Eric Braeden, the star of CBS’s Sony TV-produced soap, “The Young and the Restless,” is leaving the show after 27 years. Maybe.
This is the third time this year that Sony and CBS tried to force a pay cut on a show principal and longtime veteran player. In the other two cases, the actresses settled hostile negotiations and returned.
That might happen here, but things don’t look so good right now. CBS just knocked off “Guiding Light” after 200 years on TV. They’re eyeing an end to the 53-year-old “As the World Turns.” That started by refusing to negotiate in 2008 with that show’s star, Martha Byrne. She’s gone, and so are the viewers. Getting rid of Braeden would be like puncturing a balloon and letting all its air out. Will it still fly? CBS would hope not. If ratings slide, they can begin to make a case for cancellation.
CBS is not alone. Last year, NBC dumped “Days of Our Lives” star Deidre Hall, who’d been on the show since Lincoln was elected. Over at ABC, fans actually know and despise the name Brian Frons, the network’s head of daytime television, who’s moving “All My Children” to Los Angeles on the show’s 40th birthday in effort to ditch certain highly paid, New York-centric actors.
An actor from “AMC” recently told me that Frons is obsessed with one actress who had the left the show because she lived in Los Angeles. “He paid her a million dollars to return for a year,” the source said. “Now he’s moving the whole show out there hoping she’ll come back.” A rumor is also rampant that Frons wants to cancel “One Life to Live,” his best-written, acted and directed soap.
As for Braeden, he started playing mysterious tycoon Victor Newman when Gerald Ford was president. The show’s been No. 1 ever since then.
Like most veteran soap actors, Braeden’s devoted his life to the show. It’s a double-edged sword. Soap actors get typecast, and work 18-hour days, so it’s not so easy to find other work. The shows become comfortable for them, but at the same time, the shows need them. The networks or production companies owe more to Braeden and the handful of remaining stars (Susan Lucci, Erika Slezak, etc.) than the actors do to them.
Soap actors rarely complain in public or even have publicists. One actor told me: “It’s an insular world. If you say anything bad, you could get fired. So no one speaks up.” The result is that they get little respect. They live in an alternate celebrity universe even though they probably have higher fan recognition than most indie movie actors.
Frankly, if I were an actor on one of the remaining shows, I’d contact my union rep, get a publicist, and start talking. Soon it may be too late.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:50 am
How could they do that to Eric? No one else could ever be Victor!
October 14th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Y&R will NEVER be the same…
October 14th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Wow, unlike the other actors (”show was on for 200 years; actress on since Lincoln”), you actually gave us ACCURATE information: Braeden was on the show since the FORD generation! Such exaggeration, Roger!
October 14th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
It is unfortunate what the networks are doing to soap operas and forcing out actors who have put the shows on the map and made the networks a lot of money. If they continue to do this, the networks will suffer the consequences they cannot afford: losing more viewers, cutting cost by putting on more shows that do not attract an audience (sorry Jay Leno) and the vicious cycle continues. I wouldn’t be suprised if things get too bad they will come knocking on the door of all the “older” estabilished famous actors they put out to pasture to put their netowrks back on track again.
October 14th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Here, here! You’ve got it *exactly* right. The idea that Victor Newman will be gone and several ridiculous characters that nobody cares about remain is insane. I’ve already deleted it from my TiVo.
October 14th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
What are you trying to do CBS & Sony? Eric is the Y&R. Do you hope that we all stop watching so you can put another stupid game show on. If Victor wants to leave on his on let him do it his way and on his time. He and the rest of the cast made the show #1 for you.Be proud. We are. We do not need another gameshow or reality show. It is not time for Victor to leave yet. He has so much he has to do and one is to keep Collins memory alive.
October 14th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Baloney! The soaps main advertisers have cut their advertising, leaving the soaps up the creek. They don’t have the money to pay for these OLD actors, with their OLD audience. PLUS, the plot lines are so crazy, people are leaving for the Judge Judy type shows, which have proliferated, while the soaps have lost viewers.
