Y&R: Old Articles

[kalbir]

We all know second half of 1986 to end of 1989 Cricket ate the show. I will give LLB credit for improving as an actress during the date rape storyline. If you recall during the Entertainment Tonight Y&R 50th anniversary special, LLB commented that Bill Bell wanted to tell the date rape story "properly". I got the impression LLB was taking a swipe at how other soaps told rape storylines irresponsibly in the 1980s.

I wonder what TL issues were w/ Jack storylines near the end. Perhaps he sensed Bill Bell was losing interest in the Abbotts or maybe TL had issues w/ Ed Scott. Remember that Cricket eating the show overlaps w/ Ed Scott becoming EP. Also 1987-1989 it seemed Bill Bell was losing interest in the Abbotts w/ Traci role being reduced and then the Ashley and Jack recasts which threw off the balance in the family.

Terry Lester will forever be Jack to me. His Jack was such a layered character and all those layers got lost w/ the recast.

I always point out that 1989 was wonky w/ the females. Cricket ate the show, Cassandra was the show's new pet, and the rest of the main females (Jill, Katherine, Nikki, Ashley, Traci, Lauren, Nina, Leanna) were given second and third tier storylines.

Cassandra becoming the show's new pet overlaps w/ MTS pregnancy leave, ED departure w/o a proper exit storyline, Bill Bell rushing into recasting Ashley, BE Ashley floundering until the Brad/Traci/Ashley triangle, and Nikki floundering from MTS return until the storyline w/ PB Jack.

[BoldRestless]

Y&R had a really solid track record for treating rape seriously and not making it romantic. It was horrifying when they later put Cricket and Michael together.

 

The Jabot takeover story was fantastic material, but Jack wasn't well utilized elsewhere. He didn't have a love interest and he was in a weird supporting role in the Brad cage storyline.

 

Nina I would say had a slow start to the year but then a lot of excellent material with the marriage to Phillip, his death, inheritance, battling with Jill, and being wooed by David.

 

Ashley was sort of like a real widow in that she didn't get that much action all year and threw herself into her work.

[kalbir]

I haven't seen any of Chris Brooks or Peggy rape storyline but from what I remember of Cricket date rape storyline, Bill Bell covered the physical/emotional effects and the medical/legal aspects. Also Cricket date rape was a summer social issue storyline, so that played a big part in the story being told responsibly.

I agree that Christine and Michael should not have been in each other's orbit romantically after the sexual harassment and attempted rape a decade earlier. That was Jack Smith doing. I doubt Bill Bell would ever have gone that route.

[BoldRestless]

From what I've read, Stuart Brooks asked Brad Eliot (who had a psychology background though no one knew that) to write a series of articles for the Chronicle when Chris was raped, and in this way they were able to have him discuss it and get some topical information to the audience. They also showed Chris working with the Rape Crisis Center like Cricket did.

 

There's an interesting documentary here about Cricket's storyline and how many times they filmed the scenes to get them correct (thanks @YRfan23 for alerting me to this) and Bill Bell is asked if he'd still do these stories even if the ratings sank. His answer is very honest!

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(for @Contessa Donatella there is an interview with Linda Dano at the end too and I know you're a big AW fan)

[Contessa Donatella]

Thanks so much! Loved the background on that date rape storyline & fun little bit of Dano.

[YRfan23]

Thanks for sharing that!

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It is nice to hear Lauralee's perspective on all the airtime she got, but it was definitely heartwarming that she and Terry made peace at the end. Jeanne Cooper also alluded in her book, that Terry had a lot of issues at the time, and his leaving was something he regretted many years after the fact. He was on the phone with Jeanne and had admitted it was the worst mistake he ever made.

[Contessa Donatella]

Glad to type it up & share it. Good others also find it interesting. 

[Contessa Donatella]

McGarry, M., & Hinsey, C. (Eds.). (2024, October 14). The Ultimate Young & Restless Guide: Soap Opera Digest Collector’s Edition. Soap Opera Digest Ultimate Y&R Guide.
p.36, Michelle Stafford, about Bill Bell
Digest asks: What are your favorite memories of Bill Bell?
She replies: "He wasn't a big, physical man but he was larger than life. He was just special. He was so passionate & he loved the show so, so much. He called everybody by their character names. He called my Phyllis. I didn't care. It was cool. He lived the show & he loved Phyllis & liked that character. He'd come down to the set & watch us film because he loved it."

Added by me: Now we know, calling people by their character names: Irna did it. Agnes did it. Bill did it.

[Contessa Donatella]

I was quite surprised to learn that it was one of the show's summer storylines. I don't believe the shows I was watching at the time did anything remotely that serious, with that much gravitas, in the summer. But, now that I consider it, I wonder why not. It was a perfect time to teach some lesson.

[MissPalmer]

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An episode from 1992 in French

[YRfan23]

Omg thanks!!!

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 looks like one we don’t have too! 
 

The U.S airdate is 9/2/1992!  

Edited September 24, 2024 by YRfan23

[MissPalmer]

Wonderful!!!!

[BoldRestless]

Thanks @MissPalmer that's a great find!

[sheilaforever]

That's pretty cool: this is Ken La Ron of B&B fame in scnes with Vickie Rowell and Kristoff St. John, right?

[YRfan23]

Yes, before he was Keith on B&B he played Dru’s former beau Juice.