Your e-mails are still arriving…dozens every day. And your analyses and comments are riveting. Many of your views echo my own, but there are also plenty of original observations, as well. Often, you say it better than I ever could….especially when you’ve had an experience that gives you a unique insight that I don’t have.  For example, I’ve never had a child…but this reader has:                       

Hello Kitty!

I am at my wits end with Y&R and this stupid baby Faith story line. First, the whole birth/switch was extremely hard to fathom EVER happening. I felt like I was watching a bad episode of some B movie. There is so much wrong with how it all went down that to pick one item would be useless because there were many. But I will try.

First off, when Sharon took her paternity test in late May, she mentioned that she took a CVS test, which can check for paternity, but mainly checks for genetic abnormalities. If Sharon had that test done and I presume all came back well as she was excited as hell to tell Nick he was going to be a daddy, why did she buy Dr. Taylor's "deformity" excuse hook, line, and sinker? I hate that the writers have forgotten that they NAMED the test Sharon took for paternity. Is she that mentally unstable that she forgot the results? What about all the ultrasounds she presumably had? She showed Jack a picture and recently looked at one while mourning. Wouldn't the doctors have noticed something then

Now, don't even get me started on Ashley. How she is in a hospital for post partum without ANYONE noticing she never gave birth is beyond me. Every time I see her in the hospital room with the baby I cringe. No one noticed that she didn't actually give birth? Please.

Then there is the whole baby switch itself. I hate that the show made Nick the father. Nick was the easy and most obvious choice. I fail to see the future drama in Victor finding out that the child he thought was his is actually his granddaughter. Big deal. He still wins a Newman in the end. Now if the show had balls to actually make that child an Abbott, the show would be winning me over with this baby switch. The thought of Victor/Ashley raising Jack or Billy's baby is awesome. Imagine Victor Newman, thinking Faith Newman is his daughter when all along he has been raising Jack's daughter. Oh the possibilities! But no. Y&R for some reason chose not to go there. Sigh. Yet another missed opportunity. And for what? To give Nick and Sharon another child? What for? Sharon had a dream with Cassie that stated the baby she predicted was already here. Summer. So that dream means nothing? Ugh! Don't bring Camryn Grimes back for one episode that in the end means nothing.

Y&R really dropped the ball with this Faith story. Now if they had made the father someone else, we might be looking at a decent end to this story. But sadly we will just be looking at more mourning by Nick and Sharon, more Cassie predictions, and endless Newman's on the show. Oh what might have been with just a different baby daddy for Faith.  Megan B., NY

Megan…I don’t understand the complete abandonment of reality in the baby story, either.  I’ve never had a baby, but I believe there are check-ups required post-birth. How will Adam be covering those? Or will Ashley manage to somehow skirt those, as well? There’s just so much wrong with this story…and so many missed opportunities. You rightly point out that allowing the child to end up being Jack’s is another missed chance. I’m confused about why there are so many paths started, then abruptly cut off, and ultimately meaningless….like Sharon’s dream. Also Sharon’s kleptomania and sleeping around, which were apparently just something to give the actress some work, as those activities were never resolved, there was never any REAL consequence for those actions, and they are now forgotten. The actions of the characters and the words they say have no purpose or weight…and no one remembers anything that happened more than a week ago. A great example…why didn’t Nick call Sharon on her latest attempt to shut him out. When she first entered the mental hospital, and made sure Nick found out she was carrying his child, she promised him that she would never keep him from his daughter. Before that moment she had lied about the baby’s parentage. AFTER she promised him she wouldn’t keep him away from the kid, she didn’t call him when she was in labor, and then she tried to scatter the (fake) ashes without him. Why didn’t he call her on it in a realistic manner?      

Speaking of Nick and Sharon, I commented recently I felt Joshua Morrow is among those actors no longer fully committing themselves to the (badly penned) scripts.  Many of you are in agreement.

