The CBS-Sony soap The Young and the Restless owed Josh Griffith a huge debt of gratitude when he did double duty as exec producer and head writer during the 2007-2008 Writers Guild strike. Not only did the three-time Emmy winning Griffith keep Y&R afloat during that treacherous time, he improved the show drastically. But no good deed goes unpunished in Soapland! When the strike was over, Griffith was pushed out. Now he's back as head writer, working with new exec producer Jill Farren Phelps to get this once-mighty serial back in shape after the devastating reign of Maria Bell.
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In a long overdue shakeup at daytime's No. 1 soap, The Young and the Restless, Maria Bell is out as executive producer-head writer and former General Hospital chief Jill Farren Phelps is in the house! Phelps takes the EP gig while Josh Griffith, who stepped in and kept Y&R afloat during the 2007-2008 Writers Guild strike, is back as head writer. Their first official episode will air Oct. 12. No exec on the suds scene is more credentialed and trophied than Phelps, a seven-time Emmy winner who has helmed a record six daytime dramas. And no one is more polarizing. TV Guide Magazine had an exclusive chat with the controversial lady, who addressed the firestorm of rumors and reports currently circulating on the Web.
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General Hospital won big at the 39th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, walking away with five trophies, including best drama series.
ABC's last remaining soap also won for best drama directing team, best actor for Anthony Geary (his record seventh win), best supporting actress for Nancy Lee Grahn and best supporting actor for longtime fan favorite Jonathan Jackson. Jackson left the series after...
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Apparently, we had nothing to worry about. There was a collective sigh of relief in the daytime TV community last month when it was announced that the 39th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards would air Saturday, June 23 on cable channel HLN (8/7c). Up until then, it was widely believed the awards — which no network wanted — would go untelevised or end up on the Internet. But Malachy Wienges, chairman of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, tells TV Guide Magazine that he "always had two backup plans in place — including one with Reelz — if the HLN [deal] didn't happen. We would never have let these awards leave television."
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Here's the bad news: As his contract negotiations drag on, Kristoff St. John's status at The Young and the Restless remains in question. That's just wrong. Daytime's answer to Denzel has starred on the CBS sudser since 1991 and he needs to stay, OK? The better news: St. John has been nominated for yet another NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series, alongside Y&R's Bryton McClure (Devon) and Shemar Moore (ex-Malcolm); All My Children's Michael B. Jordan (Reggie); and The Bold and the Beautiful's Antonio Sabato Jr. (Dante). The nominees for Outstanding Actress are Passions' Marla Gibbs (Aunt Irma) and Tracey Ross (Eve) as well as Y&R's Christel Khalil (ex-Lily), Victoria Rowell (Drucilla) and Tonya Lee Williams (Olivia). The 37th Annual NAACP Image Awards air March 3 on Fox.
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