19, I remember hearing similiar rumblings, so there's a chance that she was definitely consulting which doesn't necessarily mean she had any real influence over the show (but I also definitely read her waxing poetic on wanting to write those E/K type scenes). It would explain how she knew a rape storyline was coming up, but other things would also explain how she knew.

Oh well, doesn't matter now. She's not writing, consulting, she's not doing zilch!

I wonder though if McTavish is still writing until they find a replacement or if she is already gone. I want her out, like yesterday, and no longer influencing the shows or the storylines. Hopefully, ABC will make an announcement soon to clarify the situation.

Rayfield and Cascio didn't create that many newbies. Richard Culliton is responsible for SORAS'd JR, Jamie and their girlfriends Joni and Laurie as well as Reggie. All of those actors were under contract so Rayfield and Cascio had no choice but to write for them if Jean Dadario Burke didn't want to buy out all those contracts. I'm thankful that Rayfield at least wrote Andrew Ridings' JR out on a tramp steamer. But, still. The poor actors are Judy Blye Wilson's fault since she believes you can make "beautiful" people into actors.

I respect that you don't like Richard Culliton -- your loss -- but please have your facts right. Reggie started airing in January 2003, but Culliton's work stopped airing in early December 2002. Culliton did not create Reggie. He may have created Joni, but she started airing so late in his run that he may already have been effectively off the show by then. He probably did create Laurie.

Also, for those who are talking about Culliton's so-called dropped stories, for the most part he didn't drop them, his successors did. Frank Hubbard was abruptly written off the show as soon as Culliton was fired, thus why Mia and Frank's son didn't come up anymore, and why the story with his filming Smone's brother was abruptly concluded. Simone's dad also stopped showing up after Culliton was fired. Same with Adam and Brooke -- the story was dropped as a result of the writing change. Culliton did drop the ball himself on the stuff with Tim Dillon though. As for Revlon, that story was not dropped, the name of the cosmetics company was just changed to something else when the period of time that Revlon paid for was over. I think that's actually good -- Culliton didn't compromise his writing and create an artifical climax for product placement purposes.

This whole thing about "dropping" stories also ignores the fact that many times stories are "dropped" or cut short because the network doesn't like them. It's out of the writer's hands. Indeed, Culliton might welcome a "contractual agreement" to have to -- really, be ABLE to -- follow through with stories he starts; it would be to his advantage to have less network interference.

Edited March 7, 200718 yr by jfung79

Is it REALLY necessary to drag PASSIONS into this?

When McTavish has had so many fake deaths, back from the dead, psycho killers, walking aborted fetuses -- and her run ends with two supposedly dead people fighting in an exact replica of a house in another part of the country and a woman is playing dead in an exact replica of a hospital room in a CASINO?! Yes! McTavish writes camp -- not classic soap, and Passion is/was nothing but camp!

I agree with Hogan. There is NO reason to bring "Passions" into this. And what's with that smart "Oh, wait!" comment? The show is still on the air, if canceled. So they can STILL watch that as the alternative.

Dude, digs at canceled soaps are SO NOT cool.

Um... Oh well.

What is with her and victimizing women?

I agree Angela, that stuff just prior to McTavish taking over was brilliant. Wasdn't McTavish though consulting in the months leading up to the July 1st date when she was first credited as headwriter?

July 1st is the date her scripts started airing, so count back at least six weeks to get a rough estimate of when it was written. Add maybe a few weeks to that and it's possible she was "consulting" a.k.a. getting the show to go into her mold so her stuff would work.

So she could have possibly been consulting in late April, and then started writing in May -- which is why the May annoucement said "Effective Immediately."

I respect that you don't like Richard Culliton -- your loss -- but please have your facts right.

Facts? FACTS?! We don't deal with no stinkin' facts 'round here!! We deal with opinions -- and opinions are to NEVER EVER EVER be challenged -- let alone challenged with f-f-facts?! Ugh! Where are the forum police when you need them?! But forgive me. I shouldn't have said your precious Culliton created Reggie. It was not my intent since I knew Rayfield created him. I've said before that I was amazed Reggie stayed on the show for as long as he did under McTavish considering the fact that he was part of the Rayfield/Cascio regime -- which Megan wrote out quicker than quick. I must have deleted one thought and wrote another thought on top of it. That happens. And you're also right -- it was my loss. I lost 15 months of enjoyable viewing while Richie boy was at the helm.

Lorraine Broderick MUST come back. That woman is a genius.

Facts? FACTS?! We don't deal with no stinkin' facts 'round here!! We deal with opinions -- and opinions are to NEVER EVER EVER be challenged -- let alone challenged with f-f-facts?! Ugh! Where are the forum police when you need them?!

I love you.

In my opinion, Culliton was better than any of the others we got in those years. However, I do wonder how Cascio would have been solo. I'm weary of this Kay Alden person (who many think will be the next HW).

Edited March 8, 200718 yr by Pine Charles

I wonder though if McTavish is still writing until they find a replacement or if she is already gone. I want her out, like yesterday, and no longer influencing the shows or the storylines. Hopefully, ABC will make an announcement soon to clarify the situation.

From what I understand she has been out for weeks.

From what I understand she has been out for weeks.

Who's writing the show?? Is the new HW already there but they just haven't announced it yet?

Who's writing the show?? Is the new HW already there but they just haven't announced it yet?

All I know is that she was fired and is no longer involved with the show. At this present time.

After Culliton was axed, it took ABC about six weeks to name Cascio and Rayfield as the replacements. In the interim, ABC just tossed over duties to Rayfield (who was on team as a breakdown writer) and Fred Johnson (also a bdw). So, as of now - Walsh, Demorest, etc. could be steering the ship until nuHW comes in which hell isn't a bad thing.

I heard, however, from someone that the new HW is already in place and started on March 5. I can't vouch for the accuracy of that person howeva.

Edited March 8, 200718 yr by Poloma S

They wouldn't have announced Megan's firing with her still working on the show. When they announced it is when she was gone, adios.

She I am sure was informed back in the fall they weren't renewing her contract.

Kay Alden paired with either Beall or Beldner is my hope for AMC's new HW regime.

Kay Alden paired with either Beall or Beldner is my hope for AMC's new HW regime.

Can you tell me what makes you like her?

Thanks

Alden's tolerable.

As long as she stays far, far away from sperm.

Alden's tolerable.

As long as she stays far, far away from sperm.

The last thing AMC needs is another sperm writer! I rather have someone spoken of as "good" than someone spoken of as "tolerable". Also, wasn’t she fired? That’s never good. I suppose that's why I'm not on her bandwagon. But I guess you never know what one writer can do on another show.

Were most of Alden’s stories on Y&R character-driven?

Were most of Alden’s stories on Y&R character-driven?

To an extent. She's basically an ok writer (for all intents & purposes) that will probably do well at AMC given the absymal state of Daytime in general.