if MTS doesnt wanna take a cut then let her walk. The show will go on without her.

Stars need to realize they work in a dying genre, with slashed budgets, a tenth of the viewers, and those huge raises they got in the 80's and 90's need to go.

I don't think anyone's denying that the shows need to slash budget. The issue is how they're going about it. There's a right way and a wrong way to make cuts. For example, going on location to Paris isn't the right way, LoL. Keeping useless characters like Jeffrey, Gloria, Tyra, Devon, Noah and Eden while playing hardball with MTS resulting in her exit isn't the right way. It's alright to cut costs, but cut away the bologna before taking a chainsaw to the filet mignon.

You're persistent, LoL.

The show is uneven. I only sporadically watch other soaps, but Y&R is the one I tune in for. MAB might have not been an overall success, but man she's trying.

She undid Katherine/Jill as mother/daughter.

She brought back Tricia Cast. Alongside Julianna McCarthy, Marla Adams...

She put Jill and Katherine back on the front burner, and gave Cooper a love story.

She's respected the history of Bill Bell for the most part.

She had Gloria exposed for the tainted cream.

She brought back Billy, gave Jabot back to the Abbotts.

She's trying to fix the mistake of Cane.

She's putting an end to Nick/Phyllis, while trying to please the Nick/Sharon fans.

What baffles me is that most people have been BEGGING for these things to happen, and yet she's still being raked over the coals for trying to restore some dignity to the show, post LML. Granted not everything she's done was a success, and the way she did things weren't the best, but MAB shouldn't lose her title yet.

I think undoing past mistakes is fine, but not if they're only being done because people wanted them to happen, not if the stories themselves have had no real followup. Since their dissolution as mother and daughter, Kay and Jill are reduced to Jill snapping at Kay and Jill doing comic scheming with Gloria and Jeffrey. Gloria's become irrelevant but continues to get airtime. The writing for Sharon/Nick/Phyllis has made him look terrible and brought into question why either woman would want him. Billy's spread much too thin and his main love story is one which is completely devoid of chemistry.

I'm glad she brought Nina back and I'm glad she's trying to marry the current Cane and the Cane who first arrived in Genoa City, but I think the execution of many of these stories, along with her other stories, has been problematic.

We all understand there need to be cuts. Some of us would pare the show down to 5 cast members (including MTS) before we have 30 newbies and no MTS.

Well there u go - if it's a decision between having 5 vets and 30 newbies then we're all screwed, cause I don't want either one. EB, JC, PB, MTS and oh...let's say ED do not make a soap.

F.uck storytellers right now. If behind the scenes is chaotic (contract wise) it isn't going to make a difference who's writing the show.

:lol:

I don't think anyone's denying that the shows need to slash budget. The issue is how they're going about it. There's a right way and a wrong way to make cuts. For example, going on location to Paris isn't the right way, LoL. Keeping useless characters like Jeffrey, Gloria, Tyra, Devon, Noah and Eden while playing hardball with MTS resulting in her exit isn't the right way. It's alright to cut costs, but cut away the bologna before taking a chainsaw to the filet mignon.

Was the budget slashed when they needed to go on location?

And honestly, even if you add up jeff, glo, tyra, devon, noah, eden... i doubt they = MTS' money. And even if they did, if you are in a genre that only maxing X amount of money now, and you are getting paid for it was maxing 25 years ago, then why cut the newbies who get paid according to the current state and not the ones who got a blowen up salery?

I love MTS. i love Nikki. I hope she stays. But IMHO she doesnt deserve the amount shes making. No body does because the genre isnt making that kind of money anymore.

Well there u go - if it's a decision between having 5 vets and 30 newbies then we're all screwed, cause I don't want either one. EB, JC, PB, MTS and oh...let's say ED do not make a soap.

Well maybe they could afford 6 or 7, then

Well maybe they could afford 6 or 7, then

Come on now, has a soap ever had only 6 or 7 contract players?

Come on now, has a soap ever had only 6 or 7 contract players?

I'm kidding on the numbers...but honestly I think GH does it right. A very small number of consistently front burner folks.

My lovely cara mia, I can't blame the writers if an actor decides to leave the show. Paris gave Y&R huge tax breaks and concessions to shoot there. the writers write for who's securely set in the show. I blame MAB for not forcasting this to the press and giving everyone reason to think that they were immune to all the pay cut maddness that is creeping up on every show in porimetime and daytime.

