News
Y&R's New EP Jill Farren Phelps To Cast: "I Come In Peace! Not To Rape And Pillage Y&R!"
Photo Credit: Wenn Photo
The most-honored executive producer of the soap genre, Jill Farren Phelps is coming to The Young and the Restless to shake it up and honor its traditions. In her first interview since the news spread that she has replaced Maria Arena Bell in the position, Jill tackles some hard-hitting question from TV Guide in this exclusive interview including what she plans on fixing in Genoa City, the Christel Khalil situation, fans criticism of her over the years, and what actors will have story and who may stay or go. And yes, she even admits that her decision to kill beloved Maureen Bauer all those years ago during her tenure at Guiding Light, was a mistake! It’s a not to be missed chat, and here are just a few interesting excerpts below! And mark October 12th as the first Phelps on-air episode of Y&R!
Jill on what the mandate is from CBS and Sony with Y&R to her. and if she feels a strong commitment from CBS for the series: “The mandate is to make Y&R financially feasible so it can continue on. And also to bring the show into 2012. We will give it a more contemporary feel, shake up the way it looks and sounds just a bit, though nothing that will have the audience feeling uncomfortable. It would be so wrong to try to pace it and structure it and stylize it like GH. We just want Y&R to be more alluring and compelling as we move into the future. I’m going into Y&R not with a hatchet but with a scalpel in order to make it function as a more economical show. They (CBS) seems to be in it for the long haul and there’s a lot of freedom and comfort in that. It allows us to make our changes gradually and be very careful about the decisions we make. We’re not ripping apart the core of this show, not even to save money. “
Jill on what actors may stay or go, and if the characters that were brought in by Maria Arena Bell, under her tenure, could be the most expendable: “We have a cast of really wonderful actors but, at the end of the day, we need to look at the entire canvas and decide who is catching fire with the audience. And where can we create fire where there isn’t any? We do not have a Maria Bell hit list. But, again, that is not to say that everyone stays. I was not sitting by the phone hoping someone would get fired so I could have this job. The phone call came in, Josh and I said yes, and here we are. It’s our job to make this a better Y&R — not a different Y&R but a better one — and that doesn’t take anything away from the people who were here before. ”
Jill on the buzz that the casting breakdowns that went out for African-American actors were to replace Bryton James (Devon) and Christel Khalil (Lily): “The male role we are casting is definitely a new character but, yes, the female role is a recast for Christel’s role. However, since we sent out that casting breakdown, negotiations with Christel have resumed. I don’t yet know how that’s going to work out.”
Jill on series star, Eric Braeden (Victor) for his going on record that he was upset at the firing of Maria Arena Bell, and if she feel she needed to do damage controL: ” I had a meeting with all of the actors and said to them: “I come in peace. I am not here to rape and pillage Y&R.” And they could not have been warmer or more welcoming. Clearly, Mr. Braeden has been here a long time and he has a tremendous affection for the way things have been. I don’t begrudge him that at all. I’m crazy about him and Melody Thomas Scott[Nikki] and we have great plans for them. Actors don’t get better than that!”
So soapers, what do you think of Jill’s comments? Are you optimistic with the regime change for your favorites in Genoa City? Who do you think should stay and who do you think should be cut loose from the canvas? Let us know your thoughts!
I say give the woman a chance. Im hoping she is true to her word and she wont decimate the entire canvas of characters.
Im glad she acknowledges what a mistake it was to kill Maureen Bauer off of Guiding Light, it was a blow to the show it never recovered from.
Agree…..
Glad to have you Jill! Do right by my friend Sharon Case the poor girl has been holding this show together all by herself with her grace and talent!!! Phyllis character Jail already enough! Get rid of this Chelsea snooze and for God’s sake bring back VICTORIA ROWELL aka DRUCILLA WINTERS ASAP!!!!!!
Love Sharon She needs Nick to wake up! Adam also Phyllis and Chelsea has to be killed off!!!
PLEASE BRING BACK SHARONS BFF DRUCILLA!!!! WE LOVE VICTORIA ROWELL!!!! LILY RECAST HER!!!
