5 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I think MTS had more than one protracted battle with Sony over contracts, so you're likely right. 

MTS is one of the few I'd say should get that level of salary as she's one of the few who ever almost makes me want to see Y&R again.

I think the Y&R old guard have earned their status and I think dumping Victor and Nikki, particularly EB, would be a hit Y&R couldn't handle. His cachet with the general public can't be understated despite many folks here's exhaustion with the character. (GH has a similar issue with Sonny/Maurice Benard) But if the show is at the point of regularly looking like this and being unable to function even at the level of Frank's GH (which has stretched a dollar more than adeptly for many years, which has probably kept it on the air and creating various environments onscreen when they should be strapped) then Y&R needs to dig deeper, and people should be prepared for more cuts if they haven't already taken them.

To say nothing of cutting several spent Griffith faves, like Thompson, MCE, Stafford, etc. And more.

Edited September 27Sep 27 by Vee

2 hours ago, Vee said:

I would have to assume it goes to the longtime salaries. 

MTS and EB are Y&R's longest-running cast members and I think the bulk of the salary budget is going to them. PB must also have a large salary.

1 hour ago, Khan said:

EB: "I'll be DAMNED if I take a pay cut!"

So many regimes have tried to send EB to the retirement home but all have failed. EB is going to be on Y&R either until it ends or until he goes to that daytime drama in the sky.

Edited September 28Sep 28 by kalbir

PX got a little dig in about shows having to support an 82 yr old actor/character-basically pointing out that the creativity is hampered by having to cater to veteran actors and characters that have no place being on the frontburner.

At this point Y&R has nothing in terms of writing, sets, music, or stories... the only asset they have is their cast. People aren't going to tune in to see Audra, Claire, and Holden sitting around talking, but they will for Nikki, Victor, and Jack. 

55 minutes ago, Vee said:

I think the Y&R old guard have earned their status and I think dumping Victor and Nikki, particularly EB, would be a hit Y&R couldn't handle. His cachet with the general public can't be understated despite many folks here's exhaustion with the character. (GH has a similar issue with Sonny/Maurice Benard) But if the show is at the point of regularly looking like this and being unable to function even at the level of Frank's GH (which has stretched a dollar more than adeptly for many years, which has probably kept it on the air and creating various environments onscreen when they should be strapped) then Y&R needs to dig deeper, and people should be prepared for more cuts if they haven't already taken them.

To say nothing of cutting several spent Griffith faves, like Thompson, MCE, Stafford, etc. And more.

That's where I would cut. I keep forgetting MCE is still on that show. And any time I see Jason Thompson he looks very depressed.

5 hours ago, Chris B said:

I agree 100%. If Ed Scott was going to go anywhere for a few months before retiring, I wish it was BTG. He instantly improved Y&R's directing and introduced strong new sets. Julie has never been someone who I would consider a visionary and it definitely shows on screen. The show has a large studio but I don't think they use the space smartly and they need a new set designer.

Ed Scott, Wendy Riche, I would even have taken JFP over Julie tbh. I was so disappointed when her name was first announced as an EP. She’s the type of producer who allows writing, acting, editing, music etc to be all over the place quality wise with no definitive tone and do nothing about it until someone higher up gets involved.

I know Frons and various writers over the years played a huge part in AMC’s demise but I just remember how the show would get so bad multiple times under her tenure for months on end, and it never feeling like she was doing anything to elevate material or set a better standard. I fear BTG is headed down a similar path.

With Y&R I agree that their budget is being ate the hell up by having way too many tenured actors. EB, MTS, and PB are one thing but you’ve got people like Josh Morrow, Sharon Case, Michelle Stafford, Jason Thompson, Amelia Heinle, Melissa Clare Egan, Christel Khalil, etc who are going on 20-10 years at minimum, I’m sure they aren’t cheap. I wonder when the time will come that somebody gets over there and does a real cast purge.

