Kristoff St. John has spoken out about the lack of direction for the Winters family, how he actually preferred Lathanm's writing, and how bad this Adam/Rafe story was/is.

http://www.welovesoaps.net/2009/08/y-kristoff-st-john-speaks-out-about-y.html

I really enjoyed the Lynn Marie Latham year and a half that she was there. Never did I work more. We were starting to get back to the roots of my character and my family. One thing that's mising in the Winter's family is the clan itself, and black culture. Lynn and I talked about that for quite some time. Let's put some church into it, some God, not too much, we don't want to ram it down anyone's throat, but you want to get something there. We need to be on par with the Newmans and Abbotts.

St. John also had a lot to say about what is wrong with the storytelling in daytime (stories aren't current and topical) and specifically brought up the Adam/Rafe story on Y&R.

If you look at the storyline on our show with Adam and Rafe. That whole thing peted out and turned out to be such a crock. And forgive me for going there with it, but if you're giong to do a gay storyline on the show, then do something topical and current. And what could be more topical than Proposition 8 in California but doing a same sex marriage thing. You don't have to go there with that character whose going through so many things - being blind, screwing over Victor, doing the thing with Mary Jane, the baby with Ashley - man, come on. Don't cheat the audience out of a really hot, good storyline that would reflect what is actually happening out there in our world and in our nation. That's the kind of stuff that bugs me. Maybe Hogan Sheffer wants to write comical stuff with chipmunks and all that. If I get my head handed to me on a platter for saying this then so be it. We need to get more family-oriented, get back to the old school stuff, what originally made this show what it is before I got there.

Oh poor Kristoff, you won't get any with this writing regime. I am glad the actors realize that they have a HUGE problem on their hands, but nothing will change. That's not the way the world works. It can only get worse; and probably will.

I think he realizes he has nothing to lose but his job, and that would stir a lot of people up.

This was my favourite part:

Maybe Hogan Sheffer wants to write comical stuff with chipmunks and all that. If I get my head handed to me on a platter for saying this then so be it. We need to get more family-oriented, get back to the old school stuff, what originally made this show what it is before I got there.

So true, but he was probably too afraid to name Queen Maria and Sargent Scott Hamner too.

So glad some people at the actual show are getting pissed off at this regime too.

It's all well and good until Neil goes over a cliff

So, the chipmunk is all Sheffer? And it was, suppossedly funny?

God, the man is so right. Too bad Neil will now be brutally murdered and forgotten two weeks after.

Don't know what to think about his support of Latham, though. But, she was better than the Trio from Hell, so....

So glad some people at the actual show are getting pissed off at this regime too.

Yep. More actors should try this (unless they're too afraid for their jobs since it is time for cuts now that Y&R has been renewed).

LML wasn't better for the show: she was better for NEIL. How convenient.

God, the man is so right. Too bad Neil will now be brutally murdered and forgotten two weeks after.

Don't know what to think about his support of Latham, though. But, she was better than the Trio from Hell, so...

How true...

Things are never going to change unless the three hacks in chage of "storytelling" are fired, and fired fast.

He lost me with the Latham comments.

He lost me with the Latham comments.

Pretty much.

Latham wrote horribly for the Winters family, but at least, she tried and did write for them. Though, like all of her stories, it was hilariously bad and off putting.

This writing regime hasn't even tried at all to write for African American characters. They're all on the backburner and you know its bad when Neil and Devon's last real storyline revolved around Tyra, who has been unpopular since day one.

He liked her because, as he said, he worked a lot. As long as words are pouring out of an actor's mouth, they're getting paid just to be there, so who cares right?

I think his latham love is short-sighted and very self-serving, but his comments about the show in general are very true

Edited August 7, 200916 yr by ian

This writing regime hasn't even tried at all to write for African American characters.

They tried but instead of making them equal to their white counterparts they emasculated & cuckolded them.

Which is par for the course in Daytime.

He is right about a few things but I don't think he will keep his job with this attitude. You don't blame your boss like that. BTW, how could he enjoy Lynn Marie Latham? She wrote for the Winters? Yes, the Carmen Mesta mess and Drucilla falling off a cliff. She backburnered lots of other characters. It is very presomptuous of Kristoff not to like Maria Arena Bell because he is not featured much. Kay and the Chancellor gang are actually front burner: it's the game. They were not during LML.

I agree with him on other points mainly the fact that the show needs to find its focus back. I know I'm probably the only one but I really enjoy Y&R. There are problems and it could be better but I enjoy it.