Eric Braeden Leaving 'The Young and the Restless'
by Kim Potts, posted Oct 8th 2009 3:19PM
Victor Newman, bidding Genoa City adieu forever? Say it isn't so!Sadly, that seems to be the latest hit to daytime TV, as 'The Young and the Restless' star Eric Braeden, who has played manipulative, sometimes ruthless town gazillionaire and Newman family patriarch Victor since 1980, is leaving the Emmy-winning soap after a contract dispute with 'Y&R' production company Sony.
The star, who's won a Daytime Emmy, People's Choice Award, Soap Opera Digest Awards and a star on the Walk of Fame during his lengthy 'Y&R' stint, will leave the show just as his Victor is being sent off to Europe to rehab from a heart transplant. Braeden's last airdate, barring any last-minute negotiations, will be Nov. 2.
Victor Newman, bidding Genoa City adieu forever? Say it isn't so!Sadly, that seems to be the latest hit to daytime TV, as 'The Young and the Restless' star Eric Braeden, who has played manipulative, sometimes ruthless town gazillionaire and Newman family patriarch Victor since 1980, is leaving the Emmy-winning soap after a contract dispute with 'Y&R' production company Sony.
The star, who's won a Daytime Emmy, People's Choice Award, Soap Opera Digest Awards and a star on the Walk of Fame during his lengthy 'Y&R' stint, will leave the show just as his Victor is being sent off to Europe to rehab from a heart transplant. Braeden's last airdate, barring any last-minute negotiations, will be Nov. 2.
And about the possibility of such a reprieve: Braeden doesn't seem to think it's likely. The actor tells EW.com that he had volunteered to take a pay cut to help the show, but his offer was countered with a demand that he take an even heftier pay cut. He now considers Sony's method of negotiating disrespectful to all that he has contributed to helping 'Y&R' maintain its leading status among daytime dramas.
"There is no appreciation of the fact that I've been an important part of the show for 27 years that has been no. 1 in the ratings. That's extraordinary," says Braeden, the German-born actor (real name: Hans Jörg Gudegast) who also played Robin's (Cobie Smulders) dad on an episode of 'How I Met Your Mother.' "So to be dealt with in a perfunctory matter as if you had just known these people for a few months is what is most offensive. This is a certain corporate culture now that is very deleterious."
Braeden's shocking exit caps what has already been a tough year for the soap genre: 'Guiding Light,' the longest running daytime soap in history, was canceled by CBS and aired its series finale on Sept. 18; 'All My Children' announced that, to save money, it will move production from its New York City home base to Los Angeles; and rumors persist that ABC's 'One Life to Live' and CBS' 'As the World Turns' may be next on the chopping block.
One bright spot in soap land: Big-screen star James Franco's announcement that he'll be joining the cast of 'General Hospital' for a short, but intense run. His first airdate in Port Charles is Nov. 20.
Comments
by Joni Venarchick, posted Oct 8th 2009
This stinks! Sony, WAKE UP !! You are going to lose more viewers thus ad dollars, that any further pay cut woud have been. Don't make such a hirrific mistake You WILL b e sorry. I kow I won't watch anymore and i know of many others who won't be either. You are getting greedy now Sony. We are ot stupid and neither is Eric He can see the greediness coming out too. We Americans are not dumb or blind. Yes with the recession some cuts are necesssaryb ut get rid a few of the bad actors like Deacon, Noah, t6he girl who plays Michales sister and voila' there is the money for Eric. Be creative not stupid.
Reply
by kim, posted Oct 9th 2009
I couldn't have said it better myself. That group (and Amber, Daniel, Kevin, etc.) has been tivo'd since I've had tivo. Sorry. Victor and Nikki leave, so do I, and I have been watching since Victor arrived.
by Dottie, posted Oct 10th 2009
I really agree---take off Adam !! His story line is very unbelievable. So tired of seeing him sneaking around evesdropping on everyone and not being caught.
by CARRIE, posted Oct 12th 2009
I AGREE. I WILLNOT WATCH THE SHOW ANYMORE IF VICTOR LEAVES.
by Damon Tracy, posted Oct 10th 2009
I have been a fan of Eric Braeden and Melody Thomas Scottt..."Victor and Nikki" forever...
They tried this stunt on Melody first and now Eric...They are the top rated stars of daytime television and the show is number one in the ratings...I will not watch the show any more and not buy any of the sponsored products!!!!!!!!
