Jill Farren Phelps Fired! Mal Young Takes Over as 'The Young and the Restless' Executive Producer

Jill Farren Phelps has been replace as executive producer at Y&R
by Mal Young.

The run of Emmy queen Jill Farren Phelps as executive producer of CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless has come to end. Replacing Phelps is British producer Mal Young, who has been serving as supervising producer at Y&R for nearly six months.

Co-executive producer and head writer Chuck Pratt is still in place, but Daytime Confidential's Jamey Giddens is reporting that the much-maligned Pratt may be on his way out as well. After many years, the masterpiece creation of soap opera icon William J. Bell may finally be in good hands.

From 1997-2004, Young served as Controller of Continuing Drama Series for the BBC's in-house production arm. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing the network's continuing episodic drama series, including EastEnders, Doctor Who, Doctors (which he co-created), Casualty, Holby City (which he created). He also created Family Affairs for Channel 5.

The Liverpool native was very familiar with the soap opera genre when he came to work for the BBC, having spent 12 years, starting in the early 1980s working in every job at one time or another for Brookside, which launched on Channel 4 in November 1982. Brookside was praised for tackling tough issues, such as child abuse and rape, and received notoriety for a lesbian kiss.

While working as BBC Controller, Young shared his thoughts on what makes a successful soap.

'General Hospital' Star Jason Thompson Joins 'The Young and the Restless' as New Billy Abbott

Jason Thompson is headed to Y&R.

Jason Thompson, who recently taped his final episodes as Dr. Patrick Drake on ABC soap opera General Hospital, has already booked his next gig. As rumored, Thompson has signed on to the play Billy Abbott on the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless.

According to EW.com, the five-time Emmy-nominated Thompson will begin airing on Y&R in January. He will replace Burgess Jenkins, who recently revealed he was exiting daytime's the top-rated drama.

'The Young and the Restless' Spoiler: Nikki Needs Intervention After Reaching Shocking New Low

Nikki's family stages an intervention on May 28.
Photo Credit: Sean Smith/JPIstudios.com

On May 28, The Young and the Restless will air a standalone episode in which Nikki's friends and family stage an intervention because her drinking is out of control. TV Insider spoke with Melody Thomas Scott about Nikki's story and to get her thoughts on the show's latest executive producer/head writer team, Jill Farren Phelps and Chuck Pratt.

"I don't know where [head writer] Chuck Pratt is taking this but, as a selfish actor, I do not want this intervention to be successful," explains Thomas Scott. "I have too much fun playing her as a drunk. There is a lot of humor in Nikki's sloppiness. And her drinking creates conflict. It's a soap! The fans don't want to see happiness. If Nikki sobers up and becomes June Cleaver, where is the drama in that?"

Nikki hits a new low which leads to the intervention.

'The Young and the Restless' EPs Chuck Pratt & Jill Farren Phelps on Two Jacks, Victor, Using African American Cast Members, A Gay Story for Kevin, and Copying Stories from Other Shows

The second part of TV Insider's interview with The Young and the Restless executive producers Jill Farren Phelps and Chuck Pratt, who is also the show's head writer, covers everything from Michael's cancer storyline to Eric Braeden's (Victor) reaction to the Two Jacks storyline. Below are a few interesting excerpts.

Greg Rikaart recently gave an interview stating that he wants his character, Kevin, to be gay. What are the chances of that happening? There's a rabid camp of fans who want Kevin to get it on with Detective Harding.
Phelps: Really?

Yep, Harding and Fisher. Their squish name is Harder.
Phelps: I never heard that before. I don't go online.
Pratt: With the right circumstance and right character—it could be Kevin or someone else—I would love to tell that story. I've told a gay storyline on every show I've ever been on, and it's odd that there isn't a gay relationship on Y&R.
Phelps: It would need to feel fresh and not just a box we check, just because that's what people expect. It needs to be more than that. It needs to be about characters the audience cares about. You can't do a gay storyline just for the sake of it.

