Connect with us

News

10

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!

Leave a comment | 10 Comments

10 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

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.

Breaking News

Kim Kardashian, Emma Roberts and Marlene King Land ‘Calabasas’, a Soap in the Vein of the ‘O.C’ and ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, at Netflix

There has been lot of soapy projects coming to life and in the works of late, and now comes word that Kim Kardashian is executive producing a new series in development for Netflix called Calabasas.

After a bidding war last week, it looks like Netflix cemented the development deal from Kim, and her producing partners American Horror Story co-star Emma Roberts (pictured below) and Pretty Little Liars creators Marlene King and Alexandra Milchan.

The concept of Calabasas is based on the book If You Lived Here You’d Be Famous By Now by Via Bleidner.  King set to write the adaptation and will serve as the series showrunner.

Photo: JPI

According to Deadline, Calabasas is said to be in the vein of primetime young teen and young adult soaps the O.C. and Beverly Hills 90210. The story follows “Via, a 16-year-old sheltered Midwestern Catholic school girl whose world is turned upside down when her family moves and she’s forced to transfer to the fast world of Calabasas High where nothing is as it appears and where everyone is trying to be someone else. It’s a place where dreams come true … but not without complications and sometimes unforeseen consequences.”

Photo: Hulu

As fans of the Kardashians know, Kim and her family made the town of Calabasas a household and worldwide name. Kim being attached to this project helped make its sale. This marks her fourth project to sell since the writers and actors strikes concluded at the end of last summer.

So, would you be interested to see a teen soap called ‘Calabasas’ on Netflix from Kim and company? Comment below.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital

If General Hospital’s Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) nuptials are on, you didn’t think Grandma Gloria Cerullo would miss out on the festivities, now did you?

Casting news from Soap Opera Digest reveals that Ellen Travolta is back taping scenes that will air the week of May 13th on the ABC daytime drama series.  When viewers learned that Carmine Cerullo, was also on his way back to Port Charles, now in the face and body of actor George Russo, it only made sense that Grandma Gloria would join Grandpa Cerullo. Look for them both mid-May.

As most people know, Ellen is the older sister to John Travolta. She first make appearances as Gloria back on GH in the mid-90s. Most recently, she returned to the Quartermaine mansion to meet up with daughter, Lois (Rena Sofer) and granddaughter Brook Lynn for Thanksgiving in Port Charles in 2023.  Michael Fairman TV interviewed Rena Sofer and Amanda Setton late last year where they shared what it had been liking working with Ellen, who remains very close to Sofer in real-life.

Photo: JPI

Amanda shared: “We fell in love immediately. What’s crazy is my maternal grandmother was Grandma Gloria. I had her till I was 30 and we were so close. She was really like a second mom to me. So, when I got this script and I’m reading “Grandma Gloria”, it was so bizarre. And then in meeting Ellen, she looks like my grandma – same haircut, same high cheekbones. It really did feel like I had a few days with my grandma. It was very, very special for me. Ellen is sweet, prepared, professional, talented and funny to boot. So, it was one of the best weeks I’ve had at work. I hope she comes back. My fingers are crossed.”

Photo: ABC

Now, we can’t imagine Brook Lynn and Chase’s wedding day to be smooth sailing, in fact, expect just the opposite, but could it be Grandma Gloria who is ultimately the hero or the calming voice of reason for any pre-wedding jitters? Stay tuned.

So, glad to know that Ellen Travolta will be back for Brook Lynn and Chase’s big day? Comment below.

Continue Reading

Days Of Our Lives

Kristian Alfonso Returns to Days of our Lives for Tribute to The Late Bill Hayes

After a few weeks of Days of our Lives fans being upset that Kristian Alfonso (Hope Williams) was not on the first list of initial returns for Doug Williams’ funeral and episodes honoring his portrayer, the late Bill Hayes, comes word that the popular star is back and taping scenes.

Kristian reported to work on the Peacock streaming soap opera on Monday, April 22nd. She shared how important it is for her to be back for this particular return to the show that made her a household name.

“My return is very bittersweet,” Alfonso told TV Insider,  “because it is the end of an era with Bill gone. So to return to Days is very sad. I am appreciative that they came to me to include me in their series of shows honoring Doug and I’m very happy to see everyone, but I’m entering the studio with a heavy heart.”

Photo: JPI

It was back in 1983 that Kristian first debuted as Doug’s daughter, and now 41 years later looking back at it, and her time with Bill Hayes is very emotional for her.

“I remember my first scenes with him/ He was very loving, very welcoming. That he was very talented and an incredible actor and an icon, that all goes without saying, but my personal relationship and my working relationship with Bill, it was home,” expressed Alfonso. “Doing the scenes with Bill, I felt like I was with my dad because there was so much warmth and reality.”

Photo: JPI

Alfonso did express some deep regret, in that she had wanted to work with Bill Hayes during her last appearance on the soap back in 2023, but according to the iconic actress, there was something in the works but it never materialized.  “I’m sad that I did not get the opportunity to do the storyline that Ron (Carlivati, head writer) had planned/ It was great; we returned to Salem to reunite with our families and I would have had father/daughter scenes with Billy. What Ron had written was beautiful and emotional and it was a fantastic story. I was 100 percent for it and the fans would have loved it.”

Photo: JPI

As for if Bo (Peter Reckell) and Hope will be back on-screen together anytime soon, Kristian would only say, “What I will say is don’t give up hope.” Doug’s passing and memorial episodes will stream later this year come late November into December.

So, are you happy to learn that Kristian Alfonso is back taping episodes surrounding Doug’s memorial episodes? Comment below.

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

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

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Eileen Davidson as Ashley

The Young and the Restless

Airdate: 4-12-2024

Popular