Tonya Lee Williams interview

[MoTheGreat]

Can somebody tell me why they can't do her hair like this?

[JackPeyton]

This may be true, esp since the lesbianism made him back off of that and i read backlash made him drop niel/victoria and never pick it up again.

[Leia]

I did not know about this. The writers should do that if that is what it takes.

It sounds like they cared more then and wanted to do better for the future. Now, they do not care about the future. And they just do not care.

[DRW50]

Didn't all the stuff with Tyrone, Jazz, Amy, happen in the mid-80s? I know those stories were controversial but they expanded the black canvas beyond maids.

[Leia]

I just saw this on youtube and read the link posted. Was this story controversial? What was the reaction. I can't believe I've never heard of it.

[bellcurve]

Tyrone(played by Phil Morris of Seinfeld/Jackie Chiles fame) played a detective who went undercover in whiteface to bring down the mob. Almost married a white chick as part of his cover.

???History Buffs Interject???

[DRW50]

I know one of those soap books, the Soap Book of Lists I think, listed it as one of the most offensive soap stories ever. I think Shcemering liked the story, I think he credited it with helping Y&R rebound. He mentioned the contrast between Tyrone in whiteface being forced to romance the mafia daughter as he was in his natural face dating and falling in love with Amy.

Didn't Phil Morris pan it in a later interview? I can't remember.

I've never really seen the story, so I can't say, but it did show Bill Bell was making a concerted effort at the time to integrate black characters and relationships into the drama.

[catsmeouch]

Mamie was a favourite of mine growing up, and I'm not even black! I really wish they'd bring her and Dru back.

Speaking of ethnic stereotypes, Y&R just did it last year with the Newmans' Hispanic housekeeper Estella.

[NorrthCafe]

LOL that was brilliant.

[MichaelGL]

Can you imagine the controversy if a soap did a storyline like this today with a black actor in whiteface?

Bell always loved to push the envelope no matter what soap he was at in the 70s and 80s, be it Y&R or DAYS, maybe he saw it as a way to push the envelope and pay some homage to Nixon's Carla story.

[DRW50]

I kind of wonder if there would be any controversy or if people would just be shocked a black person on a soap is getting a story.

[YRBB]

LOL +1

As for the actual story, I think reports of controversy and what not were greatly exaggerated. From the few episodes I have that include that storyline, it seemed more like William J. Bell's love for a crazy soapy premise -- black person in whiteface undetected, a cage in the middle of a living room, etc-- combined with lots of great character and heart. Is the premise a bit shocking and out there? Sure.... but that's the impression I got.

[bellcurve]

epic win!

[Leia]

I'm biracial but I like the sound of this. I wish we could see something like this today. Was Amy black? I can't believe Y&R had the mob in the 80's. Phil Morris in a google search brings up the tobacco company.

Can you share some of the episodes you have?

I can't imagine a soap story like this playing today but it sounds like a major story with a lot of appeal. We don't have a writer today who could pull this off. And Nathan Purdee was in this.

[DRW50]

Yes, Amy was black.

If a soap did this today they'd probably have a white person trying to pass for black. (For some reason I imagine that story going to Gigi...)