http://www.welovesoaps.net/2014/04/cassie-lookalike-identity-revealed-on.html

And replace him with who?

Who could they have replaced KSJ with? How about someone with on-screen charisma? Or someone with genuine skills and talent. Someone who, for example, could have played a story about alcoholism, no matter how rushed and anemically written, w/o making me throw up both my hands and cry to the Heavens. And if they couldn't find that needle in the Black haystack, then they should have had Neil just exit stage left pursued by a badger.

I mean, it's been twenty-two years. If you still need him to draw in that audience of left-behind GENERATIONS fans....

Meanwhile, you could argue that what the show did to Debbi Morgan, Veronica Redd, Tonya Lee Williams and Darnell Williams was nothing short of hate crimes, and I would totally be in your corner. Same goes for Vicky Rowell. But the other names you've listed, DeeeDee? I'm sorry, but I can't agree with you there, as much as I'd love to. Even Agnes Nixon wouldn't have known what to do with the likes of Eva Marcille and (help me, Jesus) Darius McCrary, and she's about the only Caucasian HW after Bill Bell whom I could trust to write for AA actors even somewhat well.

And really, how can you say Shemar Moore couldn't make Malcolm work, when both his longevity and his legions of fans seem to argue otherwise?

Edited April 29, 201411 yr by Khan

Michael Graziadi. They were never shy about pairing him with anyone. He had quite a few over the years.

Thanks, ajsp (and Bright Eyes)!

Yeah, I don't understand how or why he (and GR) kept getting love interests either. So, yes, if you argue it that way, then Bryton deserves a viable love interest, too. But that doesn't change my opinion of his skills as an actor, lol.

Edited April 29, 201411 yr by Khan

Who could they have replaced KSJ with? How about someone with on-screen charisma? Or someone with genuine skills and talent. Someone who, for example, could have played a story about alcoholism, no matter how rushed and anemically written, w/o making me throw up both my hands and cry to the Heavens. And if they couldn't find that needle in the Black haystack, then they should have had Neil just exit stage left pursued by a badger.

I mean, it's been twenty-two years. If you still need him to draw in that audience of left-behind GENERATIONS fans....

Meanwhile, you could argue that what the show did to Debbi Morgan, Veronica Redd, Tonya Lee Williams and Darnell Williams was nothing short of hate crimes, and I would totally be in your corner. Same goes for Vicky Rowell. But the other names you've listed, DeeeDee? I'm sorry, but I can't agree with you there, as much as I'd love to. Even Agnes Nixon wouldn't have known what to do with the likes of Eva Marcille and (help me, Jesus) Darius McCrary, and she's about the only Caucasian HW I could trust to write for AA actors even somewhat well.

And really, how can you say Shemar Moore couldn't make Malcolm work, when both his longevity and his legions of fans seem to argue otherwise?

So you find EVERY white actor on this show who has story and are front burner to be sublime?

GR is there strictly because he can act (better than most) and he's used (imo) to bolster young women the show was trying to make happen.

Strictly by default, though, b/c no one better was on-hand to do the (dirty) job.

Edited April 29, 201411 yr by Khan

Look, I'll just come right out and say it: the arguments put forth by ajsp and Chit (among others) in regards to how Y&R treats its' AA actors and characters are 100-percent spot-on correct. And Y&R (and Sony and CBS) should be ashamed of themselves for treating these actors this way. But that doesn't automatically mean I support the AA actors on this show just b/c they're Black and Y&R needs them. Yes, Y&R should be more inclusive in their storytelling and not relegate their AA actors to their own, exclusive "box" or do anything to undermine their value to the show, as some seem to think they've done by moving away from "Hevon" and going instead with a Neil/Hilary pairing. But you know something? As appalled as I am by the way this show has treated the AA actors, I think I'm more appalled by the fact that they hardly ever cast an AA actor who isn't mediocre and undeserving of any material thrown at them, let alone material as marginalized and WTF-inducing as what they're getting now.

I have not been shy on how I feel about KSJ. He's boring, plain and simple. Not a bad actor, but nothing to write home about. The fabulous Rowell carried him for years. Once she left, it was a clear as the day is long that Neil is worthless.

As for Brighton, I think he is pretty good but has not been given an opportunity to do anything. He's still at the point of being remembered as the little cute kids from Family Matters because he's done nothing noteworthy on YR. He and MM already had a following, and that should have been allowed to blossom. We were robbed again!

Any show that constantly pushes a fugly actor like Greg Rikaart as a heartthrob has no excuses.

GR is not ugly to me, but I have not seen an ounce of chemistry in any of his numerous pairings. He's never been short on a love interest, which is the opposite of BG, who had a love interest for 6 years who got 6 eppies a year. That is tragic!

Thanks, ajsp (and Bright Eyes)!

Yeah, I don't understand how or why he (and GR) kept getting love interests either. So, yes, if you argue it that way, then Bryton deserves a viable love interest, too. But that doesn't change my opinion of his skills as an actor, lol.

