Michael Muhney digs deep into Adam's persona.

In two interviews today with The Advocate and After Elton Michael Muhney (Adam 2.0) talks about portraying Adam Newman, Adam's sexuality, how he feels about homosexuality, and other things about coming on to The Young and the Restless. Excerpts are below, to view the full articles click the links.

After Elton:

AE: I just watched that scene again when you first seduce Rafe, and you ended up sleeping with him. Can you walk me through what was going through Adam's mind at that moment?
MM: I think in a moment in which you've tried everything you can to verbally divert someone's eyes from something you don't want them to see or find, you've tried everything you can, and you realize you have to take it up a level.

I think Adam's strength — and weakness — is that he feels he can dial in on anybody and figure out what makes them tick, and play to or against that, if he needs to. If it's Ashley realizing that she might be fragile, he can play on her fears. If it's Rafe, and knowing they are similar in age and knowing his sexual preference, he can use that information that can give him power in that situation.

Adam found himself in a situation where he was expressing himself to Rafe in way that he's going to be able to divert him, before he realizes he's going to have to follow through on what he's advertising.

E: Do you and Yani get to discuss the scenes before hand, or have any rehearsal, and what did you talk about if you did?
MM: Well, I told him I wanted to make out in his dressing room for a little while just to get all warmed up. [laughing] He didn't know me very well at first, so I had explain that it was just an attempt at humor.

What I like about Yani is that he was very open to it. In this moment, he has to be the puppy dog that is being seduced. I say puppy dog, but he's going to be this person who is vulnerable and he's going to be more honest in that moment then of course Adam is being. The seducer is the aggressor and the alpha.

I told him physically, "There might be certain things I want to do, or if I want to approach you a certain way, are you comfortable with whatever it is I might throw your way." He was completely wide open, which made for a great rehearsal process in the dressing room where we just kind of running through lines and feeling it out, walking it out the scenes leading up to it so there would be chemistry there leading up to the moment.

Then when we finally started, I think we were at a good full speed. I feel we put our best foot forward. I'm a perfectionist, so I'd like to take twenty-five takes of anything, but the take that we took, I was very pleased with.

AE: What's the most surprising feedback or comment you've had at this point?
MM: Well, first of all, the support has been so welcomed, of course, but what's interesting is how many viewers out there are really emotionally invested, and intelligent and articulate enough to express why they like what I'm doing, and what it is that's refreshing about this particular character.

At the same time, I embrace — and I have to if I'm going to consider myself well-rounded — I have to embrace the negative stuff that certain people are saying. However, I've found that a lot of the negative things I've read so far, basically, I can sum up in two main categories. Apparently, a lot of people are complaining that I'm too tall compared to the last actor, and others have not moved on with their emotional embracing of the previous actor.

There's an acceptance period for people to get used to me as this character, but the reaction as a whole, outside from being too tall and being Michael Muhney, has been really interesting and I've appreciated it. And I've also appreciated that what we have is a character that Maria created, but has become one more stimulus from debate on open forums about people and sexuality and sexual preference, and not everyone is always what you think they are, and don’t try and judge a book by its cover or package people neatly into a certain box because that's not what life is.

In a way, I think that's when her writing and storytelling becomes more relevant today. It's not 1985. It's not even, like you said, five years ago.

The Advocate:

Do you think that in any way his sexual orientation becomes blurred -- gay, bisexual, or straight?
No. I don’t think that it does. I think the main thing that makes Adam tick is survival instinct. So, if something like this were to happen again, I think he would not blink at the opportunity to do what he had to do to save himself. In this particular circumstance, I think he is not quite a sociopath. He realizes he hurts people, and perhaps he may not feel so wonderful about it. Truthfully, he does not like the carnage he leaves behind. This was a means to an end, and that haphazard, “I don’t care what I am doing to this person's emotions temporarily, because in the long term, I have to save myself,” is kind of his thought process. In terms of him questioning that part of who he is, I don’t think that comes into it as much.

