I watched yesterday's show last night and was slightly disappointed...It wasn't necessarily a bad show, but I was expecting more.

I think Michelle Stafford totally brought it in her scenes with Morrow, and I know there are those who think JM should've given more but I was satisfied with his performance. I think the contrast between the two performances is what helped Michelle shine. Phyliss knows what Nick's decision was and as much as she doesn't want to hear it, she wants to just so it's finally out there..Michelle played several beats in that scene it was awesome..

I know some don't like the 4some of Dan/Amber/Kev/Jana but I actually like them a lot. I love to see real friendships on soaps and these four genuinely seem like a crew of people you would find on any college campus and all the actors have a really great natural chemistry between them. Though it looks like their may be some partner swapping, I'd love it if there wasn't and the friendships stayed just the way they are.

Finally the issue of Ashley being seperate from the Abbott's came up. Ya know, I was beginning to wonder when Jack was going to remember he had a sister who may have been losing her mind..And who doesn't love a good Jack and Victor showdown?

Ugh, CE is making it harder and harder in these last few weeks to accept that a recast is just around the corner..

Can't wait for today's episode, the previews looked awesome. So happy to see Mary Jane and Nikki back.

Love Mary Jane, and Nikki is not a favorite character of mine but the irony for me is when she's gone I notice so I'm looking forward to both

Edited June 2, 200916 yr by classicmoment

Signy Coleman reported that he was always impatient to get done. In addition to being first up, his common mantra to get the cameras rolling is "Let's shoot this sh!t".

He said it so often that once, as a joke, they took the young actor who played Victor Junior, pasted a mustache on him, and had him come out on set and say "Let's shoot this sh!t". The crew cracked up.

So, as contracts and guarantees have gone by, I would not be REMOTELY surprised (but I have know knowledge of this) if he negotiated something like 'I will only shoot Monday and Tuesday mornings". I have no idea about this, but it is what I have speculated in my head. Does anyone know?

What? I hate him! If it came from an interview of SC's, there must be some truth to this. Now I just hope they'll kill Victor off. I certainly won't miss him. I don't even love to hate him. He's just ridicoulus to me: a 90-year-old man who's still looking for a woman to carry a child he won't even raise. Please.

Monday's show was quite disappointing. What's up with ghosts/dreams/allucinations and all? The storylines are becoming crazier by the day. Take Daniel's latest storyline, for example. It screams RELIQUARY to me. It brings back old memories, and none of them are good. Who came up with such a ludicrous concept?

And I even read that the FBI agent will be killed this week, or the next. More murders? Scott Hamner, is that you at work again?

If they were looking for a storyline for Daniel -- not that there is any need for it, IMO, the character should have been written off -- they could have brought back Brian, his real father, or something. Imagine Phyllis using him to make Nick jealous. At least we would have seen her with someone who's not inside the quad.

And count me in as someone who is hating JM's performances as of late. Okay, the guy has been given quite a difficul role. He has to play the macho, and he has to play a guy who's in love with two women. But, gosh, does he look dumber than dumb when he stares at Phyllis like that?

And, please, enough with the chipmunk crap. I appreciate that Kevin did not overcome his problems overnight, but enough with it. I also can't buy Kevin and Jana as a married couple. As partners, okay. But as an actual couple, it's kind of a stretch.

[sorry for the rant. Now that I think of it, this post sounds like one of those that Amber & Kevin read at the coffehouse ]

Take Daniel's latest storyline, for example. It screams RELIQUARY to me. It brings back old memories, and none of them are good. Who came up with such a ludicrous concept?

It involves art so I'd say MAB. She is determined to give culture to her audience. It is so ridiculous and out of nowhere.

It also reminds me of the money that Kevin, Daniel and Amber had a while back and the dead guy, Plum. How was that resolved? I gave up after awhile. Where is that money now?