Give Sharon Case award and a medal for putting up with this horrific story MAB and Eric B forced on her! Sharon knew it would never be good and she was RIGHT! She did a fantastic job and went through hell for it! That facebook Y&R comment page should have the monitor to step down or be fired that site is toxic and sick with hate and threats from lunatics!
No way.
BRING BACK VICTORIA ROWELL DRUCILLA PLRASE!!!
I want her back too. I’m not sure about JFP. But, the same interview she did with TVGuide, she said that she and Genie talked and she is a great actress. GF fans knew that to begin with. But, I find it hard to believe that JFP&Genie are all of the getting along.
Although I didn’t always agree with some of the decisions JFP made while at GH. She is a great producer. She is intune with the industry and doesn’t shy away from bringing new technolody to aid in the story telling. I think Y&R will do good by Jill. GH benefited from her and so will Y&R. It’s all good.
I’m all for giving her a chance. Will she make the show worse than it already is? Possibly, but the old was not working and there was no choice but to replace. I’m hopeful though that things can’t get any worse and that the show has a chance to get back on track again. In fact, I’m even optimistic that she has the capabilities to make some good choices, and with Josh as her headwriter, the show could be intriguing, interesting and must watch again.
I wish her luck.
I love Josh G. I hope they will recast a lot Chelsea and Phyllis needs to go. Boring Victor and Nikki Christmas dinner and Thanksgiving thats it
I’m going to remain cautiously optimistic. I became a viewer of Y&R because of Lane. CK is a very important (and irreplaceable) p/o that pairing.
The soap canvas is made up of diverse personalities; thats what draws in and keeps a diverse viewing audience.
Hiring this loathsome woman is another nail in the coffin of the once great,American original art form -the daytime drama.The storied history of the soap opera genre is,lamentably,becoming a more and more distant memory.
Killing off Maureen Baur how about killing off Frankie Frame!!!! I will never forget that MISTAKE!
TV Guide Magazine: Exactly. But that’s a subject for a whole other interview, if not a college thesis.
Phelps: Look, I’m sorry I killed Maureen Bauer on Guiding Light all those years ago, but I am not responsible for the death of Frankie Frame on Another World! That was not my doing and I am tired of taking the heat for having killed a character when I didn’t! [Laughs] The other day we were in a network meeting talking about one of the Y&R actors who wanted out temporarily to go do something and I said, “Let her go do it!” And the network executive looked at me and said, “You’re not nearly the monster I’ve been hearing about!”
Max I just looked up the history of Another World Phelps did supposedly try to have then headwriter Maggie Depriest rewrite that but she refused wanting to make the character of Cass Winthrop a rogue again. I will wait and see and hope it improves the cast is way overbloated and we need to send all the young kiids back to boarding school. Let’s get rid of Kyle Eden Summer Fenmore or at least recast Kyle & Eden. Definitely we do not need Summer & Fen.
Right on Max, right there with you on that one! I don’t care if she is going to try and get technical and say it was a writer that refused to make the change. Bottomline she was the EP for Another World, therefore, she could have chosen to override the decision made by headwriter. Let us not forget about Santa Barbara, Guiding Light, and while General Hospital is still on the air, she was the idiot who kept endorsing Brian Frons, the ABC soap killer. No disrespect to the cast & crew of GH, but they won Outstanding Drama Series because of the Luke Intervention storyline, let’s be honest here.
I’m hoping she has learned from her mistakes and am willing to give her a chance but I will be after all the MAB haters if JFP starts mucking with the veteran actors of Y&R. She was the best they could find? Scary thought.
I have never watched GL and neither have I watched Y&R. But I wonder if any mistake made in soaps will ever top the colossal mistake made by Chris Goutman and Jean Passanante in killing off Dr. Reid Oliver on ATWT. The idiots and their senseless plots were responsible for driving a 54 year old legacy into the ground. I hope that horrible duo is never associated with any soap or show unless the intent is suicidal or self-destruction of the soap or show.
