‘Young and the Restless’ Fans React to Josh Griffith’s Exit & Debate Head Writer’s Replacement

Josh Griffith, head writer of 'The Young and the Restless' — Courtesy Photo

What To Know

Josh Griffith is stepping down as head writer of The Young and the Restless, prompting strong reactions from fans.
Many viewers expressed relief at his exit, criticizing recent storylines involving repeated kidnappings and problematic character behavior.
Fans are actively debating potential replacements, with names like Bob Guza and Ron Carlivati suggested.

Josh Griffith is leaving The Young and the Restless as the head writer — and fans of the CBS soap opera recently shared their reactions to the news, as well as debated who his replacement should be.

On Friday, June 26, TV Insider confirmed that Griffith was stepping down as head writer after taking over the role in 2019. He first joined Y&R as a writer in 2006; he left in 2008 and briefly returned from 2012 to 2013. In 2018, Griffin came back as a supervising producer and was promoted to head writer the following year. He has also worked on other soap operas, including Santa Barbara, One Life to Live, Sunset Beach, As the World Turns, and Days of Our Lives.

Y&R fans shared their reactions to Griffith’s exit on Reddit, with many celebrating the move. One wrote, “It’s about time. I was a fan of JG when he first became head writer. He has since devolved into a kidnapping and mental health vortex that needs to end.”

Another speculated, “I’d like to think it’s his writing of Victor’s increasingly abusive behavior and the numerous kidnapping stories that did JG in. I can’t think of another soap that has or ever had a man speak to others, let alone his wife, the way Victor does. Please let that kind of writing end with JG’s leaving.”

Someone else echoed, “We don’t know now, but I assume that’s why he was asked to resign. They have always been number 1, and the ratings slipped. But we can assume these outlandish kidnappings are going to stop as well.”

Josh Griffith

In a different thread on the r/youngandtherestless subreddit, fans debated who might take over as head writer after Griffith. The original poster [OP] claimed, “Bob Guza, who was once a General Hospital writer and co-head writer of the first season of Beyond the Gates, [and] Ron Carlivati, who I think worked on General Hospital and was once a head writer of Days of Our Lives for 5 years, are rumored picks.”

The OP added in the comments, when asked about a potential female writer, “I wouldn’t mind if they brought back Sally Sussman.”

One Redditor pointed out, “Is there no one available besides a typical soap hopper? The lifers are exhausting.”

A second fan shared, “I think Bob Guza would be a good choice.”

Yet another Redditor wrote, “Bob Guza with someone keeping an eye on him? Could work out (at least wake the show up for a bit) in the long run? Idk. Ron would have a fun first 6 months, maybe even a year, but then people would be running around wearing wigs, and Sharon will be calling herself Phyllis, and Victor will have a newly discovered child.”

Meanwhile, one fan suggested, “Bring in one or two non-soap writers. Someone from a medical, or legal drama, or Big Bang Theory, or better yet, SNL.”

As of writing, it’s unclear when Griffith will officially step down. What do you think of Griffith’s Y&R exit? Who should replace him?