Edited June 2, 200916 yr by Ann_SS

LOL JM's problem seem to have become the fact that all performers in the story have "skated" miles ahead of him in showcasing their stuff

LOL JM's problem seem to have become the fact that all performers in the story have "skated" miles ahead of him in showcasing their stuff

So, I still think he is playing intentionally understated...a man locked in his conflicted emotions.

But, if you want to assume he is "lazy", think about it: He has an extra-long contract, he gets more than 50% of the SOD covers, he is shut out of the Emmys (even during the Cassie and NickVanWinkle years). Why bother. Whatever he is doing is working on at least three levels. AND, critically speaking, many SON-ners may hate him, but others see him as understated and impressive in restraint.

They are making Amber unlikeable to me right now. She needs to stop calling the victims of Kevin's crime spree "crazy". They do have a right to be pissed.

Edited June 2, 200916 yr by Juliajms

So, I still think he is playing intentionally understated...a man locked in his conflicted emotions.

But, if you want to assume he is "lazy", think about it: He has an extra-long contract, he gets more than 50% of the SOD covers, he is shut out of the Emmys (even during the Cassie and NickVanWinkle years). Why bother. Whatever he is doing is working on at least three levels. AND, critically speaking, many SON-ners may hate him, but others see him as understated and impressive in restraint.

I'm not one who hates him and I think one should be careful in understanding the difference between the critical line of critiquing and hating. I like watching JM I think he's doing ok, he potrays one of my favorite characters and I wouldn't want to see anyone else in the role. With that said a critical moment in watching these four actors for me is in NOTICING what is being brought out of them. In the beginning of the story I bought JM playing just "understated" but as all the other players played the right beats to each individual character in becoming undone, I found/find it wierd that Nick did not. I don't find that Nick has that tough of a shell, sorry.

Edited June 2, 200916 yr by classicmoment

I'm not one who hates him and I think one should be careful in understanding the difference between the critical line of critiquing and hating. I like watching JM I think he's doing ok, he potrays one of my favorite characters and I wouldn't want to see anyone else in the role. With that said a critical moment in watching these four actors for me is in NOTICING what is being brought out of them. In the beginning of the story I bought JM playing just "understated" but as all the other players played the right beats to each individual character in becoming undone, I found/find it wierd that Nick did not. I don't find that Nick has that tough of a shell, sorry.

But think about Victor. Nick IS Victor's son. Maybe his shell is tougher than we give him credit for. Maybe he's even growing into his father's supreme d-baggery??

But think about Victor. Nick IS Victor's son. Maybe his shell is tougher than we give him credit for. Maybe he's even growing into his father's supreme d-baggery??

He's doing ok, I don't think the emotion he can give the story is as vested as the others that's all. Subtle or not, macho or not, tough shell or not I don't buy Nick (through the performance) is as affected by these two women's breakdowns as Nick should be. The writing to me clearly intends that, Josh is playing it to a certain extent I don't know maybe I'm giving the actor too much credit and he has truly reached his limit but I'm just saying what I get from it. There are scenes from this year with Josh that I watched and was pleased with what I saw but there are scenes Nick should have been more of a presence in that I couldn't help but wonder "where is Nick here" JMO no bashing, I like the guy in the role I'm just observing

Edited June 2, 200916 yr by classicmoment

He's doing ok, I don't think the emotion he can give the story is as vested as the others that's all. Subtle or not, macho or not, tough shell or not I don't buy Nick (through the performance) is as affected by these two women's breakdowns as Nick should be. The writing to me clearly intends that, Josh is playing it to a certain extent I don't know maybe I'm giving the actor too much credit and he has truly reached his limit but I'm just saying what I get from it. There are scenes from this year with Josh that I watched and was pleased with what I saw but there are scenes Nick should have been more of a presence in that I couldn't help but wonder "where is Nick here" JMO no bashing, I like the guy in the role I'm just observing

I mean, we know he is capable of more. I just watched the Cassie death scenes a few days ago.

So what I don't know is whether he's simply not doing the work to get himself to a deeper place ("lazy") or whether this is an intentional acting choice. We know he is capable of better (so it is not like he has reached the limits of his skills).

