"The Young and the Restless" - How Can This Show Be Saved?

For the past eight years I have waited for The Young and the Restless to recapture the magic that once made it the most watchable and consistent daytime drama in the history of the medium. However, with the ongoing changes behind the scenes, the series has not been able to reclaim its former glory, despite remaining the number one rated daytime drama. While I understand the need for change, when former executive producer Jack Smith was let go and head writer Kay Alden left the series, the glory days of Y&R went with them and no one has been able to successfully take their place. Not all of the fault lies with the subsequent executive producers and head writers, as both CBS Television and Sony have a hand in the decision making as well. As the old saying goes, too many cooks spoil the broth.

As a three decades plus viewer and once avid fan of The Young and the Restless, I am concerned that the series may never be great again, despite the potential that the long running daytime drama possesses. Some of the problems that continue to plague the series include the introduction of too many new characters (who no one cares about), the bleeding of beloved veterans, and recasts who simply are not right for the roles that they are assuming. Making matters worse is the devastating loss of Jeanne Cooper (Katherine Chancellor), who passed away in May, and the recent departure of Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Newman). Both actresses are virtually irreplaceable (not that there is any chance of a Katherine recast). Last year, Jess Walton (Jill Abbott) was off screen for more than six months, but has since returned on a recurring basis and Eileen Davidson (Ashley Abbott) was shipped of to Days of our Lives by Sony and the negligence of the former executive producer who did not want to "share" Eileen.

I assume that Jeanne Cooper and Michelle Stafford were highly paid and deservedly so, which should free up enough money to reinstall beloved veterans who are desperately needed back on the canvass. The first order of business should be placing the Abbott family front and center by bringing John (Jerry Douglas) back from the dead. Since this is a soap opera, the idea is not far fetched and would go a long way to reestablishing the Abbott family. Second, Beth Maitland (Traci Abbott) needs to be placed on contract and I suspect that since Eileen Davidson is now finished with Days, she will return to Genoa City soon. In addition, it would be great to see Tricia Cast (Nina Chancellor) and Michael Damian (Danny Romalotti) return, at least on a recurring basis. Furthermore, why not bring back Tonya Lee Williams as Olivia Winters and/or Steven Ford as Andy Richards, Laura Bryan Birn as Lynne Bassett and Thad Luckinbill as J.T. Hellstrom? Since both Don Diamont (Brad Carlton) and Heather Tom (Victoria Newman) are doing so well on The Bold and the Beautiful, I suppose there is no chance for either one of them to return in the near future, but their talents are desperately needed right now.

Regarding the aforementioned recasts, Hunter King is the only one who has successfully assumed her role. Perhaps the other youngsters could benefit from guidance from the veteran cast members and/or the writing could improve and help to fully develop the characters. As far as the numerous new characters are concerned, I do not care for any of them. I find at least one actor to be lazy and the others are simply uninteresting. Again, it may be the performances and/or the writing. In addition, Steve Burton is not being used to his potential. Frankly, I find his storyline to be boring and unnecessary. Why hire an award winning actor and then give him a lame story and not find a way to integrate him into the series? It seems like Dylan (Steve Burton) and Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) belong on another show. I am also not fond of the way Jessica Collins (Avery Clark) and Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe Fisher) are being utilized. They are both talented, so give them better material to work with. Also, what has happened to Sharon? I hope the explanation is that she is not taking her medication. Otherwise, the character continues to be ruined and Sharon Case deserves better.

The storylines centering around Summer's paternity and the Rose Turner/Neil Winters (Kristoff St. John) fiasco are ridiculous. On  a more positive, the problems between Lauren and Michael (Christian Le Blanc) have been well played and it is great to see Tracey E. Bregman, as Lauren, back on contract. Mining Lauren's past has brought new life to the former "mean girl." Kudos also to Max Ehrich, as Fenmore, who is doing a great job. In addition, the fallout from Katherine's death promises to have long lasting implications for many of the characters, including Jill and Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott), so that may be something to look forward to. I am also thrilled to see Doug Davidson (Paul Williams) front and center where he belongs.

In the future, I would like to see Billy (Billy Miller) and Victoria get divorced and find new love interests. I would also like to see Ignacio Serricchio (Alex Chavez) moved to contract status, since he is so likable and demonstrates good chemistry with everyone he works with. It would also be cool to see a renewal of the Jack/Victor feud that Peter Bergman and Eric Braeden portray so well. Oh, and how about a great story for the talented and currently underused Kevin (Greg Rikaart)?

The future of The Young and the Restless could look much brighter if the series can regain its consistency. The people behind the scenes need to understand and celebrate the history of the series by focusing on the core families and adding new characters only when they are necessary - and make them interesting. The writers must also create quality storylines for the immensely talented cast who deserve better material. It is possible to keep long time viewers happy and attract a younger demographic by producing a character driven series that features actors from all age groups by giving them great story to work with. No, it is not easy, but it is possible.

