TV BANTER

Y&R Report (May 9, 2026): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

2026-05-09T11:25:00.000-04:00

Hey Y&R fans, every second Saturday TV Banter discusses the latest happenings and provides commentary on your favourite daytime drama. Note to U.S. readers - SPOILER ALERT: Here in Canada, I watch the show on Global TV, which is one episode ahead of CBS. I will inevitably refer to incidents you haven't seen yet. Read at your own risk. If you are the curious type, though, you may prefer to discover some things in advance.

So, Matt Clark is still alive. Sienna didn't kill him. Why am I not surprised? He has to stay around to cause more trouble for the Newman family. The twist is that Clark is suffering from amnesia after the blow to his head from Sienna. Matt's scene at the Athletic Club bar with Phyllis was enjoyable. Then, after running away from Noah, who should Matt run into but Patty Williams. Those two make quite a pair. The looks they gave each other were priceless. What a combination!

Nick Newman recovered rather quickly form his addiction, or did he? Not so fast! Despite confessing his addiction to Nikki and Victoria, he pulled another pill from his pocket. Will he swallow it? At any rate, it was good to see Nick humbled for a change when he admitted his mistake to his family. But the guy has serious problems. Before Phyllis took over Newman Enterprises, Nick seldom appeared at the office. He was too busy being Sharon's knight in shining armour and venting his rage at Matt Clark. In addition to rehab for his pill addiction, Nick needs anger management therapy.

Why did Cricket have to look so self-righteous when Phyllis and Cain were arrested? She claims she is a professional and that she won't allow her animosity toward Phyllis affect her performance as district attorney. I think it already has. She doesn't seem neutral to me. Why has she accepted the e-mail evidence against Phyllis so easily? Why isn't she checking out Victor's actions more?

Phyllis and Cricket had quite a confrontation, witnessed by Michael and Lauren. Phyllis couldn't help herself. She ripped into Cricket about being Victor's puppet and threatened to expose her to every media outlet. Cricket declared that she'd win a defamation suit against the redhead.

Although Phyllis has behaved abysmally, I am so disgusted with Victor and his princess daughter that I am on her side this time. I know Victor will take over again eventually, but it's great that Phyllis is making him squirm.

Get ready for an epic court battle between the Cricketmeister and Michael Baldwin. It should be fun.

It seems as if there's going to be trouble ahead for Adam and Chelsea. Adam was affected by his stint as Spyder in Las Vegas. He admitted to Chelsea that he was still attracted to that lifestyle. Also, Adam does not like Chelsea's sympathy for Billy, while Chelsea does not think he deserves to be thrown under the bus.

There's been a shakeup behind the scenes at The Young and the Restless. Josh Griffith is stepping down as executive prodTucer of the show in order to concentrate solely on his head-writing duties. Meanwhile, Sally McDonald, who has been co-producer since 2025, will remain as the show's only executive producer. Will this mean an improvement in the show's writing? Fans can only hope so.

Josh Griffith

CAST NEWS

Lauren Koslow to play Jill temporarily

Jess Walton

Lauren Koslow

Lauren Koslow, best known for her role as Kate Roberts on Days of our Lives, will be playing Jill Foster Abbott temporarily because Jess Walton, who has portrayed Jill since 1987, is unavailable due to a scheduling conflict. Head writer Josh Griffith and executive producer Sally McDonald said the following in a joint statement: "Jess Walton is an enduring cornerstone of Y&R. We look forward to welcoming her back to Genoa City as her schedule permits and celebrating her extraordinary 40th anniversary as the iconic Jill Abbott."

Meanwhile, Lauren Koslow is no stranger to The Young and the Restless. Longtime fans will remember that Lauren began her daytime career on Y&R as the crafty Lindsey Wells, who fell for Jack Abbott many years ago.

Jill's appearance means that she will show up in Genoa City or that son Billy will be visiting her in London where she has cardiac issues. I doubt that that Lauren Koslow will only be seen in video calls. I don't think Jill will be very pleased when she hears the news about Billy's engagement and his impending fatherhood.

Where oh where is Detective (No first name) Burrow, played by Matt Cohen? He hasn't been seen for a long time. I like him. I hope he's back soon.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Courtney Hope (Sally Spectra)

Jason Thompson (Billy Abbott)

Yes, Billy Boy Abbott and Sally Spectra are engaged and they are having a child. But will they make it down the aisle? Expect problems ahead. Billy has been implicated in the case against Phyllis and Cane. Will he fall into his old ways again? Can Sally really trust him? What do you think, fans? Should Sally marry Billy? Will the wedding even happen? Respond to the poll below and let me know.

NOTE TO READERS

I really need your feedback. If you have any comments on Y&R, please email them to me with "Viewer Forum" in the subject line. I will be happy to publish your comments and reply to them You do not have to use your real name. I really need your input. I really need to hear your opinion. I want to know if you agree or disagree with me. I am disappointed by the lack of response to my polls from readers. I have not been receiving many email comments either. I wish I knew why I am getting so little response.

My email address: jmadden16@yahoo.ca

That's all for now. Don't forget that he next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on May 23, 2026.

Take care,

Joanne

Here's what to expect in Season 5 of Son of a Critch

2026-05-07T14:32:00.002-04:00

Finally! It's official. Filming is underway in St. John's Newfoundland for the fifth and final season of Son of a Critch, Mark Critch's semi-autobiographical sitcom about coming of age in Newfoundland in the 1980s and 1990s. The fifth season will consist of 12 episodes. It will air on the CBC and CBC Gem this fall. On May 4, 2026, the show's co-creator and executive producer Mark Critch posted a video alongside the following statement on social media:

To all of you who’ve been watching along, we’ve officially started filming Season 5 of Son of a Critch. We’re heading back to 1992 – the year I graduated high school – so you can expect all the awkwardness and growing pains that come with it.

And since it’s the last year of high school, it will also be our final chapter. Growing up is hard to do – but it sure is fun to watch.

We hope you’ll join us this fall as we go back to school one last time on CBC and CBC Gem.

Class dismissed,

Mark Critch

Here's how the final season of Son of a Critch is described in a media release:

In its final season, Son of a Critch finds Mark in his last year of high school just as Newfoundland’s cod moratorium crisis turns his world upside down. While the adults scramble and the future feels suddenly uncertain, Mark is more determined than ever to chase his dream of becoming an actor—whether anyone’s ready for him to grow up or not. As friendships evolve, first love gets complicated, and the family faces changes they can’t outrun, this season captures the messy, funny, and deeply human moment when everything ends and begins at the same time. After five seasons of growing up together, it’s a heartfelt goodbye to Mark’s childhood—and to the Critch family we won’t soon forget.

FIFTH SEASON CAST

The cast of Son of a Critch consists of Mark Critch as his own father, Mike Sr., with Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (The Legend of Zelda, Everything's Going to Be Great) as young Mark. Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Entourage) as Patrick Critch, Mark's grandfather, "Pop." Claire Rankin (Stargate Atlantis) portrays his mother, Mary Critch, while Colton Gobbo (Ginny and Georgia) plays his older brother, Mike Jr. Mark Ezekiel Rivera is his best friend Ritche, and Sophia Powers is his girlfriend Fox. Secondary cast members returning for the final season include Richard Clarkin (Memory of a Killer) as Dick, Nicole Underhay (Hudson &Rex as Fox's mom Suzanne, Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll (Doc) as Father Garcia and North McLellan (Stays) as Sister Rose. Guest stars are Shawn Doyle (Star Trek: Discovery) as Kevin Lewis, Mark former theatre instructor, Susan Kent (The Snake) as Linda Lahey and Rick Mercer as radio station owner Mr. Bartlett.

It sounds like the fifth season of Son of a Critch well be worth the wait. By the way seasons 1-4 are available to stream now on CBC Gem. American viewers can stream the show on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

- Joanne

Keeping up with Eve Plumb (Jan Brady on The Brady Bunch)

2026-05-04T14:26:00.001-04:00

“I think what happened was that I would say things like, ‘Yes, the Bradys was great, but I also have a life.’ Or I’d be promoting something else and the media would be, like, ‘Brady, Brady. Brady,’ and I’d say, ‘That’s great, but I’m doing this now.’ It immediately became, ‘You’re bitter.'”

- Eve Plumb

Eve Plumb is best known as Jan, the middle sister on The Brady Bunch. However, she has achieved much more than that on stage, in film and on television. Furthermore, she is an accomplished artist Her oil paintings have been displayed in galleries around the United States.

Eve Aline Plumb was born in Burbank, California on April 29, 1958, the daughter of Flora June (née Dobry) and record producer Neely Plumb. She had two siblings, a sister named Flora and a brother, Ben.

Eve began her acting career in television commercials in 1966, at the age of seven. A children's agent moved next door to her and got her cast in a commercial, then she kept getting more work. In 1967, Eve appeared in episodes of The Virginian, The Big Valley and Lassie. In 1968, she guest-starred on It Takes a Thief, Mannix and Family Affair. In the Family Affair episode "Christmas Came a Little Early" (Season 3, Episode 7, Air Date: November 11, 1968), she portrays a terminally ill girl who befriends Buffy (Anissa Jones).

From 1969 to 1974, Eve appeared in all 117 episodes of The Brady Bunch, starring Robert Reed and Florence Henderson as parents of a blended family of six children, three boys and three girls. On the show, Eve played the awkward middle sister, always in the shadow of her older sister Marcia (Maureen McCormick). It was in the episode "Her Sister's Shadow" (Season 3, Episode 10, Air Date: November 19, 1971) that Jan uttered the famous catchline "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!" because she was tired of hearing about the accomplishments of her older sister.

In another notable episode, "The Not So-Rose-Colored Glasses" (Season 3, Episode 13, Air Date: December 24, 1971), Jan needs to wear glasses, but doesn't want to, until an accident damages an anniversary gift for her parents. In a 2025 Real Brady Bros podcast, Eve Plumb's Brady brothers, Barry Williams and Christopher Knight revealed that the show's creative team wrote an episode about Jan needing glasses so that Eve, who had poor eyesight, could wear her own real specs on the show. "I gotta believe it was easier for her to wear those glasses as the character," said Christopher Knight. Barry Williams couldn't remember if Eve wore contacts in earlier seasons or simply did without her glasses.

Here is how Lloyd J. Schwartz, son of Brady Bunch creator Sherwood Schwartz and a producer on the show, described Eve's talent.

"She came to the show with more a history of the business in some way, with her sister being an actress, her father involved i music and her mother ever-present. So whenever we would do a scene, she was just kind of a little bit apart. Not in a bad way at all because everybody has their own little things they bring to it. But it was something that we started to notice and some of the stories that we wrote just kind of highlighted that in a way, evolving into the whole middle-child syndrome storyline. Of course, now everybody uses that as example of Jan Brady as this tormented kid. You know, "Marcia, Marcia Marcia! She played that really well."

Below is a circa 1972 photo Eve with her Brady Bunch siblings. Left to right: Susan Olsen (Cindy), Eve, Christopher Knight (Peter), Barry Williams (Greg), Mike Lockinland (Bobby) and Maureen McCormick (Marcia).

In 1976, Eve was the only original Brady Bunch cast member who did not reprise her role as in The Brady Bunch Variety Hour, an attempt to reinvent the Bradys as the stars of a variety show with song-and-dance numbers, sketches and "show-within-a-show" segments in the Brady home. Geri Reischi replaced Eve as Jan, and fans were disappointed about the change. They labelled Eve's replacement as "Fake Jan."

After The Brady Bunch, Eve, continued to work in television. When she played a teenage prostitute in Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway (1976), an NBC television film, it was quite a departure from her Jan Brady role. She also portrayed Elizabeth "Beth" March in the 1978 miniseries Little Women. In doing so, the young actor managed to avoid being typecast as Jan Brady. She refused to limit herself to that one role.

As it turned out, Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway received high ratings. If Eve had agreed to appear of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour, she would have been unavailable for a sequel to Dawn. According to Ted Nichelson, author of Love to Love You Bradys; The Bizarre Story of the Brady Bunch Variety Hour, Eve's father, a music producer, was not too keen on her doing the Brady variety show.

After initial high ratings, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour faded in popularity and was short-lived. Nine episodes were aired from November 28, 1976 to May 25, 1977. Meanwhile, there was a sequel to Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway It was called Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn and it aired on NBC in 1977.

In addition to Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway, its sequel, and Little Women, Eve has appeared in several made-for-TV movies, including The House on Greenapple Road (1970), The Force of Evil (1977), Telethon (1977), Secrets of Three Hungry Wives (1978), The Night the Bridge Fell Down (1983) and Yesterday Today (1992).

In the1970s and 1980s, Eve appeared in episodes of several TV shows, including Here's Lucy (1972), Wonder Woman (1977), Fantasy Island (3 episodes, 1979, 1981), The Love Boat (3 episodes, 1978, 1980, 1982), One Day at a Time (1982), The Facts of Life (1983) and Murder, She Wrote (1985). In the Here's Lucy episode "Lucy and Donny Osmond," Eve plays Lucy's never-before mentioned niece, Patricia Carter. Lucy and her daughter Kim (played by her real-life daughter Lucie Arnaz) take Patricia to a nightclub to see Donny Osmond, with whom she's smitten.

In the 1990s, Eve guest-starred in Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1994) and That '70s Show (1998). In the 2000s, she has appeared in episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2013), Blue Bloods (2017) and Bull (2020). On January 31, 2016. Eve played the role of shop teacher Mrs. Murdoch in Grease Live!, a live televised remake of the 1978 film on Fox.

Eve returned to her "Jan Brady" role in the 1981 NBC TV movie The Brady Girls Get Married. That led to the short-lived The Brady Brides in which she starred with Maureen McCormick. Eve also appeared in A Very Brady Christmas (1988) and its 1990 spinoff series, The Bradys.

Eve Plumb been married twice and divorced once. She was the first of the Brady Bunch siblings to marry, and the first to divorce. On July 22, 1979, Eve married Rick Mansfield. The marriage was short-lived and the couple divorced in 1981. Eve has been very private about the reasons for the split, and Rick Mansfield has remained largely out of the public eye.

Since September 24, 1995, Eve has been married to Ken Pace, a business and technology consultant. She does not have any children.

Eve and Ken Pace

END NOTES

* According to Eve Plum's official website, the subject matter of Eve's paintings "ranges from restaurant scenes and still lifes to paintings based on Film Noir and Western movies.