Susan Lucci deserves much praise for taking a 70% paycut. I want them to write a huge Nikki story, but if she's not going to be there, how can they? Did you watch GL when Bev left them flying high and dry? It was messy and sloppy. They seem to have planned all sorts of beats for Paul/Nikki/Victor and the rest but they can't cause she's in the midst of tense contract negotioans. Like I said, I firmly beleive if it was up to the writers they'd pay MTS whatever she wanted and then some, and have her onscreen everyday - but we're in a new economic reality. We don't know what's going on, just bits and pieces.

Cashton, I can see your point somewhat. Still, Nikki's been backburnered for a while now. They could write Nikki full-throttle and then if things fall apart, give her sister Cassie and have Nikki run off. A little bit awkward sure, but still better than what we've been getting.

MarkH, I hate the GH way of just writing for 6 characters. I do need some variety. There has to be a happy balance.

IMO, you need characters in the four main age groups: Teens, Younger Adults, Middle-Aged and Prime of Life:) I hope I don't offend anyone when I put 35-50 as middle-aged.

Here's the breakdown

Teens: Abby, Noah, Eden, Anna. KS is the only good actor in the bunch. We actually need more teens. It would be great to add Ricky (not Kyle because he's related to Abby) and write a true teen quad. I would subtract Anna but they could actually write her as having a crush on Noah or Ricky (like Cassie did with Daniel). 4 Teens, increase to 5. (Plus 1)

Younger Adults: JT, Adam, Rafe, Heather, Billy, Colleen, Chloe, Lily, Devon, Tyra, Mac,

P4

, Kevin, Amber, Jana, Daniel. This where we need major cuts. We We don't need JT, Colleen, Devon, Tyra, Mac, Daniel, Amber, Kevin or Jana. You can write a triangle with Rafe/Adam/Heather, a quad with Chloe/Billy/Lily/Cane and throw

P4

in as a spoiler. Instead of 16 young adults, cut the number down to 8. (Minus 8)

Middle-Aged: Cane, P3, Victoria, Nick, Sharon, Phyllis, Michael, Lauren, Mary Jane, Neil. A big problem here is that Cane is interacting with the wrong age group. Laurel isn't used. If Laurel isn't going to be used, they should be cut. (I do not want this at all but what's the point if they're not used?) Victoria & JT should be sent off-screen if they have no story. (Minus 1-3)

Prime: Jack, Ashley, Victor, Nikki, Paul, Jill, Kay, Murphy, Gloria, Jeffrey. Let's get real here. Glo & Jeff should be gone already. If I had to make a Sophie's Choice between Ashley & Nikki, I would pick Nikki. A Paul/Nikki/Victor triangle gets more story than Vashley. (Minus 2)

That's 10 characters gone and that allows us to keep MTS. In addition, it's a better show if the show refocuses on just the Newmans, Chancellors, Abbott and core Winters. Cut F-Bs and the extras, the show gains focus and clarity.

Edited June 4, 200916 yr by cara mia

Perhaps it's not smart to grade soap operas on a curve, considering that the bar has been lowered considerably over the last 10 - 20 years, but Y&R is miles ahead of every other soap opera currently airing. Now, that might say more for the other shows than it does for Y&R, but the facts are still the facts, LoL. If I had to choose between Y&R or, say... GL, ATWT, B&B, Days, AMC, GH or OLTL, I'm choosing Y&R.

Yep.

Younger Adults: JT, Adam, Rafe, Heather, Billy, Colleen, Chloe, Lily, Devon, Tyra, Mac,

P4

, Kevin, Amber, Jana, Daniel. This where we need major cuts. We We don't need JT, Colleen, Devon, Tyra, Mac, Daniel, Amber, Kevin or Jana. You can write a triangle with Rafe/Adam/Heather, a quad with Chloe/Billy/Lily/Cane and throw

P4

in as a spoiler. Instead of 16 young adults, cut the number down to 8. (Minus 8)

JT, Devon, Colleen & Mackenzie can stay.

Cane, Rafe, Kevin, Daniel, Amber, Jana & Tyra can go.

I can see Y&R asking for her to take 40-70% paycut and that is just too much.

But would Eric & Peter?

I'm kidding on the numbers...but honestly I think GH does it right. A very small number of consistently front burner folks.

gh does it wrong. i dare you t go find 5 happy gh fans, lol.

But would Eric & Peter?

i dont think they would, and imho then the show shouldnt cave.

i dont think they would

Exactly!

Exactly!

I do think the show would ask, yes.

i dont think either would take it.