Why I like new characters

[kha]

I've been thinking about posters' complaints about too much time given to new characters, and I understand they love their old favorites and want to see them. But here's a another perspective. Longtime characters have been through it all, and with each other. They end up having the same conversation about the same things over and over again. Yawn. Even the actors look bored to me sometimes.

New characters introduce new plots, conversations, and SL opportunities. They shake things up and keep the show fresh. The challenge for the writers is balance, and featuring old and new, so viewers don't miss old favorites but are not bored too. And remember, every old character was new once.

I'm good with Rosales family scenes. I like Lola because every soap needs a sweet young thing. And I think Celeste brings some spark. I'm hoping she's paired with Jack because he really needs some fun in his life.

[Kehinde]

Totally agree with everything you said!

[Chabby lover]

I like New Characters also when they are good new characters when their is something to like about them. Like I love Theo and I do like Celeste and hope they do show her more. I am starting to like Rey a little bit more. I just can't stand Lola she is annoying and hypocritical their is just something about her that I can't stand. I just don't see her as sweet I see her as manipulative.

[Smithey]

I like new characters when they are (1) written well, (2) slowly introduced, and (3) interesting. I thought the Rosales family started out great (I was even a fan of Arturo being Nikki's boy toy). The problem with the Rosales family is that they were piled on too quickly last fall through now. The show needs new characters, but they need to be introduced slowly AND written well.

[GuidingLite]

As usual, I agree with you 100%. I will also add that they need to serve more than one purpose in town, or if that story fizzles, or ends....what from that point on makes them interesting? I would rather not see just a 'love interest for Jack'....I'd rather see 'A strong, independent business woman' who 'comes to town to pitch her company's line of beauty products' to be 'sold at the Grand Phoenix exclusively in GC' and 'happens to run in to her old friend Michael Baldwin who she met in college' - that way she's a character with multiple avenues to story and involvement and integration with existing characters....it seems to me that soap characters are just not written that way any longer - they serve one purpose/one story - Kerry Jones, prime example...Jett Slade, another.....two characters with lots of potential.......and little creativity about them....

[Smithey]

You hit the nail on the head GuidingLite! Personally, it looks like they throw it against the wall to see if they stick. A good example is the young actress who played Ana. Personally, I'm not a fan of "just" a character singing, BUT, if you were to add that this character had an interesting backstory, someone chasing her, Victor was paying her way, etc., then she would have been a great character. As she was, she was pretty on the wall.

You are absolutely correct... little creativity.

[GuidingLite]

Oh my gosh, Ana....wow, what a waste....Fen for that matter, too....what the hell went wrong there? Both of them...

They introduced Ana's father even, and they 'couldn't come up with story for her?'.....um.....really? Yes, running from an abusive ex, who finds out who her brother is and comes looking for money and intimidates her into helping him....Ana becomes Lola's best friend but finds herself SO attracted to Kyle that she considers betraying her friend and trying to seduce Kyle away from Lola....or Kyle and Ana hook up on the side before Lola decides to finally sleep with Kyle - and both K and A agree it's NOTHING but sex for the two of them.....but once Lola finds out.....all hell breaks loose....

There was so much they could have done with her.....

[Zoie1]

I like new characters as well, but I think Soaps have NO idea how balance the new characters with the old.

Right now on Y & R, new characters, new actors playing old characters, or old actors returning to old roles are dominating story. Adam, Lola, Phyllis, Chelsea are all played by cast members who are either brand new, relatively new, or recently returned.

Production companies seem to think 'new' will bring in new, but it hasn't proven to be effective. Almost all soaps that focus on 'new' lose more viewers than they gain. If soaps are to survive, veteran characters should still be carrying at least 75% of the story and air time. If not, older viewers tune out. Use that other 25% to introduce new characters and build their relationships and cultivate their place on the canvas.

Soap bring in someone new, see the audience likes them, then has them on so much that people get sick of them. That's sadly what happened with Lola. Lola is a great character, played by a likable actress, she should be loved by audiences, but... due to them shoving her down our throats, and giving her some silly stories (the purse) to create angst, many viewer have turned on her. Even Adam, played by the capable Mark Grossman, is turning audiences off, not because he isn't liked, but because he is being shoved in every story.

Why can't Adam and Lola drive story at the same time Jack, Traci, Nikki and Michael and Lauren also drive stories at the same time. The show has not had great balance in years. Every once in awhile they'll be a show where the balance is on, and it's like a breath of fresh air, but for me, that happens about only once or twice a month. With 20 shows a month, having 2 with balance is not nearly enough

[DepecheMode_Fan]

It depends on the new characters. Mia and Celeste are dynamic characters who could stick around, whereas Rey and Lola are duds who have overstayed their welcome.

[Rubythroat1]

I agree. I think it takes time to warm up to some characters, and also for the character to find their feet in the show.
I could not stand Kyle when he first came on, now he is one of my faves.
There were very big expectations of Adam...big shoes to fill. He is evolving slowly.
I originally disliked Rey--now I want to see him with a better story.