Eve has appeared in two soap operas. In 2003, she played June Landau on All My Children. In 2008, she portrayed Dora in an episode of Days of Our Lives.

* Eve has a strong interest in home renovation, which was evident in her appearance in A Very Brady Renovation (2019) and Design at Your Door on HGTV.

* Eve has written a book with Marcia Wilkie. It was publish recently and is entitled Happiness Included: Jan Brady and Beyond. In her memoir, Eve writes about the loss of her mother, father and sister. Her mother died in 1995, a week before her wedding to Ken Pace. Her father passed away not long after that, and her sister died several years later.

Eve was reluctant to write the book because "I'm not a writer. It's not that I didn't think people would care -- I just didn't want to do it." Some of that reluctance was also fueled by Eve's desire to protect her privacy. "As a public person, I've always wanted to keep things private.," she says. "I didn't even want to tell people the name of my dog for a long time. You share so much of your life already."

In the early 1990s, Eve's "Marcia! Marcia! Marcia! was parodied on Saturday Night Live by comedian Melanie Hutsell. The parody really bothered Eve, as she explained in her memoir. She stated that hearing her performance mocked, even in good fun, felt like a "schoolyard taunt." It brought her back to her time as a child actor, even as an adult.

SOURCES: Woman's World, "A Look Back at Eve Plumb's Career at 67: The Truth About Jan Brady's Misunderstood Star," by Ed Gross, April 27, 2026; Microsoft News (MSN), Eve Plumb, 67, reveals the emotional toll of her Jan Brady Fame: ' I was a good little soldier','" by Ed Gross, March 24, 2026; People, "Jan's Glasses on The Brady Bunch Were Written into the Show to Help Eve Plumb in Real Life, Her Brady Brothers Say," by John Russell, February 21, 2025; Wikipedia; Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

- Joanne

Y&R Report (April 25, 2026): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

2026-04-25T12:31:00.003-04:00

So, the ultimate daddy's girl, Victoria Newman, has joined forces with Christine Blair Romalotti (aka The Cricketmeister). Victoria is taking advantage of Cricket's new position as the district attorney. She knows that Cricket and Phyllis are enemies. Still, Phyllis is not going to give up easily. She is going to fight tooth and nail, even though Summers Conglomerate will probably not last long.

Victoria is Victor's strongest advocate. She will do almost anything to please her daddy. She didn't hesitate to dig for dirt on Phyllis. All she wants is Victor's approval, even though he's ruined her marriages and relationships. No wonder Nate is hesitant about getting involved with her again.

Patty Williams continues to cause havoc. She had confrontations with both Diane and Phyllis. Then she paid a visit to Victor in order to collect the money he paid her for taking advantage of foolish Jack Abbott. The Big Man handed her a big bag of cash for seducing Jack and damaging his marriage to Diane.

Jack is a fool. He should not be rushing Diane to forgive him and he shouldn't be showering her with gifts. She needs time and space, which he doesn't seem willing to give her. Trying to make Diane jealous of him and Nikki is a terrible idea. It will definitely backfire. It will only create more of a rift between Jack and Diane. How can Jack be so stupid? I'll tell you why. It's a soap and there needs to be conflict for a storyline. That's why.

Nick Newman was in no condition to drive a car as he was under the influence of fentanyl. Why did Adam even allow him to risk both of their lives by getting behind the wheel. Y&R should have stressed the dangers of driving while under the influence of drugs. Meanwhile, Sharon and Noah fell into Matt Clark's trap. I must say that Roger Howarth, who plays Matt, is doing a great job of playing a villain.

Nick collapsed while trying to save Noah and Sharon at the abandoned gas station in the desert. According to an online spoiler, Matt placed contaminated drugs in one of the bags in the storage room. Expect Nick to be fighting for his life, with Sharon at his bedside. As for Matt, he will escape for now, so that he will continue to torment the Newman family.

There is a growing rift between Abby and Devon. Devon is behaving like a jerk where Mariah is concerned. There really is no point in putting Mariah in prison. Devon's behaviour doesn't make sense, but the writers seem to want Abby and Devon to be at odds right now. However, Devon is correct about one thing, which he mentioned prematurely. He questioned Cane's motive for assisting Malcolm. Lily does not want to think about Cane's motives right now. She is just relieved that her ex is a match for a bone marrow transplant with Malcolm. Lily's main concern is saving Malcolm's life, and rightly so. Nevertheless, I don't think Cane volunteered out of the goodness of his heart. He did it to win favour with Lily. If Lily hadn't been involved, Cane wouldn't have considered volunteering.

VIEWER FORUM

If you have any comments on Y&R, please email them to me with "Viewer Forum" in the subject line. I will be happy to publish your comments and reply to them You do not have to use your real name.

My email address: jmadden16@yahoo.ca

I received an email from longtime Y&R viewer, Carly in Barrhaven, Ontario. Here is what she wrote:

As for Y&R, I can't stand Stephanie. The show is going downhill. Will Noah dump Sienna for Audra? I don't think so. We are going to go through rehab with Nick, which I'm not looking forward to. The Moustache will win again.

Well Carly, Stephanie doesn't bother me, and I don't think the show is going downhill. There is much room for improvement, but I enjoy watching. Noah might end up back with Audra. She is certainly going to try and win him back. Will he be able to resist her romantic oveachures? I'm not looking forward to Nick's rehab either. The Moustache will win in the end, but Phyllis is giving him a battle. I'm not a fan of Phyllis, but I can't stand the smirk on Victor's face. Have you noticed that he's been smirking a lot lately?

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Stacy Haiduk (Patty Williams)

Tina Casciani (Riza)

Vivica A. Fox

Shemar Moore (Malcolm Winteres)

There are several characters on Y&R who will likely leave at the end of their storyline. I'm referring to characters such as Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk),, Malcolm Winters (Shemar Moore), Dr. Stephanie Simmons (Vivica A. Fox) and Riza Thomson (Tina Casciani). Which one of those characters would you like to see on the show permanently? Respond to the poll below and let me know.

That's all for now. Don't forget that the next issue of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

Take care,

Joanne

The newest Jeopardy! champion

2026-04-19T23:16:00.001-04:00

My favourite game show has a new super champion. As of Friday April 17th, he has won 26 consecutive games and he looks unbeatable. His name is Jamie Ding and he resides in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Jamie made his first appearance on Jeopardy! on March 13, 2026.

On the Friday April 17th episode of the show, he defeated a fellow New Jerseyan, Taotao Zhang, a statistician from South River, as well as Tini Howard, a comic book writer from Van Nuys, California. With that victory, he increased his total winnings to $732,000.

Jamie graduated from Princeton, University in 2013. According to his Linkedin site, he earned a bachelor's degree in Molecular Biology. As a tribute to his alma mater, Jamie wore orange and black, his school colours, on the show. it has long been a dream of his to wear orange (and black) on national television." he told Princeton. "In that regard, the Jeopardy! experience was phenomenal."

A public service professional, Jamie currently works in housing policy and government administration. Since May of 2025, he has served as a Multifamily and Tax Credit Program administrator at the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. But Jamie is not only a bureaucrat. He is also a law student at New Jersey's Seton Hall University. Seaton's weekend J.D. program allows students who work full-time to attend classes on Saturdays and Sundays.

Jamie Ding

Jamie's parents are originally from Beijing, where his father, Yuchuan was a cometic surgeon. Yuchman and his wife, Ning Yan, left China after political violence broke out in Tiananmen Square in 1989. They moved to Australia, where Jamie was born in 1991. Jamie has a younger sister, Jessie Ding, now 30 years old.

After Yuchuan earned his doctorate in Australia, the family moved to Tennessee, where Yuchuan was a research fellow at Vanderbilt University, while Ning Yan served as a child care worker. In 1998, the Dings, relocated to Michigan. Dr. Ding worked at Wayne State University, where he is now a professor of neurosurgery. He is an internationally renowned expert in stroke therapy, traumatic brain injury, and thermal injury research. Jamie's mother, Ning Yang worked in the Detroit public school system, where she taught mathematics at Cass Technical High School. She is now retired.

Dr. Yuchuan Ding

Jamie's family is thrilled about his success on Jeopardy! According to his mother, he "started reading at the age of three, and we provided him with all the possible materials we could. He's always been very curious about everything." The Dings have been watching Jamie every night from their home in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, where Jamie and Jessie attended elementary and high school. "Friends, family, everybody, classmates . . . tell us they are watching," said Ning Yan.

If he continues his winning ways, Jamie Ding is on course to be one of the greatest champions in the history of Jeopardy! With his earnings of $732,000, Jamie is approaching sixth place on the regular-season money list, behind another New Jerseyan, Cris Panullo of Ocean City, who amassed $748,286 while winning 21 games in 2022. Ding remains in fifth place on the all-time consecutive win list. behind James Holzhauer, who won 32 games in 2019. He is currently in the 11th spot on the all-time money list (including tournaments, but he is still a long way from Ken Jenning's 74 consecutive game run in 2004.

Nevertheless, It will be fun to see how far Jamie can go on Jeopardy! With his likeable personality and easy manner, he is quickly winning over fans of the show.

SOURCES: Jeopardy!Fan.com; AOL, "Jamie Ding tops fellow New Jerseyan to win 26th on 'Jeopardy!'" by Jon Connolly, April 17, 2026; The Detroit News, "Who is Jamie Ding? 'Jeopardy! champ amazes his Grosse Pointe family," by Max Reinhart, April 17, 2026; Wikipedia

- Joanne

Y&R Report (April 11, 2026): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

2026-04-11T09:43:00.003-04:00

Wow! So now we know Holden's background. It turns out that he's Malcolm's biological son and Lily's half-brother. Not only that, but Malcolm has a blood disease and needs a bone marrow transplant to save his life. How will this impact the storyline? Will Lily and Holden regard each other differently? Now that he is a member of the Winters family, will he be given a position in their company? How will Nate and Devon feel about Holden being part of the family?

Of course, Holden is upset with his mother for not telling him the truth for so long. He is shocked to suddenly meet a stranger who is is biological father. It's a lot for Holden to process. Audra could see that he was troubled, but he refused to confide in her. Instead, he opened up to Claire. Nosy Audra eavesdropped on him and Claire. Now she knows what's upsetting Holden. It will be very interesting to see what she does with that information.

It's good to see that Daytime Emmy winner Shemar Moore back on Y&R as Malcom Winters, along with Vivica A. Fox as Dr. Stephanie Simmons. The two have returned for a multi-episode storyline. Back in 1984, Malcolm and Stephanie had a short-term romance after being set up by his sister-in-law Olivia. Stephanie and Olivia were medical colleagues. It was fun to see that old flashback of Stephanie and Malcolm in the 1980s.

I think Malcolm's life will be saved, although Lily and Holden have been eliminated as doners. Maybe it will turn out that Holden is a match or that either Mattie or Charlie is a match.

Chelsea's instincts were right on the money. Things are not going well for Nick and Adam in Las Angeles. The Newman brothers are both playing with fire. A drug-addicted Nick has come face to face with Matt Clark, his worst enemy. The wild card is Riza. What part will she play in all of this? How loyal is she to Matt? How far will Adam go with her? Will he be able to control his Spyder alter-ego? What will Chelsea find when she arrives in Las Vegas? As for Nick, I don't think I've ever seen him in worse condition. I am not surprised that Matt plans to use Nick's addiction to destroy him. Matt really enjoys having control of a Newman. He's going to make Nick beg for his fix.

A portrait of Phyllis now hangs on the wall of Victor's former office. I had to smile when I saw it. However, I don't think it will be there for much longer. That infernal picture will be returned to its place eventually. Victoria's portrait didn't last very long either.

My my my! Sienna seems worried about Noah and Audra together. When she saw them reminiscing about their past, she entered the scene and made a show of being lovey-dovey with Noah. Given Noah's record with women and his lack of loyalty, I'd say Sienna has reason to worry.

VIEWER FORUM

If you have any comments on Y&R, please email them to me with "Viewer Forum" in the subject line. I will be happy to publish your comments and reply to them You do not have to use your real name.

My email address: jmadden16@yahoo.ca

I received an email from longtime Y&R viewer, Carly in Barrhaven, Ontario. Here is what she wrote:

Patty Williams is making the show interesting. I believe Diane will forgive Jack eventually. After all, she is an Abbott now. Victor is out of control. If Nikki doesn't turn to Jack and vice versa, she will eventually end up in The Moustache's arms. Phyllis is riding high right now, and talk about high, looks like we will be dealing with Nick and an opioid addiction. Just what we need!!!!!

Victoria is certainly a daddy's girl.

What about Claire?

Yes, Carly, Patty is certainly making the show more interesting. I also believe that Diane will forgive Jack eventually, but it won't be easy, and it will take time.

Yes, Phyllis is quite pleased herself for getting control of Victor's empire. She's paid a huge price for it, though. Her children have turned their back on her. Her only friend is Lauren. As for Nick Newman, he is at the lowest point in his life. Matt Clark will take every advantage of Nick's opioid addiction. Nick, of course, has brought this all on himself due to his stubbornness and his determination to deal with Matt by himself. I think it's about time that Victoria stands up to daddy. Will she ever do it, though? Claire is very sympathetic toward Holden right now, but will she feel the same way when she discovers what he did with Audra in L.A.?

Sone questions. Why doesn't Summer return to Genoa City? What really happened to Ian Ward? I haven't forgotten that he opened his eyes in the ambulance. He's still alive somewhere. Lucy and Connor haven't been shown for ages. We never see Nick's son, Christian. Why doesn't Victoria ever mention her son, Reese, from her marriage to J.T.?

CAST NEWS

Is Camryn Grimes (Mariah) leaving Y&R?

Camryn Grimes' character, Mariah Copeland., will be getting psychiatric treatment rather than jail time. So, what does that mean for Camryn's future on the show. It seems unclear. She appears to be stepping away for a while, but is it only temporary? Will she return at some point? I haven't been able to find a clear answer. It seems to be up in the air. I will keep you posted.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) has paid a huge price for ousting Newman Enterprises from Victor. Her children, Summer and Daniel, have turned their back on her. I'm tired of her constant complaints about how everyone in town treats her. No wonder she doesn't have a friend in the world except for Lauren. Yet, she steadfastly refuses to give up Newman Enterprises. Phyllis, of course, is no angel, but Victor is far worse. I don't think the fiery redhead will have control of Newman Enterprises indefinitely, but I hope she makes Victor sweat for a while. What do you think, fans? Respond to the poll below and let me know.