October 14th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
It would be very interesting for someone to do a poll of former soap viewers to try to determine exactly why they are a dying breed. Their demise represents a cultural shift in this country.
I used to watch GL, Y&R, ATWT, Days, AW, OLTL — flipping back and forth between channels. The last one I watched on and off was Passions. The whole format just seems antiquated. It’s sad.
They’re all going to be out of work soon enough.
October 14th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Without Victor Newman ( as in Eric Braeden) the show has lost it’s
attraction . ERIC BRAEDEN IS THE STAR OF THAT SHOW .
No one could ever replace him as Victor Newman and I would not watch the show any longer .
I am a long time loyan fan .
October 14th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
I had been watching ABC Soaps for almost 30 years. One of the reasons I stopped watching was because of Mr. Frons and his obsession with certain actress’ on each soap. He also abused the veteran actors/actress. As a viwer I have no respect for a man like this. He seems to only want his little select favorites front and center on the show and you can see how that has worked so well that their ratings are failing. No viewer wants his plot point driven stories (vision) , they want character driven stories with characters that they enjoy to watch, ones they can relate too. Viewers have left these shows because they are tired of watching storylines that are rubbish/sleaze. Let’s not forget viewers do not like when you write their favorites out of character to pimp Mr. Frons pet.
I do beleive that Mr. Braeden deserves respect from the show he has stayed with all these years. He is one the greats in this buisness.
October 14th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
If any ABC soap should be canceled it’s General Hospital. I tuned out for a number of years when they first started pushing the characters sonny and Jason down our throats and when I recently went back to watching it’s the same boring crap. I now hate what used to be my favorite soap. GENERAL Hospital should be renamed to Mob central or the Sonny and Jason show. I will only be tuning in for Jonathan Jackson and James franco but if I get one hint of Mob or sonny/jason crap I’m out!
October 14th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
I think that alot of people quit watching soaps because alot of the core characters have been let go. Soaps are supposed to be that one or two hour getaway for the at home moms/retirees. That “love in the afternoon” that we so enjoyed. Now it’s been replaced with stories that have no story,no foundation, no core families/characters, and absolutely no balance.Storylines aren’t finished, longtime characters are assasinated,and turned into something we don’t even recognize, or replaced with subpar actors that are nothing but glorified strippers/hookers,no offence to strippers/hookers, as I’m sure you do a better job than some of the actors I’ve seen on the shows. If Frons is trying to destroy soaps, he’s doing a wonderful job. Bravo to ABC Disney for allowing Brian Frons to continue to replace great soaps, core families and characters, with violence and smut,just for the sake of smut.This is daytime soaps, not primetime.The downside of Frons destruction of our beloved soaps, is that we know who signs his checks.It all trickles down.The viewers will quit watching, ratings/demos will drop, advertisers will stop buying airtime ABC will lose more revenue,soaps will get cancelled and alot of good actors will have to look elsewhere,and the others will just go back to doing centerfolds,peepshows, or standing on a corner . But with Frons still at the helm at daytime,I suppose ABC doesn’t care about the viewers, until it starts affecting Primetime. It all comes full circle. Primetime soaps had a beginning, and that would be the daytime soaps that Brian Frons is completely destroying. It’s not archaic soaps, it’s bad writers, or the idiot in control.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:32 am
Eric Braeden is one of the very best actors on daytime television (I think he is the best) and has been very dedicated to making the show #1 for all these years and what does he get in return? A stab in the back for starters (watch out other actors on this show) without so much as a thank you. The suits & big shots at Sony & CBS are making a serious mistake and they will experience a sunami of a backlash from the fans. Get ready you idiots. Thank you Eric Braeden for telling them to shove it. You have given your fans 29 years of wonderful acting and you will be sorely missed. Good Luck to you in your future endeavors. Thanks again. NO ONE ELSE COULD ever play Victor Newman. I wonder who will be left to turn out the lights???
