The Young and the Restless star Michael Graziadei dissects Daniel's dynamics with Danny and Phyllis

The Young and the Restless character, Daniel Romalotti, has one big duty at Danny's upcoming remarriage to Cricket -- keep Phyllis away! Can he play middleman between his two parents? Daniel's portrayer, Michael Graziadei, is talking about the upcoming event and is reflecting on what it's like to play Danny and Phyllis's son.

The Young and the Restless, Daniel's way

Phyllis and Daniel on The Young and the Restless | Image: CBS

Grazaidei sat down with Soap Opera Digest to analyze Daniel's dynamic with his unpredictable mother, Phyllis (Michelle Stafford), and his far more stable father, Danny (Michael Damian).

He says he enjoys his scenes with Stafford more than any others. He raves about her talent and her ability to find things in the material that he may not have thought were even there. He says, "[I]t is always a surprise, and it is always a joy. I mean, I cannot say enough good things about Michelle.”

The actor observes that he and Stafford have a unique on-screen mother/son dynamic that's not like anything else. He also feels lucky to have a great rapport with Damian, his TV dad. In fact, the two have stayed in touch during times that either both or one of them has been away from Genoa City. "I think that the two of us just have a nice relationship together," he says.

Father's and sons

Daniel and Danny on The Young and the Restless | Image: JPI

One thing Graziadei ("Graz," to many) has in common with Daniel is a love of music. Daniel's been learning how to play the guitar from Tessa (Cait Fairbanks), and Graziadei says he wouldn't mind it if Daniel performed on-screen with Danny. "I think that’s something that absolutely would make sense in this world," he says.

Graziadei says viewers will have to tune in to see what happens at the wedding in terms of musical (not to mention other) surprises. "There might be a surprise for everyone at my father’s wedding!" the actor says in character.

Whether or not Daniel sings with his dad isn't the only thing on viewers' minds. Christine (AKA Cricket) asked Daniel last summer to keep Phyllis away from the wedding. We've seen Phyllis crash Cricket's bridal shower at the jazz lounge. She had an emotional breakdown with Danny afterwards.

We doubt that Phyllis still loves Danny, but there's just something about Cricket that gets under her skin! Will Phyllis try to stop the ceremony, or will she just settle for making it less than memorable for the bride and the groom? Tune in to find out!

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