Pod People: Why is Young and the Restless Suddenly All About Podcasts?

Doesn’t it feel like not an episode can go by of The Young and the Restless without the word ‘podcast’ coming up? Over and over and over again? First, Billy Abbott decided his middle-of-the-night ramblings were worthy of one, and it quickly became a broadcasting sensation — or so we’ve been told.

Young and the Restless: Podcasts Everywhere

Allie Nguyen (Kelsey Wang) and Noah Newman (Rory Gibson) bonded over how much they loved it — even if they didn’t agree on its ultimate, deep message. Adam Newman (Mark Grossman) was so threatened by it, that he insisted Newman Media must have a podcast of its own.

And now Elena Dawson (Brytni Sarpy) thinks a podcast is the key to mending her floundering relationship with Nate Hastings (Sean Dominic). She’s even willing to work less at the clinic — eh, sick people can fend for themselves — in order to make podcasting happen.

Y&R Multimedia

Is Y&R planning to record these podcasts, voiced by their respective actors, and release them as extra content? It wouldn’t be the first time a CBS show went there. As the World Turns and Guiding Light released tie-in books, two on the air, complete with a mystery author, and the other about what happened to a character while he was off-screen. ATWT and Y&R also did cross-over web episodes. So they’re familiar with the concept of real-world content that’s featured both on the show and off.

Young and the Restless: Black Hole

But if that’s not the plan, then what is? Why is a show that used to be about cosmetics, and fashion and…whatever it is Newman Enterprises makes, suddenly obsessed with podcasts?

Do they just think that saying the word makes them sound young and hip? If Y&R thinks that podcasts are the way to attract new viewers, they need to stop merely talking about them on the show and release them out in the real world!

The Young and the Restless (YR) airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Genoa City, check out all the latest that’s been posted on Y&R spoilers, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.