‘Y&R’s Melissa Ordway & Justin Gaston on Playing a Couple on & Off-Screen
Q&A
The Young and the Restless had a challenge: Find a replacement for Danny Boaz, who plays Chance, following the actor’s announcement that he’d tested positive for the coronavirus. Chance, the son of Nina Webster and Phillip Chancellor III, is now engaged to Melissa Ordway‘s Abby, and their wedding storyline is the focus of a momentous occasion: the show’s 12,000th episode on Dec. 1.
So, an ingenious solution was devised: The role temporarily would go to Ordway’s real-life husband, Justin Gaston (ex-Ben on Days of Our Lives). The actor/musician, who debuted earlier in November on the CBS soap opera, and Ordway will be exchanging “I do’s” again — this time in front of millions of fans.
TV Insider chats with the couple about life imitating art, what conflicts might ahead for Abby and Chance, and more.
What were your initial thoughts when Y&R reached out to Justin to play Chance?
Justin Gaston: I was really, really excited to work with Melissa. At first, we were like, “Is this going to be weird?” But it wasn’t at all. I’ve known everyone in the cast for a while I was happy to step in.
Erik Voake/CBS ©2020 CBS Broadcasting, Inc.
Melissa Ordway: Initially, I just wanted Justin to think I was a good actress! I still have such a big crush on him even though we’ve been together for a while.
At first, we didn’t know what to expect. But this was the most fun two weeks I’d ever had at work. Justin and Melissa don’t speak to each other nearly as eloquently as the writers write for us!
Gaston: The first few shows, we were dipping our toes into the waters, but like Melissa says, it was fun. We had a good time. And we got to get married again. In real life, we didn’t write our vows as Chance and Abby do.
How did your real-life wedding differ from Abby and Chance’s?
Ordway: Well, ours wasn’t in a living room. [The pair wed in the Chancellor living room, the show’s longest-standing set.] We had a much bigger wedding. But we only had one camera on us at our real wedding.
Gaston: I remember thinking, “Abby doesn’t have as many friends at her wedding as Melissa did at ours.”
Did you get some new wedding photos out of this venture?
Ordway: I think so. I was looking through my phone and I actually didn’t take as many pictures of us working together as I should have. I think that’s because we were working so much, but I wish I’d documented this adventure.
Gaston: [Wryly] I mentioned something about that…
Ordway: [Laughs] You’re always right!
Abby’s been married before and has had a few love interests. Why is Chance the one?
Ordway: These are two characters that have so much in common, starting with their families. He’s a Chancellor and can relate to Abby being a Newman and an Abbott. These are some of the most well-known families in Genoa City. Hopefully, this [relationship] sticks for Abby. We’ll have to wait and see.
What was it like working with Tricia Cast, Chance’s mom Nina?
Gaston: She’s a sweetheart.
Ordway: I was so excited because I’d grown up watching Cricket [Lauralee Bell] and Nina.
Nina had a mother-in-law from hell experience with Phillip’s [Thom Bierdz] mother Jill [Jess Walton]. How’s the dynamic between Nina and Abby?
Ordway: They have a good relationship. The coolest part about this wedding is it’s the joining of families.
Are there going to be flashbacks shown in honor of the 12,000th episode?
Ordway: Yes. It was so lovely to watch scenes I wasn’t even in. You have all these characters, heads of families including Victor [Eric Braeden], Ashley [Eileen Davidson], Jack [Peter Bergman]. It’s like a beautiful holiday gift for the viewers.
Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2018 CBS Broadcasting, Inc.
Justin, did your run as Ben on Days help you handle the workload?
Gaston: Yeah. It was super helpful. I will say that there was so much dialog — I’d never had even close to that on Days. Melissa helped me run lines.
Ordway: Justin had more dialog than what I normally have. He knocked it out of the park. There was never a take where he didn’t completely know his lines. Even Eric [Braeden] said, “Can we just give Justin a round of applause?”
Justin, you have some other projects coming out.
Gaston: [One is] a Christmas movie on ION, The Christmas Sitters. It’s about parents who are stranded in Europe so, [my character’s] brother steps in and watches their kids for the holidays.
Sounds like a fantasy holiday flick for parents! Speaking of kids, do your daughters, Olivia, 4, and Sophie Jolie, who turns 3 next month, watch Y&R? Will you show them your TV wedding?
Ordway: I don’t really show them the show, but I do let them see some of the stuff I think they’d like. We watched Summer [Hunter King] dumping water on Abby’s head. In fact, we kept rewinding it. They loved that. We’re going to show this to them — Mommy and Daddy getting married.