"The Young and the Restless" to air Katherine Chancellor Memorial Episodes September 3 and 4

One of daytime drama's greatest characters, Katherine Chancellor, will be laid to rest on The Young and the Restless in two memorial episodes airing today and tomorrow, September 3 and 4. Actress Jeanne Cooper, who portrayed Mrs. Chancellor for nearly 40 years, passed away in May and news of her character's death finally hit Genoa City last month. The memorial episodes feature the return of several beloved veteran characters, including Brock (Beau Kayser), Nina (Tricia Cast) and Danny (Michael Damian). Cooper's son, Corbin Bernsen, will also reprise his role as Father Todd and will officiate the memorial ceremony.

It is time to say goodbye to the beloved Katherine, but her impact on friends and family will continue to be felt for some time to come in storylines that will impact Jill (Jess Walton), Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott), Paul (Doug Davidson) and Victor (Eric Braeden), among others. Even in death, Katherine's presence will continue to be felt and deservedly so. Katherine/Jeanne is gone, but thankfully her legacy will continue to live on.

"The Young and the Restless" will air Tribute to Jeanne Cooper Today, May 28

Photo Credit: Getty

 

 

Actress Jeanne Cooper, who passed away earlier this month, will be honored in a special tribute episode that is scheduled to air today on CBS. Cooper portrayed Katharine Chancellor on The Young and the Restless for nearly four decades and was the longest running cast member on the highly rated daytime drama. Current and former cast members will pay their respects during the hour long tribute, including Eric Braeden (Victor Newman), Christian LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin), Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Newman) and Heather Tom, who portrayed Victoria Newman from 1991-2002.

 

The Young and the Restless airs at 12:30pm on most CBS stations, but check your local listings.

 



Remembering Jeanne Cooper

One of the pillars of my pop culture world, actress Jeanne Cooper,  passed away today at the age of 84, after a brief illness. Cooper portrayed Katharine Chancellor on The Young and the Restless for nearly 40 years and was awarded two Daytime Emmy awards, one of which was for lifetime achievement, and amassed a following of loyal fans who loved her like she was a member of their own family. My first exposure to Katharine was in the late 1970s, when Jill and Derek, Katharine's husband, had placed her in a retirement home which eventually burned down. Jill and Derek assumed Katharine had perished in the blaze until she showed up at the Chancellor estate, where they were shacking up. Her arrival was one of those "Bill Bell moments" (Bell created The Young and the Restless, along with his wife, Lee Philip Bell) and Katharine set about to reclaim what was hers.

Jeanne Cooper infused Katharine with strength and charm, which endeared her to viewers, despite her many faults and shortcomings. Katharine dealt with alcoholism, had an onscreen face lift, battled Jill for most of the four decades that Y&R has been on the air, married many times and had her share of young and virile stable boys, too. As strong as Katharine was, when she could not take any more and began to weep, so did viewers. Jeanne Cooper was an expert at revealing Katharine's vulnerability and her fans hated to see her in pain and Cooper was always convincing when those tears started to fall. Katharine buried her husbands on the Chancellor estate, so she could keep an eye on them from her living room window. The black humor brought home the point that she was a survivor. Indeed, Katharine outlived her lovers and many husbands, survived a serious car wreck, an evil doppelganger (Marge, also played by Cooper) and, in recent years, many less than stellar storylines. However, Jeanne Cooper was the ultimate professional and would play the material as best as she could. That is yet another reason why her fans loved her so much.

When I was in high school, I would record The Young and the Restless and eagerly look forward to seeing Katharine. Her appearances simply made my day and even when Y&R was not living up to its potential, it was Jeanne Cooper who kept me watching. For instance, Katharine's scenes with Liz Foster (Julianna McCarthy) were few and far between as the years went along and Liz would make only occasional appearances. However, they were always a treat to watch, as Liz would tell Katharine exactly what was on her mind....and they remained closed friends. Of course, it was Katharine's long running feud with Liz's daughter, Jill, that most fans remember. No matter who was portraying Jill (Brenda Dickson, Jess Walton, Deborah Adair or Bond Gideon (remember her?), the drama was always intense and the hatred palpable. The characters really despised each other, but would come to rely on one another as the decades rolled along. As Jeanne Cooper had said, Katharine and Jill were a supercouple. How true.

Katharine's son, Brock (Beau Kayser), anointed her with the name "The Duchess" or "Duchess" in the 1970s and it was a title that perfectly captured the essence of the character. I would always anticipate Brock making guest appearances so I could hear him utter that name, since he was the only one who was allowed to use it. Those little things are what made Y&R and its characters so memorable. I trust that Katharine will be honored on the show and I hope that many former cast members are asked back to pays their respects. A scene that aired late last week showed a frail Katharine arriving home from the hospital and slowly walking up the stairs of her home as a teary eyed Jill watched her go upstairs. If that is Katharine's last scene, it is certainly eerie, but also appropriate.

