DanJKroll

I think it's sad that MTS didn't take the pay cut. I heard rumors that Susan Lucci did on AMC. I respect her for that, she likes what she does and didn't make money the only reason she does it. MTS shouldn't take it personally, better to do a bit of financial re-adjusting than have the show cancelled because it doesn't make enough money IMO.

Reality is biting hard for everyone these days and that includes soap stars. Melody Thomas Scott has had an enviable 30 year run on Y&R and has given the fans much enjoyment with her outstanding performances. But she must recognize that she is not immune to the cost cutting that is the direct consequence of fewer advertising dollars and lower ratings. Y&R has been playing "hardball" in contract negotiations with their top actors for some time. Josh Morrow said last year that his contract negotiations got "weird." Had he not capitulated, there's no doubt that Nick Newman would have been re-cast or temporarily written off the canvas. Even though she's longtime fan favorite and show staple, MTS is also vulnerable because of her age. Hollywood and the soaps want the 20 and 30somethings. I also believe that MTS' position is more precarious because her husband Ed Scott is no longer the producer. Bottom line: ALL businesses are cutting benefits and costs and reducing their workforce. The soaps are no exception. If MTS and Y&R can't reach an agreement, I'll be sad to see her go, but it's a sign of the times.

I think that it is time for the actors & actresses , or those who haven't caught on yet, to realize that we are in bad financial times... While they are worrying about a salary cut, the rest of the country is worrying about keeping their jobs, keeping their houses, and paying their bills. With her or without her, the show will survive.
I will never forget the film footage I saw years ago in the depression era ... A woman , on the ground , in a corner, on the street. Her face was hidden in shame, and her arm stretched out.... a hand desperately reaching for a generous heart.... extended from her mink coat......

Daffodil ,
for the record, Susan Lucci DID take a paycut. She did
a little news story and told them that she did. (She is a trend setter).

I think you hit on all the right points, Dan. It is a precarious situation for all involved. We also are in no position to know the financial position of any soap actor, but suffice it to say that an actor of MTS's caliber can't be hurting for too much. Still, the more money you have the more you tend to spend. I just hope something can be worked out between the show and MTS.

While it is never fun to listen to the back and forth of contract negotiations, I think that reason has to be involved. For MTS's part, daytime's economics are a serious consideration for what stars are being offered. I understand her not wanting a paycut (who does?) but the realities also need to be considered.

Also, I agree with above posters that the show will continue with or without her.

Arguable, DOOL has become a stronger show without John, Marlena, Steve, and Kayla. It opens up new story possibilities for the whole cast. After 20+ it is very hard to keep coming up with storylines to revolve around these characters.

So maybe long term, Y&R will be a stronger show as some vets move on.

This is an interesting topic and sad news to hear. I do not blame MTS for not wanting to renegotiate her contract or take less money. It's the choice she is free to make and none of us know what is financially viable for her or family. It's quite possible that like one of my former bosses who while in the same situation fought for more money, because she had an assistant and other staff to pay for. Unlike some, 65% percent their salaries came from her where the other 35% was written in her contract.

What's sad is that I think MTS like some of the other veterans are now in storylines that are just rehashing or treading on old history that is stale and boring. How many more times do we need to see the Nikki/Ashley/Victor triangle. We are about to see the revolving Nich and Sharon relationship that mirrors MTS and EB.

Whatever MTS decides, I wish her well and thank her for all that she has brought to the show. I hope thinkgs work out for the best.

Dan,
The soaps are shot in either Hollywood or NYC, right? You say that even with cuts, they should be making" well over $100,000/ year", which means an amount somewhat less than $200,000, I would think.
[B]I don't know how a person could possibly live a good standard of living in either CA or NYC on $100,000 or $200,000 per year[/B].

My spouse makes over $200,000 a year and we don't have any children. We also don't have an opulent lifestyle by any means, either.
We live in a private community in the Dallas/ Fort Worth TX area, where the cost of living doesn't even begin to compare with NYC or CA, but is the highest in Texas.

Regarding Melody specifically. I think she's been the main breadwinner for her family since Ed left DAYS.
I want her back!! That's all I know. I just want MTS as Nicki back.

I don't blame MTS for refusing a paycut or recurring status. She is a lead player, knows her lines and delivers every day.
I can think of more than a few would be actors/actresses who could leave the show-go back to acting school-and not be missed. Not only are their characters unnecessary their work needs a lot of polishing before they will be able to deliver daily.
The bottom line here is what the stockholders/owners are receiving-am guessing that they don't want to take a paycut.

I think that MTS' potential for leaving is a disgrace. She is an integral part of Y&R (and she knows it)!! Can you imagine someone else in that role?? Disaster. She and "Victor" are joined at the hip. I have heard that the "soap" community is dwindling in numbers and if a pay deduction is what is needed - then she needs to take the cut. If she goes it will of course be our loss and eventually, I think she will realize she made a big mistake.

