As Young & Restless’ Jason Thompson Shares a Joyful Family Photo, He Pays Tribute to the Dear Friend Who Took It
Saturday, October 23rd, 2021
Their relationship has been full of “late nights and always, endless fun.”
If a picture says a thousand words, the one that Jason Thompson shared on October 22 says “happy” — over and over and over again. The image of the Emmy winner, wife Paloma and their kids Rome and Bowie is “a forever lasting memory!” exclaimed the Young & Restless leading man. “One of the brightest and [most] joy-filled moments of the ‘lockdown.'”
Adding to the specialness of the photo (which you can see here on his Instagram page) is the fact that it was taken by Brian Bowen Smith. He “and I have been very close friends for over 25 years,” explained Billy’s portrayer. “There have been plenty of laughs, plenty of tears, more than a few bruises and a few surgeries. Late nights and always, endless fun.
“And it’s always been about connecting,” he added. “There’s a safe place in our friendship. I think you can tell in this photo. I will cherish it. Paloma [and] our little family captured by a legendary photographer for a project that will go down in history! And he just happens to be one of my best friends.”
Ah, if only Thompson had such delightful distractions on screen. Billy’s currently in the crosshairs of no less than the great and powerful Victor Newman — never a comfortable place to be. But Lily’s significant other has an idea about how he might be able to wriggle off of the hot seat. To find out the unlikely ally to whom he turns, check out next week’s Young & Restless preview. And while you’re here, read all about the explosive story that would bring Summer and Kyle home to Genoa City.
Most Popular
Advertisement
Image: Howard Wise/JPI (3)
1/18
<p>Of all the calamities faced by these two over the years, perhaps the most tragic might be that they found their happily-ever-after both in Italy and off screen! We’re told the pair will make sporadic visits like their recent return for Victoria and Ashland’s wedding, but we’re greedy and want far more than the occasional update. </p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
2/18
<p>Sarah went to all the trouble of helping bad boy Xander Kiriakis get in touch with his inner good guy only to then be kidnapped by crazy Kristen DiMera. If Sarah doesn’t get her butt back to Salem soon, he may be fully corrupted again by Gwen Rizczech. </p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI
3/18
<p>We’ve said for ages now that Forrester Creations needs a little competition, so why not have these two bring back both Jackie M and the fashion house’s sexy, daring photoshoots? As an added bonus, the fact that they’re not technically related to anyone on the current canvas means they could stir a whole lot of romantic pots! </p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
4/18
<p>They say the key to success is to do what you love, so it’s not surprising that Mikkos’ widow is so good at being evil. After all, nothing gives her more pleasure than torturing the residents of Port Charles. Oh, sure, she’s supposedly dead… but when has that stopped anyone in this town from returning?</p>
Image: Priscilla Grant/Everett Collection
5/18
<p>Come on, people, you can’t seriously expect us to believe that Dru is the only person in the history of daytime television to fall off a cliff, never have a corpse be found and actually be dead-dead. Nope. We are having absolutely none of it. Dru is out there somewhere with a perky hat perched atop her amnesia-riddled head, just waiting to regain her memory and rise from her premature, watery grave.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
6/18
<p>We’ve long been told that bad girls have more fun. While we’re not sure if that’s true, we know that audiences have more fun when a bad girl like Sami is around… a sentiment we’re sure ex-husbands EJ and Lucas would completely agree with, at least if you catch them on days when they didn’t want to throttle her! <strong>Update:</strong> We got Sami back in the fall of 2021.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
7/18
<p>To this day, we’ll never understand where this couple’s love story went wrong… mainly because the show never bothered to tell us! After heading to Europe, she eventually returned solo, filed for divorce and promptly disappeared. It’s time for this power couple to resurface, reunite and reclaim their respective positions at Forrester Creations!</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
8/18
<p>Monica may like to remind us that the mansion is hers because — all together, now! — Alan gave it to her, but Tracy will always rule the Quartermaine roost as far as we’re concerned. Bristly as a porcupine and twice as difficult to get close to, she’ll nonetheless cut to the quick anyone who tries to hurt those she loves.</p>
Image: Denis Guignebourg/JPI
9/18
<p>Let’s face it: Cane was not an easy guy to love. Just ask Lily Winters, to whom he told one lie after another during their tumultuous marriage. But now that she’s moved on with Billy Abbott, maybe the time is right for her ex to return… whether to prove himself a changed man and fight for her love or romance one of Genoa City’s other lucky ladies. (We asked portrayer Daniel Goddard if he’d consider returning and <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/609811/young-restless-daniel-goddard-cane-exit-return/" target="_blank">his response was… interesting</a>!)</p>
Image: JPI (2)
10/18
<p>It’s always tough when a beloved character exits, but it’s particularly hard when her absence… well, it kinda doesn’t make much sense. Hope left town to find her beloved daughter, Ciara, who has since returned from the dead and remarried her true love, all without mom by her side because… ? Yeah, we got nothin’.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
11/18
<p>It’s kind of insane that the occasionally-unbalanced shrink’s kids have had babies, suffered addictions and fallen in love with mannequins — we’re lookin’ at you, Thomas — and yet Taylor hasn’t put in an appearance. Does she really want to look like a worse parent than Deacon, for heaven’s sake? <strong>Update:</strong> We got Taylor back in the fall of 2021 with Krista Allen (ex-Billie, <em>Days of Our Lives</em>) taking over the role from Hunter Tylo).</p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI
12/18
<p>ike pop Luke Spencer, Ethan is the kind of bad boy it’s OK to love because we all know that when push comes to shove, he’s going to do the right thing. How easy is it to picture him trading barbs (and eventually, kisses) with fiery Britt, or maybe giving Brando a run for the money where Sasha is concerned?</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
13/18
<p>At this point, we’re preaching to the choir on this one. The soap’s viewers have made it abundantly clear that they want to see Genoa City’s top cop back in action, and we’ve even offered up numerous suggestions as to <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/gallery/young-restless-story-ideas-for-paul-pictures/" target="_blank">storylines he’d be perfect for</a>. While our collective pleas have thus far fallen on deaf ears, that doesn’t mean we’re ready to give up the fight!</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
14/18
<p>The last time Eric came home, we were thrilled… until we realized he would only be in town long enough to discover then-wife Nicole’s infidelity before heading back to Africa. Now that she’s moved on, it’s time for Eric to realize he should have fought for his true love and recognize the truth in the words “better late than never.” <strong>Update:</strong> Greg Vaughan was a Christmas present from<em> Days of Our Lives</em> to viewers in 2021.</p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI
15/18
<p>Not only would we love to see Brooke’s elder daughter back on our screens, but she’s been gone long enough now that the adorable tot above — her son with Owen Knight, Logan — could easily be SORAS’ed into the kind of troublemaking teen of which the show is in desperate need.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
16/18
<p>Frankly, we don’t care on which show Amber pops up because where she goes, a good time is sure to follow. Sure, maybe not for the people who get caught up in her inevitable schemes, but for us as viewers? <em>That</em><em>‘s </em>entertainment. </p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
17/18
<p>Although original portrayer Joseph Mascolo passed away in 2016, the iconic villain he so perfectly played has lived on. So why not allow The Phoenix to rise once more, whether via a recast (tough as that might be to imagine) or another of Dr. Rolf’s attempts to inject Stefano’s essence — which still sounds majorly wrong — into another Salemite… perhaps this time, someone far more willing than was Steve.</p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI
18/18
