Y&R: Old Articles

[YRFAN90]

Hopefully one day they will upload them to a streaming platform.  I think I have read before they have all been digitised too.  It was probably was on this forum if I had to guess.  

Thank you for sharing  

[kalbir]

@Paul Raven Thank you for the K.T. Stevens article.

Her IMDb page has very little after Y&R, even though she lived another 13 years after her run on Y&R ended.

From the Vanessa scenes that I've seen, K.T. Stevens had primetime soap matriarch energy, but the only primetime soap role she got was guest star on Knots Landing.

[Planet Soap]

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I have been fascinated by Vanessa Prentiss after learning about her from during the 1980 episode that aired during covid repeats.

In the bad moves by well regarded writers thread, The racial dynamic between Jill and Mamie was heavily discussed.This is the latest clip I've seen of her original actress Marguerite Ray. I presume this is after John had the (stroke?) when Victor took over Jabot?

[Paul Raven]

That brief scene demonstrated both the feelings Mamie had for the family and through Ashley the family's love for her.

Well played.

A couple of things...Why was Marguerite Ray dropped? Veronica Redd didn't really change Mamie in anyway and I could see MR doing fine in scenes with Winters sisters.

And how many strokes and heart attacks did John Abbott have?

[BoldRestless]

I feel like I read a rumor on here that it was because Redd was younger? Both are good actresses and agree either could have played the part fine. I don't see a need for the change.

[asafi]

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[asafi]

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I wonder why they so quickly abandoned the potential romance between Victor and Christine? I actually enjoyed this love triangle.

Edited November 21, 2024 by asafi

[YRfan23]

I like Veronica Redd and she certainly put her stamp on Mamie and as the beloved aunt of Dru and Olivia, but I would be lying if it does distract me that she was young enough to be more like an older sister to both of them in real life. MR was definitely more aged appropriate as their aunt since she was like 17-18 years older then VR.

[Khan]

I always figured they replaced Marguerite Ray, because she looked TOO matronly, if that makes any sense.

[Paul Raven]

I agree but as I stated Mamie didn't really change with the recast. It wasn't like she suddenly became Auntie Mame instead of Aunt Mamie. She still filled the same role as Marguerite. Maybe it was a BTS thing-money or personality clash?

[Broderick]

KT Stevens definitely had an "Old Hollywood" vibe to her performances.  She'd had an interesting career as an ingenue.  I'm sure you've seen the film Harriet Craig from the late 1940s or early 1950s, where she stars opposite Joan Crawford, lol.  

Like Jeanne Cooper, if she'd laid-off the cigarettes a little bit, her film career would've likely been extended.  The movie industry never seemed to have much use for a "wrinkled" actress, unless the actress was playing a comical, character-type role. 

I always felt KT Stevens was wasted on Y&R.  Bill Bell deliberately kept Vanessa fairly one-dimensional -- "I'll destroy Lauralee Brooks if it's the last thing I do!" -- and never really let her develop a sympathetic side.  

[kalbir]

 

 

Rumor I read was that Bill Bell saw that Marguerite Ray wasn't connecting acting-wise with Victoria Rowell. 

Marguerite Ray was born in 1931 and Veronica Redd was born in 1948, so yes Marguerite seemed more maternal aunt whereas Veronica seemed more older sister. 

[YRfan23]

It really is a shame they didn’t try to give Vanessa a love Interest or life outside of causing trouble for Lorie, Leslie and her sons. Her and the Maestro definitely should have been given a chance as a couple. 
 

I wonder if it’s that same “one note” formula that Bill used for Vanessa that Bradley Bell is currently using for Steffy Forrester on B&B with her “Logan’s are EVIL” yet she’s the most hypocritical one of them all!

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I honestly prefer it when there kids and adults are more age appropriate in real life, yet Bill Bell never seem to care about that as long as certain actors had a “mature look” to them I guess.like John McCook and Ronn Moss only being 8 years apart but playing opposite as father and son for 25 years. Though if it wasn’t for JMc having his hair as grey as it was I could clearly see Eric and Ridge as brothers more then father/son. 

[kalbir]

Bill Bell craziest parent/child casting when it came to age was John O'Hurley (born 1954) as father to Peter Barton (born 1956).

[YRfan23]

I agree! and again that dyed grey hair just barely did the trick!

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Also again, another case of a much older, age appropriate actor, being replaced by someone too young. I think the original Jim Grainger, John Phillip Law was like 20 years older older then O'Hurley.