Jump to content

Y&R: Week of February 09, 2009


Recommended Posts

  • Members

That's true, they have to work the people they have on contract to their guarantees, which they don't have to do with Tracey. When they have to craft storylines and balance the budget efficiently, I'm sure recurring players like Traci aren't given a thought, because she has no guarantee obligation to the show, and that can be difficult to work around. If this were GH and she were recurring, she'd be lucky to make an appearance once a year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 291
  • Created
  • Last Reply
  • Members

Yeah, I don't disagree with this. We're nearing Kimberly-blows-up-the-building-on-Melrose heights, and we all know a show trying to top itself constantly never works.

But I have faith. I think... Like you said, it's all still entertaining. But I think Y&R will probably hit a downcycle or a misstep and everyone will call for MAB's heads, and the people who haven't liked her will say "I told you so", and it'll be another few months until they get back in the swing. That seems to be the general course...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

It's alright to have "shock and awe" moments as long as they fit with the stories. If the opportunities naturally present themselves, it's all good. I just hate when they have to manipulate the stories to fit the event rather than the other way around.

So far, Y&R has done a good job at making it all work. Of course, they also manage to keep the show fresh and exciting between all the twists rather than making viewers suffer through months of boring, so...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Good points. And let us not forget that the -- ahem -- less exciting Spring 2007 cost Y&R a half-million viewers. So I guess remembering to be consistently exciting...while trying to hold back on the gunfire and explosions...maybe a necessary concession to holding onto viewers. Most Y&R viewers (myself included) do NOT want Masterpiece Theater, after all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I agree.

Besides, aren't soaps supposed to be exciting and intriguing and cliffhanger-y? There's no law saying that we have to have periods of boring just to make us appreciate the shock and excitement more when it finally comes, LoL. A good writer is able to balance it all and make the show consistently exciting with a shock around every corner without turning it all into a clusterfcuked mess. Not everyone can pull it off, but I have faith in the Y&R brass.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

One great thing Maria's done is allow everyone to be smart again.

When Eden went missing Michael & Lauren immediately knew she went to the hospital to be with Noah.

Under LML Michael & Lauren woulda spent two weeks careening around the GCAC yammering at Eden via cell phones, another week searching Crimson Lights for her, then a final week dragging her home & lecturing her only for her to really be Eden's long lost identical twin sister who moonlights as a part time art fencer & PETA activist.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

They have been hiring quite a few actors as recurring who have had story last year or are getting story this year. The recurring characters include not only Lauren but also Jeffrey, Noah, Eden, Abby, and Olivia.

I just don't see Tracy Bregman as your typical recurring character though.

I think Dee Dee might have a point though. Lauren and Michael deserve a story focused on them and some romance but Maria seems to have issues with Tracey and/or Christian or at least don't value Lauren and Michael. That is one thing she does have in common with LML. Not enough to write them off, but enough to make them a really low priority. It almost seems like that "It's a Wonderful Life" episode and these little Tracey/Lauren scenes are bones she throws at them.

Don't get me wrong about the Pheila and Sheila story. It was blatant how LML took a Lauren centric story and served it up as a Michelle Stafford vehicle. Even after Lauren killed Sheila it was all about how Phyllis' suffered when her and her daughter were kidnapped for half a day. Lauren's torment and any issue with her killing Sheila was ignored while Lauren and Michael were forced to beg Phyllis to forgive them.

My point was that CLB and TEB acted the hell out of their scenes even if the material sucked and that this Lauren story appealed to fans so I think fans would like to see a story focused on Michael and Lauren once in awhile. Maybe not a A story, but at least a B story.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

The problem with Lauren is that her relationship with Michael has NEVER been about her.

It's ALWAYS been about Michael.

Tracey deserves a LOT better but Lauren's a plot device used to service Michael's Redemption.

A significant plot device but a plot device nonetheless.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I wish I could disagree, but I can't. I love Lauren and Michael as a couple but she is used that way. I would love to see her working with some other characters also, but almost all her scenes are with Michael and his family. Tracey seems pretty philisophical about the whole thing. She mentioned in a recent interview that she loves the pairing with Michael but misses Lauren's edge and would like more story. She also said that she was grateful she had a job and was able to work with people she really cares about so can't complain too much.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Michael and Lauren are done in my opinion in terms of story.....

If I was Maria Bell.... I'd gradually make Michael into a John Silva type character.... be used whenever someone needs a lawyer, if Phyllis needs a confidant....

Chuck the rest. Lauren really serves no real purpose anymore as you have stated.... Kevin and Jana can go to jail right alongside Gloria and Eden can go back out on that lake during the March thaw. B)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Part of the reason I don't mind Michael and lauren is because we hardly ever get a married couple for longer than a year (maybe two) without conniving and cheating.

