Y&R at crossroads

As regular readers know, I write a column called Y&R Report which appears on TV Banter every second Saturday.  At the moment, I am taking a summer break from writing the column until September 12th. However. something happened that has compelled me to comment.  The Young and the Restless is at a crossroads.  There has been a major shakeup at the soap.  Head writer Josh Griffith has suddenly decided to leave the show after six years on the job.  His departure was confirmed on June 26th, but he will remain with Y&R while CBS searches for his replacement  Griffith's departure comes weeks after he stepped down as executive produce.  Veteran producer Sally McDonald became the show's sole executive producer, while Griffith concentrated on his writing.  

So far, I have not been particularly impressed with the show's summer storylines.  Y&R really needs to lighten up.  I hope that Griffith's successor will not have as many dark storylines.  There have been far too many kidnappings, addictions and mental breakdowns.  Where are the summer barbeques and swimming parties?  Why was the Fourth of July completely ignored?  Younger characters such as Faith Newman, Lucy Romalotti, Johnny Abbott and Connor Newman seem to have disappeared.  

I also think that some of the show's storylines have been very uneven.  For example, we never did find out what happened to wicked Ian Ward.  After being assumed dead, he inexplicably opened his eyes in the ambulance.  Mariah had visions of him, but we have never learned his fate.  

Recently there was concern that singer Danny Romalotti was missing.  He showed up and the storyline was was quickly dropped.  For months, Holden and Audra have been keeping a secret about their connection to the death of a man in L.A.  Will anything ever come of that?  Sometimes the writers just drop stories as if they hadn't been planned.  

Furthermore, there doesn't seem to be any storyline right now for Daniel and Tessa.  Mariah seems to be out of the picture.  I like Detective Burrow, but they should use him more,  His appearances have been few and far between.  The writers should give him a real storyline and a first name.

 

The choice of Y&R's new head writer is crucial.  It will direction of the soap for years to come.

- Joanne