Through Katharine I found the strength to get through tough times in my own life and I hope that my many memories of her will continue to inspire and encourage me now that she is gone. I took great comfort in watching Jeanne's portrayal of Katharine over the years and she was, without a doubt, my favorite character, not only on the show, but in all of daytime. Although I feel a great sadness and sense of loss, 84 years is a long time to live and Jeanne experienced much success over her lifetime and had a large family who surrounded her, so I suspect she was very happy. Before Katharine Chancellor, Jeanne appeared in movies and television series, including The Big Valley and Thriller (and they are available on DVD, so rent or buy them if you want to see a much younger, but always feisty Jeanne Cooper).

I do not think I can fully express what Jeanne Cooper brought to my life, but I hope I have touched on some of the most important ways that she has influenced me and made my life better. That is the power of television and the enduring legacy of daytime drama that allows fans to spend their lives growing older and more attached to the characters year after year. Katharine Chancellor was one of a kind and can never be replaced, which is a testament to Jeanne Cooper's always effective portrayal of the grande dame of daytime. Thank you for all of the memories Jeanne! Rest In Peace.

Jeanne Cooper released an autobiography last year, Not Young, Still Restless and you can read my thoughts on the book here.

In 2008, I wrote a series on my Top Ten Soap Opera characters of all time, and yes, Jeanne was number one. You can check that post out here.

You can check out my thoughts on the 40th anniversary of The Young and the Restless here.

"The Young and the Restless" Celebrates 40 Years

Photo Credit: CBS/Sony

The Young and the Restless debuted on March 26, 1973 and has become the most successful daytime drama in history. Of course, I am somewhat biased because Y&R has been my favorite soap opera for decades, give or take a few years here and there when the show was simply not at its best. I have followed the exploits of the Chancellors, Fosters, Abbotts, Newmans, Fenmores, Brooks and Williams families faithfully for the past three plus decades and since the series remains the highest rated among its daytime peers (and has since 1988!), I expect it to be around for quite some time to come.

Created by Bill and Lee Phillip Bell, The Young and the Restless has remained on top largely because of the continuity of the characters and cast members, as well as the writing. The series currently boasts 16 contract and recurring players who have been on the series for at least a decade and some much longer, including Jeanne Cooper (debuted in 1973), Doug Davidson (1978), Melody Thomas Scott (1979) and Eric Braeden (1980). Indeed, even if you have been away from Genoa City for a while, you can still tune in and see Katherine, Paul, Nikki, Victor, Esther, Lauren, Christine, Jill, Jack, Neil, Michael, Phyllis, Nick and Sharon. From time to time, members of the Abbott family will pop in, including Traci, Ashley and even John, who died on screen several years ago. During Bill Bell's tenure as head writer and co-executive producer, the series featured outstanding story telling that hit its stride during the 1980s, when Y&R won three of its seven daytime Emmy awards for Best Drama Series and was simply the best soap on the air for well over a decade.

In the mid 1990s, the cast of Y&R had grown very large and, beginning in 1994 and lasting until 1996, several beloved characters were written out, including Rex Sterling (Quinn Redecker), Brad Carlton (Don Diamont) and Col. Douglas Austin (the late Michael Evans). In addition, Lauren Fenmore (Tracey E. Bregman) moved over to The Bold and the Beautiful and Brenda Epperson vacated the role of Ashley Abbott. It was during this time that I stopped watching regularly for a few years, but would still keep tabs on the show.

The late 1990s saw a resurgence and rebirth of the series. One key reason for this resulted from moving Katherine (Jeanne Cooper) front and center, where she has remained, for the most part, for the past 15 years. The incredible Jeanne Cooper, now 84 years of age, is still a force to be reckoned with and has always been my favorite character. In addition, 1999 brought the return of the original Ashley, Eileen Davidson, who has since left the series again, thanks to the ineptitude of the former executive producer/head writer. Although Ashley did return just recently for a guest appearance to celebrate the 40th anniversary, she needs to return full time. Also during the turn of the century, Lauren returned to Genoa City, along with the original Phyllis, Michelle Stafford, and a group of young characters (Billy, Raul, Brittany, Mac and JT) who would make up the "teen scene" that had been lacking for many years.

