Y&R: Episodes discussion, week of September 21

[Cheap21]

Who knows. I wonder why he didnt divorce her especially sicne nothing is being done with that

[Juliajms]

But then they also had that scene at the Abbott house too where it seemed like they were getting closer, or something. It's weird. I guess it's good that we can't always predict where they are headed.

[DRW50]

Probably because the writers have no idea either.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

My guess too.

So much of this show is made up as they go along, it's quite pathetic.

[Heyou]

You have a point here and I've been just as guilty as the next soap fan. The show is NEVER going to point the finger back in their own direction. So they will always look for a way to blame the actor and we, as soap fans, fall for it every freaking time.

[Juliajms]

I liked the scene today where Murphy basically told Chloe to stop using Chance, not that I got the impression she was going to listen to him. It was nice to see Murphy play patriarch though. I wonder if Murphy has any children? Maybe a bad boy son or grandson will show up and give Jill or Chloe a run for their money.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

With these writers, he'll be a rapist or abusive towards Chloe.

[Paul Raven]

If there was any kind of forward planning,it would be cool if Murph had've mentioned a son and grandchild(ren).

Down the line,he could be a new love interest for Jill and the kids new younger characters.

During time off the show,Katherine and Murphy could go to wherever to visit them and they could be referenced occasionally until the time as right to bring them on.

[BadZoe]

This refreshing funny stuff should have been taking place while no one was aware that Colleen had been kidnapped and drowned. These are her friends/enemies/extended family who are behaving like she was as insignificant as something ickiy they picked up on the bottom of their shoe but managed to wipe off on the way into the Chancellor party.

Great dramatic writers know that a little comedy interspersed with heavy drama, makes the drama all the more powerful, not used as filler for a "BREAK" episode. I would have no complaints if these comedy characters had no connection to her but they all do. As a human being, I take a moment to pause and reflect when someone in my peer group dies, even if I didn't know them. These writers expect us as an audience to cry along at the situation but aren't bothering to provide the impact to the characters that would make it hit me as a viewer. It's like these three co-writers are all doing their own thing and only get together to mash it into a weeks worth of shows with a sentence of dialogue to acknowledge they might be semi-aware of what is going on. HEARTLESS is the only word I can think of to describe it.

[Toups]

Today's episode was really bad in terms on continuation. It was like a whole different show than Tuesday's. Way to ruin momentum on the Colleen story. I just don't understand, say in the layout meeting, someone (MAB? Sheffer? Hamner?) goes, "okay and on episode #####, we're not going to continue anything from the previous episode.....we're just going to take a break and show the "other" stories, we're going to take a break from our biggest story." WTF!! I know, I know there are actor guarantees and shit, but you're suppose to plan out those guarantees.

[DRW50]

I think it's just more of the people at Y&R having contempt for the basic idea of soap. I would guess it's Sheffer, since he also sucked at cliffhangers on DAYS. My favorite was when Kayla took out John's kidney and then the whole thing was completely forgotten.

[MarkH]

So, I am with alphan in the sense that I really needed yesterday's show! I needed the levity and the passion of some Jill-Kay/Chancellor advance, and also of the madcap caper bunch.

I am surprised that Christian Leblanc is now so willingly playing Darren Stevens ("Now Samantha, NO witchraft!"), but it is amusing enough. It is nice to see even Lauren get sucked into it. I am imagining that Thursday's continuation in the bank is going to be amusing to me.

I also thought that a number of "reboots" and "clarifications" were built into yesterdays' show that SPECIFICALLY responded to fan critiques:

- Phillip apologized for being distant, tried to explain it...

- Katherine FINALLY said she was happy that P3 was back from the dead...

- Chance FINALLY said he wanted a chance to get to know his dad, and P3 is sticking around. (This last bit still doesn't have much emotional resonance, because P3 is just "there". I think in real life there would still be some shock and awe in his family...and that we'd be talking about his missing years, his romantic life...)

- Murphy again emerged as smart and compassionate. He is definitely a favorite, for as much as we see him.

I was surprised to see that impromptu party and all the Chancellors in a room. I'm with Toups---I think a lot of guarantees got fulfilled.

I very much want to see a Murphy backstory. In my mind, it is a daughter that he is estranged from. But, no matter: I don't want this filled in NOW. This show is so overstuffed with plot that we don't need another branch opened up. Let's try to clear out some of the incredible amounts of plot that are already underway.

This is a huge false note, I agree. Colleen was so "close" to Kevin and Jana that they were part of her dying moments. Daniel was her last "boyfriend". These three should not be "capering" as she lay brain dead. They all know about her kidnapping, etc. So, the Scoobies come off as incredibly shallow/self-involved.

What I also didn't understand -- after that look of shared understanding between Gloria-Jill last week -- is why Gloria betrayed Jill and dispatched Kay to the nail salon. (Which is now weirdly located near Murphy's out-of-town trailer. Why?) But I am happy Kay is finally on to the ruse, and I hope that FINALLY we'll get some rapprochement between these women, and then move on with more decent story for them.

As I type this, I hear some of you saying "how can you foolishly expect good story, or emotionally meaningful story, in the future?" Well...

(I picked this version because of the recent Sesame Street tribute at the Emmys, and because...gasp...I actually owned and wore out this record as a kid!!)

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[Paul Raven]

Mark.I admire your optimism.But with every plot development,the show takes a further step away from what it should be.

Unless there is a massive turnaround soon,it will be nearly impossible to recognise.

I really need to take up that headwriting position!!

[DRW50]

I would assume that having the Scoobies be nonchalant about Colleen's death is a deliberate choice. Sort of a -- yeah, she's dead, who really cares? Then fans will be more likely to move on.

I still love Sesame Street, or at least those pre-Elmo years. Remember when we thought having a racially diverse and integrated cast was going to be taken for granted one day? Remember when Y&R did this flawlessly? Now we have Bryton Tweeting about how he needs to be let out of the "black box" and KSJ battling rumors that he is on his way to a permanent vacation.

I hope they aren't trying to do anything with Jill working so near where Billy and Mac screw around.

[MarkH]

You know, I have given up thoughts of returning to some kind of "glory days". In a world of Blooms and Kents, etc., I don't think the show will be allowed to return to any kind of classic pacing and storytelling. So, I accept the show for what it is now, and I enjoy the parts I can while I can.

In general, I think evolution is a good thing. I recognize that what we're seeing in Y&R is not all positive evolution...but I'm keeping in touch with Genoa City while getting my deeper jollies elsewhere (good stuff on HBO, primetime).

The nonchalance argument is interesting. I somehow doubt this is the intent...I think they mean Colleen's death to earn some Emmys. I think it was a desire to offer some breathing space for a worn out fandom. I was personally appreciative.

The "black box" comment was an amazing one. I'm glad that ALL the Y&R actors of color except Khalil (Rowell, KSJ, Bryton, and TLW in her interview explaining why she was working elsewhere more--like The Border) are basically expressing public disgruntlement. This may help TPTB avoid denial. It is appalling that Neil is basically Kay's "right hand man", but he is never seen.