Jump to content

Y&R: Old Articles


DRW50

Recommended Posts

  • Members

CBS Sunday Morning. Hopefully this wasnt posted already. Lol the report days they never tweaked the theme which they did from 99-03...but in all fairness it had elements of the OG.

Please register in order to view this content

 

Edited by ironlion
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 14.3k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

  • Members

I adored the storyline Janice Lynde and Tom Hallick played out during Y&R's early years; it is tied for first place as my all-time favorite Genoa City story. That being said, it's completely erroneous to assert, "We were the first super-couple of daytime...." Brad and Leslie were certainly NOT the first super couple of soaps. In fact, they weren't even the first superr couple of Y&R. Chris Brooks and Snapper Foster were already tangled in a blossoming star-crossed relationship in the very first episiode, before Leslie even meet Brad.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I don't know whether to respect Bell for writing sexual assault storylines for Christine, the idea that he was able to separate the character from his real life daughter is respectable, or find it fricking weird.

I wonder if LLB has ever considered taking off some aspect of the show's production. Her reverence for her father and the show feels a lot more genuine than her brother's (but who knows how she would be with more control?). I doubt she'd want to or that it's even an option since Sony owns it. Just a thought.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

What are your thoughts on these storylines from the early years:

Snapper/Chris relationship with the surrounding storylines of Stuart exposing Snapper's cheating to Chris, Chris's rape, Greg falling for Chris, Stuart disapproving of Snapper and preferring Greg.

Brad falling for Leslie but being pursued by Lorie and the surrounding storyline of Leslie's emotional breakdown.

Leslie/Lorie/Lance/Lucas quadrangle with Vanessa in the background.

I picked these three because they showed Bill Bell elements that we would see in later Y&R storylines and in the early years of B&B.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I do find it funny that she's in all these interviews for the 50th talking about it calling it "our show" and I'm like, you're hardly even on! She certainly couldn't do worse. At least she respects the show.

I don't find it weird since Bell usually treated rape differently than other shows. It was generally not done within the framework of a "seduction" or "the bad girl gets punished with rape." It was more of a social issue storyline with Chris, Peggy, and B&B's Caroline complete with social workers and a focus on the legal system letting down victims, so more of a natural fit for the type of stories Cricket got. I suppose they could have Nina or someone else be raped and have Cricket be the support but they wanted her to show her acting chops (ahem).

Putting her with Michael and then having Paul rape her was gross but that wasn't Bell. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Cricket's date rape was a Bill Bell summer social issue storyline complete with PSA dialog. I will give LLB credit for improving as an actress during that storyline. There was one part of that storyline that stood out to me. During the medical exam, Cricket was given emergency medication. I think Bill Bell included that in response to the flack he got for Ashley having an emotional breakdown in the aftermath of ending her pregnancy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

The Chris/Snapper and Leslie/Brad sagas were brilliant: beautifully conceived, written and acted. The original actors had star appeal and charisma to burn; a certain "je ne sais quoi" and chemistry that can't be forced or manufactured. I was instantly mesmerized. I consider the debut year of Y&R to be the best opening of any soap I have seen in all the decades of my watching daytime TV.

Personally, I felt the Lorie/Lance/Leslie/Lucas business was a step down in effectiveness (not a huge plunge, but just not as riveting). Victoria Mallory was an exquisitively attractive woman, who played the piano beautifully and sang like an angel. She also (to me) came across as poised as self-contained, lacking the depths of insecurity and emotional pain that Leslie had always exibited under Janice Lynde. There did not seem to be the "still waters run deep" quality to Leslie now, so integral elements of the character disappeared. Leslie felt like a different character who did not incite as much protectiveness and sympathy anymore. (Rona Barrett's Daytimers magazine referred to Mallory's take on the character as "colorless," which transferred  the rooting value to Jaime Lyn Bauer's tempermental, complicated and emotional Lorie.)

I believe Mallory would have worked out in a different, newly-created role, but she wasn't right for Leslie. (Think Linda Borgensen in comparion to Jacqueline Courtney on Another World or Marj Dusay in comparion to Beverlee McKinsey on The Guiding Light.) The romantic uncertainties of the four Ls were lopsided because the rooting value (again, to  me) remained hugely in Lorie's favor.

