To quote Danny Glover in every Lethal Weapon, I'm too old for this shit.I never thought I could get hooked on another soap opera. I watched Guiding Light every single day for over 20 years, but got away from it when they stopped focusing on the Bauers and then went all crazy with the way they shot the show (I'm back now that Grant Aleksander has returned). And I watched All My Children and One Life To Live in the 80s, though I haven't watched either of those shows in 15 years and would probably be lost now. But I can at least imagine going back to that show because I know a lot of the characters and can figure things out.
But can someone explain to me how I'm suddenly hooked on a soap opera I've never seen before?
I'm talking about The Young and the Restless. It would be easy to get hooked on a prime time series like The Mentalist or The X-Files or 30 Rock, because you don't exactly have to know every piece of history and nook and cranny about those shows. But a daily soap with dozens of characters and an ever-changing 30 year history? Why am I suddenly interested in it (besides the obvious fact that it's a good soap)?
It all started innocently enough. I watch my local CBS station for the news every day at noon, and I'm usually working and don't reach for the remote to change the channel before Y&R starts. So I started watching the show here and there for about 10 or 15 minutes. And that turned into 20 and then that turned into 30, and now I'm watching the entire episode every day.
It's a weird thing, because I don't even know the history of any of the characters. So I'm not sure if I'm even watching it correctly. Am I supposed to feel bad about Jack or Victor (even though I know they've both been bad guys)? Which of those blondes is good and which is evil? I'm really frustrated and tense about the whole "Katherine Chancellor is still alive" storyline (frustrated and tense in the good sense, when you're engrossed in a TV show's storyline and want the truth to come out), but is she someone worth caring about or has she been evil in the past? Is Jill as bitchy as she has seemed lately? Is Kevin a good guy? Is Brad really dead or is he coming back to life somewhere down the road?
Maybe some of these questions will be answered for me as I continue to watch it, though I doubt all of them will be. Still, I'm watching this show for the first time so they must be doing something right. Thanks a lot, CBS.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-18-2009 @ 8:08PM
Sean P. Aune said...
I actually started on Y&R about a year ago and I am sooo hooked. It's extremely well written and great acting. I've been watching AMC for years, and it is such tripe now that I can barely watch it.
As for some of your questions:
- Brad is gone for good.
- Kevin used to be bad ages ago, but has been good for some time. It's Clint's fault he's acting all odd.
- Jill is always bitchy.
- NEVER feel bad for Jack... ever.
- Victor... sometimes feel bad for him.
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3-19-2009 @ 12:30AM
Usama said...
Yup, all those assessments of each character are spot on.
3-18-2009 @ 8:51PM
mbemom said...
OMG!! I can't believe these characters still populate this show. I watched all the CBS soaps when I was in junior high and high school. My mom and I would tape them but wouldn't watch every day, not even every week. Things move so slow on these soaps. Anyway, that was back in the 80's and Jack, Victor, Katherine, Jill and Brad were on THEN.
Don't feel bad for Victor or Jack. They have both been very naughty boys. Oh, is Nikki still around and her daughter, Victoria? Anyway, I don't watch soaps anymore, I think I OD'ed. But it's hysterical to hear that these old cronies are still hobbling around soapdom.
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3-18-2009 @ 11:52PM
Karen said...
Same with me. I started watching one day just because I was bored. So.......if I'm home when it comes on, then I watch it. Sometimes I'll even catch it on soap net at night. Plus now I also watch The Bold and the Beautiful. What's up with that. My fav though is still General Hospital.
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3-18-2009 @ 11:56PM
Usama said...
I've said this on TVSquad once before.. my mom watched it as a recent immigrant to learn colloquial english and she got sucked into the storyline. When I got into high school I started asking her what she was watching (she'd tape it during the day to watch it at her convenience later) and slowly the entire family is now familiar with the characters on the Y&R soap. I don't watch it everyday but every once in a while I'll ask "so what's going on in Genoa city?" It's better that way considering most things take weeks to develop and/or occur whereas others happen in one day.
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3-19-2009 @ 1:05AM
SISSERS said...
Ok, years ago Victor and Ashley had an affair. We're talking 20 years at least. She got pregnant, and had an abortion. When she told Nicki, I about died! It was sooooooooo emotional! Now that Ashley is pregnant again, its like her and Victor have come full circle. I really hope everything turns out ok.
Jack will never change, and neither will Phyllis. Nick is better off with Sharon, and Jack and Phyllis are the perfect conniving couple.
Yes, Jill is and always will be a bitch.
Yes, Brad is dead due to budget cuts. He used to be a major player, but they cut his storyline.
Im not a Y&R fan, but I have caught the show now and then over the years. Im a bit fuzzy on its history, but it is a pretty good show!
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3-19-2009 @ 12:12PM
Eric H said...
Sharon is such a pain in the ass lately, I hope that Nick and Phyllis stay together, I like the actress, am starting to dislike the character.
3-19-2009 @ 1:28PM
Jennifer said...
I've watched Y&R since birth practically. My hubby and I watch it during lunch M-F. I think pretty well everybody I know watches Y&R. Most of the guys I work with even watch it.
Just so u know the score:
Jack usually deserves whatever he gets. Victor does sometimes. Victor however is usually right to everyone's chagrin.
I would have to say that Brad is gone for good being as Don Diamont (the actor) has now gone onto B&B.
Kevin for the most part is a good guy now. He'd be better off if he stayed away from Gloria's scheming, but hey. It is a soap after all.
As for Jill, well considering she was the one way back in the day sleeping with Mr Chancellor (but u could understand since Kay was a drunk), but yeah she's always kinda been a bitch.
Sharon needs to learn how to live life without a man. She's just so whiny. "Oh I cant be by myself and be a role model to my son to show him what a strong woman is. *sigh* Oh woe is me...." It's just annoying. At least Phyllis has got the gumption to go after what she wants.
The Mrs C storyline is driving me nuts. We've done this for too long now it's time to move on. Same with the Kevin thing. I want to know more about what's going on with Stacy Haiduk's Mary Jane character. Considering that she's who Victor hired to cozy up to Jack. Now that's bound to be interesting.
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3-19-2009 @ 10:12PM
Rikimaru said...
It amazes me that Phyllis acts like Sharon is the biggest hooker in Genoa City when Phyllis has had her fair share of bone too!
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4-11-2009 @ 6:10PM
JAYBEE said...
Y&R is the best soap out there.
Victor and Jack are willing to ruin both of their lives just to make the other's life miserable. It's been this way for as long as I can remember.
Katherine Chancellor is the character to root for. Of course, she's had her bad times as well....she was a drunk, she killed her cheating husband because she was driving drunk, and she hates Jill...but rightfully so. Jill was the woman her husband cheated with.
jill's a beotch. thats all you need to know about her.
Sharon and Nick are mmeant for each other. But Nick can't keep Lil Nick in his pants. He's basically a cheater by nature. But he loves Sharon. PHyllis is his wife. He cheated on Sharon with Phyllis after their daughter died, and eventually he married PHyllis. Altho now he knows Phyllis is pretty psycho-....and PSYCHO she is...but whatever. I love me some PHyllis Summers
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