3 hours ago, Broderick said:

First time I remember seeing him --- and I believe it was his VERY first scene on the show --- was in February 1980 when he was hovering over Brock's desk like a vampire. Brock (foolishly) thought he had an open-and-shut case as the public defender of a teenage girl (Cathy Bruder) who had stolen a Rolls-Royce and gone joy riding. Brock's plan was to meet with the car's owner and convince him to prosecute Cathy Bruder as a juvenile rather than as an adult, which meant she'd get community service and nothing permanent on her criminal record. The owner of the car burst into Brock's office, and he was insistent he wanted to charge the girl as an adult; he was VERY spooky. While Victor's hardline position on the matter seemed a bit far-fetched and frivolous, Eric Braeden played the scenes quietly and formidably, and you could tell immediately that Brock was WAY in over his head with the guy.

I remember instantly becoming interested in where the stolen car storyline was heading, even though on the surface it seemed like a "throwaway" story. It was because Eric Braeden immediately brought such formidable intensity and gravity into his (short-term) role as the owner of the car.

Great description, thanks! Hard to fathom why this was not re-aired during the 2020 covid classics

4 hours ago, Broderick said:

First time I remember seeing him --- and I believe it was his VERY first scene on the show --- was in February 1980 when he was hovering over Brock's desk like a vampire. Brock (foolishly) thought he had an open-and-shut case as the public defender of a teenage girl (Cathy Bruder) who had stolen a Rolls-Royce and gone joy riding. Brock's plan was to meet with the car's owner and convince him to prosecute Cathy Bruder as a juvenile rather than as an adult, which meant she'd get community service and nothing permanent on her criminal record. The owner of the car burst into Brock's office, and he was insistent he wanted to charge the girl as an adult; he was VERY spooky. While Victor's hardline position on the matter seemed a bit far-fetched and frivolous, Eric Braeden played the scenes quietly and formidably, and you could tell immediately that Brock was WAY in over his head with the guy.

I remember instantly becoming interested in where the stolen car storyline was heading, even though on the surface it seemed like a "throwaway" story. It was because Eric Braeden immediately brought such formidable intensity and gravity into his (short-term) role as the owner of the car.

Oooo

14 hours ago, Broderick said:

First time I remember seeing him --- and I believe it was his VERY first scene on the show --- was in February 1980 when he was hovering over Brock's desk like a vampire.

14 hours ago, Broderick said:

he was VERY spooky.

14 hours ago, Broderick said:

Eric Braeden immediately brought such formidable intensity and gravity into his (short-term) role

@Broderick You have a really good memory of 1980s Y&R.

I grew up in the 1980s and back then EB was "the scary guy on the show after The Price is Right".

On 2/10/2026 at 8:20 PM, YRfan23 said:

It's from February 15, 1989 in the vault!

Thank You 😊

TV Guide Feb 4 1995

It’s the smooch that shook Soapland: A few days ago on CBS's The Young and the Restless, John Abbott —played by Jerry Douglas, a Caucasian—laid a sudden, surprise lip-lock on Mamie Johnson, played by Veronica Redd Forrest, an African-American. But the fuss over the kiss (taped under hush-hush conditions per the orders of exec producer Bill Bell) has little to do with race. Here's the real scandal: John is one of Genoa City’s wealthiest businessmen, and Mamie has been in his steady employ for the last 30 years—as his MAID!!! Says Douglas: “The racial issue has certainly been dealt with on soaps before —although probably not with characters in our [fiftysomething] age range. What sets this 2 relationship apart is | the clashing of class values and life experience.” This week, both sire and servant will testify against John’s soon-to-be ex-wife, Jill, in a vicious custody battle over the couple's baby son. After that, Y&R plans to pursue the John/Mamie relationship big-time. And Douglas could use a little romance: “The courtroom scenes have been extraordinarily realistic and very painful,” says the actor, who successfully sued for custody of his own son 15 years ago. The judge's decision on Y&R won't be reached for several weeks—but Douglas, drawing from his own experience, already knows one thing: “Nobody wins. My ex-wife and I agree that if we had it to do all over, we would have fought much harder not to go to court. These cases leave terrible scars."

6 hours ago, Paul Raven said:

After that, Y&R plans to pursue the John/Mamie relationship big-time.

LOL!!

7 hours ago, Paul Raven said:

TV Guide Feb 4 1995

It’s the smooch that shook Soapland: A few days ago on CBS's The Young and the Restless, John Abbott —played by Jerry Douglas, a Caucasian—laid a sudden, surprise lip-lock on Mamie Johnson, played by Veronica Redd Forrest, an African-American. But the fuss over the kiss (taped under hush-hush conditions per the orders of exec producer Bill Bell) has little to do with race. Here's the real scandal: John is one of Genoa City’s wealthiest businessmen, and Mamie has been in his steady employ for the last 30 years—as his MAID!!! Says Douglas: “The racial issue has certainly been dealt with on soaps before —although probably not with characters in our [fiftysomething] age range. What sets this 2 relationship apart is | the clashing of class values and life experience.” This week, both sire and servant will testify against John’s soon-to-be ex-wife, Jill, in a vicious custody battle over the couple's baby son. After that, Y&R plans to pursue the John/Mamie relationship big-time. And Douglas could use a little romance: “The courtroom scenes have been extraordinarily realistic and very painful,” says the actor, who successfully sued for custody of his own son 15 years ago. The judge's decision on Y&R won't be reached for several weeks—but Douglas, drawing from his own experience, already knows one thing: “Nobody wins. My ex-wife and I agree that if we had it to do all over, we would have fought much harder not to go to court. These cases leave terrible scars."

Yeah….so much for that :/

That’s interesting to learn about JD facing his own custody battle IRL.