That's all for now. Don't forget that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

Take care,

Joanne

There's a buzz around this UK drama series

2026-04-07T16:53:00.001-04:00

In the UK, a period drama, based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice has delighted fans of the English author. The BBC series, entitled The Other Bennet Sister, focuses on Mary Bennet, the sister of Austen's protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet. The ten-episode series debuts in Canada and the United States on May 6, 2026, and will be available to stream on Britbox and the Britbox Apple TV Channel. It can also be accessed through Amazon Prime. The first three half-hour episodes will be released on May 6, with seven more half-hour weekly releases to follow on Wednesdays.

The Other Bennet Sister is adapted from the eponymous novel by Janice Hadlow. The series was filmed primarily in Wales. It is directed by Jennifer Sheridan (Extraordinary) and Asim Abbasi (Cake) and produced by Bad Wolf (His Dark Materials, Industry).. Bad Wolf was founded in 2015 to create relevant TV drama throughout the world.

The Other Bennet Sister has a talented British ensemble cast, with Ella Bruccoleri in the lead role as Mary Bennet. Bruccoleri is known for her roles as Sister Frances in the BBC drama Call the Midwife (2018-2022) and Winnifred Barragan in the Netflix series Bridgerton. Ruth Jones (Gavin & Stacey, Stella) plays Mrs. Bennet in seven episodes and Richard Coyle (Heads of State, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) portrays Mr. Gardiner in seven episodes, Indira Varma (Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Night Manager) takes on the role of Mrs. Gardiner in eight episodes).

In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, there are five Bennet sisters. Jane Bennet is the eldest, followed by Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine (Kitty) and Lydia (the youngest). Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813. It is set in Regency England and follows the fortunes of the Bennet family, who live in Longbourn House in Hertfordshire, a county in the East of England.

Mary Bennet is the forgotten middle child in Austen's novel. Mary is intelligent, bespectacled and very shy. She is awkward, bookish and doesn't play the piano well at parties. The Other Bennet Sister is the story of Mary's transformation from a wallflower into a confident woman. It happens when she leaves Longbourn behind and travels to London to live with her kindly aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, in their elegant home on Gracechurch Street,

Here's what Ella Brucoleri had to say about Mary's character: "From a young age, she's seen as not having the same desirable qualities as her sisters. She comes to believe that she's innately unlovable. And then the minute she steps away from her family, she begins to see things differently. I mean, she has setbacks all the time, but it's a story about the transformative power of kindness, really."

Ella Brucoleri as Mary Bennet

Some critics have dubbed The Other Bennet Sister as "fanfic," inferring that it strays too far from Jane Austen's original work. They contend that it puts too much emphasis on the "cute" and "interesting." Others have praised its fresh outlook on the themes of the novel. What would Jane Austen think of the series? Perhaps that's an unfair question because Austen lived in another era, and 2020s TV show formats and streaming would be strangely foreign to her. However, one could argue that Austen's truths are timeless and universal. Whether The Other Bennet Sister has done justice to her work is open to debate. Still, for Austen fans, it is well worth watching.

SOURCES: Yahoo News; "'The Other Bennet Sister': How to watch the show in Canada and U.S. with Bridgerton 'Young Sherlock' stars," Elisabetta Bianchini, April 5, 2026; "The Kansas City Star, "The Other Bennet Sister: US Premiere Date, Cast and Streaming Details," by Hanna Wickes, April 1, 2026; The Charlotte Observer, "Pride and Prejudice's Most Overlooked Sister Now Has Her Own Show: When Does It Drop In the US?" by Hanna Wickes, April 1, 2026; The Conversation (the conversation.com), "The Other Bennet Sister: this fresh take on Pride and Prejudice transforms the overlooked Mary," March 18, 2026; Wikipedia

- Joanne

Y&R Report (March 28, 2026): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

2026-03-28T14:48:00.007-04:00

So, two marriages are in deep trouble -- Victor and Nikki and Jack and Diane. I must commend the four soap veterans (Eric Braeden, Melody Thomas Scott, Peter Bergman and Susan Walters) for some fine acting. It should be interesting to see how this plays out. However, I think somewhere along the line, the two couples will reconcile. In the meantime, will Jack and Nikki get together, at least for a while?

Are you wondering how long Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) will be in Genoa City? According to Soap Opera Digest, expect her to stick around until late 2026. By that time, Patty will be sent back to a psychiatric hospital and Stacy will return to her other role as Kristen DiMera on Days of Our Lives. Because Days shoots so far in advance, she will continue to be seen in Salem until late his year. Here is what Stacy told Soap Opera Digest about filming so far ahead: "They do a lot of that on Days, which is always sad for me. I was getting a little depressed because I was like, 'Oh, I miss it, I want to be working,' and blah, blah, blah." However, two weeks after she completed her latest Days stint, Y&R head writer and executive producer Josh Griffith texted her unexpectedly and asked if she were available to return as Patty. "It was just perfect timing," said Stacy.

This is the opportune time to bring Patty's brother, Paul Williams (Doug Davidson) back, provided Doug agrees, which seems doubtful. Not only is Patty back, but Danny and Cricket (Paul's ex) are newly married. Paul is mentioned from time to time on the show, but that's all. By the way, I don't think fans would accept another actor playing the role.

Nikki is going to join with Jack Abbott to bring Victor down. They are planning to team up to teach Victor a lesson he'll never forget. That should be very very interesting, but will it work? Will anything stop The Moustache from getting what he wants?

Holden has been encouraging Audra to get back together with Kyle Abbott. He obviously wants to prevent Claire Newman from reconciling with her ex-boyfriend so that he has a better chance with her. Holden is really smitten with Claire. Audra, however, isn't listening to Holden. She may have other ideas. She ran into Noah and they waxed nostalgic about their past. This could be a sign that the two of them may get together again. Noah betrayed Allie and hooked up with Sienna. He hasn't been very loyal in his relationships. As for Audra, she would probably cavort with Noah in a minute if the opportunity arose.

Lauren is quite enthusiastic about her new partnership with Phyllis. She considers it an exciting challenge, although Michael is clearly not thrilled about it. I wonder how long Phyllis will be able to keep control of Newman Enterprises? If Victor gains control again, Lauren and Phyllis are out the door.

Is there a TV character who is as much a daddy's girl as Victoria Newman? I don't think so. She defended her daddy when he treated Nikki miserably. She is a chip off the old block, that's for sure. She knew about the deal between Victor and Lily, but didn't tell Nate. If Nate were considering a reunion with Princess Victoria, that may have been the deal breaker. He'll think twice before getting romantically involved with her again.

Christel Khalil (Lily) has returned from maternity leave. Lily is under fire for her secret deal with Victor. As Devon and Nate pointed out, you'd think she'd know by now that Victor can't be trusted. He'd throw anyone under the bus to get what he wants. Cane is extremely angry with her. He declared that he wants nothing more to do with her. I wonder how long that will last.

Congratulations to The Young and the Restless for celebrating its 53rd anniversary on March 26, 2026, The show debuted in 1973, in the midst of the Watergate Scandal.

CAST NEWS

Tina Casciani is back on Y&R as Riza Thomson

Tina Casciani has returned to her role as Riza Thomson, Adam Newman's Las Vegas connection on The Young and the Restless. Riza is a reminder of Adam Newman's bad old days in Vegas as card shark known as Spyder.

Tina played Riza on Y&R from 2019 until 2020. The Italian-Brazilian actor hails from New York and began her career as a dancer and model. Her fist big role was in the independent film Mob Rule She also appeared in Role Models, along with Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott and the biographical sports film Bleed for This, as well as the television series How I Met Your Mother, Revenge, Jane the Virgin, Donny and CSI: Miami.

Riza didn't waste any time causing trouble. When Adam arrived to meet her, she immediately pulled a gun on him. She ended up sharing a drink with him and then kissing him.

Conner Floyd (ex-Chance) gets married

Some big changes for actor Conner Floyd. He left his role as Chance Chancellor on Y&R when his character was killed off. He now plays Chad DiMera. on Days of Our Lives. Conner replaced Billy Flynn who went on to portray Cane Ashby on Y&R.

Conner has also become a married man. On March 21, 2026, he wed his girlfriend Carly Frei in a ceremony in West Hollywood with over 200 guests in attendance.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Susan Walters (Diane Jenkins Abbott)

Diane is devastated. She set out to rescue Jack and found him on a yacht in a compromising situation with her nemesis, Patty Williams. She can't accept Jack's explanation that Patty drugged him and he lost his self-control. She left the Abbott home and took up residence at the Athletic Club. She ran into Patty there, and Patty tormented her mercilessly. Patty scratched her with her claws, figuratively speaking.

It turns out that Diane's two enemies, Nikki and Phyllis are both living at the club. Poor Diane! She should find accommodation elsewhere. She doesn't need any more salt rubbed in her wounds. She's going to need some time to get herself together. But should she forgive Jack? Can she forget that his romp with Patty never happened? What do you think, fans? Reply to the poll below and let me know.

NOTE TO READERS

My email address: jmadden16@yahoo.ca

That's all for now. Don't forget that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, April 11, 2026. A very Happy Easter and Passover to all who celebrate.

Take care,

Joanne

The trouble with streaming

2026-03-20T14:03:00.000-04:00

I subscribe to Neflix, but not to any other major streaming service. I do have access to many cable stations, as well as Crave, YouTube, CBC Gem, Filmrise and Tubi. Although I really enjoy watching TV, I can't spend all my time in front of a screen. However, I certainly can't complain that there's not enough to watch. There is plenty of choice for viewers.

It is impossible to subscribe to every streaming service or to keep up with all the programming. There is just too much available, and we are being inundated. I have no desire to subscribe to a streaming service just because it has one specific program that I am interested in. Although I am a Toronto Blue Jays fan, I refuse to subscribe to Apple TV because some Blue Jays games are streamed on Apple. It's really annoying not to be able to watch a game on TV. It's really unfair to we much-maligned baseball fans who are the lifeblood of the sport.

Since people don't subscribe to the same streaming services, nor do they watch the same shows at the same time, it's more difficult to share opinions or watch programs together. Your friends could be discussing a series they watch on Prime or Apple TV or Disney+. If you don't subscribe to Prime or Apple, you can't contribute to the conversation and you feel left out. Unfortunately, streaming in some ways, creates more of a disconnect among people at a time when when we need to connect more than ever. We talk about what we've viewed, but we don't watch much together in the same room.

- Joanne

Y&R Report (March 14, 2026): The Latest on the Young and the Restless

2026-03-14T14:13:00.001-04:00

She came back! Patty Williams, that is. Now we know why. Naturally, Victor Newman was behind her sudden appearance. Patty is still weird and she's still obsessed with Jack Abbott after all these years. Why was she released from a psychiatric facility, when she's clearly mentally unstable? Why is she in cahoots with Victor? What did her in return? It was most likely the chance to take advantage of Jack Abbott, and she succeeded. Why did Jack even share a drink with her, only to be drugged. He doesn't have the best judgement, does he. Diane was so angry at Jack when she saw him with Patty that she slapped him. Will Diane forgive him or will she cast him out? He may eventually turn to Nikki, now that she may finally have had enough of Victor's ruthlessness.

Victor Newman is behaving like a cartoonish villain. The Black Knight is acting the way he did when Eric Braeden first joined Y&R over 45 years ago. At that time, Eric requested that Y&R provide his character with a back story, explaining why Victor turned out that way. The writers came up with the story of Victor growing up in an orphanage and having to make his own way in the world. It seems that 45 plus years later, the character is regressing to the original Victor. He is conducting himself in a cruel and criminal manner - kidnapping and extortion. He doesn't even care what Nikki thinks.

What has happened to the Genoa City Police Department? The police station is never shown, nor are any police officers. The Newman family and the Abbott family have their own security. Jack's kidnapping hasn't been reported to them. Phyllis has also committed a crime. She knocked out Cane with chloroform. Where are the police in Genoa City? It's more like Dodge City. At least Dodge City had a sheriff. GC doesn't even seem to have a police chief. Where is Paul Williams when you need him? Maybe he'll reappear now that his sister Patty is back. For more on Doug, check out the CAST NEWS section below.

So, Victoria has decided to go to Milan after all. Her plan is to turn Summer against Phyllis. Does that mean Summer is headed back to Genoa City? I really hope so. Speaking of Phyllis, she has disappeared for the time being. What is she up to?

Sally Spectra has reconciled with Billy Abbott. He seems sincere this time, but I don't trust Billy Boy to stay that way. Sally will probably have another visit to heartbreak hotel in her future.

The writing on Y&R often frustrates me. Why does head writer Josh Griffith leave things hanging for so long. What happened to Ian Ward? Where is Matt hiding? Why does Griffith wait until we are no longer on the edge of our seats to give us some answers?

CAST NEWS

Keeping up with Doug Davidson

Doug Davidson

"My entire identity was tied up in the show. It was the first position, even above family in the moment-to-moment thing. So the fact that it was cut off after 40 years was shocking to my spirit."

- Doug Davidson when asked by Soap Opera Digest what he missed most about Y&R.

To the disappointment of many Y&R fans, Doug Davidson (Paul Williams) departed from The Young and the Restless after more that 40 years of dedication to the show. On March 23, 2023, Doug wrote on his Twitter account. "I guess I should do an interview with a trusted publication to explain what went down." In July of 2023, the actor cleared out his dressing room. In a September 2023 interview with Soap Hub, Doug hinted that money issues were involved in his departure from the show. He stated that lack of storylines wasn't the problem.

Now that Paul's sister Patty has returned, does that mean that Doug will also show up again? I have mixed feelings about him returning to Y&R. Yes, I would like to see him back in Genoa City, but why would he would want to return after the way he was treated? I have to admit, however, that due to the current storylines, this would be an ideal time for Paul to return, at least temporarily.

Signs point to Michelle Stafford doing a crossover to Beyond the Gates

It's not official, but many soap sources report that Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers), has been teasing about doing a crossover to Beyond the Gates. Could she be planning a future visit to Fairmont Crest? Will she encounter Nicole (Daphnee Duplaix of Beyond the Gates?

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki)

Nikki has had enough of Victor's latest moves. It seems as if she can't take much more of his cruelty and vindictiveness. But will she break up with him and give up her status as Lady of the Newman Manor.? She may not have a choice as Victor has ordered her to leave. What do you think, fans? Is Victor and Nikki's marriage over? Respond to the poll below and let me know.<

NOTE TO READERS

My email address: jmadden16@yahoo.ca

That's all for now. Don't forget that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Remember also that Y&R will be pre-empted twice next week by March madness college basketball. It will not be shown on CBS on Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20 (Wednesday March 18 and Thursday, March 19 on Global TV).

