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News for the week of 25-Jan-2016

by Carol Banks Weber

The other week, most of the core group of actors came together for the transition between the former Billy (Burgess Jenkins) and the new Billy (Jason Thompson), as the character lay in the hospital between life and death. The actors were getting to a good place emotionally, preparing to shoot the grief-stricken scenes — when Jack decides to honor Billy’s wishes and pull the plug — when TPTB called time out for lunch. Jess Walton (Jill) worried that the lunch break would destroy the momentum they built up during rehearsals. She needn’t have worried at all. When they returned from lunch, everyone was ready to go, renewed and fresh. Walton even broke character when she marveled to herself about Gina Tognoni’s (Phyllis) performance. It was all good. “…it felt even better after we returned from lunch. The interesting thing was when I went around to everybody and did my lines with them, I felt quite Jill-ish. But the minute I stood there, and Gina Tognoni (Phyllis) came over to me, I went, ‘She’s so good … and look how beautiful she looks with those green eyes swimming with tears.’ It just took me out of Jill for that split second, because I had never had a scene with Gina before. She was magnificent,” Walton told Michael Fairman in a Jan. 21 interview. “That’s happened to me occasionally before in previous years. If an actor in a scene with me is doing a really wonderful job, I will go, ‘Oh, my God … aren’t they wonderful!’ I will come right out of the scene as Jess and not as Jill. It’s always a danger. Luckily for these scenes, it was kind of a natural break in Jill’s trajectory. I could get right back into it. It was interesting to me that I built up 30 years worth of relationships with Peter Bergman [Jack], Eileen Davidson (Ashley), and Beth Maitland (Traci) so the scenes kind of went smoothly, and I was able to stay in it.”

Walton established a maternal bond with Thompson as the new Billy immediately by simply touching his arm during the grief-stricken scenes. She said she’s looking forward to working with Thompson when he’s upright and talking. But until then… “Jason was very, very kind to me and soft with me. I haven’t had a scene with him yet, where he wasn’t unconscious (laughs), but I’m looking forward to it! He is such a fabulous actor, and I hear he has done just amazing work over at General Hospital.”

Jess Walton (Jill) said in the recent Michael Fairman interview that Jason Thompson (Billy) was expecting his first child, and that may have contributed to his innate understanding of the mother/son bond during his Y&R intro. True that.

Thompson and newly married wife Paloma Jonas will have a son or daughter by May.

You know what they say: Their loss… Jason Thompson (ex-Patrick, GH) gave the show a much-needed emotional jolt as the next Billy recast. The multi-Emmy-nominated actor brings an edge and warmth intrinsic to the complex role. As an actor, Thompson also is said to be easy to work with, a real team player with an eye toward the truth of a scene for everyone not just himself. CBS recently posted “6 Fun Facts” about the Edmonton native, including the bit about him writing music from way back.

February Sweeps: Dylan gets dragged into Nick and Sage’s investigation of Dr. Anderson. Once it comes out that Dylan and Sharon’s baby may be Nick and Sage’s, even more sick surprises will ensue. Adam stands up for Noah, protecting him from the fallout from the car accident that nearly took Billy out, and battles Luca in the bargain, while continuing to vex Victor by keeping another secret. Even though Billy looks different (new recast), he’s still Victoria’s bitch. Now, he’s determined to do and be whatever she needs, because he made an oath to Delia up in heaven while he was out in limbo. Victoria loves Billy, yet can’t seem to commit to him given their past struggles (shades of Kourtney and Scott on the Kardashian reality show). Victor and Jack might continue to get along — if it weren’t for Phyllis and her never-ending vendettas. Here comes another one… Hilary shakes off her amnesia completely and embraces Devon as her rightful love. She develops ambition as a mover and shaker, and gratefully receives her billionaire Devon’s sustenance in that goal. Soon, though, she will run up against Neil. Does anyone give a damn about Abby and her conflicts with Max and Ashley?

Gossip for the week of 25-Jan-2016

by Carol Banks Weber

Luca’s father may soon appear, as soon as casting finds the right actor. Word is, TPTB would prefer a known name.

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