YRBB

100%. It was tragic losing him but I respect him immensely for standing up to what was perhaps the biggest atrocity on Y&R and seeing it for what it is. (I have to say, though, like it was pointed out earlier: How sad that the biggest issue was Cricket. Compared to today, it seems minuscule).

I know. I wonder if that would've happened anyway or if his exit actually shook WJB enough to alter things. Considering Jim was pawing at Nikki, I think Bell genuinely planned to make a thing out of it. And let's not get started on how radically different things would've been if TL had stuck around. Jack wouldn't have been a lovesick worrywart for one. Sigh.

Funny you should mention that; I always felt the whole Phyllis feud was a way to help tone down the Cricket worship by other characters. Even if it wasn't a lot, it felt so good to have someone hate her! lol

Without a doubt he was kept around for almost an extra decade for Cricket's sake and not only that -- he has LLB to thank for the ton of appearances too. You cannot tell me he would've appeared half as much otherwise.

I didn't know that. They probably realized he was creepy AF.

Yes! I just know it shook him to lose TL and made him realize a few things. If BB hadn't been such a masterful writer, what happened with Cricket would've been enough to sink a show.

He had enough of the INSANE Cricket propping (and it was ridiculous) and walked.

I'm only teasing you, I hope you know that! I genuinely understand why one would prefer BE. You not liking ED doesn't surprise me one bit. She was very different. Me, I think it's one of the best soap performances. Playing a reserved character that did not like to show emotion and yet communicating so much emotion and thought was masterful work. I loved the bizareness. It made her unique. But, hey, to each their own! Oh God. And they did that 4 days out of the week lol Michael Damian has a LOT to thank Lauralee for. I guess one can think of them as the Greek chorus of Y&R. It almost helps excuse it.

Depends what you mean by "not bad". Was he a decent actor? Sure. Was he creepy? Oh God YES. And when he started pawing Nikki? Ew. I had no idea there was only a 2 year difference. He seemed like a cryptkeeper compared to Barton lmao.

He was so pretty though. Ultimately, it worked out fine. Lauren and Sheila needed an excuse to feud. He was there for that purpose. Also, "poor" Barton: How can you shine next to Brown and Bergman, especially at the height of their powers? Impossible! There was definitely improvement when Bell toned it down a little (a little - I mean, Cricket still appears in an episode to have sex with Danny even when you don't need her lol) and, most importantly, when Lauralee started improving as an actress (thanks to the date rape story). I'll always give her credit for that: Mediocre as she is, she worked on the craft and improved. It also helped that Danny and Cricket were genuinely nice and sweet.

Thank God that long-lost father got lost again. *Shudders*

LOL! Yep. BE might as well have been a different character. Again, it goes back to not liking Ashley and then she becomes a sweet heroine. So it makes sense.

Hmmm, then you fall into the second category as I described! So, you stop! LOL

Exactly. There's only a couple of reasons why one would prefer BE: She was their first Ashley, therefore understandably one becomes attached to her, or they can't resist BE's total sweetness and charisma which was passed on to the character. But it's not just about what Davidson brought to the role. Ashley as she should be was very idiosyncratic, stubborn, weird, difficult. Those who didn't appreciate that will certainly fall for the typical sweet heroine that BE was. Sadly, that's not really Ashley. And I say all this even though I LOVE Brenda. Let's prefer who we prefer but put some RESPECK on Davidson's name! LOL I get it. Still... Totally understandable.

Again, most of y'all aren't familiar enough with Eileen Davidson's Ashley to have a favorite Ashley LMAO But she was beautiful and sweet and a very capable recast.

Same. Someone must have uploaded it. We've got some Sherlock Holmeses around here, maybe we'll be lucky.

Nikki's dream is such a wonderful example of the psychological Y&R writing. Her dreaming of Ashley looking barely a step above a prostitute is very telling. So much info given on Nikki and her relationships to Victor/Ashley in a "silly" dream. Sigh. As Victor and Nikki's marriage disintegrated, Nikki found out she was dying. Victor was devastated and resolved to be there for Nikki. When Nikki found out it was a mistake or s/ing, she omitted telling him she wasn't dying to keep him around. This seems to be a dream of Nikki's where an adoring Victor grieves her death/shuns a whore-y Ashley and then wants to be with her even after she's alright. (Of course, he didn't). Yeah, you're never really going to get intense focus on one character on Y&R (unless it's Cricket? lol). Best you can hope for is memorable/seminal moments/scenes in a character's life. Btw, it's Nikki. lol That voice, that face, that bod. I certainly had a moment. At this point, I think we have to assume they're not planning on putting any of it online. Yes, they're practically butchering these episodes. You simply can't remove whole scenes, move commercial breaks and the opening titles around, and not throw off the whole episode, especially with a writer like Bell who damn well knew how to structure an episode. It would be so much better if they'd trimmed down certain scenes enough to meet time requirements but kept all of them (but that takes much more effort). And if they stopped re-editing! EB and MTS were phenomenal for whole decades. Once the mid-2000s hit, they slowly checked out (never completely but the difference is obvious). It's why viewers who picked up Y&R in the mid-2000s often claim they're not very capable actors. Sadly, they have no idea.

He, like Terry Lester, were not necessarily conventionally handsome, but were pure walking, talking sex. Sex appeal radiated from them. I wouldn't go as far as saying they were Ugly Hot, though. lol

Bo kissing Marlena! My eyes! That wrapping paper sound was murder for my ears lol And Marlena freaking out about the microwave she always wanted. Wonderful stuff.

It would be nice if ratings/interest finally helped them see it'd be a good idea! It would absolutely work! Especially Y&R which, for the longest time, was written well enough to suck you in no matter what era you watch. Once more, wasted opportunities. Granted, they're getting it right with a lot of the selections and showing classic episodes at all. But, come on, put the library to good, actual use! (And, please, stop butchering the episodes!!!)

Yes, at the very least they should post the episodes online and post them unedited. I can understand why they edit for broadcast but the unedited versions could be a streaming selling point ("watch online for unaired scenes!") Then again, I am REALLY surprised they haven't just posted their whole archive on CBS AA.

So I take it those aired? I didn't even bother. If anyone finds these classics online, please let us know! EDIT: Looks like it's on for NJ/NY folks!

NY/NJ area once more pre-empted (at least so far).

Lucky you. I've been meaning to do that but too late I guess. It was strange when they suddenly stopped uploading. I'm hoping they simply went private/unlisted, but how can we even find out?

Yes, it airs on CBS Monday but it's anyone's guess if they'll put it on CBS.com. They only put the 1984, 1991, and 1993 episodes up, nothing since.