Ending the Conspiracy of Bloom preventing former Y&R head writers Jack Smith and Kay Alden taking over AMC

[Darlotto99]

well first my post was not a gay bashing all i was saying is if you take a look at the history of the Y&R and how the show is written with all the catholic tie's the church, christmas and everything else I senserly doubt that Y&R will ever go down the path of a gay character like Nelson like's to start rumour's. if im wrong il be the first to come out and admitt im wrong

[rangethatrover]

Oh I know that Darlotto! Wasn't accusing you of that at all!

[MarkH]

Yes. Bill remained as Senior Executive Producer when Kay Alden took over as HW.

I have my chronology/facts crooked. I think Kay had a competing offer to HW somewhere else, so Bill stepped down from the HW so she'd get her break at the show he mentored her for.

Obviously, the Alzheimers would already have been in an incipient state at the time he retired though (Mild Cognitive Impairment). Given that he soon stopped appearing in press shortly after that...or an Christmas parties in a frozen portrait with not much of a smile...I do wonder when his functional impairment was first detected.

But I assume that in the early part of Kay's HW tenure, he still gave some blessing and shaping to story.

When Kay took over, I thought the show was REMARKABLE. We went straight from the horrible Joshua and Veronica Landers tale (forgotten in a DAY) to that amazing Victor-Nikki reunion on her deathbed and the divorcing of Diane Jenkins. Then Diane and Michael teamed up against Victor...it was sublime.

Things diminished over time. I guess a lot of people hate her for the sperm thievery storyline, but my objections relate to more awful/boring things like the Dennison family (yes, Tricia was spectacular at the end, but I had to endure the soporific Keith and Megan to get there). Early Grace-and-Tony were also terrific, but unfortunate recasts, sticking poor Tony with those awful Dennisons...it all degraded the show over time. As a regular viewer, it is meaningful that I barely recall the end of the Alden regime.

My assumption has been that as Bill became less and less directive over the show, the weaknesses of his successors became manifest.

I was not really paying attention to industry stuff back then, but I recall that there was a pitched Alden-Scott battle, and Scott was dumped. No? And then as the show continued to slide, somehow Brad Bell gave up Jack Smith, and Jack took over the HW/EP reigns at Y&R.

Personally, I felt he had moments of greatness (Cassie's death) and moments that almost trashed the show (never-ending-gag-choke-sputter-I-dare-not-say-the-name Brittany Hodges, Raul; Jill-is-Kay's-gag-sputter-help-daughter).

Let us not forget that is Jack who actually destroyed John Abbott (making him Terrible Tom's killer)...it was just LML who finally disposed of him.

I can only assume that all this carnage occurred in direct proportion to the diminishment of control by Bill Bell. That's how AD works.

LOL. Just most of 'em .

[MarkH]

Given the "Joanne" fiasco of the 70s, I'd agree.

But a lot of water has flowed under the bridge, and "gay is the new black" (meant in several senses).

Fashionable, and with CBS losing its buzzworthy lesbians (Otalia), a replacement homo/homos is/are needed .

Seriously, though some might agree, Y&R is the best written soap on the air right now. (Yes, Sylph, it is a relative thing). I think they could do justice to this so I encourage it.

Also, I think it would "cleanse the palate" of all concerned vis-a-vis the 1970s debacle.

[rangethatrover]

I loved the Veronica Landers storyline. Loved it.

[Darlotto99]

a gay storyline will happen on the B&B before Y&R

[JackPeyton]

No, it wont.

BB revolves around four people only. Thats why it wont happen there.

[MarkH]

I didn't mind when she got pitchforked by Victor.

But you're a DOOL fan, so we have to take that into account

[rangethatrover]

HUH? God no. I have never been a Days fan. You confusing me with jack peyton or something.

[MarkH]

LOL. I've started about four dirty sentences, and erased each. Suffice it to say, JP is right. But also, Bradley Bell is "bonafide Bell" (not like Maria)...so he's gonna have a harder time with this gay thing than his sister-in-law.

Brad, you'll recall, scripted a FOOTWASHING SCENE which led to a MIRACULOUS SHAFT OF LIGHT THROUGH THE WINDOW which led to the MIRACULOUS SURVIVAL OF ERIC FORRESTER.

You may also recall that Brad scripted a story where the SPIRIT OF STORM LOGAN flew over an operating suite (in which the reverential surgeon said a prayer before slicing), and later where his DEMON SOUL (after all, he was a suicide!) haunted Katie in the waters of the deep below the Marlin.

Uh uh. No gays here for the time being. Though I still think Owen has an "equal opportunity side", and if the right rich and beautiful guy came along.... But I think I'm just projecting what I'd like to see.

[MarkH]

Okay . Sorry to remember it wrong.

[rangethatrover]

Just OLTL and pre 2003 Y&R and sometimes post 2003 (and B&B back when it was good, like 9-10 years ago)

[DaytimeFan]

Nelson got this story wrong...I do like his column because he can be such a shrieking bitch.

Jack was hired by Frons to consult on GH since Jack lives/lived in LA (he also has a house in Hawaii)...Kay was hired by Frons to consult on AMC and OLTL. Kay DID submit a bible for AMC to Frons but he turned it down. Some say it was terrible, some say it was vet focused. I've never seen it...but it existed. Both Kay and Jack were paid INSANE money to consult at ABC, yet their opinions were roundly dismissed by Frons. Not one thing they suggested went into production.

Kay phoned Brad and asked for a job at B&B. Brad said yes. Brad then phoned Jack Smith and offered him a job, Jack said yes. Kay is not the Co-HW in a creative sense. She drafts the breakdown arcs for the storylines and edits. Jack writes scripts.

Kay was HW, 'solo', from 1999-2002. In those three years Bill Bell was in fine shape and he had a huge role in how the show was written, if you hated the Sperm Swap then guess what, you hated a Bill Bell storyline. As Bill's health deteriorated, Jack Smith was brought over (Alden and Scott hated each other, Scott was fired, Shaughnessy and later Smith became EP)...Bill died in 2005 and sh*t hit the fan with that hack bitch from the depths of hell LML after Sony wrangled creative control from the Bells. The Bells regained creative control in 2007 under MAB.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

But really, I don't see how the hell Julie Hanan Carruthers can have that much influence on who Brian Frons wants to hire to HW his shows, it doesn't make sense to me. Julie is obviously nothing more than a yes woman at AMC...

[JackPeyton]

Geez, my name is just being tossed around everywhere today! lol.

best. post. ever.