It would be one thing if minority characters were brought on & had options in pairings like a Chelsea or a Kelly. But literally every Black character that has been introduced on the show since Vicki's exit has become or been involved with a Barbers/Winters.

The closest Y&R has gotten to having more than one Black unrelated family on the canvas was with the introduction of Sarge & Mason but even Sarge was implied to have a past with Debbi's Harmony before he disappeared.

It would be fine for Neil to be paired with an African American actress & character in a relationship that made sense but since Vicki's exit he's been stuck with every African American actress hired along with Nia's Karen. That's current Y&R's pathetic appeal to lapsed Black viewers without doing any of the work that Bill Bell did in establishing his African American characters.

Was Bill Bell's treatment of African American characters perfect? No. However his Black characters had plausible reasons to be together unlike today where as soon as minority characters get involved with the Winters they became isolated. What happened to Karen's relationship with Nikki or Neil's friendship with Victor?

Those relationships were dumped because they didn't serve the plot. So Neil suddenly becomes BFF's with Jack even though he's NEVER been close to (let alone friends with) Jack & Karen becomes a conveniently disposable plot point once her relationship with Neil inevitably runs it's course.

Ideally minority characters would have the run of the canvas like their white counterparts but Daytime is content (even in this day & age) just to provide surface diversity as a shield against criticism, thus actors like Redaric & Lamon get a big initial media push only to sit on the backburner (or afterthought pairings) after six months (if that) of their debut.

Where is Mason now?

There are a ton of different things he could be doing (he did work for Victor) but he's MIA & the last story he had was interacting with The Winters (specifically Devon). Once he served his purpose of causing temporary drama for Devon Y&R had no use for him hence his current disappearance.

Yet Y&R is NEVER at a loss for story for Kevin (a serial pedophile) or Chelsea (an opportunistic rapist) or Cane (a career criminal). Dylan has been on less than 5 years yet he has more story than most Y&R vets.

The Newmans are constantly frontburner, have plenty of airtime, tons of relationship options & sets made for them if necessary. Kristoff is STILL living in the same condo he's been in since his debut. CK only got a house set because she was paired with a white actor. If she was paired with a Black actor Y&R would find some reason for her to live at home or (at best) a GCAC hotel room.

Why then (after almost 25 years) is Neil still in a condo when Avery & Chelsea & Cane rate being given other sets? Why aren't they living out of the GCAC?

That's the point. Nathan/Neil/Malcolm HAD to share pairings because that was the only way they were going to get story. Nick didn't have that problem so he didn't need a brother to fight over women with & while Nick didn't have male siblings to fight with women over while growing up he certainly had romantic rivals (Matt, Tony, Diego, Cameron) during that same time.

So it's not the least bit strange that as soon as Kristoff mildly criticizes Y&R his relationship with Ashley ends, he hits the backburner & tweets cryptic messages about his status on the show? It's not the least bit strange that Y&R goes through the trouble of dumping daytime legend Debbi Morgan's growing relationship with SN's Tucker when Genie Francis was in need of a pairing? What about Hilary kissing a single Jack while supposedly being intended for Devon?

Or are those just coincidences?

I agree with EVERYTHING you have said here. The issues with isolation, airtime, storyline development are all very real. However, this is not just because they associate with the Winters. It's more the writers not interested in any relationship that doesn't serve the plot. This happens with everyone who mostly have scenes with family or the person to which they are paired. I just feel like people only notice it more when all the faces are black. I suppose that viewers wouldn't care if only associating with other black people garnered the black people more airtime and story. It did with Tyler by the way. Maybe that's why people are complaining about him not being paired with Lily when he has gotten what I see advocated for all the black characters on canvas. When his story with Lily was finished (cut short) they moved him on to a Newman (whether they value her or not is irrelevant as far as I can see) instead of sending him out of town. Or are the complaints just a case of people never being happy?

The point I am arguing here is the "paired just because they are black" comments that I see. They just make no sense in context most of the time. I have given an example for where it made sense to me and ironically, that is the one time where no one used the comment. It always seems to be trotted out when a AA woman is being paired with Neil. I agree that their needs to be a third unrelated black family if the writers insist on not allowing the core black characters the run of the canvas. And I don't just mean a brother and sister either. I mean mother, father, and two kids to accompany the brother and sister family of Leslie and Tyler.

As for people like Kevin and Cane, I have laid out my point on the bias of viewers in the unpopular opinions thread. They seem to embrace every white person that comes on the show REGARDLESS.

Don't get me started on Hilary kissing Jack AND him not reciprocating. It just came across as a ploy to show Jack as some sought after virile man. Blech! What was the purpose of that otherwise? To show him so dedicated to Phyllis? Couldn't be because he was flirting and making googly eyes with Kelly at the very moment. And there was no explanation for why he didn't reciprocate. No discussion on him not wanting to mix business with pleasure. Nope. So we are lead to believe he just isn't attracted to her. Why wouldn't Jack be attracted to a beautiful and smart woman like Hilary? I am surprised to see you see it as a problem. Most people on here seemed to love (relish) the idea of Hilary with Jack.

Oh, and by the way, the pairing of Ashley and Neil was only a stop gap pairing. It was never going anywhere. ED has gone on record saying that she was told Ashley would be paired with Tucker before his debut.