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Conversation27 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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G
Much better match for Melissa/Abby! I missed a whole week or so and was pleasantly surprised to see the replacement. I do, however pray that Danny Boaz regains his health. This virus is evil and it is heartbreaking what is happening to our World. So a short message to him to know that people are praying for his health. God Bless!
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Donny Boaz already back to work.
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G
LUV Danny, the other guy is not sexy! Glad Danny is healthy and back to Y&R.
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C
I agree. I like him so much better and i had no idea they were married
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P
I think Justin Gaston is the perfect choice during covid-19 and we all hope Donnie Boez has a speedy recovery
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P
BEAUTIFUL COUPLE. LOVE ABBEY & CHANCE. 👍👍☝️☝️☕☕🍷🍷🍾🍾💖💖
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R
Sorry to hear Danny Boaz is I'll! Hope he recovers quickly! It is a good time for Justin to be stepping in if at all. I just like that the couple get to show a bit of affection, for the wedding. BUT, I love Danny and Melissa together! People just like to see the negative in everything. They are so cute together! If you watch the look on his face when he is talking about them as a couple. He looks like a love sick little boy. I could go on but just needed more positive comments for Danny and Melissa. Great job guys just miss the human contact.
We love Y&R!!!
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Donny Boaz is already back to work.
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B
I was so confused and happy to see Justin on the show! But I Did not know Danny was ill in real life, so couldn’t figure it out until today. Abby and Chance make a beautiful couple, and for Justin to step in for Danny was wonderful. I love the idea of them renewing their vows in the show. It is Perfect! As for Danny, I wish him all the best get well wishes and hope he gets better really soon. Thank you for a great show. My favorite show ever!
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G
I follow Melissa and Justin on IG and I love this family. Justin did an amazing job. I hope Danny Boaz gets better soon and beats this COVID-19. Many prayers to him🙏🏻 Melissa and Justin May God Bless you and your family. 🥰
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R
I think that Sally is right Abbys real life husband is a better match for her in the show and absolutely handsome. Perfect match.
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P
Loved the show so nice to see them both together waiting to see the Wedding !
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B
Justin is so perfect for this role on Y&R, wish he could stay on .
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G
Perfect situation. It makes all of the love scenes, super easy. I really like Donny Boaz though too. He will be ok.
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I am glad 2 see the closeness now. It makes the stories look more real. Even through this virus, there are ways 2 do the story with mask and other things to keep us interested. I would like 2 see more intimate moments between the couples when it is needed. Put on the mask and stop the so much distancing.
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G
I was wondering if that was Melissa’s real-life husband after all the kissing lol....and I also want to send Danny Boaz all my healing thoughts and prayers.
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B
I think it Was a Awessome idea! Getting her real husband to Play the Part! I do have to Say with Covid-19 it's been hard to See couple's Not be able to fill the Part! To see them six feet a Part it's ackward! I Now notice how our TV Show's have become with sex scene and kissing touching! It seems almost weird! But we must becareful!
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When Danny Boaz was abruptly replaced by Justin Gaston...I thought that the passion and sexual tension between Abby and Chance was noticeably DECREASED...
But now...knowing that Melissa and Justin are married in real-life...I COMPLETELY understand...
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G
I like the togetherness in the intimacies scenes. I saw that they might be a real couple.
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G
Loved it, but I really disliked that wedding dress. It looked like something just thrown together. Abbey has such a fantastic figure, and a beautiful graceful young face, I think the dress would have been more suitable for a much older person. I loved that she married her real life husband.
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B
I’m so disappointed
I loved the idea of Abby and Chance getting married. Now it’s another actor, her real husband but he looks like he’s a dressed up kid. Yuck
Now no flashbacks of their wedding because it won’t be the right chance. I can’t watch the wedding because she needs Chance.
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O
I wish they would have kept Justin Gaston in the role of Chance instead of writing him off the show. He was a much better Chance, in my opinion.
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He's not back yet where we live.
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B
I don't think Donny is a good match for Abby she's beautiful and needs someone that is equally as good looking Justin fits that profile the other one looks to old for her and they don't look good together. Sorry just my opinion please replace him.
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G
Agreed. I never saw any chemistry.
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C
Justin did an awesome as a replacement for Danny but it's just not the same I still prefer Danny as Chance please don't hate me it's jmo:)
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O
I just wish he was going to stay on rather than Danny Boaz I guess his name is. In my opinion he's better looking better actor and he looks better with Melissa.
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