Y&R: Should LML Stay Or Go?

[Roman]

I didn't want Venus's thread to get taken over with this discussion, so I thought I would start it here.

Bottom line, in light of today's ratings, should she stay on as HW and EP, or should she be fired from the show altogether?

I want to give my reasons, and not just say that she should leave and that's it.

1. Pacing - The show moves so fast that there is no time to take any of the stories in. One day, something happens. But, it may be two weeks before you see that story again, or even referred to, because she moves everything at breakneck speed. There was a time where something would kick off, and it would be delved into for quite awhile. Now, I guess she feels that this must be nightime tv, where everything must be wrapped up in an hour. It is making the show suffer.

2. Charater-driven stories - There are none. That's because the pacing and balance if so off, IMO, that I really don't care about these people anymore. I still rememeber where something big would happen, and that day, everyone would pick which team they were on - Team Jack, or Team Victor. Team Sharon, or Team Dru. I don't see that anymore. They are there to do nothing but serve the plot. That's all. Jack can't stand Sharon one minute, and then she's the love of his life two episodes later. Lily mourns her mother for a week, now she's more worried about Daniel's porn fetish. Neil is a drunk for a week, now not only is he not seen, he's back on the wagon (I guess). Victoria is an idiot, and why? To prop up asswipe Brad. Nikki ruins her son's wedding day one minute, and then uses her daughter's husband, then blames Victor for her son's "death"......it just goes on and on.

Jil and Kay hate each other, then they don't. Kevin is a louse, then he isn't. Colleen loves Corbell, then JT. This needs to get fixed ASAP.

3. Stories - What the hell is going on? I now watch Y&R just to laugh at how badly the stories are. They literally change from one day to the next, depending on what mood LML is in. Is Victor going to destroy Jack (For the 1,000,000th time)? How did Katherine, after all these years, NOW remember that she gave away Jill's son? In a drunken stupor? Why is Brad suddenly Victor Lite? And why hasn't anyone buried this punk? Why does Vikki stay with him? What was that mess with Carmen all about? Why is Nikki ruining everything just for some damn Senate seat? Why are none of these stories fleshed out to make any damn sense? From day to day, they change so drastically that I truly believe I have missed something. But, it's not important. Lauren had a reveal scene with Goria, and the next time she was shown was yesterday, when she took Fen to see Michael, whom she was furious with. But, he seemed to trip off of it for about ten minutes, because he then went right back to trying to ruin Jack with Victor's help.

Then, how many damn times have I heardthat Gloria is getting busted, only for that to last one episode and then not be referred to for a month? Why are Micahel and Kevin more likeher henchmen than her sons? Why is Will falling for her [!@#$%^&*]? Exactly where are the stories going? It makes no sense to read any spoilers for the future, because they change so rapidly, like when we were supposed to get a huge story involving Colleen and her bulimia, but it lasted just two episodes.

I'm sorry, but this show, IMO, is a creative mess, and has been for some time. And, before anyone else says it, yes, I can admit my own hypocricy and say that I still watch a show that I have now said is garbage. Don't know why. Glutton for punishment, I guess. But, I can admit it. I just love this sow so much, and different from DOOL, it has been at the top of the heep for so many years, I would hate for it to go under a 4.0 for the first time because the jackass in charge doesn't know what she's doing.

It's time for a change, and damn quick.

[King]

If there is one thing I Have learned in all my years of watching soaps...it can ALWAYS be worse!

[Y&RWorldTurner]

It's definitely time for a change, but Y&R is not the easiest show you can find a new head-writer and EP for.

From 1973 to 1998, Y&R was headed by its creator William J. Bell, no other soap on the air can claim to have that kind of focus and love from its creator.

Alden and Smith were deemed somewhat unsuccessful (but far better than Latham) and they were Bell's proteges, but they've moved on to other projects now, so it's not likely they'll return anytime soon.

The problem is, who can we find that will make Y&R consistently good again? Is there anyone out there?

What head-writer and EP would you suggest?

[Dimera_Phoenix]

Jack campaign story is not so bad and she gave us Cadrian

other than that I don't care about the show

[Andre]

So so so sooooo true. All it takes is a complete regime change to forget the past and go completely off the show's original path. And it's happening at Y&R.

Kay Alden and Jack Smith, among others, need to come back. Maybe not as HWs, but they knew the show.

[Roman]

They need to promote from within and not bring in someone from the outside. I bet there are some poeple there that, with the proper grooming, could take over the show. If they do bring someone, they need to do what Hogan Sheffer and Kay Alden have done. Study the show before they start writing for it.

[anita30]

Well I dont think so cause it could be far worse. I mean seriously she is great compared to OLTL and GH which suck espically OLTL with DH at the helm.

She is not below 4.0 yet in the household so she aint going anywhere. I do think however she needs learn more about the history and stop changing it so much because we as fans do remember.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Trent Jones should've been given the head-writer position after CBS/Sony/Bell decided it was time for Alden and Smith to go. Perhaps they could've brought in someone new and paired him/her with Jones. Ed Scott could've also been promoted to EP status.

I hate how Y&R always seems to make its head-writer and EP the same damn person. They need balance and compromise!

[King]

Look at DAYS for example. I hated Morrina! I wanted anyone but her. Then, I got Langan. I thought nothing could be worse than Langan. A year later, I got Higley!

Be careful what you wish for!

[sheilaforever]

She needs to go like yesterday.

Six months ago, I've said give her time. Her oh-so-friendly interviews won me over and not every storyline can be a winner. However, the show sucks beyond repair for the whole year so far and has basically since October/November last year - Roman summed it up perfectly.

Interestingly enough, that's when the hack booted Kay Alden.

Therefore: Kay Alden back as headwriter and let her give Natalie Minardi Slater more power, since she seems to be her protegée. Then, I'd simply promote MTS's hubby back to Executive Producer and voila...

To combine those two posts (headwriter & ep) has hurt the show a lot in recent years - and it started under Jack Smith when Bill Bell got so ill that his exec title was just an honarary title.

Bu most importantly, get rid of ANY of Latham's little helpers. I think they ruin the show even more than her. Heck, I guess lethal Latham could even serve on the writing team as long as she has less power and her co-workers of horror (Speaking of you, Scott Hamner!) are buh-bye.

[Sylph]

Neither were Alden & Smith and yet — they left.

[Sylph]

He should have been Claire Labine’s co-HW.

[DrewH]

It's going to be hard to promote from within. Most of the writers on the show now were brought on with Latham. They are just as badas her I believe. They could alwys promote Paula Cwickly. She's been on the show for quite a while. There's also Sally Sussman Morina, who I belive is still a storyline consultant, maybe not. When one of these writers comes in that head writing job, they need to start over the writing team. Bring on writers that have done their homework on the characters and know how to write for characters, not plots. Latham's team is not cutting it.

[sheilaforever]

Which he already was for more than a decade before Mr. Sheffield's brother (David Shaughnessy) got the title in 2000 (?).

[dm.]

Lynn needs to go... it's true. She's good for primetime, but not daytime. And I agree, both Kay Alden and John F. Smith should return, and if they can't then they should try to bring back either Trent Jones or James Houghton (they were both working on the show for a long time).