Mark Grossman and Joshua Morrow Chat Live | The Young and the Restless

The interview opened with excitement as the host welcomed both Joshua Morrow and Mark Grossman to discuss their work on the long-running soap opera The Young and the Restless. Joshua joked about living the “dream role” as Nick Newman, imagining days filled with golf, gym visits, and relaxing with dogs. The host praised both actors for their recent performances and called the addiction storyline one of the strongest in years. Joshua admitted he had intentionally downplayed Nick’s future drug problem during a previous interview to preserve the surprise for viewers. He explained that portraying Nick’s fentanyl addiction has been emotionally exhausting because Nick has always been viewed as the dependable family hero. Joshua acknowledged that some fans dislike seeing a beloved character fall apart, especially viewers who have dealt with addiction personally. Still, he hoped audiences could appreciate the effort and vulnerability he was putting into the role. He described the experience as deeply uncomfortable because he had never before stripped away so much of a character’s strength and identity. Joshua also emphasized how meaningful it has been to work closely with the Newman family actors during these intense scenes. The opening conversation established both the emotional weight of the storyline and the admiration fans and cast members have for the performances.

The conversation then shifted to celebrating Mark Grossman’s seventh anniversary playing Adam Newman on The Young and the Restless. Mark reflected on how quickly the years had passed since first meeting Joshua and the cast, saying the journey had been incredibly rewarding. Joshua jokingly teased Mark while also sincerely praising him as a fantastic version of Adam Newman. The host noted how Adam has recently become a strong supporter of Nick despite their historically bitter rivalry. Mark explained that Adam empathizes with Nick because he understands personal struggles and emotional pain himself. He said the storyline has been refreshing because viewers finally get to see Adam and Nick behaving like true brothers instead of constant enemies. According to Mark, moments where the brothers thank or protect each other feel earned because they happen so rarely. The actors discussed the emotional confession scene where Nick admitted his addiction to Victor Newman. Joshua revealed that filming the scene was devastating because he imagined telling his own father he had failed him. He explained that working alongside veteran actors like Eric Braeden and Melody Thomas Scott feels less like acting and more like interacting with real family members.

Joshua went deeper into the emotional impact of the confrontation scene with Victor Newman, describing how hard it was to say the words aloud even during rehearsals. He explained that Nick’s shame comes from believing he has disappointed the Newman family and failed to live up to expectations. Joshua became emotional while describing Eric Braeden as a second father figure in his real life, making the performance feel painfully authentic. Mark remembered standing nearby during filming and becoming emotional himself while watching Joshua’s performance unfold. He recalled congratulating Joshua afterward because the scene felt incredibly raw and real. The host praised the sequence as a perfect representation of the entire Newman family dynamic that longtime fans recognize instantly. Joshua said the relationships among the cast members are genuine after decades of working together, which intensifies scenes like these. He expressed gratitude that the show trusted him enough to carry such a difficult storyline. The actors also discussed how Adam stood protectively beside Nick during the confession, defending him while Victor processed the devastating news. Joshua concluded by saying he is proud of the work despite the emotional toll and warned viewers that the storyline will continue becoming even darker.

The discussion later turned toward Adam’s recent trip back to Las Vegas and the return of an old character named Riza. Mark said reconnecting with actress Tina Huang was exciting because the audience never fully understood Adam and Riza’s past relationship. After talking with Joshua about possible backstory details, Mark found the scenes especially enjoyable to perform. He hinted that there may have been deeper feelings between Adam and Riza than viewers previously realized. However, he also stressed that Adam is currently happy with Chelsea, meaning any romantic complications would create serious problems. Joshua joked that if Adam and Chelsea split, Nick would conveniently be available to comfort her despite his current downward spiral. The host referenced Nick’s increasingly irrational behavior, including his dangerous plan to confront Matt Clark while under the influence of drugs. Joshua admitted that Nick is not thinking rationally and believes he can somehow solve his problems through reckless confrontation. Adam, meanwhile, continues trying to stop Nick from making catastrophic choices. The actors agreed that Nick desperately needs rehabilitation but remains stubbornly convinced he can handle everything alone. They emphasized that this refusal to seek help is very consistent with Nick’s longtime personality traits.

Joshua also explained the challenges of portraying fentanyl addiction realistically on television. He said he researched the drug extensively because he wanted every stage of Nick’s addiction to feel authentic. He described the difficulty of keeping track of Nick’s emotional and physical condition while filming scenes out of chronological order. Joshua explained that some scenes required him to portray intense cravings and irritability, while others showed complete intoxication or painful withdrawal symptoms. Because soap operas often shoot episodes non-sequentially, he frequently asked directors to remind him where Nick was psychologically during each scene. He stressed that every actor involved in the storyline had to contribute believable reactions for the story to work convincingly. According to Joshua, other characters needed to appear shocked, concerned, confused, or oblivious depending on the situation. He said the entire cast supported him throughout the process and helped create a believable portrayal of addiction. The actors then reflected on Adam and Nick’s evolving relationship, with Joshua saying Nick now respects Adam in ways he never did before. He praised Adam for finally proving himself as a loyal member of the Newman family who consistently protects his loved ones.

