Y&R: In Support of Melody Thomas Scott

[DRW50]

Most of her airtime (although I know I'm exaggerating a bit) has been about Victor telling her how awful she is, then sometimes she's with Kay. Even when they use her it doesn't seem to be about Nikki anymore.

[MTSRocks]

What's with these female writers not knowing how to write for their female characters?

[Paul Raven]

In the 80's and 90's Nikki very much was Y&R

She was front and centre on the Y&R commemorative plate,for cryin' out loud!!

But time moves on and the Nikki of today,is a shadow of her former self.It may be harsh,but it must be stated that Melody's weight gain has impacted on the character.

Nowadays,she looks matronly and blowsy.

The Nikki/Victor dynamic has gone-they are now just nasty to each other.It would take a hell of a lot to see them back together.

I remember that when Nikki first got some sort of a job(was it at Jabot with Brad)Melody was against,saying that Nikki would never want to work.I think that is true and that's part of what made Nikki such an iconic soap heroine.Her life was defined and ruled by her emotions(usually misplaced)

I still fondly recall her brushing away soap opera tears and stating"I have been lied to and manipulated for the last time!"-we knew it was just till the next time.

At the moment,it would be easy for Nikki to turn down Paul and leave town to be with Casey and she would not be missed.The connection with Victor is gone,she has little to do with her children and the romance with Paul is blah.

[JackPeyton]

She should, without a doubt, take a cut.

If she doesnt want to take a cut, she should walk. That simple. But as to why she should take it? I am assuming she was one of those top stars of the 80's/90's whos salery became gigantic, for the medium they are in, and since then the massive ratings drop and budget cuts have happened. The company/genre is not making what it us to, why should the stars?

[rhythmchyc]

Well are the writers et all getting a pay cut too? I wonder what the budget really looks like and who gets slashed first.

[Cat]

I don't know if they are.

But maybe that's the point. Nobody knows who is being asked to accept cuts. However, I am willing to bet that in these tough economic times, the crew as well as the cast is feeling the heat from cutbacks.

(The ones you should be asking whether they have taken a pay cut as the big execs themselves -- the Barbara Blooms, the Fronses, the Sweeneys!)

And how do we know that Eric Braeden or Peter Bergman have not been asked to take pay reductions? How I Met Your Mother aside, it's not like he has this hot career outside of Daytime either.

I love Melody. But IA with jp. She should take the cut. She'll still be making a good living.

[JackPeyton]

Also, since we are just going off Nelsons report, did anyone notice this part?-

if thats the norm then i think she was offered a fair deal...

[Chris B]

Nelson did say that everyone, including Eric Braeden, will be offered the same paycut. Now I don't know if Melody will walk or not, but I fully expect SOMEBODY major to walk before the year is out. With these kinda mass cuts it's bound to happen.

[classicmoment]

It will surprise me if Braeden already took one. I don't know the man, but somehow I fully expect him to make the biggest stink. Anyway noone should think themselves too big to not recognize what's going on now throughout the genre. Y&R has the biggest chance of being the last one standing so for the vets who want to walk over it they should consider what comes after for themselves

[Ann_SS]

Braeden could make a stink or he may happily accept a trade off in a couple more weeks of vacation. Bergman would take the cut. It was a shock when he was fired from AMC when his Cliff was very popular. All the networks seem to be demanding pay cuts. Like others have said, we don't hear about it unless the actor balks.

[MarkH]

The numbers above are from 2008, no? In that case, it is not a representative year. Nikki played heavily during the Clear Springs/Victoria coma aftermath (and SAVED that storyline, as others have noted). She also was the character on whose back the show was rejuvenated beginning August 2008....David Chow and Sudden Impact; Victor on the beach in Mexico; mourning Katherine.

2009, it seems to me, has been less kind to her. Only dmarex's episode counts will say for sure .

I don't disagree with you at all...but I think that is the makings of a story right there. We see it in real life all the time. No longer having looks and sexuality to trade upon, what is next for her? She has two choices. She can become pathetic and desperate, trying to cling to faded youth. Or she can grow up and become a woman of substance. The show has not soundly committed to either of these courses, but MTS could play both. The show just needs to write for her.