Tell me, what would a sensible pairing for Neil look like to you?

Edited April 20, 201411 yr by ajsp35801

Oh, and by the way, the pairing of Ashley and Neil was only a stop gap pairing. It was never going anywhere. ED has gone on record saying that she was told Ashley would be paired with Tucker before his debut.

Kristoff has said the exact opposite.

Kristoff has said the exact opposite.

Really. What did he say? I have not heard?

Hilary being paired with Jack would've elevated her status frontburner vixen with the opportunity to interact with other frontburners and her being with Neil makes her an isolated minority character.

Hilary being paired with Jack would've elevated her status frontburner vixen with the opportunity to interact with other frontburners and her being with Neil makes her an isolated minority character.

Hilary is no longer a vixen. Whether with Jack or not, she was not going to be that because this regime doesn't know how. And I don't necessarily buy that being with Jack would have afforded her more airtime. No matter who she is with, she is a minority character. Hilary is not isolated and neither was Leslie. I just find nothing about your statement accurate or rational. LOL

Hilary is no longer a vixen. Whether with Jack or not, she was not going to be that because this regime doesn't know how. And I don't necessarily buy that being with Jack would have afforded her more airtime. No matter who she is with, she is a minority character. Hilary is not isolated and neither was Leslie. I just find nothing about your statement accurate or rational. LOL

I know people can have a difference in opinion but it's like me and you are not watching the same show. You said you don't see any creative differences between the Newmans and the Winters and I disagree with you of course. It would be redundant for me to point out the differences because DeeeDee already did that. As for Neil and Hilary's relationship, it won't last because nothing involving Neil ever does.

I think the hint of a pairing between Ashley and Stitch is crazy. She is like two decades older than him, right?

I think the hint of a pairing between Ashley and Stitch is crazy. She is like two decades older than him, right?

Age is not the point and ED is as stunning as ever! She just gets more beautiful as time goes by. The problem is that she and Vicky should have no words about Stitch. Ashley flirted with him once for 1/2 an eppy but has been gone. Once she learns that his unfortunate choice is a date with Bricky, that should be the end of it. But I could easily see those 2 hacks trying to create drama where there isn't any.

Besides, Ash is only here for a few eppies right?

Age is not the point and ED is as stunning as ever! She just gets more beautiful as time goes by. The problem is that she and Vicky should have no words about Stitch. Ashley flirted with him once for 1/2 an eppy but has been gone. Once she learns that his unfortunate choice is a date with Bricky, that should be the end of it. But I could easily see those 2 hacks trying to create drama where there isn't any.

Besides, Ash is only here for a few eppies right?

Age is MY issue with an Ashley - Stitch pairing as evidenced by my post. Yes ED is stunningly beautiful. And she is 2 decades older than Stitch. She was a grown woman when Victoria was a toddler.

Who the heck is Bricky? That was B&B's Brooke and NIck moniker.

I think the hint of a pairing between Ashley and Stitch is crazy. She is like two decades older than him, right?

OTOH, it's about time we had a pairing we can call "Stash" for short.

Age is MY issue with an Ashley - Stitch pairing as evidenced by my post. Yes ED is stunningly beautiful. And she is 2 decades older than Stitch. She was a grown woman when Victoria was a toddler.

Who the heck is Bricky? That was B&B's Brooke and NIck moniker.

You obviously didn't see ED on DAYS being paired with "Eric" and "Brady" - roughly similar age issue, but she definitely did not like out of place either in the bedroom or other scenes. I know they were testing Cane/Ashley shortly before ED was "traded" to DAYS and I saw some nice chemistry there.

I think the hint of a pairing between Ashley and Stitch is crazy. She is like two decades older than him, right?

Ashley and Stitch aren't even possible so there's nothing to worry about. I'm glad I don't have to see Ashley being the older, thirsty woman propping Vitch tho. Thank goodness Ashley only visits.

Edited April 20, 201411 yr by Taiah

I know people can have a difference in opinion but it's like me and you are not watching the same show. You said you don't see any creative differences between the Newmans and the Winters and I disagree with you of course. It would be redundant for me to point out the differences because DeeeDee already did that. As for Neil and Hilary's relationship, it won't last because nothing involving Neil ever does.

I agree that Hilary and Neil won't last. It isn't designed to last. I thought his pairing with with Leslie was though. I do see some differences in the writing. However, the biggest difference is in airtime, investment, and design. What I am arguing against is the issue that folks seem to take with him being paired with AA women or him fighting his brother over a woman. That seems to be a soap staple.

Age is not the point and ED is as stunning as ever! She just gets more beautiful as time goes by. The problem is that she and Vicky should have no words about Stitch. Ashley flirted with him once for 1/2 an eppy but has been gone. Once she learns that his unfortunate choice is a date with Bricky, that should be the end of it. But I could easily see those 2 hacks trying to create drama where there isn't any.

Besides, Ash is only here for a few eppies right?

It was so random. It's like they only brought her back to play angst to Vikki and Stitch. What sense did it make for her to leave her daughter's engagement party early to go see this man that she only met once as he treated her ankle in the ER. Eh. It would have made more sense if she was going to flirt with Neil. At least they had a relationship that could have been played as her regretting how it ended. Give me a break.

Can they do something with David Tom's hair?? It is so distracting...