Maria Arena Bell on MM's firing and YR's "Problematic Storytelling Decisions"

[YRBB]

Bell destroying his Abbotts & Newmans??? God, no! No worries.

Not surprising. She has had one of the worst hatchet jobs done on her. I hope this more in character Sharon continues.

Perhaps I'm being slow but I still don't see how an actor's public or otherwise preferences change the viability of a character. They might change the direction or even actual existence of stories but the characters can still work.

Fair enough. Although, for the record, they could still go back to the relationships he's had with Jill, Traci, Ashley, Billy and even Phyllis, if she weren't such a cancer. As for romantic relationships, if the show hadn't foolishly killed off Diane, they could have easily reunited Alex Donnelly and Bergman--those two were great together. Alas...

I don't disagree that he's aimless, but it's fixable because it's an issue of writing. Any good HW could potentially change that.

And the reason it's still (barely) recognizable is because it held on to its vets, horribly written as they were. Nothing else.

I think so, too. I would have accepted their exits just fine but they didn't need to die.

[DRW50]

For me it tends to depend on the vet. I will always think Y&R needs Jill. If someone in real life told me that Jill was awful and should go, then I'd probably yell at them (well, not if they're a relative - then I'd yell for other reasons).

There are other vets I see as disposable, and lucky to have cashed in on the past this long. And there are characters I'd still build things around and still see as viable, like Paul, but, if they were written out, I'd probably understand.

There are a select amount of characters who, to me, represent Y&R's identity. (of characters who are still alive) Jill, Nikki, probably VIctor...and after that, I see so many dead spots and it's tough to know who to keep and who to let go.

But I know everyone has their own view.

[BoldRestless]

I do think the problem with the Abbots and the Newmans is mainly the younger cast and terrible writing. Also, the fact that the business storylines never make sense anymore and those are the main storylines for those characters. Abby, Kyle, Summer, and Noah are pretty awful. I have never liked Joshua Morrow's Nick, but he's too ingrained at this point to let go.

I don't think the Abbots and the Newmans were ever meant to be these huge "clans" in a blood feud and I get sick of cheesy dialogue like Abby "don't worry Summer, it's awesome being both a Newman and an Abbot!" Victor and Nikki were basically loners who found each other (the orphan and the stripper) and had only 2 kids. Now they're overrun with too many grandkids and in-laws who are duplicative of each others' purpose, like Abby and Summer. They've also sainted Nikki the way they did with Kay, and it's boring.