Josh Griffith out as Y&R head writer

The Young and Restless is reportedly in for some changes to its writing team. Josh Griffith is out as head writer, and a replacement from within the Y&R writing team will take over. Griffith was hired to replace Maria Arena Bell as head writer in July 2012.

According to a published report, Emmy winner Josh Griffith has resigned as head writer of The Young and the Restless. Griffith reportedly emailed members of his writing team to tell them that he was leaving because of "irreconcilable differences."

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News of discord behind the scenes of Y&R first surfaced last week in a report by Highlight Hollywood. The site reported that Griffith's exit was imminent but seemed to weigh in on the side of the scribe being fired.

Soap Opera Uncensored, however, reports that Griffith was fired -- four weeks ago.

"Josh was fired," the e-publication noted, citing a reliable source. "He didn't quit. [Executive producer Jill Farren Phelps] is now going to insert her own creative vision into the show."

Josh Griffith was appointed head writer of The Young and the Restless in July 2012, assuming the reins from Maria Arena Bell. Griffith first joined The Young and the Restless in 2006 as creative consultant and later became part of the writing team. In 2007, during the Writers Guild of America's work stoppage, Griffith served as head writer and interim executive producer. He was later promoted to the role of full-time executive producer when the WGA strike concluded in 2008; Maria Arena Bell was named co-head writer at that time.

Leading up to the initial reports of his exit, Griffith had made a series of cryptic posts on his Facebook page. Most recently he posted, "a new adventure begins," but that post has since been deleted.

News of Griffith's exit had fans and at least one Y&R star talking on Twitter.

"[L]et me just say, I'm very pissed off," Eric Braeden (Victor Newman) replied when asked by a fan for his thoughts on Griffith's departure from the show. "Enough said!!!"

Soaps In Depth is reporting -- and a show source has told Soap Central -- that Shelly Altman, a current member of Y&R's writing team, will take over as head writer. Altman will be getting a co-head writer, but it is unclear at this time who will be hired.

Requests for comment from CBS were not immediately returned.

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