THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS Stars Share Their Favorite Classic Scenes

When Y&R paired Nikki and Victor, they created one of daytime’s most legendary supercouples. And as Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki) notes: “After four decades, I think we can say ‘Nictor’ is for keeps.” For her favorite moment, the actress selected the emotional scene from the early ‘90s where Victor was presumed dead and Nikki poured out her heart at Victor’s grave only to discover that he was actually very much alive! “I’m dreaming,” she gasped, unable to believe her eyes. “This is a dream.” Victor promised her he was very much alive and Nikki flew into his embrace, tears of joy streaming down her face.

Click here to watch the classic scene for yourself!

“I agreed to do this job for three months,” declared Eric Braeden. “Now, 40 years later, fans around the world know me as Victor Newman.” And his memorable moment was a powerful scene from November 2003 when Victor confronted his birth father, Albert Miller, played by veteran actor George Kennedy. Albert wondered if he was after his money, but Victor angrily declared he was no longer Christian Miller but the wealthy and powerful Victor Newman, and needed nothing at all from him. “And perhaps I should thank you for the pain you have caused me, for the cruelty you have done to me,” Victor shouted. “Because without that, I would not be the man I am now.” And with a final goodbye to his father, that was the last time the two men would come face to face.

Click here to watch the dramatic confrontation.

“One line, ‘Dinner is served,' delivered to the magnificent Jeanne Cooper (Katherine), led to 40 years of bad romance… and lots of dusting!” Kate Linder (Esther) laughed. One of her favorite memories was from the masquerade ball held back in 1991 where Katherine introduced Esther, who performed “Everybody Ought to Have a Maid” from Stephen Sondheim’s musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Her singing and dancing delighted the audience… and fans at home!

Enjoy her performance by clicking here!

After joking about how she used to pretend to be sick to stay home from school and watch her father, the late William J. Bell, work, Lauralee Bell spoke directly to fans. “Fast-forward a few decades, Cricket is Christine, and the show my parents created is still going strong, thanks to you, the fans.” For one of her favorite memories, the actress selected a scene from 1994 where Christine came home to find Paul hanging a painting in their new home and the couple expressed their love for each other as they settled into the place and talked about tying the knot.

If you want to relive the romantic chemistry between Christine and Paul, you can enjoy the scene right here!

“From mean girl to fashion mogul, Lauren has come a long way,” smiled Tracy E. Bregman of her alter ego. The memory that she shared was Michael’s romantic proposal from 2020 in a room he’d set up to act as a casino. The dealer dealt cards that read “marry” and “me” and a young woman walked up with a tray that did not contain cigars but a box containing a diamond engagement ring. However, after he popped the question, an emotional Lauren was reluctant to say yes. “No risk, no reward,” Michael urged. Lauren took a moment and finally declared: “Well, if you insist on having an answer out of me right this minute, I’m afraid the answer has to be… yes.” But Michael still had one more surprise up his sleeve!

Relive this romantic Y&R moment in full by clicking here!

“in 1982 I walked into the Abbott living room and I knew I was home,” smiled Eileen Davidson (Ashley) before sharing one of her character’s most memorable moments. In the classic scene from the ‘80s, Ashley confessed to a stunned Victor about the abortion she had, the emotional dialogue between the pair as powerful as the torrential downpour pounding down upon them. Victor unleashes his anger and leaves Ashley utterly devastated.

Click here to watch this unforgettable moment again.

“Long before my character was a novelist, she was a rock star!” chuckled Beth Maitland (Traci). “And it was magical!” With that as an intro, naturally, the actress selected something musical. Specifically, a scene from the mid-‘80s where Traci was upset about taking the stage to an empty house at the Torch Light Club but determined to sing to the one couple who had actually made and kept their reservation. And everyone who didn’t show up that evening missed out on a fabulous performance of “Here’s That Rainy Day.”

Watch it yourself by clicking here!

“From a slew of suitors to epic rivalries, Jill has had quite the journey,” Jess Walton declared of her alter ego’s history in Genoa City. “And I have loved every minute of it!” For her pick, the Y&R vet went with a hilarious scene from 2010 where Michael and Lauren tease Jill for accidentally setting off the silent alarm at the office having sex with some guy. Jill admits that her mystery date's name is Colin, and begs them to please keep this whole debacle quiet. (She’s also horrified when Michael admits that he and Lauren have had sex in the office plenty of times, too!)

Relive all the laughs by clicking here!

“Even after all these years I am still excited to open each new script and find out what’s next for Jack,” exclaimed Peter Bergman. For his favorite moment, the Emmy winner chose a dramatic scene from September 2001 with Michelle Stafford where Jack admitted to Phyllis how he truly feels about her after she fled his proposal at the party. “I couldn’t take my eyes off you,” he confessed. “I watched you circulate. Saw your fire and your passion. You mesmerized everyone in the crowd. My heart was just screaming out to me: ‘That’s her! You found her! Your life! Your love! Your soulmate! You found her! Don’t you dare let her go!’” He then followed up his declaration of love with another proposal that this time, she accepted!