[Toddfan101]

I've been thinking about posters' complaints about too much time given to new characters, and I understand they love their old favorites and want to see them. But here's a another perspective. Longtime characters have been through it all, and with each other. They end up having the same conversation about the same things over and over again. Yawn. Even the actors look bored to me sometimes.

New characters introduce new plots, conversations, and SL opportunities. They shake things up and keep the show fresh. The challenge for the writers is balance, and featuring old and new, so viewers don't miss old favorites but are not bored too. And remember, every old character was new once.

I'm good with Rosales family scenes. I like Lola because every soap needs a sweet young thing. And I think Celeste brings some spark. I'm hoping she's paired with Jack because he really needs some fun in his life.

I agree with everything that you said. You’ve got to have new people because let’s face it, we’re all getting older...

[CincyLady]

It depends on the new characters. Mia and Celeste are dynamic characters who could stick around, whereas Rey and Lola are duds who have overstayed their welcome.

I especially agree with the bold - and Mia did start to grow on me if they could keep her away from the rest of the family. I don't watch Celeste because she's always with characters I don't care for. Mainly, it definitely depends on who the new characters are and how much they are shoved in my face.

[DOOM]

As others have mentioned, new characters are fine when they’re well written, interesting, and slowly introduced.

With the Rosales family, Mia and maybe Celeste were/are the only ones with any long-term potential.

On the otherhand, you have Rey/Lola/Arturo who were the focus of the show upon arrival and handed more than they deserve. Arturo had a fling with Victor’s wife and then a relationship with a Newman/Abbott child all within his first few months. Rey was an undercover cop handling the JT case, eventually replaced Paul, was presented as a leading character, and got his own set all within his first few months. Lola has been in town less than a year and she is a romantic lead for some reason, married to someone from a core family, handed a great job, has her own set, and worst of all is obnoxiously propped by EVERYONE. And not to mention that all three were/are poorly written, bland, and uninteresting.

[JNLrafamily]

I agree with almost everything you said. Wasn't a fan of Mia, too much mouth and we already have enough of those. lol I loved ELR on AMC but, her character Celeste seems to be a bit too interested in the Abbott money instead of Jack. I cannot stand to even watch the character of Lola at all. JMO

[WorldTurner]

I am fine with new characters if they are introduced well. However I thought Mal did a horrible job introducing the Rosales family. They were isolated too much in their own bubble and dominated too much airtime. It didn't help hearing this was the new Y&R. I thought the introduction of Arturo was awful. Mal said it made Nikki look strong and I could not disagree more. In the age of Me Too, to have her having sex with the construction worked for their company to get the deals they needed was demeaning and degrading. And then suddenly he had a whole family that took over.

New characters need to be introduced more slowly, worked in with the existing cast and gradually give them more airtime.

[pink]

Mal learned REAL quick that was a HUGE mistake with Arturo & Nikki! Then he tried to correct it by making it seem like they had agreed to an open marriage when they never did & that blip that Victor had someone too to save Nikki from it. It was truly a disgusting story! And what also made it disgusting was him showing Nikki having sex with Arturo while Victor was attacked & fighting for his life after. I am SO glad that Tony & Josh wrote him off! I am going to Melody's event next month and cannot wait to hear what she truly thought of the open marriage thing. Neither her nor Eric have made one comment on it.

[DallasGal]

pink Yes! The open marriage was such BS.

[madluv4ya]

I've been thinking about posters' complaints about too much time given to new characters, and I understand they love their old favorites and want to see them. But here's a another perspective. Longtime characters have been through it all, and with each other. They end up having the same conversation about the same things over and over again. Yawn. Even the actors look bored to me sometimes.

New characters introduce new plots, conversations, and SL opportunities. They shake things up and keep the show fresh. The challenge for the writers is balance, and featuring old and new, so viewers don't miss old favorites but are not bored too. And remember, every old character was new once.

I'm good with Rosales family scenes. I like Lola because every soap needs a sweet young thing. And I think Celeste brings some spark. I'm hoping she's paired with Jack because he really needs some fun in his life.

This was perfectly stated.?

[Emerald Greens]

I agree. I am mostly bored with longtime characters with a few exceptions. The need for new blood is important for shows on five days a week.

[Good Kitty]

When I watch the current s/l’s involving the veterans I’m reminded why we need new characters now and then. Otherwise we just get repeats of the same old/same old stories and couplings again and again. They're going to have to introduce new characters so the next generation won't have to end up marrying their half-siblings/cousins, etc My only problem with the introduction of new characters is that some seem to generate so much more hate than others who have done more despicable things.

[mayaandoliver1]

I miss Jett and Ana scenes with Devon and Elena and I love Brytni Sarpy as Elena Dawson and her growth from helping her uncle Jett and from being an EMT to Now being in her residency as a doctor Brytni also knows how to do angst scenes I watched her when she was on gh as Valerie Spencer and her scenes with Anthony Geary as Luke Spencer when he kidnapped her brytni know how to do everything and I love how yr is using her more than when she was on gh