According to the recent issue of SOW Kay Alden and Jack Smith are consulting for ABC.

Y&R Vets Join ABC

Jack Smith and Kay Alden, who were recently ousted as longtime head writers of Y&R, have joined the ABC family, consulting for AMC, OLTL and GH.

"I do have a story-consulting deal with ABC for daytime," confirms Alden, who is rumored to be focusing first on the struggling AMC.

Smith had no comment on his deal at press time ("It's premature," he hedged), but insiders say his assignment is to focus on GH. As previously reported, Smith was being wooed by B&B after being let go from Y&R, but, in the end, ABC snapped him up instead.

When asked for specifics about the deal, a spokesperson for ABC would only say, "The shows here have story consultants from time to time."

From SZ recap from SOW

As a non viewer of Y&R, these writers are not known to me - those who have watched their work on screen, what can those who watch ABC expect from these two? And really how much involvement will they have as consultants?

Jen

According to the recent issue of SOW Kay Alden and Jack Smith are consulting for ABC.

ABC SNAPS UP Y&R VETS (ex Y&R HWs Jack Smith & Kay Alden now consulting on all the ABC soaps. Alden is concentrating first on the struggling AMC. Insiders say Smith will be consulting primarily on GH)

As a non viewer of Y&R, these writers are not known to me - those who have watched their work on screen, what can those who watch ABC expect from these two? And really how much involvement will they have as consultants?

Jen

I think it's a smart idea.

Kay Alden was recently doing the same work for "ATWT". Shame no one is giving her a HW gig, because

she could probably save a show like "AMC".

ABC doesn't need consultants...they need new Head Writers.

ABC doesn't need consultants...they need new Head Writers.

You got that right!

I want McTavish gone and a new headwriter also!! Maybe they can convince Alden to eventually take over AMC. It is a step in the write direction but McT needs to go or else they are going to have to hire consultants all the time because McT is so horrible.

What exactly does a consultant do? Do they change the direction of storylines or do they have to do what the HW wants and just tweak things? Maybe she could get rid of the unabortion storyline!!!

I want McTavish and gone and new headwriter also!! Maybe they can convince Alden to eventually take over AMC. It is a step in the write direction but McT needs to go or else they are going to have to hire consultants all the time because McT is so horrible.

What exactly does a consultant do? Do they change the direction of storylines or do they have to do what the HW wants and just tweak things? Maybe she could get rid of the unabortion storyline!!!

A story consultant has no desicion power when it comes to the storyline or what happens during the story. There power is limited. The most they can do is structure the storyline in terms of plot and development and pace the story. The most they do is structure stuff. But they desicion isn't final and usually if the HW has the final. Megan still has the final say I would imagine. Kay if she is consulting for AMC doesn't have enough power to do anything. Certaintly not enough to change story. Maybe bring up an idea or two and then help pace out the story and develop it however nothing in terms of changing the way Megan wants the show to be written. Same with Jack.

Does anyone know Kay or Jack's work on Y&R and what storylines they wrote for during there time as head writers? I'm interested to see what they did for Y and R. Maybe when Megan leaves one of them (or both) could replace her.

ABC doesn't need consultants...they need new Head Writers.

Lynn Latham started out as a consultant on Y&R. Hopefully, they've actually given these guys real power [that will eventually translate into transitioning them into the head-writers of 2 of these ABCD shows] in their consultant position or this is a waste of money.

Then how will a storyline consultant help? AMC will still have the same crappy storylines and it will be going in the same direction that it is. The only difference is the storylines might move along at a better pace. I don't know. AMC needs to change directions and I am not sure a consultant will be enough.

I wonder if it would have been better to use the money to buy out McTavish and go ahead and just replace her now. If they are using consultants, I wonder if that means they have no plans in getting rid of McTravesty.

Jack Smith is married to a black woman so We might get Laniey(ms) & somebody like Sonny or somebody else. If he write for OLTL maybe Todd will finally get with Eva. I have a feeling that ABC soaps going to start getting good again.

