The Young and the Restless: Fans might never see reel-time emulate real-time

The Young and the Restless: Art does not imitate life

The recent breakup of Chad Duell (Michael Corinthos on General Hospital} and Courtney Hope (Sally Spectra Y&R and B&B) might be the biggest factor of why The Young and the Restless will not put real-life couples together on screen. Although Dueel and Hope were not working together their breakup after 5 years of dating and 2 months of marriage is big news. Imagine if they were on the same soap and their characters were dating or married. This could be pretty awkward as two soap veterans can attest to.

Jack Wagoner and Kristina Wagoner portrayed super couple Frisco and Felicia Jones on General Hospital during the 1980s and 1990s. They dated and married off-screen but eventually divorced. The onscreen relationship fizzled as well and Wagoner left the ABC soap. During the GH 50th anniversary celebration, he was asked back to bring closure for Felicia who was now with Mac Scorpio (John J York). Fans loved the storyline but both Jack and Kristina said it was difficult for them. The duo got over their discomfort and now work together on Hallmark's When Calls the Heart.

The Young and the Restless: Reel-time does not reflect real-time

There are currently 3 couples who date in real-time who have not been put together on The Young and the Restless. Justin Gaston temporarily stepped into the role of Chance Chancellor and worked with his wife Melissa Ordway who portrays Abby Newman. The couple had great chemistry and viewers were hoping Gaston would be brought on full time. Instead, Y&R hired Conner Floyd who has similar looks to Ordway's husband to play her onscreen spouse.

Bryton James who portrays Devon Hamilton and Brytni Sarpy who plays Elena Dawson are living together but onscreen their relationship was cut short. Again fans had hopes of seeing real-time love on-screen but the writers paired the duo with other characters. The biggest disappointment for those who watch The Young and the Restless has been related to Mark Grossman (Adam Newman) and Sharon Case (Sharon Newman).

The couple has been dating for close to 3 years and Y&R teased several times during 2020 that their characters would get back together. Instead, Sharon seems to be falling in love again with Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow), and Adam is caught between Sally and Chelsea Newman (Melissa Claire Egan). Fans have been wondering why the writers have an aversion to putting real-life couples together on-screen and the breakup o fHope and Duell could be speaking volumes.

Y&R: Decisions, decisions

The powers that be must make the decisions that they feel are best for the show even if viewers do not always agree. The producer and writers for The Young and the Restless probably do not want the drama that might come if a couple separates, breaks up, or divorces. Actors are trained to be professional but working daily with the person who broke your heart is not going to be easy.

It could be difficult to do love scenes with the individual you have been intimate with and now no longer are dating or married to. This is much different than acting with someone to whom you have no such ties. This is tricky ground and as the Wagoners have stated and may cause tension on the set. Loyal Y&R fans still desire to see Shadam give in to passion, Devon and Elena to reunite and question why Gaston was not given the role of Chance.

The break-up of Hope and Duell is unfortunate and if they had been working together on-screen the writers might now have the headache of figuring out how to change the storyline. Even so but politics do not deter soap viewers from desiring to see their favorite characters paired with their real-life spouses or love interests.