Is it even possible to imagine The Young and the Restless without Eric Braeden as hero/villain Victor Newman? You would think not, but then Days of Our Lives moved on without Deidre Hall as Dr. Marlena Evans, didn't it? Still, Braeden and his alter ego Victor is still a front and center presence on the show, an integral part of the storytelling. Therefore, the news that The Young and the Restless is contemplating killing off Victor if they cannot resolve the contract dispute with Braeden is a shocker.Braeden is working now under a contract that lasts till 2010, and his reps have said that he would take a pay cut once the term is up. However, producers are asking him to take a pay cut now. That, my friends, is the rub. Braeden wants to help the show stay on the air, but he's not ready to take an economic hit until he has to. That's understandable.
Of course, the show has the power to simply write him out or recast. The latter would be very difficult because the Victor Newman character is larger than life, and Braeden's been the only actor to ever play the role. He's been on the soap since 1980. Currently, the character has been shot three times and is going to need a heart transplant to survive. He will get the heart and go on vacation with Nikki (Scott's character). She could return with a new actor in the role, or he could die off screen.
Hmm ... if you were thinking like a producer looking to cut your losses, this would be the perfect opportunity to kill off the character. He even has an evil son, Adam, who might be able to grow into the role of the next villain you love to hate. Also, Y&R has put out a casting notice for a character named Tucker who sounds very much like Victor. Was Tucker just a covert way to conduct a recast?
My guess is that a compromise will be reached and Braeden will remain on the show. It's a cold, cruel world out there and Eric's too smart to give up a good gig on the number one rated daytime drama. Of course, I thought Deidre would remain with Days, too, so go figure!
By the way, if you'd like to catch up with Y&R, check out episodes at AOL's new site, Slashcontrol.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-30-2009 @ 2:27PM
tvtimepodcast's Tim said...
Daytime is not what it used to be. I quit Days over the Deidre Hall & Drake H. firing. I haven't watched in 10 months. Now, it's Y&R. They've made Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki) & Jess Walton (Jill) take a pay cut. Eric B is no better. Hard times mean hard decisions. As much as I couldn't see Y&R without ole Victor, it could survive w/out him if written out in the right way. Time will only tell.
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9-30-2009 @ 4:25PM
elizabeth.chaung said...
Today I think Victor and Sharon are best friends.
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9-30-2009 @ 5:25PM
Albert said...
Eric Braeden is by far the best actor on "Y&R" - he was an excellent actor even before he started doing the soap, and it would be insane to either kill off Victor or recast Victor with another actor.
If the writers decide to either kill Victor off or recast the role, I will stop watching. "Y&R" without Victor is like "Casablanca" without Bogart.
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10-08-2009 @ 9:32AM
Viva said...
That is a really good analogy - yes...Y&R without Eric Braeden will be like Casablanca without Bogart. I barely watch Y&R now, but every now and then, I check it out just to see what Victor is up to. Mr. Braeden rules and he was a fabulous actor before Y&R - the powers-that-be will show the ultimate in idiocy if they let Mr. Braeden go.
10-01-2009 @ 4:01PM
genoa_city said...
Sign the petition to keep Victor on the show:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savevictornewman
And join us on twitter in our campaign to #SAVETHEMUSTACHE http://twitter.com/genoa_city
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10-01-2009 @ 12:35AM
Twila Sampson said...
Young & Restless without Victor is like Gone with the Wind without Rhett Butler...it wouldn't be the same!
We need Victor and Nicki together again...Please let him stay on the show...or else it's over for me!
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10-05-2009 @ 8:53PM
Pam said...
I agree if they take Victor off I will stop watching it as well, I have been watching Y&R since the beginning and look forward to it everyday. I sure hope that they keep him on the show. A contract is a contract and if they want him to take paycut I think they should wait until his contract is up for renewell.
10-01-2009 @ 2:00PM
shirley kliaman said...
I have watched Y and R for many many years and cannot see the show continuing with Victor. Hope same can be negotiated
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10-01-2009 @ 3:16PM
Pauline Torres said...