Morning to you, Martini Kitty. After reading your column, I had to share this: I was watching the show with my 14 year old when Sharon told Nick that the baby had “died,” and the camera zoomed in on Nick’s face, and we could see him swallowing several times, like when you’re trying to get down somebody’s really bad noodles and you don’t want them to know you’re secretly gagging. He blinked repeatedly and his face contorted strangely, and I blurted out “Oh, come on, Joshua, ACT for Chrissakes!” My son burst out laughing, and said “I didn’t want to say anything, because I thought you might get mad at me because this is supposed to be a sad scene, but that guy’s a terrible actor!” (At least, he was during these scenes, but, still – out of the mouths of babes…)   Laura L.

Laura, please give your observant yet diplomatic son a hug for me.

Dear Ms. Kitty, I stopped watching Y&R two weeks ago. I have been an avid viewer for over thirty years. However, I could not stand to watch the doom and gloom one more day. I watch soap operas to be entertained, not depressed. I miss the Y&R of old. I could not wait to get home from work to see what I missed that day. I cannot believe that Victor would receive Colleen's heart, or that Adam would steal, not switch, Sharon's baby and give her to Ashley. I have given birth to six children (one set of twins), and never have I passed out before, during, or after birth.  Additionally, it is an insult to viewers who have actually lost a child to think that Sharon would not want to see her child, at least for closure. When the story lines improve, I will resume watching the show.  C. W. in Louisiana

From the looks of things, C.W., it may be a while before you watch again…because I don’t see any improvement on the horizon. In fact, I see a definite push to diminish the vets and phase them out, replacing them with newbies. More on that in a minute.

What do you think of the way Sony has been treating the older stars of Y&R? In the new TV Guide they have a story about Braeden leaving the show due to salary disputes. I have watched Y&R since it first started & was only 30 min. I think the  older stars are being sacrificed.The show will not be the same without Victor. The article in TV Guide says that Braeden made a counter-offer that went ignored.  Victor will exit the show on Nov. 2.  This is a huge mistake!!! Is there anything we fans can do to stop this?  Lisa

Lisa, while I agree with some folks who believe Eric Braeden is a bit egotistical, I also whole-heartedly believe he has been seriously wronged by Sony…and that the show will suffer with the destruction of another core family. We, the fans, have already witnessed the demise of the Abbott/Carlton family as we have known them.  John is dead. Brad is dead. Colleen is dead. Tracy and Steve (in spite of the high volume outcry from the fans) are being sent back to New York. Now the Newmans are under assault…and Braeden makes the point that the groundwork for his ouster was laid well in advance of the sudden contract demands Sony made. Victor was made back into a mustache-twirling villain in the last year, and we were made to despise him. All the progress he had made in the last several decades was wiped away, as he became responsible for the demise of Brad and Tracy’s only child.           

I believe we may be seeing the same kind of writing now for Nick and Victoria. They are being made increasingly reprehensible. I am among those who can’t stand the character of Nick, as he vacillates between two women and committing to neither. I loathe Victoria’s return to her 14 year-old self, who can’t see Daddy is not lily-white…and is so selfish, she’s willing to trash her marriage vows for no apparent reason.  The two of them are becoming tools in the attempt to rehabilitate Adam, a character who in my opinion should not be redeemed. And it may be that Joshua Morrow and Amelia Heinlie may be the next two asked to take a drastic pay cut, or perhaps even be summarily dismissed. Nothing would surprise me.                     

But here’s another view on Eric Braeden…

Dear Kitty, You said in your column, in response to Sharon that she shouldn't rush to judgment regarding Victor/EB, because he has expressed unhappiness with his storyline. Well, two parts of the Logan interview (in TV Guide) that annoyed the hell out of me, because, IMO, it just proves what an egomaniac EB is. He is as self involved as Victor is! To begin with, WHAT 'huge scale of emotions' has EB been using? Granted, he's given a chance to express them, but in reality, all he gives us is mumbling & monotone!

