Y&R actress exits

[DaytimeFan]

 

+1 they had this option, which could have given them years of good storyline, and they threw it away. 

 

[DramatistDreamer]

Even in the best of times, we know that Y&R has never had much time for matriarchs on its show. I don't know what it is. Seems like Y&R no longer even has time for a grand dame, in the vein of Katherine.

Shame.

[Faulkner]

Do we know if Marla wanted to continue or have a larger role? 

[detroitpiston]

She added so much depth to the Abbot canvas when she first came back but they wasted it with the depressing Alzheimer's material

[Khan]

 

Good point.  Nevertheless, they immediately wrote themselves into a corner with the Alzheimer's material.  Not only because it's depressing to watch a character deteriorate onscreen, but what reason would audiences have to keep tuning in, knowing how the story will end?

 

I mean, I would've supported reversing Dina's diagnosis, but I always knew that doing so would run the risk of looking hokey on-screen.

 

Alzheimer's just does not make for good soap opera.

Edited October 11, 2020 by Khan

[FrenchFan]

I agree with all you said but Marla Adams is 82. She might want to retire.

[Faulkner]

When I wrote my post about retiring actors, I thought, hmmm, maybe this lady doesn’t want to deal with the grind of a soap.

[FrenchFan]

Indeed. Alzheimer is a very bad idea from a storyline point of view. It can only write a character into a corner. To be honest, GH dealing with Mike was way better than what YR did.

[Faulkner]

With an Alzheimer’s story, it can’t really be about the character who’s suffering because that’s definitely a dead end. It has to be about how the other characters react, deal with conflicted feelings about their relationship to the afflicted, etc. It would be grim, but I think a really character-driven soap could pull it off (meaning, none of the current shows), and there were tiny glimpses of potential with Y&R. But they added all this stupidity about Dina’s affairs and these convoluted wild goose chases.

I just know how much conflict an Alzheimer’s diagnosis caused in my family: lots of drama over who controls the sufferer’s care, who’s not pulling their weight, reflecting on old resentments towards this person in their current state, etc. It could almost be like a custody-battle story that ripples out and drives other stories in a very soapy way. It doesn’t have to be a wallowing in the misery of the sufferer. But that means taking familial relationships seriously, which soaps no longer do.

Edited October 11, 2020 by Faulkner

[Stitches0210]

 

How about the idea of going to work, at age 82, during this period in history of COVID–19?

[Faulkner]

That too. 

[DramatistDreamer]

Even for actors decades younger, today's soaps are a lot more machine and a lot less art. It's a lot of grind for little reward. Adding the risks of COVID-19 lowers the incentive that much more.

Still, the overall effect is that there no longer a place for all ages storytelling on these shows. 

[robbwolff]

I have to disagree. If done correctly, an Alzheimer's story could lead to years of powerful storytelling and acting. I can see such a storyline excelling in the hands of a talented writer like Agnes Nixon or Claire Labine, but not today's crop of writers. As Faulkner so beautifully pointed out, there is a lot of story potential there. No matter what, such a story is going to be difficult to watch because Alzheimer's is difficult to watch unfold. It's brutal. I know that personally because my dad, who died 2 years ago tomorrow, fought Alzheimer's for 10 years. 

[amybrickwallace]

What a shame. It would be great if another soap signed Marla Adams, but I won't hold my breath.

[slick jones]

Why write for a legend like Marla Adams when you can write for legend Melissa Claire Egan. Every flippin' day. Whining. Shrieking. 

 

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