Victor seems more and more like a Stefano DiMera-type supervillain. Is this the Mustache of the future?
Pratt: I talked to Eric Braeden about this a lot, before the story started, and said, "If you object to this, tell me now." He wanted to know Victor's endgame, so I discussed how this is a Frankenstein story where Victor has created a monster and there's no way you can make a monster do everything you want. Victor gets to the point where it's, "Oh, my God, how the hell am I going to get out of this?" The audience will be rooting for him as he tries to protect his family. Meanwhile, we're playing what I feel is the coolest part of the story—Victor's plan to merge Jabot and Newman Enterprises. I've written a lot of business stories in my time and this one is my only favorite.

There's a widespread feeling on social media that the African-American characters aren't seen as often since Chuck took over. What's your comment on that?
Pratt: I completely understand when people say that. We're not intentionally playing those actors less. But budget is budget. Money is money, and that affects some decisions. Sometimes a story is really thriving so other stories that are finishing up or moving into a new area will temporarily slow down. Actresses get pregnant. Certain things get in there and mess with us as we rebuild the show, but these characters and actors are of great importance to us.

On Michael's cancer storyline:

Pratt: Nothing about this story is exciting me that much, but at least something's happening and there's some conflict now. I want the story to account for something. You don't want people to look back and say, "Oh, remember when they tried that story…" and roll their eyes. If there's anything that hurts daytime, it's telling a story and ending it too quickly or ending it dishonestly. And that was happening a lot on this show.

Michael and Lauren were an interesting couple at one point, but they had become a little bit boring and I felt the same thing about Lily and Cane, so the idea was to push Lauren and Cane together. This was one of the most successful stories we did on Melrose Place. Marcia Cross' character was dying of a brain tumor and she pushed her cheating husband together with a hooker, Kelly Rutherford's character, never expecting they would fall in love. And that plot went on for years! I thought the two Y&R couples were mired in the same-old same-old and needed a fix. Yes, the audience likes them right where they were but, to me, in the show I envision, they weren't playable.

On going with Sharon and Dylan as a couple and why Dylan and Avery never became as popular as expected:

Pratt: I don't know why the thing with Avery wasn't as big as it should have been, but we will take it to a satisfying level and we'll come out of it with the right people elevated in the show.

Could Avery and Joe be headed out of Genoa City permanently? It wouldn't be surprising.

Read the complete interview here.

RELATED:
- Chuck Pratt on Unhappy 'The Young and the Restless' Fans: "They Hate It But They're Watching"

Chuck Pratt on Unhappy 'The Young and the Restless' Fans: "They Hate It But They're Watching"

Jill Farren Phelps, Charles Pratt Jr.

The Young and the Restless executive producer Jill Farren Phelps and head writer/co-executive producer Chuck Pratt spoke with TV Insider in a new interview about the state of the show, unhappy fans, and the use of Prattastrophes.

The angry fans on Twitter are loud but they're a sliver of the total Y&R audience, which, judging from the ratings, appears to be quite happy, or at least willing to go along for the ride. How do you account for so much upset on social media?
Phelps: If you've been watching Y&R for years or even decades—40-plus years in the case of some of our viewers—you feel a real sense of ownership. Most will go along for the ride, even when you take a sudden, unexpected right turn. They're happy to do it. But social media has unleashed a lot of people who play "Gotcha!" especially when it comes to the history of Y&R. They want to see us stay within a certain comfort zone, but if we don't take chances, if we don't do things outside that comfort zone, then we're robbing our audience of the opportunity to get excited about the show in a whole new way. We can't become risk averse and afraid of audience reaction. I'm not saying the fans aren't really important or what they think doesn't matter. I'm saying that if we are afraid to do something because of potential blowback then you just get the same old thing you've gotten before.

And this new way of doing things needs to be seismic?
Phelps: Seismic gets attention. Safety gets you nothing.
Pratt: It stirs up the audience and sometimes that negativity is a vote to keep going forward. Yeah, they hate it but they're watching. When I hear that they want the status quo, that they want to see a certain couple stay happy—"We love to see them together, keep it going!"—then I'm thinking, "There go the ratings." Social media is finally giving people a voice, people who have been sitting frustrated in their living rooms, and now they can get it all off their chests, and other people will read it. It attracts a lot of newer viewers. When we do something controversial or take a character to a new, different place, I want to hear from the longtime viewers.

