The Young and the Restless (Y&R) spoilers documented the tawdry details of Phyllis’ (Gina Tognoni) affair with Billy (Jason Thompson). Now, as the Philly reveal is set to unfold, viewers are wondering where Tognoni and her character will go from here. Might Y&R keep Phyllis in the gutter and if so, will Tognoni be able to pull that persona off long-term? We won’t even bring up Phyllis’ kidnapping of Adam Newman (Justin Hartley at the time) here!
Michelle Stafford will likely always be the definitive Phyllis. That talented actor oozed appeal from the moment her character began a psychotic pursuit of Danny (Michael Damian). Phyllis’ relentless assaults against The Bug, Christine (Lauralee Bell), led to an eventual no-regrets, never punished, hit-and-run collision that also involved Paul (Doug Davidson).
However, it must be noted that during Stafford’s long run her version of Phyllis always cared about her children and genuinely bonded with Jack (Peter Bergman), who appeared to be her true love.
Stafford individually made Phyllis a key player in Genoa City. Her consistent performance was so great that it seemed hard to imagine any actor permanently assuming this role, yet Tognoni has. Michelle Stafford’s tenure, which was broken for a handful of years, began in 1994. So, Tognoni can’t be fairly compared to Stafford by sheer volume of filmed episodes. At this point, developing judgments are purely being formed by seasoned viewers.
All hardcore fans know that Phyllis would never have eyes for Billy. But, it is fair to offer a more modern take when looking at Gina Tognoni and Thompson, as opposed to Michelle Stafford and the ever-great Billy Miller. So, using current rules, has Tognoni taken the script bait and played 2016’s Phyllis well?
It was obvious that Y&R wanted Tognoni to offer a softer version of Red after she was first hired. Phyllis did come out of her coma and intentionally disrupt the long-awaited, but never realized, remarriage of Nick (Joshua Morrow) and Sharon (Sharon Case). But, soon thereafter Phyllis actually became vulnerable. The character shift seemed smart because Stafford’s steely projection can’t truly be touched.
The Philly storyline may be a way to allow Phyllis to shift into an extended lower gear. With origins in the Marco (Peter Bergman) storyline, Red has already evidenced her old vindictiveness. Now, with amoral betrayals notched on her bed post, committing a future crime might be next on her to-do list. If so, the old Phyllis will have returned to the script and viewers will learn how Gina Tognoni chooses to carry that charge.
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Buckle Up because Jack finds out about #PHILLY next week on #YR! @CBSDaytime pic.twitter.com/Kb3rrNvd79
— Young & The Restless (@YRInsider) September 9, 2016
