But again, it appears one of her big reasons for asking to be let out of her contract was because they didn't let her join the writing and directing teams. As Sara A Bibel, who wrote for Y&R and was there when Rowell left said in her blog, many actors gave the writers storyline ideas when she was there, it's nothing unique.

Maybe I'm the only one who sees the potential problems of letting an employed actor of a particular show getting writing and directing privileges.

She, like the other actors who gave the writers storyline ideas, were hired to act, not write or direct. If the writers went with some of her ideas, then great, but since they were the ones who crafted the storylines and actually wrote it, they're the ones responsible for its potential reception.

I'd love for Rowell to cite someone in the daytime industry who acted, wrote, and directed for their patricular soap at the same time. No one actor gets that type of power, at least not in daytime thus far. It seems ridiculous that any Executive Producer or network executive would like an actor get that much power.

It may appear that way- but she cited her reasons for being released from her contract- were strictly about her own book. And to be honest, I've listened to her interviews before, and this was never a gripe- it was just the way it was. She never asked for special privileges because she wanted to do double duty.

Maybe I'm the only one who sees the potential problems of letting an employed actor of a particular show getting writing and directing privileges.

I'd love for Rowell to cite someone in the daytime industry who acted, wrote, and directed for their patricular soap at the same time. No one actor gets that type of power, at least not in daytime thus far. It seems ridiculous that any Executive Producer or network executive would like an actor get that much power.

Here's some examples:

Elizabteh Harrower- she was a writer for Y&R when she played Charlotte Ramsey. However, none of us fans knew that as that Charlotte/Liz/Kay/Jill SL was playing out, that Elizabeth ws dying. Perhaps being in front of the camera was always a dream of hers... if that's what it was, I'm glad she got to fulfill it.

Meg Bennett- She DID write and act at the same time, however, she did say that Bill Bell would not allow her to write her OWN SL, she had to write for others.

Jim Houghton- He did come back briefly in 2001, while he was still on the writing team... although it wasn't but for a handful of episodes. Was so glad to see Greg again, though.

John Pleshette- Although it was nighttime soap, he wrote and directed on Knots Landing while he was an actor on it, and arguably, he wrote one of the best episodes of the early years... "Night" , where his character, Richard has a nervous breakdown and holds his pregnant wife at gunpoint. I about peed myself the first time I saw that episode (I was about 13 at the time)

Here's some examples:

Elizabteh Harrower- she was a writer for Y&R when she played Charlotte Ramsey. However, none of us fans knew that as that Charlotte/Liz/Kay/Jill SL was playing out, that Elizabeth ws dying. Perhaps being in front of the camera was always a dream of hers... if that's what it was, I'm glad she got to fulfill it.

Meg Bennett- She DID write and act at the same time, however, she did say that Bill Bell would not allow her to write her OWN SL, she had to write for others.

Jim Houghton- He did come back briefly in 2001, while he was still on the writing team... although it wasn't but for a handful of episodes. Was so glad to see Greg again, though.

John Pleshette- Although it was nighttime soap, he wrote and directed on Knots Landing while he was an actor on it, and arguably, he wrote one of the best episodes of the early years... "Night" , where his character, Richard has a nervous breakdown and holds his pregnant wife at gunpoint. I about peed myself the first time I saw that episode (I was about 13 at the time)

The Meg Bennett situation seemed to be the way Bill Bell did things though, that was my point. Victoria Rowell said up-front that she wanted to write and be credited for her character and her character's family, which isn't something I think Bill Bell would've allowed, yet alone the current powers that be.

The Jim Houghton thing was different, those were guest spots, as you pointed out.

BTW thanks for the added information!

Edited September 16, 200817 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

The Meg Bennett situation seemed to be the way Bill Bell did things though, that was my point. Victoria Rowell said up-front that she wanted to write and be credited for her character and her character's family, which isn't something I think Bill Bell would've allowed, yet alone the current powers that be.

I agree that Bill Bell wouldn't have done it. While he was always open to hearing ideas from his actors and even sometimes executed those ideas on screen, the manner in which it was executed was always up to him. And based on the way he handled the Meg Bennett situation, I can't see how he could have VR writing for Dru and the Winters and not have it in some way shaped by VR instead of him.

The Jim Houghton thing was different, those were guest spots, as you pointed out.

And it's always possible Jim didn't even write any of those scenes around the brief return of Greg and Snapper. At the time, Jack Smith and Kay Alden were the HWs, so it would have been their choice, but maybe they handled it in the same way Bill Bell did with Bennett. And even if they didn't, the story they were writing was really Jill's story with Greg as one of the supporting Fosters pushing it along, so it would be a very different thing than VR actively writing her own story and that of the co-stars she works with directly.

I seem to remember one interview with Jim back when Bill Bell still was HW where he said he pitched a story that would bring back Greg, but Bill turned him down. Had that story come to fruition, however, I suspect Jim's part in writing it would have stopped with the pitch, which isn't that different from the ideas VR brought to the table for Dru over the years.

Edited September 16, 200817 yr by boldfan01

I think VR said that Bill listen to her about her character & the storyline surrounding the black characters. Because he knew he didn't know anything about black character maybe that why he took her input.

I think VR said that Bill listen to her about her character & the storyline surrounding the black characters. Because he knew he didn't know anything about black character maybe that why he took her input.

Bill Bell listened to all of his actors and was very open to suggestions from them. Letting them writer their own storylines though? No, Bill wouldn't have done that based on what we know, and he's not the only one who wouldn't have done it.

I'm sorry for bumping up an old thread, but I missed out on this juicy little morsel and just had to say that I love me some Ms. Rowell and all the more after listening to this interview. Gotta join in on any Ms. Rowell Love, Davetta Love, and the "Valley Girl" Hate. LOL!

Y&R Free for 2 Years and Counting!

I'm sorry for bumping up an old thread, but I missed out on this juicy little morsel and just had to say that I love me some Ms. Rowell and all the more after listening to this interview. Gotta join in on any Ms. Rowell Love, Davetta Love, and the "Valley Girl" Hate. LOL!

Y&R Free for 2 Years and Counting!

You been free too. So have I but I love Chloe so I only come back for her. & that's when I know "Valley Girl" isn't on the same time as Chloe.