Paul Raven

I think Traci on Y&R attempted suicide when she was pregnant and alone? Katherine threw herself overboard from acruise ship. Vanessa threw herself off a balcony to frame Lorie. There a number of soap character(usually female), who took a handful of pills due to some trauma, who were conveniently rescued in time. It was a standard plot device that could lightly deal with a topic and but pretty much avoid tackling it head on. (see also abortion) The attempted suicides were brushed aside.

Jean Simmons Pilots/Proposals Golden Gate Jane Kingsley 1981 Midas Valley Molly Hammond 1985

Oops! Sorry Mel- don't know how i missed that. Never let facts get in the way of a good story.

Both Peter and Nicole could have returned at any point. I hate when soaps never have family members return.

Thanks for that. Yes the list includes the kid oriented serials like L'il Abher and Don Winslow which aired late afternoon. the only soap I hadn't heard of was Elm Creek, which ust have been local. In fact there were several more soaps running throughout the 40's that were heard on local stations only. But the majority were traditional soaps and most of the aired from Chicago, so there was alot of work for actors in that city. Some actors were holding down multiple roles. In the next few years, the shows moved to New York and I think Ma Perkins was the only holdout. Actors were forced to relocate to keep working. Ironically the same thing happened with TV soaps when one by one the NY based soaps were axed and that source of work and income disappeared.

Yes. I think it was the final 4 episodes in May sweeps. The show actually won its timeslot for one of those episodes and overall did well.

Just hit home to me that Y&R has 3 major contract characters-Ashland, Jack and Victor all males over 60. Number of contract females over 60 -ZERO. Surprised they decided to go with an over 60 actor for the Ashland role.

Josh is earning $40,000 to turn out that dross ? Unbelievable. Days has a lot of vets on contract Deidre, Drake, Mary Beth, Lauren, Galen, Suzanne,Stephen,Josh etc at least as many as Y&R so I don't think Y&R is exceptional in that regard. Days seems to be using extras and I think the sets look better. Y&R's management of the budget seems suspect, although Days extreme taping schedule must make a big difference.

CBS trashed Murder She Wrote in it's last season. It would have been better for it to go out on a high and concentrate on the many other problems with the schedule. Fact is MSW was still winning it's Sunday @8 timeslot. In Wk 34 in the dying days of the 94/95 CBS aired a 2hr MSW Thurs @8 in a test run. It ranked 55th. The next ep aired in it's usual Sun @ 8 slot and won the time period ranking 12th. In Wk 1 of 95/96 season MSW ranked 55th in its new timeslot and its Sunday replacements Cybil and Almost Perfect ranked 49th and 65th, so the move did nothing to help the ratings. On Sunday, Sept. 24, the network finished third on the night, and its performance among 18 -49 year olds was worse than it was with the older skewing Murder, She Wrote in the time period last year.

i've read that before but never seen it verified. My understanding is that ABC wanted to replay EON late night. My guess is some sort of deal was in the works for those involved to receive minimum payments as this was new territory and probably there was no compensation payments agreement set up. ABC saw this as a chance to pay peanuts and make extra money on the deal compared to primetime reruns. Donald May was probably the most outspoken at what he saw as exploitation of soap actors and the blame was pinned on him for it not going ahead. Just speculation...

So on Monday, family and friends gather at Society to honor as Michael reflects on the past and thinks about the future as Victor offers him a job. Then on Tuesday, family and friends gather at Crimson Lights to honor Nick as Noah ponders two job offers. And dear friend Phyllis couldn't be bothered attending either event-probably because she wouldn't be the center of attention...oh, wait...she'd make herself the center of attention. Coming up on Wed. Family and friends gather at the Gangrenous Pineapple to honor Phyllis, just because she hasn't been on for two days.

Could see that happening. That way they could rid themselves of Devon's penthouse set and save more $$$$. And cos the Chancellor estate is so huge, Moses can move in as well, and he and Faith can have their 2 eps a month there as well! Now that Micheal has had his moment in the spotlight, how long before we see him again?

