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Adam Newman
The Young and the Restless character
File:MichaelMuhney.jpg
Michael Muhney as Adam Newman (2009)
Portrayed byCeleste and Coryn Williams
(1995)
Danielle and Sabrina Hepler
(1995)
Spencer Klass
(1995-1996)
Hayden Tank
(1996-1997; 2002)
Chris Engen
(2008-2009)
Michael Muhney
(2009-present)
First appearanceApril 24, 1995
Created byWilliam J. Bell
In-universe information
Other namesAdam Wilson
Victor Newman, Jr. (birth name)
Occupation
  • Former PR Executive at Newman Enterprises
  • Former Wall Street stockbrocker with Keller-Stuart
  • Former Real estate agent selling condos in Williamsburg
  • Harvard Business School masters degree, graduated second in his class
  • Bachelor's degree at Northwestern University
    • ParentsVictor Newman
    Hope Wilson
    (deceased)
    Cliff Wilson
    (step-father; deceased)
    SiblingsVictoria Newman
    (paternal half-sister)
    Nicholas Newman
    (paternal half-brother)
    Abby Carlton
    (paternal half-sister)
    SpouseSharon Newman
    (2009 - present)
    ChildrenNoah Newman
    (step-son)
    Faith Newman
    (step-daughter)
    GrandparentsAlbert Miller
    (deceased)
    Cora Miller
    (deceased)
    Aunts and unclesMatthew Miller
    (paternal)
    Nieces and nephewsSummer Newman
    Reed Hellstrom

    Adam Newman (born Victor Newman, Jr., also known as Adam Wilson) is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. He is the son of longrunning lead character Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) and Hope Wilson (Signy Coleman),[1][2] born onscreen in April 1995.[3] The character came to mainstream attention in May 2009 when portrayer Chris Engen quit the series prematurely, reportedly due to personal objections over his storyline.[4][5] Within days of Engen's replacement by actor Michael Muhney in June 2009, heterosexual villain Adam engages in an off-screen sexual encounter with another male character.[4][5] Engen defended his decision in a statement,[6][7][8] and co-stars Eileen Davidson and Braeden noted in subsequent interviews that Engen had been unhappy with his character's storyline and villainous actions long before the gay plot twist had come up.[5][9]

    Casting

    The character was first played by infant twins Celeste and Coryn Williams, then by Danielle and Sabrina Helper, followed by Spencer Klass, all in 1995.[3] Hayden Tank played young Victor Jr. from December 1996 to August 1997 and made a guest appearance on June 26, 2002.[2] Engen originated the adult role on February 12, 2008,[1][10] and was nominated for a SoapCentral Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2009.[11] On May 21, 2009, it was announced that Engen would be leaving the role, which would be recast with Muhney.[12] Engen's last airdate was June 24, 2009,[8][13] and Muhney debuted on June 25, 2009.[8][14][15]

    Controversy

    When news broke of Engen's exit, it was reported that he had allegedly quit the series due to personal objections over an upcoming same-sex relationship between Adam and male character Rafe Torres (Yani Gellman).[4][5] Engen became the subject of some criticism, including a post by celebrity blogger Perez Hilton who wrote "homophobe" on a photo of Engen.[16]

    On May 27, 2009, Maria Arena Bell, the co-head writer and co-executive producer for The Young and Restless, told TV Guide Canada's Nelson Branco, "While I won’t comment on Chris’ decision, I will admit I was saddened that we had to recast because Engen was really [gelling] in the role. However, I have no doubt that Michael will make Adam his own."[17] In a subsequent June 10, 2009 interview with Branco, Engen's co-star Davidson (who portrays Ashley Abbott) said of his exit, "Everybody has his or her own demons — and makes their own choices due to their creative process. I can’t judge his decision because it was a personal one."[18] She also noted, "I can say I love working with [recast] Michael Muhney. He’s a terrific actor."[18] In subsequent interviews, co-star Braeden stated his disappointment with Engen's departure.[9][19] Braeden told Soap Opera Digest that he unsuccessfully attempted to convince Engen to stay.[9] "He was somewhat disturbed by the fact that he was playing this evil character," Braeden stated. "I said, 'Listen, I remember Victor feeding rats to people.' I told him to embrace it because he had the most riveting storyline around, period."[9] In Soaps In Depth, Braeden said, "I'm saddened by the fact that he left ... It was a hell of a role. Whatever personal reasons he has, you've got to respect that. But he was a very nice guy, very professional. We all liked working with him. We were shocked when he decided to leave, but that's his personal decision."[19]

    On May 26, 2009, Engen released a statement on his Myspace page where he denied accusations of homophobia as well as reports that he "stormed off set."