Secondly, EB is unhappy because he thinks Victor is being 'wrongly' singled out, when in reality he always gets off scott free, no matter what he does. Even when he does get 'punished', it's a slap on the wrist in comparison to others. As for Jack, he usually pays for his misdeeds, and pays dearly. Besides, he has a heart, which Victor never has (no pun intended). Victor coldly will screw over family--those he supposedly loves--then justifies it as ‘just business'. I could go on, but I won't. I can't even root for Adam to get his, until Victor does!

What bothers me is Braeden's not seeing that Victor has been like this for a long time, not just the Patty/MJ storyline. He's cold, calculating, vindictive & smug. I won't miss him if EB doesn't return. The only way I would accept his return is if Victor actually pays for his actions. Even if thy wouldn't make him pay criminally--he'd be liable for Summer's attempted murder & Colleen's death, for example, but he could lose everything because of the recession, maybe get voted out by the board because of massive losses, lose his home & big bucks to Ash in the divorce settlement, then discover he can't get health insurance, having lost it after losing the company & having 'preexisting conditions'. Have him get a demeaning job (like Jill had to) to earn enough to buy insurance (in the high risk pool, of course). I have a cyber friend who was fired from her job at a small company for taking too many days off from work while being treated for breast cancer. Her husband’s employer doesn't offer health insurance, so he took a second job to pay for minimal coverage, just for himself, because they can't afford it for her at all. Let Victor suffer, or send him off into the sunset, ever to return, IMO. Ellen

Ellen, even with your frustration regarding Eric Braeden, you still see the rich (pun intended) possibilities for his character. The actor has been somewhat stilted of late, but I am convinced it has to do with the lagging stories. Braeden has delivered some outstanding scenes in years past, and I believe the show will be less without his dynamic, albeit at times overwhelming, presence.

I’m totally  disillusioned with the show.The only reason I still try to watch it  a few times a week is because I hope that they will see the light.  Adam will be sent away for good, Ashley would realize that she was never pregnant, Sharon will get her baby back, the Doctor would go to jail and so on…  Violetta B.

Perhaps, Violetta, we will discover the last year has all just been a bad dream, ala Dallas. Imagine what a relief it would be to undo the terrible damage these writers have inflicted on the show in the last twelve months.

I have watched since the very beginning and I will continue to watch until the very end. There have been times over the years that I have been very disgusted with the show and the writers and the storylines - but then it gets better and I continue to watch. The morals have never been so low as they are now. Sharon's mother encouraging her to cling to her ex-husband who happens to be married to another woman is just one example that happened. Devon sleeping with his "auntie" is another and there are SO many other examples. What happened to the days of the Colonnade room romances and the office dealings - we hardly even know that Newman Enterprise, Jabot, or Chancellor Industries exist anymore. When was the last scene in an office?? Lately it has been just a bummer and a downer to watch - the deaths of Zapato, Colleen, Ashley's "baby", - the baby switch - the shooting of Victor -  Lily's cancer - one sad thing after another with no happiness anywhere to be found!  I do love your column though!  Bonnie 

Bonnie, you’re spot on with your comment regarding the lack of morals. And the kicker is we, the viewers, are just supposed to accept these disgusting actions (of the characters) and move on. Moreover, the writers seem to think the other characters should never express outrage at the repugnant choices of others. The best example is how Devon seems to be of the opinion Roxanne should be able to get past his having slept with his Aunt. Yes, we all know she wasn’t his blood aunt, but as quickly as he jumped on her after finding out they didn’t share biology would make one wonder if he hadn’t consider incest long before that fateful moment. And if I was Roxanne, that’s what I would be thinking EVERY TIME I looked at Devon’s face…incest.  And…yuck

I am 71 years old and have been watching Young & Restless since it began. The writers are horrible. After the baby switch I am very disgusted with the show. If something does not change, I will discontinue to watch. Nick and Sharon belong together and please get rid of Adam. Please give us something real to watch, not all that stupid and unreal stuff. I am not going to waste my time on that show. I will be sad, but I can't stand what I am seeing. It really gets to me.  L J

L J, I hope it gives you some comfort to know you’re not the only one who is angry and frustrated by the direction this once venerable show has taken. You can vent to me any time you need to.

