Y&R: Week of December 8, 2008

[DrewH]

What was going on around Christmas '89?

[dm.]

Here:

http://www.geocities.com/yrfreak/yr2.html

[Y&RWorldTurner]

I really liked the Jack and Billy scenes today. And Billy deciding at the end that he'll keep the fact that Chole is having his baby a secret. Y&R does have a long-term history of doing stuff like that. I have a feeling they're building towards a Chole and Billy reunion, but it looks like Cane might actually fall for Chole too, so that's probably a nice twist.

LOL! at Esther wanting to move in with Chole and Cane.

I notice Mike Denney tends to direct two back to back episodes whenever he directs. He did so last month as well, with Katherine's funeral and the episode after.

I'm glad they actually decorated Crimson Lights nicely this year, I remember the horrible way Latham had it decorated last year for Christmas. I also liked the music cues used today.

What was Jana doing giving all that money to River....

And tomorrow's US episode looks good, it's going to be great to see Gloria suffer. I'm glad Jeff set her up, she had this coming.

[MarkH]

I did enjoy the Billy-Jack scenes...until I remembered that last week Jack sort of blackmailed Billy, saying Billy "owed" him for two years of "lavish lifestyle". That was actually a painful moment...but that wasn't at all referenced--not even in the nonverbals--today.

Billy's "secret" ain't gonna last long if he is leaving it on voicemail. My only question is: Who is going to hear the voicemail, and what are they going to do with the information?

Jana's giving the money to River was random. It is clearly just to fuel Jana-Kevin tension. But here are questions. Why does River owe $23,000 in back taxes on the Ashram? And why did the previews for tomorrow raise the valid question of where River got

I would be much happier with Gloria's comeuppance if it were not at the hands of that vile, vile, vile Jeffrey--but at the hands of Ashley.

I also wonder where Michael and Lauren are headed. All those professions of love tonight seem to be setting up some kind of imminent schism. (That is how it always works on soaps). But what could possibly break them apart? Is he keeping any secrets from her??? Or, if my speculation above about River is right, is Michael going to turn angry and bitter again, after learning that his dad is a

?

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Jeffrey is only the set-up, the Abbots come into play with the aftermath. It made sense for Jeffrey to be the one to do this to Gloria since he knew about all of this for over a year.

[MarkH]

Oh, I agree it makes sense. But I haven't hated a character as much as Jeffrey in forever. (Well, since Brittany Hodges was on the show).

[Cashton]

Gloria's impending doom is going to be the perfect Christmas gift to Y&R fans. Jana's acting WAY stupid. Her giving River that money makes no sense. in fact the whole 'Kevin needs money' s/l makes abosolutely no sense. Gloria easily could and WOULD give Kevin whatever cash he needed to stay afloat. And this new wrinkle just adds confusion not drama. i'd rather Jana and Kevin have nothing to do than for the writers to contrive a new layer to bring them in.

[BadZoe]

The whole thing is ridiculous to start with and is getting worse by the minute. This kind of storyline works with poor characters not ones with rich families. Didn't Kevin and Micheal win the lottery a little while ago, you'd think Kevin could ask him for a loan? I would sooner have it that along with the cash, Kevin found an alternate will, or a bottle of booze and the admission papers for the rehab facility. Something that would prove that Katherine was not in her right mind when she gifted Gloria with the 5% stock.

The writers seem a little out of touch with the real world when it comes to the value of money. Frank asking Victor for 1 million dollars when 1 million is not nearly enough to be set for life. If it was me in that position and having a Billionaire, to blackmail, I'd ask for at least 25 million.

[Cashton]

Everyone on the show is rich now! Even Esther! Next Tyra will be VP at Newman! No, but on a show that's been so good so consistantly, it seems so out of place.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Is anyone middle-class or poor on daytime television anymore? It's sad, because the current state on the economy isn't reflected on one show.

Y&R started out in part as a show about class distinction. However, with the Big Business glam of the Regan era, the show and other soaps went off in a more sophisticatedly glamorous direction that most have never gotten away from. Yes, they've managed to work some poor or middle-class characters in there from time to time, but the focus is never on those characters and they eventually become rich or more economically stable. Class structure doesn't appear to exist on American soaps, sadly.

[DaytimeFan]

Since the go-go 80s Y&R has been a soap about rich people.

I love it.

I hope it never changes, it's a trademark.

[Cashton]

Oh i don't want to see "the poors" messing up my Y*R anymore than u! LOL! But the war of the rich vs. the poor is a staple on soaps. Look at Gloria. She came to town broke and she made for great drama.

[dm.]

Well, my Michael Gross suspicious have been right all along.

And I could care less.

On the other side, I'm very upset over the rising possibility of

Can you imagine?

[MarkH]

The events you mention are of interest and concerning. One wonders if they are related to the across-the-board

. If so, it is interesting that they are mostly

. There is risk here, because you don't want to be like B&B...a show with no

. It is also a shame because

, and one hopes that any changes that are made are not permanent.

On the other hand, with an over-stuffed canvas, the idea of f

is very appealing. A show with an agenda and a plan!

[dm.]

I think that

All others presumed-exits I could care less about.

Could these exits be the result of bringing back

, or is it just the economy?