Y&R Episode Discussion for the week of July 20

[brimike]

I think that's just a lose-lose situation all around. Obviously they knew Sabrina and the chipmunk were not the smartest moves - Sabrina died within a year of being introduced, and the chipmunk only lasted seven episodes. So they find themselves in a situation where they either pretend it never happened, or they try and spin it out into something that works, instead of ignoring it.

I don't know how I feel. Part of me admires the tenacity to try and make lemons out of lemonade, but the other part of me just thinks they need to cut their losses and NEVER MENTION THESE THINGS AGAIN. But then people would complain that they're ignoring things that happened on-camera, whether they were happy with the original stories or not. Like Tad being the murderer/torturer on AMC. Worst story decision ever, and one that's just ignored now - and AMC fans grumble that it was dropped and never dealt with. So I'm at a loss myself as to what the best course should be in cases like this.

[Cat]

I was one outside of, like, three people (the other two prob being Eric Baeden and the actress herself) who actually grew to like Sabrina. But TPTB need to let her go. Brimike, I don't see the constant repetition of Sabrina/Chipmunk being TPTB's way of dealing with stories that didn't work. Mainly because the dialogue keeps trumpeting how Sabrina was the "love of Victor's life" (I would think the years he spent with Hope, Nikki and Ashley would overshadow the 4 months he had with Sabrina, tragic as her death was) and how the Silver Chipmunk is this "breakout" self-help metaphor allowing Kevin to make money, reconcile with himself and giving him new mini-SLs.

This isn't dealing with duds and tying up loose ends (something MAB can do quite well, actually). This is about perpetuating those damn SLs. As if TPTB were pissed at us, the stupid audience, for not "getting" their amazing creations. This is our second (and 3rd. And 4th!) chance to reconsider our error.

[brimike]

I totally agree with you on the "love of Victor's life" dialogue. I think the tragedy of what happened to Sabrina and the baby speaks for itself. She doesn't need to be "the love of Victor's life" for it to motivate Victor to act/behave the way he did in the months after her death. I agree that bothers me as well.

I guess I don't see TPTB as being that arrogant. Foolish, maybe. Detached from their audience. But not arrogant. (I can already hear everybody typing the "What about the 'my vision' interview?!", and I just can't put that much stock in one sentence written a year ago in an interview that was obviously a retort to people saying Sheffer was the reason the show turned around after the Gala Car Crash, and nothing more.)

I could totally be in the wrong here. I just see a lot of decisions being made based on "We need to find a way to make something that didn't work somehow work". It's desperation, not arrogance.

Blah, blah, blah. In any case, I would be happy if they just let these stories go, in this case. I'm not nearly as bothered by Kevin wanting to get into the self-help business, as I am by the "Sabrina is the love of Victor's life" mentality. I'm not sure why - just a personal thing. I don't particularly like the chipmunk, but like I said before, as long as I never have to SEE the chipmunk again (and if we do, I will raise holy hell), hearing it mentioned doesn't really affect me one way or the other.

[Cat]

Despite the huge missteps of the past couple of months, on balance I like MAB's "vision" in that she has attempted to rectify what fans felt were big SL wrongs. And I don't think MAB is any more arrogant than any other Daytime HW. I honestly think that they are sticking with this "Sabrina 4-EVA" stuff because the marketing department built up a huge campaign regarding her death and it helped to bring back a few viewers who had been hitherto discontented with the show. So they obviously think they need to keep mentioning her because her death launched a bunch of new SLs and heralded the beginning of Hogan Sheffer's co-tenure.

But the Chipmunk is a universal dud and even MAB must realize that it didn't worked. Just like P3's return, while good on paper, has been a bust in terms of execution -- but there is still time to fix that. I wish they weren't bringing SC back but I think part of that is due to TPTB having no clue what to do with Michael, Kevin, Jana and the rest of the Baldwin circle. Eden hasn't been seen in weeks, thank goodness, and neither has Lauren. Maybe because this group's last couple of SLs have flopped.

[soapydoc]

And Cassie. Sabrina and Cassie are taking turns at haunting GC.

[dm.]

