Viewers haven't stayed away from OLTL in droves because of black characters.

Black characters have not had a major role on the show again until recently. Only months ago. No wonder black viewers may be skeptical. If you only hear about OLTL through promos or word of mouth, you are likely to only hear about two of the WORST soap storylines of all time -- Rex/Gigi/Stacy and the sickness of Tea/Todd and Blair.

Black viewers rewarded Y&R with many years of loyalty. Has Y&R shown them the same courtesy? And has Y&R gained any ratings dividends from focusing on the likes of Amber or Adam?

It isn't even really about catering to black viewers so much as it's about outright contempt for black viewers, which is what I see at Y&R with this regime. If even KSJ is complaining, then something is going on.

I thought I remember her ASKING to be bumped to recurring because she had otehr projects she wanted to concentrate on. Even when she came back, I don't think she ever intended to have front burner story, Like Bregman, who doens't WANT a contract, I remember TLW doesnt want one, either.

I'm referring to her current stint. She was brought on in a recurring role but if they can figure out how to use Tricia Cast and Beth Maitland in a more relative and profound way despite their limited availability, why is it that the same can't be done for Tonya? She could have ushered Nate back to the show as someone suggested up thread. Olivia has nearly 15 years of history on the show but you would never know it based on the way they are using her. Some of it has to do with the absence of Drucilla but that's still not an excuse because they are opting not to write anything of substance for Tonya at all.

I'm not even asking for her to be front burner but Liv did nothing but prop Tyra and Lily for months. Even Bergman had a fun role in the Christmas Special featuring Michael. Tonya hasn't had that kind of opportunity.

But as was poitned out above, OLTL HAS made that committment... but whree are the viewers? They make a committement, and the viewers stay away in droves, so THAT is exactly the reason they might be gun shy about diverse SL's. As much lip service and nagging the fan do about wanting diverse SL, when it happens, the ratings still tank. If the SHOW makes a committment, the fans need to make one, too to SHOW the networks that we are a viable audience.

As pointed out though, there is praise for what OLTL is attempting to do but it is going to take time and the LONG TERM commitment from the network and the writers.

Let's not forget that just ONE year ago, OLTL had no stories for ANY minority or gay characters. From September 2007 through April 2009, we barely saw any black characters. Scotty even wrote an editorial for the 40 year anniversary criticizing Carlivati for it. It wasn't until Rachel arrived along with Hank and RJ in April that we saw a change. It takes much more than 6 months to regain the trust of the minority viewers especially after we went for such a long period of time with nothing.

Young and the Restless did not automatically gain the minority viewers overnight either. They had to compete with an audience devoted to AMC because of the Angie and Jesse story. What turned the tide for Bill Bell was the LONG TERM commitment. He tried the Tyrone story and then expanded the Barbers' family and added Neil Winters and Nate Sr. and Malcolm.

OLTL took a step in the right direction but the jury is still out as it not indicative of their long term commitment. Black fans and gay fans and Latino fans have been down this road before. It's the lack of long term commitment that put soaps in this position in the first place so there is very little trust that this time is really different. It doesn't make sense to believe any differently when OLTL and other soaps still have a very long way to go and there are a lot of fans who are very bitter about losing characters they loved.

Can you honestly say that you have complete faith that the network and the writers are as invested in Neil as they are Nick Newman? If soaps had demonstrated that level of commitment to more minority players, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Instead, they still demonstrate the antiquated attitude that minority fans should be thankful to be included at the soap table. It's embarrassing to have an actor begging for the opportunity for his character to exist outside of a segregated black box in 2009. Though that message was aimed at MAB, it's applicable to ALL soaps and they should be ashamed of it.

I think Asians are the worst treated, not just on soaps but also primetime, movies, etc. This thread is just another example of that.

Say what you will about those writers who wrote before McTavish, but I enjoyed their focus on Henry and his family, who were Asians in addition the show had Reggie too, who was a African American.

I think Asians are the worst treated, not just on soaps but also primetime, movies, etc. This thread is just another example of that.

You are right! They are along with Native Americans.

What's the story on Lloyd Gold? I'm not familiar with him. Another thing to note is that I think we only have 2 black writers on staff in daytime.