October 15th, 2009 at 7:28 am
I think it is awful the way that Sony is treating these soap opera actors. I would venture a guess that Sony, which is tied to Days of our Lives, got rid of Deidre Hall in much the same way as Eric Braeden. Deidre Hall was Days for so many years, just like Eric Braeden is Y & R. Tremendous losses for both shows and a really mean way to treat these stars who made them so much money. The networks have lost so many viewers, I think with moves like these they’ll lose even more — I don’t watch anymore and I grew up on these soaps.
October 15th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Eric Braeden began playing “Victor Newman” on Y&R in 1980…when Jimmy Carter (not Gerald Ford) was president. And Y&R has been consistently #1 in the daytime ratings race since 1988–not “since (Braeden joined the show in 1980).” This article reads more credibly when facts are used.
October 16th, 2009 at 2:11 am
Soaps are not dying. That is a myth. Realty TV does not require you to think; soaps have substance. TV exec are dumbing down television. Soap deal with a myriad of relevant social issues and superficial one also. Talk shows, fluff shows, and realty shows have replace movies and now seem to be replacing soaps. As these shows take over television viewers will pushed from regulars stations to either cable or viewing shows on home computers (where they can select whichever show they chose to watch as opposed to have the show programed for them). Consumers no longer have choices now the men in suits are choosing and ignoring the consumer base. Consider how many show are pulled before a consumer can really find out it they like the show.
October 16th, 2009 at 11:44 am
I agree with Paul, part of the problem is the format of soaps is very antiquated. Who wants to watch people for 5 days a week in a poorly lit, cheaply decorated set that looks like 1980? Daytime programming would be better served to reduce the number of soaps and airtime, up production values on what’s left over, AND INVEST IN GOOD CREATIVE WRITING. The resurging sitcoms like Modern Family and Cougar town look realistic, expensive, AND are well written. (Ellen Wheeler’s attempt at making Guidling Light look more realistic doesn’t count…she had less $$$ than a porn producer to film with).
October 16th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
I’m only watching now until Eric’s last air date, then I’m outta here. There’s no show without TGVN no matter how evil he is. That’s why we watch you Sony fools. Maybe you’ll get it when the show tanks.
October 16th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
I’m only watching this mess until Eric’s last airdate. That will be my last date as a viewer. Watching this show was a daily highlight and the source of friendly gossip and debate with other soapsters for 30+ years. Without Eric there is no show. I don’t care how evil he is. We love our TGVN. Maybe bonehead sony will catch a clue when their show falls to the bottom of the ratings board. We viewers should boycott the show in protest. We’ve put up with this super stupid story lines, Ashley who is dumber than a box of rocks. Adam, the blind man that dials cell phones swaps babies and negotiates business deals while supposedly being blind as a bat, the tired Phick/Shnick, eight shades of crazy Patty and the death of core characters like Brad and Colleen. Now we can’t even have our Victor fix. I’m done. I hope that they don’t do this to Katherine and Jack. they are the only bright spots left.
October 16th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
The genre seems to be suicidal. I used to be an ATWT viewer. Martha Byrne was showed the door, and frankly I just lost interest. She was the heart of the show. Braeden is similarly positioned at Restless. CBS would be wise to do whatever it takes to keep him.
October 16th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
The actor Eric Braeden stated it wasn’t a decrease in salary that he objected to – it was the manner in which he was notified (mid contract – for an immediate reduction) and that the Sony lawyer was extremely disrespectful. So I can’t blame him.
The character Victor Newman is more that your run of the mill soap hero/villian. Nearly every current story radiates from Victor. His character is unique and the show will certainly suffer if he does not return. Letting him go = killing the show.
October 17th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Couldn’t disagree with you more! I totally disagree with the idea that ratings would fall once Braden is gone. Good riddance! I have been watching Y&R for over 20 years and my viewing had nothing to do with Braden. I could care less if he never was shown again. They can get rid of the entire scooby gang along with him.
