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."
By
Paul Raven ·
