Y&R: Update to Adam and Rafe Rumor

[Errol]

From SON's Twitter...http://twitter.com/soapoperanetwrk/status/2301344922

[Manny]

Well that's good to know. But I will miss Engen.

[Evan]

Wow, I'm excited about this, I can't wait to see it!

Does anyone else read Michael Muhney's Twitter site? He's very funny, and hinted too the other day that he's doing a lot of shirtless stuff on Y&R.

[JackPeyton]

http://twitter.com/MichaelMuhney

[YRBB]

Gay kisses and lots of shirtlessness. Hot.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

If this bombs, it could be the end of Maria Arena Bell's writing regime.

When Bill Bell tried to flirt with homosexuality in the 70's, ratings nosedived, sure it's probably a very different audience now, but I must wonder how the older audiences will react, they've tended to be the bread and butter of CBS's audience over the years.

Not that a part of doesn't hope this backfires and there's an immediate regime change at this show...

It seems this will all be played for "shock" and "awe", which has apparently become Y&R's cornerstone these days. Meh.

[Cat]

Y&R are just taking a page out of OLTL's book. Draw them in with controversy! On the one hand, gay viewers may become disillusioned when TPTB don't follow up on "all the chemistry" they are unselfishly letting us is know is off-the-chain. Because, really, Adam is just making Rafe look like a mug. This ain't a love story for the ages.

OTOH, I'm sort of relieved we aren't having mega PSA when it comes to writing about two same-sex people doing the deed. I think ATWT sort of made Nuke a walking loudspeaker about Gay Rights and OMG That's Gaycist!, and it was really heavy-handed.

[Sylph]

[JackPeyton]

if it is just a plot point, i wil give Y&R credit for at least treating the gays like they do everything else! lol.

rafes role so could have been a girl. and shock and awe bitch all you want, i love that its a guy. and that adam [!@#$%^&*] him. and hes using him.

equality! lol.

[DRW50]

Adam already has a woman (Heather) he's using. He's also using Ashley, albeit not in a sexual way. Most of the story is about abuse of women.

I can't say Rafe is being treated like everyone else because they are putting him in the middle of this stunt without ever doing anything to make viewers care about him. He's been on the show for months and they had time to get viewers invested, but instead they seem to have decided to try to make viewers have no opinion of Rafe, because they are taking homosexuality back to the level of being shocking, and attention-seeking. I don't think soaps need PSA but this sensationalism, where Rafe is practically Random Gay, I don't know why they had to do this.

I also find it hard to believe Adam is so irresistible, Rafe would sell out his aunt. That seems more like a porn plot. Since they aren't going to be able to show any steam in this story, beyond a few brief kisses, I think making this so heavily about sex and no logic is a strange choice.

[JackPeyton]

im jsut happy there is a gay on soaps whos entire spot on the show is only about being gay and dealing with being gay and gay rights or staying in the closet. rafe is gay, but its not really all there is to him. id love the show to more about him and who he is, buit they dont. its obvious hes a plot point. and IMHO treating a gay guy like a plot is treating him like everyone else, lol.

[edgeofnik]

"Adam already has a woman (Heather) he's using. He's also using Ashley, albeit not in a sexual way. Most of the story is about abuse of women."

Treating women as victims at the hand of men who manipulate, cheat, etc. is the foundation of soaps. Perhaps that's the real reason ratings have dropped during the past 15 years....

[DRW50]

Is there really anything else to Rafe other than being gay? He's a lawyer, but that's a minor part of his character. He loves his aunt, but he is giving up his aunt for some sex with some crazy guy he doesn't even know that well, so his homosexuality wins out. I doubt he'd be on the show if he were not gay.

Rafe's the first gay man they've ever had on the show, so I don't think he's like everyone else. Even if he was, they aren't treating him as the same as everyone else, because his homosexuality is being used as a way to shock viewers. I think it's the worst of both worlds, so far, with this character -- something to get the viewers gawping, without any other dimension which might make them see this as a story about a man who is so desperate he will even bed another man.

Sorry if I sound like I'm being snappy. You're making good points. I'm annoyed at the show, not your thoughts.

[JackPeyton]

There is a lot more to him, the show just isnt invested him beyond a plot point. But really, the same could be said for.. say Mac. A lot mor goes into who Mac is than bing Billys first love, but if you didnt watch her on the show before you have no idea, because thats the plot poiint she serves. You are right tho, he wouldnt be on the show if he wasnt gay, but what i credit Y&R for is the role would be there, it would just be a female role. Instead its a gay male role. A scene aired on 24 earlier this season where a character was seen in bed with his lover, who happened to be a male. I liked it. And while it didnt really add anything, the fact that they showed it was nice. I feel the same way about this. As for the storyline, idk, i will have to wait to see it play out. Im not going to write it off due to blind faith. lol.

I dont think his sexuality is being used to shock people either. If it was i feel they would have done a stereotype gay. I do feel, of course, Adam sleepin g with him is for shock and awe, but was adam killing ashleys baby and making her think its still alive or haunting her as sabrina not done for shock and awe too? Rafe is a plot point ina plot point plot driven show. The story isnt about rafe, it isnt his story. Whatever, i wish it was different, but i do.. i dont know how to put it. Not really respect it, because i dont so much, nor is it admire. I dont know the word im searching for, but i like it, i guess is the right expression? idk...

and i dont mind. i like snippy! lol. I get where you are coming from tho.

[bellcurve]

What bothers me MOST about this story is that Maria Arena Bell was all arrogant and like, "I don't want to tell the coming out story." As if this story with "straight" Adam taking advantage of gay Rafe's feelings for him is any better or more contemporary. And, wouldn't there be a degree of "coming out" to this story anyway? Since Adam is sexually using Rafe to keep him quiet? And keeping his "bi for evil reasons" tendencies a secret?

Color me unimpressed. But per usual, the gay mafia will jump on this story, ride it like a mechanical bull, and praise Maria for telling "their" story.