The fact is that both Thom Bierdz and Sean Kanan are NOT on contract, so hopefully MAB will see our reactions to their arrivals and decide if it is okay to keep them or not.

I'm okay with Cassie because she was a legacy character. French-talking Sabrina and that irritating chipmunk were nothing like her.

[brimike]

Oh! I meant to say this before, and I forgot. I wonder if bringing up the Chipmunk stuff wasn't just a quick device to bring Kevin and Ryder into the same circle. Clearly, Ryder's using the Chipmunk stuff to worm his way into Kevin's life, so maybe it's just using it to introduce the character, as opposed to building an entire storyline around it.

That worries me too, only because the little we've seen of Wilson Bethel (sp?) I really, really like him. But he's already attached to two storylines the fans don't like (the art story and the chipmunk story), and both work against him.

[Cat]

MAB. Keep Sean Kanan!

Yes, it's a misogynist SL, blah blah. But I have such a soft spot for Deacon Sharpe, especially when he did his patented reptilian laugh yesterday. LOL.

^^ Oh, and sidekick Ryder is HOT.

[dm.]

His character already killed a man, so I don't know how much there is to like. They need to cut down on villains.

[DRW50]

I'm another person who liked Sabrina, or at least saw potential in her. This gaslighting story would have been more believable with her, and an Adam/Sabrina relationship would have been good drama. It's sad to think that a 25 year character cannot create drama, but Ashley is a blank space in this storyline.

I was a fan of Sean's on GH and on B&B but I'd rather they not keep Deacon if this is the version of Deacon we are going to get. He didn't operate this way (he was a sleaze but never in the convoluted and frankly silly way he is in this story) and he never cared enough about Amber to justify his current obsession. He would be more likely to see Amber as pathetic, because this is a woman who has gone from having a husband, child, and career to acting like an overgrown teenager, spending all her time wailing and doing capers.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Wilson Bethel would have made a great Phillip IV, and he even fits in line with the thin boys that previously played the character. I also think he's in a more appropriate age range for the character than John Driscoll, who I guess, is OK for the part anyway.

But if Phillip IV were in the early 20's range, he'd be in with Lily and "Colleen" and I wouldn't wish that on anyone...

He's brainwashed, you know they'll go there. LOL!

I really like the actor, but I HATE that's he's tied to this stupid art story and is working his way in this Chipmunk MESS.

[dm.]

I haven't seen Driscoll yet, but I hope he'll do good in the role. From what I've heard, it's writing that's completely destroyed the arrival of this character. Thankfully, Bierdz isn't on contract so maybe it'll help later on.

I hope not. He killed a man and he's already blacklisted in my book, just like Jana will ALWAYS be.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Driscoll's good, but they did completely BOTCH the character's return and his reaction to seeing his very alive father. They haven't given the character much to do yet, except planting the seeds to a friendship with Chole.

Bierdz, just needs to go. This sooner this Phillip III storyline is forgotten the better, I think...

Oh, I agree, but look at how many criminals are on this show already, stuff like murder is not enough to send many of these characters away for good. They don't care about redeeming characters as much as they care about ignoring past crimes of certain characters or just totally whitewashing them.

And yes, this show has TOO MANY actors already, it's in DESPERATE need of some CAST CUTTING for both budget and story reasons. Too many characters are neglected already.

[dm.]

The contract cast has its problems, but it is mostly still the same amount of people. However, we have around 20 recurring players and a lot of them are used more than half the contract cast.

Poor Tracey Bregman. Nothing since June 12.

[Chris B]

The last Phillip may be a hunk today on Gossip Girl, but he was actually a big boy when he played Phillip. I don't recall the boy during most of the 90s being what I'd call thin either. I don't know where you're getting that from.

On the subject of today's episode, I'm heartbroken! Kitty is gone!?! Where were the spoilers to prepare me for that? Where was the goodbye scene? Why didn't Mary Jane just grab him and put him in his carrier? WTF?! Is that truly it for Kitty? He was one of the saving graces for Y&R and I'm devestated by this loss. How could she even get him back at this point? I'm sure the police will collect all of her things.