Y&R: In Support of Melody Thomas Scott

[MarkH]

I also wanted to address the allegedly "misogynistic" origins of Victor/Nikki. That's true, of course...but as the years have gone on, the tale has been singular in defying the feministic progression in daytime. Until Brad showed her her first laptop (when she invested in Jabot to defy Victor), it was remarkable to see a tale like this still...a trophy wife in a gilded cage.

Someone else has already referenced the Pygmalion/My Fair Lady origins of this romance. Victor even referenced Galatea when he first asked Nikki to move into the ranch. Those are classical -- yea, mythic -- origins. And people dismiss the tale??

Ironically, Nikki never really came into her own until LML. I hated what LML did to Nikki, mostly. (It made no sense that Nikki would suddenly work against Victor, and run for Senate, and have her daughter-in-law arrested on her wedding day). But a lasting legacy -- a good one -- is that Nikki no longer put up with Victor's sh!t. At the same time, she was still simpering and clingy (David Chow!), and has in some measure remained thus (Paul!). I like that the dependent, insecure throughline of Nikki remains. She's being shown, warts and all. Indeed, Victor even called her on it ("You'll lose all sense with anyone who is remotely nice to you").

Indeed, I feel that is why Victor is really being so vile to Nikki. It is for her! He knows they are poison for one another...so his angry, brusque nature is really designed to keep them apart. All of this follows logically from his harangue on the beach in Mexico.

It is precisely because there is no one else quite like Nikki on the daytime landscape, and it precisely because she has been a front-burner female with deep, deep flaws--now being allowed to age and become something different, but still consistent with her past -- that I would hate to lose MTS and Nikki.

Oh yeah, for those who dismiss the Victor/Nikki tale. Remember how much box office Pretty Woman did? Remember how it made Julia Roberts a star? (Hmmmm...there's that name again). The AUDIENCE loves this Cinderalla/fractured Cinderella tales. So, of course, some critics would deny such fairy tales to the audience. That sure makes sense....

[rhythmchyc]

I wonder if it was 40% or more. No one ever mentions the people behind the scenes. It's frustrating.

[MarkH]

Not fall apart...just lose another bit of its brightness and of its history....

These things chip away at a show. They are not catastrophic...but like rot...they destroy nonetheless.

[Sylph]

Oh, sorry, I didn't read that!

Which is kind of brimikean way of saying: She can go. No loss there.

[brimike]

I totally agree, MarkH. I hope it didn't come across like I was a callous. I do NOT want to lose MTS, especially with where the story looks like it's heading. But the show has to go on. And honestly, after what happened with Days last year, I fully prepared myself for 2009 to be the year that a lot of these actors either take the hit, or ride off into the sunset. I psyched myself up for it, so when I hear it about anybody, be it David Canary, MTS, Erika Slezak, Susan Flannery, whomever - it won't seem like such a blow.

So I guess I just psyched myself up for it last year, so I wouldn't be so horrified when it started happening across the board. This is the world we live in now. It sucks, but it's happening. I went through my five stages of grief in 2008. 2009 is all about acceptance. LOL!

[brimike]

My babbling in the other thread:

[rhythmchyc]

Well if they're gonna get rid of the vets, would TPTB do us all a favor and, uh, I don't know, hire newbies that can act??

[brimike]

Actually, Y&R is doing okay in that department. Billy Miller, Elizabeth Hendrickson and John Driscoll are all good.

Clementine Ford and Eva Marcille are still problems, true. But they have given us a few newbies that I'm happy about.

[MarkH]

It is a good thing that almost every newbie on Y&R in the past year, at least, acts beautifully. And even some folks added during the LML era are doing just fine!

I think Ford is playing a particular note ("fortress around my heart"). When she finally lets that go (but it has to be appropriate in story...now is not the time), we're gonna love her!

[brimike]

I don't disagree, MarkH. I think CF is doing much better than others on here. I was talking more about general opinion on the boards than my own personal opinion.

[rhythmchyc]

I'm not even only talking about Y&R.

Farah Fath, Crystal Hunt??

And I haven't seen B&B in ages but I remember Nelson's list of the worst actors on soaps now had just about the entire younger cast on that soap.

And even the young vets: Fumero, Lavoisier, Archer, Williamson, ick Brotherton(?!?)

And Y&R has who? Morrow, Heinle, Stafford, Case, Engen(hopefully), Goddard, Bloom, Khalil??!?!?!?!

It's as if TPTB knew earlier in this decade that soaps would die out and there would be no need to establish new strong actors and/or characters.

I mean, can anyone hear imagine Morrow (even though I love him to pieces) and, let's say, Miller in a head-to-head corporate intrigue story in twenty years?

[MarkH]

Morrow is playing the spoiled son of the Newmans.

I could imagine Goddard and Miller in a pitched corporate battle in 20 years.

[JackPeyton]

EVERYBODY does need a paycut. People should be paid what they are worth IN THE CURRENT MARKET they are in. Soaps of today are not soaps of the 80's, 90's or even 5 years ago. When soaps blew up and the budgets blew up so did the salerys of top stars. Soaps have died down, budgets have been slashed yearly, contracts have not -- until now. Those stars who make the most money, im sorry, but are over payed for the current soap opera market.

As for EB, we have NO idea if ehs beena sked to take a cut and if he did. Perhaps the press only cares about those who dont. If it hasnt come up yet, im sure it will.

Would i take a cut? In my current job, no, because i could make more on unemployment, lol. If iw as amking a [!@#$%^&*] load of money? perhaps. Its hard to say without being in the situation just like its hard to say about the companies asking its employes to take cuts because we are not in that exact situation. Placing myself in MTS' shoes? (from what i know)... If i felt it was worth it, yes. If i didnt? No. But i would without a doubt factor in soap vets like Lucci taking massive cuts, the fact that the show was ready to recast Jill, and the fact that people like D. Hall have been fired into account, without a doubt.

[rhythmchyc]

Lucci is a legend, undoubtedly, but she wasn't on AMC as much as Scott was preceding her pay cut. While Melody did have a rough 2009, she's had plently of screentime for years. I haven't seen nearly as much effort spent on Lucci and Walton on Y&R until very recently

What was Lucci's big story over the last few years? The prison break story? And that wasn't even a big deal. And Walton would appear twice a month until her s/l with Cooper.

While I'm not saying Scott shouldn't take the cut, I do think considering her last few years on the soap, she has a right to fight.

[DRW50]

Sorry if this has already been posted, but this clip has a few early, classic Nikki scenes. MTS was such a strong presence even in those early cult, Paul days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtDUrKIfoFs