@ajsp35801  Frank Lewis (Brock Peters)  was Carl's boss. His daughter Amy came on as Paul and Andy's assistant. There was a Loretta Lewis, Frank's wife in a 1982 episode crawl. I can't recall the actress's name. I started watching around 83, and I remember Amy dating Jazz and Tyron Jackson, as well as Kong, whose real name was Nathan  Hastings (you know where that went.) I think Amy was a friend of Traci's, but I'm not sure. Actress Stephanie Williams left to join GH as Simone around 1988 or 89. Both were on contract for several years (Amy and Frank).

4 minutes ago, slick jones said:

@ajsp35801  Frank Lewis (Brock Peters)  was Carl's boss. His daughter Amy came on as Paul and Andy's assistant. There was a Loretta Lewis, Frank's wife in a 1982 episode crawl. I can't recall the actress's name. I started watching around 83, and I remember Amy dating Jazz and Tyron Jackson, as well as Kong, whose real name was Nathan  Hastings (you know where that went.) I think Amy was a friend of Traci's, but I'm not sure. Actress Stephanie Williams left to join GH as Simone around 1988 or 89. Both were on contract for several years (Amy and Frank).

 

Yeah, I discuss some of this in my post on the previous page.  Amy and Traci were friends, Amy was also friends with Danny Romalotti.

Edited March 14, 20196 yr by DramatistDreamer

12 minutes ago, DramatistDreamer said:

 

Amy primarily worked with Paul and Andy at their detective agency.  I don't know if you've heard of the story we're Phil Morris' character, Tyrone Jackson (a bit 'on the nose', I know) infiltrated the mob by basically doing a weird version of 'white face' (think of the Eddie Murphy SNL skit "White Like Me").  Well, while Tyrone was pretending to be a white guy who was getting close to the mob boss' daughter, he was actually dating Amy.  Tyrone Jackson had a brother named Jazz who crossed from one side of the law to the other to work with Paul and Andy.  In a weird way, he seemed to be a prototype of sort to the Nathan Hastings character.

 

Amy was also friends with Traci Abbott and Danny Romalotti (I think) and she may have even appeared on stage at one of his infamous concerts that aired during episodes of the show.  For some reason, I vaguely remember her being onstage singing, lol.

 

In a weird way, Amy paved the way for some of the characters that eventually followed her because I believe that Nathan Hastings (played by Nathan Purdee) was brought on as her love interest. 

Years before Nathan taught Drucilla how to read, Amy taught Nathan how to read.  Amy and Nathan ended up dating.  IRL,  I know that Stephanie and Nathan dated for a time but that may have taken place after one or both left Y&R.

I'm not sure how much Amy and Mamie (oh boy, the names rhyme) interacted but I imagine there had to be some interaction since Amy and Traci were friends. 

I think I was dazzled by Stephanie E. Williams who was a dancer and the show seemed to revel in showing just how fit and appealing Amy was and being that Stephanie is a dark-skinned woman, I regarded that as being one of the more positive aspects of the show's cultural history.

Unfortunately, I honestly don't remember how the character exited the canvas. 

 

I have heard about the white face mob story with Tyrone. Thank you. 

 

How many illiterate black characters did this show need? 

12 minutes ago, slick jones said:

@ajsp35801  Frank Lewis (Brock Peters)  was Carl's boss. His daughter Amy came on as Paul and Andy's assistant. There was a Loretta Lewis, Frank's wife in a 1982 episode crawl. I can't recall the actress's name. I started watching around 83, and I remember Amy dating Jazz and Tyron Jackson, as well as Kong, whose real name was Nathan  Hastings (you know where that went.) I think Amy was a friend of Traci's, but I'm not sure. Actress Stephanie Williams left to join GH as Simone around 1988 or 89. Both were on contract for several years (Amy and Frank).

 

Thank you. This was a bit before my time. 

 

 

Now I get why you guys say Neil, as a businessman, was something new for the show. 

Edited March 14, 20196 yr by ajsp35801

Just now, ajsp35801 said:

 

I have heard about the white face mob story with Tyrone. Thank you. 

 

How many illiterate black characters did this show need? 

 

Apparently too many.  It seems to have become something of a soap trope with black characters.

 

Also something I vaguely remembered:  since Stephanie Williams was a dancer/choreographer in real life (she had been on the TV series Fame, based on the 1980 film), there were scenes where she would be in a studio, working out at the barre.  AFAIK, Amy had no aspirations to be a ballerina like Dru but I think the show decided to incorporate some of her dance background into random scenes on the show sometimes.

Amy sounds really interesting.  Thanks for the info.  I do remember Simone on GH.  

I don't think that Amy got an exit.Like many others she just stopped appearing. I do recall her popping up months later for a few eps then disappearing again.

Who knows what Bill Bell was thinking/planning?

1 hour ago, sd77 said:

Amy sounds really interesting.  Thanks for the info.  I do remember Simone on GH.  

 

No problem.  In retrospect, there was more that could've been done with the character but as a little girl, seeing her onscreen made an impression on me.  In those days too, it seemed as if characters mingled a lot more back then.

17 minutes ago, Paul Raven said:

I don't think that Amy got an exit.Like many others she just stopped appearing. I do recall her popping up months later for a few eps then disappearing again.

Who knows what Bill Bell was thinking/planning?

 

Yeah, a lot of soaps strangely did this with some of their characters. On ATWT, I noticed this with a number of their black characters, they'd simply disappear.    I'm honestly curious about the mindset behind this thinking.

27 minutes ago, DramatistDreamer said:

 

No problem.  In retrospect, there was more that could've been done with the character but as a little girl, seeing her onscreen made an impression on me.  In those days too, it seemed as if characters mingled a lot more back then.

 

Yeah, a lot of soaps strangely did this with some of their characters. On ATWT, I noticed this with a number of their black characters, they'd simply disappear.    I'm honestly curious about the mindset behind this thinking.

Yeah, I can imagine that the writing for her was not up to par in comparison to other characters.

3 hours ago, DramatistDreamer said:

 

Apparently too many.  It seems to have become something of a soap trope with black characters.

 

Also something I vaguely remembered:  since Stephanie Williams was a dancer/choreographer in real life (she had been on the TV series Fame, based on the 1980 film), there were scenes where she would be in a studio, working out at the barre.  AFAIK, Amy had no aspirations to be a ballerina like Dru but I think the show decided to incorporate some of her dance background into random scenes on the show sometimes.

 

I'm intrigued. I'm going to look for some clips

4 hours ago, DramatistDreamer said:

Amy was also friends with Traci Abbott and Danny Romalotti (I think) and she may have even appeared on stage at one of his infamous concerts that aired during episodes of the show.

 

Amy did indeed perform with Danny & the gang but not until later during her run.

 

Quote

In a weird way, Amy paved the way for some of the characters that eventually followed her because I believe that Nathan Hastings (played by Nathan Purdee) was brought on as her love interest.

 

Amy was in a relationship with Tyrone (they were intended to become a supercouple). Unfortunately Phil Lewis left the show (as did Jon St. Elwood). So Bill had Stephanie & Nathan slowly become involved as he turned his life around.

 

Quote

I think I was dazzled by Stephanie E. Williams who was a dancer and the show seemed to revel in showing just how fit and appealing Amy was and being that Stephanie is a dark-skinned woman, I regarded that as being one of the more positive aspects of the show's cultural history.

 

Stephanie Williams was lovely. Unfortunately Y&R was never as invested in her relationship with Nathan as they were with her pairing with Tyrone (for a myriad of reasons). By the time Amy became involved with Nathan her father (Brock Peters) was being phased out (when Paul Andy Nathan & Amy went into Miami Vice mode) too. So Stephanie eventually left for greener pastures (working on other soaps with the occasional bit parts in film & television).

 

She briefly returned after leaving (to visit Nathan) only to leave once again a few months before Liv & Dru arrived.

Edited March 15, 20196 yr by DeeeDee

2 minutes ago, DeeeDee said:

 

Amy did indeed perform with Danny & the gang but not until later during her run.

