Victor's Surprising Diagnosis

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

15 Jul 2006 12:50 PM

**Attention: "Young and the Restless" fans this article includes information about a show that airs Monday, July 17, 2006. Consider this a spoiler alert.** Fans of CBS' "The Young and the Restless" will be seeing a lot more of Victor Newman in the coming weeks. It's true, he's a major character and is often embroiled in a front-burner story line, but come Monday that story line will hit a crescendo when Victor is handed a surprising diagnosis---epilepsy.

After 26 years playing the part of Victor Newman on the top-rated soap opera, Eric Braeden thought he had seen it all. Not just seen it--but dealt with it on TV. From blackouts, hallucinations, affairs, the death of a grandchild, and everything in between, there is scarcely a situation that Genoa City's most ruthless businessman has not encountered. Now, it will be revealed that what family members believed was a kinder, more sensitive Victor is really a man suffering from temporal lobe epilepsy (brought on by a head injury he sustained in a carjacking several months ago).

"I absolutely love it because it's uncharted territory," Braeden said. "It's so interesting to play something that is childlike and naive and not as calculated and hostile and angry as he usually is."

The show's writers completed extensive researched on the neurological condition and assured Braeden that "Victor's behavior was medically sound." In addition, Braeden also recorded a public-service announcement in cooperation with the Epilepsy Foundation that will air on the show both Monday and Tuesday. Braeden also confirmed that he did his own research on the condition and said, "People with epilepsy can live very successful and seizure-free lives."

In coming weeks, viewers will see how Victor deals with his diagnosis and how his family and business associates react to it as well.

At 65, the Daytime Emmy Award-winner says he is up for the challenge. In fact, Braeden says at times he is astounded that in the increasingly youth-driven world of soap operas he remains a key character.

"I am enormously, eternally grateful for having had the opportunity," he said. "Where else do you get the chance to be vulnerable and to play a tough guy at the same time?"

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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Bonnie Sayers (1298) 15 Jul 2006 06:43 PM

Would be nice to have it listed as a Y&R spoiler alert so those of us in the US do not know ahead of time and make the choice if we want to know ahead of time or view the show and find out at that time.

Bonnie Sayers

Michele Cheplic (37445) 15 Jul 2006 07:01 PM

Sorry Bonnie--USA Today, The LA Times and other major publications ran articles on the storyline on Thursday. I agree with you. Thank you for your comments. I should have included a spoiler alert--SORRY!

Bonnie Sayers (1298) 15 Jul 2006 07:18 PM

I lost my connection and came back to ask you to cite your source. I was curious to know which website or soap magazine had these interviews or if you had them. Anyway I knew since I read several boards, but I know soap fans are adamant about wanting spoiler alerts and always have spoilers in separate sections.

I read about it the other day, but thought a warning in the title for others who might not know this is about Y&R.

Thanks for the reply - Bonnie