The romance with Paul could be AMAZING. As the "anti-Victor", it could be a relationship filled with heart and love and commitment and mutual respect. If it were me, I'd give Nikki a bout with illness (something serious, like a cancer scare), and have him SUPPORT her through it. Then, on the heels of that, I'd have Paul shot in the line of duty, and have Nikki see him through that. AFTER THAT, Victor will NEVER be able to match the substantive bond of support Paul and Nikki have formed. And that will be compelling. Because all of his limousines and designer racks of clothes picked just for her and jewels...none of them will match the emotion of her 30-year friendship-turned-to-love. It is "companionate love" (what many aging relationships become...less sexual...more soul-mateish), as we see with Kay/Murph (even though Jeanne Cooper disagrees).

Sadly, you are right. This is the treatment we saw with Don Diamont, and that we're seeing with Doug Davidson too.

So, I agree with you...to a point.

Pay cuts make sense when EVERYBODY takes them. That is the sense of esprit de corps, where "we all do our bit for the team". I get that. But when you have MTS' KEY SCENE PARTNER for 25 years allegedly not playing that game...that is just not fair.

At the same time, in raw market value, EB is the show's star. He has the highest name recognition...he still commands New York Times articles that are written from a place of respect. When he has an altercation with a papparazzi, it makes Entertainment Tonight. EB has higher market value, I admit that...but as long as he's "immune", this is just unfair.

I ask all of you...do YOU want to take pay cuts? I work in a place where this is being roundly discussed. I would be supportive, if EVERYONE takes one. Also, even then, if you're still working JUST AS HARD, you can't tell me it doesn't grate.

Nelson did say that everyone, including Eric Braeden, will be offered the same paycut. Now I don't know if Melody will walk or not, but I fully expect SOMEBODY major to walk before the year is out. With these kinda mass cuts it's bound to happen.

I honestly think that is part of the Don Diamont story. People here are saying "he was fired". Yeah, of course...they wrote him out. But why? I think because he would not come to terms.

Every day, though, I expect they'll play this bullsh*t game with Braeden, he'll walk.

Can the show survive. OF COURSE.

But it's kind of "death by a thousand knives". When Braeden leaves (like Rowell, briefly E. Davidson, and ... for some of us ... Diamont, Damian, Lauralee Bell...heck, even Jaime Lyn Bauer)...it's like a lightbulb goes out on the marquee of the show. It just fades and fades. Y&R has had this attrition more slowly than the other soaps...but eventually it becomes an unrecognizable shadow of what it once was.

So, yes, of course the show will go on without MTS or EB. Sometimes a recast can work. Sometimes the show can lose the character and still be stronger. But in the main, for the most part, the show loses a major tie to its history...and like the death of a family member, it's an emptier place.

I remind us of Rowell. A piece of the show has never recovered from her loss. A show can only take so many of those losses.

MTS knows the show was built on her back for decades. Where is the reciprocal loyalty to treat her like this? "Melody, we love you. Melody, we know you are our star. It is with the deepest regret we must ask you to help us in saving money. What can we jointly agree upon that still makes you feel respected and loved and treasured, while helping us reach our financial goals?". Why not try that approach?

[daysfan]

Are the writers even allowed to take paycuts after the WGA negotiations last year?

[brimike]

To answer the previous question - everybody behind the scenes (writers/directors/people in production jobs), they're all taking pay cuts. Some are even being laid off. At all the shows. The strike doesn't affect that.

[Sylph]

Yet Y&R’s team has gargantuan proportions.

Mike, honey, have you said anything about Melody? Like, dislike, care, don’t care?

[brimike]

I said it in the Suds thread in the spoiler section, Sylph. I think it's Melody's call. If she feels she was wronged, and wants to start a new chapter in her life that doesn't involve Y&R, I have to respect that. And if she chooses to take the pay cut, I respect that too.

I don't want her to leave, but I don't think the show will fall apart if she does.