In the most recent Live+Same Day Nielsen ratings, Y&R was up 370K viewers since last year.

In 1999, Phelps spoke with Soap Opera Digest about the unhappiness many One Life to Live fans felt about the show and her decisions as executive producer, despite the ratings being up. "That’s proof positive that people are watching and even though some of them are a little angry, they care."

Are angry and upset fans a good thing? Sometimes? Always? How do you feel about The Young and the Restless of the Pratt-Phelps so far (his stories began airing in January)? Weigh in below in our Comments section.

RELATED:
- Jean Passanante Confirms She Is No Longer on 'The Young and the Restless' Writing Team

Charles Pratt, Jr. Named 'The Young and the Restless' Head Writer and Executive Producer

The Young and the Restless is bringing a familiar face on board to write for the top-rated daytime soap opera. Emmy winner Charles "Chuck" Pratt, Jr. will take over as the new head writer, replacing the team currently helmed by Shelly Altman and Jean Passanante, along with Tracey Thomson. Daytime Confidential is reporting that Pratt will also receive an executive producer credit, although Phelps will still reportedly be in charge.

Pratt is known for scripting primteime serials Melrose Place, Titans and Models, Inc., as well as daytime soap operas Santa Barbara, Sunset Beach, General Hospital and All My Children. His credits also include Pacific Palisades, Ugly Betty, The Colbys, Desperate Housewives, and Beverly Hills, 90210.

Pratt most recently created and produced The Lying Game for ABC Family, a solid effort starring Alexandra Chando that ran for 30 episodes from 2011-2013.

Highlight Hollywood first reported the news of Pratt possibly joning Y&R.

RELATED:
- Charles Pratt, Jr. Named 'All My Children' Head Writer and Consulting Producer (May 2008)

Former 'General Hospital' Actress Kelly Sullivan Joins 'The Young and the Restless'

Kelly Sullivan chats with Y&R star Peter Bergman at the 2014
Daytime Emmy Nominee Reception.

Former General Hospital actress Kelly Sullivan has joined the cast of CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless.

She will play Sage Warner, an "intelligent, competent, discreet, and reserved. However, that reserve masks a well of passion and fire beneath the surface. She'll do anything for those she loves."

"I’m incredibly honored and flattered to even be considered to be part of the Young and Restless family," Sullivan told Soap Opera Digest, who first reported the news. "I’m also thrilled to be working with [Executive Producer] Jill Farren Phelps again like we did on GH."

For now, the role is recurring, and Sullivan starts taping on September 24. Her first air date is set for October 28.

Sullivan played Connie Falconeri/Kate Howard on GH from 2011-2013, when her character was murdered by Ava Jerome (Maura West), then made a return visit in March. Sullivan was nominated for a 2014 Daytime Emmy Award for her work.

NEWS: Jill Farren Phelps on 'Young and the Restless' Ian-Mariah Twist, Naya Rivera Not Fired From 'Glee'

'The Young and the Restless' Chief Jill Farren Phelps on the Shocking Ian-Mariah Twist
"Ray is a very busy actor — but we have great story coming up for him. June is going to be huge and very crazy. We'll keep Ian in town, initially, with the Mariah connection and the history of their relationship, but there's a much bigger picture to be revealed."

"As soon as Tyler even mentioned there was a Mariah, the writers knew it would be Fake Cassie. She is going to be a huge threat to the Abby-Tyler relationship, which we know really needed some help. Mariah will also continue to have enormous involvement in the Sharon-Nick story and, obviously, her relationship with Ian is going to be big when it's finally discovered by other people. She's a wild girl, not a good girl like Cassie, and that will impact the whole Newman family."

ABC to Air Isaiah Washington's Final ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Episode Ahead of His Return
And to get fans ready for his return to the small screen, ABC will relive his dramatic departure by replaying the May 2007 episode “Didn’t We Almost Have It All.” It will air in the 8 o’clock slot preceding a new episode, “We are Never Getting Back Together.” (ABC had originally planned an encore of last week’s episode to air Thursday at 8, but decided to go back in the time machine instead.)

