Were there always plans to reunite Billy and Phyllis?
“It’s always felt clear that Billy and Phyllis had lots of unfinished business. We knew that we would return to their relationship at some point, but didn’t want to rush things. This feels like a natural progression in their long-term story.”
Why is the timing right now?
“We reached a point, story-wise, where it made sense. Billy was tired of being emotionally pushed out by Victoria, whilst Phyllis and Jack appeared reconciled to their separation, although Jack will never fully forgive Billy or Phyllis. Phyllis has tried the online dating scene and found it wasn’t for her. There’s so much unresolved tension between her and Billy, they literally couldn’t stay apart even when they tried. We’ve already told the story of the affair — now we’re ready to tell the story of their relationship.”
Did the vocal fan support of this duo have anything to do with putting them back together?
“There’s always been great rooting power for Billy and Phyllis, just as there is for Billy and Victoria. Both pairings have very local and passionate fan bases as well, which makes telling this story even more fun, but this has always been our long-term plan.”
What can you tease about what this will mean for Jack and Victoria?
“There will be some surprising reactions to Billy and Phyllis reuniting. When the news comes out, it will certainly bring residual feelings to the surface for all parties concerned.”
What can you tease about the future of Billy and Phyllis?
“The last time Billy and Phyllis were together, their relationship, though passionate and heated, was strained, guilt-ridden and had to be kept under wraps. But now that their relationship will be public, they may discover that this can actually create an entirely different set of complications for them both.”
What do you like about this pairing?
“At Y&R, we have the best ensemble of actors, who all play off of each other so well, as well as bringing their individual qualities and talents to the show. Jason [Thompson, Billy] and Gina [Tognoni, Phyllis] are fabulous actors with fantastic chemistry. They light up the screen together. I can’t wait for the viewers to see what we have planned for them!”
