A Vengeful Adam Walks Away from Newman — and Billy Trashes Ashland on His Podcast
Monday July 11, 2022: Today on The Young and the Restless, Nick's family celebrates his return to the fold, Diane refuses to help Michael with Locke, and Lily urges Billy to be cautious.

Victoria is going through papers in her office at Newman when Nick arrives with flowers from him and his son. He tells her that she’s back where she belongs and he almost forgives her for the whole Ashland fiasco. She’s hoping she can thank him with some corporate perks. Nick announces he’s ready to rejoin the team and hopes it sticks for good this time. She wants him to be her COO and they can run things with their mom. He’s sure this will only make Adam resent them more. The topic turns to Locke and she confirms there is nothing connecting them, legally or otherwise.
Her brother worries about how vindictive he could be but she’s sure he’s been too crushed to come after her. However, she’s determined to burn him once more and explains she’s asked Billy to anonymously expose Ashland. This worries Nick. Making things public will come with a cost, not least of all to the image of the company. She’s adamant about disgracing Locke so no one will do business with him. He thinks it could backfire but she won’t listen.
More: Y&R column talks Adam and Ashland teaming up
Nikki and Victor relax at Society over a meal. She slept better last night than she has in months. Taking her hands, he tells her how happy he is that things are back to normal. They hope that Nick will be coming back and work with his sister again. The only potential problem is where Adam fits into all this. For Victor’s sake, she hopes he comes around. A very perky Michael joins them and she decides to excuse herself given the lawyer’s ongoing association with “that woman.”
Once she leaves, Michael informs Victor that Ashland gave their guy the slip and they aren’t sure where he is. This makes Victor worry. Locke is dangerous right now, but there is something Victor thinks the lawyer can do.
More: Melissa Claire Egan on career-changing twist
In Sally’s office, Adam asks where things stand with Chloe. She’s interested but worried about where things stand. Sally recalls that he was furious last time his family turned on him, but he calmed down and stuck it out. Is he ready to walk away from the family and the company this time? He assures her he will never rob her of her position in the company. Sally’s moved by this. No one has ever had this much faith in her abilities. That means more to her than the job itself. He doesn’t need to make a sacrifice for her. He assures her it’s no sacrifice; it’s a relief to get away from his family’s crap, their endless contempt and condescension. If he doesn’t get away from them, he’s going to explode. She wonders how much of this rage was sparked by what Locke said to him. “I know what I’m doing,” he insists. Looking him in the face, she tells him she has his best interests at heart, Ashland does not. He knows she means well but no one knows what it’s like to be the Newman black sheep. “Please don’t give up,” she urges, sure everyone will eventually see he’s the best person to run the company.
Adam explains he’s never really been in the running and he’s tired of playing by the rules. Even if there is blow-back, he can’t wait to see how sweet it would feel to get even. “Is that really how you feel son?” Victor asks as he peers in.
More: Y&R romance report
After he sends Sally out, Victor encourages his son to stay and work with his siblings. Adam assumes Nick is back and that means he’s staying at Newman Media. His father points out that it’s a big, standalone company. Adam reminds him he’s been made CEO of the parent company twice already and treated as a placeholder. Victor claims he’s instructed Victoria to treat him with respect and consideration. His son doesn’t think she will do that. After all, he certainly hasn’t. He’s only ever been tolerated, not appreciated. Getting upset, Victor reminds him of all the damage he did to the company when he first came. If he is vengeful now, he will only confirm the suspicions his siblings have of him. “I’m out!” Adam declares, refusing to try once again to be part of the family in the hopes it gets him somewhere. Victor warns that he’s tried to integrate in the past, but if he walks away this time, he will be breaking his father’s heart.
Nikki drops by her daughter’s office and finds her going over architectural plans with her brother. She’s thrilled when Nick tells her he’s coming back. After they hug, she tells them their father will be so thrilled. Victor joins them and they fill him in. Victoria announces she has champagne on ice already. Nikki asks if her husband wants to call Adam. He explains his son no longer wants any part of the family business. They ponder what to do with Sally for a minute and then Victoria just wants to get out the champagne. Once the drinks are poured, they toast to Nick and Victor tells them how happy all of this makes him. It’s the beginning of a new era. Nick offers a toast to his father, who made all of this possible.
Sally tracks Adam down at Society. He explains he told his father where he stands. His father made a half-hearted attempt to ask him to stay. It didn’t amount to much more than requesting Victoria be nicer to him. Insulted, he quit. She’s startled by how fast this is happening and wonders if she should quit too. He doesn’t expect or want that. Spectra doubts his siblings will want her around. Adam wonders if he should have stayed longer to protect her but says he couldn’t deal with them anymore. She gets it and will have his back. She’ll land on her feet like she always does. Regardless of what he does, she’s going to need to watch her back because things are about to get ugly at Newman.
