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Y&R: December 2013 Discussion Thread

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  • Member

Wasn't there like 4-6 HWs during their time at.GL

Now you're making me misty-eyed! Loved Kat and David-- GL, the writing at that time was as close to perfection as a soap could get!

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  • Member

I guess I'm being too general because I'm not good with dates but there was a very specific period of time that I speak of.

  • Member

Actually, he has beefed up quite nicely in recent months but I also find the story pretty much off.

I cannot pinpoint it but Devon comes off as extremely unsympathetic. The main problem is of coure that the character had ZERO story for like 90% of 2006-2013. There is no characterication besides that he is the former street kid wo was once deaf and lusting for his step-sister. Being Kay's insta grandchild is no character development... Getting uberrich is neither. And even the current writers who are at least trying to do sth with the character only came up with the idea that he would toss away his girlfriend of 6 (?) years in a heartbeat or least let her go within 5 seconds. How can you root for someone like this?

This story is allabout Mason and Hillary which is ok by me because I like them but it remains pathetic that no one ever thinks it would be a wise moment to either develop Devon properly or ship him off for good. Bryton James seems like the scarlet letter actor on this show, yet somehow somewhere someone prevents him from getting fired. Truly bizarre.

I have no problem rooting for Devon after this Roxy no last name break up.. probably because i am happy she is gone. And feel that TPTB should have never brought her on. Its clear she was just a placeholder to keep him occupied. She should have been gone long ago.

  • Member

Wasn't there like 4-6 HWs during their time at.GL

Nancy Curlee, my idol, was head writer for the most part with Co-head writers: Stephen Demorest (her hubby), James E. Reilly, and Lorraine Broderick. I think Kat left the canvas in 93, Hampton left about 94/95 (I think), David was recast unsuccessfully, and I think Gilly left around 96/97.

But I wish Nancy would consider coming back to daytime and being assigned to YR. She's the Pnly HW when paired with JFP, makes a stellar show. GL 90-94 is the best era of soaps I've ever seen.

Edited by Nothin'ButAttitude

  • Member

Now you're making me misty-eyed! Loved Kat and David-- GL, the writing at that time was as close to perfection as a soap could get!

Kat and David was so good. I loved their friendship with Bridget too. I still remember that emotional scene when David was cleared of those murder charges and Bridget ran into David's arms, thrilled her friends was cleared. Ugh. I loved how the Grants/Speakes were well assimilated into the cast, not isolated, and still drove story.

  • Member

Seen glimpses of Nancy's work and yes would be great to see her in daytime again, too bad the network execs don't believe in hiring great talent anymore

Nancy Curlee, my idol, was head writer for the most part with Co-head writers: Stephen Demorest (her hubby), James E. Reilly, and Lorraine Broderick. I think Kat left the canvas in 93, Hampton left about 94/95 (I think), David was recast unsuccessfully, and I think Gilly left around 96/97.

But I wish Nancy would consider coming back to daytime and being assigned to YR. She's the Pnly HW when paired with JFP, makes a stellar show. GL 90-94 is the best era of soaps I've ever seen.

Kat and David was so good. I loved their friendship with Bridget too. I still remember that emotional scene when David was cleared of those murder charges and Bridget ran into David's arms, thrilled her friends was cleared. Ugh. I loved how the Grants/Speakes were well assimilated into the cast, not isolated, and still drove story.

All it takes is one head writer
  • Member

The main problem is of coure that the character had ZERO story for like 90% of 2006-2013.

Bryton & Graziadei were hired at about the same time.

Think about the amount & quality of story Graziadei received vs. the story Bryton got.

When I say Devon isn't a hunk I mean that it's easy to bash him because he's never fit most viewers idea of what a leading man should look like.

Couple that with the complete writer disinterest shown his character through the majority of his run & the offensive stories he HAS been given (Tyra) & it'becomes a given why the character would be almost universally hated.

However plenty of other conventionally attractive Black male actors on other soaps (in addition to Mason & Tyler on Y&R) have proven that good looks do not guarantee story or fan interest.

The only thing good looks will do for Black male actors is to keep certain fans from constantly demanding they be fired & even that isn't always a given (Lawrence St. Victor/Jason Olive/Texas Battle/Charles Divins)

Edited by DeeeDee

  • Member

Kat and David was so good. I loved their friendship with Bridget too. I still remember that emotional scene when David was cleared of those murder charges and Bridget ran into David's arms, thrilled her friends was cleared. Ugh. I loved how the Grants/Speakes were well assimilated into the cast, not isolated, and still drove story.

Bridget was a mess but I loved her--she reminded me of the early Nina Webster. These are characters that despite their f*ck-ups, could still make you root for them to get themselves straightened out. Even when they got on my nerves for their foolishness, somehow I managed to like them because it usually wasn't coming from spite. Probably the fact that they each had to grapple with desperate circumstances.

GL, was particularly adept at seamlessly integrating its cast. Hamp and Billy's friendship seemed genuine, I was convinced these guys went way back to H.S. football days. Kat, David and Bridget were a good young adult set-- David was a little older but Kat was so precocious, it worked.

I wonder though how those writers would fare in today's environment. There would be a lot of contention with the studios, I think. Do today's audiences have the patience for building relationships and story? If someone isn't paired up right away, people tend to get carried away in their judgement.

One of the reasons, I hope that they take their time with Hillary. They've done well but it's important that they give the audience time to get to know the character on her own merit, so that regardless of what relationship she gets into, people will care, not just about pairing but about her. I think for years, this was done pretty well with Nina--through her ups and downs, people cared about Nina. Hopefully, they'll do a better job with Hillary's relationships though-- Nina's relationships were either incomplete or terrible. After awhile, it seemed as if the writers no longer tried with her.

  • Member

Isaac, Bonnie, Jess, and Ben was the sh*t. I loved those four characters just like two other soaps dynamic AA foursome--YR's old Neil, my beloved Dru (haters to the left), Olivia, and Malcolm AND GL's Kat, David, Hampton, and one of my all time fave heroines, Gilly!!

Yes...I loved Princess Bonnie,kindhearted Issac, gentleman Ben, and no nonsense Jess. Then they threw T Marshall Travers in the mix and ATWT was must see TV.

  • Member

Sorry but I find Bryton just lacking in the charisma department. He's a decent actor but he's low energy.

I agree that he is not very animated...but again, I don't see it as a bad thing. Many times less is better. You wont catch him chewing scenery that's for sure. But, he is also far from wooden.

  • Member

I don't think Bryton is low energy. To me that's someone like RA. I think Bryton plays the judgemental, finger wagging role of Devon so well to where it just makes him annoying most of the time. Who wants to see a woe is me, morose new billionaire? Dude needs to wild out bigtime.

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