Letters Of The Week

Sue, your comment about emotional investments is excellent.  That is precisely what’s missing, and it cannot be developed when the viewers aren’t given a chance to invest.  People commit to each other, then cheat on their “beloved” the very next week.  The story arcs aren’t planned for years…they are penned for weeks…and it seems like they are started with no idea how they will end.  Certainly there is little or no thought as to how to make sense of the zigs and zags the characters are taking.  And, as you demonstrate, fans no longer care, as by the thousands they are finding other ways to spend their time.                             

Let me say it again for TPTB: soaps aren’t failing because “viewer habits have changed.”  Viewer habits have changed because soaps are failing us.

One of the biggest gripes about Y&R that I am having right now is that I don't currently KNOW anything. I used to know, that Phyllis loved Danny, but Danny love Christine. Heck even Phyllis knew Danny loved Christine. I knew Victor loved Nikki and vice versa, but they had an impossible relationship. I knew that Victoria (HT) was like her dad, and Nicholas was like his mom. I knew that Nicholas loved Sharon and vice versa, but they could not stop cheating on one another. I knew that Neil was an good guy. I knew that the Abbotts LOVED one another first.

Present day, I don't know who loves who. I suspect that the real reason Nick and Sharon had the affair was so that Ashley could be given the shick baby. I think that is why nothing surrounding this storyline makes sense. It was stunt writing.  Several couples were ruined to make this happen. Nicholas had just reassured Phyllis of his love and commitment to her prior to his embarking on a long term affair with Sharon. Victor turned to Ashley after turning his back on his entire family, and wishing Nikki dead, after the latest love of his life died. Sharon dumped Jack because of all of his lies, then turned around and used him to cover the fact that she was still CRAZY in love with her ex. 

I don't know any of these people, and Phyllis is the biggest stranger of them all. Phyllis was not afraid to walk away from Jack. I don't believe for a second that the Phyllis Nick met, would be begging him to love her. Phyllis never begged Danny to love her, she schemed. Phyllis is proactive. Phyllis isn't the type of woman to allow someone else to make the important decisions in her life. She is a mother and role model to her kids. I can't accept that Phyllis is not ashamed of herself for allowing Summer to watch her mom, happily greet her cheating husband at the door, day after day. I'm saddened that Phyllis has allowed Daniel to watch her, cry over and cling to a man who is carrying on with his ex wife for all to see. 

I know it's a soap, it just seems that the writer's are refusing to see that the times they are a changing. This is not the 80s. Women today are independent and self assured. Can we please see that reflected on soaps? Used to be Phyllis and Dru were those modern women. A Lucy if you will, to Jack and Neil's Ricky. Jack and Neil knew they were married to strong, smart, funny, tough women. --AND THEY LOVED THEM! (Granted Neil and Jack had many a headache, but they knew these women loved hard).

I'm currently watching Y&R out of loyalty with my fingers crossed that it will get better. I don't care about the 4 jailbirds: Jana, Kevin, Daniel and Amber. Stop isolating the characters! How blind is Adam again? I guess he's as blind as everyone else is dumb!

Abby forgot about Brad in a big hurry! More stunt writing: I knew they were going to have to get rid of Brad so that Victor could claim his daughter. I just never expected for Ashley to use her child to get closer to Victor. Abby should have moved in with Brad when they arrived back in town IMO.

Why does Nick get all the women and Jack only comes around to wipe the tears away from them (Sharon/Phyllis)?

Why does Nikki want Victor back? They don't know the meaning of unconditional love. When the going gets tough, one of them gets going.

The Winters: I liked the Lily recast.  Devonna, I think her name was. She and Daniel made sense to me. I recall when Neil and Victoria were first paired the actors and the show received hate mail from racists and bigots. I wonder if the fear of this happening again keeps the Winters men isolated? Colleen and Lily had a friend who liked Devon, what happened to her? Devon and Amber might have been funny, I can just see the look on Neil’s face at the dinner table. Guess who's coming to dinner in reverse anyone?

