I think Maria and Hogie and the rest believe that no one can care about these people who aren't young and hip. They believe they can just phase them out. I imagine we will hear more and more that Chloe is the "young Jill", as we hear that Billy is the "young Jack."

It's the same arrogance as so many in daytime. They think if they hate characters, the viewers must hate them too. They think of it as marching into someone's home and doing them a favor by euthanizing their pet because he isn't a puppy.

And I ask again where are the people who will replace them? Is Y&R going to last with a future of people like Amber and Nick and Lily? Good luck.

Edited September 28, 200916 yr by CarlD2

How can you have Y&R without Eric? Like him or not, he's the freaking star of the show.

And they are writing Nikki as "going on vacation"? After the way MTS' last touch and go negotiations went, I wouldn't put it past Maria to cancel MTS' contract at cycle and say "see ya," with Nikki leaving with Victor being the last time we ever see her. If they will let Eric F*cking Braeden walk out of the door and think that some generic copy is going to fill the void, anything is possible. And you already see the way they treat Nikki...she's a non-entity.

Bitch really thinks she's hardcore if she believes the show can sustain their ratings without Victor. This isn't Days of our Lives and Y&R isn't in last place.

mmmmmmmmm hmmmmmmmmm. ICAM with both y'all.

Regardless of whether we feel the character of "Victor Newman" is damaged beyond repair or not, he is the star of the show. Casual viewers will not recognize the show without him, IMO. And isn't he supposedly a big draw for the straight guy demo? If he leaves, they probably will too.

I can't wait t see what Avin and Mark has to say.

Aren't casual viewers just that? Casual? I doubt they care one way or another about things like this. That's why they're casual viewers.

I've always thought of Jeanne Cooper as the face of Y&R, not EB

Aren't casual viewers just that? Casual? I doubt they care one way or another about things like this. That's why they're casual viewers.

I THINK what Greg's GL was getting at were the people who don't read the mags, don't scour the blogs, and don't CARE about the fact that Eric Braeden didn't take a paycut or was difficult to work with. So in a sense, they are not casual about their love for Y&R, but are casual about the way they choose to keep up with the show.

And with Y&R declining, the show needs all the viewers they can get. The loyalists with and without the mags AND the casual fans.

I've always thought of Jeanne Cooper as the face of Y&R, not EB

The face...but not the STAR.

I think there are a lot of male viewers, straight male viewers, who stay with the show because of Victor. I remember when Jesse Ventura came on the show because he wanted a scene with Victor.

Not surprised by all this...I am sure it gets worse! Hope the actors are out there steadily moonlighting - they are going to need to!!

I'd laugh (cautiously) at the OLTL news (the crossover character stuff is ludicrous) if Jamey Giddens hadn't also jumped all over it at Daytime Confidential and backed it up, suggesting OLTL could get axed as soon as spring. I don't believe that, don't want to, but the fact is at this point, though they share information, I buy Jamey a bit more than I do Branco's craziness. I think OLTL will go in 2011, at least that's what I've reconciled myself to, that's what I can deal with emotionally. I couldn't deal with it going in less than a year because it is simply one of the best soaps left on the air, perhaps the best, and to watch AMC, a joke, continue through to 2011 without OLTL would enrage me.

I don't really expect Frons's ego to allow him to cancel Pratt's AMC before OLTL, which given ratings and budget is what would happen in a just world - all I ask is that OLTL runs to 2011. In a better world it would get two more years and be allowed to seriously compete against AMC. Its ratings are already better. But I don't see that happening.

I THINK what Greg's GL was getting at were the people who don't read the mags, don't scour the blogs, and don't CARE about the fact that Eric Braeden didn't take a paycut or was difficult to work with. So in a sense, they are not casual about their love for Y&R, but are casual about the way they choose to keep up with the show.

And with Y&R declining, the show needs all the viewers they can get. The loyalists with and without the mags AND the casual fans.

Thanks, bellcurve. That's exactly what I meant by "casual" viewers.

I just told a friend of mine here at work that watches Y&R, but doesn't visit online here (much) or read the mags. Her jaw hit the ground when I told her the news.

I think this is just as huge as if Lucci were leaving AMC. This character is an icon. Even people that don't watch soaps know who "Victor Newman" is.

I think AMC will be lucky if it lasts till the end of 2010, I don't think it's up to Frons though is it? Pratt's already treading thin ice with the demos and ratings he's getting. At least OLTL gets some kind of praise to balance out the ratings it gets.

I've never liked Victor either way, so I can take him or leave him

As far as we know, it is up to Frons. And we all know how much Frons loves Chuck Pratt. And we know that he has apparently chosen to back AMC for survival instead of OLTL, despite OLTL having higher ratings and staying on budget, as opposed to AMC which is an overbudget disaster. He's never going to put his buddy out of work if he doesn't absolutely have to, and AMC is the more recognizable brand name, so will he cancel quality for nepotism? Absolutely.

In a truly professional atmosphere, AMC would go next year or would already be cancelled. I don't think it has long at all, no matter what. But cancel it before OLTL? Never happen now. Frons is clearly too attached to it and to Chuck to ever admit OLTL is the better or more deserving show.

The news about Braeden is unbelievable. Yes, Y&R could survive without him - for maybe another two or three years. That's about it. It seems to be actively trying to destroy itself, its brand, its everything - like, "gee, we're still doing a lot better than all the other soaps, I guess we better even the playing field!" While Maria Bell is clearly no genius I don't think these firings or resignations are her idea - I think it's Sony's demands, and Y&R's mismanagement combined.

Edited September 28, 200916 yr by Vee

If Eric Braeden goes, so will millions of Y&R viewers. Not just those who watch on CBS, but the viewers who watch on Global in Canada and the other stations worldwide that broadcast Y&R. He is probably the most recognized actor from Y&R in the mainstream media. I hope CBS/Sony realize the millions in potential revenue they stand to lose if Eric Braeden walks, and that's the last thing they need right now.

I agree they will lose some viewers, but I think there are less and less people watching Y&R who will leave when an actor leaves. The show has ruined Victor over the past few years and EB obviously has no interest in being there.

It's funny, isn't it, that the worse AMC gets, in quality and in ratings, the more protected they are by ABC? I guess if Higley were still at OLTL, they'd be around forever.

American viewers may not tune out a lot, but the international viewers will tune out by stop watching. Braden is recognize as the star of Y&R worldwide. Same goes for B&B's Susan Flannery (example).

I thought B&B was much more popular overseas than Y&R. Even then, being #1 in Canada for soaps didn't help AW when it was time to go.