‘Young and the Restless’ Shake-Up! Details on the Behind-the-Scenes Change
Changes are happening behind the scenes at The Young and the Restless as a veteran soap opera producer has returned to the CBS daytime drama amid recent fan criticism.
According to Soap Opera Network, Jill Farren Phelps, known for her time as an executive producer on the likes of Santa Barbara, Another World, Guiding Light, One Life to Live, and General Hospital, has returned to the daytime genre as a producer at The Young and the Restless.
Phelps previously served as the show’s executive producer between 2012 and 2016 alongside current exec producer and head writer Josh Griffith. She left in June 2016 after Mal Young took over the exec producer position.
Soap Opera Network noted that Phelps has been back at the show’s studio for several months already, though it was initially indicated she was there in a non-producing capacity. Speculation increased this week when actress Elizabeth Hendrickson announced her transition into directing. She thanked several producers and included Phelps’ name in her Instagram post.
Phelps has received 14 Daytime Emmy Award nominations throughout her career, winning 11. She earned five awards for her work at General Hospital, and another three from her time at The Young and the Restless.
Jill Farren Phelps; Angela Weiss/Getty Images
The shake-up comes amid a flurry of fan backlash in recent months over the long-running soap’s storylines. Viewers often make their voices heard on the Young and the Restless Reddit forum, with one user asking, “What’s wrong with Y&R? Used to be so great, now it’s just meh.”
In the thread, the commenter listed various criticisms, including, “Writing is weak, boring & SL go on way too long & full of holes! I could [go] on & on list would be long.”
Others agreed, with one fan writing, “1. Too much focus on business without actually showing any scheming. 2. Cast is too small so it feels stale, especially when everyone is related. 3. Show skews old. The 60+ crowd is getting too much airtime at the expense of the younger characters being developed. They need to balance it.”
The same user also called out a “Lack of drama. No backstabbing, no affairs, no love triangles, no passion. Serious lack of romance too.”
One fan added, “The show is so boring and repetitive nowadays that I have 9 episodes on my DVR and no real interest in watching them.”
“It’s SO boring. Most the time I notice I’m phone scrolling or doing other stuff barely watching,” another wrote.
“Yeah, I still watch but I don’t look forward to watching anymore,” said one commenter. “It’s almost a chore to watch. I’m not excited about anything especially certain hookups that may be on the horizon. I feel like the characters do the same old things and have the same old conversations.”
Of course, not everyone seems to be unhappy with the current status of the soap. The show continues to bring in strong viewership in these slower summer months, earning its largest overall audience in 22 weeks at the end of July with 3.171 million viewers. But does Phelps’ return indicate that The Young and the Restless is ready to shake things up a bit? What do you think about the current state of Y&R? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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I hate that they killed off Chance.
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I stopped watching regularly because the Cane storyline went on to long and still makes no sense. WHY kill off Chance
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Here’s my opinion….. I love Y&R…. It does need some help though….
The character of Damian was played by a terrible boring actor. Good thing they wrote him out I used to stop watching when he was on. The lady who plays his mother is “overacting” & so NOT believable. All my friends who watch have been hoping for a Sharon/Nick remarriage. Less time now For Victor because he is beginning to be unbelievable. Niki is playing a great role. The only other comment I want to make is Lilly….they make her sound too rough. Her character was strong but kind. Don’t like the rough side
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Every one's entitled to there own opinions. The newer characters of Damien, Audra, Holden, Amy and Clair are good but can be better with a better writer. Killing off both Damien and Chance didn't make sense like a lot of the SL do not make a lot of sense. To many plot holes.
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The only one I disagree about is Amy
She is annoying and useless and needs to get off the show especially since Damian is gone!!!!
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Jermaine Rivers was excellent as Damien and was finally going to be the leading man for the Winters/ Hastings family since Neil and Malcolm left. He also had fans rooting for him and Lily. He was even in the opening credits and was on all the time before he was suddenly killed off. Doesn't make sense
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I know....why put Jermaine Rivers on contract and then kill him off. He wasn't even there for a year. Where is Holden? I read that he was on contract as well. Is he gonna have the same demise as Damien, SMH!
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B&B is not much better. Lee is keeping Luna alive, been done that with Finn, and the constant back and forth with Ridge and Brook is so old. The only storyline I am interested in is the one with Liam.
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Agree. I recently canceled my Tivo One Pass for this show for the same reasons.
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Agree except for the Liam part. I wish they would have killed his character off. Hes nauseating.
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Let me also mention the offscreen scenes/storylines. Cause who wants to SEE the drama when you can HEAR all about it over a cup of coffee at Crimson Lights??