    "I felt generally unhappy about my contribution to the show, and had greater and greater difficulty making any sense of the challenges they were asking me to face ... I was allowed ONE meeting with Maria Bell, and I called in sick ONCE in my 16 months on the show. In the end, I didn’t feel that decisions were being made in my best interests, personally or professionally...Ultimately, the producers were very understanding and amenable and I, in fact, worked until they told me they didn’t need me anymore."[6][7][8]

    —Engen, MySpace

    Addressing the accusations of homophobia against Engen, Davidson told Michael Fairman of The Advocate, "He was having problems with the character long before this homosexual thing came up... I think it was a series of events with Adam killing Ashley’s baby that got to him much more than the gay thing...I believe Chris was having a hard time wrapping his head around where the character was coming from and where it was going."[5]

    Engen's last airdate was June 24, 2009,[8][13] and Muhney appeared the following day.[8][14][15] A day later on June 26, 2009, a storyline twist evolved in which heterosexual Adam seduces male lawyer Rafe to distract him from discovering Adam's criminal activities.[20][21] Some fans were upset that Adam and Rafe's June 29, 2009, "sex scene" was implied rather than shown onscreen;[22] Nelson Branco of TV Guide Canada made the point that "Filming a sex scene between a straight and gay man could come off as offensive. Firstly, Adam would have to appear uncomfortable in the situation which could anger gay right groups, etc."[22] Muhney also approved of the choice not to show the sex scene. "For me, the way it was done was tasteful and it almost makes the audience wonder what exactly happened," he said in an interview with The Advocate. "You can create that in your head and try to interpret it by how the characters reacted afterwards."[23]

    Characterization and portrayal

    The Young and the Restless creator William J. Bell created Adam (then known as Victor Newman, Jr.) in 1995 as part of a social issue storyline. The plot involved Hope Adams's decision to carry Victor's child to term despite the possibility that he could inherit his mother's blindness later in life.[3][24] Adam departed the series in 1997 and returned in 2008, portrayed by Chris Engen.[1][10][24] Adam's off-screen background was established to reflect his father's, with the character making his own way in the world by putting himself through college and beginning a career in finance.[24] The first adult to play Adam, Engen told CBS Soaps In Depth, "Luckily, I'm not going to be compared to anyone else ... anything I do and anything I try to project, and [the] kind of ideas that I have to influence the character are okay." Engen stated his intent to portray Adam as a "rich, three-dimensional character" with ambitions, flaws, and the positive qualities of his mother Hope.[25]

    File:Chrisengenpromotional.png
    Chris Engen as Adam (2008)

    As the character's story progressed, he ultimately became "one of the most devious characters on daytime"[23] as part of a gothic plot in which Adam secretly torments Victor's love interest, Ashley, to get revenge on his father.[26] Since the story called for Adam to be blind with ambiguity surrounding whether or not the disability is fake, Engen said he was not sure how to portray the impairment. "I didn't want to nail it on the head completely with the blindness, because I wasn't sure if the blindness was real]," Engen said in an interview with CBS Soaps in Depth. "Signy [Coleman, Hope] won awards for her portrayal of retinitis pigmentosa, and I thought it would be a dishonor to that if I came too close to the mark."[27] Engen said that in regards to his character he thought that Maria Arena Bell, co-executive producer Paul Rauch, and the writers "know what they're doing, and right now it would seem like Adam is instigating more ... drama." He worried about the character's actions leading to him becoming irredeemable, but also said he took it as a challenge for him to make what Adam does "interesting and human."[27]

    In May 2009, Engen departed the role in the middle of his contract because of his objections to the growing darkness in the character.[6][7][8] Bell recast the role with Michael Muhney. In interviews, the actor said the darkness of the character did not make him hesitate to take on the role. He instead embraced the prospect of taking on such a character. Muhney said the plot point of seducing Rafe broadened Adam's horizons. "What it did was move a character who represents a person who lives in Genoa City and moved him outside of a box that you can neatly check off," he said. "'He is straight, he is this, or he is that,' and the fact that some lines are blurred makes him more real ... When they did that with this character, I loved the opportunity to play into a different realm which is usually not touched upon on television."[23] Muhney described the character as a "puppeteer" with "survival instinct", but also someone with a conscience.[23][28]

    Storylines

    Hope Wilson gives birth to Victor Adam Newman, Jr., in April 1995.[3][29] Hope and Victor divorce that year and she later returns to Kansas in 1997, with Hope insisting that Victor stay out of his son's life. Hope later marries ex-boyfriend Cliff Wilson. Victor has limited contact with this son over the next few years,[24] and speaks to him on the phone on June 26, 2002.[30]