Take care,

Joanne

Y&R Report (February 28, 2026): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

2026-02-28T18:08:00.001-05:00

So, Matt Clark is free again. The charges against him have been dismissed by a judge. That is hard to believe, but necessary, I guess, for the storyline to continue. My frustration with head writer Josh Griffith is that so much happens that viewers aren't shown on screen. Then we just hear about it.

Nicholas Newman is filled with rage. He's angry and frustrated by Matt Clark and the pain in his fractured leg. He ran out of painkillers, but continued to looking at Matt Clark's fentanyl, which he had in his pocket. He threw a fentanyl pill in the snow, then picked up and swallowed it. Matt will be happy to supply him with more of the dangerous opioid, because he will use Nick's addiction in his battle against the Newmans. Nick will beg him for the drug. But do we really need another addiction storyline?

The Newman family likes vigilante justice. They always prefer to take the law into their own hands. I was surprised, however, to hear Detective Burrow, a cop, condoned the Newman's use of vigilante justice to bring down Matt Clark.

The blind loyalty to the Great Victor Newman is unbelievable. Why doesn't anyone stand up to Victor, who behaves like a mob boss. They all defend The Moustache, although he treats them terribly. Let's start with Victoria. Victoria is a daddy's girl extraordinaire. Victor has ruined all of her relationships and marriages. He has controlled her life, but she remains 100 per cent loyal to him. Despite Victoria's loyalty, Victor has chosen to confide in Adam and to shut her out. Adam used to resist the Great Man, but now he's become Victor's loyal servant. As for Michael Baldwin, he's Victor's lackey, ready and eager to do Victor's bidding. Even Nikki won't really stand up to him. She doesn't want to give up her position as Lady of the Newman Manor.

Victoria is on a mission to save daddy's company. She is planning to travel to Milan to turn Summer against her mother, Phyllis. She hopes that Summer will side with the Newmans. Victor and Nick do not support Victoria's plan, and it's uncertain whether she will actually go to Italy. If she does go, I wonder if Summer will return to Genoa City. I hope so.

Why does Jack Abbott have to goad Victor every time he runs into him at a restaurant? Why doesn't he just ignore him or go somewhere else? What good does it do to accost Victor and annoy him. Speaking of Jack, the previews show that Victor has apparently kidnapped him. Oh boy! Another kidnapping!

We still don't really know what happened to Ian Ward. That's poor writing. We should know by now. Will Ward join forces with Matt Clark and Patty Williams, who will returning to Genoa City?

Phyllis has asked Lauren to work for her. Will this cause a rift between Lauren and Michael, since Michael supports Victor?

CAST NEWS

Shemar Moore (Malcolm) returning to Y&R

Two more blasts from the past are returning to The Young and the Restless for a multi-episode story arc that will begin airing in April. Shemar Moore will be reprising his role as Malcolm Winters, the half-brother of the late Neil Winters (Kristoff St. John, who played Neil, died in on February 3, 2019). Returning with Shemar will be Vivica A. Fox, who played Dr. Stephanie Simmons on Y&R over thirty years ago. Back in 1985, Malcolm and Stephanie had a romantic relationship. Will Malcolm rekindle his romance with her?

Vivica A. Fox

Shemar Moore first appeared on Y&R as photographer Malcom Winters in 1994. He left the show in 2002, but has returned for story arcs and guest appearances over the years. In 2019, Malcolm attended Neil's funeral in Genoa City. Even though Neil has passed away, there are still many characters around to interact with Malcolm. Don't forget that Malcolm, not Neil, is Lily's biological father. Neil raised her and she always regarded him as her dad. Could things change now that Neil is no longer in the picture?

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Amelia Heinle (Victoria )

Sean Dominic (Nate Hastings)

Nate Hastings and Victoria Newman have been flirting with each other lately. They also keep running into each other. So, will they become romantically involved again? Possibly, but Victoria is also deeply involved with saving the Newman legacy. Furthermore, she has been distracted by her ex, Billy Boy Abbott. She's decided to send her kids back to boarding school. She claims that she is not trying to punish Billy by keeping their children away from him. She says that she doesn't want the kids around when things get really nasty with their father.

Victoria told Nate that she can't even consider the possibly that her family would lose Newman Enterprises permanently. When Nate suggested other possibilities for her career, she expressed no interest. Her mind is laser focused on getting Newman Enterprises back. Everything else seems secondary to her.

Poor Nate is between a rock and a hard place. If he goes back to Victoria, he has to deal with her father. If he goes back to Audra, he will be caught up in her L.A. crime. Fans, do you think Nate should hook up with Victoria again? Respond to the poll below and let me know.

NOTE TO READERS

My email address: jmadden16@yahoo.ca

That's all for now. Please remember that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

Take care,

Joanne

The world of sitcoms in the 1950s and 1960s

2026-02-24T18:31:00.001-05:00

Since I am interested in the history of television, I enjoy watching old TV shows. When I view them, I marvel at how much the world has changed. Some of what is shown on the comedy classics would never ever be acceptable today. Let's take I Love Lucy for example. I Love Lucy, one of the great television sitcoms of all time, ran on CBS from 1951 to 1957. However, its plots reflect the prevailing attitudes of the 1950s, as well as the customs and styles of that era.

In one particular episode, entitled "Ricky Loses His Temper" (Season 3, Episode 19, Air Date: February 22, 1954), the hot-tempered Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) becomes fed up with Lucy buying so many hat, which were considered a must-have fashion item back then. The couple decides to find out who can hold out the longest: Lucy has to stop buying hats and Rick can't lose his temper. By the end of the episode, Ricky realizes that Lucy has been manipulating him into buying her a hat. He pretends to laugh about the situation, but then orders her to return her hat. He punishes her by taking her over his knee and spanking her bottom as the show fades out. It was a portrayal of domestic violence that would never never be considered acceptable on television today.

Here are some other things that were considered acceptable on old TV shows.

* Smoking was promoted. I Love Lucy was sponsored by the Philip Morris tobacco company.

In fact, doctors promoted cigarette smoking on television sitcoms and on commercials.

* Nobody wore seatbelts while driving.

* Women had to ask their husbands for permission to purchase items, as they did not earn any money themselves.

* On old TV shows, native people are sometimes described as "wild Indians" or "savages."

* On the game show What's My Line? (1950-1957), host John Charles Daly always asked the female contestants they're marital status. They had to reveal whether they whether they were a "Miss" or "Mrs." Everything was much more formal. The panelists were not always called by their first name. Arlene Francis was often "Miss Francis" and Steve Allen was often "Mr. Allen." Daley and the male panelists mostly wore tuxedos.

* Women such as comedy writer Sally Rogers (Rose Marie) on The Dick Van Dyke Show were expected to quit their jobs if they got married. In the episode "Jilting the Jilter" (Season 2, Episode 31, Air Date: May 1, 1963), Sally becomes engaged to comedian Freddy White (Guy Marks), who wants to marry her for the comedy material she would provide for him. She prepares to leave her job until she realizes the truth about Freddy. Below is a photo or Rose Marie and Guy Marks in "Jilting the Jilter."

* On Leave it to Beaver, little boys, such as Theodore "Beaver Cleaver" (Jerry Mathers) wore suits and ties to attend birthday parties.

* Don't forget the malt shops on Leave it to Beaver and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

Yes, it was a very different world, in some ways much better, in some ways much worse. It's was an almost all-white world, foreign to Generation Y and Generation Z. There was black and white TV on small screens, no cell phones or personal computers. No texting. People actually conversed with each other. Very few beards and tattoos. Much more formal.

- Joanne

Y&R Report (February 14, 2026) : The Latest on The Young and the Restless

2026-02-14T11:42:00.002-05:00

Let's begin with the Y&R 's romantic overtures for Valentine's Day. Well, Billy's attempts to impress Sally Spectra fell flat. However, given that Billy has teamed up with Phyllis in order to throw Cane under the bus, I didn't expect Sally to be amused. Billy and Phyllis will never learn. They are a lethal combination, but maybe they deserve each other. Billy's relationship with Sally is doomed.

Adam and Chelsea shared a romantic Valentine's dinner, even though Adam was somewhat districted by the Newman troubles. Jack managed to calm Diane's anger over his closeness with Nikki, and they celebrated together. However, Jack is playing with fire. Diane may not be able to take much more of his "friendship" with Nikki. Meanwhile, Noah followed Sienna to Los Angeles, declared his love for her, and convinced her to return to Genoa City with him.

Audra found Kyle drinking alone at a bar on Valentine's Day. They couldn't resist throwing a few barbs at each other. Of course, Audra was quick to inform him that Claire had gone to L.A. with Holden. Kyle pointed out that her past in L.A. with would be exposed. Then the two began to kiss until Kyle pulled away. Audra was left with an amused look on her face, as if she were still able to put Kyle under her spell. Will he eventually weaken, especially since he seems to have lost Claire?

I'm pleased that Detective Burrow has joined the GC Police Department, but will the writers please give him a first name. If that doesn't happen soon, I suggest that CBS runs a contest for fans to come up with a name for him. Years ago, fans picked a last name for Esther. They decided to call her Esther Valentine.

I'm also pleased that Victoria caught Phyllis and Billy Boy's conspiring. However, I am not pleased that she vowed to turn Billy's children against him. Children should not be used as pawns when their parents are battling.

Now that Mariah's kidnapping of Dominic is over, let's not have anymore kidnappings for a while. I must say that I was impressed by the acting of Ethan Ray Clark, the young boy who plays Dominic.

CAST NEWS

Christel Khalil (Lily Winters) has given birth to her third child

Christel Khalil and husband Sam Restagno have welcomed their new baby. There has been no formal announcement and no details about the baby. However, Christel posted a photo of herself on Instagram with a newborn. This is the second child for the couple. They became engaged in 2022 and married in Italy in October 2024. They have a son named Remy, who was born in March 2024. Christel has a 15-year-old son. Michael Caden, from a previous marriage.

Fans will now await Lily's return to Genoa City.

Stacy Haiduk to return to Y&R as Patty Williams

Three-time Daytime Emmy nominee Stacy Haiduk is returning to her role as Patty Williams after an absence of ten years. Patty's return to Genoa City will stir the pot because she is dangerous, unstable and unpredictable. Her brother, Paul Williams, is not around as Doug Davidson has left the show and his Paul character is living in Portugal. Remember how Paul used to call her "Paddy Cakes."

So, whom will Patty's return impact? Mostly likely Jack Abbott. Patty has always been obsessed with Jack and she won't be happy that he's married to Diane. Patty arrives at a time when Jack and Victor Newman are engaged in open warfare.

Remember Mr. Kitty, Patty's taxidermized cat? She also triggered an allergic reaction in Summer by exploiting her peanut allergy, almost killing her. Oh yes, she took Traci Abbott's daughter Colleen hostage and she shot Victor three times.

Stacy Haiduk is a good actor. My only concern is that the show is adding yet another mentally unbalanced character. Maybe this time Paddy Cakes will team up with Ian Ward.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Matt Cohen (Detective Burrow)

Sharon Case (Sharon Newman)

Now that Detective Burrow is back on the scene, there has been online speculation that he will become romantically involved with Sharon. Given that Sharon has a history of relationships with cops, I wouldn't be surprised if that happens. Just look at her history with Dylan McAvoy, Rey Rosales and Chance Chancellor.

For a long while, Sharon has dealt with one trauma after another - kidnappings, mental illness, the return of Matt Clark. Now she's blaming herself for Mariah's meltdown. Sharon deserves a break from all that. Some fans would like her to reunite with Nick Newman. However, Nick is very distracted and filled with anger. He's also becoming addicted to prescription medication. Nick seems to want to rescue Sharon rather than romance her. I think he will eventually have competition from Burrow, which may cause him to be very jealous.

What do you think, fans? Do you like the idea of a romance between Detective Burrow and Sharon? I'd be pleased if she could get through one episode without crying. Respond to the poll below and let me know.

NOTE TO READERS

My email address: jmadden16@yahoo.ca

That's all for now. Today is Valentine's Day. I hope you have a good one. Don't forget that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

Take care,

Joanne

Y&R Report (Saturday, January 31, 2026): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

2026-01-31T10:33:00.000-05:00

Well, I have to say that I've had enough of kidnappings and mental breakdowns and addictions on The Young and the Restless. Can't the writers find something else to write about. The show has become too dark and depressing. What about some humour and some romance? Mental health is certainly an important issue, but we've already had so many characters with mental problems. Did we really need to add Mariah to the list? The kidnapping of Dominic does benefit Devon (Bryton James) and Abby (Melissa Ordway). It gives them a storyline.

If you feel the same way about the storylines, I urge you to email CBS and let them know.

Phyllis' "victory" will be short-lived. I have no doubt that Victor will regain control of Newman Enterprises. Phyllis and Cane will probably remove the portrait of Victor on the wall. However, I am certain that the removal will only be temporary. The portrait will be hanging again before long.

So, Sienna informed Nick Newman that Victor had turned Matt Clark over to the police. I don't think so. I don't believe it for one second. That's not Victor's style. Victor likes to take the law into his own hands. He doesn't shy away from illegal acts. Matt is probably locked up in the private cell that he has hidden in his ranch. Victor locked up Claire's Aunt Jordan in the cell not long ago. Longtime Y&R fans will remember that he also imprisoned a character named Michael Scott way back in 1980.

Nick Newman's broken leg healed rather quickly, didn't it? One day he had a crutch. The next day he just had a cane. By the way, I am not looking forward to Nick getting addicted to painkillers. Please! Not another addiction!

Whatever happened to Daniel's daughter, Lucy? What about Faith and some of the younger characters?

More disappearing acts: Where is dashing Detective Burrow, played by Matt Cohen? He hasn't been on screen for a while, but he'll be back soon. Cohen appeared on Entertainment Tonight and showed a clip of his character on a private jet with Abby and Devon. That suggests that Burrow is going to help them in their quest to find their missing child, Dominic. A voiceover on the clip claimed that Burrow will be joining the Genoa City Police Department. That's good because GC has needed a new detective since Chance's death. Burrow's presence won't stop the Newmans and Abbotts from using their own security people. By the way, I hope the writers give Burrow a first name soon.