Write C.B.S. and tell them that you will do the same if you are a true fan of the show!!!!!!!!!!
by wanda, posted Oct 10th 2009
Guesss what? There goes the ratings. Like everyone else in America and abroad, we will no longer watch if he dies off the show! Damn all over a few dollars! Now they need to apologize and kiss his A$$...
by Connie Gilley, posted Oct 10th 2009
I have been a fan of Y&R and Eric for the entire run of the show. If they do not stop this madness about Victor leaving, I will NEVER watch the show again, and that is a promise.
by Jo Anne, posted Oct 10th 2009
No, no, no, no Victor can not leave. He is a BIG part of show. I'm wanting to see a 360 now that he has Colleens heart. The Y&R will go off air without him. Adam can go . . . . and Paul's sister . . . Do not lose Victor (Eric)
by Carole Ludiker, posted Oct 10th 2009
Right On!
by Lucy, posted Oct 10th 2009
Beautifully stated! STINKS!!!
by Celtic Colleen, posted Oct 10th 2009
Right on! You've said it all! Why would they get rid of Eric? These young people don't even have an acting background or a future from what I see!
Eric can make you hate him or love him - that takes acting!!!Deacon? He is a nothing! Amber needs to get lost also. They have given her way too many chances!let's get a story line here!!!
by ANN, posted Oct 12th 2009
IF THEY GET RID OF VICTOR, I WILL NOT WATCH THE ADAM, DR TAYLOR, GLORIA(AND BARDWELL), I REFUSE, THAT MEANS WE LOOSE NICKI TOO, ALSO AREN'T WE GETTING A LIL' TIRED OF "POOR" SHARON AND I DON'T LIKE DEACON EITHER.......I SAY KEEP THE ONES THAT HAS KEPT THIS SHOW GOING ALL THESE YEARS, I'VE BEEN WATCHING SINCE I WAS 15 AND THAT IS 32 YEARS, THEY TOOK OUR GUIDING LIGHT, WHAT NOW Y&R, GET RID OF B&B ANYONE AGREE. THANKS FOR LISTENING. ANYWAY WE CAN GET GUIDING LIGHTS LAST 2 WEEKS, HELP,I DONT HAVE TVO AND STARTED A NEW JOB, MISSED IT!! IF YOU COULD JUST EMAIL ME WITH WHAT HAPPENED THAT WOULD BE FINE, EVERYONE NEEDS TO VOTE NOT TO LOOSE OUR FAVORITE PEEPS ON SOAPS, ASAP............
by L. Roberts, posted Oct 14th 2009
SONY! YOU ARE CRAZY AND GREEDY. WE LOVE VICTOR and the Young and The Restless Program. We have watched for many, many years more than 25.
You are disrupting my life with your inability to make the proper decisions regarding Eric Braeden. I eat my lunch everyday (when there is no emergency with my volunteer work) when Victor and the remaining cast appears on CBS. What am I supposed to do with my time? This program allows me to not only eat my lunch, but to gain more energy and breathe easier. This program is FAMILY for us and millions of other people. Get it right, Sony; KEEP VICTOR AND US HAPPY. Remember, you will be the biggest loser if you allow Victor to leave the show. Make a 'U' Turn. That is what our Country and World needs to make everything work better. Stop counting your dollars by putting some value and respect for the people, especially VICTOR (ERIC BRAEDEN. I pray that you will take the right action.
by PM, posted Oct 10th 2009
I so agree. They need to get it together before they lose all of us. What is Y&R without Victor Newman.......They could find a way to keep him if they really wanted to. The problem is when you start aging they want to put you out to pasture. Kind of like Obama wants to do away with all of us "older crowd".
by mary, posted Oct 11th 2009
That's it. If Victor goes I am sooooo done with Y&R. Besides the story line has stunk for the last year. Get new writers.
by Katherine, posted Oct 11th 2009
I agree. I don't know if I'll continue watching without Victor. He makes the show. What they should do is get rid of that Adam character. He's character has been up to no good for too long. I'm sick of him. Give Sharon and Nick back their baby. That is a sorry storyline, I can't believe that they let Adam do this when Victor is so ill.
by O. fULLER, posted Oct 10th 2009
I absolutly agree!!! if victor leaves--i go with him. I've watched Y&R since i was a child with my mother. What do those people think they are doing??? Running people away is what they are doing.
by Delta Bob, posted Oct 10th 2009
Joni speakes for me as well. The Young & Restless appears to be run by the Old and Stupid. So long Sony. Not only will I NOT watch, an Eric Braeden less Y&R, but I will immediately begin to replace the many Sony products in my home including music and video recordings, television sets, photography equipment. You want to play hard ball with Eric? If just a fraction of the dedicated Y&R fans follow my lead, let's see just how much net savings there is to the Sony Bottom line. You may find that you could have given Eric everything he asked for and still come out dollars ahead. DO NOT BUY SONY!
by Susie, posted Oct 10th 2009
Eric, if you're reading this, I'm behind you 100%. My Grandmother got me hooked on this show when I was 10 and have been watching it religiously for 27 years now! If they don't appreciate your sacrifice and years of commitment to the show, I bid thee farewell and wish you the best of luck in life; you deserve it! Just know that if and when you leave, I'm right behind you.
by Beth, posted Oct 10th 2009
I'm done with Y&R if Victor is gone.....the show has sucked since bringing the Adam character on and all these young characters.....