Y&R: June 2014 Discussion Thread

[cassadine1991]

I know! He's OLDER than BM and way more talented

[sivad40]

Why is that? Do you think it's because of racism or that they don't know how to write for black people?

[Khan]

I would say both. They don't know how to write for Black people, and they don't want to learn.

But they also want to keep CK because they've had enough airplanes flying over the studio.

[edgeofnik]

Y&R at least has attempted to have more than just a M/F token AA couple.The execution may be poor, but I'm glad we're seeing Neil, Lily, Hillary, Leslie, Tyler, Devon and, soon, the new doctor. That's seven AA characters. I look at AMC, another show that had a HUGE AA following, and they couldn't really develop several AA on canvas at the same time. I considered that a real shame on AMC. If any show had the potential to do it and do it well, it was that show. Has Y&R really written Neil worse than Sharon? I'd say 'no' because regime after regime destroyed everything that was established about the Sharon character. We know there are tons of other examples. I believe the writing has just been poor during the past decade and it's not race based. It's just bad. Y&R has a tremendous opportunity here. I hope they take advantage of it.

[ajsp35801]

Just to be clear, are we denying racism in Daytime TV here?

Even if we are, Neil and Sharon are two different types of characters with different roles on the show. It is a poor comparison. Neil should be allowed to grow beyond working under someone at this point. Sharon was never anything other than a romantic heroine. Neil was never limited to just that.

[ajsp35801]

They don't want them to be more due to racism and they don't know how to write them as less without it being so obvious.

[John]

I feel bad for Burgess Jenkins. He is gonna get [!@#$%^&*] on and if anyone thinks heisnt a place holder to either YR can get BM back (I bet he would go to GH first) or kill Billy off for good

If BJ lasts longer than a year it will be a miracle IMHO

[Juliajms]

I do think someone at Y&R is trying to include more AA characters. As you say, the execution is something people may not care for, but I think they are showing more inclination to have AA characters than they have in a very long time, imo. They are trying, but it's too little, too late.

None of that precludes the fact that there is racism in daytime. I actually think daytime is impossible to fix in this regard, short of starting over because it's not just about AA characters. Y&R isn't a modern show in terms of race, gender, sexuality, it just isn't. To make it so, would be to have a different show. Ultimately, I think it will just die off naturally as the other soaps have, tbh. The choice is adapt or die and I think Y&R will die, even though that's not my preferred outcome by any means.

[DeeeDee]

+1.

When was the last time Bryton, Redaric or Lamon had stories of their own?

Y&R is NEVER at a loss for stories for its white characters yet (except for CK's Lily) the only way Y&R's Black characters get story is to be involved with white characters (Tyler) or in incestual love triangles with their relatives (Bryton/Hilary/Neil).

Lamon Archey has neither so he's been banished to the backburner.

[ajsp35801]

Still waiting on Devon to have his first onscreen love interest, get married, and have kids like everyone else. It seems impossible. But the writers have seemed to finally find another creative role for him besides angst to Lily's love life though. He is now Neil's foil and rival. The designated loser to Neil. A role that was formerly reserved for Malcolm.

[Chris B]

Devon is a billionaire and doesn't have a child out of wedlock. Where is Amber Moore when you need her? Hell, Chloe should've been trying too.

[ajsp35801]

Chloe should have been trying as soon as she found out he was Kay's gradson! Period! But alas, she stayed tied to KEVIN FISHER until the actress said enough and quit the show.

[Soaplovers]

I remember when Chloe first came on in 2008, that she and Devon had chemistry and the show seemed to hint at something with the constant bickering and anatgonistic interaction between the two but then that was dashed.

I look at the show as a whole, and I do see some potential but it seems not to know what to pursue and what not to pursue story-wise.

I get that Neil/Hilary becoming a couple was just a way for Lily to further hate Hilary. I don't see why they didn't just have Neil and Hilary remain co workers with the two forgiving each other for the past. They could have even had Hilary have a crush on Neil like with Jack, but had Neil turn her down. She and Devon still could have had the will they/won't they thing without tainting it by having her with Neil first. Lily still could have been incensed because her father forgave Hilary, gets along with her, etc..and also because Devon is in love with Hilary.

I've said before that the way to get Sharon out of the paternity switch thing would have been for her to feel immense guilt, confess to Jack/Nick/Summer what she believes she did along with what happened with Phyllis. She could explain that she wasn't on her meds when she did it, they could easily redo a paternity test that turns out that Jack is Summer's dad. That would have absolved her of that particular crime, and maybe then have Nick and her determine that the past is the past and decide to remain as friends. They still could have done the Cassie look alike story, and have Sharon be maternal toward Mariah. A heck of lot better then the amnesia due to EST.

[ajsp35801]

I say have sharon confess to the crime. Then have them redo the tests to find Jack is the father. Then have them question whether Sharon actually did it or not. Look through security footage and have her NOT be found, i.e. She was hallucinating.

As for Phyllis' fall down the stairs. Since Sharon didn't push her, let's not even play that beat. Let it never come out.

I agree that the show consistently pursues the wrong stories for the wrong people.

[Khan]

To be fair, though, Y&R, and Papa Bell, virtually cornered the market on incestuous love triangles. In fact, it's probably the one, true sign of equality between its AA and Caucasian characters.