http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/10/16/eric-braeden-young-restless-end-negotiations/

Damn. He's pulled the plug on negotiations. Could this really be the end of Victor?

Carl, I don't think they specifically want to get rid of Jill. I think things went down the way they did, simply because after the license fee cut, Jess' contract was the first in line to be neogtiated. Melody's was next. I think she was simply in the crosshairs by coincidence. Here's what I think is going on:

1: Sony saw how axing Hall And Hogestyn didn't do any major damage to DOOL ratings, and they were emboldened by that.... so they started licking their chops at the thought of Axing Braeden. So they gave him a lowball offer, knowing full well he'd reject it.

2: It could be that with Braeden gone, there's a good chance that Jill's role will be expanded once again, like they did with Suzanne Rogers. Melody's role, on the other hand.... I think is in the most danger, because she's tied to Braeden. But the Chancellors are being built up, so I don't see them muscling Jill out.

3: I think they are doing this to Braeden because if they try to do it to Jeanne Cooper, the fallout would be FAR FAR more disastrous. Braden is a hard ass... he can take care of himself. If they did it to Cooper, Sony would be seen as beating up on a little old lady. And those bastards probably figure Jeanne Cooper to die or retire in the next five years, so the greedy pencil pushers may just be biding their time.

But here's a question, the OFFICIAL statement from CBS is that the license cuts were neccesary due to the economy and plunging ad revenue. So here's the million dollar question. If the economy recovers.... is the license fee going to go back to what it was? I can almost bet you it won't.

They are also using Jeanne Cooper to sell their younger characters. They did not ask her to take a pay cut, even on her last contract, and I think you are exactly right about their reasons. They know it would look like they were picking on an old lady (even though we know she can take care of herself), and since she is 81 they will keep paying her because they figure it will only be for the next couple of years. This also makes MAB happy since Katherine is obviously her favorite and the show has added many younger character tied to Katherine in the last year? Jeanne loves Greg Rikkhart and Adrienne Frantz and it just so happens that they continue to get heavy story. I don't think this is all Jeanne's doing, but I do think her advocacy for them doesn't hurt. The thing I found interesting about Jeanne was her questioning of the necessity of the Philip story. That's the first time I heard her question any story in the MAB era.

That is also why I think Jess Walton is safe. She is connected to Katherine and the mother and grandmother of Billy and Chance and although she may not get the story she deserves, I think that her connection to Katherine puts her in a safer position than other vets.

The only thing I don't agree with is that Eric Braedan's loss will give more screentime and story to underutilized vets. I think SONY has a plan and we will see more vets, over 40, written out and more characters in their teens and twenties added to the show.

Edited October 18, 200916 yr by lmfan

The only thing I don't agree with is that Eric Braedan's loss will give more screentime and story to underutilized vets. I think SONY has a plan and we will see more vets, over 40, written out and more characters in their teens and twenties added to the show.

I don't think his loss will give screen time to ALL underutilized vets, but I think it will give screen time to some. I think Melody is in the greatest danger, and probably Doug. But his standout performances of the last month should tell TPTB how popular he is, and what a good actor he is. And I want to clarify... the MAIN reason I feel Jess is safe, is when her negotiations were going on, a casting call went out... relatively big actresses were considered for a recast.. they did NO SUCH THING with Melody, did they? I think TPTB are keeping Jess around to essentially be Jeanne's successor.... if the show lasts that long, then I see Jess as the "Grande Dame" of the show, and since Jill is the only original character, that makes sense. But you can just SEE the suits at Sony thinking... "It worked for Days!! We got rid of Hall and Hogestyn, and pumped up Suzanne Rogers to keep the longtime viewers happy... we can do that to Y&R!" Of course.... having said that, let's also keep in mind that Suzanne Rogers is twice the actress Diedre Hall is.