I know there are fans who enjoy campy villainesses like Vivian Alamain and Susan Banks on DAYS, Susan Piper on TGL, Justine on Another World, etc., but I never have. The rest of the characters on Y&R were nuanced and relatable, and portrayed by actors who brought subtle layers to their roles. Vanessa Prentiss was an over-the-top loon played by an actress who took a highly affected, theatrical, "hammy" approach to the role. She did not mesh with the other actor's naturalistic and believable style. Mainly, I found Vanessa to be unrealistic and absurd. I couldn't settle into and believe in any story she was part of.

So with two performers I felt were miscast, the four L/Vanessa stuff never captivated me as much as the earlier Chris/Snapper, Brad/Leslie, and even the intitial Lorie/Lance stories did.

That being said, the four L/Vanessa storylines were MASTERIECES compared to anything we've seen on daytime TV in decades!

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I've mentioned before that perhaps it would have been better to write Leslie and Brad off (Tom Hallick was going to leave anyway)when Janice departed and allow some breathing time before a recast.

Lorie had her plate full with Vanessa, Lance and later Lucas. Leslie could then return (widowed or divorced) and be an added factor in Prentiss saga. That longer break might have worked in favor of a Leslie recast.

Your take on Vanessa is interesting and I admit at times I just wished everyone would just tell her they'd had enough and stop her in her tracks. I agree she somewhat lacked that nuance in her portrayal that we could feel for her situation a la Kay.

I feel the same way about Phyllis with Michelle Stafford-I've never felt any sympathy or 'love to hate'for that character. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Vanessa was more of a plot point than a character.  Bell wanted to "redeem" Lorie to a certain extent -- she'd been pretty awful in her earlier years -- and the best thing he could come up with was a Wicked Mother-in-Law who would manipulate Lorie, making Lorie come across a Hapless Victim for a change.  

I always thought the Vanessa Prentiss role was an utter waste of KT Stevens.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I agree it would have been a wiser (and more emotionally-satisfying) choice for Brad and Leslie to ride into the sunset togther when the show did not renew Lynde's contract. Fans cry foul when their favorite, beloved couples leave town, but better them depart together and have a happy ending, than the couple breaking up and making the audience endure a recast. When Another World fired George Reinholt in 1975, I would have preferred to see Steve and Alice move to Australia together, than see Steve die and an unfortunate replacement in the role of Alice.

But Y&R was highly invested in the character of Leslie, and AW was so centered on Alice (even with Rachel waiting in the wings to overtake the show) at the time, I'm not surprised that TPTB made the choices they did. I just don't feel those choices were successfil in hindsight.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Yep. I'd watch 1973-82 again for sure, even the "less effective" material with Vanessa Prentiss.

Suzanne Lynch was another hard-to-take-seriously plot point character. I've always thought she was used to garner sympathy for Katherine, after all Mrs. C's egregious, earlier behavior. 

Even at her worst, Lorie always had traces of humanity and guilt about her crimes.

I think William J. Bell tried to redeem her the most, and evolve her away from being primarily a bitch, when Lorie fell in love with Mark Henderson. He made her happy for the first time in her life, it seemed, and then Lorie discoved that he was in reality her half-brother (they shared a biological father). Lorie's anguish was gut-wrencing to witness, and I think Bell really turned the tide of sympathy towards her at that point.

Edited by vetsoapfan
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Recent Posts

    • How did I never notice how tall Colton was?

