'The Young and the Restless' Airs Throwback Episode from 1998

Just this Thursday, CBS chose to air a classic episode from its archives of The Young and the Restless; one from 1998. Lots of interesting stories were taking place at this time, including Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) finding out from Diane (Alex Donnelley) that her marriage to Victor (Eric Braeden) isn't legal, as well as Jill (Jess Walton) trying to find proof that the late Phillip Chancellor II wanted her to have the Chancellor Estate, not Katherine (Jeanne Cooper). This episode also happened to feature the infamous attic fight between Kay and Jill, an interesting part in their rivalry. All these interesting plots were taking place, and legions of fans have been saying that they wish this was the Y&R still on television today. But the question I'd like to ask is, would this Y&R last on TV today?

The late 90s was a time where daytime soaps were still pretty popular. Every major television network had at least three soaps on the air. Now? They're lucky if they've got even one on the air. As more and more legendary soaps have gone off the air (Guiding Light, As the World Turns, All My Children and One Life to Live, to name a few), writers have been forced to keep up with the times. The Y&R that aired in 1998 would in no way fly today. The stories, perhaps, might flow, but the way soaps were back then would no way garner enough ratings to stay on the air today. These were the times of the true soap opera; every remark required a long, perplexed look at the camera, and the music was either overly dramatic or inappriopriately seductive. And that's how soaps were. These were the soaps that legions of grandmothers watched with their grandchildren during the day. And before we knew it, this genre has been slipping away from us. I don't believe that overly dramatic music and drooling romance would fly today, and maybe that's why soaps have had to add a bit of reality into shows that once could have someone visibly die onscreen, then show up two years later in a plot twist. And no one would question it.

Watching this classic episode really made me think about the slowly disappearing genre of soap operas. Maybe if women hadn't started working outside of the home these types of soaps would still work on today's daytime television. But in the meantime, we have to sit back and accept that this time in soap opera history is behind us. We can either stay stuck in the past, or continue watching the stories they produce for us nowadays. Catch The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS.

Surprising Twist at 'The Young and the Restless': Billy Miller out, David Tom returning!

                                              Billy Miller (left), David Tom (right)

Yesterday, news broke that Billy Miller, who's portrayed Billy Abbott on The Young and the Restless since 2008, couldn't reach a deal with the producers and will be leaving the role that's won him two Daytime Emmy Awards. In a surprising twist, David Tom, the first actor to portray Billy as an adult, is returning to the role nearly twelve years after leaving. Tom, who was critically acclaimed, portrayed Billy from 1999 to 2002 (the last known period that Y&R was said to be "golden") and also won a Daytime Emmy for his portrayal in 2000.

I, for one, am very surprised by this casting change. It isn't completely shocking that Miller is leaving, because he's a great actor and should definitely be pursuing primetime roles, but the fact that Tom is returning is very surprising to me. Given the fact that Jill Farren Phelps (executive producer of Y&R) is heavily known for casting people she's previously worked with (known as "friends of Jill"), we all kind of assumed that we'd have to deal with another one of her friends as fan fave Billy. But it appears the powers-that-be have pleasantly shocked all of us! Tom was widely popular with viewers and critics alike and surely created the basis for what Billy Abbott is today. 

However, what I find strange is that Miller's rumoured exit was kept secret for so long. Casting calls issued in the summer for contract roles were reported to in fact be a recast for Billy, including Andrew Abbott, who was said to be a previously unknown Abbott cousin and a doctor. That character information was met with much negativity and I'm glad that never actually materialized. Morever, it all happened very quick; revelations that Miller was in heated contract negotiations one day, and the next, he's out and Tom is returning. Makes me think talks with Tom began secretly awhile back, and he's been kept in the wings since then. A bit too good to be true if you ask me, but maybe the climate of the show is generally turning around. I'm quite enjoying all of the current storylines and the casting changes are quite pleasing. All we can do is watch! Miller will continue taping at Y&R until December 19. His last airdate will be January 30, with Tom's return scheduled for February 3, 2014. Catch The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS.

'The Young and the Restless' November preview: Will things get better, or worse?

The Young and the Restless certainly has some heated storylines coming up this November. Say what you will about Nikki Newman, and let's admit, we've all said a lot, but did you ever think she would've had a son with a cult leader and tell no one for over thirty years? I know, it's a soap, and usually anything is possible, but I've found this rewrite severely underwhelming. There was no big reveal that Dylan was Nikki's son, because let's face it, rumours had been circulating for months and we all kind of figured it would happen (thanks for that, Jill Farren Phelps.) The thing that always gets me about Nikki, the stripper turned socialite, is that despite the great and powerful Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) being "the love of her life", she's never had the confidence to spill her guts about anything to her beloved hubby. Just this past February when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), she didn't want to tell The Mustache, but easily opened up to ex-hubby and once her best friend, Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman). And now, she is still extremely hesitant to tell Victor that she has another son with a cult leader. What gives?