Will Adam continue manipulating Rafe?
It will go its course, and there will be some residual fallout for awhile. The "relationship" or the chess game they are playing, there is not just one move!

Could Rafe be on to Adam?
Well, sure. I am not inside Rafe’s head yet. You have to understand. For me, I do not get to physically see the reaction in people’s eyes when I am playing them, because Adam is blind. He can’t make eye contact. So it will be interesting to see, and fun for me to see how Yani Gellman [Rafe] is reacting and see if it’s a bit of speculation… or if he is plunging in headfirst and believing everything I am saying. The way in which he is going to react to me will be interesting for me to watch, as well as the audience!

Very well said! How is working with Yani?
He is great, and responsive in rehearing. He is a very open guy, and that made me more comfortable in brushing my hands against his lip.

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Performers of the Week: Kassie DePaiva and Florencia Lozano (Blair and Tea, OLTL)

As you know, not many Llanview citizens can go up against the suburb's resident bad-boy Todd Manning (Trevor St. John). However, those few include his her heroic and sympathetic sister, Victoria Lord, and his daughter, Starr. However this week, two of Todd's biggest opponents (and also ex-wives), went head to head with each other -- and Todd! After arguing and pulling out tricks on each other at Todd's place, trying to beat each other while hiding their love for the once convicted rapist, they Blair did everything to keep her kids, and Tea pulled the big one by getting leverage over Todd. This is why Florencia Lozano and Kassie DePaiva earn the Soaps-Now! performers of the week award for June 22, 2009. Other key mentions include Christopher Engen, performing at his best before being asked out of his contract at Y&R, Chrishell Stause in the aftermath of her baby's death on AMC, and Tricia Cast, Jess Walton, and Jeanne Cooper for fantastic performances in the Phillip storyline also on Y&R.


Honorable Mentions: Christopher Engen (ex-Adam, Y&R), Brandon Buddy (Cole, OLTL), Stacy Haiduk (MJ/Patty, Y&R), Drew Garrett (Michael, GH), Tricia Cast, Jess Walton, and Jeanne Cooper (Nina, Jill and Kay, Y&R), Chrishell Stause (Amanda, AMC)

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Introducing Michael Muhney as Adam Wilson

Today was the day! The day in which the recast around the world would take place. Also arguably, in my opinion the most talked about and perhaps influential recast in daytime history. But that may be an overstatment. Adam 2.0 would become in effect as of June 25, 2009. Anyway, most of us had gotten used to Chris Engen and loved his portrayal of Adam Wilson, and stunned when he quit, for what ever those reasons may be. So my heart papitated when I heard Peter Bergman's voice in the background announcing the cast switch-up. Noticeably, I thought Michael Muhney's voice would be deeper, but when he first said "Ashley" I noticed that it wasn't. I also took in notice that it seems as if Muhney was sort of using Engen's interpretation of Adam in his acting. But don't think i'm not giving Muhney the benefit of the doubt. I was reading Daytime Confidential's comments on the recast today, and like another user said, I agree that Muhney doesn't have that boyish charm and demeanor like Engen, nor can anyone see Victor (Eric Braeden) jack up Muhney like he did Engen. Engen would be face to face with Heather (Vail Bloom) and Victor, but now he towers over both of them. But on a positive note, Muhney's version of Adam seems more sympathetic, and looks like the audience will sympathize with him, unlike the sarcasim and love-to-hate attitude Engen had (which we loved!). And Re-Re and Paul had the guy take off his shirt the first day on the job! He's not beating him but Muhney is sure competing with Engen in the looks department, being packed himself. I think Muhney put all he had in today's episode, and I like him, but at the end I was still being left grieving over the abrupt exit of Christopher Engen. So in the end, I give the recast a B- on it's first day, and Muhney a solid B. However, does that last hint of Friday's episode have you excited or what!?

Picture credits all to Daytime Confidential!

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