Matt Cohen (Detective Burrow)

CAST NEWS

Eric Braeden and five other Y&R castmates are set to crossover to Beyond the Gates

CBS has announced a multi-episode crossover of The Young and the Restless and Beyond the Gates. The crossover will occur in June. The network considers it "a landmark television event." Six of Genoa City's most prominent characters will be crossing over to Beyond the Gates. Eric Braeden, Victor Newman himself, will be entering the gated community of Fairmont Crest. The other Y&R characters who will crossing over with Braeden are Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman), Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor), Diane Jenkins Abbott (Susan Walters), Devon Winters (Bryton James), and Abby Newman (Melissa Ordway).

There have been multiple crossovers between Y&R and The Bold and the Beautiful, but none to the magnitude of this upcoming multi-episode crossover with Beyond the Gates. Longtime friends, Victor Newman and Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis), will reunite at a political fundraiser. Victor will deliver the keynote address at the fundraiser benefitting Vernon's grandson, Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon). Martin is a friend of Kyle's from Kyle's New York days. It should be a spring treat for viewers of both soaps.

VIEWER FORUM

If you have any comments on Y&R, please email them to me with "Viewer Forum" in the subject line. I will be happy to publish your comments and reply to them You do not have to use your real name.

My email address: jmadden16@yahoo.ca

I received an email from longtime Y&R viewer, Carly in Barrhaven, Ontario. Here is what she wrote:

I am really not enjoying Y&R these days. It's just getting crazy. Now Mariah has kidnapped Dominic being influence by Ian Ward. I don't know why I keep watching it. Billy and Sally are OK together but he's too intense for me. I don't mind Audra. The actor plays her part well. Somebody has to end up with Victoria. It might as well be Nate.

Thanks for your input, Carly. I don't like the Mariah storyline either. It's too confusing and it's been drawn out for far too long. Ray Wise, the actor who plays Ian Ward, plays the part well. He deserves a better storyline. As for Billy, he is too undependable. He's got a serious mamma issue with Jill and an enormous chip on his shoulder. Will Sally be able to overlook all of that?

I also like Zuleyka Silver, who plays Audra. Almost everyone wants her out of town except Sally and Nate. Unfortunately for Audra, her past in Los Angeles with Holden is going to come back to haunt her. Nate really cares for her, but he can't trust her. However, if he reunites with Victoria, he will always have to deal with her controlling father.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Allison Lanier

Hunter King

Summer Newman is currently running Marchetti from Milan, Italy. However, this might be the perfect time to bring Summer back to Genoa City. Her mother, Phyllis, and Cane Ashby are attacking Newman Enterprises with an AI program, and Summer is a Newman. She is the daughter of Nick and the granddaughter of Victor. Also, her fashion company, Marchetti, is a division of Jabot Cosmetics. Jabot could also be under threat from Cane's AI program. Furthermore, she is apart from her adopted son, Harrison. But who would portray Summer.? That is the question.

There is no sign that Allison Lanier, who left the show after playing Summer for three years, is returning, although that could always change. Another possibility is the return of Hunter King to the role. What do you think, fans? Would you like Allison to return or would you prefer Hunter King,? Perhaps you prefer a new actor to play Summer. Respond to the poll below and let me know.

That's all for now. Don't forget that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

Take care,

Joanne

Whatever happened to Christina Crawford of "Mommie Dearest" fame?

2026-01-28T16:21:00.000-05:00

I recently watched a 2001 interview on YouTube with Christina Crawford on CNN's Larry King Live. After watching the interview, I began to wonder about what had happened to the former actress and author. Christina, now 86, is best known for her 1978 memoir Mommie Dearest, in which she describes the alleged abuse she suffered at the hands of her adopted mother, Hollywood film star Joan Crawford. Christina was one of four children adopted by the movie icon.

Christina was born in Los Angeles on June 11, 1939. Her biological mother was Bernice Iva Siglar (born November 3, 1919). Christina told Larry King that her father was married to someone else and that he was serving in the U.S. Navy when she was born.

Christina was the eldest of Joan's adopted children. She was adopted months after her birth, when Joan Crawford's marriage to her second husband, (actor Franchot Tone) ended in divorce. After the breakup, Joan decided to adopt a child. In the 1930s, however, it was illegal in California for a single woman to adopt a child. So, Christina's adoption was formalized in the Las Vegas, as Nevada had no such law. According to the Internet Movie Database (IMDb), it was later revealed that "Christina was adopted by Joan Crawford through a black market baby ring."

Joan also adopted a son,, Christopher, in 1943, and identical twin daughters, Catherine and Cynthia in 1947. In her interview with Larry King, Christina said she was only close to Christopher.

Joan Crawford and her four children

Christopher was born on October 15, 1942 and adopted by Joan and her third husband, Phillip Terry, when he was just a few months old. His original name was Phillip Terry Jr., but it was changed to Christopher when his parents divorced in 1946.

Joan sent Christina to the prestigious Chadwick School, a boarding school in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Christina alleges that during her time at Chadwick, Joan only provided her with two dresses, one pair of shoes and a coat for the entire semester. She claims that she had to wear the coat to class. An incident occurred in which Christina was found alone with a boyfriend without permission. When Joan heard about the incident, she transferred Christina to Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, an all-girls Catholic day and boarding school,

After graduating from Flintridge, Christina moved from California to Pittsburgh to attend the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. She dropped out after one semester and moved to New York City. In New York, she studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, a professional conservatory for actors. She later graduated magna cum laude from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), After receiving a B.A. from UCLA, she completed her M.A. at the at the Annenberg School of Communications at University of Southern California (USC). She then worked in the marketing department of Getty Petroleum.

Christina had an acting career before writing Mommie Dearest. She appeared in summer stock theatre, most notably a production of Splendor in the Grass. She also appeared in a number of Off-Broadway productions. In 1960, she was cast in a supporting role in the crime drama film Force of Impulse, released in 1961. In 1965, Christina appeared in Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park, alongside Myrna Loy, a friend of Joan's. However, she was fired when the cast complained about her unprofessional behaviour.

Publicity photo of Christina circa 1961

From 1968 to 1969, Christina played unhappy housewife Joan Borman Kane on the CBS soap opera The Secret Storm. In October of 1968, Christina took ill and required emergency surgery to remove an ovarian tumour. Rather than risk another young actress taking over the role, even temporarily, Joan volunteered to play the part while her daughter recovered from surgery. At the time, Joan was in her 60s, while Christina was in her 20s. It did not go well. As if the age difference weren't enough, according to Bob Thomas' Joan Crawford: A Biography, CBS ignored Joan's request for no publicity. The press was invited to her first day of rehearsal, causing Joan great anxiety.

When The New York Times asked Christina for a comment on the recast of her mother in her role, she declared, "I couldn't exactly jump up and down in bed about it, but it was fantastic she would care that much."

In the early 1970s, Christina appeared on episodes of Medical Center, (1970), Marcus Welby M.D. (1971)., Matt Lincoln (1970), Ironside (1971) and The Sixth Sense (1972). The Sixth Sense is Christina's las acting credit on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb). In the Marcus Welby episode, entitled "Elegy for a Mad Dog" (Season 2, Episode 21, Air Date: March 9, 1971), Christina played a nun named Sister Mary Eileen Kirkpatrick. In the Ironside episode, entitled "Lesson in Terror" (Season 4, Episode 24, Air Date: March 18, 1971), Christina played a character called Edie Stockton. David Soul of Starsky and Hutch also appeared in the episode.

In November of 1978, Christina's book Mommie Dearest was released, in which she detailed allegations of cruelty and abuse against her mother. It described Joan Crawford as an extremely strict disciplinarian and an alcoholic. Mommie Dearest caused a sensation and became a runaway bestseller. Joan herself never read Christina's book. The book was published in 1978 and Joan died on May 10, 1977 in New York City. Christina and her brother Christopher, were left out of Joan's will. It was stated that they were disinherited for reasons that were well known to them. Nevertheless, Christina and Christopher contested the will and the court awarded them $55,000 from the estate.

Mommie Dearest sold more than a million copies, but was severely criticized by contemporaries of Joan Crawford, including Bette Davis, Joan's rival, with whom she famously feuded. Davis, who was not Joan's biggest fan, dismissed the book as "trash," She declared that it was a terrible thing to do to "someone who saved you from the orphanage, foster homes." Joan's first husband, movie star Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was also highly critical of the book. He stated that "Joan beating her children "would not only have been out of character, but she only used covered padded hangers."

Although Christopher was supportive of Christina, her sisters were not. In May of 1981, Cathy Crawford Lalonde, appeared on Good Morning America and denounced the allegations made by Christina. She said, "My mother was a very warm person. She was always there when we needed her. She was a working mother, but she always had time for us, and as for Mommie Dearest, it's a great work of fiction. Christina must have been in another household." In 1979, Christina's other sister, Cindy Crawford Jordan, told reporters, "I can't understand how people believe this stupid stuff Tina has written."

Betty Barker, Joan Crawford's secretary for almost 50 years, acknowledged that Joan was indeed strict, but denied that Cristina and Christopher were ever abused.

The support for Joan did not surprise Christina or sway her. "No, I understood Hollywood," she said. "I knew where they were coming from - they were guilty of seeing and not saying. It was blaming the messenger for the bad news. Most of them are dead now; I have outlived all of them! And I never replied to any of them, or responded. I simply stuck to the message that I knew to be the truth."

Christina and her supporters considered Mommie Dearest to be perhaps the first memoir to document child abuse from the point of view of the child. In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, Christina pointed out how difficult it was for her to get help. "We didn't have laws for it. We didn't have a social context for it, and we had shame" She had no recourse to the authorities. In the United States, child protection laws were not introduced until the 1960s. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act was not implemented until 1974.

A 1981, film version of Mommie Dearest was made, starring Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford. One chapter of the book, became the most well-known scene in the movie. Christina recounted how Joan flew into a rage after discovering a forbidden wire hanger in her daughter's closet, ripping the clothes off their hanger, throwing them on the floor and seizing Christina by the hair.

Christina was not involved in the making of the film, which she has denounced as "grotesque" and highly inaccurate. She stated that her mother never chopped down a tree with an axe or beat her with a wire hanger, as depicted in the film. Although the campy film was panned by critics and initially bombed, it eventually became a commercial success and a cult classic.

In 1981, Christina suffered a debilitating stroke, after which she spent five years in rehabilitation before relocating to the Pacific Northwest. She then moved to rural Idaho. Between 1994 and 1997, Christina operated a bed and breakfast in Tensed, Idaho called Seven Springs Farms. In 2000, Christina began working as entertainment manager at the Coeur d'Alene Casino until 2007. In 2011, Christina established the Benewah Human Rights Coalition. She served as the non-profit organization's first president. According to the most available information, Christina still lives in Idaho. Hayden, Idaho continues to be listed as her publicly listed residence.

Christina has been married three times. Her first husband was Harvey Medinsky, a director and Broadway stage manager. They met while Christina was appearing in the Chicago national company production of Barefoot in the Park. The couple wed in 1966 and divorced in 1968.

Christina was married to her second husband, producer David Koontz, from 1976 to 1986. In 1991, she wed Michael Brazzel. The marriage ended in 1995 (according to Wikipedia) or 1999, (according to IMDb). When Larry King asked Christina if she attributed the failures of her marriages to her upbringing, she agreed. Christina also mentioned to Larry that she had attempted suicide.

END NOTES

* It's interesting to note that Christina Crawford's biological mother, Bernice Iva Siglar, died on April 24, 1977, less than three weeks before the passing of Joan Crawford.

* Joan Crawford told Christina that her biological mother died in childbirth, although she was still alive. It was only when Christina began researching her own family history in the early 1990s that she discovered the truth. However, by that time both of her parents had passed away. Her mother, Bernice Iva Siglar, was a student who had an affair with a married engineer.

* Christopher Crawford died of cancer on September 22, 2006. He passed away in Greenport, New York at the age of 63. He was survived by his wife Gail and four children. Christopher had a difficult life. He tried to pursue a career as an actor, but was unable to find much success. According to IMDb, he only appeared in two Australian films: Skyways (1979) and Holiday Island (1981). Christopher married twice and had four children,: three from his first marriage and one from his second marriage to Gail. He struggled with health problems and financial difficulties.

Christopher Crawford

* Christina is a Democrat and supported Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1992.

* Christina is the author of several books in addition to Mommie Dearest.

No Safe Place, first published January 1, 1994, deals with family violence. It draws further on Christina's story, but adds sociological research and case histories.

The hardcover of Daughters of the Inquisition was published on January 1, 2003. It focuses on the events that have led to modern womanhood in the western world. It recounts chronological records of the culture, industry government and male/female relationships through the ages, including costumes, hairstyles, laws and customs.

SOURCES: The Guardian, Christina Crawford on life after Mommie Dearest: 'My mother should have been in jail,'" by Emma Brockes, June 25, 2019; All That's Interesting (allthatsinteresting.com), "'No More Wire Hangers' : Inside The Tumultuous Relationship Between Joan and Christina Crawford," by Gina Dimuro, January 6, 2025; Doms2cents (doms2cents.com), Christopher Crawford Cause of Death: The Tragic Story of Joan Crawford's Son,," Dom's Desk, October 19, 2023; Wikipedia; Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

- Joanne

Y&R Report (Saturday, January 17, 2026): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

2026-01-16T11:11:00.001-05:00

Hi fans,

It's 2026. I'm back and roaring to go with my comments as a whole new year begins on The Young and the Restless. I hope you enjoyed your holiday season. It wasn't an especially happy Christmas for the Newman family. Nikki and Victor were at odds. The family was tormented by Matt Clark. Meanwhile, the Abbotts were devastated over Victor's threat of destroying Jabot with Cane's AI program. However, Traci's presence eased their tensions. Traci brought the family together.

Well, fans, Newman Enterprises is in deep trouble. Cane and Phyllis have unleashed their AI program on Victor's company. Phyllis, of course, can hardly contain her glee about the takeover of Newman. She believes that she has finally brought down The Great Victor Newman. Of course, she is deluding herself. This is only a temporary setback for the Victor. I don't doubt that he will regain control of Newman Enterprises. Phyllis and Cane's relationship is just a fling. It's all about Phyllis' lust for power and the chip she has on her shoulder. Phillis and Cane's alliance will not last because it's an "alliance," not a romance. The fiery redhead will have to enjoy her "victory" while she can. She's already concerned about how her actins will alienate Summer and Daniel.

