Jump to content
Daytime Emmy interviews (2025)

Y&R: New Head Writer

ajsp35801

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 583
  • Created
  • Last Reply
  • Members
Vee Grand Master

Vee

Posted
  • Members
Posted

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.

  • Members
EnglishTea Newbie

EnglishTea

Posted
  • Members
Posted

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.

  • Members
allmc2008 Rising Star

allmc2008

Posted
  • Members
Posted

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

  • Members
Soaplovers Veteran

Soaplovers

Posted
  • Members
Posted

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.

  • Members
YRBB Collaborator

YRBB

Posted
  • Members
Posted

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

  • Members
allmc2008 Rising Star

allmc2008

Posted
  • Members
Posted

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!!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.


  • Recent Posts

    • Reverend Ruthledge
      DAYS: November 2025 Discussion Thread

      By Reverend Ruthledge · Posted

      Thanks for that. It was great to see her in an interview. She's very likable. Although it was somewhat confusing. What new soap is she talking about going on audition for in 1973. Was it The Young and the Restless? The editing around that part was weird and choppy. I felt like there was a chunk missing or something. And I'm not sure why she was saying she got colorectal cancer from HPV and said it's because she never got the HPV vaccine but then said she's never had anal sex. I'm not a doctor but that didn't seem to make any medical sense. I don't know. Maybe I'm tired. It just seemed like some of this interview didn't make sense. 
    • depboy
      GH: Classic Thread

      By depboy · Posted

      If it helps any, the last script cover from the Elman papers that I have is from episode #3,736 airdate November 15, 1977. Writers are the Hollands with Frank Salisbury.
    • skiman12082004
      B&B: November 2025 Discussion Thread

      By skiman12082004 · Posted

      B&B really does look incredible. The lighting and the polished sets have made a significant difference how visually appealing the show is now.
    • chrisml
      One Life to Live Tribute Thread

      By chrisml · Posted

      I found the problem with the Labine era was that the show lost some humour when the Labines came on and it could be dull. They also didn't seem to understand some of the characters. As others have said, it looks fantastic in comparison to the next regime but I just remember boredom being the primary response.
    • Franko
      GH: Classic Thread

      By Franko · Posted

      Something I didn't realize: Frank Ashmore, who played Monica's investigator Corrigan in 1981, was also Victor, the third guy in the cockpit, in Airplane!
    • soapfave06
      One Life to Live Tribute Thread

      By soapfave06 · Posted

      Thanks, maybe I will skim through those episodes.  I have previously binged late 1985 through early 1987; April-June, August 1992 (I skipped Carlo Hesser murder trial), Jan-March 1995 and I began watching in 2006. I just struggle to stay consistent with routines especially binging routines haha 
    • Vee
      GH: Classic Thread

      By Vee · Posted

      I could've sworn we went over the Bobbie thing a while ago, and saw her introduced to Rick and Lesley as "Nurse Barbara" in very late '77? Or was that early '78? I know the clip is online. Jackie always credited Marland with creating her IIRC.
    • DRW50
      One Life to Live Tribute Thread

      By DRW50 · Posted

      Thanks.  Loon Lake - very on the nose. With that "dad" outfit Bo looks even more like Cassie's father...
    • Maxim
      One Life to Live Tribute Thread

      By Maxim · Posted

      Luna parachutes herself into Llanview at the end of September 15th 1991.
    • DRW50
      GH: Classic Thread

      By DRW50 · Posted

      That lengthy flashback does make me wonder if she threw out a lot, but I agree it may have been too easy an urban legend. Would these have been her very first episodes? I imagine you could feel the big difference when Bobbie arrived, alongside the Quartermaines filing in, the return of Heather, and Lesley/Rick/Monica/Alan heating up. It does remind me that there must have been some dud moments in the 60-minute format we just don't see because little of the period is available in full.  I wonder how much longer the Dantes lasted under Marland.  David Hamilton is so disgusting. I appreciate the show making him disgust as some shows when they have stories about older men or women manipulating teens aren't as honest.  I can't see this Rick being friends with him. Chris Robinson's Rick, on the other hand, I could believe.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

  I accept