I think they're on to something with the birthday celebration. One episode each week could be devoted to a character's birthday. Friends and family could tell them how great they are and they could make a heart rending speech. Bam! 37 minutes of airtime filled.

I touted him for a recast Tucker a few months ago. He had said he'd only come west for a soap role if it was contract.

Dallas dropped out of the Top 10. 1. Cosby Show NBC 35.5/55 Family Ties NBC 33.4/51 Cheers NBC 29.7/45 Murder, She Wrote CBS 28.2/41 Golden Girls NBC 27.3/47 Night Court NBC 28.8/41 Moonlighting ABC 25.4/38 60 Minutes CBS 24.8/39 CBS Sunday Movie CBS 23.8/36 Growing Pains ABC 22.7/34 . Who's the Boss? ABC 22.5/36 NBC Sunday Night Movie NBC 22.5/34 Newhart CBS 21.9/32 : Amen NBC 21.7/38 Dallas CBS 21.6/34 NFL Monday Night Football ABC 20.6/34 Kate & Allie CBS 19.3/30 227 NBC 19.3/34 Designing Women CBS 18.8/28 Dynasty ABC 18.7/29 Head of the Class ABC 18.5/30 Hunter NBC 18.2/33 Together We Stand CBS 18.1/27 Miami Vice NBC 17.4/27 Cagney & Lacey CBS 17.3/28 Highway to Heaven NBC 17.3/29 Hotel ABC 17.1/29 Falcon Crest CBS 17.0/29 LA Law NBC 17.0/29 Hill Street Blues NBC 16.9/29 Gimme a Break NBC 16.7/28 Jack & Mike ABC 18.5/29 Perfect Strangers ABC 16.5/28 Matlock NBC 18.4/25 Valerie NBC 15.9/23 NBC Monday Night Movies NBC 15.9/25 You Again? CBS Tuesday Movie CBS 15.4/25 53 Magnum, P.1. CBS 15.4/25 Amazing Stories NBC 15.4/23 Facts of Life NEC 15.2/28 20/20 ABC 15.1/26 Webster ABC 14.7/26 Scarecrow & Mrs. King CBS 14.7/28 Knots Landing CBS 14.7/22 Our House NBC 14.8/24 Mr. Belvedere ABC 14.5/25 Easy Street NBC 14.5/22 MacGyver ABC 14.0/22 ALF NBC 13.8/21 ATeam NBC 13.7/24 St. Elsewhere NBC 13.3/23 Kay O'Brien. Surgeon CBS 13.1/23 Disney Sunday Movie ABC 12,6/20 ABC Sunday Night Movie 12.6/19 Sledge Hammer! ABC 12.2/19 1986 NBC 12.0/21 Simon & Simon CBS 11.6/18 Sidekicks ABC 11.5 / 18 The Wizard CBS 11.2/17 Starman ABC 10.9/18 Downtown CBS 10.8/20 Spenser: For Hire ABC 10.6/19 Crime Story NBC 10.6/18 The Colbys ABC 10.5/16 Life with Lucy ABC 10.2/19 Mike Hammer CBS 10.0/18 Together We Stand CBS 10.0/17 Twilight Zone CBS 9.8/16 Better Days CBS 9.7/16 Ellen Burstyn Show ABC 7.0/14 Our World ABC 6.5/11 Heart of The City ABC 6.5/11

Thanks for reviving this topic. It is apparent that Y&R's budget has been cut to the bone. They are down to taping 4 days. Sets have been shrunk to allow more room for permanent sets to save on having to pay for assembling/pulling down sets on a regular basis. A lot of actors have been put on recurring so they are only paid when they appear. Contract cast have taken paycuts and reduced guaranteed appearances. Fewer actors are used per episode. There are no extras and hardly any day players. Costume budget appears to have been cut -especially apparent from women's clothing. i wonder if backstage personnel have also been cut. Should compare the credits to see. I'm sure Josh Griffith is being paid less than he would have for past gigs but would be earning a fair amount. Anyone have any idea what he is making? The whole COVID set cleaning and testing might have to come out of the established budget. Having said all of that the show looks dreadful and it's embarassing that daytimes #1 soap looks so cheap.