      Please register in order to view this content

    • They didn't need to have some slutty gay dude as their representation. Just a 'normal' guy getting involved with another guy or two (or three). Just like the straight characters. Thinking about it, they missed the boat by not having a few other single charcters at the beginning. Maybe Naomi or Ashley could be shown meeting Derek/Jacob and  we could follow their romance. Too many characters were coupled up at the start. As a tattoo hater I was surprised to see Tomas so inked. Don't find it attractive or sexy. I'm surprised an actor would do that as it's definitely a statement and may not be appropriate for some roles. Suppose they can cover if necessary. I didn't buy Kat being all girly and then paying off Darius to get into Eva's room. Way too cliche. She should have just come along when the housekeeping was leaving and breezed in saying it was her room. And her smug looks in the hotel room and 'Now I've got you!!' talks to herself at Orphey Gene's...no.  
    • Omg I was so annoyed. Like girl calm down. Coming on way too strong. Omg I forgot about this

      Please register in order to view this content

    • I thought it got stale before Jocks death lol. His death picked things back up for me.
    • 1976 Pt 5 Tony is summoned to the reading of the will in the Llanfair library,as he’s a principal in the will. He tells Joe there’s not a chance of coming to terms with Dorian, as he is sure she brought about Victor’s death by torturing him emotionally when he was her helpless prisoner after his stroke. Ironically, Chapin hand delivers to Viki a letter her father wrote before his stroke, praising Dorian and asking Viki to befriend and support his widow when he was no longer there. Viki feels a responsibility to her father’s wishes and vows to try with Dorian. Victor’s will leaves the expected amounts to members of his family and staff, with the lion’s share of his stock and property going to Dorian. Victor’s will explains that his son Tony expressed the desire that he not be “bought from the grave,” and, in keeping with his son’s wishes, the only bequest to him is the knowledge of his father’s love and respect. Tony is deeply moved. Dorian’s first attempt to use her new power is the recommendation of Peter as head of the Merideth Lord Wolek hospital wing, claiming that naming Larry would be virtual nepotism. Peter, who has devoted considerable time and effort to helping Jenny get over Tim’s death with gentle, affectionate support, is happy at this suggestion, but Jenny points out Dorian is merely using him to hurt Larry. Viki disregards Dorian’s ingenuous assurances that she’s not trying to wield her new power but is merely putting Peter up for consideration for a future opportunity, if not this one, and tells her she won’t be able to fulfill her father’s desire that they be friends unless Dorian stops interfering. Larry, fully understanding Dorian’s personal motives, warns her he’s going to fight for the appointment no matter what. Realizing that she has made a tactical error, Dorian announces that she won’t even attend the board meeting but will give her proxy to Jim. She admits to Matt McAllister, still her confidant, that this was humiliating, but it was a necessary protective tactic. Dorian manages to win her next round at Joe’s office when, after he praises her decision to yield on appointing Peter, she expresses concern for Viki “at a time like this.” Joe, of course, jumps on her words, and Dorian, pretending great distress at having mentioned something she shouldn’t have, is “forced” to explain that she knew about the congenital heart condition Megan had and that any child of Joe’s is likely to inherit it. She overheard the doctors discussing it at the time of the accident, she continues, and naturally assumed that Joe already knew.  Joe arranges a meeting at home with Viki and asks her how she could live a lie like this; how she could go through their lives as if everything were fine while every moment was a lie. He is further upset when, in trying to explain that it was out of her love for him that she kept the truth from him, she mentions that Jim and Larry also know but Cathy still hasn’t been told. Viki tells Joe that Dorian deliberately told him this way to hurt their marriage, and she is very upset when he starts toward the door, pleading that they have always talked things out in the past. Joe coolly points out that she didn’t do that when she learned about Megan and continues out the door.  A tearful Viki is shaken and when Joe later returns, having spent several hours in a bar drinking only soft drinks,she breaks down, crying that she was convinced he’d left her. Joe assures her they can get through this despite everything, because their relation is based on love and mutual respect. 
