17 minutes ago, Broderick said:

I believe they're too broke even to pay the set decorator to change out the props in the Generic Office Set.  Which is why they don't really have one.  

One day last week (I believe it was Friday), Tucker and Eileen had an especially poverty-stricken scene in Crimson Lights.  They wandered in, and of course there wasn't an extra anywhere in sight, because the show had exhausted its budget for the week and couldn't pay another customer $1,000 to sit at a table.  It was just an empty tumble-weed set like an abandoned ghost-town bar on Gunsmoke.  

Tony Morina was FAR too broke to pay Sharon Case to appear in the episode.  

Instead, some random male barista was standing at the register.  He was strictly forbidden to speak, because if he'd spoken, he would've gone from being an "extra" at $1,000 per day to an "under five" at $1,500 per day, and the extra $500 would've evidently forced SONY into immediate bankruptcy. 

So Tony Marina must've told the barista, "Don't you say ONE WORD.  You'd better not even GRUNT.  If you make a SOUND and cost us an extra $500, I'll kick your tail out of here so fast you'll knock that Crimson Lights Dummy off the wall as you sail past."

This left Tucker and Ashley having to take each other's orders, with the barista wordlessly looking on and trying to gesture with his eyes that he knew what they wanted.  "Well, Ashley, I'd bet you'd like a hot chocolate with cream on the top.  Me, why I believe I'll have a regular coffee.  Black."  "I'm not sure I want the cream."  "I bet you do.  I bet you do want cream on the top.  And I'm SURE I want a coffee."  

The barista was forbidden to tell them how much the drinks were, so Tucker threw him a bill and said, "Keep the change."  The barista was forbidden to say, "Thanks" or "Merry Christmas" or anything.  It was the WORST saving of $500 I've ever seen on the show.   They may as well have held up a sign that said, "We're too broke to let the barista speak.  That's why Trevor and Eileen are taking each other's orders!"  

And when you start noticing stuff like that, it's awfully hard to enjoy the episode.  

That's such a sad yet hilarious assessment! considering  how much the show used to thrive on utilizing their extras and under 5's as much as possible. 

Is it safe to say that Y&R is in budget mode?

I feel like they used COVID as an excuse to save money. They couldn't have extras and it was "too expensive to clean the sets" so they minimized, and now they just kept it that way when other lower-rated shows look the same as they did before, and even have location scenes.

As bad as B&B can be, I commend the fact they still have money to do remotes. GH looks a hell of a lot better then Y&R these days too. 

8 minutes ago, kalbir said:

Is it safe to say that Y&R is in budget mode?

Just now??

@Vee I think budget mode started a while back but it wasn't until recently that it really looked like budget mode was in place.

Just now, kalbir said:

@Vee I think budget mode started a while back but it wasn't until recently that it really looked like budget mode was in place.

I think it's looked like that since JFP at the very least. She was brought in to make the show peppy and cheap.

I found it.  It was Friday.  

Ashley (shivers):    Brrrr.  Wow.  

Tucker:  What'll you have?

Ashley:  I would love a hot chocolate.  

Tucker:  You sure you don't want some fancy coffee drink with foam and extra shots and scalded ---

Ashley:  Tucker, I'm a very simple girl.  Ok, you don't buy it, huh.  How about some cinnamon on top?  

Tucker:  Of what?  A hot chocolate?  

Ashley:  Yes.  

Tucker (motions to mute barista):  Hi, Sir.  Two hot chocolates with cinnamon, please.  Keep the change.  

[The whole thing was like a low-budget parody of the coffee shop scene in Tommy Wiseau's The Room, where everyone orders cheesecake, water, and coffee.  Except Tommy Wiseau could afford extras.  But with Eileen Davidson's salary, the barista practically had his mouth duct-taped shut.]

7 hours ago, kalbir said:

Is it safe to say that Y&R is in budget mode?

I think it's past that point currently. I think it's been starting to go that way for the last few years now. Even Days has better-looking sets than this show. I kind of wish they would just transform that hotel set into an apartment set. And don't get me started on Noah's tacky-looking business that seems to be more of a supper club than an actual nightclub.

 

When COVID occurred and we saw how sparse the sets were, their cost-effective measures became more apparent to the viewers. In a way, it would be more effective to have characters such as Noah, Abby, etc., work at their family companies if they want to save money on sets.

Y&R is a classic example of people not caring what goes into the actual product as long as it remains #1 in the ratings (which are awful across the board anyway). The people with any decisioning power just want to ride it out for as long as they can, and it shows in the actual quality of the show. 

10 hours ago, YRfan23 said:

As bad as B&B can be, I commend the fact they still have money to do remotes. GH looks a hell of a lot better then Y&R these days too. 

GH is the best looking soap (only B&B's camera work is slightly better). Big numerous sets, different angles, multiple extras, characters dressed appropriately for the season.

I've exhausted everything I've wanted to say about Y&R but glad to see this old creep gone.

If the show cut some of their cast: Chloe, Chelsea, Michael, Abby, Chance, for examples...they could afford a few $1500 extras now and then. The show doesn't need 40 characters to be compelling. (and therefore wouldn't need as many sets for all of them).

1 hour ago, Melroser said:

If the show cut some of their cast: Chloe, Chelsea, Michael, Abby, Chance, for examples...they could afford a few $1500 extras now and then. The show doesn't need 40 characters to be compelling. (and therefore wouldn't need as many sets for all of them).

I know Mal Young was not my favorite, i.e., "that gift for Mishael Morgan," but I think he did have a point when he got rid of Chelsea, Kevin, and Chloe. I would have Chelsea and Johnny start to bond, and then perhaps she dies in a plane crash. And Kevin, Chloe, and those kids of theirs can move to Silicon Valley.

Edited December 20, 20222 yr by Forever8

They should have Chelsea be able to better manage her depression in a bit and maybe send her, Billy, and Johnny off together for a happy ending. It would be too depressing to have her succumb to some tragic fate now. Plus Billy is played out, and losing JT would only free up more budget.

18 minutes ago, Faulkner said:

They should have Chelsea be able to better manage her depression in a bit and maybe send her, Billy, and Johnny off together for a happy ending. It would be too depressing to have her succumb to some tragic fate now. Plus Billy is played out, and losing JT would only free up more budget.

Absolutely NOT to a "happy ending" between rapist and rape victim.

Edited December 20, 20222 yr by janea4old