Naya Rivera hasn’t been fired from 'Glee,' but she was written out of the season finale'
Rivera’s future won’t be decided until June, reports E!, but she was originally supposed to be in the season finale. “(Naya) isn't fired and her not being in the finale has nothing to do with Lea,” a Glee source tells E!. "I don't know where these stories are coming from, but they are not true."

'Almost Human' canceled by Fox
The robot cop drama will not return for a second season.

Twenty Years Later, Investigation Discovery Revisits America's Most Controversial Trial in Exclusive Film 'OJ: Trial of the Century'
The film follows the real-life soap opera that was the Simpson case as it played out like an episodic work of dramatic fiction.

The Death of Delia Abbott: What's Wrong With 'The Young and the Restless'?

Y&R has featured memorable performances from
Sophie Pollono (Delia) and Billy Miller (Billy).

I've avoided writing about the death of Cordelia "Delia" Katherine Valentine Abbott on The Young and the Restless because it has been hard to watch and process. For me, we can debate whether soaps (or TV shows in general) should kill off children or not, but that's not my biggest beef with this decision. There are examples from soap history where a child died and a story was powerful and memorable and had a lasting impact (Maxie getting BJ's heart on General Hospital comes to mind). That's what I want to see on my stories. My biggest complaint with Y&R right now is that the Delia story is just another example of how bad the top-rated daytime drama has become of late. And based on recent history, there's no reason to believe the Delia storyline will end up any different than the other fizzled plots in Genoa City this year. If you can't write a proper sendoff for the great Katherine Chancellor (played by the late Jeanne Cooper) that lasts months and impacts the entire canvas, what can you do?

Shake-Up Behind The Scenes At THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Josh Griffith Out As Head Writer. Shelly Altman & Jean Passanante Co-Head Writers (Updated)

According to Highlight Hollywood, after days of posting cryptic messages on his Facebook page, friends of THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS head writer Josh Griffith say that he's really disillusioned and wants to move on to more fulfilling things.

That would mean getting away from Jill Farren Phelps, who he hailed as Y&R’s savior when the two landed in their top perches at CBS TV City, after being such great allies at Sony’s HOLLYWOOD HEIGHTS.

“Josh [Griffith] was very uncaring and tacky when he did his interview with TV Guide soon after his former boss’s contract was not renewed, now it’s funny, he’s facing the same fate, and at the hands of the same woman, Jill Firing Phelps. He did not see it coming!

“Even though Josh is at work in the building today, he’s just a wreck. He’s previously had his door locked, and seemed as though he was having a breakdown, and Jill has been so uncaring, and telling everyone, she doesn't time to coddle people, and she is pressuring Sony execs to fire Griffith.”

Highlight Hollywood spoke with a Sony insider on Friday who reported Griffith "has less than 15-days left on his contract. He’s starting vacation with his family next week, and Sony would ideally like to let it look like his decision after a vacation that he’s ready to move on. They are in talks with several writers right now, because after he returns from his vacation, there are only 6 days left on his contract,” the Sony Pictures insider said.

NEWS: Denise Vasi Covers bomshell; GLEE Stage Musical; Monetizing Online Content

Former ALL MY CHILDREN actress and SINGLE LADEIS star Denise Vasi on the cover of bombshell magazine
Denise’s biggest beauty secret: “My fiancé thinks it’s crazy. I use ghee. Ghee is an organic butter used for cooking. I put that on my hands and feet when I have dry skin. You wake up silky soft.”

On how she stays in shape: “I’m not a gym lover (but) I want to look my best for my wedding. I make time with my trainer. We spend an hour training each day.”

On whether or not she’d ever get plastic surgery: “If I have kids and my boobs start to sag, I might need a boob lift — why not? If it makes me feel better, why say no?”

SONS OF ANARCHY's Adam Arkin & ALL MY CHILDREN's Phyllis Lyons To End 14-Year Marriage
They have a son, for whom Adam is seeking joint custody. Lyons played Arlene on AMC in the early '90s.

