I just watched Friday's US episode...

After seeing Thom Bierdz's scene in Friday's US episode, he's atrocious. God, even with two pieces of dialogue, he was horrendous. It like like he was doing some really bad parody. Also, I must say, whatever little they gave him this far hasn't been impressive. He was also pretty bad in those two Melrose Place episodes he was on from back in the day. I'm not impressed by him AT ALL.

I'll comment more on Friday;s episode later...

I was afraid of that.

It's been a long time and he's made it very clear he isn't interested in acting. I had no reason to think he'd be any good.

I already hated this story from the start and the spoilers aren't helping but seeing what a crap actor Thom Bierdz is, is going to make me hate it much more. This is pure torture.

The P3 story was horrid even as an idea... There was no chance it would be good as a story, not with this regime.

I think another reason many root for MJ is because this quad is so full of unlikeable people. I also wonder if this is why they're having MJ get nastier and nastier, because they realized how hard it is for people to root for any of Sharon/Nick/Jack/Phyllis now. I think the same happened with Adam.

Great assessment, as usual CarlD2.

Pity how the layered villains are ruined in order for the cardboard-cuttout "normal" screwups are saved. How about building layers for the screwups instead? Because I'll still never feel sorry for any of them.

What a depressing thread. And I am not faulting the posters. But all these comments about potential victims of yet another

innocent death

and so forth....

What a depressing thread.

That is why you too must fight for a change! And this is not sarcasm nor mockery!

That is why you too must fight for a change! And this is not sarcasm nor mockery!

I'm not sure I understand this now. (Here I am, opening a can of worms)

How is what any of you doing "fighting for change"? You're bickering on a soap message board about the levels of bad Y&R is. That's "fighting for change?"

Man, the Civil Rights movement and Gay Rights movement would both have been disasters if they were fought on SON. LOL!

I think that is just how the human psyche works for many. Children and cute animals like cats, certain dogs, and birds are seen as innocents. They can't fight back or defend themselves if a person wants to truly harm them. MJ has now tried to kill a child and has killed two animals and people will be offended by that. It doesn't make much sense but that is a line that writers should know not to cross. Look at how prisoners treat fellow inmates that are pedophiles or child abusers. I personally find what she did to Summer worse, but people will not sympathize with an animal killer.

You have a GREAT point there. You see this attitude all the time with animal rights activists, notice how you see billboards, and protesters saying you should be ASHAMED to wear fur.... you have pictures of the raccoons and such, you NEVER see a billboard saying you should be ashamed to buy rat poison, do you? Even with humans, a cute little debutante in the good part of town is murdered, and see how much coverage it gets compared to an elderly woman in the hood getting killed. It's a sad comment on the human condition, whether animal OR human, if your'e young, cute, cuddly, and/or beautiful, then your life has more value.

Edited July 3, 200916 yr by alphanguy74

I'm not sure I understand this now. (Here I am, opening a can of worms)

How is what any of you doing "fighting for change"? You're bickering on a soap message board about the levels of bad Y&R is. That's "fighting for change?"

Let's say they were going to send in fan letters and start campaigns...would that really make a damn bit of difference? And please, be honest.

As bad as it was to hear Goutman say fan campaigns don't make a difference, at least he was brutally honest.

Man, the Civil Rights movement and Gay Rights movement would both have been disasters if they were fought on SON. LOL!

Even you would have to admit there's a big difference between fighting for equal rights versus electronically expressing an opinion about a television serial.

Let's say they were going to send in fan letters and start campaigns...would that really make a damn bit of difference? And please, be honest.

I don't think that works either. The cynic in me says you either go along for the ride or just stop watching. But I know a lot of people don't accept that. It's a defeatist attitude, but I don't understand how any of this is "fighting for change"

As bad as it was to hear Goutman say fan campaigns don't make a difference, at least he was brutally honest.

Even you would have to admit there's a big difference between fighting for equal rights versus electronically expressing an opinion about a television serial.

Oh, I think one has nothing to do with the other. But the passion, time and energy that many of are taking up in "fighting for change" makes me wonder where their heads are at...

I'm not sure I understand this now. (Here I am, opening a can of worms)

You would be if I were to reply. But I'm not. It's not clear to you? Let it stay that way.

Well, steering clear of "fight for change" and its validity, for me there is a different issue.

I have said it before--to some mockery. But I view myself as a consumer of a creative product. I'm there for the ride. So, I kind of view my responsibility as letting the writers' plans play out, and then responding positively or negatively. If the show reaches a threshold where I need a break, then I would be one less viewer...and in the long run (if I am represented by someone in the Neilsen sample) that would send the only message that counts. (But, as 44 year old male, my opinion is irrelevant anyway).

If they

kill a dog

, I'm going to have issues . I might even write a protest letter to CBS. Yes, I'm a hypocrite, because I didn't write a letter about the "Shamwow Fetus". But there you have it.

I have said it before--to some mockery. But I view myself as a consumer of a creative product. I'm there for the ride. So, I kind of view my responsibility as letting the writers' plans play out, and then responding positively or negatively. If the show reaches a threshold where I need a break, then I would be one less viewer...and in the long run (if I am represented by someone in the Neilsen sample) that would send the only message that counts. (But, as 44 year old male, my opinion is irrelevant anyway).

I'm with you, Mark. I've given up on plenty of soaps when I've hit my breaking point. Knowing full well my demographic doesn't mean squat to them.

I'm with you, Mark. I've given up on plenty of soaps when I've hit my breaking point. Knowing full well my demographic doesn't mean squat to them.

To be clear...I'm about 2,900 miles from quitting .

I'm seeing some problems of too much death and despair, not enough character moments, not enough simple interaction. Basically, a canvas that is currently relying too much on history but is too superficial in the present. Some of the daily BDW/SW are doing a great job of working around this limitation (e.g., Mackenzie and Billy in the bar a few weeks ago).

On a day-to-day basis, I cannot wait. Today I am going to watch live...such fun!

This is still my show, and I view this is a fairly rapid and recent drift--since May. Thus, I imagine things will correct almost as quickly. Unlike others, I do have confiidence that this team can self-correct. If they don't, I imagine then there will be some navel-gazing.

But BY ALL THAT IS HOLY, please "bless the beasts and children" (and veterans). NO MORE DEATH FOR A LONG TIME...please, please, please.

I don't think that works either. The cynic in me says you either go along for the ride or just stop watching.

True that. I've said that on numerous occasions. But on the other hand, if someone publicly puts their work out there, they can't honestly expect a viewer(a critic) to avoid judging every single little thing.

Yeah, soaps were created to sell detergent to housewives who enjoyed voyeurism, but with anything that is presented to an audience, it will be judged.

Oh, I think one has nothing to do with the other. But the passion, time and energy that many of are taking up in "fighting for change" makes me wonder where their heads are at...

That's a very high-and-mighty way of looking at the soap fan. Because someone completely dissects the flaws within the written structure of the show or someone's performance(something that movie critics and TV critics like Matt Roush do on a daily basis), there's this assumption that that they have "no life"? Which, feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but that kind of quote(along with your status update) is open for such interpretation.

I guess it's only fair to say fans that love EVERYTHING about a soap or another type of TV show are the ones who are exempt from this kind of lashing.

If that's the case, then [Hillary]Shame on you brimike![/Hillary]