For two weeks in a row Christel Khalil has shown that she’s more than just a pretty. In an industry were looks can over shadow talent, CK proved to the critical ass who said that she was nothing more than a hair model, that she’s a good actress. For the past few months the actress has been given cheesy dialogue and has been forced to play a character, who seemed to be lacking any depth or maturity, and at times seemed to show her dislike for such drivel, by phoning in her scenes. But when given good dialogue in a craptastic s/l, CK turned crap into gold. When Lily Winters was diagnosed with Cancer, Christel gave a performance with enough emotional depth to have made a grown man cry. With a maturity that is rarely scene in the character, Lily made some hard choices and although many wouldn’t have agreed with them, most understood. It takes a good actress to not only make you feel her pain, but to understand it. Many didn’t like that Lily wanted Assby by her side, but Christel delivered in such a way that although many not care for her choice of spouse and would like nothing more than to him ran over by an eighteen wheeler, you understood why she wanted him there. And although the character my have left the hospital and went out to look for this man, when she found him she spoke like a woman who needed someone to understand, and to lean on. End the he may not have told her what she wanted to her and may not have been the ear that was needed *cough Billy cough* you knew that it was important for her to see him. In conclusion, although, I believe that this s/l was unnecessary and cruel, I am happy that the viewers of Y&R (especially the dumbass critics) got a chance to see depth of Lily Winters, portrayed so beautifully by Christel Khalil.

Honorable Mention:

Kristoff St. John

Over the past year Emmy winner Kristoff St. John, has been sitting on the side lines waiting to get into the game. When his number was called up, he showed that the real Neil Winters was a still live and kicking and not hiding out somewhere in a crappy adultery s/l. No, Neil Winters was doing what he does best, being a father. While many viewers haven’t liked Neil’s over protective attitude and have even said that it was bordering on creepy, a few of US have yet to see such a thing. Neil has acted like man who lost his the love of his life, and is overprotective their child and his last link to her. Kristoff has shown us a man who is still grieving for the wife he couldn’t protect, so is overly compensating by trying to protect his daughter. When told that there was possibility that his Lily might have cancer, although dying inside, at the possibility loosing his only daughter, he didn’t breakdown, but gave her the strength that she needed to get through. He is practically standing alone against a villain who has hurt and manipulated his daughter again and again, while almost everyone else, including the child he loves is so quick to forget and forgive. At the end of Friday’s EP when Neil found out that the surgeon had performed a full hysterectomy on Lily, his face showed such raw pain that it a heart could truly be broken his was in that moment. In conclusion Kristoff St. John may not have been the star of the EP, but with borage of emotions, he was definitely the REAL co-star. Thank you for showing us, that although Neil was out of his depths, felt lost and alone himself, when push comes to shove, he may not reach the shore, but he will be the shore for everyone else.

This week was the conclusion of the reveal of Phillip Chancellor 3rd, who was and legally still is, married to, Nina Webster, played by Tricia Cast. Rumors floated around that when Tricia Cast signed back on, that her character will not be here to stay in Genoa City. Which is truly sad because I cannot help but to enjoy her performance in this storyline. Since Nina has arrived back in Genoa City, she has been on a non-stop ride full of emotions to find out whether or not her scheming and seduction methods years ago (YES I said it!) to get a Chancellor heir was all for nothing! Well, she proved herself to be correct, something was ALL WRONG with the Cane is the real “Phillip Chancellor” and was switched at birth story. Last week it was revealed that Cane was not Jill’s son, but the real Phillip Chancellor IS and he is alive and well! He confessed to Nina, Jill & Katherine that he faked his death because he couldn’t live up to the Chancellor name; later revealing to Nina that he couldn’t live as Phillip anymore because he is gay. Phillip had 2 reveals instore for the family, but before his second reveal to her, Nina ripped him one in the hospital about abandoning his son and family for 20 years (YOU GO GIRL!). Spoken as a mother first, broken hearted woman comes later in this scenario. The way Nina was with Phillip, you could tell where her priorities lie and you could feel the emotion. My, my, my this was one of the best performances from the outstanding cast of Y & R, Nina let him have it for being selfish when he had a son that needed him. The reveal will continue I’m sure as the storyline moves on and I am sure that we will get more great scenes from this group. Her co-stars Jeanne Cooper and Jess Walton have also nailed their performances as well (excellent acting, they are in 2nd and 3rd place), providing the viewers with some substance, since the material isn’t the best. So, bravo to Tricia Cast and the veterans, these are are the ones to keep me tuned into this show even if the stories have more holes than swiss cheese. Here is Tricia ripping Phillip a new one:

