The Young and the Restless is the number one soap opera in the country, but that isn't stopping the show's latest executive producer and head writer, Mal Young, from wanting to kick things up a notch.
Young, who got his experience helming British soap operas like EastEnders and Doctors, says he's quickening the speed at which Y&R throws drama to its viewers.
"I felt like we needed to pace up the storytelling," he tells Soap Opera Digest. "Viewers' tastes have changed, and we can't just rely on the fact that we've been around for almost forty-five years. Every episode has to feel like it's our first, that it has to count, and that's a big ask when you're talking over 255 episodes a year. My mantra is, ‘We're only as good as today's show.' I have to deliver surprises and entertainment and thrilling, compelling drama to them every day. They deserve that, and that's our job to deliver that."
Of course, there's plenty of love on the docket. At least, that's what it seems like based on the very vague teasers he recently gave on Twitter. For example, when a fan complained that she still sees nothing hopeful for Cane and Lily and the spoilers seem to get worse and worse, he responded with: "Love changes everything."
Love changes everything https://t.co/uJio0olUNG
— mal young (@malyoung) October 21, 2017
Meanwhile, a fan asked him when #Hevon (Hilary and Devon) will reunite, and he answered: "No spoilers here. Devon is fab. Hilary is fab. So who knows...?"
No spoilers here. Devon is fab. Hilary is fab. So who knows..? https://t.co/TnDMVrxN2f
— mal young (@malyoung) October 21, 2017
And for all the Victor and Nikki fans out there, the scribe teases that there is "lots of fab Victor and Nikki to come!"
Lots of fab Victor & Nikki to come! https://t.co/4hns9T4E7o
— mal young (@malyoung) October 20, 2017
For more on how Young will be changing Y&R, be sure to tune in to the EP's very first episode as head writer on Wednesday, October 25.
What kinds of changes are you hoping Young makes -- or doesn't make? In what ways do you think Y&R can improve? In what ways do you think the soap is working as is? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.