Relive the romance of this passionate scene by clicking here!

“From Shick to Phick and everything in between, there’s never been a dull moment for Nick Newman,” declared Joshua Morrow of his Genoa City alter ego. And for one of his favorite Nick moments, the actor selected a scene from the mid-90s where Nick stormed into Crimson Lights to confront Matt about telling everyone that Sharon had a baby years ago. The argument escalated into a full-on fistfight where Matt eventually got the upper hand but Nick ddin't give up that easily! However, when Sharon walked in on the violent scene, things took a dramatic turn!

Watch this classic scene of intense fight choreography accented by skilled directing and editing by clicking here!

“My character has jumped out of a plane, searched for a dead body in a sewer, had many memorable catfights, and I have enjoyed every moment of it,” smiled Sharon Case (Sharon) as she introduced one of her most memorable moments. The actress selected a classic episode from June 2001 where Nick surprised Sharon with an incredibly romantic Arabian Nights fantasy complete with costumes, food, drink, and music for dancing.

Relive the romance by clicking here!

“Blackmail, attempted murder, octopus in the bed… you know, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do!” Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) chuckled before introducing one of her favorite moments. The Daytime Emmy winner picked a scene from Rex Sterling’s funeral in 1994 where Phyllis traded barbs with Christine over Danny, then introduced herself to Paul. But when Danny spotted his wife, he dragged her out of the chapel to angrily ask her what she was doing at his father’s funeral!

Flash back to the beginning of Phyllis’ epic history on Y&R by clicking here!

“When Michael harassed Christine and went to prison, I could have been gone for good,” revealed Christian LeBlanc (Michael) “Thank goodness Bill Bell had other ideas.” For one of his favorite moments, the daytime star picked a scene from December 2009 where Nick and Phyllis were digging through a garbage dump in the cold and dark for evidence to help prove that Daniel didn’t murder Ray Elkins. As they worried that they would never find anything without help, Michael arrived with Lauren and was followed by a bunch of other Genoa City residents who were all happy to offer their support, moving Phyllis to tears.

Click here to watch LeBlanc’s memorable moment!

“My first character, the sweet 14-year-old Cassie Newman, was tragically killed in an accident,” Camryn Grimes recalled. “But lucky for me, Cassie had a secret twin and nearly a decade later, I came back as the misunderstood Mariah Copeland.” And for her memorable moment, the Emmy-winner selected a heartbreaking scene from the May 2005 episode where Nick and Sharon said a final farewell to the daughter they loved so much. Featuring powerful performances from her TV parents, Joshua Morrow and Sharon Case, as well as flashbacks showing how viewers watched Cassie grow up, it’s an iconic and unforgettable moment of Y&R history.

Grab some tissues and click here to relive it.

“Who says you can’t go home again?” smiled Susan Walters (Diane). “I am thrilled to be back at Y&R celebrating our 50th anniversary.” The actress, who took over the role of Diane Jenkins back in 2001, actually selected a scene from May 2022 where Jack confronted Phyllis about throwing their relationship in Diane’s face after her return to Genoa City. After he excuses himself, Phyllis then approached her rival to taunt her some more, but Diane gave as good as she got! “All kidding aside, we both know why you’re making such a  show of this, taking a victory lap,” Diane sneered. “It’s because this moment is probably the closest you’ll ever get to happiness. Deep down, you know that you and Jack won’t last.”

And it turns out that Diane was right! Click here to relive the rivalry!

“Rebellious teen, cancer survivor, prison inmate, CEO,” smiled Christel Khalil. “It has been a rollercoaster for Lily but you, the fans, have been right beside me through it all.” The favorite scene that she selected was from the episode back in 2009 when Lily took her battle with cancer into her own hands by cutting off her hair. With Cane there to support her, Lily first cut off her long ponytail and hoped to be able to donate it, then he took clippers and buzzed off the rest. Seeing her reflection in a mirror, Lily marveled, “Oh my gosh. I did it. On my terms. I really did it.”

Relive this memorable moment by clicking here.

“I was just a teenager myself when I started playing Devon,” said Bryton James. “And lucky for me, the Winters family gave Devon a home. And now, nearly 20 years later, I am a billionaire with a child of my own.” For one of his favorite moments, the actor chose the heartbreaking scene from July 2018 where Devon was laying in Hilary’s hospital bed holding her close following their marriage. After flashing back to happier times together, Hilary died in Devon’s arms.

Make sure you’ve got tissues handy before you click here to relive this unforgettable scene!

