The Young and the Restless spoilers tease that Keemo Abbott (most recently played by Philip Moon) is the true biological father of Juliet’s (Laur Allen) baby. While Cane (Daniel Goddard) will eventually feel relief that he is NOT the father, this projected plot line reveal also serves to revive and lengthen Jack’s (Peter Bergman) backstory.
Tenured fans recall that Keemo is Jack’s son through Luan Volien (Elizabeth Sung), a character who was introduced to the audience in 1994. Jack met Luan in 1974, when he was serving in Vietnam. She conceived Keemo, but didn’t give birth until after that war was over. Jack never knew that Luan had been pregnant with his child.
Twenty years later, Christine (Lauralee Bell) served as the character vehicle that linked Jack to Luan and Keemo. A Vietnamese restaurant served as the setting where Christine became friends with its owner, Luan. After that setup, Luan was was shot in a robbery. She asked Christine to locate her son (Keemo), who was still in Vietnam and bring him back to the United States.
Christine and Paul (Doug Davidson) found Keemo and convinced him to visit his mother who was expected to die from the wounds she received. Keemo believed at the time that both of his parents had abandoned him.
Luan recovered, eventually rekindled her relationship with Jack and married him. Keemo came to learn that Jack never knew that he had been born. Luan was a short-lived character, as she died of a terminal illness in 1995.
Keemo became romantically involved with his dad’s ex-girlfriend Mari Jo Mason (played by Diana Barton and Pamela Bach). Miss Mason proved not to be a good match and Keemo cut her off.
Jack didn’t initially inform Keemo, or Mai (Marianne Rees), who was Luan’s other child (not through Jack) of Luan’s illness. That created a breach between Keemo and Jack, but eventually they reconciled. However, Keemo did return to Vietnam (with Mai) shortly after Luan died.
Jack later reunited with Mari Jo, who eventually shot Victor (Eric Braeden) because, well, he’s Victor. She framed Jill (Jess Walton) for the crime and also kidnapped Christine, all of which resulted in Mari Jo’s retention a facility for the insane.
With various principal players from that arc still present in Genoa City including: Jack, Christine, Paul, Victor, Jill and maybe Mari Jo (?), Keemo’s return would make soapy sense. So using Juliet’s pregnancy as part of an overall revival strategy works.
Yes, co-executive producer and head writer Sally Sussman intended to make the Newman and Abbott families central to the story again. Dina (Marla Adams) was rescued from the 1980’s. Why not bring Keemo back from the 1990’s as well by making him the real father of Juliet’s baby in 2017? CDL is a leading source for everything linked to The Young and the Restless. Check back regularly for Y&R spoilers and news!
