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2009: The Directors and Writers Thread


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Why is size, in and of itself, a problem for you? If it is "big and good", who cares about the size? Is there something specific in the size of this that offends you so?

This is the tier I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. They sit between Bell/Sheffer/Hamner and the breakdown writers. What is their function?

I realize Tom Casiello has to be circumspect, but my prayer is that he writes a little blog that EXPLAINS who this big team works. What, in particular, does this gang of three do?

I am so pleased that your enmity for her has weakened over time.

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Size is not the problem so much as is the complete disparateness of this team's elements. What on Earth do these people have in common? :blink: It is sucha random gathering of mediocre-to-downright-bad writers, one is left speechless.

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It reminds me of a slimy swamp or that bayou from Disney's film, fog everywhere and putrid smell of mediocrity. There is no cohesion, no strong vision, the show is not on fire, it's not setting the heavens ablaze from splendidness, to put it that way.

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Without getting all "Katherine Chancellor" about it I will never, EVER forgive and forget that washed up, bloated hack bitch from the depths of hell. I tell you this now, by the Almighty I will decry that destructive whore to the farthest reaches of this earth. Now by God I tell you, I will take every opportunity I can to tell the world what a monster that woman truly is!

Well, I guess I totally blew not going on "Katherine Chancellor" about everything...

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You know, what I'm about to say is blasphemous, but at least — and this is directed to Mark — Lynn Latham tried to get together a team to suit her purpose. Which was to turn Y&R into a Latham/Lechowick primetime show. And she gathered the minions who would do that to her.

Maria Arena has absolutely no idea what she's doing. People appearing from nowhere like mushrooms after the rain, weird names, bad writers, it makes no sense. She could at least consult someone who knows or she could do her research.

She had her chance, but in all this time she's just making things worse. And she doesn't have to.

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I'm putting these both together because they actually address a linked theme.

You know, I have been clear that I was a big fan of early LML...and I only became a not-fan deep into the run when the combination of silly stories, characters losing their through-line (esp. Nikki) and the general lack of organization began to take its toll. But then we have Sylph's comment...

Now your comment regarding Latham makes ABSOLUTE sense to me. She hired, for the most part, a very specific kind of writer with a very specific kind of experience (primetime drama or sitcom; youth-appeal writers...those who did young adult shows and books).

In that sense, I totally concur that I do not immediately see the clarity in MAB's vision based on her staffing.

But we seem to be seeing a "melange" of a few Y&R stalwarts, a number of folks with soap experience--but on the younger end of the continuum. The hires do...FROM MY NAIVE AND UNSCHOOLED OPINION...seem less purposive and structured.

But I guess here is the thing that perplexes me...I think the product on screen is quite good. (I am not alone). So, while I do not understand her methdodology, she seems to be using a very 'qualitative' or 'artistic' approach, picking out people whose instruments sound good in her orchestra. Could that be what it is? She's sampling, always looking for people who mesh well with her? That is is "fit" (in addition to skills) that drives the selection and retention?

Still, I am surprised that this writing team has been in such constant flux...one wonders when there will be a team that will just _stick_. I think some stability in the writing team is required to solidify the gains the show has made, creatively, in the last six month.

[Although I will here express my first big hesitation about the MAB style. The rejuvenation since August has -- thrice, now -- been built around three replications OF THE EXACT SAME CATALYST. Sabrina/David died, and we got three months of fallout (with long tails of that story still resonating today). Then, as that wound down, Katherine died. And we have had almost exactly three months of (very strong) fallout. Now, fairly suddenly (but well done within that context), Brad is suddenly apparently gone. And I guess we'll have three months of fallout from that. While I have enjoyed it very much, I am--slowly--worrying that this is a one-trick pony.]

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I wish she'd just choose. I don't want another year (or more) of 50 different writers trying out. She needs to stick to something.

I love Y&R and it has been great for a long time, but the deaths need to stop.

It's amazing how all other shows don't do this much change. They all have their writers put and maybe change one or two every few months. But Maria will soon be changing them like socks.

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I think it worked — kind of — because they were all serendipities. Who would have thought, even though she is a very good writer, that Melissa Salmons would be a good fit for Y&R. Instead of hiring people like, I don't know, Jay Gibson, she should have made a very clear and defined strategy "who am I hiring" and "what is it that I want to achieve". That would put a lot of things in perspective. This at times seems as if agents see her indecisiveness and her discontent with certain writers and then shop their clients around Y&R. She has, apparently, made little effort in getting the good Y&R people back — e.g. Frederick Johnson, who ended up on OLTL.

It is all so random, slow, indecisive. Maria also made no efforts in modernising this show. And before someone shoots me, not in the sense "let's change the whole feel". There are other ways in which you can bring this soap into the 21st century, especially since youre the no. 1, wealthiest soap on air. Where money is (not yet) a problem. Instead it just lingers there, satisfies people not by being bold and innovative and good, but by having many of Y&R's once famous stylistic devices. As I said, a flower shot, a mention of history and whole armada of similar devices does not make something a good soap.

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Re: Y&R.

I don't think it's a big deal if MAB experiments with writers -- to see what she likes. But, jeez, spread it out a bit! I can't imagine how crazy it must be to have four new writers come in, all with limited history with the show, at around the same time. Plus you have a relatively new writer (Beall) moving up to breakdown writing. It just seems like it would be...chaos. It's hard and stressful enough for a writing staff when ONE new writer joins and needs nurturing and a little extra attention and guidance...so, I can't imagine a revolving door like this.

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