I think MTS is justified in her decision to protest this cut considering her two leading men Eric Braeden & Peter Bergman haven't been asked to take a pay cut. Neither of them is more important than MTS, which means they should be asked to take a cut as well. I'm sure she'll be able to find another role if she doesn't try to come on a show and demand a salary as high as her

It does seem as if only the female stars are being asked to take a pay cut, why not the men as well? Maybe that is another reason why MTS is refusing. I cannot imagine Y&R without Nikki for very long, she is too important in so many story lines. If they recast her character, I will not be watching. CBS has already canceled one soap, they may be killing off another, who knows?

How many people do all of us know that are getting pay cuts, or losing their jobs entirely? These TV actors & actresses are not exempt from reality, are they? She refuses to take a pay cut, but what kind of pay cut will she get from being unemployed?

I bet there's more at stake here than money, no matter how important it is to MTS. If she felt she was being unfairly singled out - or if she felt that her role was going to be diminished along with her paycheck, she may have decided not to play ball.

MTS and Eric Braeden ARE the Y&R! Without them, thousands wouldn't watch anymore. It is not the newbies we tune in for, but the veteran actors on this show. TPTB are being foolish, especially asking for an insulting 40% paycut. Try 15% and see what happens. I haven't seen the number of ads decrease on the show, either.

Melody is entitled to not want to continue to do the same amount of work for 40% less money.

That said, I hope she doesn't need to work.

Did we ever hear what kind of paycut Kim Zimmer eventually took at GL? She refused to take one mid-contract a few years ago and was very vocal about it...rightfully so. But when she re-signed, I assume she was realistic.

Melody is entitled to not want to continue to do the same amount of work for 40% less money.


*******************WOW!!!***********************
If the money is 40% less, that is a big chunk, and I think I would have to walk over to her side!!!

In light of the current economic system, the plights that are befalling many organizations throughout the world, it's hard to say that anyone can or should expect to continue to expect stratospheric salaries for relatively cushy jobs. Susan Lucci makes upward of $5-7 million dollars per year. I can only imagine that 30 years on Y&R would have similar yield. Melody makes in a week what most families of 4 make in a year. The difference is between 7 million and 4 million. It's not like these actors are making $48,000 and looking at a 40% cut or unemployment. Furthermore these cuts come with accordant reductions in hours worked or other benefits to help off-set the cut.

This summer I, and many of my colleagues, will be taking a month off without pay. If I remain for the next academic year, we will be required to take more time off without pay. It's an idea that will save our multi-billion dollar educational system several million dollars. Even doing so, my bills will be due and my work will have to be done. Even doing so, we are still canceling classes and terminating scholarships and admissions for incoming students. Yet, the highest paid salaries, the 10 Chancellor's, will not be reduced or cut in any way. Even though if each of them went 1 month without pay, they could save another person's salary for a year.

To keep Anthony Geary or Maurice Benard or Susan Lucci or any of the other long-term vets, it costs the studio the salary of 10 or more other cast and crew. In the times when advertising budgets are being slashed and people are losing their jobs already, should the studio bargain for 1 person or 10?

Many of the complaints about several soaps is in regard to balance. Sharing airtime. Reducing the airhogs and spreading the storylines among the entire cast. If they cut from the bottom, 10 newer people for every 1 "vet", how long can a soap survive?

As I was reading Dan's article I thought about how in the beginning days of Hollywood and for several decades beyond, how each studio had their "Stable" of actors that were kept on contract and could only act for that studio.

I'm sure nobody in Hollywood could fathom it being done any other way, but things changed drastically and the days of both the big studios and exclusive contracts for actors are just about gone.

I fear the same with the soaps. After the "Classic" vets like Lucci, and Geary and all of the actors that made our soaps for 30+ years are gone, so will the contracts as they are now, will be gone too.

I recently read that ABC is no longer giving long-term contracts, that they will bring in characters for certain story lines and then they'll be gone.

I find the idea of no longer having "Vets" distressing. I already dislike all of the teens and very young 20 somethings and constant newbies that crowd the set and the story lines. I'm slowly losing interest and I hate that. I've been a soap fan since my teens in the 70's.

I was also thinking though, that these changes should not be surprising anymore. It is the way of most corps. now that if you are a long-term employee [making the big bucks] instead of being treasured, you are a liability.

Companies are trying in so many ways to force all of their "Vets" out and hire newbies for a fraction of the wages for the same job. It happened to my husband recently. They replaced his $22 an hr job with a trainee for $7.50 an hr and did that with all of their high earning pressmen.

I really think the days when an employee can retire with the company are done. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that across the country's large Corps's motto's are "Don't keep any of them for long" and the days of an employee working for one company for 20-30 years is well past.

I think that probably the same can be said for future soap fans. I think the way of the 30+ year fan is passing, us Baby Boomers are falling away, sick of the new story lines and are being replaced with fans of the CW Network.

I think I can see all sides here. MTS is a gem in my opinion. She was asked to take a 40% pay cut. 40%! I'm sure she wasn't asked to 40% less work. I understand that revenues are down, but that seems a bit ridiculous. Are the writers, producers, directors, hair dressers, stylists, prop men, etc. being asked to take 40% pay cuts? Doubtful.