As long as Peter Bergman and Michael Muhney (and Melissa Claire Egan since she is an incredible assest and Adam/Chelsea are the only reason I continue to tune in these days lol) stay, I’m totally fine. lol.
I do hope she turns the show around from Maria Arena Bell’s disasterous tenure. Families and characters were destroyed during her reign and I can only hope that Ms. Phelps honors the legacy of Y&R, unlike her predesecor. I do not think she will rape or pillage the cast, I think Christel’s circumstance is unique from the rest of the cast as she admitted she coveted more than they offered, and you never know, that could be resolved. I am going to give Ms. Phelps a chance.
Melissa Egan is the WORST actress in daytime history!!!! Chelsea needs to be taken off ASAP!!!! I have watched Y&R for 34 years she is NOT Y&R material at all !!!!
I can NOT take fast forwarding through Melissa Egan aka Chelsea what a bad boring actress! Phyllis aka Michelle Stafford needs to go so over her no one wants her on this show anymore we love Sharon though Sharon is the best!!!
Hey I thought I was the only one who thought that don’t worry JFP says anyone who is not catching fire is out the door and she does dislike women. Ha!
OH NO WAY I ALMOST STOPPED WATCHING BECAUSE OF THIS WAIST OF MY TIME CHELSEA CHARACTER . PHYLLIS I JUST CAN”T BARE IT!!! Like the B&B steff/liam/ hope thing Phyllis is way over used The story ridiculous and she needs to go away for months we need a mental brake from her ! ENOUGH!
The woman (JFP) is not a great EP. She really made GH go down the tubes and Y&R is already horrible. Once was the best of the shows is now the worst as far as I am concerned. People should watch GH which is the best of all the soaps.
GH still sucks
This interview makes me feel safe to stand by with JFP as the executive producer as Y&R. She’s going to really help the series become what it should’ve been under Maria’s regime. I have faith that the new Y&R is going to be fantastic!
I find it curious that she’s touting her ability to make wise financial decisions about Y&R, when one of the MAJOR criticisms of her from a managerial standpoint was her constant inability (some said by conscious disregard) to keep GH on or under budget. Maybe working on Hollywood Heights has taught her a thing or two. Frank Valentini is the King of bringing a show in under budget. Does she mean it or is she blowing smoke to please Sony?
We’ve been through this before, wanting a bad EP or writer replaced, and far too often it’s been from the frying pan into the fire. I can’t help but remember what happened to AMC when the bad McTavish was replaced with the utter horror of Chuck Pratt. IF JFP is able to restrain herself and let her writers do their job without her uniformed interference, the show might stand a chance.
Boy do I want to believe what she says.
I have one question, though. Did she have her fingers crossed during that interview? 🙂
Okay! Now I have read the entire TV Guide interview. She, of course, has great things to say, but is also very coy about some things. I hope she means what she says about getting story for Victor, Nikki, Neil, and Jill (hopefully with Tristan Rogers). Apparently JFP and Genie Francis have made peace.
Now what it her fascination with James Franco? Why doesn’t she just pay him to be her pool boy or something and be done with it? He is a good actor, but he doesn’t do much for soaps .. or his own career. In fact, back when he did the movie SONNY he had a really promising movie career and now you never hear about him unless it has to do with soaps. There are enough soap actors who have been around forever and are great at the genre that we don’t need has-been movie stars. It’s a shame.
We should also look out because he has a younger brother. I’m sure she would gladly find a spot for him too.
I have faith that Y&R will survive, and I hope for the best for the whole team! I believe that Lily and Cane would have new, different strories if Y&R brought on a few friends, family members, co-workers, etc. that are their age. A lot of the characters that are my age (Lily’s age too) have left, like J.T., Brittany, MacKenzie, etc. Teenagers will be good for the show, too, but please don’t give them much more air-time than everyone else from Victor, Nikki, Jack and Katherine to the new children and babies. To be honest, for me, it would be nice for Lily and Cane to not have to worry about his mother right now. Maybe they can find a way to have a sort of different, closer relationship with her.
