J. T. Hellstrom and Colleen Carlton are fictional characters and a supercouple from the American CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless.

[2] Former head writer and executive producer John F. Smith pushed for a story between the characters despite the unexpectedness and controversy surrounding them.

[3] Luckinbill's musical ability was an element in their storyline as the actor wrote and performed two original songs for the soap opera.

[3] Luckinbill and Fonseca, the first actress to portray Colleen, thought their character's relationship would progress no further than friendship.

[5] Luckinbill considered the age difference too great an obstacle to overcome, as at the time, J. T. was 18 years old and Colleen was 15.

[3] Both soap opera critics and members of the show's cast and crew considered this a controversial and surprising move.

[7] Fonseca stated she "wasn't expecting it at all", and admitted that even former executive producer David Shaughnessy found the pairing "shocking".

[3] The writers used J. T.'s relationship with Colleen to bring out a more sympathetic side to him that the audience up to that point never witnessed before.

[7] Smith characterized their storyline as "taking this guy on the journey from wild college kid to being in love with this little high school sophomore".

[8] They also positioned Colleen as the aggressor in the relationship by scripting her as pursuing J. T., while he, in an uncharacteristic move, held off because of the difference in their ages.

[5][7] The writers "carefully navigated the development of this relationship, emphasizing its tender, supportive aspects."

cheated on Colleen with Anita Hodges, an older woman considered a "sexy cougar".

had begun dating Brittany Hodges (Lauren Woodland) and the writers wanted to bring Colleen back to "add more complications to the story".

"[1] News of Fonseca's second exit incited a fan outcry and a campaign pushing for the actress's permanent return.

and Colleen reunited, and another obstacle designed to break them up came in the form of a new character, Adrian Korbel (Eyal Podell).

León theorized that while Colleen felt an attraction to Korbel, her heart belonged to J.T., saying: "She absolutely loves him and adores him, but she's going through that change where she was a little girl and now she's not.

He plans to use this information to hurt his nemesis and her uncle Billy Abbott (then played by David Tom), but changes his mind when she cries.

She romantically pursues him by finding ways to bring them closer such as helping him study and getting tickets to see a concert.

Her mother, Traci (Beth Maitland), decides to take her home to New York as a way of separating them.

Traci offered to drop the charges against him if he convinced her daughter to come back to New York with her.

Colleen's father, Brad Carlton (Don Diamont), convinces Traci to allow their daughter to stay with him and his wife and her sister Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson).

He reassures her that he's fine, but then cheats on her with an older woman, Brittany's mother Anita Hodges (Mitzi Kapture-Donahue).

and Colleen become embroiled in Lily Winters' (Christel Khalil) drama with internet predator Kevin Fisher (Greg Rikaart).

In retaliation, Kevin attempts to murder Colleen by locking her in a freezer inside a burning building.

Though he attempts to explain why he did that, Colleen decides to move back to New York to live with her mother so she will not be standing in the way of J.T.

During her time away, he develops romantic feelings for his long-time friend Brittany, who plans to marry Bobby Marsino (John Enos III).

When Jana Hawkes (Emily O'Brien) attempts to murder Colleen and Kevin by trapping them in the freezer of a building she set fire too, J.T.

[21] Soap Opera Weekly said the age difference between the characters was an "unsettling factor",[7] yet the magazine referred to them as The Young and the Restless' "hottest young couple", describing them as having a "magic" quality and commended the soap opera for pairing them.

[3][7] Viewers initially rejected the pairing and rooted for Colleen to get a love interest her own age.

and Colleen as their favorite couple on The Young and the Restless in Soap Opera Digest polls multiple times until Fonseca's first exit in May 2004, and they topped the poll again for multiple weeks during her brief return,[12][23][24] and fans of the pair also campaigned for a reunion between J.T.