 

 

 

 

Amy was in a relationship with Tyrone (they were intended to become a supercouple). Unfortunately Phil Lewis left the show (as did Jon St. Elwood). So Bill had Stephanie & Nathan slowly become involved as he turned his life around.

 

 

 

 

Stephanie Williams was lovely. Unfortunately Y&R was never as invested in her relationship with Nathan as they were with her pairing with Tyrone (for a myriad of reasons). By the time Amy became involved with Nathan her father (Brock Peters) was being phased out too. So Stephanie eventually left for greener pastures (working on other soaps with the occasional bit parts in film & television).

 

She briefly returned after leaving (to visit Nathan) only to leave once again a few months before Liv & Dru arrived.

 

What do you percieve those reasons to be? I'm very curious. Way before my time. 

On 3/13/2019 at 10:33 PM, ajsp35801 said:

 

Brytni getting her contract renewed would be a fete in itself regardless of who she's in story with.

 

Let's go over the history, shall we?

 

Mishael Morgan remains the only black woman who wasn't core or connected to core to get her contract renewed in the history of the show, per my recollection. This excludes Khalil, Rowell, Williams, and Redd being that they are core and connected to core family. If I'm wrong, someone can correct me. But I don't think I'm wrong. 

 

CK being the only black woman, or WOC if she prefers that, prior to Mishael Morgan to have a contract renewal since the late 90s.  I do believe Veronica Redd was recurring on her 1999 -2004 run. And Rowell left in 1999 and wasn't renewed after her 2003 -2007 run. I believe TLW was recurring after 2000. But I need to confirm that with @DeeeDee

 

Mishael Morgan was reluctantly renewed by the show because of her popularity, which was driven mostly by vocal Hevon fans. She has hinted more  than once that Hevon fans kept her around.

 

Whether folks like bryton or not, brytni having a pairing with him that resonates with the audience won't be a bad thing for her. Unfortunately, black characters are limited. It's not fair or right. But at this point, we should know what we are dealing with in the genre. 

 

Alexia Robinson (Alex) was on contract as were Michelle Thomas & Siena Goines (the original & recast actresses who played Callie).

 

Stephanie was intended to be a contract role but Vivica quickly became a film star as was Wanda Acuna (who was eventually replaced by a white actress).

Vicki's original run ended in 98, she then returned & left (with Brooke Marie Bridges) in 2000, then returned again in 2002.

 

Tonya was on contract until 2005 when the writers just let her fade away.

 

There were a several Black actresses (both older & younger) who were recurring (including Candice Patton) but Y&R never bumped them to contract status.

I recall an episode that had Amy running a dance class and Lauren visited her to discuss Traci.

They showed Amy leading the class and displaying some moves.

It was all very 'ONJ Physical' as that was big around that time.

17 minutes ago, ajsp35801 said:

 

What do you percieve those reasons to be? I'm very curious. Way before my time. 

 

Nathan Purdee was older, darker & they happened during a very chaotic time during Y&R's history.

7 hours ago, DeeeDee said:

Alexia Robinson (Alex) was on contract as were Michelle Thomas & Siena Goines (the original & recast actresses who played Callie).

 

Stephanie was intended to be a contract role but Vivica quickly became a film star as was Wanda Acuna (who was eventually replaced by a white actress).

Vicki's original run ended in 98, she then returned & left (with Brooke Marie Bridges) in 2000, then returned again in 2002.

 

Tonya was on contract until 2005 when the writers just let her fade away.

 

There were a several Black actresses (both older & younger) who were recurring (including Candice Patton) but Y&R never bumped them to contract status.

 

I remember Fay Hauser, with the grey eyes was a character on the force who worked with Paul's father Carl.  Part of me really wanted her to turn out to be Tyler and Leslie Michaelson's mother.  It might have been a nice nod.  Maybe create one of those gauzy flashbacks to when Tyler and Leslie's mother was alive or show a photograph and have it turn out to be Fay Hauser's character. 

I guess most of Y&R's current viewers would have missed the reference but I swear every time I saw Redaric Williams on screen, I was struck by how cool it would've been if he and Angell Conwell's characters were related to Fay Hauser's Y&R character.

Edited March 15, 20196 yr by DramatistDreamer