The Young and the Restless (YR) Spoilers: Billy Buys Phyllis A Horse, Named Philly – Recognizes Couples Nickname

A cool moment took place recently on ‘The Young and the Restless’. Billy (Jason Thompson) impulsively bought Phyllis (Gina Tognoni) a horse, which he named ‘Philly’. Savvy soap fans applauded the nickname that they invented for this couple being written into the script, as the power of the internet age was once again affirmed.

The advent of social media has dramatically affected, well, nearly everything. Fans of daytime drama gained access to a worldwide megaphone, which enabled them to express their opinions. Media outlets, in this case a soap operas, also gained a measuring tool and a new method of public promotion.

A great way to gauge instant reaction to all things Genoa City involves monitoring social media outlets and great Y&R dedicated sites like Y&R’s page on Soap Opera Spy.

TPTB at CBS Daytime have seen that the fans mashed the first names of Phyllis and Billy to form ‘Philly’. That meant this seemingly implausible couple was working. Does anyone recall the mashed nickname for Juliet (Laur Allen) and Cane (Daniel Goddard), ‘Jane’, taking off? That’s because it didn’t.

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Tognoni and Thompson didn’t break the fourth wall, by turning and talking directly to the camera as they remained in character. But Y&R’s writing staff did through it’s script when it enabled Billy to tell and then explain the name of the new race horse they now own. It represents them, as does the applied moniker.

Anti-‘Philly’ forces still exist. But even that contingent must honestly concede that this nickname has become part of the soapy lexicon. That must be why Y&R’s writing staff acknowledged this fact through inserted dialogue between Phyllis and Billy.

Many Y&R fans were naturally skeptical of this particular pairing, as the historical versions of these characters never would have fallen in love. But Tognoni and Thompson have combined their talents to create a popular pair.

Part of success is recognizing that detractors will always be there. Maybe some of those fans will be won over in coming months when, wait for it, Phyllis and Billy get engaged and are married.

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And here she comes, down the stretch. Yes, it’s ‘Philly’ by a length to win at the finish line!

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