Nina, Jill, Abby and Summer all finding out about Chance's death. They could've at least shown us Abby's reaction since she was actually in the Nice storyline earlier, but no. We got nothing.
Rey's death and funeral.
Most of Victoria's family finding out her dead daughter Eve was really alive. Billy, Abby, Summer, Reed, Johnny and Katie got a offscreen reaction. But for some reason, Audra got told onscreen by Nikki. Audra who has basically NOTHING to do with Victoria except their work. Made zero sense.
Billy finding out Victoria was held hostage and that their "Father knows best" house was burned down.
Chance being shot on the job.
Fen's whole coming out storyline.
Amanda's mother being sick and dying.
Tessa and Mariah adopting a baby through one sided phone calls. We never saw the birth parents.
Jordan's many escapes and her arson of Victoria (and Billy's) house.
Phyllis' faking her death.
Faith and Moses breaking up.
Abby totally excluded from her mother's DID story.
Colin dying.
Cole's illness (with the exception of him feeling sick here and there). His diagnosis was offscreen and next we know, he's dead. His funeral was also offscreen.
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Y&R has taken their viewers for granted! We watch because we love the cast. They have great actors. They have not a single interesting storyline. The sets are poor, too many people live in a hotel room! Everyone is a CEO. No young people, no lovers, No middle class. Too much sitting and talking. No romance, no family matters.
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100% agree!
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I have watched Y&R 35+ years. I have never been so close to stop recording/watching. If I see another wall of fake foliage, I will be done. The show is boring. Please do something and do it fast or you have lost this fan. Soooooo boring!
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I’m 74. I have watched the show from day 1. Thanks to a dvr I never miss a show, but I do fast forward through boring scenes.
I love the cast. But the storylines have been dull and repetitive. It really is time to age up and bring in the next generation. It’s laughable how Nick talks about Christian and we never see him.
Michelle Stafford is an excellent actress whose character hasn’t changed since her arrival. Same old song.
The France debacle was awful including killing off Chance. So much potential for that character had the writers been more creative.
Chance could have been the male version of Catherine, getting into the business world and eventually taking over Chancellor and marrying Summer.
And the sets need to be brightened up. Most of them seem dark and dated.
I love this show but would love to see more humor, (like when younger Billy was with Victoria) , more young characters and less predictable characters and storylines.
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I cant deal with Victor on his phone the whole time someone is talking to him. Is he reading his lines ? Maybe it's time to retire
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I agree. I am sick to death of Victor a disgrace Phyllis. THEN to top it off Nickki is overlooked for a Emmy nod and Phyllis again is nominated..come on. These storyline about business are so boring. Who cares. I want.personal stores
Please don't try to make us think lily is pregnant with Damien 's child when she had a hysterectomy years ago when she had cancer..some new stories please.
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Hopefully Jill will turn the direction of this show. I have watched for years and now i tape and fast forward. I also deleted B&B when I didn’t like the storylines
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I too get really bored with these story lines that go on & on & on!! I thought that France thing went on way too long!! Let’s start set some exciting storylines instead of these boring ones trying to figure out Cane’s agenda! …& just how annoying can Phyllis be!!!…move on from her hatefulness….let’s see more Lily & Kyle & Claire!….& whatever happened to Harrison??? Why doesn’t it ever show the “kids”????
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They need to kill Victor Newman. Eric Braeden demands that his character never lose & never pays has ruined this show for years & years.
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Absolutely, would not kill him off but make him and his family less invincible. Not to ever lose is getting old and fake.
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I disagree! I love Victor but I wish they would include more of Nick and Adam working together as brothers. The Newmans should stay on top but have the next generation more involved. And get rid of Chelsea. Why would she give up her design career just to spend her life keeping Adam from going after Billy.
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I had been watching Y & R since 1975. Three months ago I stopped. It became so extremely boring talking about who was going to work where and in what position. No more true romance…very little scheming and really very little drama.
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Storyline is AWFUL!!!! I’ve been a fan for many years. The only reason I still watch is to see Victor. The show is horrible!!!! You need the old writers!!!!!!!!! This dumas crap is ridiculous. Whose idea was this? They should be fired immediately!!!! The show used to be the best soap opera on tv. Now it is complete crap. BRING BACK THE OLD WRITERS!!!!!!! show more characters. All of them. Not just two or three couples.
