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

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: 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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AEW

AEW Dynasty: Swerve Strickland Becomes AEW World Heavyweight Champion, Jack Perry Returns, Will Ospreay Retires Move After Scary Finish

There is no doubt now, who’s house it is in AEW? It’s “Swerve’s House” after his strong showing on Sunday nights AEW Dynasty pay-per-view. In the main event, Swerve Strickland captured the AEW World Heavyweight Championship defeating Samoa Joe in a career-defining moment.

Strickland becomes the first ever Black AEW World Heavyweight Champion in the organizations history.  And it was not loss on Strickland, who spoke about it in the post-Dynasty media scrum, but also knew the moment was upon him from the moment he was going to make his ring entrance in front of a sold-out crowd in St. Louis and those watching around the world on cable outlets or via Bleacher Report.

Swerve Strickland ring entrance showed that he was dressed to impress, in a mask and black and gold spandex attire. As fans caught on , Swerve was paying tribute to the character of Kilmonger, the antagonist of 2018’s Black Panther film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But that was not all, Prince Nana, Strickland’s manager/sidekick covered Strickland with a robe that belonged to Jimmy Rave. Rave was part of Ring of Honor during the company’s early days and was part of Nana’s stable The Embassy. He has three shots at the ROH title but never won the big prize.

Photo: AEW

AEW Dynasty had three major matches back-to-back to conclude the three hours show.  Strickland in the main event defeating Samoa Joe, and before that The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) vs. FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) for the AEW World Tag Team Championships in a brutal ladder match.

Courtesy/AEW

In the deciding moment of the match after Harwood goes to climb up the ladder to reach  for the titles, a masked man runs in and knocks over the ladder. It’s revealed to be none other than the previously suspended, Jack Perry (son of the late 90210 star, Luke Perry). Perry throws up the Elite symbol as security escorts him away. Nicholas Jackson looks pleased by the interference and uses it to take advantage and climb the ladder to get control of the title belts and The Young Bucks become the new AEW tag champs, once again.

The most highly-anticipated match of the night was between two of the greatest wrestlers to ever do it – Bryan Danielson and Will Ospreay and after more than a half-hour of back and forth with high flying moves, technical precision and punches and kicks, Ospreay was able to get the pin, but unfortunately in the last few minutes of the match, Danielson went down after Ospreay delivered the Storm Driver ’91 move. Next, the referee called for medical to check out Danielson, while Will was unaware of that and continued to finish the match.

Photo: AEW

At the post-Dynasty media scrum, an upset Ospreay began by addressing reporters and sharing, “I’m super glad that everybody enjoyed the match. A little bit of a dampener on how it’s all kind of the dust has settled now. I’ve reviewed the footage myself. Seeing Bryan got hurt on the Storm Driver, and I didn’t see the referee call for the doctor and I didn’t see it. So I want to apologize on that.So even though like 90% of the time that moves been absolutely fine, seeing the damage that it’s kind of done, I’m going to retire using the Storm Driver ’91. I don’t think it’s right for me to continue using it after seeing what it did to Bryan, someone that I’ve got huge amounts of respect for, this was kind of my dream match. This is something I’ve wanted since I was a kid. Although I’m happy when everyone enjoyed the match, I’m kind of disappointed in myself. So once again, I apologize to Bryan probably apologize to AEW medics, I apologize to Tony (Khan, CEO/GM AEW).

In one of the best matches in the card, and in the opening bout, for the AEW Continental Championship Match, “Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada defeated “The Bastard” PAC to retain his title. Meanwhile, Willow Nightingale became the Women’s TBS Champion defeating Julia Hart, only to have Mercedes Mone come to the ring to challenge Willow at Double or Nothing in Vegas at the end of May.

So, what do you think of Swerve Strickland becoming AEW World Champ? Jack Perry’s return? Will Ospreay’s match-up with Bryan Danielson and its ending? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Recaps

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Lauren Gives Deacon an Earful About Sugar

On Friday’s April 19th episode of The Bold and the Beautiful, Lauren (Tracey E. Bregman) and Deacon (Sean Kanan) make a stunning realization, and viewers of the CBS soap opera can also give themselves a round of applause for figuring out the mystery surrounding (Kimberlin Brown) Sheila’s ‘death’, or at least a part of it.

At Il Giardino, Lauren and Deacon are getting into a heated exchange over Sheila. Going over the events that transpired with Lauren, Deacon tells her what he saw in the crematorium when the sheet lifted up revealing that the deceased person had ten toes, not nine as Sheila had.

Then, Deacon asks a freaked out Lauren, what she knows about Sugar? He reveals, “Sheila was texting with her before she went to Steffy’s.” Deacon begs Lauren to tell him. Lauren says the Sugar she knows couldn’t possibly be texting Sheila or anyone else for that matter because she’s in jail.

Photo: JPI

A reluctant Lauren finally tells Deacon what she knows about the sordid backstory of Sheila and Sugar. Lauren begins, “Sheila met her in prison. She was her warden.” She then goes into how they resurfaced in Genoa City and how Sheila was locked up in a mental ward. Confused and trying to follow along, Deacon looks shocked.  That’s when Lauren says he will be blown away by the rest of the story.

As they sit, Lauren explains that all that time she thought it was Sheila who was locked up, she learned that it wasn’t her in the mental institution. That is when we are treated to a flashback. It was there that Sheila admits to Lauren that when she and Sugar escaped the prison, they fled to South America, where Sugar sacrificed her face. Sugar thought she was going in for a facelift, but Sheila was able to buy off corrupt doctors to have Sugar’s face altered to look exactly like Sheila.

Courtesy/CBS

Deacon gulps, “What are you telling me, Lauren?” Lauren says, “That there’s someone out there who looks exactly like Sheila. Someone with ten toes.” Vindicated, Deacon shouts, “I was right. It wasn’t Sheila who got cremated. She’s alive! My, God! Sheila’s alive!”

So, the search will be for Sheila starting with next week’s episodes of B&B. Do you think somehow Sheila will wind up in the orbit of Lauren if she has been in hiding since Steffy ‘killed” her in self-defense?  Is Sheila kidnapped somewhere? Share your thoughts via the comment section, but first, look at the set-up of Deacon learning about Sheila and Sugar’s past from Lauren.

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