I don't know if Lester really was off base. If you compared his screen time in the 1988-89 period that he made the comment to years prior, there was a lot less Jack. It wasn't until Lester's final episodes that his screen time beefed up again so Jack could be written out for a while. Meanwhile, at the same time, Cricket was on almost every day. They brought on her mom, her long-lost dad and a half brother, and she got put on the front burner with her mom's battle with AIDS and subsequent death, and then with the rape story. Sometimes Cricket was even thrown into scenes she had little or no connection to. I remember when Paul faked his death to find out who framed him for George Rawlins' murder, Cricket showed up at the funeral and told Mary Williams how upset she was, even though Cricket back then barely knew Paul.

When Y&R finally recast Jack several months after Lester left with Peter Bergman, the character went back to the front burner. Some wondered if Bill Bell was trying to disprove Lester's statement by doing that, although it's just as possible that he wanted to give Bergman a chance to shine in the new role.

Is screen time from this era archived somewhere? Like episode counts? Sorry if it is here...I never thought to go that far back.

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On the "who spoke out" topic: I guess Susan Flannery famously spoke out about her union...when the two actors' unions battled earlier this year.

But, in the process. Flannery publically complained about the deal actors were getting in terms of benefits, etc...and she felt her union wasn't strong enough. It was clear that Flannery wasn't arguing for herself (she has GOT to be set for life!)...but for her younger colleagues. I thought to myself at the time that that made her even cooler.

In general, many actors have said in interviews that Flannery is a "plain speaker" or "direct". I get the sense that she tolerates no bullsh*t.

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And, of course, in terms of speaking out....Braeden is in a whole other league :-).

Every time I see the actors names in the Y&R opening credits (something George Reinholt desperately wanted and never got, apparently), I smile and think of Braeden's power.

Edited September 14, 200817 yr by MarkH

I've learned from the interviews I have done with various soap stars of past a lot of the behind the scenes rumblings, and a lot of the actors have asked to leave things off the record for various reasons, namely because their stories may involve other cast members. With many of the conversations I have had, there seems to be a code between the actors. Whether they got along with each other or not, rarely would anyone say anything bad about other people on the set.

The closest I think I got to a real criticism in print was the tension between Darlena Tejeiro (ex-Anita) and Brian Gaskill (ex-Bobby) at AMC. But both actors had a lot more positive things to say about each other.

That's so funny. I carefully read your interviews with these folks, and I honestly didn't pick up on the tension. So, maybe I didn't read carefully enough...but I think this proves your point...they are STILL pretty subtle about it. Well, in Gaskill's case there is good reason, since he was so clear about his desire to return.

Michael Brainard talked openly about his temeltous relationship with Felicia Behr. Many of his criticisms had to do with his lack of airtime. He noted preferential treatment to certain stars. Even then, his criticisms were much more diplomatic than Victoria Rowell's recent tirades.

I read Brainard's comments...but I have to tell you, I didn't pick that up as "tumultuous". I definitely perceived he wanted more airtime...but he didn't come off as "upset" about it to me in his interview with you. I really like your comments here, because they give me extra "shading" on those excellent interviews you did.

Michael Tylo was open about the various runs he did at all the soaps. His view on location shoots correlates as a criticism to GL's current production model. Tylo was also very unhappy about the change of regime at GL in his last run as Quint in 1997. He was clear that they wanted Quint gone, and basically forgot about him. Quint went to the bathroom and never came back. I was told in various emails that sometimes what he didn't say about situations meant more than what he could ever say.

I also perceived, in his interview with you, that maybe Tylo isn't doing so well in the "publish or perish" culture of his current UNLV job.

I think my interview with Marcus Patrick was the closest thing to an actor really criticizing a show. Patrick did not enjoy his run with DAYS or AMC. He had his own ideas about what he wanted out of his roles and as an actor, and was not realizing so potentials with either show runs. I have to admit I am surprised he would even give daytime another chance at DAYS after his run at AMC.

Yes, I agree. Patrick came off closest to definitely bitter. But you know, Patrick is doing so well in gay porn and stuff it seems (based on youtube)...why WOULD he want the limitations of daytime?

Historically, didn't Keith Hamilton Cobb say he was done with soaps? Only, of course, to show up on Y&R and Noah's Arc years later....

In Rowell's case (Y&R) time can heal all wounds.

She is not going to be invited back soon...that is clear. But, it would not be out of the question (IMO) several years from now. I do think she has SPECIFIC fences to mend with Bergman and Stafford. But I intuit that Stafford is not a lifer. I think she's going to go....she seems so bored. So, that will pave the way. Bergman IS a lifer...but if he can work with Braeden after that fist fight....he can work with anyone.

I do wonder sometimes about releasing full transcripts from the interviews, because I do edit them into stories. I sometimes do leave out information that I find repetitive or not in keeping with the overall story.

I do wonder sometimes about releasing full transcripts from the interviews, because I do edit them into stories. I sometimes do leave out information that I find repetitive or not in keeping with the overall story.

I think your approach is better. While I would love to read the full transcript, I think your approach is more likely to please the actors...and you need that if you want more of them.