Let Adam be the new Victor. Michael Muhney acts worlds around Braden.
October 17th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
You made some interesting points. Between the dismal writing/storylines and treatment of the actors, it looks like the network is deliberately trying to sabotage the show in order to force cancellation. I hope another network picks it up. However, all of the networks seem to be acting the same way. It looks like the networks are tying to force more reality crap down our throats. It’s cheaper for them I guess. Hard to find people with any integrity anymore. Yeah, Soaps are mindless television, but with all the stress everyone has in their lives these days it’s fun to take our minds off of our own problems for an hour and watch someone else’s life. Soaps offer this because they are fake and we know it. Reality tv is fake too but it’s sad to watch because it’s REAL people acting so abhorrently (for the most part). I don’t want to watch that. I don’t need to see someone fail in order to make me feel better. So when it’s an actor like Eric Braeden playing a part it’s fun to watch, even if we hate Victor Newman. I stopped watching when Ashely and Sharon’s babies were switched. I am watching again but only until Novemeber 2nd, Eric’s last day. There will be plenty of tears. Eric I wish you the absolute best and am proud of you for sticking to your principles.
October 18th, 2009 at 10:39 am
The decline of soaps is not caused by a cultural shift. It is due to crappy storytelling that does not appreciate family & stayed stuck in the 70’s. How is it that Erica Kane can have an abortion in 1973 & thirty years later her lesbian icon daughter Bianca has to keep the child of a rape so as not two damage her angelic character and be PC? Now she is saddled with two Cambias kids (the other with her sister’s husband) because that is moron Chuck Pratt’s idea of romance. Who can stand to watch this idiocy five days a week? Soaps are PC. The rest of reality daytime & primetime are not. Any questions?
Regarding Eric Braeden’s exit from Y&R, soaps can survive anything if it is well written and acted. Victor Newman should die off or onscreen. This would pit Adam against Nick and Victoria for control of Newman Enterprises. Nikki and Ashley obviously would take opposites sides. If Nick asks ex-stepfather Jack for help, this would force Jack to choose between his sister and one of the loves of his life. If Billy, Neil or Jill want to get into the war, this would have at least 9 character with storyline for a few years. Can you imagine all of this characters owning a part of Newman Enetrprises? Storytelling heaven for Maria Bell!
October 19th, 2009 at 9:39 am
I love Eric Braden and his portrayal of Victor Newman on Y&R. Sony is stunningly stupid to let him go. It does seem as though the networks want to get soaps off the air so that they can shove talk shows, reality shows and game shows down our throats. Well, I for one won’t be watching any of that junk; I’d rather read a book.
Although EB has been on Y&R for a very long time, it’s only been since 1980 and the show has only been #1 since 1989, due in large part of course to EB’s portrayal of Victor Newman.
October 19th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
I completely agree with this article. I only recently started watching Y&R & GL before it was cancelled. I applaud Mr. Braeden for speaking out. And, I also agree that the ABC soaps are THIS CLOSE to being cancelled and this falling directly on Brian Frons’ shoulders. How he still has a job is beyond me. He has repeatedly refused to listen to what the fans WANTS versus what HE wants. I also agree that he has his “pets” that he panders too. I used to love GH, but his constant meddling with the writers & his behind-the-scenes power play/struggles have reuined what was once a legendary soap. You can NOT rewrite a soap’s history or rewrite a character’s history without feeling the backlash of those fans who have been watching for years. You can’t use stunts, explosions & gimmicks to keep viewers. Fans want romance, not sleazy booty calls, they want to see committed relationships, multi-generational, multi-cultural families, strong, independant, intelligent women, not those boardering on hooker status . We don’t want to see children shot in the head, kidnapped, or switched at birth & teens running rampant with no role models. We want to see the end of dumbing down of male leads. And, please keep the veterans like Eric Braeden, Susan Lucci, Erika Slezak, Stuart Damon, Leslie Charleston, John Ingle, Jeanne Cooper etc. I am appalled at what ABC has done to AMC. I have no faith that they will do right by OLTL either. It all comes down to trust–and I wouldn’t trust TPTB for a second of my vewing time. I have chosen to Vote with my Remote when it comes to ABC. JMHO
October 21st, 2009 at 8:34 am
Hey, does anyone remember PORT CHARLES and SEARCH FOR TOMORROW? Both soaps got Emmy noms, both shows were at the bottom of the ratings heap, both shows got better in their final years by getting back to basics, both shows improved on their writing and concepts, both shows didn’t win Emmys in their final years, both shows were at networks whose daytime was helmed by Brian Frons, both shows got a big “thumbs up” from Frons…both shows were cancelled by Frons just as people began to tune in.
