This quote from queen Maria herself in Branco's latest column:

"In an exclusive interview, Y&R’s head writer Maria Arena Bell told Soapgeist that her co-head writer Scott Hamner was misquoted in Soap Opera Digest when he recently told the magazine that the soap never had any plans on telling a gay storyline. “He was solely talking about the Adam and Rafe story — not Phillip or Rafe’s personal journeys,” she asserts. “We’re totally committed to telling gay stories on our show.” Look for more of Maria’s thoughts this Wednesday"

NOW... I TOLD YOU this was some of the typical SOW BULLSHIT, and I was RIGHT. Now, for everyone who poo-pooed me, while I was one of the lone voices of reason when that article came out... I will be accepting apologies and grovelling between 3 and 6 PM tomorrow, Eastern daylight time. Please bring some extra virgin olive oil to anoint my feet with. If you don't mind.

Edited August 31, 200916 yr by alphanguy74

If Maria cared about gay characters, Phillip would have had a hell of a lot more airtime than 2 or 3 episodes a month since he first landed back in Genoa City. If she didn't want to tell a storyline exploring his sexuality or one with him in a romantic relationship, that's fine. But as it is, his relationships with Jill, Katherine, Nina, Chance, as well as interacting with other characters on the show was very limited and hardly touched on. He was ALMOST NEVER ON, he was a dropped character. No one can explain why they did no followup on Phillip coming back to town and why Jess Walton and Jeanne Cooper got nothing substantial to play out of this reveal.

What makes it worse is MARIA made the story about him being gay when it wasn't.

Phillip made everyone think he WAS DEAD FOR 20 YEARS & his sexuality is the second biggest issue in his life?

That's not a gay story.

It's not even CRUMBS of a story.

Then touting it to the press like it's the greatest achievement for gay people since Angels In America?

To hell with Maria.

Seriously.

What makes it worse is MARIA made the story about him being gay when it wasn't.

Phillip made everyone think he WAS DEAD FOR 20 YEARS & his sexuality is the second biggest issue in his life?

That's not a gay story.

It's not even CRUMBS of a story.

Then touting it to the press like it's the greatest achievement for gay people since Angels In America?

To hell with Maria.

Seriously.

Applause, applause. And there you have it. I started watching Y&R in 93, well after Philip's "death" but even I know what a vital piece of Y&R's history that is. To go & trounce all over that and not even follow up on it is criminal. At the very least, Jill, Katherine, & Nina should have been more prominent the past few months, given the rich history. Instead we got immediate acceptance of his sexuality and mere annoyance at the fact he pretended to be dead for 20 years.

This is not the Y&R I fell in love with, the show that helped me weather the loss of my beloved SB. And to think 8 months ago, I couldn't wait to watch every day. Now it's getting to be a chore.

Is TB actually gone though? He says his contract is up but he could still be on recurring. Furthermore, the character disappears, whatever that's supposed to mean. It doesn't say that he goes back to Australia so the disappearing act could mean anything.

Is TB actually gone though? He says his contract is up but he could still be on recurring.

It's the same thing.

Look at Tonya, Tracey & Tricia.

Is TB actually gone though? He says his contract is up but he could still be on recurring. Furthermore, the character disappears, whatever that's supposed to mean. It doesn't say that he goes back to Australia so the disappearing act could mean anything.

If he was still on recurring, he would have said so. They didn't renew his contract and have nothing else written for him that's planned, and if they want to rehire him under a recurring deal, it hasn't been announced. That's why Thom is urging fans to write to CBS - to save him a job on the show.

Disappearance can mean anything. They could simply have Jill, Nina, or Katherine mention he went back to Australia. Or they could refuse to acknowledge the character, like they've been doing 90% of the time since he's been back.

It's the same thing.

Look at Tonya, Tracey & Tricia.

Exactly.

Edited October 22, 200916 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

I don't have a problem with alphanguy wanting to be optimistic about gay stories. I'm responding more to what Bierdz said, and then also because of some of the "This story never worked because Thom can't act!" defense I still see posted at some places like DC.

I don't really believe that network suits got to Y&R. I think they planned these stories all along to have no real impact other than shock value. The Phillip story was rushed through -- there really was nothing that was dropped. It was wrapped at breakneck speed. The Rafe/Adam story, from the very start, was extremely undeveloped, random, and treated Rafe as nothing other than a plot device.

I saw nothing in those stories that really suggested they were going to have legs. So much, like Chance being gay, or Phillip/Rafe being together, was wishful thinking.

It may be true in the cases of Phillip, Adam, and Rafe that these stories were not going to have legs. Chance, however, was far more than wishful thinking IMO. The way the character was re-introduced and subsequently written really made it seem like he possibly "played for the other team." Whatever the case, Chance is STILL an enigmatic character whom I don't get!

Chance is STILL an enigmatic character whom I don't get!

Chance doesn't get none.

Nobody gets none.

It's the same thing.

Look at Tonya, Tracey & Tricia.

That's what I mean. They could place TB under the same status as Tracey Bregman and Tricia Cast. They are both working without a contract. I think TB would go for that just to be able to stick with the show.

That's what I mean. They could place TB under the same status as Tracey Bregman and Tricia Cast. They are both working without a contract. I think TB would go for that just to be able to stick with the show.

I don't think they're going to do that though, especially since Thom is urging his fans to write in to CBS to save his job and for a hopeful "gay" storyline.

Neither Tracey Bregman or Tricia Cast have been used much in their recurring capacities, especially in recent times. So, even if he was bumped to recurring, he would still be without a storyline or much airtime.

They are both working without a contract.

And seen less than control tops on Zimmer.

I don't think they're going to do that though, especially since Thom is urging his fans to write in to CBS to save his job and for a hopeful "gay" storyline.

Neither Tracey Bregman or Tricia Cast have been used much in their recurring capacities, especially in recent times. So, even if he was bumped to recurring, he would still be without a storyline or much airtime.

You'd think they would at LEAST treat him like they do Beau Kazer. He just hasn't had enough airtime for any real reaction by fans to be accurate enough.