“For a kid with a rock star for a dad and a mom who made some questionable choices,” joked Michael Graziadei, “I’d say that Daniel turned out alright.” For one of his favorite moments, the actor reached all the way back to June 2005 when Lily and Daniel were on the run after Cassie’s fatal car accident. The pair were looking for jobs and managed to land one at a beachside cafe… where they found themselves dressed as a banana and a strawberry handing out fliers promoting their smoothies! The costumes came in handy when Phyllis showed up on the beach looking for her son and his girlfriend, but weren’t entirely effective!

Click here to enjoy the smoothest smoothies on the beach all over again!

“When I took over the role of Victoria, she was an art historian,” reminded Amelia Heinle. “Reliquary, anyone? But now I’m exactly where I belong, in the CEO chair at Newman enterprises.” One of her very favorite moments was a scene she shared with TV dad Eric Braeden as Victor coached Victoria in some boxing moves. After their workout, Victor offered his daughter some helpful words of advice to help boost her confidence even further, leading to a sweet hug between the two.

You can watch this father/daughter bonding moment by clicking here!

“Chloe came back to her hometown with a new name, loads of drama, and indomitable style,” smiled Elizabeth Hendrickson. “Genoa City has never been the same!” One of her favorite memories turned out to be the scene where Chloe caught up with Kevin outside of a bar on New Year’s Eve 2011. After he noted she was still in her pajamas, she explained she had to catch him before midnight because he was Duckie to her Andie. When Kevin objected to being Duckie, Chloe grew emotional as she explained that Duckie was the guy that Andie was supposed to end up with. “When you said that you wanted me, I just thought how awful it would be if it didn’t work out,” she cried. “But what if you were right and it did work out?”

Click here to rewatch this romantic New Year's moment!

“Growing up I used to act out Y&R storylines with my dolls,” revealed Melissa Ordway (Abby). “Flash forward, I am half Newman, half Abbott, and one hundred percent grateful to be a part of this legendary show.” One of the actress’ favorite moments was from Abby and Stitch’s 2015 wedding, where she delivered some heartfelt vows about how much she loved him and how she can’t imagine living without him. Stitch followed up by throwing away the vows he’d written down to speak from his heart before they were pronounced man and wife.

Try to forget about how it all ended up and just relive the magical romance of the big day by clicking here!

“Con artist past, husband back from the dead, a whirlwind of romances,” declared Melissa Claire Egan, “and Chelsea has survived them all.” One of her favorite scenes was the emotional July 2015 scene where Chelsea discovered that Adam was still alive. Stunned to see the man she loves back with a new face, Chelsea lashed out at “Gabriel Bingham” for letting her talk to him not knowing who he was. As Adam tried to explain why he did what he did, Chelsea struggled to process the truth and decide if there was any possibility of a future together.

Click here to relive the drama!

“Nobody knew that my dearly-departed character, Hilary, had a twin sister,” said Mishael Morgan. “But surprise — Amanda Sinclair showed up to kick ass, take names, and win an Emmy.” For her memorable moment, the actress reached back to May 2017 to select a scene featuring her first character. When Mariah taunted Hilary by wearing one of her dresses on her GC Buzz show, the hostess stumbled on air initially but recovered to deliver a blind item about a Genoa City bachelor who was still pining for his ex-wife and offering a pity date to a poor, lonely girl. And when Mariah tried to stand up for herself after the show, Hilary angrily declared, “You are not me, and you will never be me. You cannot pull off this show, that dress, or my man!” And that’s when things got really ugly!

Relive the rivalry by clicking here!

“Billy may be a gambler without the best luck,” joked Jason Thompson, “but I won big when I came to Genoa City and joined the iconic Abbott family.” And one of his favorite scenes turned out to be one from Christmas 2018 where Billy returned to the dive bar where he joined his old gambling buddies for some poker at the Empty Glass Lounge. After a woman in a blonde wig, hat, and sunglasses slipped into the dive bar and sat at a table across the room, Billy instantly noticed her and quickly tapped out, taking the money he still had left with him. Her look wasn’t subtle, and neither was her holding up her phone to record his actions!

Check out this classic scene by clicking here and see if you can ID the mystery woman yourself!

“Since joining Y&R, I have checked a lot of boxes around here,” smiled Michael Mealor (Kyle). “Surprise illegitimate son, multiple weddings, a mom back from the dead… I can’t wait to see what’s next!” The actor then selected one of his favorite Abbott family moments where Kyle opened up to Traci and Ashley about his fears as he prepared to marry Lola. “Divorce is in DNA!” he cried. “The Abbott family tree is full of nuts, broken branches, doomed marriages, infidelity… no one in this family has ever had a happy, healthy, long-lasting marriage.” As he ranted on and on about what kind of man Lola deserved as a husband, Traci and Ashley just smiled because they knew that he was that man.

Sure, it didn’t last, but Kyle’s heart was in the right place! Click here to relive his heartfelt moment!