On the Crimson Lights patio, Billy tells Lily how great it will be to have Chelsea giving him feedback on his personal podcast. Victoria has asked him to do a podcast on Ashland for the Grinning Soul. Worried Lily asks if he agreed to that as it could be a legal nightmare. He’s aware of that but thinks this is different from what happened at ChanceComm. Victoria won’t set them up the same way Gaines did. She makes it clear that Victoria’s involvement is not the selling point he thinks she is. He thinks the world needs to know about Ashland before he takes advantage of someone else. Lily can understand that but that doesn’t mean they should do this. Billy promises to talk to Amanda about it first. If the lawyer gives the go-ahead, Lily cautious agrees, then he can go for it.
Billy goes to his podcast studio and starts his episode on Locke, explaining that no one should feel sorry for him. His whole disease was a scam, just like everything else he does.
Diane and Harrison eat ice cream in the park and she tells him how much his father loved to eat it. Ashland watches them from behind a pillar. When the kid runs off to play with friends, Diane spots Locke. She reminds him he’s not supposed to be near the child. He misses him and wants to see him, even if it has to be from a distance. Although she feels for him, she can’t help him and risk jeopardizing things with Kyle.
Diane meets with Michael at Crimson Lights. He asks if she has to have a chaperone when she takes Harrison out and is impressed to learn she’s earned trust from the Abbotts already. The lawyer tells her that Locke may be on the way back and might approach her on one of their outings. She says if he did, she would tell him it was inappropriate and bring Harrison home immediately. “That’s exactly what I don’t want you to do,” he says. They could catch him violating the restraining order. That sounds like something Victor would plan, she says. Diane wants no part of it, even if Michael thinks it could buy her some goodwill from the Newmans. However, she does confirm that she saw Locke today and did exactly what she told him she would do.
Ashland returns to his suite, frustrated he couldn’t say hello to his son. He gets a text about the Grinning Soul’s latest podcast. “What fresh hell is this?” he asks.
Next on The Young and the Restless: Nick makes a surprising announcement.
Take a look at Soaps’ best and worst for 2022 in the photo gallery below.
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<p>And the winner is… <em>General Hospital</em>. Yes, the show threw out some duds in 2022; such is the nature of the beast. But ABC’s daytime drama is the only one that consistently surprises us (RIP, Brando!), dares to ring in the new (viva la Josslyn and Dex!) and does what so many soaps have forgotten how to: keep us on the edge of our seats waiting for that first kiss (“Sprina” FTW!).</p>
<p>The moment Victoria Grace’s Wendy appeared on the <em>Days of Our Lives</em>‘ spinoff <em>Beyond Salem</em>, we were both hooked and somewhat relentless in our determination to have Li’s little sis brought over to the mothership. You’re welcome. </p>
<p>Since first being introduced back in 2011, <em>Young & Restless</em>‘ Chelsea has been… let’s go with “complicated.” So in the wake of her depression and attempted suicide, having the character not only seek therapy but go on an apology tour was a great idea. Except for one little thing… </p>
<p>When <em>Young & Restless’ </em>Chelsea apologized to Billy for having drugged and raped him when first they crossed paths in Myanmar, his response was appalling. “I walked on the wild side and enjoyed every minute of it,” he quipped. To say <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/654808/young-restless-chelsea-rape-billy-story-fan-reaction/">fans were displeased</a> would be an understatement. </p>
<p>It only took them three decades, but <em>Bold & Beautiful</em>‘s Brooke and Taylor finally realized they both deserved better than Ridge. Of course, we’ll see how long their resolve lasts… </p>
<p>Like <em>General Hospital</em>‘s Britt, we’re not entirely sold on Cody. We love, however, his companion Comet! The set on which the gorgeous horse lives is an odd amalgamation of human and pony habitat, but we’re always happy to visit! </p>
<p>We didn’t see Sloan and Eric’s sex-fueled romp coming, but once <em>Days of Our Lives </em>went there, all we could hope was that these two would keep coming back for more! </p>
<p>Our jaws definitely dropped when <em>Young & Restless</em>‘ Devon and Abby suddenly started going at it on the couch… and the stairs… and against the wall… </p>
<p>What does <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> want us to think of Bill after, in a matter of minutes, he begged Brooke, then Katie to take him back? “Pathetic” is a very new and different look for the onetime power player.</p>