I know people didn't like their slow pace. But I think anything is better then what's going on ABC soaps now. I hope they don't come on like LML did on Y&R & they really read about each character. I hope they get rid of Babe & her mother.

Edited December 6, 200619 yr by MoTheGreat

Whoa! This could be HUGE people, HUGE. Is relief in sight?

It's a start and a recognition that there's a problem. And any ABCD viewer knows that this acknowledgement is HUGE in and of itself. Has someone, somewhere at The Mouse heard or cries?

It's a first step, maybe a baby step to some (not to me necessarily). But it is movement in the right direction for a change.

Would they pay what is very likely high end salary for these two vets from the most successfull show in Daytime, just to consult...in the long run?

No wonder McT's throwing everything she can, as fast as she can, at every wall she can find.

If TPTB chose the two worst writers in Y&R's history, it would still be a step up from McT HELL. I let others more knowledgeable than myself comment on GH...outside of some surprise GH may be getting attention versus OLTL.

ABCD's PTB believe they can alway wait us out. But when frustration level is very high longterm and the viewers receive blow after blow after blow, none of which they want or see as necessary for the success of the show, sooner or later even loyal soap fans will walk away. TPTB at ABCD take waaaaaaaaaaay to much advantage of their viewership.

ABCD waits too long to fix problems, unlike Y&R. I think Y&R's strategy is better, make changes before the damned bottom drops out. It is hard to regain truly lapsed loyal viewers.

Also, like Angela mentioned, Consultants might just be the way for AMC, for example to transition if they want to wait out McT's contract through April while still controlling some story direction and giving new writers a chance to get their AMC sea legs. I think Consultant role and power is probably different from situation to situation.

Let's not forget those Sweeps numbers for AMC.

Jack Smith may be married to a black woman but he ruined the Winters family on Y&R...

...Wrote of Mamie and Olivia after Kay Alden ruined Olivia by having her sleep with her dying best friends husband. After that she was severely backburned and didn't even get a final episode.

...Lily became the anchor of the Winters family with Dru and Neil supporting as her parents. Their storylines were usually "B" business plots.

...when it came time to renew Victoria Rowell and Kristoff St. John's contracts the show didn't even begin negotiations until well after their previous contracts had ended.

Overall, I guess they would be a step up, but I'm not crazy about either of them. I prefer Jack Smith, but he was VERY burnt out when he left Y&R. He also isn't known for his balance, which many GH fans want. He backburned many major Y&R characters like Victor, Nikki, Katherine, Jill, Dru and Neil. If you want more vets, forget it.

Kay Alden writes weak women and did a story where Ashley and Diane were fighting over King Victor's sperm. Does this sound like AMC's savior, LOL?

Kay Alden was recently doing the same work for "ATWT".

Maybe that explains why ATWT is in the crapper right now

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Jack Smith may be married to a black woman but he ruined the Winters family on Y&R...

...Wrote of Mamie and Olivia after Kay Alden ruined Olivia by having her sleep with her dying best friends husband. After that she was severely backburned and didn't even get a final episode.

...Lily became the anchor of the Winters family with Dru and Neil supporting as her parents. Their storylines were usually "B" business plots.

...when it came time to renew Victoria Rowell and Kristoff St. John's contracts the show didn't even begin negotiations until well after their previous contracts had ended.

Overall, I guess they would be a step up, but I'm not crazy about either of them. I prefer Jack Smith, but he was VERY burnt out when he left Y&R. He also isn't known for his balance, which many GH fans want. He backburned many major Y&R characters like Victor, Nikki, Katherine, Jill, Dru and Neil. If you want more vets, forget it.

Kay Alden writes weak women and did a story where Ashley and Diane were fighting over King Victor's sperm. Does this sound like AMC's savior, LOL?

I hope they have a new approach to the ABC soaps. But I still Soaps are doing it all wrong. they need fresh ideas & not recycle ones. Because to tell you the truth viewer fanfics are better then what recycle writers can put out. Soaps really need to think outside the box & hire people who never wrote for a soaps before.

Megan still has the final say I would imagine.

You mean Frons, because he's making all those decisions