hope they dont spoil it by linking them romantically. Billy belongs with Lily (Christel Khalil)

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Reconnects with Danny; Tristan Roberts Arrives in Port Charles, Lots of Nods to #16

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General Hospital’s 16,000th episode was packed with little reminders through points in today’s script that the ABC daytime drama series has set another milestone and it paved the way for the return of fan favorite and newly nominated Daytime Emmy Lead Actor nominee Steve Burton (Jason Morgan). The 16,000th episode also introduced viewers to the new surgeon in Port Charles Dr. Tristan Roberts played by Dean Geyer. 

Here are the key takeaways and what went down on the July 13 episode: Tristan and Jason are seated next to each other on a plane heading to Port Charles. Throughout the flight, a beaten up Jason has flashbacks to being thrown into, and being held captive in a cell and tortured. It appears Jason is suffering from some form of PTSD from what he was put through after being dragged out of Port Charles by the WSB months ago.

As the plane prepares to land, Tristan tells Jason there would be a car waiting for him once they land and to enjoy the rest of his life. Later, Tristan arrives at the nurses and doctors hub at GH and approaches Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst). He tells her his name and that he is the new surgeon on staff.

Photo: ABC

A REUNION PLUS A HEAD NURSE DEFENDS SONNY

Meanwhile, at the end of the episode, Jason is outside the Quartermaine boathouse looking bewildered when he runs into Danny (Asher Antonyzyn), who is so thrilled to see his father, and the two hugs each other as tears are shed.

Elsewhere, Elizabeth tells Sonny (Maurice Benard) that he thinks its a great idea for him to get the 16th seat on the hospital board, but when it comes times to convince Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) of that, things go awry when Tracy, Laura and Sonny try to work things out. After Tracy launches into Sonny about killing Alan and Monica’s son AJ, Sonny walks away dejected.

Next, Sonny runs into Elizabeth, where he informs her what happened with Tracy. So what’s a head nurse to do? Elizabeth marches into the conference room and reminds Tracy of all the different donations and ways Sonny has contributed to the hospital from the Stone Cates AIDS wing, to the Michael Corinthos Center for Pediatric Head Injuries as well as his constant support each year for the GH Nurses’ Ball.

Courtesy/ABC

WSB WAR SCARS

Then, in one of the best parts for longtime fans of the series, Elizabeth talks about her legendary grandparents, Audrey and Steve Hardy and she tells Tracy they would have wanted Sonny to have a seat on the board for all the good that he has done for the hospital. After Elizabeth states Sonny’s case, things took a turn and Tracy and Sonny wound up shaking hands as Sonny is board member #16.

In the how great was it to see Anna (Finola Hughes) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) together scenes department, the pick-up of last Friday’s cliffhanger is played out as the two former lovers fill each other in on what has gone down in their lives in the last several months including Valentin admitting he had been living in Carly’s attic, and Anna realizing she was kidnapped by Cullum, Sidwell and Cassius Faison. During their conversation, Anna sees the hallucination of Peter August (Wes Ramsey) right while Valentin is standing there.

Courtesy/ABC

Later Anna was on her way to saying goodbye to Valentin, when the two share an emotional hug. After Valentin made his exit, Peter reappeared and warned Anna to not let Valentin distract her because she has important work to do. Anna answers, “I know.”

So, what did you think of General Hospital’s 16,000 episode? What do you think is wrong with Jason? What is the important “work” that Anna has to do? Were you glad to see Sonny get a seat on the hospital board, or not so much. Weigh-in via the comment section. But first, check out the scenes on Jason and Tristan’s long flight to Port Charles.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Jason Returns, Anna and Valentin Reunite

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This week on General Hospital begins with the ABC soap opera’s 16,000th episode which brings Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) back to Port Charles after being released by the WSB; all thanks to the deal made between Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) and Z (John Oliver).

On the same episode, the upshot of Anna (Finola Hughes) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) coming face to face, and seeing each other for the first time in months plays itself out, and it may not be how you think. Josslyn hopes sending Valentin to the side of Anna, will break up his burgeoning relationship with her mother, Carly Spencer (Laura Wright), but will it?