<p>It was all the way back in March of 2021 that <em>General Hospital </em>killed Elizabeth’s beloved Franco so they could introduce Austin. Since then, Austin/Maxie and Liz/Finn have both proven to be duds, leaving us to wonder yet again… what was the point? </p>
<p>To say that most fans were upset to hear <em>Days of Our Lives </em>would be moving from NBC — where it had aired for over five decades — to streaming service Peacock would be a massive understatement. </p>
<p><em>General Hospital</em> has kept us waiting for so long for “Sprina” to really happen that we’ve started to wonder whether the characters will be AARP members by the time they get together. That said, we’re pretty sure it’ll be worth the wait. </p>
<p>We were happy to hear that Jefferson White and Kathryn Kelly would be Yellowstone regulars in Season 5 — until we realized that Jimmy and Emily’s Texas address meant we’d go the first seven (!) episodes without so much as a glimpse of them.</p>
<p><em>Bold & Beautiful </em>finally took us back to the runway with a fashion show which gave us everything we’ve come to expect from the folks at Forrester Creations. </p>
<p>No, we’re not saying <em>Young & Restless</em>‘ Sally and Adam don’t have a shot at happiness. We’re actually showing you the reason she and <em>Nick</em> will inevitably hit the skids! </p>
<p>We get that <em>General Hospital</em> didn’t have long-term plans for Rory and Trina. But why kill off the appealing newbie rather than keep him around, either to redeem Esme through a rebound romance… or to join her on the dark side?</p>
<p>We assumed when <em>Days of Our Lives</em> had Alex hit the sheets with Chanel and Allie, viewers would rise up in protest. Instead, most seemed willing to go with the sexual flow. </p>
<p>We were totally intrigued when weird things started happening to <em>General Hospital</em>‘s Elizabeth. But the story has taken so many ridiculous twists — She’s being haunted by Franco! She’s haunting herself! It has something to do with Finn’s dead wife! — that honestly, we stopped caring. Then, they compounded the problem by having Liz tell… </p>
<p>We get why <em>General Hospital</em>‘s Nikolas looks so dumbfounded. We, too, were stunned when Elizabeth claimed to be carrying his baby. Sure, she “fixed” the situation by saying she’d miscarried a few days later, but by then, the damage already had been done. </p>
<p>If <em>Bold & Beautiful</em>‘s Brooke thought Thomas using a knife to peel his apple made him a danger to son Douglas, imagine how freaked out she must be whenever someone breaks out a carving knife to slice up the Thanksgiving turkey! </p>
<p>At the 2022 Daytime Emmys, <em>Young & Restless</em>’ Mishael Morgan (Amanda) became the first Black nominee to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.</p>
<p>If <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> had to (temporarily) kill off fiery Li, at least Naomi Matsura’s character got one hell of a send-off, going up in flames — literally! — while being pursued by Finn’s <em>other</em> mother, lunatic about town Sheila.</p>
<p>We’re not sure which twist we liked better… <em>General Hospital </em>dropping some pretty big hints indicating that Felicia was Esme’s mom… or the shocker that Heather’s tryst with Ryan had resulted in the hellion’s conception! </p>
<p>Having listened to Carter pour out his heart for ages, <em>Bold & Beautiful</em>‘s Quinn knew he wanted nothing more than to marry someone — pretty much anyone — and start a family. So her dumping him weeks after they got together because they wanted different things made no sense whatsoever. </p>
<p>It was a long time in coming, but <em>General Hospital</em>‘s Stella and Portia finally discussed the racial ramifications of Esme’s having framed Trina. “I’ve lived in this world long enough to know how elusive justice can be for people who look like Trina,” sighed Stella, kicking off a discussion many assumed the show wouldn’t dare have.</p>
<p>The final moments of <em>Beyond Salem: Chapter Two</em> revealed that bad girl Megan had been keeping Bo on (literal) ice since his death, leaving us to wonder if he and Hope might get a real reunion following that swoonworthy dance they shared in heaven. Now that both are slated to return to <em>Days of Our Lives</em> in 2023, we’ll finally get our answer!</p>
<p><em>Yellowstone</em> ended Season 4 with a bang, alright — with Beth forcing Jamie to kill biodad Garrett. But after the thrill ride that was Season 3’s finale, it seemed like more of an “Oh, OK” than an “OMG!” climax.</p>
<p>Remember the way that <em>Young & Restless</em> fans refused to let anything or anyone upset the apple cart that was Lily and Cane? Yeah, that’s now pretty much happening with Tessa and Mariah, a couple so untouchable, they’re all but forbidden to have dramatic story. It’ll be interesting to see what the writers do now that the pair are happily wed!</p>
<p>Hands down, it goes to <em>Days of Our Lives</em> for its over-reliance on easy-access masks that can transform anyone into… well, anyone. Heck, if one of our rivals got their hands on one, this whole entry might have been added by an editor from one of our competitors!</p>