Susan Dansby and Michele Val Jean? Are they the only 2 black writers on staff in daytime?

Days seems to have an Asian writer judging by his name (Ryan Quan).

I don't know what the story with Lloyd Gold is either, but he has been at 3 shows when they have had more diversity and he created the Boudreaus when he was head writer at GL so I just think he is someone who is familiar with and and perhaps advocates for diversity on his shows. He was one of the writers at Another World from 1982-1985, when there were lots of prominent black characters - Carter Todd, Thomasina Todd, Quinn Harding, Grant Todd, Ed Harding, and Lily Mason - probably the most diverse period of the show. He was one of the writers at OLTL during Malone's first time there with the Gannons and the Vegas. And GL where he created the Boudreaus as headwriter and gave them more material once he became co-headwriter again. Not sure what other soaps he might have written for. It's not really a whole lot of evidence, but I expect him to advocate at ATWT too.

Speaking of ATWT, it's bad, but when I heard Bonnie was leaving ATWT, I was surprised they were even giving her an exit story (instead of a "okay bye" or disappearing) and Jessica would appear, my expectations for ATWT have become so low on the racial diversity front. I chalked even the presence of an exit story to the addition of Kreizman/Gold to staff.

Oh yeah, about Jade, not only the Snyder/Walsh connection, but she's an ex of both Casey and Adam and knew about Adam being buried alive. She could so have been involved with most of the stories these past few months. I agree that the new actress has chemistry with Elizabeth Hubbard.

Edited October 7, 200916 yr by jfung79

I thought I remember her ASKING to be bumped to recurring because she had otehr projects she wanted to concentrate on. Even when she came back, I don't think she ever intended to have front burner story

Are you really this poorly informed for such a long term Y&R fan, or do you just "forget" important details to suit your agenda? Tonya made it clear before she left that she was DYING for a story. That two years on the backburner she constantly was in the soap press, on Soap Talk talking about how she's ready for a story, doesn't care if they SORAS Nate to be 100, she just would love to work. She left because they refused and she needs to make money! Look at how her career has flourished. I'm glad she didn't wait for scraps.

With her current return, again, from the beginning she has made it clear she WANTS a frontburner story and is here as much as they want her. She said when she initially returned that she plans on chemistry testing with every man she's in a scene with. Regardless of whether or not it's a day player or Eric Braeden. She wants a love interest and she wants Nate back. That doesn't sound to me like someone who doesn't want to work.

ETA:

Speaking of ATWT, it's bad, but when I heard Bonnie was leaving ATWT, I was surprised they were even giving her an exit story (instead of a "okay bye" or disappearing) and Jessica would appear, my expectations for ATWT have become so low on the racial diversity front. I chalked even the presence of an exit story to the addition of Kreizman/Gold to staff.

I read on SoapCentral (probably via a soap mag) that Chauntee said she's not being written off, just that Bonnie is going to have light story (as opposed to???) for a while.

Edited October 8, 200916 yr by Chris B

Susan Dansby and Michele Val Jean? Are they the only 2 black writers on staff in daytime?

What happened to Aida Croal?

Say what you will about those writers who wrote before McTavish, but I enjoyed their focus on Henry and his family, who were Asians in addition the show had Reggie too, who was a African American.

I would love to see more Asians on daytime. I wish they had done more with Lien on ATWT, and also Penny Hughes's adopted daughter, Amy, who only made fleeting appearances in the 80s.

The problem I had with Henry is that he was dull and we never really saw anything of his family besides them wanting him to be perfect. I know there were rumors Palmer was going to turn out to be his father, but that never went anywhere.

The actor seemed very stiff to me. Then after he was written out of AMC, he was hired for Book of Daniel, playing, of all things, a 16 year old, when the actor was clearly not anywhere near that age. Even more awkward was that they had him making out with Leven Rambin, who WAS that age.

Eastenders has really done a good job in recent years with rebuilding their Indian/South Asian cast, which had been very poorly treated over the past decade. The Masoods are, as their critics (including some former EE cast members) have said, full of stereotypes, but the actors who play the mother and father are superb at comedy AND drama and have wonderful chemistry together. They not only carry their family, but at times they have all but carried the entire show, which otherwise suffocates in Mitchell yelling matches and general moroseness.