The Young and the Restless regained its momentum until around 2004 when many beloved recurring characters were phased out, including Mary Williams (the late Carolyn Conwell), Miguel Rodriguez (Anthony Peńa), Doris Collins (Karen Hensel), Liz Foster (Juliana McCarthy), Mamie Johnson (Veronica Redd), Brock Reynolds (Beau Keyser), John Silva (John Castellanos) and Lynne Bassett (Laura Bryan Birn). They were all long running characters who played an essential role in the success of the series and are all missed, although Doris and Brock still make occasional appearances. Then, in 2005, Bill Bell passed away and the shake up behind the scenes would play out like a soap opera, with many veterans departing, including Kay Alden and Jack Smith, who now work on another Bell family staple, The Bold and the Beautiful.

The executive producers and writers who knew Y&R best were now gone and in their place came a few producers and writers who simply did not "get it" and changed the series by writing out beloved veterans, including John Abbott (Jerry Douglas) and once again dismantling the Abbott family. In addition, too many new characters, mostly portrayed by young, inexperienced actors, made the canvass crowded and continues to do so to this day. While I understand the need to introduce new characters and hire attractive (ok, sexy) actors, they should possess some talent or they should not be onscreen.

Last fall, former General Hospital executive producer Jill Farren Phelps was named executive producer of Y&R and Josh Griffith returned as head writer. Until recently, I had not tuned in regularly because I wanted to give them the chance to put their own mark on the show. After recently watching two weeks worth of episodes, I am cautiously optimistic about a return to classic Y&R. First of all, the veterans have remained front and center, which is essential to the success of the series. I am very pleased with the recent news that Tracey E. Bregman (Lauren Fenmore) is now back on contract after being on recurring status for over a decade. I am also pleased to see the writing team exploring Lauren's past dark side by pairing her with Carmine (Marco Dapper), even though Lauren is still married to Michael (Christian LeBlanc). I am also pleased to see Lauralee Bell return as Christine, on a recurring basis. The legacy characters and their families need to remain the focus of the series.

I also applaud the removal of many big name stars who were hired on from other shows with no vision whatsoever for their characters. How sad that so much talent went to waste with characters who simply did not fit in to the Genoa City canvass. No offense to any of the former cast members who I am sure will find other work soon, if they have not already. However, I am concerned with the large number of new characters who are clearly being exploited by being asked to appear in various states of undress. Yes, Carmine (Marco Dapper), Tyler (Redaric Willams) and Summer (Hunter King) are attractive, but viewers need to care about more than their chests. The large number of recasts of the newbies is also distracting. With so many former and still popular cast members to choose from, why not bring back JT (Thad Luckinbill), Danny (Michael Damian), Olivia (Tonya Lee Williams), Traci (Beth Maitland) and Nina (Tricia Cast)? Also, find a way to bring back Eileen Davidson full time as Ashley. It is easy to make room - just look at the characters who are not working out (and have been given adequate time) and write them off.

No, The Young and the Restless is not perfect, but it is still the best daytime drama currently on the air (although I do like what has been happening at General Hospital with all of the returning veterans). Over the years the series has given me great memories with the Kay/Jill feud, the Jack/Victor feud, the Traci/Lauren rivalry, the classic Masquerade Ball episodes from 1991, the Victor/Nikki/Ashley love triangle, several storylines featuring Lauren being stalked by a madman/madwoman (could Carmine be next?), Paul's detective adventures, the many clever schemes designed by Phyllis, Jack's need to live up to the man his father was (and usually not succeeding), Esther's comic relief, Cassie's heartbreaking death, and the beautiful and unforgettable theme music that has stood the test of time. I also want to point out the unforgettable  characters that were developed during the early 1990s, including Neil Winters (Kristoff St. John), Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc), Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford), Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) and Sharon Collins (Sharon Case). All of those characters and the actors who portray them have become integral to the success of the series over the past two plus decades.

Finally, the cast introductions that are currently airing at the beginning of each episode have been sensational and are an appropriate way to pay homage to the series and the unforgettable characters that is has produced. Here's to another 40 years of The Young and Restless! Thanks for the memories!

Remembering Carolyn Conwell ("The Young and the Restless")

For nearly a quarter century Carolyn Conwell portrayed the strong willed, opinionated and often exasperating Mary Williams on The Young and the Restless. Conwell, who also worked in the theater and in film, recently passed away after a long illness, at the age of 82. The exact nature of her illness was not specified.

Long time viewers of The Young and the Restless had the pleasure of watching Conwell portray Mary Williams from 1980-2004. While Mary was not well liked by other characters, namely Lauren Fenmore (Tracey E. Bregman), who was once married to her son, Paul (Doug Davidson), Mary did not care. She always put her family first and made no apologies for it. Even though Mary meant well, she was always butting into Paul's love life and, as a result, caused many problems, some of them quite humorous. Indeed, Mary sometimes provided comic relief with her no-nonsense demeanor, which endeared her to fans and made the character a memorable one, which was no easy task considering the talent that was present on Y&R during her tenure. Thanks for the memories Carolyn! You have been and will continue to be missed.