Phyllis won't back down, though. She's too drunk with power, and her desire for revenge against Victor. By the way, I was amused by Phyllis' comment when she was taunting "The Moustache" about taking over his office. She declared that she would leave his portrait on the wall so that she could throw darts at it. As good as it is to see Victor Newman brought down a peg or two, I wish it weren't Phyllis and Cane doing it.

Cane is not as excited as Phyllis about destroying Newman Enterprises, and he is concerned about Billy. He even offered Billy what Billy has always wanted - Chancellor. Billy is obsessed with regaining control of Chancellor and it's all about proving himself to his mother, Jill. His obsession is stronger than his feelings for Sally Spectra. That does not bode well for their relationship. That is why Billy and Sally will never last.

There's something amiss with Nick Newman. Nick has been stabbed and punched countless times in his never-ending quest to protect Sharon and his family. As a Newman, Nick prefers to take the law into his own hands. He thrives on vigilante justice. He broke his leg after a car crash caused by Matt Clark. Of course, Nick was handling the criminal all by himself. Matt was bound up in Nick's vehicle, but he managed in free himself. He tried to choke Nick and the car careened off the road. Nick fractured his leg and required surgery. Matt was captured by the Abbott security forces, who were following the Newman security forces. No wonder the Genoa City Police seem irrelevant!

After checking himself out of the hospital, Nick made a deal with Jack Abbott. He promised that Newman will stay away from Jabot if Jack gives up custody of Matt Clark. Jack agreed and released Clark to Nick. That's right. Nick doesn't want to call the police. He thinks he can deal with Clark all by himself. This will be a disaster and Matt is going to escape again.

Nick may find himself in much deeper trouble than a fractured leg. Remember how he demanded that the nurse to bring him a painkiller after his surgery. After forcing Adam to help him leave the hospital prematurely, he went to confront Cane and Phyllis. Throughout the confrontation, he was in obvious pain. When he returned home, he took more painkillers to ease his discomfort. Some fans have been speculating online that drug dealer Matt is going to get Nick hooked on Fentanyl. But do viewers really want another addiction storyline?

Will Sharon ever get a break from all her trauma and distress. It's been one heartache after another for her. There's been nothing but kidnappings and psychos terrorizing her. I've never seen a character on a soap cry so much. Her latest heartbreak was the news that Tessa is seeking a divorce. What will she do if Matt gets away from Nick and is on the loose again?

Audra is one tough cookie. Almost everyone in Genoa City, except Sally, wants her to leave town. Yet, she continues to stay. She made a deal with Holden to leave Claire alone if he kept quiet about their criminal past in L.A. However, the secret may not be hidden much longer. Claire is very suspicious and determined to find out what happened. Furthermore, Y&R spoilers and updates suggest that Victor Newman might uncover a hidden body and DNA evidence with the assistance of his associates. That could mean that Holden will face a criminal investigation. This could also mean big trouble for Audra, unless Holden leaves her name out of it, which I doubt.

Diane asked Michael Baldwin directly why he has such loyalty to Victor Newman, especially after the way Victor has treated him. It doesn't make sense and Michael has never really made sense of it.

CAST NEWS

Christel Khalil (Lily) is on maternity leave

Christel Khalil

Christel Khalil has begun her maternity leave. She is expecting her third child, her second with husband Sam Restagno. Christel has a son, Michael, 15. from a previous marriage, and another son, Remy, a toddler, with Restagno. To accommodate the pregnancy, Christel's Y&R character, Lilly Winters, has left town to visit her daughter, Mattie, one of the two children she shares with ex-husband Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn).

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Roger Howarth (Matt Clark)

What would a soap opera be without villains? Y&R is no exception. The show has plenty of villains right now - Matt, Victor, Phyllis, Cane, to name a few. What I would like to know is who you think is currently the worst villain, the meanest. Respond to the poll below and let me know.

NOTE TO READERS

My email address: jmadden16@yahoo.ca

That's all for now. Please remember that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

Take care,

Joanne

Will there be fifth season of Son of a Critch?

2026-01-07T14:17:00.002-05:00

As a fan of Son of a Critch, I have been wondering if the Newfoundland coming-of-age comedy has been renewed for a fifth season. As of this writing, I have been unable to find official confirmation from the CBC that there will be a fifth season of the show. However, there is a Facebook announcement from comedian Mark Critch himself in which he states that there will be a fifth season. Nevertheless, CBC has not yet issued a renewal announcement and no premiere date has been released.

Mark Critch's Facebook posting pretty well confirms that there will be a fifth season of the sitcom. It suggests that the news of its renewal has been broken internally, although CBC has not yet updated its website. Otherwise, why would Mark Critch make such an announcement on social media?

Although Son of a Critch is very popular, this will most likely be its final season. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, the British actor who portrays the young Mark, turned 17 years old on September 25, 2025. His character on the show will be in his second year of high school, and is already taking his first steps toward a career in comedy.

Last season, Mark's grandfather, Patrick Critch (know as "Pop,") begrudgingly agreed to have a dementia assessment, although he has not yet been diagnosed with the illness. "Pop" is played by Malcolm McDowell, a fine actor. It is my hope that the entire cast of Son of a Critch will return for its fifth season. I enjoy the dynamic of the Critch family. Mark plays his own father, St. John's radio broadcaster Mike Critch. He also serves as the narrator.

I am also enjoying the budding romance between the red-headed Fox (Sophia Powers), whose first name is Jennifer, and the young Mark. Another of my favourites is P.E.I. native Claire Rankin, who portrays Mark's mother, Mary Critch.

I will keep you posted as to any update on the status of Son of a Critch's fifth season.

- Joanne

My tribute to Rob Reiner

2025-12-23T15:31:00.000-05:00

All in the Family is among my all time favourite television shows and Rob Reiner shone brightly as one of the stars of that groundbreaking sitcom. Although Rob went on to become an accomplished filmmaker, I will always think of him fondly as Michael "Meathead" Stivic, son-in-law of Archie Bunker. Rob's Mike Stivic was the perfect foil for Carroll O'Connor's Archie. Rob played the "Meathead" role from 1971 to 1979. It was a role that earned him two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

Below is a 1975 cast photo of Rob Reinter with Carroll O'Connor (bottom), Jean Stapleton. left, Sally Struthers, right.

Rob's character, Michael Casimir Stivic, was a Polish American from Chicago. Mike was orphaned at a young age when his parents were killed in a car crash. Mike married Archie's "little girl," Gloria (Sally Struthers), and he moved into the Bunker home to save money for his college education. The Stivic character was an American version of Mike Rawlins, the Trotskyist son-in-law in the British original Till Death Do Us Part. The American Mike was softened for U.S. audiences. He was definitely a social liberal, but he was by no means a communist or a radical revolutionary. In fact, he often mentioned people such as Ralph Nader as his strongest influences.

The liberal Mike and the conservative Archie were always at odds. Archie called him "Meathead" to show his disdain for his political views, such as his opposition to the war in Vietnam. The first time Archie used the moniker "Meathead," he accused Mike of being "dead from the neck up." Their arguments exposed the cultural and political divide in America. They also exposed Archie's bigotry and his ignorance in a humorous way.

Yet, Mike's flaws were also exposed and the two men had what can only be described as a love-hate relationship. Although Archie frustrated his son-in-law, Mike still cared deeply about him. It was Archie's wife, Edith (Jean Stapleton), who enlightened Mike about her husband. In one episode, she told Mike that Archie was envious of the fact that he had an education and a promising career ahead of him. She pointed out that Archie was not highly educated and did not have promising future prospects. It was always Edith who shared the wisest words.

I still watch episodes of All in the Family on YouTube. Norman Lear's show changed the face of American television. It dealt with societal issues that had never been dealt with on American TV before. I was deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle. Rob and Michelle, rest in peace!

- Joanne

Y&R Report (December 13, 2025): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

2025-12-13T11:38:00.003-05:00

Hi fans,

First, a note to readers: I am going to take a short Christmas break. I will be back in the New Year. My Y&R column will return to this space on Saturday, January 17, 2026.

So, Sienna has come to Genoa City, much to the annoyance of Sharon and Nikki. Sharon doesn't want her son involved with Sienna and Nikki doesn't like it at all. Did you see how she looked at Sienna? Longtime fans will remember when Nikki disapproved of Nick and Sharon because he thought Sharon was a gold digger. I'll never forget the look of disapproval on Nikki's face at her son's wedding to Sharon. She had that same look when she saw that grandson Noah had brought Sienna, a married older woman, to Genoa City.

Sienna and Noah are not being discreet about their affair. They kissed in the open at Sharon's home, and Sharon saw them. Sharon is not too pleased about her son's involvement with Sienna. She is rightly concerned that Sienna with attract Matt Clark to Genoa City.

As for Noah, he certainly doesn't have a good track record with women. First there was Audra, then Allie and now Sienna. He just can't seem to get his act together. It appears that he hasn't gotten over Audra yet. He had a very strong reaction when he ran into her in Genoa City. He kept staring at her nervously.

Thanks to flashbacks, we finally learned about the crime Audra and Holden committed in Sienna's nightclub in Los Angeles. We also learned that Audra changed her name from Audra Cortez to Audra Charles to cover up her involvement. Claire is determined to find out what really happened, not the bits and pieces that Holden has fed her. Meanwhile, Claire's feud with Audra is really heating up.

I should have been more certain that Detective Burrow would turn out to be a good guy. Genoa City is in dire need of a police detective now that Paul and Chance have departed. It would be interesting if Burrow became attracted to Sharon? That would certainly create a love triangle and drive Nicholas Newman crazy. He devotes his life to protecting Sharon, whether she approves of his actions or not.

I enjoyed Michael and Lauren's 20th anniversary celebration. I also enjoyed the flashbacks (I noticed that Gloria and Kevin weren't in any of them). It doesn't happen very often that a couple manages to stay together on the soaps. I just wish Michael wasn't such a lackey for Victor, especially after the way The Big Man has treated him. Would he have left the celebration if Victor had summoned him to the ranch for an emergency meeting regarding?

Michael is the one who informed Victor of Jack's plan to close down Jabot so that it couldn't be destroyed by AI. I am on the side of the Abbotts. Somebody has to stop Victor's reign of terror. Somebody has to bring him down. Nikki may be the one to stop her ruthless husband.

What's with Lily? First, she has a change of heart and decides to accompany Cane to the Abbott Communications launch, then she verbally attacks Audra. Audra is far from a model of good behaviour, and she has not been the nicest person - far from it! However, she was minding her own business when Lily ambushed her and slammed her. It was obvious that Audra was down and disheartened. So why did Lily have have to kick her when she was down? She wasn't bothering Lily or interfering in her life.

I watch Y&R on Global TV, so I have already seen the episode in which Abbott Communications is launched. I enjoyed seeing all the characters in their 1950s retro outfits. Of course, Victor chose that time to attack Jabot. Will someone please stop that man? Everyone is so afraid to stand up to him. Why does Michael do his bidding?

CAST NEWS

Cait Fairbanks (Tessa Porter) is engaged

Cait Fairbanks announced her engagement to longtime boyfriend, musician and producer Jay Rudolph. The couple has been together since 2020 and recently celebrated five years together. Cait confirmed the good news on Instagram, showing a photo of her engagement ring. Another photo showed the beaming couple with some beautiful landscape in the background. Jay expressed his joy with the comment, "She said 'Yes.'"

Cait and Jay have been working on an album together, which is expected to be released "in early December."

Eric Braeden denies rumour

Eric Braeden is 84 years old and he has portrayed Victor Newman for almost 46 years. There has been a rumour going around on the internet that Eric might be retiring. However, it seems that he is not the retiring type. He quickly shut down all the speculation with three simple words and three exclamation points on his personal Facebook page - "SIMPLY NOT TRUE!!!" Along with this response, Eric posted a photo of himself with Y&R castmates Courtney Hope (Sally), Michelle Stafford (Phyllis), and Christian LeBlanc (Michael). Eric's fans can breathe a sigh of relief.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Zuleka Silver (Audra

Luca Adams (Noah)

Noah has quite a history with Audra. She even revealed that she had miscarried their child and that she wanted to get back together with him He refused and chose to remain with Allie. Noah and Allie eventually moved to London, where Noah opened a nightclub. Although he seems to be in love with Sienna right now, but he appears to be quite fickle. Look how he just dropped Allie when they seemed so happy together. I was struck by how strongly Noah reacted strongly when he ran into her recently in Genoa City. Fans, do you think those two will become an item again, much to to the disappointment of Nikki and Sharon? Nobody seems to like Audra except Sally. What do you think about the possibility of Noah and Audra reunion? Respond to the poll below and let me know.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. All the best in the New Year. I will be back in with more Y&R news and discussion on Saturday, January 17, 2025. I'm looking forward to the holiday season in Genoa City.

Happy Hanukkah

Happy New Year

Take care,

Joanne

Happy 100th Birthday, Dick Van Dyke!

2025-12-13T10:46:00.000-05:00

Dick Van Dyke was born Richard Wayne Van Dyke on December 13, 1925 in West Plains, Missouri, and raised in Danville, Illinois. The beloved comedian/actor turns 100 years old today. He is the son of Hazel Victoria (née McCord), a stenographer, and Loren Wayne "Cookie" Van Dyke, a salesman. He had a younger brother, Jerry McCord Van Dyke, born in Danville in 1931. Jerry, also an actor, passed away on January 5, 2018 at the age of 86.

Dick started out as a stand-up comedian while still attending Danville High School. At Danville High, he joined the drama club and the a cappella choir During his senior year, he left high school to join the United States Army Air Force for pilot training in World War II. He was denied enlistment several times because he was underweight. However, he was eventually approved as a radio announcer before joining the Special Services and entertaining the troop in the United States. He was discharged in 1946.

After World War II, Dick became a disc jockey at a radio station in his hometown of Danville, Illinois. In 1947, he formed a comedy duo with pantomime performer Phil Erickson. They called themselves "Eric and Van" and toured the West Coast nightclub circuit. In the early 1950s, Dick appeared on a New Orleans television station, first as a comedian, and then as the host of a comedy program. He appeared on Chance of a Lifetime with Dennis James, in 1954, and two episodes of The Phil Silvers Show in 1957-58. He also appeared on ABC's The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom and NBC's The Polly Bergen Show. During that period, a friend of Dick, who served as CBS executive, recommended him to the network. Van Dyke eventually signed a seven-year contract with CBS.

In 1959, Dick made his Broadway debut in the Girls Against the Boys. In 1961, He received a Tony Award for Beast Featured Actor in for his performance as Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie.

