What the hell is with these HW's who know nothing

[sheilaforever]

Where's the article/proof that LML is watching the crap she dishes poor viewers herself?

She DID watch the show before taking over as part of her consulting job - that's what I remember. Then, she also watched B&B on her own and got acquainted with her favorite character ever then known as Amber now known as Pornbrosia. *rolls eyes*

To say the least, she learned nothing from either show...

In all honesty: Why should a writer watch his own show every day? Maybe I'm just baffled because I always picture the Bell shows where the writers like Bill Bell, Kay Alden, Brad Bell have always been in LA, had an office at the studio and there therefore too close to production so that they had to watch it on TV.

However, if that's not the case - the headwriter should be checking the stuff that reaches on-screen every once in a while. Bu I guess the influence is sometimes small anyway: Bill Bell always demanded full power and no meddling from the exec producer/network when it came to writing. I really doubt

that is the case nowadays except on B&B .

[ZaraB]

Isn't Latham both headwriter and producer? I'd think she's going to be at Y and R for awhile. It took years and a very high level of viewer dissatisfaction to get Higley fired. With LML being the double threat, she is that much more secure. Worse, Latham has been slowly turning over the writing/direction/production staff - they are now loyal to her.

It does take arrogance to admit you never watch the show you write. You may not watch it every day, but it is NOT something you should ever say in an interview. To admit you didn't even watch any after you took the writing position is very arrogant and Higley showed her arrogance in spades so many times, she should have been an ABC public relations nightmare. LML does have that level of arrogance, and it will turn off some longtime fans - but Y and R has a long way to go before losing the number one spot (almost 1.5 points).

[Sylph]

I'm not sure Kay ever worked in LA.

[bellcurve]

For several reasons actually...to see if the actor/actress is playing the material right...to see what sounds good coming out of the actors/character's mouth and what doesn't, to see how things were edited and if anything you did write(whether it be a script, breakdown, or otherwise) was removed due to time constraints or last-minute interference by the production company or the network.

There are just LOTS of reasons why writers need to, not only watch their own work, but observe what is going on other soaps too. Maybe we wouldn't have the amount of repetition that we do in daytime if the writers would step up and be competitive.

These days, it's all about "take what you can get."

[stenbeck212]

Seeing how something plays out on screen is invaluable, it can give you ideas about characters you never thought of. The way actors interact is a source of inspiration too. How could someone who doesn't watch their show write to the strengths of a Tony Geary or Elizabeth Hubbard - people who ad lib to high heaven anyway? And what a better way to know what's NOT WORKING. You can't just rely on what's written down and expect it to be the way you imagined it. It's all different when it's acted out on a set in costumes. LML is not only the head writer. If she doesn't even watch Y&R as it's executive producer, security should drag her off the lot pronto.

[JamesF]

I think if you compare the headwriter role with equivalents in other industries, you can see why they should be watching and it comes down to ultimate responsibility. No ad exec would put together the key components of a major campaign and not bother looking at the finished product. These people should be protecting their reputations.

And let's be honest, when the episodes are parred down minus commercials and titles/credits, they run to little more than 35 minutes (18 for B&. It's really not much to ask.

[TC]

How many times has each of us noticed that some ideas look good on paper, esp. spoilers, only to have them fall flat in their execution. To me that's reason enough.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

To be fair, Jack F. Smith was both EP and head-writer, yet they had no trouble getting rid of him. We can only hope the same is done for Latham soon, very soon!