Cutthroat SONY
If any of you readers watch Y&R, you’ve probably heard the shocking news that 30-year-long vet Eric Braeden (Victor Newman) has been written off of the show after contract negotiations with SONY did not pan out. For any of you who are pissed about the treatment of the fired DAYS vets, this is an interview worth reading…woefully all too familiar to what we saw surpass earlier this year on DAYS.
I can’t help but respect veteran actors like Eric Braeden who speak out about the unfairness of their position and how the soap genre is deteriorating from the inside and out. Just like how Tony Dimera was rewritten into a villainous corner before SONY, NBC and DAYS gave Thaao Penghlis his walking papers, Braeden’s Victor Newman has been written into seemingly an irredeemable corner, in spite of past character history. Seems like that this strategy is business as usual for SONY these days. The other strategy used is to try to backburn characters into oblivion, hoping that the viewers will be senile and stupid enough to forget why they liked said characters in the first place (see Marlena, John, Kayla, Steve and Anna).
Often, I get comments from indignant DAYS fans, wondering why I’m blasting the show so much all of the time. Do I want the show canceled? Do I want it to fail? Of course not. But I also want the show to be recognizable and not just some lower-tier ratings-sucking robotic clone with the same title. All of those praising Crystal Chappell and Louise Sorel to the skies in hopes of the Second Coming of DAYS, beware. Once these ladies have served their purpose for short-term ratings spikes, they are just as likely to be rewritten or backburnered into oblivion as so many of the other vets have been, particularly since they’re not part of that revered youth demographic (another point Eric Braeden makes in the interview). That is why I feel so compelled to speak out when I see the hypocrisy and the injustice of what is going on with the soaps right now. What is the point in becoming invested in any of these characters, actors or stories when the rug can be pulled out so easily from under them by a disgruntled headwriter or a greedy youth-obsessed network?
I do not feel that Eric Braeden and his ilk are spoiled soap actors that have to suck it up and get with these times of the recession…that they should shut up and take their lumps and like it. These soap veteran actors have given years of their lives to entertain us in an industry that has shown them no respect or mercy.
A clue to SONY as to why the soap genre is dying: Your shows are becoming unrecognizable and your viewers are becoming fed up of losing their favorite actors and characters because of your greed.
never been an EB fan but I wish more of the vets fired off DOOL had been half as open and upfront about the way they were treated. Only Thaao and SN had the nerve to speak up. Great interview. I just wish I thought it would do some good.
ReplyDeleteBeing a fan of vets who have returned, I realize LS and CC fans probably don't want to hear what is waiting for them but I've watched it happen repeatedly on this show for decades, not just the last few years. TIIC only care about the ratings and drawing in more of the youthful demographics and have this notion that teenagers don't like anyone over the age of 25.
Couldn't get your link to work, Diva. Here it is again in case others have the same problem.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tvguidemagazine.com/soaps/exclusive-eric-braeden-speaks-out-about-his-yr-exi-2680.html
"The overall problem in daytime, and with television in general, is this obsession with chasing the young demographic. The supposed power of the young demo is one of the biggest myths in this business. Billions have been misspent by corporations in kowtowing to the young when the money—the true financial power—lies is in the hands of older people."
No truer words have ever been spoken; words that can be backed up with cold hard data and indisputable facts. Yet, TIIC continue to dig their own graves by basing every decision they make on an outdated and obsolete 'method' that was put into place when the coveted demographics consisted of Baby Boomers. The Baby Boomers grew up. To bad TIIC are too stupid to notice. Meanwhile, soaps continue to die a long and miserable death, thanks to those who stopped looking at people (viewers and actors) and started living by the dollar sign. Hats off to EB.
Good for EB. He's never been one to mince words.
ReplyDeleteThe irony is that compared to other soaps Y&R has kept its vets relatively front and centre. I worry about the snowball effect of Victor going off canvas. To answer Logan's question, I think it's obvious that TIIC, by virtue of their actions, DO want out of the soap game.
I'm a CC/LS fan, but I have no illusions about them not suffering the same fate as the other DOOL vets. To avoid disappointment, I'm braced for the worst.
And once the soaps die on network TV then those greedy executives and hack/butcher writers will also be out of work. Though, unlike the actors they will not have loyal fans supporting them.
ReplyDeleteGood for EB for speaking out. I've never been a fan of his ... until right now!
ReplyDeleteI've never understood the idea that network execs have about young viewers not wanting to watch vets on soaps. when i was a kid, my favorites were always the older characters. always (the only teen story i remember ever really caring about was on All My Children - the Jenny, Greg, Jessie and Angie stuff). I think even then I knew the vets could act and just brought more weight to the storylines.
Oh well. And yeah I returned to Days for CC, but I'm really not delusional enough to believe its going to turn out okay or well. I'm sure her storyline will suck and will be disappointing. That's just how soap writers seem to roll.
What perplexes me is that writers and producers do not have the same cycle out which allows TPTB to fire them without pay. However, writers and producers if fired have to be paid as per their contract. This sadly means that it makes it harder to fire them, for they have to be paid and the new producers and writers paid as well. Considering the economy and the state of soaps, plus the fact that Corday had to buy off several writers and producers the past several years -- Langan for both Ex. Prod. and HW, and JERk HW, and maybe even the others too -- that it is unlikely he will fire Tomlin and Dena and pay them. So, we are stuck. Yet, they fired the vets, including Matt, and none of them got paid. The actors make the show. Fans follow actors to other soaps, rarely do they follow writers and producers. Sure good writing and producing makes for a good show, but the fans identify with actors. And mediocre writing is accepted if fan favorites are on and not ruined, but fans will ditch a soap even with the best writers if their favorites are no longer on. Thus, actors should be treated better, should get the same consideration as the writers and producers. I realize newbies should not be given that benefit, but long time actors should be protected better, and if fired, they should have their contracts paid out -- maybe if there was a fear of that then some hack new writer or producer would not fire the actors to promote their agenda.
ReplyDelete