Cady McClain has been vocal about her problems with AMC and her second stint at ATWT. Martha Byrne was usually as loyal an employee as you could get, until the show shafted her. I was glad to see her speak up and give her side of the story. Haven't been able to watch NuLily ever since.

But you know, Patrick is doing so well in gay porn and stuff it seems (based on youtube)...why WOULD he want the limitations of daytime?

I had no idea that Marcus Patrick is doing gay porn. I have to go look.

In Rowell's case (Y&R) time can heal all wounds.

She is not going to be invited back soon...that is clear. But, it would not be out of the question (IMO) several years from now. I do think she has SPECIFIC fences to mend with Bergman and Stafford. But I intuit that Stafford is not a lifer. I think she's going to go....she seems so bored. So, that will pave the way. Bergman IS a lifer...but if he can work with Braeden after that fist fight....he can work with anyone.

Maybe, maybe not. You pointed out on a previous that Brenda Dickson never got asked back. I think it depends on how Y&R goes in the future. If the show does not pick up, then they may be amenable to VR's return to try and jolt the ratings, but if things improve or steady, they may prefer to stir things up and leave well enough alone. We'll see. I do hope that we see Drusilla again one day.

The thing that pisses me off about the peanut gallery chiming in about how unprofessional Vicky Rowell was during her INTERVIEW was the fact that it was, indeed, an INTERVIEW! She was asked questions and she gave her opinions and honest answers.

There is something to keep her warm on the unemployment line.

Is screen time from this era archived somewhere? Like episode counts? Sorry if it is here...I never thought to go that far back.

I'm pretty much going by my own memory here. The thing I remember so vividly is that I was working a job where we had a TV in the office that summer, so I often got to watch Y&R live during lunch breaks. And after so many days of "is Cricket on again?" over and over, I was actually moved to write a letter to Y&R about how she had suddenly become the focus of the show.

In general, many actors have said in interviews that Flannery is a "plain speaker" or "direct". I get the sense that she tolerates no bullsh*t.

She's been upfront about that herself. She doesn't give a lot of interviews to begin with, but when she does, she's always direct and to the point.

I found her OK and I loved her. I think this Lauralee hate has more to do with nepotism than with her shortcomings as an actress.

For some that may be. But i have dispised both her acting and the char from the first day i watched Y&R and no idea about her family ties. lol.

I had no clue who Lauralee Bell was Cricket first started monopolizing every second on Y&R. It only after reading Terry Lester's interview did the light bulb go off and I finally understood why the talented girl was eating the show.

I had no clue who Lauralee Bell was Cricket first started monopolizing every second on Y&R. It only after reading Terry Lester's interview did the light bulb go off and I finally understood why the talented girl was eating the show.

There, you see. You didn't hate her until you found out who she was.

There, you see. You didn't hate her until you found out who she was.

I think she's a horribly bland actress, and I don't care what her maiden name is...

I think she's a horribly bland actress, and I don't care what her maiden name is...

I always liked Cricket- she wasn't so bad- but to this very day she's the source of my Phylis hate.

The thing that pisses me off about the peanut gallery chiming in about how unprofessional Vicky Rowell was during her INTERVIEW was the fact that it was, indeed, an INTERVIEW! She was asked questions and she gave her opinions and honest answers. She didn't go on her official fan page and shriek and shrew about her "executive director" and her salary/airtime woes. She was asked, "what do you think about this?" and "what do you think about that?" and she told exactly what she thought.

Kim Zimmer irritates me because all she does in complain about Guiding Light. If it's so bad, get the hell out! Why continue to stay at a place where you apparently feel creatively stiffled and mistreated? Oh, that's right... because that's the only place that will let you act out publicly like a spoiled bitch and get away with it. Let's be real... there isn't a market for middle aged, homely actresses in Hollywood these days. You can be in your 40s, but you'd have to look like Nicolette Sheridan or Teri Hatcher.

Erika Slezak, I think, can get away with it, because I don't think it's ever about her or her ego, as much as it is about the quality of the work and the workplace environment. Going to bat for Dan Gauthier was awesome. It's something you don't see often in any genre, let alone daytime. Actors are too busy worrying about staying employed than to speak up and stand up for something they think is jacked up. So that just helped me to believe Slezak is a woman who speaks honestly, rather than speaks selfishly.

Who else speaks up...

Thorsten Kaye speaks out, but he does it so tongue in cheek that you wind up chuckling. While he doesn't necessarily "phone it in" when he's playing something he doesn't believe in, he definitely makes fun of it in the way he plays it onscreen. That's what I think, anyway, because there have been times during the McTavish era where I swear Zach was saying a LOT of what the viewers were saying as well.

You and I have been mostly in agreement, but I don't see that much difference between what Kim Zimmer does and Victoria Rowell's response in this interview. Kim Zimmer's responses have been mostly the result of questions she was asked. She hasn't spoken out negatively about her castmates. You know I have no problem with what VR has said. But I don't have a problem with what KZ said either. I really was disgusted by Jeanne Cooper stepping up to the podium at the Emmy Awards and announcing "My show sux." But a lot of people thought that was funny. I disagree. I thought it was insulting to the show, her castmates, and her audience.

There, you see. You didn't hate her until you found out who she was.

Nah, I disliked her before I knew who she was. She really cannot act and sticking her into every single story made that even worse.