Soaps can survive anything if they have good writing. As for Martha Byrne, she WALKED, not shown the door because her negotiations weren’t going well, so ATWT auditioned a replacement just in case. And didn’t earlier this year Melody Thomas Scott and Jess Walton had tense negotiations with Sony only to have new deals signed?
Eric Braeden has EVERY RIGHT to be angry. If his contract expired in 2010, then it should be honored. If he walks away, this could be a weatershed moment for the show. As a previous poster had said, it’s storyline heaven waiting in the wings if it is done well.
However, the one component that is making a lot of people tune out is the one the networks are ignoring: multi-generational storytelling. I got a friend hooked on SEARCH FOR TOMORROW because he liked how Jo and Stu were used in the storylines and not just brought out every few months – got that, Leah Laiman? They want to see the vets more as well as the younger set working with them.
THIS is why Y&R has been #1 and OLTL is getting raves because they are currently best at this storytelling.
October 21st, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I SO completely agree with “cubwriter” about AMC and especially Erica Kane’s 1973 abortion storyline. I stopped watching when that abortion was effectively undone by having a crazy fertility doctor somehow save the embryo and implant it into his wife, thereby taking away the “choice” of the woman having the abortion.
Also, I wonder why in today’s economy with so many people unemployed, soaps’ ratings across the board haven’t surged higher instead of hitting the bottom. I haven’t been able to get work all year and I’m grateful for any original, written, dramatic or comedic programming. I WILL NOT watch “reality” TV, ever. It’s an insult to all the talented people who work in television.
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:59 pm
on the bright side, maybe Braeden will have more time to play Robin’s Dad on HIMYM
October 29th, 2009 at 11:46 am
There is no other Victor. He makes the show a long with the other cast members. I know they need to bring in younger people to relate to the a younger audience but dumb blondes is not the way to go on a class show. Their writers are getting weeker as well. I applaude Eric for standing up for his views and hope his contract is settled and he stays on.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Sorry, but am I the lone person that feels like the networks are kind of on the right track in order to save the soaps? Actors that have been on soaps since the stoneage have HUGE salaries that put a stranglehold on the shows and the networks. It’s not wonder that network execs are sweating bullets trying to figure out how to work in budget cuts when actors like Eric Braedon who are older than dirt command millions. This is only ONE actor in a sea of many. And where does that leave room for new talent? Where is it written that you HAVE to keep these hacks anyway? I couldn’t stand Victor Newman in the 70s and 80s, and I can’ stand him now. Will he EVER date someone who is age appropriate for him? It’s kind of like watching a child molestor at work. Ugh! I don’t like network execs and their tactics. But I also find it ridiculous that actors who have been around for 15, 20, and perhaps even 30 years have a strangle-hold on their own show’s budget due to their exorbitant salaries. It’s time to make room for new blood and new stories. There’s only so much story in one person, and there are only so many people in town that you can marry or kill. No wonder the stories have gotten stale and resorted to aliens and the like. What else can you do with a character that’s been around since fire was invented?