<p>It may have taken a few years to get there, but the moment <em>Bold & Beautiful</em>‘s Thomas and Hope agreed to co-parent Douglas, we knew they’d eventually wind up butting heads over custody of the boy. </p>
<p><em>General Hospital</em> can push Austin/Maxie all it wants, but every time he shares a scene with Britt, we become more firmly entrenched on Team #Braustin. #Austitt? Whatever you called ’em, we’re all in.</p>
<p>As much as <em>Days of Our Lives </em>fans dislike Gwen — and boy, do they! — we kinda like that when the chips are down, she and Xander know they can call on one another. While we know we’ll get a whole lotta crap for saying so, it’s hard not to acknowledge that he’s a better fit with Gwen than Sarah! </p>
<p>For months after Brooke’s New Year’s Eve tumble off the wagon, the <em>Bold & Beautiful </em>heroine asked on a daily basis, “Why did I drink?” If we chugged each time she posed the question, we’d have been dead of alcohol poisoning by St. Patrick’s Day. </p>
<p>The year wasn’t even two weeks old when <em>General Hospital</em> had “conniving bitch” Nina talk to the hand — <em>Carly’s</em> hand, as you can see. And needless to say, Nina did not like what the hand had to say.</p>
<p>Approximately 12 seconds after <em>Bold & Beautiful</em>‘s Quinn discovered Eric’s infidelity, she rushed off to reunite with Carter while her hubby happily moved Donna into the mansion. All in all, the situation proved about as dramatic as a bean-growing competition. </p>
<p>After <em>Young & Restless</em> gave Michael a Very Special Episode to celebrate Christian Jules LeBlanc’s anniversary with the show, we feared that he wasn’t so much being put out to pasture as he was already there. So imagine our surprise — <em>and</em> excitement — when Victor decided to put the sneaky bastard’s unique skills to better use.</p>
<p>It was with mixed emotions that we tuned in to the February episode of <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> in which Krista Allen’s Taylor was finally able to ditch the wig that she, we, <em>everybody</em> had had such a good time laughing over. On one hand, we’d miss the chuckles. On the other, c’mon! Au naturel was gorgeous.</p>
<p>Only the last flashback of the final episode of <em>This Is Us </em>revealed the “secret” of the Pin the Tail on the Donkey game: Rebecca had insisted they buy it because the three children on the cover reminded her of their own brood. </p>
<p>The January dustup in which <em>General Hospital</em> had Ava go ballistic at Carly for letting Avery sleep at “grandma” Bobbie’s after Luke’s memorial was (a) a sharp insight into the accidental conflicts that can arise in blended families, (b) all too familiar to any of us who fly off the handle before we hear the whole story and (c) hilarious, thanks to Brook Lynn’s background interjections. More real, human drama — with comedy — thank you.</p>
<p>Why didn’t <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> have Deputy Chief Baker monitoring infamous psycho Sheila at all times? Do L.A. cops really think that this particularly rabid leopard has changed her spots?</p>
<p>Rather than invest in a private office, <em>Young & Restless</em>’ Sharon insisted on treating Crimson Lights patrons to analysis along with their croissants and lattes. “No, not <em>you</em>,” she might as well have told everyone in line after Abby. “As if! Only series regulars need apply!”</p>
<p><em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ possession storyline may have put viewers through hell, but could anyone argue that Johnny didn’t make a sin-sational host for Satan? Didn’t think so.</p>
<p>Soon after <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> cast Cassandra Creech as Paris’ mom, we learned that Grace was both a doctor and single. Yet Grace was given nothing to do but fret about her daughter’s love life. Worse, once Paris was left at the altar by Carter, Grace vanished entirely! </p>
<p>When Jesse Spencer decided to leave his role as the popular Matt Casey on <em>Chicago Fire</em> to concentrate on family, fans shed enough tears to douse a four-alarm blaze. Despite the huge blow of losing the leading man, happily, Casey has continued his relationship with Sylvie long-distance, which bodes well for a potential return… </p>
<p>That would be the one in which <em>General Hospital</em> refused to release viewers from the endless — and endlessly loathed — Peter storyline. We never imagined we would start another year complaining about that one, and yet… there we were. And when the plot <em>finally</em> came to a close, it delivered the…</p>
<p>Rather than use the fact that 99 percent of Port Charles wanted Peter dead, the show passed on playing a murder mystery in order to have Felicia whack him upside the head and leave him to perish in a bed of <span style="text-decoration: line-through">packing peanuts</span> snow. Zzz.</p>
