Regarding that 2002 ratings drop--I would read these two columns about Y&R at that time:

The first comes from March 2002, when Y&R was in a major state of transition and Alden's writing was rather mediocre:

http://dimwitt.tripod.com/snark22.html

Wouldn't you know that Moore left right in the middle of this mess? Perhaps his exit was the last straw for some, not the single reason. Viewers certainly did not come back when he reappeared in 2004 did they? I don't think so.

Secondly, this comes from September 2002:

DAMN THAT SHEMAR MOORE!

That’s one possible message we can take away from a recent two-part Michael Logan column, in which he uncovers a stunning possible explanation for CBS recent daytime lineup. As we know, top-rated drama The Young and the Restless has lost nearly a million viewers this year. But, according to an internal research study conducted by CBS Daytime President Lucy Johnson’s department, most of those viewers are African-American. Furthermore, the majority of the lost viewers dropped out around the time Shemar Moore (Malcolm) left the show. It doesn’t take a genius to connect the dots. However, Logan’s obtaining of the report, which was not supposed to be released to the media, left execs scrambling for answers.

"There is no empirical evidence that Shemar’s exit caused the downfall", Johnson told Logan in the 8/3-9/2002 issue of TV Guide. Johnson insists the decline began well before Malcolm’s exit. Y&R’s executive producer David Shaughnessy says that the recent expansion of Y&R’s African-American cast members "is not in direct response to the [CBS research]. We’re trying to get the show back on track, so we’re bolstering everything." Johnson also says that Y&R’s recent cast changes are "not a knee-jerk reaction to the ratings report." Johnson does say that the report is "a big wake-up call for our daytime lineup."

If Shemar Moore is really the reason for CBS daytime’s ratings free-for-all, God help us all. I repeat, GOD HELP US ALL. One mediocre actor with a fine chest leaves one show, and the entire lineup dissolves. Seriously, how can Guiding Light stop Shemar Moore from leaving The Young and the Restless? They can’t, but the research report put together by Johnson’s team comes to the conclusion that one popular actor can affect a daytime lineup. So why should the staff of B&B, ATWT, and GL bother to put on a good show? Just lure Moore back, sign him to a ten-year contract, and watch everyone’s ratings climb.

Now, I doubt Moore caused this commotion by himself. More likely, Malcolm’s lame exit was the straw that broke the viewers collective back. While the African-American characters on Y&R are pretty well-acted and well-drawn, their plotlines have left something to be desired. For years, the majority of African-American plotlines have been Olivia and Dru having the hots for the same man, or Malcolm and Neil having the hots for the same woman. Neil’s alcoholism story has been brilliant in spots, but has suffered from TPTB’s inattention. Indeed, a major problem at Y&R is having too many plots and subplots going, and then forgetting about them for long stretches.

What’s disheartening about this is that whether it’s Moore or Y&R’s own writing woes that caused this mess, the rest of the lineup is still being affected unfairly. One could argue that the other 3/4’ths of CBS lineup have made their own errors this year, but the drop in their ratings can be traced to the period that Y&R dropped off dramatically. Is this why the improved GL couldn’t get ahead this Summer? So long to Y&R, so long to CBS? Were viewers just leaving the TV on after Y&R, and not really paying attention to the shows that followed? Or did the state of those shows just make it easier for exiting Y&R viewers to drop CBS entirely? Logan’s column ultimately raises more questions than it answers.

One of those questions is what does Lucy Johnson mean when she calls the report "a big wake-up call for our daytime lineup"? She certainly doesn’t mean more African-American faces. Commenting on The Bold and the Beautiful, in the 8/10-16/02 issue, Johnson says that Executive Producer/Head Writer Bradley Bell "has to serve his own voice, and I respect that". Guiding Light has an entire black family, the Boudreaux, but only Mel is on full time. Proctor and Gamble Productions head honcho Mickey Alice Dwyer-Dobbin says that "I’m trying to tell good, emotional stories that my entire audience can relate to. I’ve not been asked to do things differently, not by the network, the audience, or the focus groups."

Folks, it’s not my intention to play the race card here. I don’t want a quota system, and B&B really is my favorite soap right now. But, isn’t it amazing that a good number of daytime viewers are black, yet blacks are so underrepresented on-screen? Logan notes that CBS high black viewership has contributed mightily to keeping CBS tops in total daytime viewers. Yet, whenever the subject is broached, Johnson and her ilk say "the audience just wants good stories". Now, that’s true. But, why do soap execs inflate their casts with teens? All we want is good stories. Why have soaps begun adding more Latino characters? All we want is good stories. It is hypocrisy to say no to injecting black characters into soaps because "it would be artificial", when TPTB have no problem injecting other groups of characters artificially based on their latest business models.

