by Dan J Kroll

Posted Sunday, October 05, 2003 5:05:00 PM

What is your first impression of Young's JR on AMC?  Young has really revitalized JR. I like him so far.   34%   It is way too early to even assess Young's work on AMC.   28%   I never cared for JR before, but I might now...   17%   I used to like JR, but this new attitude doesn't work at all   8%   I've never cared for JR -- and Young won't change that.   7%   I don't get the big deal. JR is JR regardless of the actor.   4%   Other   2%     Poll Posted: October 6, 2003

After several months away from Pine Valley, Adam Chandler Jr. has returned home -- with a new look and a new attitude. But why did AMC head writer Megan McTavish opt to bring the character back to the canvas now? The scribe says that JR's return is set to touch off a wave of new story.

According to studio insiders, Daytime Emmy winner Jacob Young (ex-Lucky Spencer, General Hospital) contacted the casting department of All My Children and specifically asked for a shot at being the show's new Adam Chandler, Jr.. The request was a surprise considering the former General Hospital star had left daytime behind in earlier in the year with plans to focus on his music career.

Still, Emmy winning casting director Judith Blye Wilson was more than willing to give Young a shot. After all, the actor that had been pegged to play JR Chandler -- model Justin Bruening -- was determined to be a better fit as Jamie Martin.

Young is no stranger to daytime television, with Emmy nominated stints on both CBS's The Bold and the Beautiful and ABC's General Hospital. In 2002, Young earned an Outstanding Younger Actor Emmy for his work on GH.

Since leaving Pine Valley in February, Adam Chandler Jr. has undergone something of a metamorphosis -- and that's not a reference to the fact that no less than four performer have played the character in the past five years.

Head writer Megan McTavish tells Soap Opera Central that JR has "a lot of new insight and maturity." McTavish also hints that the experiences JR encountered with working aboard a ship may have made him more like his father. These changes will set off another major story on All My Children, one that brings veteran players David Canary (Adam Chandler) and Michael E Knight (Tad Martin)- both of whom are Emmy winners themselves -- to the forefront. The storyline will also eventually incorporate some new players into the mix, including newcomer Alexa Havins (Babe) and her mother, Krystal.

Young first aired on October 2.