How can the writers be so cruel about what happened to Sharon's baby. Maybe with Collen's heart Victor will change but if he doesn't come back it wouldn't be the same without him. I think it is ridicules about the storyline of the baby. Come on do you think the people are stupid about the delivery.
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10-06-2009 @ 6:48PM
Priscilla said...
I'm glad someone else felt like you did. How does having a baby go un noticed by mental hospital employees!??!??? Not one but TWO women go into "labor" and Adam and his creepy doctor friend are the only ones aware of it!!!! How CRUEL to do that baby swith~!!~~~~~
10-06-2009 @ 5:36PM
Lee said...
Eric Braeden should stay as Victor, but the character of Adam, who is pure evil, needs to go. Many viewers are turned off by the baby snatching episode perpetuated by this character and many viewers will leave Y&R if he's not eliminated from this show.
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10-06-2009 @ 6:52PM
Priscilla said...
It's not even worth watching to 'see the thoughtless things' that run thru his evil mind. I don't even like him as an actor!!
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10-07-2009 @ 8:40PM
Diane Perry said...
If they write Eric Braeden out of the show I will stop watching I am so sick of Adam getting away with his crap and his latest taking Sharon's baby and giving it to Ashley. I want them to hurry and find out sharon's baby didn't die and give it back to her.
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10-08-2009 @ 11:31AM
DJB said...
Is the petition working??
Just tried to sign/leave comment and get a blank page after submission. Viewing signatures shows blank, numbered lines??
Anyway.......
Before I ever heard of this underhanded scheme I was discussing with someone how there are certain characters---and there are only a handful, mind you!--that can NEVER be replaced by another actor or actress---not successfully. There is simply no one who could fill their shoes....no one with the same flair, attitude, skill, personna, heart, and give-it-their-all dedication to that character.
The character of Victor Newman is one of these select few characters.
Eric Braeden IS Victor Newman to millions of fans. No one else could possibly take his place in that character, no matter how skilled they may be.
And killing off the character because they couldn't bring him to heel would be such dirty pool. >:o(
Pay the man what you agreed to---his contract should stand until it's time to re-negotiate.
And he is worth every cent.
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10-10-2009 @ 12:26PM
robinsutom said...
I think a mental pt. wrote the story line about Sharon's baby dying. Why would u go to a mental hosp to have a baby!!!I'm also so sick of Adam. Come on this story line has gotten so old. Also with no Victor, there is no Y and R!!!
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10-10-2009 @ 7:49PM
Karen Skidmore said...
Victor should not be written out of Y&R. I have watched "almost" everyday since Y&R came on the air.
Adam is the one that should be written OUT. An as far as one "crazy" person how can you have Adam, Ashley (not even knowing she wasn't having a baby) and Mary Jane all at the same time!!???? Really isn't that a bit much.
It won't be the same if Victor is gone.
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10-11-2009 @ 11:11PM
Patti Brewer said...
Keep Eric on and get rid of Deacon and Adam. Change the idiotic story lines before more viewers are even more insulted by the writing and start dropping off like flies. Phantom pregnancy AND labor???? Delivered by a partially blind man who just happens to have another baby handed to him? And what parent doesn't take time to see their baby, no matter how "deformed" or doesn't even make the arrangements themselves? Then blind man just happens upon baby ashes? Give me a break!
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10-15-2009 @ 2:29PM
Jacqui said...
I have watched Young and Restless since its beginnings. I no longer watch it. Giving Sharon's baby to Ashly was the last straw. Seeing Nick with Phyliss who was as evil as Adam, now supposedly reformed, doesn't make it for me. If Sharon and Nick get their baby back and Nick leaves Phyliss for Sharon, I will watch the show again. For now, I quit. Also, having someone else play Eric Braden's Victor is suicide for the show.
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10-27-2009 @ 12:12PM
Patricia said...
There is no Y & R if victor is killed off. I have been watching this show for over 15 years and so has my family in Guam......... he is the best character and keeps our interest....however, very disappointed when you switch Adam, the new one just cut the cake......
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