There is a lot of validity to the article. And I'm not talking about MM and MS, but the onslaught of air time for these newbies. Take a look at the Top 10 of episodes appeared in for year through end of June. Clearly Y&R was a HUGE mess under Maria "I love doppelgangers" Bell, but I fail to see where they are going with the show now. I disagree with the Michael/Lauren assessment. After all these years of being married, the story is not out of the realm of possibility. (Plus, these are not Paul/Cricket holier than thou characters.) They both had very flawed pasts. Oh, and MD is not a FOJ since he predated her.

I agree that there was much in the article that was spot on. JFP and Josh Griffin are not the answer to this show's woes as CBS and Sony had hoped. In fact, they're a pretty lame fit, probably the weakest team to ever lead this once great, iconic soap. JFP's main problem lo these many years is her insecurity as an EP. She surrounds herself with "friends" (actors, producers, writers) who are beholding to her whether they fit into the show or story (they usually don't). Also, she has no vision for Y&R. Change the music, change the sets, change the wardrobe, but don't touch the boring, inane stories. Just get fairly talentless, pretty faces to try and sell it to the audience (again, because they're my friends). Josh and Jill need to go. Bring back the Bell writers from days gone by (which would mean raiding B&B's writing staff since most of them landed there), let them tell Bill Bell stories and refocus the show on the characters the audience cares about. Steve Kent won't do it unless CBS makes him. No way he's going to fire his "bestie" Jill since it would be a huge admission on his part how wrong he was to bring her on board in the first place. But she and Josh don't get this soap. Jill never will.

Who is/are Abigail and Kyle's mother(s)? I only watched Hollywood Heights two or three times, but they are dressing Abigail exactly like the actress' diva/bitch-in-training character on HH.

Carmine's "acting" on yesterday's show was laughable, but it's obvious that his acting ability isn't what won him the role.

Phyllis is a horrible person.

Really? Marco Dapper (Carmine) isn't that bad. Hunter King (Summer) is worse, surely?

Abby's mother is Ashley (aka Eileen Davidson who is on Days right now). Kyle's mother is Diane who was murdered.

I like Hunter King. I think she's one of the best young actress in daytime right now.

Who is/are Abigail and Kyle's mother(s)? I only watched Hollywood Heights two or three times, but they are dressing Abigail exactly like the actress' diva/bitch-in-training character on HH.

I don't think they dress her like her character on HH. Chloe was a little flashier and more matchy.

I'm trying to decide who's worse. Nick or Phyllis because they are both selfish pigs.

I just don't understand what's in it for Phyllis to cover up Nick's lie and do this to her own daughter and Jack. Why is she putting a lie before them?

I'm a few days behind. Sharon kneeling at the grave site with heels on *rme*. Come on wardrobe department, show some sense.

But not unscathed, imo. We can't be sure how much of the ratings decrease was about VR, but I think every time they lose a long term character it weakens the show a little. Obviously, this is just my speculation, but I think the Bell soaps have survived in part because they've had amazing cast retention over the years. That's starting to slip away due to budget.

Oh now doubt that VR took many viewers with her. The show's ratings took a hit. However, 7 years later, it is still here. And that was my point.

This piece o' [!@#$%^&*] (penned by either MAB or Muhney -- toss a coin) actually pretends that under MAB's reign of terror, Stafford, MTS, Braeden and Sharon Case of all people got rich, ground-breaking, Emmy-worthy material? Uh, if I recall correctly, poor Case was being written right into a "Who Killed Evil Sharon?" corner with everybody spitting on her like she was the devil incarnate!

I am not JFP cheerleader by any stretch but I do think the show is better under her and JG than under MAB. Monday's episode was a case in point. I was gripped by the Abbott family scenes, especially when Billy hugged Jack and Jack whispered "It is going to be ok." I love having my Abbotts back (to a certain extent)! I love that they love each other. Under MAB I never felt that love, only acute disaffection with each other. It was like MAB was trying to hide the Abbotts' light under a bushel in order not to overshadow the fantabulous Newmans. And I'm not trying to start a Newmans vs. Abbotts thing, that's how it honestly felt to me.