I don't expect it too. Just pointing out that Devon's lack of a love interest has nothing to do with BJ's looks or talents no matter how some like to pretend that it does.

Of course we don't know what BJ can do. Whether he can or can't doesn't really matter to this discussion anyway.

What I was replying to is that Khan said Devon can't pull of something romantically. I said we don't know if he can or can't. So my reply is related to that discussion.

Any show that constantly pushes a fugly actor like Greg Rikaart as a heartthrob has no excuses.

Perhaps I'm missing something, but I've never felt that Y&R was pushing GR as a "heart-throb" the way they would Shemar Moore, let's say. A "chipmunk", yes; a "heart-throb," no.

Edited April 29, 201411 yr by Khan

Mediocre & undeserving?

Veronica Redd & Tonya Williams are respected actors with impressive resumes who have shown Y&R nothing but the utmost loyalty in the past couple decades yet Y&R hasn't seen fit to treat them or their characters with any respect.

Agree. But they, along with Nathan Purdee, Stephanie Williams, VR and even Phil Morris and Shemar Moore, are the handful of exceptions to that list.

Perhaps I'm missing something, but I've never felt that Y&R was pushing GR as a "heart-throb" the way they would Shemar Moore, let's say. A "chipmunk", yes; a "heart-throb," no.

I don't think he was pushed as a hearth throb either but somehow, folks are expecting BJ to be pushed as one and blaming his looks for that not happening. Every romantic lead doesn't have to be a heart throb as Kevin nor Daniel were pushed that way. But they had the romances anyway.

What I was replying to is that Khan said Devon can't pull of something romantically. I said we don't know if he can or can't. So my reply is related to that discussion.

Okay. Yep. My point was also that it doesn't even come into play in this discussion.

I have to laugh at this turning into a conversation where I have to defend the black actors on this show. It just never fails.

Who could they have replaced KSJ with? How about someone with on-screen charisma? Or someone with genuine skills and talent. Someone who, for example, could have played a story about alcoholism, no matter how rushed and anemically written, w/o making me throw up both my hands and cry to the Heavens. And if they couldn't find that needle in the Black haystack, then they should have had Neil just exit stage left pursued by a badger.

The point being that Y&R has HAD other talented Black actors & didn't write for them which proves that talent is not the issue.

If it were Darnell Williams & Debbi Morgan would be receiving as much airtime as MTS & Bergman.

Any Black actor could be playing Neil & Y&R's status quo would be the same so acting like Kristoff is the problem is ridiculous.

Tony Todd is an awesome actor but instead of Y&R expanding his character they killed him off (while they continue to find stories to insert Tristan Rogers & Ray Wise into).

Meanwhile, you could argue that what the show did to Debbi Morgan, Veronica Redd, Tonya Lee Williams and Darnell Williams was nothing short of hate crimes, and I would totally be in your corner. Same goes for Vicky Rowell. But the other names you've listed, DeeeDee? I'm sorry, but I can't agree with you there, as much as I'd love to. Even Agnes Nixon wouldn't have known what to do with the likes of Eva Marcille and (help me, Jesus) Darius McCrary, and she's about the only Caucasian HW I could trust to write for AA actors even somewhat well.

Eva & Darius may not be talented but they were high profile enough for Y&R to see value in hiring them & what were they given to do?

Have sex with her nephew & his adopted dad & making sandwiches.

Y&R didn't even try.

And really, how can you say Shemar Moore couldn't make Malcolm work, when both his longevity and his legions of fans seem to argue otherwise?

Y&R FINALLY got Shemar back after years of asking him & what did they do?

Gave him six months of backburner storylines with irrelevant characters then let him disappear.

Edited April 29, 201411 yr by DeeeDee

So you find EVERY white actor on this show who has story and are front burner to be sublime?

Absolutely not! OMG! Did I come across that way? Because, if I did, I sincerely apologize. That was not my intention at all.

Honestly, I could count on one hand the number of actors who I think truly belong on Y&R.

I don't think he was pushed as a hearth throb either but somehow, folks are expecting BJ to be pushed as one and blaming his looks for that not happening.

I think it's a combination of the two. He's Black and he's ugly as homemade sin.

Y&R FINALLY got Shemar back after years of asking him & what did they do?

Gave him six months of backburner storylines with irrelevant characters then let him disappear.

But that doesn't negate his the goodness of his original run, does it?

Edited April 29, 201411 yr by Khan

Any Black actor could be playing Neil & Y&R's status quo would be the same so acting like Kristoff is the problem is ridiculous.

True, but then I'd be wondering why the show didn't do more with him rather than taking consolation in that fact.

And MAB & Co. "didn't try" with a lot of people, so your arguments re: Eva and Darius, while totally valid, are also kind of beside the point.

Edited April 29, 201411 yr by Khan

Truth be told, Brighton is a better actor than Shemar, but Shemar is Shemar. You are not going to find a lot of men who look like that with so much charisma. I had hoped RW would pick up where Shemar left off, but sadly, he's in a lackluster pairing, and the guy just is there.