2008: The Directors and Writers Thread

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Wasn't she a friend of McTavish's while at AMC? I don't see her back there unless a HW from AMC past comes back.

If Hogan ever head-writers another soap, I could definitely see her there

[R Sinclair]

But the thing is, Port Charles used a lot of GH's scenery/sets because they shared the same production designer, Chip Dox. So it's easy to look better when you're riding someone else's coattails. At AMC, she's still using Roger Mooney. While I like how he redesigned the Valley Inn, all of the other sets are horrible. I HATE the new Chandler Mansion. I HATE the Lavery Penthouse. I LOATHE the Slaters' house. I DESPISE the loft apartments... A new production designer is needed. I understand the ABC soundstages are smaller in New York than GH's LA based Prospect Studios stages, but clearly, there have been ways to make sets look more luscious and deep than these ridiculous excuses of sets these days. I mean, look at Greenlee's penthouse and the Slaters' house, for example. They both have these strip mall effects to them. Flat. No depth.

The Chandler Mansion was well done back in the mid to late 90's and early 00's. The dual staircase in the background and the foyer. Now, it's just this tight little excuse of a parlor and an even tighter foyer with that narrow ass staircase. I also remember Brooke's house, too. That grand staircase and the living room with the dining room nook.

I loved the Erica/Maria fights she penned. They were fierce.

Bradbury left AMC a year before McTravesty was fired. So that leads me to believe that any "friendship" the two may have had doesn't matter at this point. I think Bradbury might be more loyal to AMC than to McTavish -- because I don't recall her writing on OLTL or GH when McTavish was head writing those shows from 1999-2002, collectively.

[Kubla Khan]

BFB was hired by McTavish in 1993. She lasted thirteen years straight, through many different writing regimes. You're right that she did leave AMC a year before McTavish was fired, and word is that they did not part on good terms (BFB's contract was not renewed).

I would like to hear the story behind BFB's stint with ATWT -- why it lasted so shortly.

As for the conversation above: I thought the production values were great under Francesca James and good for the first half of Jean Dadario Burke's run. Looking back at some clips from 1999-2000, the show looked great! Then things went downhill. When Roger Mooney started doing production design for AMC at the end of 2001, he did some good work (The Valley Inn redesign was good), but after that, almost every set was redone somehow and the show's look took a tumble. JHC certainly did not start that downward trend, but it has continued with her. Of course, the budget has been hugely slashed the last few years, so there's not really hope for improvement.

I would say that most soaps' production values have really suffered these past couple of years, especially the P&G soaps. I hate Days' look -- although I'll acknowledge that Ed Scott has improved it some. The Bell soaps look good as always.

[Sylph]

She definitely needs to trim the team, that's for sure. Just to filter it, but that doesn't equal bringing all the Bell era writers. Keep some of these, bring back some veterans (Trent Jones, e.g.).

However, I have to say that she'd have to do such an amazing damage to this show for me to hate her. I just cannot hate a Bell. She's awesome.

[JackPeyton]

i dont expect much from Y&R in terms of becomigng reat again for some time. LML took a axe to that show and it takes time to rebuild. I can already feel and see some of it, but it is going to take time and she doesn need to flesh everything out I will not judge .. to much.. for 6 months

[Sylph]

As long as it doesn't suck big time, I'm good with it. However, there is one thing I can't wait to see: interview with Maria!!

[JackPeyton]

i agree.

and if it does suck bigtime at least let it suck with stories that have jill and lauren! thats all i really want in life - more jill, more lauren (away from the fisher/baldwins...)

[Sylph]

I hate how this show has become a one family show. A majority of the characters somehow seem fragmeneted... If you see what I mean.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

I wonder what the hell is taking her so long. Yes, I know contract cycles are invovled, but I figured some would be up by now and she'd let them go. I mean when you have a staff of 17 writers, losing one or two immediately isn't a problem. Why isn't she hiring anyone on her own? The only new writers to the staff that we've heard of were done in advance of the strike by Latham.

One has to wonder if she'll build her own writing team or keep those Latham already had...

Well, she's not a blood Bell.

[Sylph]

I don't know! And I'm on the edge of my nerves! I cannot wait to see this team already... It's certainly taking her longer than I expected. She's been there for almost 4 months now!

Let her keep some Latham-era writers. I just don't want that old, awful dialogue.

And as for the Bell thing: nevermind that, she's a Bell allright.

[dm.]

Finally Maria is charge... Maybe she couldn't fire the other writers because Griffith is keeping 'em there. He was working on the show during the Latham era, so maybe he likes them all or something...

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Now that's Maria's the official HW, she's the one in change of her team. Let's just hope she can trim it down! As for Griffith he hardly wrote for Y&R before being made Co-EP with Latham. He probably had no hand in hiring most of these people anyway.

The Griffith thing is bothering me too. I initially didn't mind him as EP, now I do. I think Y&R needs a stronger EP, like David Shaughnessy coming back. You know, someone with a strong vision for the show and who has lengthy producing experience, something Griffith doesn't have. I think Griffith is more a problem if he's forcing boring stories on the show. A good EP should be there as a balance to the HW, I just get the feeling Griffith either pushes for crappy stories or lets whatever is written be final without any care.

[JackPeyton]

what do you amazing people think about Valerie Ahern?

just a rancom question because i was watching my Spyder Games dvd's and seen her name listed and knew she worked at Y&R

[Sylph]

Considering what she penned while on ATWT's team, she is a mixed bag. One day her script would be very good, the next a total flop. And so on, in cycles – good, bad, good, bad... But I'd take her anytime over Bugler, Kanelos etc.

[LeClerc]

The thing that stands out in my mind is the first SOS set (1999-2001) before Mooney re-did it. Anyone remember it? It was quite possibly the ugliest set in the history of television. I don't know what the *&%$ Burke was thinking.

On another topic, the new SOD basically confirms B&E are still very much at AMC. RPG says Carruthers recently interrupted a story meeting to introduce him to B&E, who told him he could come talk to them about his story at any time. I found the SOD interview from last year I was thinking of where B&E said they started at AMC the first week of June, so that's when their cycle is up. I think they started the same day Ron Carlivati went Higley-free.

This still does not explain though why the soap press is being forwarded to Carruthers and B&E are no longer talking about the show.

As for Bradbury, should have been pink-slipped from AMC the second she wrote the infamous "K-A-N-E" line.