Brian Kendall is introduced as the eight-year-old son of new Banner reporter Patricia "Pat" Ashley in 1975. Shortly after his introduction, Pat reveals to new boss Victoria "Viki" Lord Riley that her son is, in fact, Viki's nephew and the son of Viki's maternal cousin and newly-uncovered brother, Anthony "Tony" Harris Lord. As Pat and Tony become romantically involved, Brian grows to greatly despise her mother's new beau as he pinned for his late father Paul Kendall, who apparently died before Brian and his mother relocated to Llanview.