Van Dyke in 1959

Dick is a very versatile performer. He is known for his film performances in Mary Poppins (1964), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), Divorce American Style (1967) and Bye Bye Birdie (1963), He also appeared in Night at the Museum (2006) and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014).

Dick has delighted audiences with his singing and dancing, He is also celebrated for his television role as comedy writer Rob Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show along with Mary Tyler Moore, Morey Amsterdam and Rose Marie. Carl Reiner created the sitcom and cast himself as the lead in the pilot. However, CBS insisted that the role be recast, and Reiner chose Dick to replace himself. The Dick Van Dyke Show aired on CBS from 1961 to 1966, with a total of 158 half-hour episodes, all filmed in black and white. Dick's portrayal of Rob Petrie earned him three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor.

Below is a photo of some major cast members of the Dick Van Dyke show. From left to right: Dick, Mary Tyler Moore, Morey Amsterdam and Richard Deacon. All of the main cast members have passed away except Dick and Larry Mathews, who played Ritchie Petrie, the son of Rob and Laura Petrie (Mary Tyler Moore). Larry is now 70 years old. Mary Tyler Moore and Rose Marie died in 2017, Morey Amsterdam in 1996 and Richard Deacon in 1984. Carl Reiner passed away in 2020 at the ripe old age of 98.

Mary Tyler Moore and Dick with Larry Matthews

Larry Matthews

Ann Morgan Guibert and Jerry Paris played Rob and Laura's neighbours, Millie and Jerry Helper. Ann, who portrayed Millie, died of pancreatic cancer in 2016. Jerry Paris, who played Millie's dentist husband, Jerry Helper, passed away in 1986, as the result of a brain tumour.

Ann Guibert

Dick with Jerry Paris as Jerry Helper

From 1971 to 1974, Van Dyke starred as Dick Preston, a Phoenix television host, in The New Dick Van Dyke Show, with Hope Lange as his wife, Jenny, and Angela Powell as their daughter, Annie. CBS had high hopes for the show and even agreed to film the production near Cave Creek, Arizona, where Dick and his family lived at the time. Carl Reiner created the sitcom, which ran for 72 episodes over three seasons. During the early years of the series, Reiner was was very involved, writing and directing episodes. However, he left the show when CBS refused to air an episode, "Lt. Preston of the 4th Cavalry." The episode featured an off-camera moment in which Annie walked in on her parents during an intimate moment. CBS claimed that this did not fit Van Dyke's wholesome image. A frustrated Reiner vowed not to work with the network again.

After Reiner's departure, Dick opted not to renew his contract. Dick was also not pleased that during its third season, the show had been retooled. Filming and setting had been moved to Hollywood and he had been uprooted from his Arizona home.

Dick appeared in a 1971 episode of The Cosby Show and a 1974 episode of Columbo with Peter Falk.

In 1977, he replaced Harvey Korman as a regular on The Carol Burnett Show, but left after only 11 episodes. Unfortunately, the show's writers couldn't adapt to Dick's comedy style. However, he has remained good friends with Carol.

Dick Van Dyke has not always played comedic roles. From 1993 until 2001, he starred in Diagnosis Murder as Dr. Mark Sloan, a medical doctor who solves crime with the help of his son, Steve, a homicide detective son, Steve. Steve Sloan was portrayed by Barry Van Dyke, Dick's real-life son.

Dick and Barry Van Dyke

I think that the three greatest all-time TV comedians are Dick, Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball. Lucy passed away in 1989. Fortunately, Dick and Carol are still with us. Carol is 92 years young.

In a recent interview with People magazine, Dick said he felt "really good." He credited his attitude for his longevity and his lack of pain and discomfort. "I've always thought that anger is one thing that eats up a person's insides." He said that he's "rather lazy" and has never felt driven by the type of resentment that can worsen over time. He told People that "Sometimes I have more energy than others - but I never wake up in a bad mood." He explained that although disapproves of certain things and people, he "never really was able to work up a feeling of hate," and definitely not "a white-heat kind of hate." Dick also mentioned that his father, Loren Van Dyke, was "constantly upset by the state of things in his life and it did take him at 73 years old."

Here are Dick Van Dyke's secrets to longevity:

* Positive attitude

* Regular exercise

*Active lifestyle

* Healthy mindset

Dick has one simple indulgence, though. It's vanilla ice cream. He says the perfect ice cream sundae snack before bedtime is two large scoops of vanilla ice cream with a topping of chocolate syrup.

Dick Van Dyke has been married twice. He wed his first wife, Margie Willett, in 1948. They married on the radio show Bride and Groom because the show paid for a wedding ring, a honeymoon and household appliances. Dick and Margie had four children - Christian, Barry, Stacy and Carrie Beth - and divorced in 1984 after a lengthy separation. In 1976, Dick began a long term relationship with actress Michelle Triola Marvin. The pair lived together for more than 30 years, until her death from lung cancer in 2009.

On February 29, 2012, Dick married markup artist Arlene Silver, 46 years his junior. The couple first met six years earlier at the SAG Awards, where Arlene was working backstage.

I think that the three greatest all-time TV comedians are Dick, Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball. Lucy passed away in 1989. Fortunately, Dick and Carol are still with us. Carol is 92 years young.

END NOTES

* Dick Van Dyke released a new book on November 18, 2025. It is titled 100 Rules For Living To 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life

* Dick has been greatly influenced by the physical comedy of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. He delivered the eulogy at Stan Laurel's funeral in 1965. He has also admired the work of Buster Keaton and Carl Reiner.

* In 2023, Dick appeared in four episodes of the soap opera Days of Our Lives. He played amnesiac Timothy Robichaux, also known as Mystery Man. In 2024, he won a Daytime Emmy for his guest performance on Days. At the age of 98, he became the oldest winner of a Daytime Emmy.

* Dick was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1993 and the Television Walk of Fame in 1995.

SOURCES: The Independent, "Dick Van Dyke's secret to a long life? Not being angry," by Ellie Muir, December 4, 2025; Fox News, "Dick Van Dyke says living longer linked to his lack of hate and anger," by Khloe Quill, November 30, 2025; Yahoo.com, "The Simple Sweet Treat That Dick Van Dyke Loves," by Laura Christine Allan, November 30, 2025; Remind, "Inside Dick Van Dyke's Forgotten 1970s Sitcom," by Lauren Novak, December 13, 2025; Wikipedia; Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

- Joanne

Y&R Report (November 29, 2025: The Latest on The Young and the Restless

2025-11-30T12:50:00.001-05:00

Hi fans,

First of all, my apologies that this post is late. Well, did you enjoy the wedding of Cricket and Danny? I certainly did. It was great to see Nina Webster (Trisha Cast} and Gina Roma (Patty Weaver). Phyllis' behaviour would have been much worse if her mind hadn't been on Cane. I also enjoyed the Thanksgiving episodes, especially the Abbott Thanksgiving. I was pleased to see the show go back to its family roots. I think that The Young and the Restless should be more like its creators, Bill and Lee Phillip Bell, envisioned.

Claire spent Thanksgiving with the Abbotts, although she is a Newman. It was mostly to please Harrison. However, she did give Kyle a rather lingering kiss before she departed. Talk about mixed messages! Claire seems confused. She really doesn't trust Holden, but she is not ready to commit to anyone, including Kyle.

Has anyone on a soap cried as much has Sharon in 2025? Has anyone been kidnapped or tormented as much as she has this year? As for Nick, his sole purpose seems to be to protect Sharon. When do you ever see him at the Newman office working?

Victor Newman is the most vindictive character on the soaps. He doesn't just want to defeat his rivals. He wants to "crush" them. How many times has he expressed a desire to "crush" Jack Abbott.

It was good to see Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) back. I wish she were on screen more often, but I'm happy to see her occasionally.

This week, Victor Newman is going to Los Angeles to face Matt Clark. It should be very interesting. One thing for sure, Victor will shake things up like an earthquake in Los Angeles.

Lucy Romalotti hasn't been on screen for a while. She was unable to attend the wedding of Danny and Cricket because she was ill. Don't get wrong. I enjoy watching the veterans and the 30-something actors. However, there hasn't been a storyline with the younger set in a long time. Where are Johnny and Katie and Connor and Faith?

CAST NEWS

What's going on with Camryn Grimes (Mariah)?

Fans have been wondering what's going on with Mariah Copeland (Camryn Grimes). She hasn't been on the show regularly for a while. She may just be taking a break. After all, she is the mother of a young child. Her son, Bridger, was born on December 13, 2023, and he's not quite two years old yet. Perhaps she's taking some time off to be with him. There has been no official announcement that she is leaving the show. However, she may eventually be let go if the writers can't find a suitable storyline for her,

We still don't have any answers yet about Mariah and Ian Ward. We still don't know if Mariah was hallucinating or Ward was really there. As I've said before, the writers haven't done a good on this storyline. They've taken far too long to reveal Ward's fate. They've also made his apparent visit with Mariah very vague. When will we know if it really happened?

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Matt Cohen (Detective Burrow)

Now that Chance is gone, Y&R has another detective on the scene - Detective Burrow (no first name yet). There is something very mysterious about him and the woman detective who works with him.

Fans, what is your impression of Detective Burrow? Do you trust him? Do you think he is a corrupt cop? Is he in league with Matt Clark? Is he as shady as he seems? Respond to the poll below and let me know.

NOTE TO READERS

My email address: jmadden16@yahoo.ca

That's all for now. The next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

Take care,

Joanne

Y&R Report (November 15, 2025): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

2025-11-15T11:37:00.002-05:00

Hi fans,

So Adam told Chelsea that he is going to stand up to daddy Victor Newman if he attacks Jack Abbot and Jabot. because he likes Jack. I doubt Adam will succeed, but it's worth a try. if Adam defies his father, I'll be cheering him on. Somebody has to show some backbone and stop that insufferable man. It certainly won't be Michael Baldwin.

The new Noah, played by Lucas Adams, has been unmasked. The bandages are off. His affair with Sienna Bacall (Tamara Braun) has been revealed. Fans of Days of our Lives will find this unsettling because on Days, the two played mother and son when Lucas was Tripp and Tamara was Ava. I'm glad that I never watched them in those roles.

As for Noah's girlfriend, Allie Nguyen, played by Kelsey Wang, her status is unclear. She remains in London, where she has been living with Noah, at least for the time being. It is uncertain if and when she will return. If she does return, it may not be for long. Not surprisingly, Noah is in no hurry to contact her as he feels guilty about Sienna. It doesn't appear that Allie's relationship with Noah will last. She'll be in for a shock when she learns what he's been up to. Allie does have roots in Genoa City, though. After all, she is Jack Abbott's granddaughter.

Detective Burrow, played by Matt Cohen, is a shady individual. He is connected to that slimy Matt Clark/Mitch Bacall (Roger Howarth). We don't even know Burrow's first name yet. He's very mysterious. Will he be trouble for Sharon, Nick and Noah?

Nate and Victoria seem headed for romance again, but will Nate be able to stand Victor's interference? Victor will interfere because he is so terribly controlling, especially when it concerns his daughter, the Princess Victoria. Speaking of Victoria, why doesn't she ever mention her son Reed, with ex-husband J.T. Hellstrom?

Cane has given up on reconciling with Lily, at least for now. He's about to embark on a reckless affair with Phyllis, even though he suspects she hacked his AI program and made a deal with Victor, who now has possession of it. This will end in disaster.

Maybe it's time for Kyle Abbott to move on from Claire. She's obviously not ready for a serious relationship and wants to sew her wild oats. However, I think she has become quite suspicious of Holden, and has been watching him carefully, as she should.

The more Kyle chases Claire, the more she runs away. He should just let her be. Dealing with Claire is difficult for the entitled Abbott heir because he is so used to getting his own way. This time he can't have what he wants.

Kyle could always try to get back with hie ex, Summer, but she seems to be settled in Milan for now. Another possibility is Tara Locke, Harrison's biological mother, played by Elizabeth Leiner. Tara was arrested for embezzlement and sent to prison. Kyle was then granted custody of their son, Harrison (Redding Munsell). His former wife, Summer, adopted the child and became a mother to him. The return of Tara would really stun the Abbott family. It would definitely shake up Harrison.

We haven't seen Lucy Romalotti (Lily Brooks O'Briant) for months. We did hear that she will be spending Christmas with Summer in Milan. I wonder what she would think about her father Daniel's relationship with Tessa. It's hard to figure out what's going on with Mariah and Ian Ward. That storyline is so confusing.

A distraught Tessa has asked for Daniel's friendship. He has agreed to stand by her and has encouraged her to be patient with Mariah, but they have definitely developed romantic feelings for each other. Daniel has invited her to be his date for Danny and Cricket's wedding. That should get some tongue's wagging.

One more thing. Are we ever going to see Nick's son, Christian?

VIEWER FORUM

If you have any comments on Y&R, please email them to me with "Viewer Forum" in the subject line. I will be happy to publish your comments and reply to them You do not have to use your real name.

My email address: jmadden16@yahoo.ca

I received an email from CC in Etobicoke, Ontario, a longtime Y&R viewer. Here it is.

Hi Joanne,

Here are some tidbits for now.

Though I am happy about the reintroduction of the character of Noah, I am not finding the new storyline revolving around him to be interesting. I am also wondering if he is meant to be sticking around or just stopping by.

It looks like Sharon Case (Sharon Newman) is giving herself another run at getting a Daytime Emmy after losing out this year. Michelle Stafford won the award in 2024. Sharon and Michelle Stafford were both nominated this year, but they did not win.

Hi CC

Thanks for your comments. I too am pleased about the reintroduction of the Noah Newman character. However, I am also interested in the storyline revolving around him. I like the mystery surrounding Noah in Los Angeles. I think he will be sticking around for a while because a new actor, Lucas Adams, has taken over the role of Noah. The show seems to be focusing on the L.A. storyline.

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Luca Adams (Noah)

The new Noah has certainly gotten himself into a heap of trouble. He has unwittingly put himself and his family in a dangerous situation. He is having an affair with an older woman who happens to be married to psychopath Matt Clark, a vicious criminal and rapist, who tormented his parents. That's quite a storyline for Lucas Adams, the new Noah Newman Fans, how do you think he's doing so far? Are you impressed with his portrayal of Noah? Respond to the poll below and let me know.

That's all for now. Please remember that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, November 29, 2025.