    In February 2008 Victor visits Hope, who is dying from pancreatic cancer; their son, who is now known as "Vic," arrives and is shocked by his mother's dying admission that Victor is his father.[24] A Harvard-educated Wall Street stockbroker,[31] Vic thinks of Cliff as his father and is resentful that Victor would "abandon" his own child. However, Hope's dying wish is that her son get to know Victor.[24] Soon accepting Victor's offer to return to Genoa City with him and work at Newman Enterprises,[2] Victor Jr. – now going by "Adam Wilson" – insists that it is merely a career decision and keeps his distance from Victor. Adam receives a lukewarm reception from Victor's wary other children, Victoria (Amelia Heinle) and Nicholas (Joshua Morrow), who resent him for their parents break-up when Victor had gone to Kansas. Adam's conflicts with Nicholas and Victoria strain each of their relationships with Victor. Adam and Victor's own relationship improves, in part due to Victor's girlfriend Sabrina Costelana's (Raya Meddine) urging, and Adam soon meets and becomes romantically involved with lawyer Heather Stevens (Vail Bloom). They keep the romance secret because Victor holds a grudge against Heather for previously attempting to prosecute him for murder, and Heather's father Paul Williams (Doug Davidson) also dislikes the match. Sabrina dies; a distraught Victor leaves home and is presumed dead. Adam assumes the surname Newman, soon asserting control over Victor's company and ranch. The rest of the family are powerless to stop a seemingly power-hungry Adam, who gets rid of Victor's personal belongings, fires Victoria and longtime employee Neil Winters (Kristoff St. John), and rehires one of Victor's nemeses, Brad Carlton (Don Diamont).[2] Nicholas and Victoria's hopes for a turnaround are dashed when Victor's will leaves most of the company and ranch to Adam, thanks to their difficulties with Victor before his death. Victor soon reappears alive; shocked by Adam's actions, Victor fires and disowns him, once again referring to his son as "Adam Wilson."[32]

    Seeking revenge, Adam plots with Victor's longtime enemy Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) to use a forged diary to frame Victor for murder.[33] Adam is ultimately caught and arrested;[2] in jail, he breaks down in front of Victor, saying that all he ever wanted has been to be Victor's son. Victor tells Adam to prove he is a Newman by being strong; later visiting Adam on the anniversary of Hope's death, Victor he sees Adam's angry confrontation as a positive change. Heather notices that Adam's eyesight is beginning to fail;[2] Victor is at first suspicious, but soon realizes that Adam's condition is real. When Adam is brutally beaten by another inmate, he tells his father that as Victor's son he is a target there. Victor finally agrees to get the charges dropped and have Adam freed if he agrees to certain terms. Released into Victor's custody and eventually reunited with Heather, Adam also befriends Victor's current girlfriend and ex-wife, Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson).[27]

    In April 2009, a pregnant Ashley begins hearing a baby crying on the ranch, and begins finding objects seemingly left for her by Sabrina. The housekeeper Estella Munoz (Anne Betancourt) is blamed and arrested, but a vengeful Adam is secretly the one gaslighting Ashley, injecting botox into his eyes to simulate blindness during medical exams. Nicholas and Victoria's mother Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) voices her suspicions that Adam is involved, but Victor and Ashley dismiss her. Adam dresses up like the late Sabrina to frighten Ashley, who tumbles down the stairs, is knocked unconscious, and miscarries her baby. Adam attempts to cover up the incident by placing a knocked-out Ashley in her bed and burning her bloody nightgown; she wakes up screaming, and Adam convinces her that she just had a bad dream. He then blackmails a doctor into telling Ashley that he baby is still alive.[26][27] Subjected to a surprise eye exam at Victor's request, Adam is shocked to discover that even without his botox injection, he is now really losing his eyesight. When the doctor also notes that Adam has punctures in his eyes, a quick-thinking Adam "confesses" that he had been attacked by inmates with hypodermic needles.[20] Estella's nephew Rafe Torres (Yani Gellman), Adam's friend and former court-appointed defense attorney, becomes suspicious of Adam. To distract Rafe, Adam seduces him.[20][21] Getting dressed after an offscreen sexual encounter,[5] Adam sends Rafe away, summons Heather, and has sex with her as well.[21] After Victor asks Rafe about Adam's prison attack with needles, a suspicious Rafe comes to see Adam on July 8, 2009.[34] Though Adam intends to put a quick end to his budding "relationship" with Rafe, he immediately reverts to his seduction tactics to deflect Rafe's questions; Rafe initially resists, but gives in when Adam says, "I thought I found someone that I could be 'me' with."[34] Nikki stumbles upon the men kissing, but leaves unseen.[34] She later reveals what she saw to Victor and Nick, while Adam "breaks up" with Rafe, only to be confronted by his father moments later. On August 7, 2009, Heather sees a note left from Nikki revealing that Adam is "gay." Heather confronts Adam about his relationship with Rafe, and despite Adam's denials she breaks up with him. Adam later steals his former sister-in-law Sharon Abbott's newborn baby girl and passes her off as Ashley's baby. Adam elopes with Sharon on December 28, 2009.

