LoL yep, and I will definitely be the one saying that homosexuality and race are two different matters.

I think if a white guy said "Look, I am all for everyone being equal, and if you want to marry a black woman that's your right, but the idea of kissing a black woman is repulsive to me" there would not be a single post on this board or any board except for Klan.com saying things like "stand up for your values. TPTB were wrong and could easily have cut away. Why wasn't the actor informed in advance this was going to happen? He should not compromise his beliefs" and so on and so forth.

We don't even know for sure what this guy even said, but people already are defending that very train of thought only it is about gay kissing instead of interracial kissing.

We don't even know for sure what this guy even said

Yup.

And for now, that's where it is at.

MEANWHILE: Muhney's excited as hell, he's twittering like made, he is updating his website in real time with every clipping, picture and newsitem about this (including Errol's exclusive pictures). Muhney hit #30 in Google analytics Friday (Engen didn't rate in the top 100). Muhney's has a dedicated fanbase (rack-of-lamb) that is over the moon with this news.

All we know is that there is a recast, and he hasn't booked a job in a while, and he is excited as hell to be here...and he's not containing that excitement or being coy. He's thrilled to be there, he's trying to attract his fanbase to the show.

How can Y&R viewers lose on that deal? I hope he flourishes in the role, and I'll be interested in this new take on Adam. I have enjoyed the character of Adam since he was introduced, and I hope that continues with the recast.

ETA: And this recast clearly knows what he is getting into ("perverse", "twisted") and relishes it. So the fans will get someone who wholeheartedly embraces this story no matter where it goes. Seems like win-win-win to me.

Edited May 24, 200916 yr by MarkH

I think Muhney will do a great job. I am not worried about him delivering. I do think though that we are headed for a who killed Adam story if they don't give him some positive arc. Having Adam genuinely fall in love with Rafe could be that arc.

Chris Engen keeps mum about his departure. He doesn't seem to be interested in being interviewed by me now. However, I will interview David Lago very soon

Chris Engen keeps mum about his departure. He doesn't seem to be interested in being interviewed by me now. However, I will interview David Lago very soon

Hmmm..so he is keeping quiet. He should get his story out if he has nothing to hide. David Lago?...blah.......

Maybe someone should send CE the following

Anyone want to buy CE this shirt??

He probably can't say anything until his contract expires, as well as work professionally again until that contract officially expires...

He probably can't say anything until his contract expires, as well as work professionally again until that contract officially expires...

Which means he probably walked off the set and quit. Had he been fired he would be singing a different tune.

Hmmm..so he is keeping quiet. He should get his story out if he has nothing to hide. David Lago?...blah.......

He probably can't say anything until his contract expires, as well as work professionally again until that contract officially expires...

Yes, I think -- just days after walking off -- that he's still probably in legal wranglings.

If Sony plays hardball, they can sue him for the expense (casting costs, new costume costs, production delays) and hold him to the term of his contract.

I wonder if they'll do that...especially with the risk of a throng of supporters lining up behind Engen because of what they will perceive as his principled stand? That seems like a PR nightmare to me.

Thus, I'm imagining they'll cut a deal where CE pays some expenses, stays out of DAYTIME till his contract expires, and has a gag order for some period. At least, that's what I hope happens...I hate it (regardless of the issue or who is in the right) when Goliath smites David.

I'm just going to throw this out there as my final comment on this. Here is Hrisch's take on the whole issue. I was just posting this on SoapsWEB. This is from her gossip column this week. I like how she puts it all into perspective with Rauch:

In a few short months, the cast and crew of "Young and Restless" have learned what I have known for years: You do not mess with the show's new co-executive producer, Paul Rauch. In the past two months, he has managed to get a major star to take a major pay cut, told another diva to take a pay cut or become recurring and replaced an actor complaining about his story line in one day. I first met Rauch when he was producing "One Life to Live." At the time, he stated that "some actors belong in playpens. I don't put up with children who behave badly." Here is the proof that Rauch is like fine wine — he just gets better with age.

Jess Walton — Jill on "Young and Restless" — was disappointed by her latest contract offer. It was even reported she left the set. Rauch did not reason with the actress; he just suggested a list of actresses he could call on to take over the role. Walton, who loves to work and does a great job of it for "Y&R," signed the new contract.