Nick and Sharon will also grow closer this November. But, as we all know, Sharon holds a deep, dark secret (that someone behind the scenes at Y&R decided to use her as the scapegoat of Genoa City and make her switch Summer Newman's paternity test.) Sources also say that she will work on becoming healthier and stabilized. So basically, they're saying that Sharon will get herself all better, say goodbye to her awful hallucination of a daughter (Cassie), and perhaps, even get back together high school sweetheart Nick. But are we supposed to just forget about the paternity test alteration, like it was nothing? She was messing with people's lives! Summer has since grown close to her biological "dad" Jack (not to mention their amazing father/daughter chemistry); will that be blown up by Sharon's little mistake? Not to mention that there is absolutely no mention of Genoa City finding out Sharon was present when Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) fell down those stairs and somehow sustained brain damage (still hard to get through saying that without bursting out in laughter, as Phyllis didn't even bump her head.) So this may sound good to you, but are we just expected to forget all of Sharon's escapades while off her bipolar meds? Again, what gives?

In terms of business storylines, which this show is iconic for, we might actually have something to look forward to. Sources say that Jack and Jill (Jess Walton) will be interacting with business concerns, along with Victor. To me, this sounds to good to be true. Of this writing regime's many faults, they certainly did not know how to write a good business storyline. All of the show's previous writing regimes, however, knew how to kick ass with a good business storyline. But alas, since Josh Griffith is finally gone, we may be pleasantly surprised with how new head writers Shelly Altman and Jean Passanante chose to entertain us. 

Also on the business front, it looks as if the new writers are looking to rebuild Hilary Curtis (Mishael Morgan). Morgan, who joined the series in June, is a soap opera newbie, but plays the bad girl role surprisingly well. But let's just say she deserves better material. Griffith's mess of an introduction for her was really hard to follow. First, there is a mysterious blogger and photographer stalking the Winters family. Then, Neil (Kristoff St. John) remembers meeting some woman at a bar in 2007. This woman, Rose Turner (Leslie Stevens), also happens to be the mystery woman of Gus Rogan (Tony Todd), the late father of Leslie and Tyler (Angell Conwell and Redaric Williams). Still with me? Okay, now all of a sudden, Hilary is supposedly Rose's daughter Ann, who wants to get back at Neil for "killing" her mother (she passed out drunk that night and died), and is targeting Neil's daughter Lily (Christel Khalil) and her husband Cane (Daniel Goddard). Like I said, mess of a story. The character has a lot of potential in many areas, and I'm hoping these writers will rebuild her and take advantage of it.

After all that, there is one story that has been my personal favorite these past few months: the Baldwin family struggles. The only thing now is it's been almost a month since Carmine (Marco Dapper) died, and we still don't know who really shot him in that alley. Fen (Max Ehrich) thinks he did it, but admits to being high on drugs and doesn't remember clearly. All the actors say a "big twist" is coming. In all honesty, I don't really have any more patience for a big twist. Carmine tortured the Baldwins for months, and now that he's finally gone, we still have to deal with him from beyond the grave. Just tell us who killed him already! This storyline needs to be drawn to a close soon, so maybe, just maybe, the Baldwins might be rewarded with some sort of happy story. Sound possible? We can only hope. Watch The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS.

'The Carrie Diaries' is back and on fire!

    On left: Lindsey Gort and AnnaSophia Robb as Samantha and Carrie

    On right: Austin Butler as Sebastian (top), Chloe Bridges as Donna LaDonna (bottom)

The CW's The Carrie Diaries just returned for its second season, and is getting off on the right foot! Lindsey Gort has joined the cast as young Samantha Jones, and let's just say that this show's casting department definitely knows what they're doing! Not only that, show namesake Carrie Bradshaw (AnnaSophia Robb) is much feistier than last season. She's got more of an identity this season, and knows who knows what she wants with her life. The rest of the stunning cast has returned, including Austin Butler as bad rich boy Sebastian Kydd. 

The first season, which debuted last January, wasn't a great success in the ratings, but still got renewed for another year. It was also met with generally favourable critical reviews. In my opinion, it's definitely one of the year's best new shows. For those who don't know what The Carrie Diaries is about, it follows Carrie Bradshaw "before there was sex and before there was the city", set during her high school years in 1984. Robb's portrayal has been amazingly excellent of young Carrie, I can only wonder what Sarah Jessica Parker has to say, let alone the rest of the original Sex and the City cast. It is literally one of my favorite shows. Despite moving from Mondays to Fridays for season two, The Carrie Diaries has a great season ahead, filled with 1980s teen drama. Catch it Fridays at 8/7c on The CW.