Gays of our Lives (June 30, 2009)

Bierdz has publicly stated he’d only be interested in returning to the show if he could play Phillip as an openly gay man. And as has been long rumored and speculated upon, The Globe reveals that Phillip’s reason for doing so was because he was secretly gay, felt trapped by the responsibilities of being a Chancellor, a husband and a father and couldn’t no longer live a lie. Fabricating his demise was his way out.

John Driscoll plays Phillip’s now adult son, Phillip Chancellor IV,
who will be called ‘Chance’

Now the question is, can the writers make a character who abandoned his wife and infant son for any reason, much less due to his own struggles with his sexuality, sympathetic and understandable -- especially for straight viewers? That will be the focus of this story as over the coming weeks and months, as Phillip makes peace and finds redemption and healing with the family he left behind, including his now adult son, played by John Driscoll, who makes his debut on the show July 16^th.

It’s bound to be a riveting and compelling saga as word from the Y&R set is that scenes of Phillip’s return had those who watched in tears. Of course, we’ll be following every moment of this story, including whispers of romance for a newly returned Phillip Chancellor III.

Another week, another actor loses their gig as the result of controversy revolving around a gay storyline. Only this time it’s One Life To Live where all the backstage drama is coming from and the show hasn’t even started its gay storyline yet.

Daytime Confidential is reporting that Patricia Mauceri, who has played the role of Carlotta Vega for well over a decade, was fired last Friday and her role recast after she balked at playing a beat in the upcoming gay love story between Oliver Fish (played out actor Scott Evans) and Kyle Lewis (Brett Claywell).

Actress Patricia Mauceri

According to DC, the actress, who is with the show on a recurring basis (and in fact, hadn’t been seen on screen in a number of months) was to play a small beat in the overarching ‘Kish’ storyline. Oliver has come to terms with his sexuality and has decided to come out to his very conservative parents and to help with that, he buys a book on how to come out to your family.

The book falls into the hands of Oliver’s straight roommate Cristian, whose mother Carlotta, sees him with it. In a comedy of errors, Carlotta is at first shocked that her son is gay (especially since he’s been married a couple of times and slept with half the female population of Llanview), but quickly comes to accept her son’s sexuality.

The actress, however, allegedly didn’t find the scenes so amusing.