Group Effort
Highlights of a recent star-studded Y&R panel discussion.
YOUNG AND RESTLESS recently held an on-set panel discussion involving some of its high-wattage stars, with THE TALK’S co-host/soap fan, Sheryl Underwood, serving as the moderator. Here are highlights from the event.
Sheryl Underwood: Eric Braeden, when you first joined the show in 1980, did you ever think that Victor Newman would become such an iconic character in TV? Eric Braeden: I had no idea! I signed for three months and then for a year, and now it’s 38 years ... I had no clue.
Underwood: You had no idea that you were going to grow to this stature? Braeden: No, but you know the most important thing, this is the most intimidating medium there is in Hollywood — much more intimidating than film — of my time, more intimidating than theater because of what you’re asked to do on a daily basis.
Think of the crew, think of the writers who write for us, it’s extraordinary! It is the hardest, most underestimated part of our business — soaps. Period. I wouldn’t want to write for it, I wouldn’t want to direct it, I sometimes don’t want to act it ... but I’m very happy, I am, to be surrounded by people like this. It’s been an extraordinary journey.
Underwood: Melody Thomas Scott, on approaching your 40th anniversary as Nikki Newman, what do you attribute your Y&R success and longevity to? Melody Thomas Scott: Wow, I’m very fortunate and very blessed; these people, [they’re like] my other family, definitely. It’s such a unique thing in this business to have a job for 40 years as an actor. I mean, that’s crazy! But it’s a blessing and thanks to God, it’s amazing. I’m so happy. I’m so lucky.
Underwood: Peter Bergman, when you first learned [Jack was] not an Abbott, what was your first reaction?
Peter Bergman: Jack Abbott’s relationship to his father is paramount, so the idea that they take away something that’s central to him fascinated me as an actor. I thought it was a fantastic idea. You know, take that one thing away, who is this guy? We still don’t have a full answer.
Underwood: Joshua Morrow, can you discuss Nick’s new chapter?
Joshua Morrow: They talked to me about going down this path with this character and I have not been this excited in 20 some-odd years. It’s been really fun, really rewarding. It’s invigorated me. And I think it makes a lot of sense for him. The thing that Nick was in the beginning [was] very short-tempered and fiery, and I think over the 15-year span, he became very laidback and just kind of like, “Whatever.” One of the more interesting things about him is he wasn’t that person. I’m loving it. I’m very excited to see where they go with it. I think it’s got tremendous potential and I’m having a lot of fun.
Underwood: Camryn Grimes [Mariah], what was your approach?
Camryn Grimes: When I was 6 or 7, I started as Cassie. I played that character for almost 10 years and then I had seven years off. I was supposed to come back for a very small amount of time that got stretched to longer, and I found that even though it felt like home to me [the first time], I had to re-establish myself and my relationships with everybody here as an adult, and that was a lot more difficult than I thought it was gonna be. I had to take on, at the same time, this new character that wasn’t Cassie, and I was terrified people weren’t going to want anything but Cassie. But it ended up working out. I love the character of Mariah and the journey she’s on. I feel really lucky that I got to come back to what I consider to be my second home.
Underwood: Bryton James [Devon], what about you?
Bryton James: I started here when I was 17, so I was right at the beginning of becoming a young man. Growing with the character was pretty easy when you’re at that age because every day in your life from 17, 18, into adulthood, you’re growing as a person anyway, so I just found [myself] bringing my real-life experiences to work and things that you learn along the way and just how to deal with life and yourself and your own emotions.
Underwood: Has something changed you or your character in the years you’ve been on?
Scott: When I first started at 23, I didn’t
There is something very big about to happen that could change a lot of people.” Ñ Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki)
think about things like that. Even though I’m playing the same character, I have been allowed to play many characters through [Nikki] because of the changes that we do go through and that becomes very satisfying. God knows I don’t want to be a stripper again, but I got to do that and that’s there. And believe me, none of the fans forget that, especially the men! Through the guise of one character you get to play many. I enjoy that very much.
Underwood: What about upcoming storylines?
Amelia Heinle (Victoria): I just know that the less I know the better because I like to come to work and read my script. I don’t really have a big story going on right now, it’s sort of the tail end of the whole J.T. thing. And sometimes I do this little thing with myself where I don’t read the script at all, and so everybody plays it out in front of me and it’s like watching it myself, like being at a party and being like, “What are they doing? What’s gonna happen next?” Scott: Yeah, it can be fun to not really know what’s going to happen. There’s something very exciting about that, and then perhaps that moves into, “Oh, we’re taping now!” And you still might not have everything wrapped up in your head and there’s something very exciting about that adrenaline that happens when you do it. I would love to do a live episode. Am I alone? I think that would be fun. That excites me.
Grimes: I would love to do that! I want to do a musical episode.
Scott: Okay, that I wouldn’t want to do.
Underwood: Eric, anything you can tell us?
Braeden: Well, I build a strip joint on the ranch, and [motioning to Bergman] he might be sitting next to his father.
Underwood: Melody?
Scott: There is something very big about to happen that could change a lot of people. It’s very big and we’re very excited and they’re huge shows. I don’t know what’s happening to all of you after that.
Morrow: Obviously, Nick’s journey down this path of probably trying to stay true to his ideal goal of being very successful but trying to find the balance of good and evil.
Grimes: I think for Mariah, are [she and Tessa] gonna make it work? Is Tessa still hiding stuff? That is a very tumultuous relationship. There’s a lot of intensity, there’s a lot of love there, but there’s also mystery and you’re gonna see that play out.