    • If you think about it, DALLAS and DYNASTY grew stale right about the same time, even if the ratings were slow to reflect that.  FC and KL, on the other hand, tried to stay fresh, but KL was way more successful at it, I think, than FC.  (That [!@#$%^&*] with The Thirteen does not hold up well, lol).
    • GH 1976 Pt 8 Heather takes advantage of the situation by asking Jeff to come and look at Tommy. She uses sympathy, compassion, and her own feminine wiles, together with his misery and his pills, to lure him into bed. Later, sober, he apologizes. Learning from Pearson that Monica has seen a divorce lawyer, Jeff confronts her, and she insists it’s a lie. Avoiding his attempts to kiss her, she musses her hair and tears her blouse, then rushes to Rick’s, claiming that she can’t stay with that maniac any longer. They wind up in Rick’s bed, and after making love he confesses he always loved her. Rick replies to her question of whether he wants to marry her by saying he has to talk to Jeff. Monica insists that Jeff not bear any pressure from their problems. As she leaves, Rick gives her a key to his apartment. Jeff, having spent the night drinking, misses his surgical assignment, and Steve, informing him that his personal life can’t interfere with his profession, puts him on suspension. Rick can’t persuade Steve to reverse his decision, but Mark, sensing what’s at the heart of Jeff’s problem, convinces Steve to lift Jeff’s suspension and transfer him to Mark’s service. Rick asks for his key back, telling Monica they can’t do anything as long as she’s under Jeff’s roof. So she has a duplicate made and moves into intern’s quarters, explaining that Jeff’s violence drove her out. She tells Jeff she needs privacy to work things out, and tells Rick Jeff wanted her out. Thinking that this is the preliminary to a divorce, Rick tells her she can come to his place. In New York, Leslie’s abortion is delayed by a mix-up in scheduling, and she calls Terri to commiserate. Rick overhears Terri’s conversation and forces the whole story from her. He flies to New York to stop Leslie, feeling responsible for pointing out how evil Cam was, and arrives to find that she has decided she can’t deny her child the right to live. Monica, meanwhile, expecting that Rick will be home, uses her key to let herself into his apartment and is shocked to find Mark there; knowing that Mark was uncomfortable at the hotel, Rick offered Mark use of the apartment in his absence. Monica is upset to learn that Rick is in New York with Leslie, and Mark doesn’t know why. Mark does advise Monica to play fair with Jeff, but she resents his interference. The next day, while covering for Leslie at the clinic, Monica discovers Leslie’s lab test report and jumps to the conclusion that the baby is Rick’s. When Rick and Leslie return, Monica wastes no time in accusing him. He is dismayed to see that she is still as suspicious and possessive as she was before he went to Africa, and points out that her making a duplicate  key proves she hasn’t changed. Terri encourages Leslie to see Rick in a romantic light and then suggests to Rick that Leslie is interested in him. Rick likes this idea and tells Mark he’s growing ‘unwilling to cope with Monica’s unreasonable demands. But Monica immediately recognizes the threat Leslie represents and decides to attack. She goes to Leslie and tells her flatly that she and Rick are having an affair and he’s her exclusive property. Leslie, who realizes she has been falling in love with Rick, is hurt, and Rick is mystified when he feels Leslie pulling away from him. Monica’s big moment comes when she brings Rick a housewarming gift and seduces him into letting her stay overnight. She is in the bedroom when Leslie stops by to apologize for refusing his dates, and makes a dramatic entrance into the living room draped in Rick’s bathrobe. Leslie turns and runs out. Rick later informs her he’s disappointed in her, because she prejudged Monica and him rather than giving him the benefit of the doubt. Heather tries to arrange another tryst with Jeff, but he replies that he still loves his wife. Heather decides there’s only one way to get Jeff to be pregnant with his child. She manages to overhear Monica putting Jeff down by telling him he no longer turns her on and should look for someone he does. Heather goes to Jeff and tells him that she heard Monica and that she is the one he’s looking for. She manages to get him into bed again, and sweetly assures him this is right. She then sets the stage for future meetings. Steve, meanwhile, offers to help Monica and Jeff work out their problems. Jeff is willing, but Monica turns the idea down. Instead, she presses Terri to convince Jeff to end the marriage. Terri now knows that Monica isn’t a good wife for Jeff and promises to try. But Jeff makes it clear to Monica that he still loves her and won’t let her go. She is bitter and upset, as she has already implied to Rick that she will soon be free. Audrey is upset to find that Florence Andrews has been inquiring about Tommy and herself. She goes to Florence’s home and finds she’s away now. Florence has gone down to Mexico to sign a sworn statement that she purchased a false death certificate for Tom, to protect his son after his wrongful conviction. Tom, learning from her that Steve and Audrey are to be married and Steve is planning to adopt Tommy, tells  Florence not to do anything, as there’s still no assurance that he’ll ever get out. But the judge does accept the statement, and, ironically, on the day that Steve  and Audrey are married, Tom is released from prison.