Startup Revelens Offers Technology Aimed at Monetizing Online Content
Lucas Wilson -- a sales and business development veteran from Hollywood’s technology community and an alum of companies such as Cameron|Pace Group, 3Ality and Assimilate -- has been quietly developing new technology focused on a way of interacting with and monetizing programming. Now he is getting ready to roll out the work of his startup, Revelens, and gave The Hollywood Reporter an early look at his system, which combines online content with advertising and commerce.

Revelens effectively allows content producers to embed information, advertising or commerce opportunities into an online program. When the program is streamed to a device such as a tablet using a supported platform, the viewers can tap on the screen to bookmark a frame if they see something that they like -- for instance, a pair of shoes worn by an actor. Then at any time, they can go back and access information about or purchase the shoes.

The Revelens system is currently in beta, and discussions have started regarding various series. It's scheduled to launch in mid-September, starting with use on IN BETWEEN MEN, a web-only series from Qubed Entertainment.

Fox Executives Reveal GLEE Stage Musical in the Works
Gary Newman, chairman of 20th Century Fox Television, told reporters, "We launched a live stage business with a sold-out arena concert tour in 2011, and now a live stage musical is in the works."

Executives also stated that countries across the world were interested in creating their own series based on the franchise.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Brad Maule Revisits His GENERAL HOSPITAL Past (Part 2 of 3)

With GENERAL HOSPITAL celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, We Love Soaps has been catching up with some of our favorite actors from over the years including Kin Shriner, Lynn Herring and Robin Mattson. The latest is actor and singer Brad Maule, who played Dr. Tony Jones on the show from 1984 to 2006. In Part 2 of our exclusive interview, Maule talks about his favorite writers over the years, working with Jack Wagner, and leaving the show for good in 2006. Check it out below.

Read Part 1 here.

WE LOVE SOAPS: During your long run, GH had quite a few different head writers and producers. Was there a writer you thought really got the character of Tony or that matched your take on the character the most?
Brad Maule: Michele Val Jean. She got me, and I loved her writing. And Karen Harris. Those two. They liked me and I liked them, and they wrote for me. They just understood. I don't think Bob Guza ever really liked my character that much.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Jill Farren Phelps, Kay Alden, Max Page, Tom Cullen, Shirley MacLaine

Y&R executive producer Jill Farren Phelps "pleased" with Josh Griffith's writing
"I’ve been pleased with the response to Josh’s [Griffith] writing, to the new characters, to the new actors on the show, to Steve Burton’s [Dylan] entrance, and to their commitment [to the show.] We are playing the core characters. We are building story around the core characters and we are bringing in these other young new people in support of them."

Max Page returning to THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS
age underwent open heart surgery last summer, but was soon on the mend, and now will be making another appearance on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS as J.T. and Victoria's son, Reed. The tyke has been living in Washington DC with J.T. and Mac, but on March 18 will be back in Genoa City to join his mom at Victor and Nikki's nuptials.

A Map of Television Show Locations in America
Graphic artist and physicist James Chapman has designed a detailed poster titled “AMERICA:the home of television” which is a map of television show locations in the United States.

How writer Kay Alden turned a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity into a successful career in daytime television
Bill Bell said, "Write for the ear, not for the eye." And then it clicked. Even now, I tell my writers, "Read your material out loud." Because if you can't say it, an actor can't say it.

J.R. Ewing getting proper sendoff
"For me, personally, it should be an event," Linda Gray said in an interview this week from the Texas city that made her famous.
"It shouldn't be just another show. I told (the writers), I said: 'Look, make this not just another episode. Make it longer, make it more meaningful, make it matter to Larry and I think people would respect that.'"

Tom Cullen joins the cast of DOWNTON ABBEY
[SPOILER ALERT] Cullen will play Lord Gillingham, an old family friend of the Crawleys who has known Lady Mary since childhood.

Shirley MacLaine Returning To DOWNTON ABBEY, 6 New Cast Members Join
MacLaine will be returning to Downton Abbey next season as Martha Levinson and six new cast members will be joining the show as well, Carnival Films and Masterpiece on PBS announced over the weekend.
Opera star Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is joining the cast as a guest who sings in the house, as confirmed last night among three other new cast members including Tom Cullen who will play Lord Gillingham, an old family friend of the Crawleys who visits as a guest for a house party. Plus Dame Harriet Walter arrives as Lady Shackleton, an old friend of the Dowager played by Maggie Smith and Julien Ovendon comes aboard as aristocrat Charles Blake. Additions revealed in this morning’s announcement were Nigel Harman who joins the household as Green, a valet, and Joanne David who has a guest role as the Duchess of Yeovil.

