Y&R: Fire Maria Arena Bell and Josh Griffith!!!

[rain1]

I think the strike and the Strike Termination Agreement had a lot to do with Josh Griffith supposedly devoting himself "full time" to his EP duties while passing the headwriting torch to Billy's wife. Josh took FiCore almost immediately, headwriting the show when Lynn went on strike. When the WGA made clear (via the STA) that no replacement writer shall be retained on a show over a striking writer, Josh and TPTB at CBS must've gotten nervous. Granted, Josh wasn't hired during the strike, but he did effectively "replace" Lynn. If he felt the hot breath of the Guild on his back, he might've reasoned that a very public transference of the headwriting crown would keep the WGA at bay, so he annointed Maria. Unfortunately, Maria's Daytime writing experience consisted of sitting in on some story meetings in the late 80s and writing a few scripts. Since she wrote no more than a handful, one would assume she either got bored or her work was poorly received. Flash forward to 2007 and the plucky chorus girl gets tapped to play the lead. But can she do it? Can someone with almost no writing experience take the reins of the #1 serial in Daytime and return it to its former glory? Maria was given a few weeks to get herself up to speed, then thrust into the role of Y&R's savior, as if her surname alone could get her through it. But anyone who believes Maria's flying solo is nuts. Josh is very much in the mix, which isn't surprising, since a lot of EPs not-so-secretly headwrite (Goutman). The person who needs her head examined is Barbara Bloom. It took her years to gain any sort of control at Y&R, and what's the first thing she does? Hire Lynn Latham. When Lynn began her reign of terror (hiring, torturing and firing practically every writer in Hollywood), Barbara fiddled while Genoa City burned. So you'd think she would've learned from her mistakes, but no, she's still playing favorites (she LOVES JG). Whether Maria's actually writing or serving as Josh's "front", our hearts should go out to her. My suspicion is that she's being used, and will ultimately take the rap for the loss of quality and viewers.

[PJA]

I don't think Josh Griffith is writing at all. When he was writing the show a few months ago, it was much better than this mess.

[Sylph]

Thank you, rain1, so much for posting this!! It confirms a lot of stuff we already knew or suspected!

[Chris B]

The tone on the show is not much different from Josh Griffith's time as HW, but as EP I still expected him to have a major hand in the vision of the show. Basically, I think they both suck. The heavy influence on art related stories I believe comes from Maria, which is a major part of the suckage on Y&R these days. Not surprised in the slightest that Bloom loves Griffith. I never bought that he was there for the Bell's. Sad to see it confirmed that Bloom likes him. I guess this means Y&R will go the way of the PGP soaps with crappy leadership and no change in sight. Won't be looking for LML and Bloom's bloated staff to be let go.

Despite Brad Bell's problems, I'd hate to see CBS get their claws into B&B. I no longer dream of a Consultant or Co-HW fromoutside helping him out. I'll take the bad months, bad stories, lack of balance, etc. as long as it's still B&B. CBS has shown what they can do to a soap and it's just as bad as ABC, if not worse.

[Cat]

Yes, it is incredibly boring.

But is it as bad as LML's reign of diarrhea? As bad as Phyllis trying to convince Nick that their Great Love was based on an interest in computer games? Or Nick "bonding" with Victoria over (again) computer games? Or Adrianne Leon getting fired for her "weight gain" and being replaced by Sony's latest singing sensation? Or Brad strangling some day-player with his thighs and that Reliquary SL from hell? Or Amber's porn website and the mole on her breast? Or that f*cking break-room being featured over and over? Or Out of Our Asses?

Because that sh!t got me to tune out for 6 months.

Y&R isn't quite there -- yet. But I definitely agree it needs to fire LML's bloated group of boring-ass non-writers (although Natalie Minardi Slater? Is that her name? I've heard good things about her. Keep her) and bring back the old guard who knew Y&R like the back of their hand. And that includes Kay Alden and Jack Smith.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

With ratings hitting a new low almost ever week, how long will they sit down and do NOTHING? Thanks for confirming what we all suspected rain1, you know, that Barbara Bloom is single handedly responsible for the destruction of CBS Daytime.

Anyway, I don't think even Bloom will not do anything about the striking ratings of daytime's #1 rated soap. Something will be done soon, but it might not be what we're all looking for.

[Chris B]

Are b&E as bad as McTavish? Was Hogan as bad as JER? Is Kriezman as bad as Weston? These type of excuses and lowered standards are why soaps are in such a poor state. Other soaps wait or lower their standards and more and more viewers leave.

[NYC123]

I am sorry but they have got to go!!

The old Y&R cannot be found....This show is one HOT mess!

[Sapounopera]

Why is Cane hanging out with the kids? He looks very silly with them.

How did Chloe turn into a brand new character and moved in with the others?

The Allistair storyline belongs to PASSIONS, not Y&R.

Why did Skye show up?

I can't stand watching Nick & Phyllis with Jack & Sharon. This type of mess doesn't belong to Y&R either. It's insulting.

Sabrina is not a soap opera character. I don't know what she is, but she is not a soap opera character.

I can't stand listening to Jill call Kay MOTHER.

Jack the Senator.

Nikki the Senator !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lily the model vs. Cricket the model.

This show has been in trouble FOR YEARS.

What I like about Y&R these days:

Daniel & Amber & Kevin

Adam

Katherine

I'd say get Sally Morina, James Houghton, Trent Jones, Meg Bennett back. David Shaughnessy. People who know what Y&R is all about!

[DaytimeFan]

There isn't time to 'give them a chance' because the ratings are bottoming out faster than I've ever seen. At the rate things are going Y&R could lose a cool one million viewers in less than 6 months. JG and MAB MUST BE FIRED! Ditto the LML staff. It's that simple.

And Barbara Bloom can huff and puff and blow the studio down for all I care. That bitch has absolutely no interest in Y&R. CBS has no interest in Y&R, case closed. She may have influence...but it's up to Sony and to a lesser extent the Bells and Corday Productions to call the shots.

Steve Kent needs to reach into his pants, find his balls and FIRE EVERYONE! He then needs to give said balls to someone from the Bill Bell era and give them carte blanche to fix this hell hole of a show before all of us defect!

[Sylph]

WHAT?! Steve Kent is the first one that should be fired!!

And Barbie Bloom. It would be great if we could get a package deal: those two out in the same day!

[DaytimeFan]

Steve Kent and Barbara Bloom aren't going anywhere...I'm just trying to think realistically.

[Sylph]

I know that. Maria Arena Bell isn't going anywhere, too. At least for now. But if she keeps with this boredom galore and these incredible ratings (3.6?!), she'll be out in no time.

However, that doesn't stop me from thinking Kent and Bloom should go!

[DaytimeFan]

You're not going to hear any disagreement from me. Steve, Barbara, Josh, Maria and everyone else associated with LML has got to be fired.

Working within 'the system'...I'd settle for Josh and Maria to get the axe. The ratings speak for themselves, it's an unmitigated disaster, MAB is not cut out for this sort of work, she needs to go back to Rodeo Drive and shop and Josh needs to go away.

[Chris B]

Y&R films about three weeks in advance. With them seeing the ratings and complaints I do wonder if we'll notice a change towards the middle of June. Any coming and goings, cast returns, more exciting storylines. It'll be a test to see if they care what fans or ratings say.