TV Guide interviews Eric Braeden

[Lucid]

So not a happy camper

http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/soaps/exclusive-eric-braeden-speaks-out-about-his-yr-exi-2680.html

I only have two words for this situation: Utter insanity. Y&R without Victor Newman ain’t Y&R. Somebody’s gotta come to their senses here. Your rep tells me you made a counter offer which has so far gone ignored.

That is correct.

So how would you characterize the situation then? You’ve hit a dead end? Or is there still hope?

It is not a fait accompli but I am seriously thinking about various other career options. As you know, I came to Y&R from film, from nighttime television, from theatre. It’s not that one isn’t willing to acquiesce to [a lesser salary], but it is the way in which I was approached. I was dealt with in a cold, deeply insulting and unconscionable manner and I’m a defiant bastard. I feel a great loyalty to the character and to the show, but that loyalty is not reciprocated. The daytime business has become cutthroat.

It goes on, follow the link

[Darn]

How can he on the one hand complain about how this story has painted Victor into a corner, a corner black enough to want fans to see him die (this one included) yet praise the holy hell out of the person who wrote it?

Well, at least Victor was in character throughout, nothing he's done during this travesty has surprised me. Maybe that's why he likes it.

[MarkH]

It is confusing to me. Basically, he is blaming Sony. He lauds MAB up and down.

But then he acknowledges that the story painted him unredeemable and black-hearted...and he believes this creative change was done to facilitate his ouster. But isn't MAB the creative one?

Something doesn't connect. Is Sony dictating story to MAB? Doesn't make sense...

[dragonflies]

He's playing both sides of the fence. Lips planted to MAB's butt, but yet bashing Sony. MAB and her merry band of hacks are the ones who wrote Victor into that corner.

[MarkH]

Maybe it is an appeal to the Bells and CBS (both mentioned in fairly positive terms) to intervene with this bullsh!t. Which they should do.

The Bells, in particular, should reduce from their personal profit the amount needed to make Braeden "whole' during this remainder of his contract.

I do find the apparent coldness with which Sony has handled Walton, Thomas Scott and now Braeden to be remarkably bad business. Now, when Braeden gets an offer to be the new 26 week mobster on GH, or the new rival for Adam Chandler on AMC, he's gonna snap at it. (Maybe not. I hear ABC doesn't like old people).

[DeeeDee]

BINGO.

[Lucid]

yeah

[alphanguy74]

It's apparent that Sony IS dictating story. Not dictating ALL story... but so much as they say... "Braeden's contract cycle is coming up, and we plan to re-negotiate.... so write in an exit in case it goes south." And since the Bells don't have autonomy, she basically HAS to do it. She's probably doing this under sever protest... that's why Braeden is praising her so hard. That's the only reasonable explanation. Braeden has BALLS, if he truly thought MAB had blame on her, he'd say it.

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Sony only does contracts, and Maria controls the writing, she and Paul Rauch have no problem bragging to the press about how much they get to do and write whatever they want to write.

If Maria knew she had to write Braeden out before his contract cycle was up, she could have just as easily crafted another exit story for him, and one that was less damaging to the Victor character. I also don't think it's any coincidence Hogan Sheffer has recycled the same inane plots and characterizations from show to show, and Maria's crappy art influence and sh!tty pacing style has been apparent since day one.

Braeden's beef is clearly over his contract dispute, which Sony handles.

Let's not forget how much Braeden praised Latham when she was employed at the show, and the minute she was fired, he started bad mouthing her to the press.

[Ann_SS]

EB has the ego the size of the Empire state building. I don't believe for one second that Sony dictated this story. This story has been played out for months. It isn't the first time that Victor has done horrible things. He always gets away with it and Victor is never written into a corner. EB needs to shut up about that one. Notice how EB tries to claim that Jack has been relieved of all responsibility which is untrue. Jack is forced to share blame for something that Victor is solely responsible for. EB is so much like Victor.

EB is trying to blame Sony for the contract dispute and praise MAB for the writing which is incredulous. I can't believe people are still trying to give the Bells a pass. Of course, they have power on the show that they own. They are not employees. The Bells and Sony are partners and have a mutual interest in reducing the budget so they can both make profit and keep Y&R on the air. It is not all Sony doing. I suspect the Bells deliberately target the actors' anger against the faceless Sony rather than take any responsibility for their role in these decisions.

I do find it interesting that the pay cut is huge. I am thinking 50%. Yet we are supposed to believe that MTS did not take a paycut. It is also interesting that they sent Nikki away with Victor. MAB and Sony are trying to save money by giving these actors long forced vacations. Kristoff is not alone.

[Paul Raven]

I would imagine that EB is the biggest money earner on the show,if not in all of daytime.

Back in the 90's he was earning 6 figures and I would assume the amount increased(standard contract procedure)until he took the last cut.

So I would guess that he is being asked to take a 50% cut from his peak earning point.

[CSF]

Ann, I agree with every single word you wrote! Well said!

[dragonflies]

Sony is just a convenient scapegoat in this for EB.

I think his nose is out of joint cause Victor went too far one too many times and fans are fed up with it.

Geez arrogant much? I never have believed his "slip" at the emmys a few years back where he said "God Bless Eric Braeden"(I hope I remembering this right) was even a slip

[ian]

Yeah, that was epic, one of my all-time fave videos on YouTube, I think he was super piss drunk, actually... he seemed to be at least!

I don't know, yeah he's an arrogant bastard, but man, I loved reading what he had to say. He has a real way with words. So, I'm divided. Of course Y&R needs Victor, and I mean... he lauded MAB without Sheffer or Hamner which I thought was interesting and very tell-tale, as they're all co-hws right? so he obviously sees MAB as blameless and god knows what he thinks of the others' inputs.

Will be a wait and see thing. I for one am not watching Y&R anymore.

[BadZoe]

I don't think anyone in control of this production is a smart business person. If they were, they would not be constantly bringing on new characters while giving no stories to the veterans of the show who are still on contract but only used as background filler. They are deliberately trying to alienate the audience from the show in what I see is an attempt to get the show cancelled, sooner rather than later so that they can replace it with some stupid medical or d-list celebrity chat fest.

Eric might be very full of himself but he is absolutely right through much of the article, except the MAB ass kissing. This younger demographic stuff is a complete false hood and soaps are never going to appeal to the audience that isn't currently watching. Those who are currently watching for the most part do not have the same kind of loyalty or interest in the shenanigans of Deacon, Amber, Ryder but do want to see Jill, Nikki, Paul and other characters that this show was build on featured. If this show wants to save itself it needs to go back to what made it the number one soap in the first place, Abbott/Newman/Chancellor business interaction and the love and romance that goes on outside of and sometimes during office hours. Not depressing constant stories of death, torture, adultery and just plain depravity. People watch for an escape and the only escape route being offered to the audience by this show is the off button on the tv remote and finding a hobby.