. Instead, Tatyana Ali, a beautiful young woman and good actress is stuck in an embarrassing recurring role. It doesn't make sense especially when she has all of the qualifications soaps look for. She has great visibility in the Black community with a decent primetime and movie resume. She is fairly well-known from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air which makes her just as accomplished as Clementine Ford. In a perfect world, she would make the ideal Lily recast but that's another topic. I don't think MAB or the network would ever dare to treat a white high profile actress from primetime the same way yet this is the best MAB could come up with?

I also thought they should have put her as Lily Winters.

I thought I remember her ASKING to be bumped to recurring because she had otehr projects she wanted to concentrate on. Even when she came back, I don't think she ever intended to have front burner story, Like Bregman, who doens't WANT a contract, I remember TLW doesnt want one, either. But as was poitned out above, OLTL HAS made that committment... but whree are the viewers? They make a committement, and the viewers stay away in droves, so THAT is exactly the reason they might be gun shy about diverse SL's. As much lip service and nagging the fan do about wanting diverse SL, when it happens, the ratings still tank. If the SHOW makes a committment, the fans need to make one, too to SHOW the networks that we are a viable audience.

People was watching OLTL. & those same people put it down for what they did to the Evangeline character. I will never forgive them. They got black people but once again. Two brothers are fighting over Rachel. Who is this storyline is effecting but maybe Destiny.

Who are the gay storyline is effecting but Kish & maybe Layla & Christian, I guess. They got diversity but none of these storyline are effecting anybody else. They are ioslating them just like all soaps do black characters & others they aren't straight white males or females.

Edited October 8, 200916 yr by MoTheGreat

Well eventually, won't Kish effect the Rex/Gigi/Stacy/Skye crew?

As for Shaun/Rachel/Greg I don't know, the show has put some effort in connecting Rachel and Schyler as friends. Shaun's shooting effected the Cramer/Manning family deeply (Shaun has been closely associated with that crew). The only black character I seriously don't see being integrated well is perhaps Greg, Layla, and maybe Destiny.

What happened to Aida Croal?

Don't think she's left OLTL, I just didn't know about her. That makes at least three black writers on staff in daytime soaps.

About Henry on AMC:

I was tuning out of AMC at this point because my favorite writer Richard Culliton had left, but I did like that Rayfield/Cascio introduced Henry. I just wish he was not paired with Maggie because it put the whole Bianca/Maggie thing on hold.

They wrote in Reggie, but wrote out Frank Hubbard (or more accurately, just had him disappear) who actually had history with Pine Valley, so I would say that was a net negative. Rayfield and Cascio also dropped another African-American character, Simone's father Zeke.

About EastEnders:

I stopped being able to watch EastEnders on TV because I don't have Dish network, but I have been keeping up with the synopses. I love the way the Masoods are woven in. Sharing a business with the Beales, Tamwar as friends with Libby, and the groundbreaking Syed/Christian gay storyline. Glad they seem to be getting better response than the Ferreiras, who I also liked.

Edited October 8, 200916 yr by jfung79

Well eventually, won't Kish effect the Rex/Gigi/Stacy/Skye crew?

As for Shaun/Rachel/Greg I don't know, the show has put some effort in connecting Rachel and Schyler as friends. Shaun's shooting effected the Cramer/Manning family deeply (Shaun has been closely associated with that crew). The only black character I seriously don't see being integrated well is perhaps Greg, Layla, and maybe Destiny.

Rachel and Schyler haven't had a friend moment in some time, and I might be wrong but the Cramer/Mannings are def not visiting their close friend in a coma at the hospital actually they are all doing their own things. Fish and Kyle are going to be intergrated into the main canvas but what about Layla and Cris who have been on the show for years.

I had forgotten about Zeke. Wasn't he almost involved with someone? Or was that Marshall on AW? That actor played Marshall too right? Is it true the story w/Felicia was dropped because of complaints, or network fear?

The Masood parents have even won a few fan awards.