The interview next focused on actor Roger Howarth and his portrayal of Matt Clark. Joshua called Roger a true artist and praised the soulful uniqueness he brings to every performance. He explained that Matt’s storyline is evolving into something more complicated because the character now appears remorseful and possibly suffers from amnesia. Joshua admired Roger’s ability to balance vulnerability, regret, and unpredictability within the role. Mark agreed wholeheartedly, saying Roger is fascinating to watch even from within scenes because his performances feel spontaneous and layered. The conversation then shifted toward Tamara Braun’s mysterious character Sienna and fan speculation that Nick might eventually become romantically involved with her. Joshua strongly rejected the idea, arguing that Nick would never betray Noah by pursuing his son’s girlfriend. However, he admitted that Nick and Sharon remain suspicious of Sienna because she always seems to hide secrets or unclear motives. Joshua credited Tamara Braun for bringing a constant sense of mystery and tension to the role. Even though Noah appears deeply attached to Sienna, Nick does not believe the relationship feels stable or trustworthy. The actors joked that because Nick has dated many women in Genoa City, fans naturally speculate about every possible romantic pairing.

Mark then spoke warmly about his working relationship with legendary actor Eric Braeden. He recalled feeling intimidated when first meeting Eric seven years earlier on set but quickly discovering how kind and supportive he was. Mark described Eric as a giant teddy bear who constantly encourages his fellow actors. He said becoming part of the Newman family on the show has been one of the greatest honors of his career. Joshua similarly discussed his decades-long relationship with Eric Braeden and Melody Thomas Scott, explaining that he views them as parental figures. He said he always wants them to feel proud of him both personally and professionally. The actors also talked about Nick revealing his addiction separately to Victor, Nikki, and Victoria, with each conversation carrying a different emotional tone. Joshua explained that Nick approached Victor with shame, Nikki with reassurance, and Victoria with heartbreak because she is his closest confidante. He hinted that Nikki’s own history with addiction will make her especially important in helping Nick recover. The host suggested Jack Abbott could also support Nick because of his own past struggles, though Joshua joked Jack currently has too much chaos in his personal life. Throughout the discussion, viewers’ comments praised the performances and called the storyline some of the strongest acting the show has produced in years.

Toward the end of the interview, the actors reflected on memorable past storylines and their overall careers on The Young and the Restless. Mark said one of his favorite experiences involved the heartbreaking storyline where Adam and Sally lost their baby. Joshua praised Mark’s restrained and emotional acting during those scenes and said the storyline deeply affected audiences. The host compared Joshua’s current addiction storyline to the emotional aftermath of Cassie’s death years earlier, calling both landmark performances. Joshua admitted this is probably the biggest “give me the ball” storyline of his career, meaning the show has entrusted him with carrying major dramatic material. He explained that he always wants producers and writers to trust him to deliver under pressure. The host praised Joshua as the longtime MVP of the series because of his consistency and leadership over three decades. Joshua compared his approach on set to being a quarterback who keeps everyone relaxed while still leading the team successfully. Mark also discussed future complications involving Sally’s pregnancy and engagement to Billy, noting that Adam will likely struggle emotionally with the news. The actors joked about Adam’s romantic future with Chelsea while acknowledging that soap opera relationships constantly change direction. Joshua ended by teasing that fans hoping for a Nick and Sharon reunion may need to remain patient because the show continues playing the “long game” with their relationship.

The interview concluded with both actors previewing future story developments while avoiding major spoilers. Joshua stressed that Nick’s primary focus must now become recovery because addiction will continue controlling his life if ignored. He warned that Matt Clark remains a dangerous influence who could easily pull Nick back into destructive behavior. Mark explained that Adam is also dealing with business troubles because Newman Media currently appears to be collapsing, leaving both Adam and Chelsea uncertain about their futures. He added that Adam remains suspicious of Matt Clark’s supposed amnesia and may eventually uncover the truth. Joshua shared that his wife had watched the emotional confession scene and became very proud of his work after it moved her to tears. Mark admitted he usually watches his own performances back, though sometimes reluctantly. The host enthusiastically praised both actors one final time, congratulating Mark on his anniversary and telling Joshua he was delivering some of the best work of his career. Joshua thanked the fans and promised that the addiction storyline still has many twists ahead. Mark expressed gratitude for the audience support and hinted that more surprises involving Adam and Chelsea are still coming. The interview ended with laughter, appreciation, and encouragement for viewers to continue watching the dramatic developments unfold on The Young and the Restless.