The truth, I guess, is that despite Y&R’s recent loss, there has not been a mass exodus of black viewers from daytime in general. It’s like "Blacks? We’ve already got them. We don’t have teens and Latinos". Perhaps Johnson and others need more of a wake-up call.

Edited November 30, 200916 yr by soapfan770

Who would have ever guessed that Y&R would have a white out. No dots in the snow.

Great responses in the thread.

And, who would ever thought it would be the future Bells who white out the soaps and can't write at all.

Great responses in the thread.

And, who would ever thought it would be the future Bells who white out the soaps and can't write at all.

Too true.

But Bill Bell is watching over Maria's "shoulders."

and Y&R produces one great scene a month! Who cares if the show sucks overall!

Edited November 30, 200916 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

I don't understand why black viewers are leaving. We have CKLily representing the Winters/Baber clan. She got more storyline then all the Winters & Babers put together. She gotten more love interests. She should think her lucky stars she have no siblings, so no swamping for her.

I don't understand why black viewers are leaving. We have CKLily representing the Winters/Baber clan. She got more storyline then all the Winters & Babers put together. She gotten more love interests. She should think her lucky stars she have no siblings, so no swamping for her.

True Lily Winters is a black female character, but it is very doubtful that the majority of viewers view CK as a black actress. Honestly, I pretty much view CKLily as the adoptive child of Neil and Dru, it makes it easier for me to accept her character when I am not ffing through her scenes.

People can say that DSLily was a bit rough around the edges, but the girl had mad chemistry with Dru, Neil and Devon. And DS and MG were on fire as Daily. Unfortunately, MG/Daniel hasn't been that interesting or sexy since.

True Lily Winters is a black female character, but it is very doubtful that the majority of viewers view CK as a black actress. Honestly, I pretty much view CKLily as the adoptive child of Neil and Dru, it makes it easier for me to accept her character when I am not ffing through her scenes.

People can say that DSLily was a bit rough around the edges, but the girl had mad chemistry with Dru, Neil and Devon. And DS and MG were on fire as Daily. Unfortunately, MG/Daniel hasn't been that interesting or sexy since.

Everything in RED YUP YUP. Ditto and Amend! Esp with DS and MG. Why was DS let go in the first place, some refresh my memories please? If we can't have Dru then at least give us DSLily, o wait, I forgot who was writing. Never mind

True Lily Winters is a black female character, but it is very doubtful that the majority of viewers view CK as a black actress. Honestly, I pretty much view CKLily as the adoptive child of Neil and Dru, it makes it easier for me to accept her character when I am not ffing through her scenes.

People can say that DSLily was a bit rough around the edges, but the girl had mad chemistry with Dru, Neil and Devon. And DS and MG were on fire as Daily. Unfortunately, MG/Daniel hasn't been that interesting or sexy since.

I want ya'll to know I didn't say it this time. This new pseron said it. & me & her aren't the same people.

LMAO love it. Was there an issue the last time you made comments like this?

I want ya'll to know I didn't say it this time. This new pseron said it. & me & her aren't the same people.

LMAO love it. Was there an issue the last time you made comments like this?

Oh Yeah, it was a problem when I said the samething. I keep telling people if black viewrrs accpeted CK as Lily the viewers would still be watching. But they said I need a life & all this other stuff. If they can get a Lily that isn't bland & have something more to offer then who she bedding. I'm sure I'll come back to watch Y&R with or without Dru.

I just can't stand CkLily. They could have brought her back as another character. Since they loved her so much. I'm sure the viewers wouldn't care if she came back not playing Lily. & DS still was Lily. Matter of fact she should have played Roxanne.

I do remember that who mess Just know I agree with the CKLily/DSLily arguement

Oh Yeah, it was a problem when I said the samething. I keep telling people if black viewrrs accpeted CK as Lily the viewers would still be watching. But they said I need a life & all this other stuff. If they can get a Lily that isn't bland & have something more to offer then who she bedding. I'm sure I'll come back to watch Y&R with or without Dru.

I just can't stand CkLily. They could have brought her back as another character. Since they loved her so much. I'm sure the viewers wouldn't care if she came back not playing Lily. & DS still was Lily. Matter of fact she should have played Roxanne.

I do remember that who mess Just know I agree with the CKLily/DSLily arguement

To me it's not even about CK & DS. It's about how could Dru bring back a whiney, needy, nothing going for her daughter but who she bedding. Why isn't she stronger then that? Even when Dru couldn't read she was stronger then CKLily. CkLily has no goals. What does she wants out of life besdies havinmg a baby right now. The way she change her mind so much that baby will be put outside soon.