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Y&R's Tricia Cast Talks Nina's Relationship with Paul, Maria Arena Bell's Storytelling & If A Return To Playing Bad Is In the Cards!

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

The Young and the Restless scene-stealing Tricia Cast (Nina) had been commuting from her home in Nashville to Los Angeles when she is called upon in story on the number one soap.   These days in Genoa City, Nina is trying to forge a relationship with her son, Ronan (Jeff Branson).

Now, Soap Opera Uncensored’s Nelson Branco caught up with the talented performer to get her take on working within the framework of former Y&R head writer and executive producer, Maria Arena Bell, what has happened to the Paul (Doug Davidson) and Nina romance, and if she would like to visit the bad girl side of her character again.  Here are a few excerpts from the interview below!

Tricia on if it was frustrating working with the often times fragmented storytelling of Maria Arena Bell: “I guess so. I was happier when there was a definite storyline playing out like when Ronan came on the show. It’s harder to come in for two months and remind people about the character, the story and relationships. It’s always more fun to apply yourself. You never see the end of an arc, but when there is an arc, you know there is an end — even if you don’t know what it is. Maria’s kind of storytelling is really great for a commuting schedule but, as a performer, I prefer to work more consistently. “

Tricia on if Paul and Nina are still together, since we don’t see the pairing that much on screen these days: “Yes, they are. I kind of like it because Paul and Nina are normal and not overly dramatic. There was one moment when Paul was missing Christine, which pissed off Nina, but besides that, they are normal — and more normal than Michael and Lauren who have a long marriage. Paul and Nina are less exciting — and I like that. There are no shenanigans… it’s kind of like a real relationship. Would I love to play more? Yes. But I’m not dissatisfied with the relationship right now.”

Tricia on if she would like to explore and see more of Nina’s dark side surface:  “Sure! I would embrace another facet of her personality. I trust Y&R to do what is best for the show when it comes to Nina. And I’d be happy to do it. I don’t have expectations as much for Nina as I do hope. If I were writing the story, I would bring Nina’s darker side back for a bit so she can continue her journey.”

So soapers, would you like to see Tricia have more airtime?  Do you like the Paul and Nina pairing?  Do you want Ronan and Nina to become closer?   Let us know!

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Love Nina any way we can get her.

Paul and Nina are absolutely the best couple to come out of the MAB era. I LOVE them together! Tricia Cast is the only reason I’ve stuck with Y&R for the past three years.

I am torn. On one hand I like when former “bad girls” put their immature and implusive ways behind them and grown up to become accomplish, mature women, but on the other hand accomplished and mature can be dull to watch. Yet again watching a soap character make the same mistakes over and over without growth is equally dull to watch — that means you Phyllis Newman. Anyway if they keep Nina on the canvas I would like her to be the way she is now, maybe with little more spice to her, but not too much

As for her romance with Paul. Well lets be honest here, Katherine and Murphy give off more heat than those two. But for who these characters are, this is the kind of relationship I would expect from them. It is realistic, but in soapland- realistic isn’t always fun to watch. However since neither character is high profile I can live with the realtionship they have. It doesn’t make me happy, but it doesn’t annoy me either.

I think Phyllis is on the road to change … finally.

Friday’s (American) episode broke my heart for Phyllis when she realized the marriage to Nick was really over and that she has serious problems with her relationship with Summer.

I really like Tricia Cast as an actress and person. She is very down-to-Earth and so is Nina.

Paul and Nina are nice and simple and supportive of one another.

I have been waiting and waiting for Nina to finally have a relationship with Ronan and I hope I finally get it. It seems only fitting after what she has been through to find him and there is so much potential for some good character development.

love Nina

Tricia is an AMAZING talent who was not utilized properly during the Maria Arena Bell regime mainly because of, as Nelson Branco phrased it, fragmented storytelling – MAB was incapable of telling a decent story without veering off into another tangent, confusing viewers and the actors alike. With Jill coming back to the canvas after staying with Phillip in Australia, it would be nice to have her and Nina miz it up like they did back in the 1980s!

Tricia Cast is a godsend to Y&R and the show should keep her forever. Her character and storyline is filled with possibilities. I would love to see her with her sons again, forging bonds they did not have. I would love to see a friendship with gay Phillip, a true bond that is real and lasting. I would love to see her and Paul evolve into a longtime pair, romance along the way, and become pillars of the Genoa City show structure. She is a successful novelist and that could lead her somewhere. I find Nina much more engaging than Newman silliness MAB forced upon us. Please Jill and Josh, find a place for all this
in your new show bible!

I’m just reading this interview so after reading the most recent Lauralee Bell interview by Tv guide. It’s obvious that Nina needs to just move on and possibly find someone else. I would be curious to know what Nina thinks about her and Paul’s relationship now that Paul and Christine are getting back together. Michael if you chat with her again, I would love to hear her take on that.

Please show the character Nina more. Tricia Cast is great in the role! Wish they would explore more of why Ronan treats her so bad when he was kidnapped. Since Nina & Paul break up, pair her with Jack or Nick. I really miss the scenes of Heather Tom as Vicki going up against Tricia Cast Nina during the Ryan,Victoria, Nina era.

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Robin Strasser Meets Kristen Alderson’s Baby Kiera in a One Life to Live Reunion

For years, Robin Strasser (ex-Dorian) and Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) have been the best of friends and the best of co-stars. On One Life to Live, Kristen was only six-years-old when she began her journey as Todd and Blair’s daughter and met the iconic Strasser.

Now in 2024, Kristen is a new mom to her baby girl, Kiera. Strasser, who lives in New York, along with her best friend, John, traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just a few days ago to visit the Alderson family and spend the day with Kiera.