Make it a great day! <3
I agree with Mrs. Farren’s comments, that she intends to come in peace, not destroy or pillage “The Young & The Restless”. And as for those who can stay or go? I don’t know…..word has it that there will be recasts of a few young characters. The rest can stay……that’s all I can be assured about.:)
Time will tell. I am skeptical given all the BS soap fans have endured the last few years. Hopeful for the show, the cast and its fans that this regime turns things around and Y&R lives on for many years to come.
Phelps has pillaged every single show she’s been on, why would anyone believe her?
Because MAB has raped the show too much and she was going to continue raping so there had to be a change.
It’s entirely possible for someone to learn from his/her mistakes and improve.
But in this case, I highly doubt it.
She is unquestionably very talented at some aspects of the job, but she’s hellish at others, and her trail of destruction across prior soaps speaks for itself.
I’m sure she doesn’t intend to “rape and pillage” Y&R. But I’m equally sure she didn’t intend to rape and pillage Santa Barbara, Guiding Light, Another World, and General Hospital–and yet that’s exactly what she did at each show. I’d have more confidence if I thought she really understood the mistakes she’s made–and they go far beyond killing off Maureen Bauer.
You don’t have to intend to do damage in order to do it.
Well said. You put into words so eloquently what I was thinking. You hit the nail on the head IMO.
Guiding Light was on fire most of the time she was there, though she did make huge mistakes like letting Beverlee McKinsey go and killing off the anchor of the show, Maureen Bauer. The show never fully recovered after those losses.
And Another World was really good when she was on there, I remember the show being really interesting then and the ratings were a lot better, especially in the demos.
I have never really watched GH but I don’t think she did very well on there from what I have read from the media and fans. I know she won a lot of Emmys but it seems that’s mostly from having huge events every year to submit.
But hopefully she can give Y&R the much needed boost it deserves.
I don’t know much about Phelps. However, MAB really had to go. I am just thankful that the duo who killed ATWT, Chris Goutman and “alleged” writer Jean Passanante, aren’t anywhere near this show. This couple butchered ATWT while continuing to think they were doing great work with it.
CG and JP should never be hired by any show. Yes, the two morons thought they were doing great work, when they actually completely destroyed ATWT. Hiring them by anyone is a 100% doom for their show.
the fact that she even said that shows that she’s aware of her mass distruction reputation, can she change? i doubt it, so y&r fans hold on for your life, she’s about to ruin your show.
she is a wolf in sheep’s clothing & she speaks with a forked-tongue!
OK, so I read the entire interview, and I, for one, am going to give JFP a chance.
Soap viewers are probably the MOST unforgiving people on the planet, but who hasn’t made mistakes…and learned from them? I’m willing to give Jill the benefit of the doubt and hope that she’s true to her word. If she’s not, well, she tried, Sony tried, others tried to make this soap better. And it surely did/does need all the help it can get.
Yup 80% of internet soap viewers just complain and always have crappy ideas of what should happen on soaps.
Considering what has happened over the past few days, I don’t know what to think. Is this woman just the biggest bull shitter out there, or what?
I think JFP will bring MUCH needed, good changes to Y&R. At this time, anything would be an improvement.
JFP destroyed Guiding Light and she will try to destroy Y&R .Y&R fans do not let her destroy this soap we need it on the air for years to come
Oh for sure there has been too much Phyllis I liked her with Jack but surely not with Nick. Also, I like Sharon as a boss but PLEASE don’t make her a klepto and desperate and jumping to Adam every other day. I still have hope for her and Nick since that time in Paris was so very very romantic. Howvever, Nick acting like a flaky nasty heartless jerk over and over to Sharon does make it harder to think of him as romantic. I really like Adam with Chelsea although it is getting a little too syrupy. Put Vic with Nikki and let it alone. They are getting a little too mature to be so unstable. I really liked Cain when he first came as a rogue especially with Amber but he is boring with Lily. Lily is more suited to Daniel. Daniel needs to cut his hair!!!!!! I really really like the story line where Phyllis pays for her many crimes, however, it seems that she will be teflon yet again. but it is the most excited that I have been to watch YR in a while. I have been watching for 21 yrs.