It's nice to see a couple making it work and sticking together. AS weak as it may seem, Lauren's story is that she married a man who's extended family is a wreck. The Everybody Loves Raymond of daytime.

She is constantly trying to figure out how to make her marriage work while keeping them (Gloria and Kevin) out. That in itself requires some realism in the dialogue and Tracy's performance.

They could do a better job showcasing her perspective, but I don't need Lauren to become the nagging wife that seems to be plaguing television.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.



  • Recent Posts

    • I like that this episode highlighted the ramifications of what Eva and her rotten mama did. They were so focused on Ted and Nicole, not even realizing that other people would be affected. Eva thought nothing of what she did to Mona bc she was sure no on would hold anything against her but Mona is right in that they ruined her reputation with the Duprees. They dont blame her but they will likely never trust her judgement again. She has to walk by them feeling the guilt and shame that she'll never live down bc she unknowingly played a role in the hell that was unleashed. Not to mention the trauma and trust issues she no has bc she genuinely viewed Leslie as a friend   And poor Laura nearly died when she had that car accident and then had a heart attack and infection bc she was poisond. She's been recuperating for 3 months. She missed her trip to Hawaii and no idea what impact this has done on her relationship and her own plans but no on was thinking about that.   Eva and Leslie need to be made to feel like ish bc this was bigger than just Ted and Nicole
    • On May 12, 1989, the Dynasty series finale aired.

      Please register in order to view this content

    • Please register in order to view this content

       
    • To be fair, he has no idea what to do about anything.....

      Please register in order to view this content

    • Understand your point.  But I usually see Reginald's mustache twirling villainy as ultra campy bordering on comedic (albeit unsuccessfully).  And upon Reginald's exit, most of the overt camp/comedy seemed to cease. And although I'm aware camp and comedy are not exactly the same thing, I tend to throw them together anyway -- especially when discussing soaps.  You are correct, Mary was not played for laughs.  When I used to term "let's play everything for laughs" I didn't mean literally everything or every character was comedic. But TPTB put so much effort into comedy, it did tend to eat the show for a few years (again not literally). I'm just expressing my perspective on the topic, and lots of folks probably disagree.  That's cool. People who like comedy on soaps tend to defend it, and folks who don't like comedy (or think it want too far) tend to criticize it.  Whichever side of the fence one is on, it sure didn't help the ratings on AW. 
    • Nope, it was not just you, I had the same issues. Most either disagreed with me, or just ignored my comments. But, I most definitely would have liked for them to take another route, even to add sheer variety in the storytelling. It is what it is, the story is a hit with the fans...
    • You may be a casual watcher, but you got SO much right.
    • I've been eagerly awaiting Kate's first episode under the new writers, and I wasn't disappointed. I started reminiscing about all of Kate's misdeeds when she said how good of a liar she was and how she saw right through Roman's lying. I really buy this matured, but still wise Kate in 2025, and the fact that you know under the right circumstances, the more ruthless side is always there, under the surface. Hopefully, with Roman about to confess, we get the full truth about just what the hell happened with Johnny the night EJ was shot, then all the major suspects will be eliminated, just for the writers to throw in that wrench that's waiting for it's time to shine. Everytime Brady thaws even a little bit towards Kristen I immediately get concerned. I was entertained by their fight, and it was smart to mention Kirsten having no friends, let alone positive female relationships except for Lani in regards to why Rachel is such a loser. As a viewer, do you think Stacy Haiduk as Kristen was at all thinking about her former friendships with Jennifer and Billie in that moment? I wonder if she's even aware that they were, or who Billie even is. Anyway, I do wish Kristen could have also thrown in Brady's face that he's literally the biggest slut in Salem. Rachel seeing and possibly hearing about him going from woman to woman would also negatively affect Rachel's negative ideals about women, and possibly her own self-hatred. I thought Doug's favourite class being English lit was a good through line from how impressed he was with grandpa Doug's poetry book to Julie. Hearing he dropped out because no one at home cared just made me yearn for more information about Charles LeClair as a father and person. Maybe it was this time that Robert LeClair was dying so Charles was distracted and it all fell apart after that? Alex with Kristen today is the most interesting I've seen him written. He was smarmy and cold and for a quick second looked like he was enjoying playing with Kristen clearly throwing herself at him, but when she dropped her facade he became merciful, but still unwilling to budge. He would have fit in well in the more complex 70s era as a cad with a heart underneath his bravado. However, and I can't stress this enough, I absolutely despise whenever he calls Philip, 'Phil.' It just itches my brain in all the wrong ways.
    • Edit.  This was answered on page 2 of the renewal thread link
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy