Y&R: In Support of Melody Thomas Scott

[Cashton]

Yes - they did! MTS was the only soaper to make the 10 ten if memory serves correctly. Susan Lucci was in the top 30. It's not so much a popularity contest, but a recognizable name, face.

[SouthOfSoap]

I vaguely remember Vanessa Marcil of GH and Christie Clark of Days also making the list.

[Cashton]

you could be right. I'm going from pure memory here - but MTS was #2. She's nationally beloved, big mistake Y&R. Fix this please!!

[Cheap21]

IA. Im not so sympathetic about all these soap stars above taking a pay cut. Unfortunetly in the times that we are living in its happening across the board. Its better to take a paycut than be fired bc if you have a job, then you better be damn thankful

[lmfan]

If they are so strapped for cash, then why are they bringing on new actors? And there was talk of Barbara Bloom wanting Y&R to pick up some of the hotter talent from Guiding Light when it is cancelled and it seems to have started with Johnny Driscoll. I don't know much about him or how much he would be paid but he is not needed right now and neither was Mac. They could get rid of other new characters nobody cares about and use the cast they have. They have a nice mix of young and older characters, so why keep adding more if they are in such a tough financial situation? People tune in to see characters like Nikki, Victor, and Katherine not Mac and Philip IV.

How does that work? They can't afford their own vets but can afford to hire other actors Bloom and CBS wants to keep their hands on? This reeks of Barbara Bloom to me. Maybe she wants MTS and her contract off the show now that she in over 50 and not some hot young star because she wants to free up some money.

I don't have a problem with them asking actors to take pay cuts, but then don't turn around and keep hiring younger actors or actresses when they already have a cast they are not fully utilizing.

[Cashton]

Word up! LOL! It's such a shame that they do this to the older cast members once they can't go hop to another soap. They know Jess and MTS can't go anywhere else and be in such pivotal roles. It's just shameful. Let's put all our older actresses who have served their show well out to pasture! Ick. And if i hear that Dee Hall is going to replace her.....

[DRW50]

My other question is -- are they even going to give her a story if they keep her around? One could argue they have done what they've done to Nikki because they wanted to play hardball, but from the time MAB and especially MAB/Sheffer have been in charge, I've never felt like they got Nikki. Even if she does take a pay cut and whatever else they want from her, will they improve her role? Or is she, like a number of other characters, someone they just are not interested in?

[Juliajms]

Good questions. There has been some indications that Victor and Nikki will eventually end up together. Hasn't Kaye told them both that they are "it" for each other. She tends to be a truthteller.

If they are so strapped for cash, then why are they bringing on new actors?

Because they are tons cheaper. I bet MTS probably adds up to about 15 or 20 John Driscolls. I'm just guessing though. I'm sure there are people here who have a better idea about that.

[Cashton]

I don't disagree that Nikki has been on the back-burner in many ways, but what came first - the chicken or the paycut? They usually don't put stars on the front-burner who have upcoming contract negotiations especially if they knew she was about to get a 40% paycut. They use her for her guarantee but that is it.

I will say this - Susan Lucci, who was/is the highest paid actress in daytime took a huge paycut with class (no thanks to Agnes!). But the prevailing thought is that they'd never do this to EB or PB, which is an issue that needs to be addressed.

MTS will never be in the poorhouse - her husband, Ed Scott, could feed L.A. for a week off his money. I just hate seeing this happen so publicly.

[classicmoment]

On one hand I understand the possibility that from her POV there maybe some justified principle and she will stand her ground. I also think it's fair that there is a chance more humility may be needed for her to see the situation more objectively. The economic climate for soaps is different, she may have to take one for the team. If the cut is something substantial then hopefully something can be worked out, both sides should try their best to meet each other half way in this situation. The team= the show and the viewers thatt tune in to enjoy it

[Soapsuds]

I think Alvin mentioned it but if Susan Lucci can take a cut so can MTS. I am sick of these actors playing hard ball during these rough times. Yes, MTS is very important to Y&R but she isn't the whole show. She hasn't had a major storyline in ages.

[MTSRocks]

^^^SHUT IT.

(No really, I mean it, LoL)

[DRW50]

When she does have a major story, she more than delivers. Jeanne Cooper had no major story for most of the 90s, only to go on to prove many times over the past 10 years just what she can do when they give her the opportunity. While I know MTS isn't JC, I'm just saying it's not the fault of the actors when the show doesn't bother to write for them. The bigger question I have is -- is the show suffering because an actor is sidelined? Are other characters negatively impacted? I would say very much yes, as the Newman family aren't very interesting to me at the present moment.

That's a good question. Given that I think she's been on the backburner, or put in a poor role, for almost a year now, from the time Sabrina died and her entire story became about how horrible she was and how she caused Sabrina's death and let's watch her literally roll around in the mire, I think they have neglected her for some time. People can say, "She won't get any better elsewhere," which may be true, but if the story she has had since Sabrina's death is what they have to offer, then I can't blame her if she decided to take her chances or take a rest for a while, although I hope she stays.

[detroitpiston]

This is totally off topic, but a Rafe & Phillip banner, really? They haven't even confirmed that Phillip is gonna be gay.

[lmfan]

Well, I would assume they are asking their lower tier vets such as SC, JM, CLB, MS etc to take cuts also and yet they keep hiring anyway.

John Driscoll isn't the only new hire this year. They have added Chris Egan, Elizabeth Hendrickson, Billy Miller, and Clementine Ford as well as younger actors now on recurring who don't cost as much. I am not saying some are not good young actors, but why keep hiring them when the show needs to make financial cuts? Why talk of hiring GL refugees when they are cancelled if you can't afford your own cast and must ask all actors to take big pay cuts?