Mellissia Egan who plays Chelsea is the worst boring actress ever!!! KILL HER OFF AND PHYLLIS!!!! ENOUGH!
I’m pretty loyal to my characters, but I am so glad that the main ranch house burned. I’ve been wanting them to modernize that home for years.
Is the daytime world so devoid of new talent that they keep hiring the same people to wreck these shows? Sheesh, it’s as incestuous as The Bold and the Beautiful! (not that I wouldn’t LOVE to see Erika Slezak or Robin Strasser on BB, these are talents that never go out of style).
General Hospital
Adam Huss Makes Another Return to General Hospital as Nikolas Cassadine
Nikolas Cassadine will be back on your screens next week but now via Pentonville. That means, that actor Adam Huss is back for a visit for all-new episodes of General Hospital.
In story, Ava (Maura West) comes to visit her ex in the slammer. So, just what does Ava want now? She clearly has been working an agenda on Sonny (Maurice Benard). Is she working with Valentin (James Patrick Stuart)? What will she tell Nikiolas? stay tuned.
Meanwhile, once news of Huss’ return broke earlier on Friday via Soap Opera Digest, he also announced his return on his Instagram expressing, “For all those who’ve been asking, cat’s out of the bag;) Thank you to all my #Nikolas #GH fans for your unwavering support. I don’t take it for granted for a second! (Even when I can’t answer 😊) #generalhospital”
Photo: ABC
Huss took over the role of Nikolas back in January of 2023, after Marcus Coloma left the soap opera. Previous to that, Huss filed in for Coloma in September of 2021 and November of 2022. Fast-forward to January of 2024, Nikolas gave Ace to Laura and Kevin to raise, while he eventually turned himself into the police for kidnapping Esme and keeping her hostage while she was pregnant and Wyndemere.
Photo: ABC
The return of Huss comes on the heels of multiple reports that his on-screen son, Nicholas Chavez is not returning to the show as Spencer Cassadine, while in story Spencer is believed to have drowned int the Seine River after falling off a boat in France, when drugged by Esme.
So, looking forward to seeing Adam Huss back as Nikolas? Do you think GH will eventually have him more full-time? Comment below.
Days Of Our Lives
Arianne Zucker Reveals Her Last Days of our Lives Airdate
Arianne Zucker, who is no longer on contract with Days of our Lives, and involved in a lawsuit against the show, took to her You Tube channel and in her latest episode, and offered up what she believes is her final airdate as Nicole Walker DiMera.
The actress expressed: “I was really appreciative of the amount of support that I have had since leaving Days of our Lives.” She then added, “My last airdate, I think, it’s July 29th and we’ll see how things go after that.”
Zucker went on to say how she has continued to receive overwhelming support since suing her former employer, Corday Productions, with the allegations that former Co-EP Albert Alarr sexually harassed her and other females at the show, and that the production company entity did not respond sufficiently and adequately.
Photo: JPI
After lodging her complaints, Zucker said her agents received two notices that Corday Productions were reducing her pay before her character was ultimately written off. Zucker’s contract expired in January and since DAYS tapes over six months ahead it brings her final airdate, which as of now, to the end of July. Zucker is suing for harassment, discrimination, retaliation, negligent hiring and supervision, and wrongful termination among other claims.
Previously, Corday Productions issued this statement on Zucker’s claims: “The allegations in Ms. Zucker’s lawsuit are without merit. Corday Productions, offered to renew Ms. Zucker’s contract including offering her a pay increase. Rejecting Ms. Zucker’s counteroffer does not constitute retaliation. Complaints about Mr. Alarr’s on-set behavior were promptly investigated. Corday Productions fully cooperated with the impartial investigation and subsequently terminated Mr. Alarr.”