There are some huge differences between this and Cassie's death. First, of course, death-of-child (especially one you've watched growing for a decade) is easier to summon emotions for. Second, Ed Scott was there back then. Maybe he could pull more out of Morrow back then than Rauch and the current directors can.

IMO, Cassie's death and anytime it is mentioned is the only time that Josh Morrow has acted or emoted. He is a father so it was probably easy for him to feel that pain thinking about losing one of his own children. Otherwise he doesn't do much, but stand around looking pretty which is all good.

IMO, Cassie's death and anytime it is mentioned is the only time that Josh Morrow has acted or emoted. He is a father so it was probably easy for him to feel that pain thinking about losing one of his own children. Otherwise he doesn't do much, but stand around looking pretty which is all good.

. Yeah...that's why I also want them to keep Vail Bloom.

But think about Victor. Nick IS Victor's son. Maybe his shell is tougher than we give him credit for. Maybe he's even growing into his father's supreme d-baggery??

I think that's just the default writing choice for leading men on Y&R at the moment. Billy, Nick, Victor.

I mean, we know he is capable of more. I just watched the Cassie death scenes a few days ago.

So what I don't know is whether he's simply not doing the work to get himself to a deeper place ("lazy") or whether this is an intentional acting choice. We know he is capable of better (so it is not like he has reached the limits of his skills).

There are some huge differences between this and Cassie's death. First, of course, death-of-child (especially one you've watched growing for a decade) is easier to summon emotions for. Second, Ed Scott was there back then. Maybe he could pull more out of Morrow back then than Rauch and the current directors can.

Ok so it's not just me. For me this wouldn't be such a standout observation if I hadn't seen him do better. To an extent it can be intentional but few pivotal opportunities are bing missed in making certain choices thatwill connect for the character and the audience better. When Phyllis practically ran out hysterically crying over/not over "the babysitter's illness" what was that expression on Nick's face was it pity over what he's reducing this woman who loves him to? was it grief that the inevitable end to this chapter of his life is upon him? was it regret? What was it? All I saw was confusion to some degree and blandness. Scenes like these he has to find his character's place even when not speaking at those moments

Edited June 2, 200916 yr by classicmoment

Ok so it's not just me. For me this wouldn't be such a standout observation if I hadn't seen him do better. To an extent it can be intentional but few pivotal opportunities are bing missed in making certain choices thatwill connect for the character and the audience better. When Phyllis practically ran out hysterically crying over/not over "the babysitter's illness" what was that expression on Nick's face was it pity over what he's reducing this woman who loves him to? was it grief that the inevitable end to this chapter of his life is upon him? was it regret? What was it? All I saw was confusion to some degree and blandness. Scenes like these he has to find his character's place even when not speaking at those moments

We are seeing the same thing.

But, here is what I'm thinking (and I know I'm probably giving too much credit). I think he's trapped. There is nothing he can do that won't cause pain. Also, for each woman, he has a joy (especially now, for Sharon, knowing he might reconnect with her)...but a matched sadness. Because he knows it won't be the same with Sharon. And he knows what he is squandering with Phyllis.

What we're seeing in his face and body is the paralysis that emerges from a zero sum. Happiness gets cancelled out by sadness, hope gets cancelled out by fear. All these dualities are very interior...so what we see on the outside is the paralysis of the mixed emotions. He doesn't react in a decisive way because he's torn...the absence of reaction belies the war within. No one emotion dominates.

Inside, he's a raging mess. I wish the writing would support our seeing that. There are several ways they could do that...a dream...even a hokey "angel vs. devil" battle of his two selves, at war with one another.

I will admit that he could play this better with his eyes, with a hunched body posture, with little things like reaching to comfort Phyllis and then drawing back.

But Nick and Morrow are NOT THAT GUY. They don't do non-verbals. They're straight up, what you see is what you get. So, Morrow doesn't show us "acting process", because he sort of eschews that kind of technique.

Then again...he could just be a block of wood.

Edited June 2, 200916 yr by MarkH