    Reception

    CBS Soaps In Depth reported that Engen gained fan support quickly after joining the cast as Adam, as did the character's romance with Heather.[27][35][36] "I thank God for that aspect of my storyline," Engen said of the romance. "I really do feel that he genuinely loves her. Heather has been the only light in this world of darkness that the character has lived in since I started. She's probably responsible for me still being on the show."[27] As the character took a dark turn, fans continued to root for him. "To think there was any likability left in the character baffles me!" Engen said. "I'm very grateful to the fans ... they've been so supportive." He said fans wanted Adam either redeemed or turned into a gray character.[27] Davidson credited the characters likability with Engen's looks. "[H]e really nailed this character," she said. "Chris’ all-American looks add another layer to this story: he looks like he regrets being so evil, but he can’t help himself. When Chris informed me he was leaving, I told him he really accomplished something by being so likable playing this villain."[18] TV Guide Canada's Nelson Branco repeatedly praised Adam's storyline with Ashley and Victor[18][37] and Engen as an actor.[37][38] "The Haunting of Ashley is fast becoming one of my favorite all-time soap storylines ever," Branco said. "It's so 1970s. I have no doubt former Another World master scribe and Paul Rauch BFF/frenemy, Harding Lemay, is freaking if he’s watching this gothic, macabre and super-creepy mystery. Moreover, camp-ilicious Chris Engen (Adam) is stealing the story with his very bitchy, and sexy performance of a deranged son scorned."[37] CBS Soaps In Depth also commended Adam's stories.[32][39] The magazine named Engen a gold star for playing Adam as a gray character with "sardonic humor."[40] Soap Opera Digest named the actor performer of the week for his work in his final scenes as Adam. The magazine said, the actor "gave a performance that elevated Adam from an average villain to a complex matermind."[41] The story of Adam causing Ashley's miscarriage was named editor's choice by the magazine.[42]

    Branco referred to Muhney "as the most-talked-about recast in Y&R history" and praised his performance as he debuted on the show.[43] TV Guide Canada's Denette Wilford also complimented the actor's portrayal of Adam, saying, "Viewers aren't supposed to empathize with him, but his portrayer managed to make it happen – a testament to Muhney."[44] AfterElton.com's Michael Jensen reported that viewers enjoyed the character as portrayed by Muhney. The actor said he received both positive and negative reviews from online fans.[28]