On her You Tube channel, Arianne went on to thank everyone who came out to the east coast fan event last weekend that featured several DAYS stars. She expressed, “My whole goal is to really help people stand up for themselves.” Arianne also shared she thinks it’s important for people who have gone through trauma to help each other through it.
Photo: JPI
On DAYS, Nicole is still in the dark that Sloan (Jessica Serfaty) is raising her child, Jude, with Eric (Greg Vaughan), and Eric also doesn’t know that he is raising his biological son. Will Eric and Nicole reunite and will Nicole find out what Sloan, Melinda and Leo (Greg Rikaart) have been hiding for months, before she exits the show? Stay tuned. There has been on official confirmation from DAYS that July 29th is Zucker’s final airdate.
You can check out Ari’s latest episode from her You Tube Channel below.
Now let us know, do you think somehow DAYS and Arianne will work these out and she will somehow be back on the show? What do you think Nicole’s exit will look like? Do you think they will recast? Let us know in the comment section below.
Breaking News
REPORT: Nicholas Chavez Not Returning to General Hospital
For those who were holding out hope that Daytime Emmy winner and fan favorite, Nicholas Chavez would be returning to General Hospital after filming his leading role in Ryan Murphy’s Monsters anthology, it looks like those hopes have been dashed.
According to a report from TV Line, although unconfirmed from General Hospital or a representative for Chavez, the actor will not reprise his role as Spencer Cassadine on the long-running ABC soap opera and continue the love story of Sprina opposite Tabyana Ali (Trina, GH).
Chavez was cast as Lyle Menendez over the the summer of 2023 for the second season of Murphy’s limited Monsters series on Netflix. In the upcoming season, the series will focus on the the case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, the two well-to-do Beverly Hills brothers accused of murdering their parents in 1989.
Photo: ABC
After word from Chavez casting was revealed, GH fans were concerned over the fate of the Sprina story, a spokesperson for GH shared, “We support Nicholas’ endeavors and look forward to having him return to General Hospital once this project is wrapped.”
In story, the series “killed off” Spencer when he went overboard with Esme to the steely waters below after being injected with a drug, thanks to Esme and falling into the Seine River in France. However, his body was never recovered, and believed to have drowned or washed away. Thus, leaving an opening for Spencer to return in the form of Chavez or be recast down the line.
Photo: ABC
TV Line shared that ‘multiple sources’ are confirming that Chavez is not returning to the ABC soap opera, which is what many had suspected might be the case once he left for this major starring role in a Ryan Murphy project. Chavez has been relatively quiet on social media for months.
Photo: ABC
The Michael Fairman Channel spoke with Nicholas Chavez for a virtual interview when he first joined the show in 2021, and spoke to him right after when he won the Daytime Emmy in 2022 – you can see those below.
No word yet on when Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story will debut on Netflix, but it is assumed later this year.
So, what do you think about the news of Nicholas Chavez not returning to his role as Spencer Cassadine on General Hospital? Comment below.
Adam Huss Makes Another Return to General Hospital as Nikolas Cassadine
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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny and Jason Trade Threats on Each Other
Y&R’s Allison Lanier Lands Her First Daytime Emmy Nomination and Shares “Being a Recast Can Be Daunting”
REPORT: Nicholas Chavez Not Returning to General Hospital
Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital
REPORT: Nicholas Chavez Not Returning to General Hospital
The Young and the Restless and General Hospital Actress and Writer, Meg Bennett, Passes Away at 75
GH’s Finola Hughes Chats on Her Lead Actress Daytime Emmy Nomination, New Directions for Characters in Port Charles, and Anna’s Love Life
Kristian Alfonso Returns to Days of our Lives for Tribute to The Late Bill Hayes
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny and Jason Trade Threats on Each Other
REPORT: Nicholas Chavez Not Returning to General Hospital
Cameron Mathison Previews New Game Show ‘Beat The Bridge’ (Promo)
Y&R’s Michelle Stafford Talks on Her Lead Actress Daytime Emmy Nomination, Allison Lanier, and ‘Pacific Palisades’ with Finola Hughes
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