HOLLYWOOD—This week’s Leading Men Gold Standard goes to two powerful actors, who portray billionaires who are embroiled in a battle for their very existence against different types of enemies. Don Diamont, who portrays Bill Spencer on “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and Eric Breaden, who portrays Victor Newman on “The Young and the Restless,” are perennial favorites of fans when it comes to their favorite villains on soaps. Both men frequently are honored rightfully for their amazing acting abilities, and for knowing how to play tough men who should not be toyed with.

Don Diamont, the handsome star who plays “Dollar” Bill Spencer, the billionaire publishing mogul in Los Angeles, was undeniably the very best he’s been in his entire career this week on “B&B.” Bradley P. Bell has created one of the most engrossing storylines in his vast and award-winning career. Bell is well known to push characters right to the edge of becoming supreme villains in the past, and his choice to give Diamont such an expansive and fascinating storyline recently has paid off for viewers. The two men are geniuses in their craft. Brad, a two-time Emmy Award®-winning writer and producer along with Don, an actor who possesses the commitment of Sir Anthony Hopkins and the range that oftentimes surpasses Christian Bale’s work, have both made this storyline unbelievable.

This week Bill planned to murder Amber Moore, a trailer park trash vixen, who has in Bill’s opinion been a predator, who has caused his son Liam’s serious physical injuries and emotional duress. Bill bought a Malibu Colony palatial home and made plans to see Amber Moore go off the side of the cliff on the estate. By Friday, Bill’s plan seemed to be working, as an injured and frightened Amber was seen clinging for her life on the side of the rocky-seaside cliff. Diamont, one of the industry’s nicest men played the scenes with a chilling calmness that made viewers pause with surprise.

Eric Braeden’s Victor is notorious to daytime viewers. So is Bel Air resident Maria Arena Bell, who is now the show’s head writer and executive producer. This week Victor Newman faced destruction of the conglomerate he spent his life building. Victor’s enemies however are not just forces from outside of Newman Enterprises. His detractors are his offspring. This week Abby, Victoria and Nicolas continued their lawsuit against the family patriarch, and Victor fought back. He coerced his son Adam to commit perjury, but stated falsely under oath that it was he who forged his father’s signature on the documents that could be considered misuse of the young Newmans’ trust-funds.

Victor convinced Adam that he would go to authorities and admit that he witnessed Skye’s accidental death: the death that Sharon Newman is being prosecuted for. However, Victor’s ultimate plan is to bankrupt and disinherit his spoiled children, to send Adam to jail either for forgery or perjury, and to even let his beloved daughter-in-law Sharon go to jail for a murder she didn’t commit. When Victor Newman’s back is against the wall, no one in Genoa City is safe from his wrath.

“Y&R” and “B&B” air weekdays on CBS.

Photographs are Courtesy: Monty Brinton Photography for CBS and Bell Phillip TV Productions.