    References

    1. ^ a b c "Soap Star Stats:Chris Engen (Adam/Victor Jr., Y&R)". SoapOperaDigest.com. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
    2. ^ a b c d e f "The Young and the Restless Cast: Victor Newman Jr./Adam Wilson". Soaps.com. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
    3. ^ a b c d Cassata, Mary; Irwin, Barbara (1996). Hoffman, Peter (ed.). The Young and the Restless Most Memorable Moments. Los Angeles, California: General Publishing Group. ISBN 1-881649-87-3.
    4. ^ a b c Logan, Michael (July 2, 2009). "Soaps: The Gays of Summer". TVGuideMagazine.com. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
    5. ^ a b c d e f Fairman, Michael (July 2, 2009). "Soapside: Advocate 's Guide to Daytime". Advocate.com. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
    6. ^ a b c Engen, Chris (May 26, 2009). "Chris Engen: Statement to the Public". Blogs.MySpace.com. Retrieved July 11, 2009.
    7. ^ a b c Branco, Nelson (May 29, 2009). "The Suds Report: May 29, 2009". TV Guide Canada. TVGuide.sympatico.msn.ca. Retrieved July 11, 2009.
    8. ^ a b c d e f g "Ins & Outs". CBS Soaps In Depth. June 22, 2009. pp. 10–11.
    9. ^ a b c d Owens, Devin (June 23, 2009). "Adam Bomb". Soap Opera Digest. p. 40.
    10. ^ a b "Comings and Goings". Soap Opera Digest. February 19, 2008. p. 17.
    11. ^ "The Dankies: 2008-2009". SoapCentral.com. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
    12. ^ "Young and the Restless Quickie Recast: Michael Muhney In!". Soaps.com. May 21, 2009. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
    13. ^ a b "Comings and Goings: Chris Engen (Adam Wilson)". Soap Opera Digest. June 30, 2009 (Vol. 34, No. 26). p. 17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
    14. ^ a b "Exclusive: Y&R Recasts Victor's Son with Man from Mars". TVGuide.com. May 21, 2009. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
    15. ^ a b "Comings and Goings: Michael Muhney (Adam Wilson)". Soap Opera Digest. June 30, 2009 (Vol. 34, No. 26). p. 17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
    16. ^ Hilton, Perez (May 21, 2009). "Soap Star Quits Because Of Gay Kiss". PerezHilton.com. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
    17. ^ Branco, Nelson (May 27, 2009). "Soap Whisperer". TVGuide.sympatico.msn.ca. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
    18. ^ a b c d Branco, Nelson (June 10, 2009). "Murder at the Emmys". TVGuide.sympatico.msn.ca. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
    19. ^ a b "Braeden Speaks Out!". CBS Soaps in Depth. July 6, 2009. p. 29.
    20. ^ a b c "The Tables Are Turned on Y&R 's Adam and Cane". Soap Opera Digest. June 30, 2009. p. 9.
    21. ^ a b c "Adam Seduces Rafe on Y&R". Soap Opera Digest. July 7, 2009. p. 6.
    22. ^ a b Branco, Nelson (June 29, 2009). "Nelson Ratings: June 29, 2009". TVGuide.sympatico.msn.ca. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
    23. ^ a b c d Fairman, Michael (July 9, 2009). "Stepping in and Playing it Straight?". Advocate.com. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
    24. ^ a b c d e f Owens, Devin (February 19, 2008). "Losing Hope". Soap Opera Digest. pp. 36–39.
    25. ^ "Another Son Rises". CBS Soaps In Depth. April 14, 2008. pp. 62–65.
    26. ^ a b "Tragedy Strikes!". Soaps In Depth. June 22, 2009. pp. 24–27.
    27. ^ a b c d e f g McElwain, Julie (June 22, 2009). "Smooth Operator". CBS Soaps In Depth. pp. 44–47.
    28. ^ a b Jensen, Michael (July 9, 2009). "Michael Muhney of The Young and the Restless on Playing Heteroflexible, Machiavellian and More!". AfterElton.com. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
    29. ^ "Branch Hands: The Newmans". Soap Opera Digest. March 11, 2008. p. 65.
    30. ^ The Young and the Restless recap (June 26, 2002) - Soapcentral.com
    31. ^ It is eventually noted onscreen that the character has a Master of Business Administration degree from the Harvard Business School, that he had graduated 2nd in his class, and is initially employed at a firm named Keller-Stuart.
    32. ^ a b "Victor Fires Adam". CBS Soaps In Depth. October 13, 2008. p. 105.
    33. ^ "To the Victor Go the Spoils". CBS Soaps In Depth. October 13, 2008. pp. 26–29.
    34. ^ a b c The Young and the Restless recap (July 8, 2009) - Soaps.com
    35. ^ "Mom Knows Best". CBS Soaps In Depth. 2009-03-30. p. 69.
    36. ^ McElwain, Julie (2009-10-27). "Burn Notice". CBS Soaps In Depth. pp. 62–65.
    37. ^ a b c Branco, Nelson (May 18, 2009). "Nelson Ratings: May 18, 2009". TVGuide.sympatico.msn.ca. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
    38. ^ Branco, Nelson (March 18, 2009). "2009's Most Improved Actors". TVGuide.sympatico.msn.ca. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
    39. ^ "Adam Sees Red". CBS Soaps In Depth. 04/13/08. p. 105. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
    40. ^ "Ins & Outs". CBS Soaps In Depth. June 8, 2009. pp. 100–101.
    41. ^ "Performer of the Week". Soap Opera Digest. 2009-07-28.
    42. ^ "Editor's Choice". Soap Opera Digest. 2009-07-07. pp. 38–39.
    43. ^ Branco, Nelson (June 26, 2009). "The Suds Report: June 26, 2009". TVGuide.sympatico.msn.ca. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
    44. ^ Wilford, Denette (07-17-09). "Y&R's gay old time 07-17-09". TVGuide.sympatico.msn.ca. Retrieved July 21, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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