HONORABLE MENTION:
As I stated, this was a reveal week for one story line-The Return of Phillip 3rd and of course the faux Phillip aka Cane had left many people in shock with all of his lies. Including his wife, Lily played by Christel Khalil, can I just say that she had an amazing confrontation performance? She gets honorable mention this week, because she portrayed a very hurt newlywed extremely well, she shouted, snatched her things and even poked Cane. LOL. Here is Christel in action:

NOW JUST FOR SHIGGLES:
I have to mention this, Kristoff St. John as Neil, the angry father, who breaks down the door when he hears his daughter screaming at her unknown husband and then sees him man-handling his YOUNG daughter. This scene was priceless! It wasn’t Neil at his best, but I thought it rocked! Although, I am a little biased because I’ve been wanting to see Neil rough up Orphan Ashby for the longest, so this is my scene for shits and giggles this week. Thanks Neil for holding down the fort for Malcolm and protecting babygirl. Here is Neil in action and man he is sexxxy:

Candidate #1: Stacy Haiduk as Mary Jane Benson
What can I say? Every time I watch Mary Jane I feel the need to sing some Rick James, b!tch! Please click on the video below and join me in song. I think it sets the mood quite well.

Mary Jane was up to no good in the neighborhood this past week. She was stalking and seducing Jack, hiding behind haystacks, earning a spot on PETA’s hit list, sabotaging a photos hoot for Restless Style, filing restraining orders, showing love the the kids, scrapbooking her enemy list, outwitting JT, and talking to her kitty. I think I managed to list most the Mary Jane’s activities. However, it is hard to keep up with the many faces of this delightfully demented woman.

Mary Jane can transform from the victim to the victimizer, from crazy to sane, from helpless to conniving all in a matter of seconds and the transition is flawless. Stacy Haiduk sells every emotion of Mary Jane. She gives her character a depth and complexity that allows me to see more to Mary Jane than just crazy. I see Mary Jane as a strong, cold and calculated woman who will do what she has to do to get what she wants. Yet, at the same time I see Mary Jane as an emotionally scarred woman who is foolishly reopening those wounds by pursuing a man that will never love her the way she wants him to. Finally, I see Mary Jane as simply crazy and deranged.
Regardless of the side of Mary Jane I see, I am intrigued and want to watch more. Stacy Haiduk has made me a fan. I bow to the awesomeness of her portrayal of Mary Jane Benson.

The next two candidates caught my eye because Monday’s (6/8/09) show. I found the scenes between Ashley and Adam to be very compelling. The following is just a small scene from this episode:

Candidate #2: Chris Engen as Adam Wilson
Although what Adam has done to Ashley in inexcusable, I honestly get the feeling that he is genuinely sorry. It takes great talent to make me empathize with the person who is doing the dirt and on Monday’s episode Chris Engen did just that. He made me feel Adam’s regret for what happened to Ashley. Even as he played mind games with a woman who had just lost her unborn child, I could understand the situation from his perspective. I got the sense of a man finally realizing the ramifications of a well executed but poorly thought out plan.

Oh, and how can I forget him rocking the dress and tow weave. Give the man a hand clap.

Candidate #3: Eileen Davidson as Ashley Abbott
Ashley waking up in bed screaming, “my baby…I’m losing my baby,” is something that I cannot forget anytime soon. Eileen Davidson made me feel Ashley’s desperation in that moment. Although I could care less about her baby with Victor on any other day, I did for an instant. Also, when Ashley spoke with Adam down stairs, her confusion and willingness to trust pulled at the heart strings.

Please let me know what you think. I think my vote is obvious.