    • 1976 Pt 12 Final part Laurie agrees with Stuart that Peggy is rushing into marriage to prove that the rape didn’t ruin her life.  She points out that the only way Peg can be sure is to make love with Jack before the wedding. Stuart admits she’s right but points out that he can’t suggest that to Peggy. As the wedding approaches, Peg seems happy that Jack’s become close to the family. However, her happiness is shattered by a nightmare in which her loving bridegroom turns into a leering Ron Becker, forcing her to cancel the wedding. Jack reassures her he’ll wait as long as it takes, and Chris confides that she and Snapper didn’t consummate their marriage on their wedding night because of her own rape experience, but Peggy tells Chris she might never be ready.  Despite her desire to keep Karen as her own daughter, Chris helps a police artist create a sketch of Nancy so it can be printed in the newspaper as part of a search for her. When the attempt proves fruitless, however, Chris asks Greg to file application for permanent custody of the child. Greg points out that adoption is the only way to prevent Ron from returning and claiming the child, and that it will take quite a while. Meanwhile, a nurse in the psychiatric ward sees a resemblance  between the newspaper drawing and her autistic patient, Mrs. Jackson, but since “Fran” doesn’t respond to the name Nancy and no one else sees the similarity, she fears she’s mistaken. Jill is horrified to overhear Kay, when brihging baby Phillip a Christmas gift, telling the child she remembers the night he was conceived. Kay has to then admit to Jill she saw her with Phillip in the bunkhouse that night. Jill is aghast to realize that Kay new the truth all along and put her through such agony in spite of it, denying her baby his father’s name. Lance tells Laurie they’ll marry on Valentine’s Day. He laughs that it’s corny but agrees, secretly wishing it were sooner, as Vanessa has vowed to prevent it. Indeed, Vanessa makes an unprecedented venture out of the house to visit Brad, telling him to rebuff any advance Leslie might make to him, as she’s reaching out to him only from a sense of duty. But Laurie then makes a concerted effort to reach Vanessa. Without being sure why she’s trying so hard, she tries to assure the woman she’s not losing Lance and she, Laurie, will help her find a plastic surgeon somewhere who can help her. Grudgingly, Vanessa seems to be reconsidering her view of Laurie, and Laurie is delighted when Lance offers her a choice between two diamond necklaces, explaining that her preference will be Vanessa’s Christmas gift. Learning from Les about Brad’s blindness, Stuart tells Brad he could have turned Leslie away only out of great love. Knowing that Les is going to see Brad again, Laurie warns him not to bring the baby into their discussion, as Leslie will come back only she’s convinced he loves her, not for the babies sake. Leslie finds Brad disheveled and sloppy, and proceeds to straighten the apartment, stating that she can't respect him if he lets himself go. Realizing that neither Brad nor Les will make the first move, Laurie hurries things along by refusing to help Brad with his grooming, saying he should ask his wife. Then, having learned  that Brad offered Les the use of their piano, Laurie untunes the Brooks' piano forcing Leslie to accept his offer. By refusing to cater to his  blindness, Les manages to get Brad to stop wallowing in pity, and by the time Leslie’s Christmas braille message of her love and her need for him arrives, they are husband and wife again Lance takes Laurie on a business trip on New Year's Eve, and tells her, on board his plane, she won't be  won't be able to call him “Mr. All Talk and No action” after tonight. When Laurie protests that waited this long and will continue to wait until married, Lance delights her by instructing his pilot to land in Las Vegas, where they are married immediately.
    • Yeah, not sure why Jack and Jen didn’t rush to Marlena - or even Carrie - to offer their condolences. A few flashbacks would've been a nice touch too. Instead, we got a whole episode of them talking about Chad and Abby? Come on. On the bright side, I loved Anna’s scenes with Marlena and Carrie - sweet and heartfelt, felt like a real 80s throwback.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy