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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Somebody call the Vatican, because there's a freakin' miracle happening on The Young and the Restless! On May 11, Beth Maitland will once again return to the soap as Traci Abbott — earth mama, moral compass, the very soul of Genoa City — and this time she'll be mixed up in the big Abby Newman (Marcy Rylan) drama. Though Maitland won Y&R's very first acting Emmy back in 1985, the beloved actress fell out of favor with some of the past producing teams and, for a while, was only showing up for weddings and funerals. Then she wasn't seen on the show for two full years. Thankfully, the current powers adore Maitland and keep finding cool ways to bring her back — no small thing in an era where so many of our great suds vets are considered as disposable as Handi Wipes. "When Beth shows up on our set, it tells me that the folks who run our show do indeed know the importance of heart and remember the value of family," notes Maitland's TV bro Peter Bergman (Jack). "People like Traci who look you in the eye and tell the honest truth are a rarer and rarer breed — in soaps and in life." TV Guide Magazine spoke with Maitland about her upcoming stint, her remarkable renaissance and — gasp! — her "double life" in Hollywood...
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In today's episode of The Young and the Restless, John Abbott gets a seven-year prison sentence for shooting the vile Tom Fisher (Roscoe Born). Daytime vet Jerry Douglas last airs on March 1, when the Abbott patriarch heads off to the slammer. Is this the bitter end for John? Not necessarily. Here, TVGuide.com gets the soap dish from the man himself.
TVGuide.com: You've had more airtime in this tale than you've had in years! I prefer to watch a pro like you over the teen rookies any day.
Jerry Douglas: Thank you. Even if I die tomorrow, I have had one of the greatest story lines an actor can ask for. I don't need more. If there's more coming, that's great. I think the work we've done will make them write more for John Abbott. I really want you to watch what happens in the da
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Scoop! The Young and the Restless cast and crew gathered on the set this week to share a farewell cake for soap vet Jerry Douglas. TVGuide.com has learned that Douglas, 73 — who has played Jabot Cosmetics tycoon John Abbott since 1982 — was let go due to a story-line-dictated twist.
Spoiler alert! As viewers know, John shot the vile Tom Fisher (
Roscoe Born) and refuses to allow his daughter Ashley (
Eileen Davidson) to cover for him by taking the murder rap. What will be the Abbott patriarch's reward for ridding Genoa City of human scum? A seven-year prison sentence. Although it's sad to see this beloved pro go, Douglas has been woefully underused for years. At least
Y&R is sending him and his classy character out with a bang!
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Seeing Ted Shackleford in CBS' recent Knots Landing reunion reminded me of how much I miss him. Fortunately, the Eye network has invited my fave nighttime soap hunk to take a dip in the daytime suds!
Shackleford begins a short-term stint on The Young and the Restless on Feb. 2 as prosecutor Will Bardwell. He'll throw the book at Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) for the recent shooting murder of Tom Fisher (Roscoe Born). Of course, viewers know Ashley's just covering for the real culprit: her ailing dad, John (Jerry Douglas), who doesn't remember gunning down the creep who menaced his family.
Let's hope Shackleford's verdict on daytime soap work is more favorable than that of his Knots costar Joan Van Ark, who bailed on her gig as Y&R's Gloria back in '04. Yeah, you know I couldn't resist going there. (Keep reading for more Res
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