Taking to her Instagram a very happy Kristen shared, “Look at who came to visit today! Robin & her bestie John! Robin and I got all misty eyed when she met Kiera today!”

Photo: JPI

In a very touching part of her post, Alderson expressed, “Robin is such a special person in my life, it means so much to me that we’re as close as we are. She’s just the best❤️ A great day of laughs & a great brunch spread😍”

Robin added, “I’ve been smiling since I met her. I’m a big softie for babies, but what a doll Kiera is!” The Daytime Emmy-winning star, also shared, “I’m so grateful for my ongoing friendship with Kris and Kathy. Amazing women and loyal friends!”

What do you think about Kristen and Robin’s enduring friendship and recalling their time on One Life to Live? Comment below.

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General Hospital

Nancy Lee Grahn’s Star-Studded ALS Fundraiser Reveals “I’ll Be There” Video Featuring Soap Opera Notables

Talk about your impressive line-up! It’s a soap fans dream and for a great cause. General Hospital’s Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) is prepping her one-night only ALS fundraiser which will feature many of her friends and co-stars.

The benefit is set for May 4th in Glendale, California. Slated to participate are Genie Francis, Jane Elliot, Peter Bergman, Maurice Benard, Eileen Davidson, Thorsten Kaye, Michelle Stafford, Stephen Nichols, Rena Sofer, Jason Thompson, Kelly Monaco, Melissa Claire Egan, Maura West, Kristina Wagner, Gregory Harrison, Trevor St. John, Kate Mansi, Kirsten Storms, Cynthia Watros, and many others.

On Wednesday, Grahn took to her social media and released an “I’ll be there” video shout-out featuring, Monaco, Elliot, Bergman, Bernard, West, Harrison, St. John and more. In a touching and important moment in the new video, Michelle Strogny, who is battling ALS, is featured.

Photo: ABC

Previously, in speaking with Soap Opera Digest on the impetus of the event, Grahn recalled, “I was actually doing Zoom events during Covid and I met this woman that I just fell in love with, Michelle Strojny. At the time, Michelle had been living with ALS for four years. Now, it’s five years. She is a mom of a teenage son, she has the most wonderful husband, and she has been dealing with this [disease] for quite a while. And obviously, there isn’t a cure yet. It’s not survivable yet. But as she says, it’s not incurable. Nothing is; it’s underfunded. But anyway, I just really dug this woman. She is so grounded and filled with grace, and she spends all of her time working to raise money for the cause. We did a fundraiser for her last year and then I thought, ‘You know what? The soaps don’t ever get together to do something for charity.’ Collectively, we have this amazing community and we don’t collectively use it for a good cause, and I think it’s such an easy thing for us to do and we could potentially really make a difference.”

As GH viewers know, Gregory Harrison is playing the character of Gregory Chase, who is also battling ALS in a touching storyline that is currently playing out shedding a light on this disease.

For information on Nancy’s event, including the stars who are s scheduled to participate click here. To purchase tickets to the event click here.

Check out the video featuring Nancy’s friends and co-stars below.  Now let us know, your thought son the line-up for the benefit and helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research via the comment section.

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General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Writer Shannon Peace Let Go, and Shares on Sprina: “One of My Only Regrets is to Not Have the Opportunity to Develop That ‘Ship’ Further”

As General Hospital’s new head writing team of Elizabeth Korte and Patrick Mulcahy gets off the ground and running, there are still changes a foot on the writing team.

Now comes word via breakdown writer Shannon Peace that she is no longer on contract with the long-running ABC soap heading into its 61st season. Peace shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram, thanking the fans, and the show for the opportunity and the importance of diversity in the writers room.

Peace began, “After almost 3 years on staff and 106 episodes penned, I am no longer on contract with General Hospital. Writing for this country’s longest running television serial drama has been an education of epic proportions; I will forever be grateful that I earned my WGA card on a daytime fixture that holds memories for so many.” (Peace pictured below with GH EP Frank Valentini and script writer, Charlotte Gibson from about ten months ago).

Photo: SPeaceIG

Shannon added “Even more importantly, as the sole Black breakdown writer (and only POC in the writers room) during my tenure, I pushed for vital interactions and discussions that prioritized inclusion, visibility, and representation”

The writer pointed to the example of vital interaction when in story, “Stella and Portia’s frank July 2022 conversation about the role race played in Esme’s framing of Trina is just one example of the impact I’m gratified to have had.”

Acknowledging former GH co-head writers was also part of Peace’s farewell expressing, “Appreciation to my former bosses, Chris Van Etten and Dan O’Connor – not only taking a chance on me, but for valuing my opinion and championing my voice.”

Courtesy/ABC

Many GH fans know that Peace was key to the development of the love story between Trina Robinson and Spencer Cassadine as played by Tabyana Ali and Nicholas Chavez. Shannon gave a special shout-out to ‘Sprina’ fans, “I also want to thank fans who were supportive of my work, especially the recognition of my love for ‘Sprina’. One of my only regrets is not having to develop that ‘ship’ further.”

She concludes her statement with,”In the aftermath of a historic writer’s strike that shed new light on the troubling ways writers are regarded in daytime, my sincere hope is that General Hospital recommits to valuing staff writer efforts and input, with a more intentional focus on diverse viewpoints — and thrives for another 60 years.”

Accompanying her post, Shannon added, “Thank you all for the love and support these last few years. I hope GH fans get all they hope for and more!”

So, what do you think about GH not renewing Shannon’s contract? Will there be more continued changes afoot? What do you think is the future of ‘Sprina’ anyway at this point as viewers wait to see if Nicholas Chavez officially returns to the show?  Comment below.

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Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

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