Having said that, I do worry about the rash of people leaving both Bell soaps. The accelerated pace of this has been unprecedented (well, since 1980 for Y&R) and is leaving both canvases looking forlorn and empty. I know most people here are not going to miss Michelle Stafford anytime soon but I will (and Hunter Tylo for that matter). Phyllis makes things happen on this show and it is going to be achingly slow without her.

There are a couple of newbies I really, really enjoy, though. They are worth mentioning because they bring a little fresh air and balance to the canvas. Redaric Williams is as hot as Shemar but he's an even better actor -- I could watch him all day. This guy has Best Young Male Lead written all over him. Ignacio Serrachio -- UNF, baby! He can do drama as well as comedy, and I wish he had a bit more story. Sexy Marco Dapper has improved leaps and bounds since he arrived and is currently driving Y&R's strongest story. And I am really looking forward to what Mishael Morgan is going to bring to the table.

Don't you tell Michael Muhney that. Man, he would be hot if RW was nominated or won before him! And I would sitting in front of my computer screen watching the fall out. LOL.

But I agree. RW is the best young person that Y&R has seen in a long, long time. Too bad Y&R is so conservative and he is stuck playing love interest to Lily for the forseeable future.

I just don't understand what's in it for Phyllis to cover up Nick's lie and do this to her own daughter and Jack. Why is she putting a lie before them?

I know the show is trying to pretend that it's because she doesn't want to hurt Summer by revealing this life-changing secret, but more likely it is because Phyllis is still hopelessly dickmatized (or Nickmatized).

Edited July 2, 201312 yr by Cat

I just don't understand what's in it for Phyllis to cover up Nick's lie and do this to her own daughter and Jack. Why is she putting a lie before them?

Because Phyllis wants to get in Nick's good graces...she still wants him. There is no other rational reason.

I like Hunter King. I think she's one of the best young actress in daytime right now.

I guess it is her voice that bothers me more than anything. But I will eat my words and say that when Kyle put the breaks on their relationship yesterday, HK didn't say a word but said an enormous amount with her eyes and face. She did this little, confused, hurt nod and I felt for her. So I take that back. HK was very good.

I felt downright sorry for Summer yesterday. She has a selfish (non-bio) father, a crazy mother and the object of her affections is her trifling, long-chinned brother. It really is too bad. If this were The Borgias and Kyle were Cesare (François Arnaud), I'd prob say 'Get it, girl.'

Edited July 2, 201312 yr by Cat

I just don't understand what's in it for Phyllis to cover up Nick's lie and do this to her own daughter and Jack. Why is she putting a lie before them?

Because these writers are complete buffoons. This is completely out-of-character for Phyllis (she ain't no Brooke HOgan). Seriously, at worst, Phyllis would set-up some SCHEME - remember when Phyllis was know for those? - where Kyle would be caught by Summer with another woman (or, even better, a man). She just wouldn't do this to Summer or Jack. Makes no sense at all.

Isn't Phyllis scheming though? What do you call the flirting with Kyle in front of Summer's face and then shoving her tongue down his throat later on?

If she really wants Summer and Kyle to stay apart, then why not tell them the truth about who they are in relation to one another? This is just stupid.

The casting hasn't been bad on Y&R lately...well, except for Dylan. That has been a waste.

This paternity storyline needs to unfold itself already, because it's making me tired. Jack's standing around clueless, not knowing an iota of what's going on. Summer took off because of Kyle which isn't enough of a reason to take off. Had she been told the truth and ran off, that would make more sense but she and Kyle went on what 2, maybe 3 dates??

People complained about the Gus and Congressman Wheeler taking too much time to unfold but this is taking so much longer than that. I wonder if Michelle Stafford's exit cause them to stretch this storyline somehow to cover Phyllis' exit. It just all seems to be playing out in an awkward fashion where it began with so much progress.