RED WIDOW debuts with soft ratings
The crime family drama soap, which scored less than a 50 out of 100 among TV reviewers on Metacritic, launched to 6.8 million viewers and a 1.4 rating among adults 18-49. That’s 36 percent lower than the debut of ABC’s short-lived GCB in this slot last year.

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL's John McCook on Eric and Taylor's romance: 'We have to sit back and watch'
Right now, people who are looking at it from a negative point of view are calling this his rebound. "It doesn't mean anything." Then on the other side, they're saying it's not real for Taylor, either. "She's just being manipulative and trying to get the business for her family." We have to sit back and watch. We don't know what the end game is for Eric and Taylor, if there is one. Are they going to get married in a year? Or next week?

Cady McClain shares her thoughts on Michael E.Knight: 'He's doing what he needs to do'
Watch a video of McClain commenting on Knight below:

Jill Farren Phelps Previews Steve Burton's THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Character (Who Will Wear 'Colors Other Than Black!')

In a new interview with TV Guide Magazine, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS executive producer Jill Farren Phelps offers a preview of Steve Burton's character, Dylan McAvoy, who will debut on January 29.

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

"Dylan is a war veteran who was greatly traumatized by what happened to him in Afghanistan," Phelps says. "He was severely injured and was rescued by a family who helped him recuperate. He's not been heard from for a couple of years, which is why people think he's dead.

Phelps also reveals Y&R will use flashbacks to bring the audience into the history of the Dylan-Avery relationship.

Steve Burton Leaving GENERAL HOSPITAL

Steve Burton is leaving GENERAL HOSPITAL. Rumored for weeks now, Burton confirmed his exit in a new interview with TV Guide Magazine.

TV Guide Magazine: Word is, this is one of the most amicable soap exits ever — no money battles, storyline complaints, testy negotiations. Where's all the drama, dude?

Jill Farren Phelps Reveals Her Plans For The Young and the Restless; Plus, She Is Not Responsible For The Death Of Frankie Frame!

TV Guide Magazine has just published an informative and entertaining interview with new THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS executive producer Jill Farren Phelps about her plans for the show, its long-term prospects, the latest casting news and more, even addressing GUIDING LIGHT's Maureen Bauer and ANOTHER WORLD's Frankie Frame! Some of the tidbits revealed included the new African-American male character being cast is not a Devon recast; the casting call that looked an awful like like the character of Lily was Lily, but there's hope Christel Khalil will stay with the show; she's "really quite fond" of Genie Francis.

Here's an excerpt:

TV Guide Magazine: So, even though you must cut costs, there will be no huge cast purge?
Phelps: I'm not going to say there won't be one, but that doesn't mean there will be. I will only say right now that there will indeed be changes. We have a cast of really wonderful actors but, at the end of the day, we need to look at the entire canvas and decide who is catching fire with the audience. And where can we create fire where there isn't any?

TV Guide Magazine: You drive the fans crazy like nobody else in the soap world! No one's even a close second. Why? I personally think a good 75 percent of it is because you're a woman. A male producer would never cause so much...uh...
Phelps: Ire?

TV Guide Magazine: Exactly. But that's a subject for a whole other interview, if not a college thesis.
Phelps: Look, I'm sorry I killed Maureen Bauer on Guiding Light all those years ago, but I am not responsible for the death of Frankie Frame on Another World! That was not my doing and I am tired of taking the heat for having killed a character when I didn't! [Laughs] The other day we were in a network meeting talking about one of the Y&R actors who wanted out temporarily to go do something and I said, "Let her go do it!" And the network executive looked at me and said, "You're not nearly the monster I've been hearing about!"