In fairness BTG has at least 2-4 EPs, including the very active Ducksworth so I am really not sure who is doing what at this point.

I agree the show could use a stronger co-EP than JHC but I don't know the division of labor there, and I think its bigger issues are the day to day scripts and several key casting decisions.

2 hours ago, BoldRestless said:

At this point Y&R has nothing in terms of writing, sets, music, or stories... the only asset they have is their cast. People aren't going to tune in to see Audra, Claire, and Holden sitting around talking, but they will for Nikki, Victor, and Jack. 

Completely agree. All Y&R has at this point is its cast. There are certainly people who are expensive and not needed (MCE being the most glaring example) but it's certainly not EB, MTS, or PB. 

2 hours ago, Paul Raven said:

PX got a little dig in about shows having to support an 82 yr old actor/character-basically pointing out that the creativity is hampered by having to cater to veteran actors and characters that have no place being on the frontburner.

That is so ageist and gross of him to say. Jeanne Cooper was kicking ass until the day she died. Look at John Aniston and Joe Mascolo at DAYS, both totally entertaining until their last days on the show. Creativity has nothing to do with the age of a character. 

The bottom line is you've got a load of hack writers at each of the the current soaps who are tired and recycling old material.

I can't imagine the EP that Errol is referring to isn't at BTG. They have so many it would be easy to fire one. 

16 hours ago, DaytimeFan said:

That is so ageist and gross of him to say. Jeanne Cooper was kicking ass until the day she died. Look at John Aniston and Joe Mascolo at DAYS, both totally entertaining until their last days on the show. Creativity has nothing to do with the age of a character. 

The bottom line is you've got a load of hack writers at each of the the current soaps who are tired and recycling old material.

Exactly. Look at the writing Eric Braeden is getting. It's horrible. Yes, he's older and diminished, but if given even decent writing, his role would have impact.

Instead, Josh Griffith is writing 50-year old Victor. It doesn't work.

21 hours ago, DaytimeFan said:

That is so ageist and gross of him to say. Jeanne Cooper was kicking ass until the day she died. Look at John Aniston and Joe Mascolo at DAYS, both totally entertaining until their last days on the show. Creativity has nothing to do with the age of a character. 

FACTS.

 

Even if they need to (and should) cut anyone, EB and MTS aren't it.

 

 

Kathleen Culliton wrote today's Days of our Lives Script.

Is it possible that anticipating a need for a change, JFP was brought in to “help” Josh with the actual producing of the show. And in reality was also there to train/mentor Sally McDonald? Because it is a process, and while she has been there a long time, we don’t know if she was completely ready to just step in as EP.

48 minutes ago, titan1978 said:

Is it possible that anticipating a need for a change, JFP was brought in to “help” Josh with the actual producing of the show. And in reality was also there to train/mentor Sally McDonald? Because it is a process, and while she has been there a long time, we don’t know if she was completely ready to just step in as EP.

Nah.

I haven't watched YR in a long time other than some clips here and there (the ridiculous Cane plot this summer), but as long as Steve Kent is in charge true lasting change that most long term viewers want to see will never happen. Many of us joke about 'friends of Jill" but Kent hires friends of Kent.  He needs to go. McDonald is a Bell veteran but as long as her filter is Kent and his friend Griffith the show will remain a boring shell of itself. She may bring back more of what Ed Scott was trying to do to refresh the lushness of the sets and music (which he did tepidly this last year). But she won't be able to mask burned out Griffith who was never a charismatic head writer on any show.

Whatever happened to the scoop posted here that a veteran soap writer was fired for asking for a raise? The only vet writer who's departed a series that fits the bill is Chris Dunn, although I know most on here only considered Jeff Beldner..but he's still with Y&R months later. It does feel strange that they hired Chris from Days only to fire him after one season. It would be ashame given his family lost their house in the LA fires. We know Ron left 'for another project' which I think could be ABC launching a new soap to go before GH and perhaps that's why many major markets are moving GH back to 3pm?