Thanks Broderick for that analysis. Makes more sense. Can any eagle eyed viewers recall any new sets ay Y&R during that time that were similar to Capitol? Was Capitol a even firm go at that point? The 1981 writers strike. How long was that? What was happening on Y&R at that time ? We know Bell didn't write long term documents so scab writers had to fly by the seat of their pants. Are there any stories from that time that looked like seemed a bit off?

They did and everyone looked suitably downcast as Michael related how he went to a very dark place but he thanked Christine for giving him another chance.

Chuckling! Really we're being too cruel to Josh Griffith. Some of the upcoming stuff looks good: At Society,Nate notices Elena is stressed.She admits that working so hard at the hospital means she has missed her Ask MD deadline and Lily is going to be annoyed. Nate says Lily will understand. Meanwhile at Chance.Com ,Lily is annoyed about the missed deadline. Billy reminds Lily that Elena is working so hard at the hospital. Lily realizes she has been a bit harsh and thanks Billy for helping her see things more clearly. They kiss and he suggests a little office nookie. Lily wonders what was taking him so long to suggest it... Elena tells Nate she took on a responsibility. Ask MD is the nations #1 online medical advice website and lives are at stake. Nate tells an intrigued Elena he might have a solution... A bare chested Billy rises from the floor just as Traci arrives. She's embarrassed but Billy and Lily say its OK-they just have a very healthy sex life. Traci remembers what that was like and is glad they're finding a work/sex balance. Billy departs and Traci tells Lily she's here to follow up about working at Chance.Com. Traci explains she has been working all hours on her book about Dina, but now it's done she can devote time to Chance.Com. Lily says she read the book and it is the best book she's ever read. No wonder it's the #1 book in the country! Nate arrives and tells Lily he will take over at Ask MD. His workload as Chief of Surgery has eased off. That way Elena can concentrate on saving lives. Lily is thrilled!

Le Blanc wasn't even on last month and had a total of 21 appearances for all of 2021. And SOD gave it front cover 'The Week That Changes Everything! Michael in Crisis! So lame. Next week Faith and Moses- A shocking decision that changes Genoa City Forever!! (Faith decides to order a different juice at Crimson Lights)

Really?? That's crazy!! I got sick from eating week old lasagna...

He’s playing Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof I think there's been a mixup He's actually playing a Silver Daddy in 'C**k in Hot Tim's Room'

Would Conboy and CBS/Screen Gems have had the power to replace the creator and headwriter? What say would Conboy have had, unless he was using his battles with Bell as evidence that Bill was no longer effective? I really can't imagine such a scenario. Of course Bill was tucked away in Chicago and Conboy was in L.A and right in the action. What disagreements could the two have, unless Bill was unhappy with way Conboy was presenting his material? I know budget was always an issue in daytime, but that would be down to Conboy not Bell. Although Bill may have been writing certain actors above guarantee. I'd love others take on the situation.

It's kind of odd to be centering an episode on a character who has no presence on the show apart from occasional pop ins. Looking forward to an Esther tribute. In Josh's usual style, Michael is acknowledged as the best prosecutor ever! CLB needs to think about taming that mane.

When Jill needed the money to pay off her blackmailer(Esther/Kay) she rocked up at the Foster house and there was Liz on the sofa mending and telling Jill that she doesn't have any money to lend her. It was as though Stuart never existed. Re Allen Fawcwtt, he mentioned the Y&R situation in an SOD interview and I couldn't figure out at first what character he was referring to. Looking back at 80/81 there was really story after story that didn't work. That transition was very rocky. Now it's always pretty much 'Bill created the Williams and Abbotts and the show transitioned smoothly'