Next up: Melody Thomas Scott, who has played Nikki from a troubled teenager to a troubled mother, was asked to take a pay cut. The actress balked. Rauch hit her with the term "re-recurring." In soap speak, that means "we will call you when we need you. Who knows when and if we will need you." While a new contract has yet to be signed, it looks like Thomas Scott will join Walton in the "how to make a new budget" section of the local bookstore.

Now for the latest "Y&R" "don't mess with the Rauch" episode. Last year, Chris Engen signed on to play Victor Newman's son Adam. In the beginning, the character was mercurial. Good boy or bad guy? Who knew? In the past month, there is no question that this guy is the devil's spawn. He has pretended to be blind, is gas lighting Ashley, the only person who shows him any warmth, and has scene after scene of "pity poor Adam." Engen was not into the twisted turn his character had taken.

He had reportedly complained to writers and producers. They told him to do his job — act. Then he learned that his character was going to get a man-on-man kiss from his lawyer, Rafe. With that news, Engen bailed on his contract. Bad idea. A lawsuit against the actor is possible. Rauch was not overly concerned; within two hours, he had hired John Muhney. Muhney had a recurring role on "Veronica Mars" and has done several films. This is his first soap. Watch for the new Adam to make his "Y&R" debut June 25.

Engen's walking out on a contract because he did not like the story line is rare for an actor but not new. Years ago, respected actor Robert Milli signed on to "All My Children." About a year into the story line, Milli learned his character was going to turn out to be a Nazi. That was the infamous "Erica goes Nazi hunting" story line. (See, "AMC" has had worse writers than Megan McTavish.) An appalled Milli quit. He was replaced by Jack Betts, who later played "One Life to Live's" super villain Ivan Kipling.

I had forgotten about Milli walking. He later worked again.

Memo to Hirsch: It's Michael, not John.

Still, if you want to be the actor who turns stuff down based on your beliefs, I have to wonder why you are in daytime in the first place. Few soap opera characters live up to Catholicism's view of moral decency, so why exactly did he join the show if he knew he wouldn't do certain things?

Exactly, I mean good GRIEF, if your'e going by a conservative religious perspective and only want to perform a character that is in line with those beliefs... on Y&R, your'e [!@#$%^&*] outta luck unless your'e Beau Kazer or Julianna MCCarthy.

I'm just going to throw this out there as my final comment on this. Here is Hrisch's take on the whole issue. I was just posting this on SoapsWEB. This is from her gossip column this week. I like how she puts it all into perspective with Rauch:

I had forgotten about Milli walking. He later worked again.

Interesting. Two questions though:

1. DaytimeFan (who was usually pretty reliable) told us that Sony did the contracts, not Y&R. Indeed, I seem to recall he suggested that someone from Bell-Phillip (i.e., a behind-the-scenes honcho from B&B, actually) sat in on the negotiations, NOT Y&R's EP.

If that is true, combined with stories that say Rauch is ONLY supervising production at Y&R...."producing Maria's show beautifully"...I understood that Rauch was NOT involved with contracts.

If that is true, then he is not a part of the Jess Walton and Melody Thomas stories. He'd still be involved with Engen, though, because he'd be dealing with a balky actor on set.

2. Is there any ORIGINAL reporting in this story?

It reads like a 100% take from what Branco reported, and she does not cite any sources of her own.

Do you think she independently confirmed these details, or just took them from Branco?

If the latter, then we still have on a single source, with not attributed quotes. In that case, the only thing we know is that Engen is no longer Adam. We don't even have confirmation that it was Engen's choice to quit, let alone his reasons for doing so.

Exactly, I mean good GRIEF, if your'e going by a conservative religious perspective and only want to perform a character that is in line with those beliefs... on Y&R, your'e [!@#$%^&*] outta luck unless your'e Beau Kazer or Julianna MCCarthy.

Or Todd Williams, Paul's brother the priest, played by Corbin Bernsen.

Do you think she independently confirmed these details, or just took them from Branco?

Considering that she didn't even get the actor's name right, my guess is that she just regurgitated what Branco had already reported.

Hrisch called the recast "John" Muhney. That alone makes me not take her column, which is essentially a Nelson regurgitation only blaming Rauch, seriously.