Edited October 19, 200916 yr by alphanguy74

I don't think his loss will give screen time to ALL underutilized vets, but I think it will give screen time to some. I think Melody is in the greatest danger, and probably Doug. But his standout performances of the last month should tell TPTB how popular he is, and what a good actor he is. And I want to clarify... the MAIN reason I feel Jess is safe, is when her negotiations were going on, a casting call went out... relatively big actresses were considered for a recast.. they did NO SUCH THING with Melody, did they? I think TPTB are keeping Jess around to essentially be Jeanne's successor.... if the show lasts that long, then I see Jess as the "Grande Dame" of the show, and since Jill is the only original character, that makes sense. But you can just SEE the suits at Sony thinking... "It worked for Days!! We got rid of Hall and Hogestyn, and pumped up Suzanne Rogers to keep the longtime viewers happy... we can do that to Y&R!" Of course.... having said that, let's also keep in mind that Suzanne Rogers is twice the actress Diedre Hall is.

The question is whether Y&R wants any older women to be in the Maggie Horton role. Sheffer doesn't like vets. Neither does Rauch. They may see Ashley as their matriarch.

I expect Nikki or Jill to get breast cancer within the next 18 weeks and die at the 26 week contract mark.

The question is whether Y&R wants any older women to be in the Maggie Horton role. Sheffer doesn't like vets. Neither does Rauch. They may see Ashley as their matriarch.

The trump card is that Maria DOES like vets. Mark my word, Sheffer will be gone in 6 months. I feel it.

No Nikki or Victor?...Just Wow....

The NEW Young & Restless only on CBS Daytime!!

No Nikki or Victor?...Just Wow....

The NEW Young & Restless only on CBS Daytime!!

Where are people getting this no Nikki thing? Have I missed a spoiler or something?

Where are people getting this no Nikki thing? Have I missed a spoiler or something?

When Thomas returned, Michael Logan said something to the effect of: "Melody is returning on her own terms--for now".

That implied to many that somehow she did not get a cut...but that Sony would cut her (in salary or in having a contract) as soon as practicable.

Put that together with the Victor story, and it would make sense that:

- Victor is ushered to Europe for treatment

- In, say, 20 weeks, Nikki goes to join him.

Buh-bye.

I expect Nikki or Jill to get breast cancer within the next 18 weeks and die at the 26 week contract mark.

Chipmunk shaped tumors.

Watch.

The trump card is that Maria DOES like vets. Mark my word, Sheffer will be gone in 6 months. I feel it.

This show doesn't HAVE six months. Period. This should have been done four months ago!

The ratings(despite everyone's applause in the weekly threads) are eroding, the foundation of this show is crumbling, and by all accounts, no one from a creative or corporate level gives a damn.

If Maria loved her vets so damn much, why the hell is she crafting crappy exit stories for them, allowing SONY to lowball the actors who play them, and even on the days she has the vets available, she makes them glorified dayplayers and extras instead of giving them something real to do?

If you love vets, you do NOT allow a sexy, vibrant character like Jill to work in a f*cking Nail Salon. You do NOT send Neil, your main heroine's father, off the canvas for three months paid vacation. You do NOT allow Emmy Winner Christian LeBlanc to rot away without a story. You don't degrade the Nikki character and isolate her from her family until it's time for contract negotiations. And you definitely do NOT let Victor, the character who you've built the show around for over 30 years, just go without a clear backup plan. And I'm sorry, but Tucker is NOT a clear backup plan. It's a cheap substitute.

Maria does NOT care about vets.

Where are people getting this no Nikki thing? Have I missed a spoiler or something?

The tense MTS drama and the rumor that Victor and Nikki are leaving together...

2+2...

The tense MTS drama and the rumor that Victor and Nikki are leaving together...

2+2...

I see. I guess I was thinking that MST had her issues resolved so she'd come back after she gets Victor settled in at some clinic or whatever. It would suck if she agreed to the pay cuts and then they let her go just because EB is leaving.

Juliajms, there were rumors that MTS didn't take a pay cut but maybe she only signed a 6 week contract and is permanently exiting with EB. B&B should dump Lesley Kay and Susan Flannery and hire EB and MTS.

It would suck if she agreed to the pay cuts and then they let her go just because EB is leaving.

It's not like a woman could exist without a man or anything.

B&B should dump Lesley Kay and Susan Flannery and hire EB and MTS.

Why should they do that? Victor and Nikki have no place on B&B, Felicia and Stephanie have. (Although they should definitely use Lesli more than they do)