It appears Valentin has a warning for Anna. In the GH video preview for the episode, Anna is seen saying “How do you know that?” What does Valentin know, and will he be the person that will catch on that she is being haunted by the ghost of Peter August (Wes Ramsey)?

Courtesy/ABC

In addition, look for the debut of Dean Geyer in his role of Dr. Tristan Roberts (named after the beloved late Tristan Rogers (Robert Scorpio), as he and Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) may have a tense exchange or two.

Then, in the aftermath of their argument, Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) asks Chase (Josh Swickard)Did I push you towards Willow (Katelyn MacMullen)?” Is Chase going to admit his fixation with his ex-wife, or reassure his current wife that he is not interested in Willow? Stay tuned.

Finally, Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) is seen talking to someone saying that the idea of this person filling the 16th seat on the hospital board is a great idea. Who is she talking to?

Check out the official GH spoilers for the week of July 13-17 below.

MONDAY, JULY 13
Milestone 16000th episode! Jason returns to Port Charles. Anna receives a warning. Laura’s choice appalls Tracy. Britt makes an accusation. Carly is caught off-guard.

TUESDAY, JULY 14
Jason explains his actions. Kai becomes privy to shocking information. Jordan strikes out. Elizabeth stands her ground. Valentin is suspicious.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15
Anna seeks answers. Josslyn reveals a secret. Nina and Brennan plot their next move. Curtis voices his gratitude. Gio and Trina get big news.

THURSDAY, JULY 16
Emma and Gio discuss their future. Obrecht lashes out. Anna interrogates Britt. Isaiah interrupts Portia and Curtis. Cody delivers difficult news.

FRIDAY, JULY 17
Carly draws a boundary with Sonny. Valentin makes his feelings clear. Trina and Josslyn clear the air. Lulu cautions Ethan. Nina opens up to Brennan.

So, excited for Steve Burton’s return on tomorrow’s GH as Jason comes home? Are you rooting for Anna and Valentin to get back together, or are you hoping that Carly and Valentin continue their relationship, much to the chagrin of Josslyn? And, what should Brook Lynn do about her husband, Chase, who continually fights for Willow? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section, but first check out the preview teaser from GH for the Monday, July 13 episode below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sidwell Offers Jordan a Way to Get Surgery On Her Face; Will She Cave and Comply with His Demands?

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On General Hospital, Sidwell (Carlo Rota) and Jordan (Tanisha Harper) finally had it out at the PCPD. The scenes played out on the Thursday, July 9 episode of the ABC daytime drama series.

In story, Sidwell requested a meeting with Jordan. Angered, he wanted to know why she’d given the police the location of his safe house. After months of being undercover, Jordan finally admitted the truth!

Jordan reveals the entire time she was gaining his trust, she was working on the inside at SRE Worldwide, to find evidence against him and bring him down. Snidely, Jenz admitted he’d been suspicious initially of Jordan. However, she eventually won him over, and he saw the value in her being the pretty, public face of his criminal organization to throw everyone off.

Photo: ABC

Trying to make a deal to save his own skin, Sidwell offers to pay for restorative plastic surgery for Jordan’s face, and at the same renowned German clinic that had treated Michael (Rory Gibson) for his severe burns.

Sidwell tells Jordan if she would go to Zurich and empty some bank accounts for him, he will help her jump ahead of the long waiting list to get into the clinic. Defiant and standing up to him, Jordan turns down his offer.

Next, Sidwell threatens her intently, that he’ll find a way to pay Jordan back by making her life miserable. He tells her she will suffer and regret turning him down.

Once she exits the PCPD interrogation room, Jordan takes a deep breath, but brings her hands to the scars on her face from the car crash that injured her.

Is Jordan actually contemplating Sidwell deal to get her into the German clinic? If so, will she be the person to set him free into the world with loads of cash from his overseas bank accounts? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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