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I agree that they need more characters like more generational characters…they already have them!! Like Faith And Noah…he and Jacks granddaughter Allie have a whole life in Europe !! And Cain and Lillys twins especially now with the Cain storyline ..You don’t need to bring them to GC on the contary a few days a week show us their lives where their living and build around that too!!! let us out of the C Suite , the athletic club and the damn coffee house and please find some where for two people to talk other than that secluded park bench 🤦♀️
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The show does suck. I'm always watching the clock waiting for it to be over. Too much happens off canvas and when something does happen they rush through it in an episode or two and then it returns to lame shit
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Y&R is crap!! Use to be worth watching but now the majority of the actors are trash! and these are the same people that have been on the show for years!! How could it have gotten sooo bad!! Where the hell are the kids!??? How can Victoria’s boyfriend die and never show her other children? If the kids can’t participate, hire some that can!
I recall years ago, the summer story lines were all about the kids!… now just stupid!
How can all these people have successful companies and NO ONE EVER works!?? soo stupid
Lastly, I figure out all the story line concepts before they’re done, pay me!!! 🤔🤨🤨🥴
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I totally share the sentiments about how Y&R has taken a nosedive! It's absolutely true! I stopped watching last year because it just became so DULL. Seriously, why on earth won’t they bring back Paul Davidson? That would definitely reignite my interest in the show! I tuned in briefly when Cane returned, but wow, what a letdown with the new casting! The actor was a standout on Days of Our Lives, but he just doesn’t fit for Cane at all! Too short, lacking the accent—there’s just so much that doesn’t work! I could go on for ages about it!
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Borlng boring boring. Fast forward a lot.
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I'm one of the original fans of The Young and Restless. I've been watching since 1974. I've noticed more and more recently thinking that I hope they wrap up a storyline soon. I mean, how many times is Sharon going to be kidnapped? I think the writers should SORAS Johnny and Katie, Connor and even Christian. There could be some good stories there.
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Still haven’t gotten over what they did with Ally
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Victor Newman will never lose (said so by head writer Josh Griffith himself), so these never-ending business storylines makes no sense. And Josh has been merging and un-merging companies for years now. It's repetitive and stale. Even business talk comes before the death of a grandson and nephew (proved by the most recent video call by Jill & Billy). Although they mentioned him after the business, so I guess that's good. HA!!
The show also has no romance.
Billy was paired with his rapist for a while, until she cheated and reunited with Adam. And 5 minutes later, Billy got with Sally.. cause who needs any buildup? Insta pairing on Y&R is the way to go it seems.
We also got a new "Skyle" with Michael & Allison. But they got no real story of their own. Always playing second fiddle to their parents and their problems.
Noah and Allie. Shick's son and Jack's granddaughter could provide many stories, but they got nothing. They were later sent packing.
Summer and Chance. Buildup consisted of 1 scene every other month. But people still liked them.
Were broken up so Summer could degrade herself and prop the less popular couple, Kyle & Claire.
Teriah = A good pairing with a big fanbase. Rarely gets anything though.
A offscreen adoption and now Mariah apparently cheated and killed an old man.
Tessa (who is a lesbian) is also being teased with Daniel.
Nate & Audra. She found out his brother was dead and still decided to cheat on him.
What happened to LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON? Replaced by business!!
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Get rid of phyliss& Ill be happy, and have better storylines like it used to be in the 1970's& 80's
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The show is tired and predictable...
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What happened to the stylists also!? Niki always had gorgeous hair and now I break out in laughter over the styling of it! The clothes, hideous. The only one who looks consistently good on that show is Audra and Nate. Let's vary their styles a bit! Phyllis wearing a full length gown every day is ridiculous. Put her in some jeans or sweats!? Make it real. Claire also. Stop making her so bland
Also, Victor is a total Ass. What happened to his humanity? I get so stressed watching him being a narcissist over and over!
Bold and Beautiful is worse in my opinio. I fast forward thru most of it.
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Yeah I have found that Sharon has become so fake, it's like she is reading her lines one by one. Show is almost childish. So over the train
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Where is the younger generation? One day they will have to take over or the show will be gone.
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Please redo Sharon's living room!!
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Would love to see Cane & Lily back together, Victoria with Nate, Kyle & Claire get married, Sally be a Powerhouse Executive like Katherine Chancelor was (Courtney Hope is an outstanding actress), Phyllis needs to calm down and be with Billy in business, Daniel with Tessa and have a child, Victor soften up and take Nikki on vacation (show some compasion betwee those two), Jill in the show more. Just some ideas there 🥰
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Finally someone is going to fix this mess. Cane storyline his Dumas alter ego was total nonsense,and. now his pursuit of everyone and every company in GC???Lets be real here…
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Not only has it become repetitive, same people winning all the time. Victor needs to lose a bunch. Billy needs to be taken seriously, You always have him as outcast. Him and Sally should become the new power couple. Along with Claire and Kyle. Audra should be found out and Nate should get close with Victoria . Bri g back all the children from cane and lily ,along with other young blood.Spice the show up or lose it.
