Young and the Restless News: Mal Young’s Departure Impacts Soap and Its Fans

A lead behind-the-scenes force at ‘Young and the Restless’ has departed. As has always been true on this soap and others, coming cast and storyline shifts are to be expected now that executive producer Mal Young is gone.

Y&R Spoilers Young Was on The Show For Appox 3 Years

The longtime British soap opera producer spent approximately three years at Y&R. He was initially hired under then-executive producer Jill Farren Phelps in 2016. Young later assumed the titles of executive producer and head writer of this forty-five-year-running and still current daytime television ratings’ leader.

Young and The Restless Spoilers – Y&R Shifted Under Young

Young’s tenure saw a shift in the show’s tone and, this year included multiple cast changes. Various cast members departed or dropped to recurring status. As daytime drama fans are naturally passionate about the genre, these developments created a variety of strong reactions.

Time investments, meaning in many viewer’s spheres, five hours (fewer commercials) per week, year-round, create bonds with characters and the actors who play them. It’s not that fans aren’t aware of who the decision-makers are, but those individuals aren’t the main focus of any soap. As is true in sports, fans cheer the players and only admire management if that person, or people, hold some particularly unique, or impactful place in their team’s history.

Y&R Still Tops Television Ratings

Y&R still tops daytime television ratings among all scripted shows. But longtime fans and newer viewers know that the genre they support doesn’t command the attention it once did, which is due, in part, to the ever-increasing amount of available entertainment choices.

It’s now reasonable to believe that former regular cast members, like Eileen Davidson, Doug Davidson, and others, along with other fine actors could return, as a new regime takes over. Arcs and those who play within them will reflect whatever new philosophy is about to be implemented.

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Soaps record six weeks in advance. After Young’s final episode plays out, viewers will see Y&R’s new look early in the first part of 2019.

Young and the Restless Spoilers Wednesday, December 19: Nick Explodes at Rey – Sharon, Phyllis and Victoria Worry – Reed Faces Pressure

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Y&R Fans Hope For Cast Member To Return

Timeless expectations among all soap fans involve strong writing that creates engaging storylines. Pair that effort with legacy characters, returning cast members, and accepted fresh faces. The result should be that this soap runs past its current renewed through the year of 2020.

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As always, more detailed spoilers and a full collection of pictures for the week in question will appear here on Soap Opera Spy, where there will be more clues and hints over exactly what’s going on.

Soap Opera Spy is a leading source for everything linked to ‘The Young and the Restless’.

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Sean O'Brien

After earning a BA in Communications, Sean began his professional career in the Scranton-Wilkes/Barre Red Barons’ front office (the Philadelphia Phillies former Triple-A affiliate). He later worked as a print sports writer. During this millennium – Sean became a state licensed school teacher, the author of the children’s book Maddie: Teaching Tolerance with a Smile, and a credentialed sports columnist. He’s also been a longtime soap opera loyalist.