TV Guide Magazine: Franco is what's known on the boards as an FOJ — Friend of Jill. What do you say to the rumor that Y&R will soon be overrun with FOJs?
Phelps: The rap I get for casting FOJs is legitimate. When you've done as many shows as I have and have been in the business this long, you accumulate some really wonderful actors as friends. Hiring people from my past shows is just a natural thing. They are fabulous actors and I know they can deliver. Nobody ever tells Steven Bochco or David Kelley they shouldn't keep hiring actors they believe in and bring them along from show to show. [Laughs] And let me be very clear that I am not comparing myself to Bochco and Kelly! My point is that you don't get that blowback in primetime like you do in daytime. That said, I have no current plans to bring on any FOJs. But if one of them is right for a role, I'm not going to ignore it just because the fans might be mad at me.

TV Guide Magazine: Which is exactly the kind of statement that makes the fans mad at you.
Phelps: I mean them no harm. In the course of my career I have made a very public mistake or four. Killing Maureen will go down as one of the biggest blunders in soap history and I agree! I have learned my lessons and, hopefully, I will never make those mistakes again. Many of the people who are mad have been mad for years and will probably stay that way. But I think I have also done some good stuff in this business. I want the fans of Y&R to know that I very much care what they think about the show, that I am here to honor its legacy and that I'm going to do my absolute best. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be here and know that I am very lucky. That is not lost on me.

October 12 will be the first day of the Jill Farren Phelps era. Will you be watching?

SHAKE-UP: Sony Names Jill Farren Phelps Executive Producer & Josh Griffith Head Writer Of THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS; Wishes Maria Bell Well

Jill Farren Phelps has been named Executive Producer of THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS, and Josh Griffith joins the series as Head Writer, it was announced today by Steve Kent, Senior Executive Vice President, U.S. Programming at Sony Pictures Television.

“We are excited to have such a talented daytime veteran leading our team at Y&R, Jill has a stellar record of success in the daytime genre,” said Kent. “We are also happy to welcome Josh back to THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS and are looking forward to his creative input and ideas.”

“On behalf of everyone at Y&R we extend our sincere thanks to Emmy® Award-winning Maria Bell for her contributions to the show over the last five years. We wish her the best of luck and continued success,” he added.

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS Co Head-Writer Scott Hamner Taking 'Leave of Absence'; Jill Farren Phelps On The Way?

Soap Opera Digest is reporting that Scott Hamner, Y&R's co-head writer, is taking a temporary leave of absence from the soap.

"I had decided to let my contract expire but Maria [Arena Bell, executive producer/head writer] asked if we could call it a sabbatical instead," explains Hamner. "She really didn't want me to leave, so I agreed to take a few months off. She has been so gracious and generous about my need to take a break and I appreciate that."

FLASHBACK: Mirth Joins Melodrama In Soaps 1989 - Brian Frons, Jill Farren Phelps, Agnes Nixon

SANTA BARBARA's Joe Marinelli

MIRTH JOINS MELODRAMA IN SOAPS

By Libby Slate
Sun Sentinel
April 16, 1989

Near-death experiences as depicted on television usually are serious affairs, with beckoning white lights and comforting welcomes by previously deceased relatives. But on a recent episode of the NBC soap opera SANTA BARBARA, in which gunshot victim Mason Capwell (Lane Davies) unexpectedly found himself in heaven, he was greeted by none other than Joan Crawford, now toiling as God's receptionist -- and who was played by the cross-dressing character Bunny, in full drag.

Nick at Nite To Premiere HOLLYWOOD HEIGHTS On June 18, Weeknights At 9 p.m. ET/PT

Nick at Nite adds sizzle to summer weeknights with the debut of the original primetime drama Hollywood Heights on Monday, June 18, at 9p.m. (ET/PT). Adapted for a U.S. audience from the wildly popular Mexican telenovela ALCANZAR UNA ESTRELLA, HOLLYWOOD HEIGHTS follows the journey of a teenage girl whose life changes drastically when she becomes a star and wins the love of her rock and roll idol, and both are tested by setbacks, heartbreak and deception. The first season of the 80-episode series, co-produced with Televisa in association with Sony Pictures Television, will air weeknights at 9p.m. through October 2012.