<p><em>Young & Restless</em> had Billy hatch a cockamamie plot to stick it to Adam and Victor, then had him not bother to follow through. Perhaps the powers that be realized just how cockamamie it was and didn’t want to read any more critiques of the storyline? And if you think <em>that</em> was anticlimactic, wait…</p>
<p>The reason <em>Young & Restless</em>’ Billy wanted to get back at Adam and Victor in the first place was because they upended his cush job at Chance Comm. But since everyone in Genoa City is rich, powerful and related, he wound up immediately being hired anew to work with the same person (girlfriend Lily) in the same office. So yeah, <em>totally</em> sensible and relatable impetus for revenge, guys. Nailed it.</p>
<p>Loved <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ Johnny as the devil, yes, but didn’t at <em>all</em> like the rape-y way that the demon forced kisses on Gabi with the ultimate goal of bedding her. Also, wouldn’t a supernatural force <em>that</em> omnipotent have a grander plan than having sex with a random hottie?</p>
<p>Answer: Because <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> is written based on plot necessity, not history or logic. Question: Why did Brooke make such a big deal of keeping secret from Ridge her drunken kiss with Deacon? This is the same Ridge who basically laughed it off when she mistook daughter Hope’s masked boyfriend for him and schtupped the young buck against a wall at a party.</p>
<p>When Jack began receiving mysterious texts, we joined <em>Young & Restless </em>fans in trying to guess from whom they were being sent. We came up with some pretty far-out ideas… but never once suspected Diane would rise from her (premature) grave to stir things up again! </p>
<p>We have problems with <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ decision to have Craig realize late in life that he’s gay — but they have nothing to do with the realization itself. (We don’t like that the show took away the fantasy that the plus-sized gal could be the hot guy’s turn-on.) That was bold, modern storytelling that many a family could tell you rang true to life.</p>
<p><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/621806/chad-duell-discusses-breakup-with-courtney-hope-general-hospital-young-restless/" target="_blank">In a late-January <em>State of Mind</em></a>, <em>General Hospital</em> leading man Chad Duell (Michael) broke his silence on the subject of his breakup with longtime significant other Courtney Hope (Sally, <em>Young & Restless</em>) in such a way that he let fans know that they were OK — and that he wouldn’t be divulging any details.</p>
<p>After what seemed like years of Ellen Pompeo indicating she really wanted to leave <em>Grey’s Anatomy</em>, Meredith finally departed for greener pastures, with her portrayer taking on a much smaller role moving forward. </p>
<p>Hmm. You’ve just recovered your memory and come back from the dead, only to blow up your marriage by revealing that you still have feelings for your “new” self’s girlfriend… Sure, <em>General Hospital</em>, that would be a time when Sonny would say, “Ya know what? Who <em>needs</em> lithium? It’s the broccoli of drugs, and I’m not having any.”</p>
<p>After <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> won the 2021 “award” for <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/gallery/daytime-soap-operas-best-worst-2021-couples-scenes-photos/vinny-confess-bb-cbs-2/" target="_blank">Most Unintentionally Hilarious Fight</a>, we were delighted to see the show come out swinging in 2022 with a Ridge/Deacon smackdown that was so intense, we had to put a Band-Aid and icepack on our TV when it was over.</p>
<p>No gold medal for <em>Days of Our Lives</em>, which seemed to be so caught off guard by the two weeks of pre-emptions that accompanied the winter Olympics that it didn’t leave us with any real “Ack! But I <em>need</em> to know what happens next!” cliffhangers. Worse, the same thing happened when the soap made the move from NBC to Peacock! </p>
<p>Continuing its new tradition of turning away from drama as often as possible, <em>Young & Restless</em> set up an Abby vs. Devon fight over Dominic… and then resolved the matter amicably with no courtroom histrionics whatsoever. Where’s the fun in that?</p>
<p>Even though it’s as plain as the smile on Link’s handsome face, <em>Grey’s Anatomy</em> doc Jo never thought in all the years that they’d been friends that they’d make a sweet couple? Seriously? As you can see, all she had to do was have someone Google it, and boom! Their pairing would have been obvious to her. (Hey, at least she finally got there!)</p>
<p><em>Young & Restless</em> recast Noah with the appealing Rory Gibson, only to turn the legacy character into a sad sack obsessing over an ex who was never all that into him in the first place. Why? Fortunately, Noah would eventually find a new lady over whom to moon in Allie. </p>
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