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I think in some scenes the show is boring but I also believe the actors have long days and are sometimes tired but they’re great actors all of them. Bringing back Ms. Phelps might be a good thing other thoughts and ideas - we y&r fans aren’t to keen on how some of the actors are being killed off the soap not leaving the door open for some of them to return. I did read about Chloe being behind the scenes happy/proud for her congratulations.
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You can agree with me and disagree with me. Y&R shouldn't have been renewed for four years. I'm very new in commenting here and over the past years the storylines have been boring till now. They have been making wrong decisions and killing Chance off. But let's not forget how much before they gave Summer & Kyle too much attention in the media an storylines over others where people was on their right with critics on it. Which led some characters with fewer storylines, publicity, screen times and some were written out that could have brought more. I saw how people felt a fan base gotten pleased that were attacking other fans over opinions and disagreements on rewrote adoption/custody agreement that wanted this changed. That also didn't want them in a different pairing because both pairing didn't work or wasn't connecting in chemistry. I saw also disagreements on Phyllis who got away with things. Y&R wasn't listening to any of this because some fans weren't open for new things. I get you love a pairing and a character is your favorite. But to go after people's personal lives over what you love and a show. Is low and sad.
This isn't partly on the show which also was on certain fans and the media that were ruining for others who were saying no and enjoying something different.
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I quit watching Y&R several years ago, but out of curiosity, I watched an episode the other day. I was shocked how amateurish it seemed. The acting was terrible, like they weren't able to get into character, even the ones who have been on there over 40 years!
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I don't blame you, I feel the same way. It used to be good.I quit watching Y&R several years ago, but out of curiosity, I watched an episode the other day. I was shocked how amateurish it seemed. The acting was terrible, like they weren't able to get into character, even the ones who have been on there over 40 years!
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When you get two of more dislikes...
´´The only people mad at you for speaking the truth are those living a lie.
Keep speaking the truth!´´
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JFP will destroy the show, she’s known as the soap killer.
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It’s the same old story with Victor Meddling iin his family’s Love Life. It’s time we had a new couple like Clair and Kyle become the new young love affair in the days to come. Do it so Jack and Nicki are still in the script.
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Victor is always meddling in his family’s Love Life. Why not continue with Clair and Kyle’s Romance so that they can become the next Victor and Nikki .
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Stop recycling the same storylines over & over. B&B is just awful because of this too.
I don't want to watch the senior cast members trying to create romance. Time for putting their stories on the back burner...they had their heyday. Sorry! You have quite a few younger cast members that should be given a chance with new stories and more airtime. After all, the name of the show is The Young and the Restlesss. And all the younger kids? Age them. It's been done many times. Where's Faith, Lucy, Noah etc. Maybe the writers have lost touch with what it means to be younger. Honestly, I have always loved Y&R. I really don't mean to be overly critical. I do love the older cast members. Just offering suggestions to try something new.
BTW, one of the best storylines was when Delia died. It was well written, and I felt their pain!
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Thank you @MartinHolmes for actually reporting what the general consensus is amongst viewers. The other ' soap sites' just report the changes behind the scenes without calling out this behind the scenes change for what is it. A disaster waiting to happen.
Jill Farren Phelps is like the plague. No one who truly is a fan of Y & R from the legendary Bill Bell days wants her back. The show barely survived her last tenure. She completely erased the show of what made it so special compared to the other soaps. She fired the music team and trimmrd the show to the point of unregonizability. Only positive thing she did was brought on teens .
Furthermore Young and Restless has been a chore for years now. Josh Griffith the HW is pathetic. The Newmans always win. No suspense. No soap couples to root for. All the same characters all the time. Sony and CBS really need to bring the show back to the vision Bill Bell created.
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Love it, been watching since day 1. Yes sometimes they spend too much time on one storyline, but it happens, even on life. So watch and enjoy forget criticizing.
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Want shick back as a couple that was the only thing interesting in the last week otherwise soo boring
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Haven’t watched any DVR episodes in weeks - but haven’t missed a thing. Boring and weak storyline about Cain. Y&R blew it.
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I love the storylines! Y&R still as great as ever!!! Affairs? Boring.
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It's time to put Phyllis and Billy back together. Long overdue. Great seeing Lane back and can't wait to see them back together.
Where is Nina?
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