JFP, Sony, et al see the Bell way as terribly slow and old-fashioned and are ashamed of it.

^^Yep.

They're ashamed of the way that took them, and kept them, at #1 for decades.

Makes sense.

That is it, yes. It's no secret, it's old news.

That's why they weighed in with LML, etc. first off - someone dramatically different - then with retooling the show dramatically towards a Fronsian ABCD bent. Remember, Barbara Bloom and Frons were in a sort of cheerful 'competition' for years. Now the whole show is built on flash-in-the-pan couples, on focus groups, and on actors that some of the people at the top allegedly know are insufficient (Heinle, Christel Khalil) but fear removing as it might damage their ABC-style couples cred.

That's also why they hired Jill. She is peppy and cheap money-wise, she can drown the old expensive show's budget and 'outmoded' style in a bathtub - bring on the tacky music, the exterior shots - and she also brings with her the superficial renown and imprimatur of the glossy ABC flagship soap which won a slew of Emmys due to JFP's calculated block-voting. Bloom and now the post-Bloom CBS no doubt saw JFP and Guza's GH the way most of the press did - sleek, stylish, well-renowned and modern. They wanted to bring that cheap yet snazzy glamour to the 'new' Y&R, and they know she will cut costs. She also brought more ABC stars as they continue their obsession with emulating the old Frons approach, in the hopes of youthifying the show and revolutionizing it.

But I disagree with others: While Jill brought him in, I'm sure Sony/CBS ran a check on Pratt, and I'm sure they know what he's done. It's not like they were clueless. They know what he did at GH, and apparently they were most dazzled by his primetime work, like too many soap execs so often are - Melrose Place! 90210! Those ABC Family shows! To them that is glamour, style and modernity and they are lucky to have him, even if it means paying him a shitload. They don't really like Y&R, but they would like to make it cheaper, hotter, sexier and younger while they have it. Pratt is perfect for that, in their eyes. They don't think he will kill it or ruin them. They think he's too good for it.

Edited October 3, 201411 yr by Vee

There has been a battle between the Bells, Sony and CBS regarding Y&R for years. The Bells used to have more say, but when budgets were slashed, Sony took more control. There is still a battle going on between CBS and Sony, it shall be interesting to see where things stand in six months.

Edited October 4, 201411 yr by EnglishTea

There has been a battle between the Bells, Sony and CBS regarding Y&R for years. The Bells used to have more say, but when budgets were slashed, Sony took more control. There is still a battle going on between CBS and Sony, it shall be interesting to see where things stand in six months.

I totally agree. Maybe the Bells want it to cancel so they can rebuild a new online one from scratch using the characters? The new show could be 30-minutes and redress B&B's sets ala AMC/OLTL 2.0

What I don't understand is why nobody has looked to B&B, which was sagging in the ratings and falling to 3rd place some weeks, even going below 3 million for a while. Kay Alden and Ed Scott did WONDERS for B&B. It was in an absolute rut of being boring and mediocre. They couldn't introduce a new character to save their lives and it was clear the show was burnt out. When Kay joined and later Ed the show was finally able to update itself to the modern B&B we see today. You tune in and you still see a lush Bell soap, but with modern music smartly thrown in, production values on par with primetime and cable and the same storytelling you expect from B&B, but with a bigger variety of characters featured. Another key element to the success of B&B is that they haven't cast "names," they cast Bell-esque actors who fit the brand and even without big names the ratings STILL go up. Write a good character and the viewers will come!

Considering B&B is on CBS and is the same type of soap as Y&R it baffles me why they don't look to that model to reinvent Y&R. Why are they chasing viewers from another network when Y&R already has a much bigger audience? Hell, they are chasing viewers of CANCELED SOAPS.

+1

B & B for production tips.. yes... but B & B for actual writing, characters, and plots... negative.

I am surprised that Kay Alden tried for the job again. I would have assumed she would have learned that submitting a bible, or long term projection, wouldn't have worked.. it didn't work when she tried for the AMC head writing gig. Though I worry that had she gotten the gig, the show would have revolved around Victor again.. like it did when she was sole head writer before. Though I do have to say that she did wonders for the Dennison siblings that Bill Bell introduced near the end of his tenure with no clear cut purpose for either of them... plus came up with the idea of pairing Jack/Phyllis.

Alden who was consulting for the ABC soaps at the time was offered AMC but turned it down

Alden who was consulting for the ABC soaps at the time was offered AMC but turned it down

Alden was never offered AMC, she submitted a story projection, but it wasn't accepted.

Has CBS (Sony?) still not put out an official press release regarding Pratt yet?

The day before Pratt's first episode: EXCITING THINGS ARE COMING!!! (oh, & Pratt is gonna be headwriter now, OK, Thanks, Bye)

Alden was never offered AMC, she submitted a story projection, but it wasn't accepted.

Didn't she talk about her bible in an interview? If ABC played there cards right and accepted her, and allowed her to write and not micro manage (Yes this is me being theoretical) could you IMAGINE the publicity:

BELLS PROTEGE NOW ON RIVAL SOAP!

I would have bought every issue of that SOD!!

I'm glad this clarifies all the nonsense being spewed that Kay didn't want to return as HW.

It's a really pathetic state of affairs when even she couldn't get back on board. Y&R has been gutted for years, but this really takes the cake.

This makes me sick to my stomach...Pratt and JFP are grim reapers

That is it, yes. It's no secret, it's old news.

That's why they weighed in with LML, etc. first off - someone dramatically different - then with retooling the show dramatically towards a Fronsian ABCD bent. Remember, Barbara Bloom and Frons were in a sort of cheerful 'competition' for years. Now the whole show is built on flash-in-the-pan couples, on focus groups, and on actors that some of the people at the top allegedly know are insufficient (Heinle, Christel Khalil) but fear removing as it might damage their ABC-style couples cred.

That's also why they hired Jill. She is peppy and cheap money-wise, she can drown the old expensive show's budget and 'outmoded' style in a bathtub - bring on the tacky music, the exterior shots - and she also brings with her the superficial renown and imprimatur of the glossy ABC flagship soap which won a slew of Emmys due to JFP's calculated block-voting. Bloom and now the post-Bloom CBS no doubt saw JFP and Guza's GH the way most of the press did - sleek, stylish, well-renowned and modern. They wanted to bring that cheap yet snazzy glamour to the 'new' Y&R, and they know she will cut costs. She also brought more ABC stars as they continue their obsession with emulating the old Frons approach, in the hopes of youthifying the show and revolutionizing it.

But I disagree with others: While Jill brought him in, I'm sure Sony/CBS ran a check on Pratt, and I'm sure they know what he's done. It's not like they were clueless. They know what he did at GH, and apparently they were most dazzled by his primetime work, like too many soap execs so often are - Melrose Place! 90210! Those ABC Family shows! To them that is glamour, style and modernity and they are lucky to have him, even if it means paying him a shitload. They don't really like Y&R, but they would like to make it cheaper, hotter, sexier and younger while they have it. Pratt is perfect for that, in their eyes. They don't think he will kill it or ruin them. They think he's too good for it.

Someone thinks Heinle and Khalil are insufficient? Allgedly? Never heard this tidbit. I need details, if you don't mind.

I feel bad for the Y&R fans - this team has been ruining soaps for how long now?