The Winters get isolated in Genoa City from time to time. The Winters are stuck up and I find myself not liking them. They must have other Black friends right? :)  Y&R needs a wider community that reflects the real world.  They need a middle and lower class, not to mention more minorities. That was crazy to kill Ji Min, Jill finally had a man.  They need to cast Kemo and have him come home.  It would be great if Billy and Kemo were to help Jack expand Jabot.  Victor has his empire, it's time for Jack to get his in order.  

No more stunt writing, I get enough of that watching GH. Y&R was the most realistic soap on tv, not anymore. They are getting as crazy as DOOL or Passions.

Ashley really thinks she had a baby? How did Adam pull that one off? Did he tell her he cleaned up the after birth too? I wish Doris would have seen the baby and said she looks just like Sharon did when she was born, or Cassie. That would have been funny, watching Adam trying to convince everyone that Doris is crazy with grief or something. That would be good story telling in my book. Nikki stating the baby looked like Nicholas is predictable, and easily explained away.

Thanks for hearing me out. D. Wade

Oh, D. Wade…finishing a story, logical writing, and realism are such old-fashioned notions. The other Lily, by the way, was Davetta Sherwood. She was improving greatly in the role, and she was making Lily her own…but she was kicked to the curb when Christel Khalil returned. I wonder sometimes what Davetta might have done with this cancer story.

Speaking of the cancer story…I wish Christel had had the guts to really shave her head. I find her lumpy, extra-long scarves (tucked under and tied down past the base of her neck,) distracting. And it doesn’t hide all of her hair under there. We are not fooled, costumers.

Final notes

Just a few more things from this past week. Have you noticed I didn’t bother mentioning the phony Terroni? It’s because I still don’t give a rat’s butt about it, or any of the associated characters. What a monumental waste of time.                          

Whatever nurse allowed Nikki to remove Ashley and Victor’s child from the nursery so she could take the baby to Victor’s room needs to be fired. Nikki has no relation to that kid at all.

I got the feeling when Victor said the line, “When you have a career as long as mine, you have enemies,” the character was referring to whomever called the SEC, but the actor was referring TPTB who want to drive him out. I will say again that I don’t believe Braeden is gone for good…but the longer he stays away, the more money the studio can save at the bottom line for the 2009 budget. It’s a nasty way to balance a budget and maintain the profits Sony enjoys. But unless the intent is to send this show to the scrap heap, Braeden must be brought back.                      

How can Ashley get The Ranch in the divorce settlement. Last year when Nictoria were waging their campaign against Adam, it was established The Ranch had been signed over to Newman Enterprises. That was the heretofore unknown fact that allowed the brats to kick their brother out of the house. Now suddenly Victor can sign the property over to his soon-to-be-ex?

I was thinking the other day how many women on this show have buried children…late-term miscarriages, still born or early births, or already-born children.  Nikki, Ashley, Traci, Sharon (three children,) Phyllis, Victoria, Patty, and Amber (while on B&B) have all buried offspring. Kind of a high percentage.

As part of the Adam rewrite (in the lame attempt to make him palatable) he last week was telling baby Faith that giving her to her “new mom” was a way to try to make up for making Ashley lose her own child. Adam was not so contrite that he stopped terrorizing her and gas-lighting her for months. We cannot forget those actions. I’m sure Estella hasn’t, since she is still presumably languishing under a cloud of suspicion. And I reiterate, I will never accept Adam now because he knowingly sent two women into the hands of a sexual predator. Nothing the writers do will ever erase that.

Let’s end this week with something cheerful: this little piggy (shown at the Fall Festival) made me smile. And Chance mistakenly referring to the “Cheese Hat” (instead of the well-known Cheese Head) made me laugh, too.                            

Next week…still more letters from all of you