Take care,

Joanne

Everybody Loves Raymond 30th Anniversary Reunion

2025-11-11T18:56:00.001-05:00

“Twenty years since the show’s finale episode, audiences are invited back to the recreated Barone living room for an unforgettable evening with America’s favorite family.” The special will feature “candid conversations” with the former stars as well as never-before-seen outtakes and commentary."

-CBS announcement

Great news for Everybody Loves Raymond fans. A television special, marking the 30th anniversary of the show, will air on CBS and Paramount+ on Monday, November 24, 2025. Everybody Loves Raymond, starring Ray Romano, debuted on September 13, 1996 and ran for nine seasons until May 16, 2005, with a total of 210 episodes.

Ray Romano and series creator Phil Rosenthal will host the special about the popular sitcom. Everybody Loves Raymond followed the fortunes of sportswriter Ray Barone (Romano), his wife Debra and their three children, plus his NYPD police officer brother Robert. Raymond's meddling parents lived just across the street from their son in Lynbrook, Long Island, New York.

Ray Romano as Ray Barone

Ray Romano

Also appearing on the 90-minute special will be Patricia Heaton, who played Debra Barone, Brad Garrett, who played Robert Barone, and Monica Horan, who played Amy McDougall. After Raymond ended its run, Patricia Heaton starred as Frankie Heck in the hit ABC sitcom The Middle., Brad Garrett's Robert character was inspired by Ray Romano's real-life brother, Richard, an NYPD sergeant who later became a screenwriter and filmmaker. Monica Hora played Amy, Robert's girlfriend and later wife from 1997 to 2005 (66 episodes). Horan has been married to Phil Rosenthal, the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, since 1990.

Patricia Heaton

Brad Garrett as Robert Barone

Brad Garrett

Monica Horan

Madylin Sweeten and Sullivan Sweeten, will also appear on the special. They played Ray and Debra's children, Alexandra "Ally" Barone and Michael Barone, and they are real-life siblings. Tragically, Sullivan's identical twin brother, Sawyer Sweeten, who played Geoffrey Barone, shot himself to death at the age of 19. He was a month shy of his 20th birthday. His twin, Sullivan. has largely stepped back from acting since his time on Everybody Loves Raymond.

Sawyer Sweeten

Sullivan Sweeten

Madylin Sweeten, born June 27, 1991,literally grew up on the show, from a child to a teen. On August 31, 2018, Madylin married Sean Durie, a film and television actor. He is primarily known for voiceovers, particularly in video games. Sean and Madylin have one child. The couple has chosen to keep their child's identity private.

Madylin Sweeten as young Ally.

Madylin and Sean

The special will include a tribute to Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle, who played Frank and Marie Barone, the parents of Ray and Robert. Boyle passed away on December 12 2006 at the age of 71. He died at New York Presbyterian Hospital after suffering from multiple myeloma and heart disease. Roberts passed away on April 17, 2016 at the age of 90. She died in her sleep after suffering a massive stroke.

Peter Boyle

Doris Roberts

Over its nine-season run, Everybody Loves Raymond garnered many awards and accolades. It was nominated for 69 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning 15, including Outstanding Comedy series. Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett and Doris Roberts received individual honours.

SOURCES: People magazine, "The Everybody Loves Raymond Cast is Reuniting for a 30th Anniversary Reunion Special," by Victoria Edel, October 1, 2025; Rewind, "'Everybody Loves Raymond' 30th Anniversary Special Brings Cast Back to CBS," by Lauren Novak, October 29, 2025; Wikipedia; Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

- Joanne

Whatever happened to Lisa Gerritsen (Bess on The Mary Tyler Moore Show)

2025-11-02T22:10:00.000-05:00

Lisa Gerritsen is a former child star who is most well known for her role as Bess Lindstrom on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spinoff, Phyllis. She was born Lisa Orszag in Los Angeles, California on December 21, 1957, the daughter of Ronald Aleander Orszag. The name of her mother is not mentioned in available sources.

Lisa has a remarkable acting pedigree. Her great-great grandmother was Caroline "Caro" True Boardman (1857-1908), an actress and acting coach in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Lisa is also the great-granddaughter of silent film actors Virginia True Boardman (born Margaret Shields in 1889) and her husband, William "True" Boardman (1882-1918) William "True" Boardman appeared in many silent films, including Tarzan of the Apes (1918) and The Further Adventures of Stingaree (1917). Sadly, he passed away at the age of 36, a victim of the flu epidemic of 1918. Virginia True Boardman, however, lived until 1971. The couple has one child, a son named True Eames Boardman, Lisa's grandfather.

Virginia True Boardman

William" True" Boardman in 1910

True Eames Boardman (1909-2003) was a child actor and a screen writer. As a child, he worked alongside Charlie Chapman in the 1918 silent film Shoulder Arms. He played one of Chaplin's three sons in cut domestic scenes, intended for the beginning of the film. However, he was best recognized as a screen writer. His credits include the classic Abbott and Costello film Pardon My Sarong.

True Eames Boardman

Lisa's mother and her grandfather, were instrumental in kick starting her acting career. At the age of eight, she acted in a local summer parks production. It wasn't long before she became a very busy child actor during the late 1960s and early 1970s. She guest-starred in The Good Guys (1968), three episodes of The Doris Day Show (2 episodes in 1968 and one episode in 1971), Gomer Pyle: USMC (1969), The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969). The Virginian (1970), 3 episodes of Family Affair (2 episodes in 1969 and one in 1970), Gunsmoke (four episodes 1968-1970) and Bonanza (1971)

Lisa's grandfather, True Eames Boardman, wrote that 1971 episode of Bonanza with Lisa in mind. He was proud of Lisa and wanted to highlight her horse riding skills. In the episode, entitled "Cassie" (Season 13, Episode 6 , Air Date: October 24, 1971), Lisa played Cassie O'Casey, whose father, Kevin O'Casey (Jack Cassidy), runs a horse racing scam.

Lisa in 1971 Bonanza episode

Lisa also appeared in a 1971 episode of The Odd Couple, starring Jack Klugman and Tony Randall. She played Bunny in an episode entitled "Bunny is Missing Down by the Lake." (Season 1, Episode 18, Air Date: February 12, 1971). In 1973, she appeared as Jenny Hutchins in two episodes of The Magical World of Disney and as Nancy Flynn in an episode of Ironside.

From 1969 to 1970, Lisa had a co-starring role on the sitcom My World and Welcome to It. The half-hour comedy was based on the writings and cartoons of humourist James Thurber. William Windom played John Monroe, a Thurber-like writer and cartoonist. Joan Hotchkis played his wife, Ellen, and Lisa portrayed Lydia Monroe, his curious and intelligent daughter. The show only lasted for one season of 26 episodes, despite positive reviews. The show's ratings were only moderate (it was up against Gunsmoke), which prompted NBC to cancel the series. My World and Welcome to It went on to win two primetime Emmys - Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (William Windom).

However, it was Lisa's role on the popular Mary Tyler More Show that catapulted her to TV stardom. She played Bess, the precocious daughter of Phyllis Lindstrom, Mary's landlord. She appeared in in ten episodes of The Mary Tyler Moor Show from 1970 to 1975. Below is a 1974 photo of Lisa with her TV mother, Cloris Leachman. as Phyllis Lindstrom.

Lisa in 1975

In 1975, Lisa joined Cloris Leachman in a spinoff of The Mary Tyler Moore Show called Phyllis. The premise of the sitcom was that Mary's newly widowed landlord returns to her hometown of San Francisco with her teenage daughter after the sudden death of her husband, Lars. Lars, a dermatologist was never seen on screen. Phyllis and Bess move in with Lars' ditzy mother, Audrey Dexter (Jane Rose) and her second husband, Judge Jonathan Dexter (Henry Jones). Phyllis finds employment as the assistant to the CEO of a photography studio.

Phyllis aired for two seasons, from 1975 to 1977. 48 episodes of the show were produced and Lisa appeared in 24 of those episodes.

In her late teens or early 20s, Lisa Gerritsen began to consider her transition from a successful child actor to new career as an adult. She decided to pursue interests outside of acting.

Around 1977, she abruptly left the Hollywood scene, soon after Phyllis was cancelled.

In 2000, at the time of a "Mary and Rhoda" reunion TV movie, Chicago Tribune writer, Eric Zorn, set out to find Lisa and ask her why she wasn't appearing on the show. He had been intrigued by Lisa's sudden disappearance from the acting scene and tried really hard to track her down. He spoke to a fan who thought they'd worked with Lisa at a software company, and he wrote a column about his search entitled "Desperately seeking Lisa - or maybe not so desperately." Zorn eventually procured Lisa's phone number, but after all that, decided not to call her. He concluded that if she were that hard to find, she probably wanted and deserved to be left alone.

Lisa married John Rustan in 2000. They have one son, Jonathan Rustan, and they lead very private lives.

END NOTES

* Lisa Gerritsen has appeared in two full length feature films. She played Libby Bakersfeld in the 1970 comedy/drama Airport. She also portrayed Linda Kozlenko in the 1972 Thurber-inspired comedy/drama The War Between Men and Women, starring Jack Lemon and Barbara Harris.

* According to the Internet Movie Database (IMDb), Lisa worked for a large California software company in the 1990s. According to the Blloomies website, she eventually obtained her real estate licence and began working for a prestigious brokerage firm in Los Angeles.

SOURCES: Bloomies (www.bloomies.com), "Lisa Gerritsen: From Child Star to Real Estate Agent," July 14, 2023; YouTube Video. "Whatever happened to Lisa Gerritsen - Bess from TV's "Phyllis," Dave Sundstrom; Wikipedia; International Movie Database (IMDb)

- Joanne

Y&R Report (November 1, 2025): The Latest on The Young and the Restless

2025-11-01T13:22:00.001-04:00

Hi fans,

Ray Wise has returned as Ian Ward. I really enjoy Wise's portrayal of the dastardly criminal cult leader. However, I've found the Mariah - Ian Ward storyline rather confusing. The writers were deliberately vague about whether Ward actually spoke to Mariah or whether she was hallucinating. We didn't see Ward walk away, which leads us to believe that Mariah was imagining their conversation. The Queen of Hearts card had been torn, it was back in one piece after Ian Ward or his image was gone. Remember that Ward somehow survived being shot and opened his eyes in the ambulance. What happened after that? I know Y&R is a soap, but this is all too convoluted for viewers and should be made clearer.

As for Tessa's relationship with Daniel, I think that Mariah will recover, only to discover how deeply Tessa has become involved with Daniel. Tessa and Daniel can't pretend that they're just good friends anymore. It's gone far beyond guitar lessons.

Fans, save the date for the Danny and Cricket wedding. It will take place over two episodes on Friday, November 21 and Monday, November 24, 2025 on CBS, and Thursday, November 20 and Friday, November 21 on Global TV in Canada.

Cricket's longtime friend, Nina Webster (Tricia Cast), will be attending the big event, as well as Danny's sister, Gina Roma, played by Patty Weaver. I'm certain that Nina will have an emotional run-in with Cane Ashby over the death of her son, Chance.

CAST NEWS

Christel Khalil (Lily Winters) is expecting her third child

Christel Khalil. who plays Lily Winters on Y&R, has confirmed that she is pregnant with her third child. Her baby bump was clearly visible as she danced in s Halloween video posted on Instagram by her castmate Eric Braeden (Victor Newman). This is Christel's third child, and her second with her husband, Canadian businessman Sam Restagno. She has two sons: Michael Caden. (born in 2010) from a previous marriage, and Remy (born in March 2024) with Restagno.

Sam Restango

Christel and Sam, who is of Italian heritage, were wed in a ceremony in Puglia, Italy in October of 2024.

Bryton James (Devon Winters) files for divorce

Bryton James, who plays Devon Winters on Y&R is ending his short-lived marriage. The actor has filed for divorce from his sewife, Jahaira Meyers, a professional dancer. He is citing irreconcilable differences as the cause of breakup. The couple wed in March of 2025. TMZ has reported that according to court documents, they separated three months later.

Bryton was previously married to Ashley Leisinger from 2011 to 20214.

Blast from the past- Matt Clark returns

Roger Howarth

As if Sharon and Nick haven't been through enough! I appears that their worst enemy, Matt Clark, has returned. Matt has been played by three different actors in the past, Eddie Cibrian originated the role of Matt, 31 years ago, followed by Russell Lawrence and Rick Hearrst), but Roger Howarth is tackling the role this time around. Howarth is a very good actor, having won a Daytime Emmy for his portrayal of Todd Manning on One Life to Live.

Only long-time Y&R viewers will remember wicked Matt Clark. He tormented Sharon and Nick during their high school days. Matt was jealous of Nick's wealth and Sharon's feelings for him. He raped Sharon, beat Nick, and raped Sharon's friend, Amy Lewis. Matt Clark was eventually shot and Nick was arrested, convicted and jailed for attempted murder. However, Victor discovered that Amy had actually shot Matt, and Nick was cleared. As fans know, Amy Lewis, is now back in Genoa City. Matt skipped town after the shooting.

In 2000, Matt Clark returned Genoa City after having plastic surgery. Russell Lawrence briefly assumed the the role, but was replaced by Rick Hearst. Under an assumed name, Matt sought his revenge. He framed Nick for selling drugs and attempted to rape Sharon again. The police finally chases him down, but his plan backfired.

Matt supposedly died after suffering injuries in a car wreck. He ended up in a hospital room and tried to frame Nick, who was in the room, for his "murder" by ripping out the tubes that were keeping him alive. Nick, of course, was fully exonerated.

Many questions remain. First of all, how did Matt survive? That isn't too troubling because many characters survive "death" on soaps. Is he indeed Sienna's husband, Mitch Bacall? It seems that that is the case. Did Matt/Mitch try to get revenge on Nick and Sharon by harming their son, Noah? What is Sienna hiding? What is the dark secret in Holden and Audra's past?

Y&R REPORT READERS' POLL

Haley Erin

Claire (Haley Erin) has been one wild and loose woman in Los Angeles! I'm not saying she should just settle down with Kyle. It's obvious that she's not ready to settle down with anyone, and Kyle has not treated her well. But I don't trust Holden one iota. He has a checkered past. Claire has fallen for his supposed charm. He seems like an Eddie Haskell type to me. I think she's headed for a fall. What do you think, fans? Is Claire going to be devastated? Is she headed for a fall? Reply to the poll below and let me know.

NOTE TO READERS

My email address: jmadden16@yahoo.ca

That's all for now. Don't forget that the next edition of Y&R Report will appear in this space on Saturday, November 15, 2025.

Take care,

Joanne