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Are Men Portrayed As Doofuses On Daytime Dramas and Commercials? Y&R's Eric Braeden Weighs-In!

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Now here is a subject that we have often thought about over the years when watching our favorite daytime dramas unfold!  We don’t think many of you wouldn’t agree that many, many times the male characters are either in the dark in the situation with their on-screen leading lady, or with all the signs right in front of them, they can’t figure out the mystery, what their love-mate is up to, or that they are being tricked in to bed, or that they are being duped into being a baby’s bi0-dad, and the list goes on and on!

Now, the very outspoken icon of The Young and the Restless Eric Braeden (Victor Newman) brings that up in a new interview with TV Guide Magazine’s Michael Logan how in our popular culture, particularly in commercials, how men can be dumbed down, and also how he believes there should be mutual respect in a relationship between two people, something that isn’t currently happening between Y&R’s Nikki and Victor!

When discussing the upcoming first anniversary of Victor and Nikki’s (Melody Thomas Scott) fourth marriage on March 24th, and that the on-screen duo is having pretty big problems between them these days, and that Nikki has had it with Victor, Braeden responded: “And he’s had it with her! That’s what I resent about popular culture in America! Why is it always the woman who has had it with the guy? There’s a tendency in this country — dictated by revenue — to make men look like a——s. They do that in order to sell products to women. Look at most commercials! The men are portrayed as schmucks! As boobs! As doofuses! The kids are smarter than the men. The wives are smarter. It happens in comedy series all the time, too. The man is the idiot and the woman is always raising her eyebrows or rolling her eyes in exasperation. I resent the hell out of that and it ain’t gonna happen with me and my character!”

Later when discussing that Nikki has been getting the last word in confrontational scenes with the mighty Victor, Braeden exclaimed: “It is getting too much! I would not tolerate that in my personal life. I believe in the equality of sexes. I discuss everything with my wife. There’s not a major decision I make without consulting with her and vice versa. There must be mutual respect. But for Victor to stand there like a schmuck and let Nikki have the last word? I don’t like that. There is this underlying presumption in some of the scripts that the women have the upper hand. No! I resent that!”

So, do you agree with Eric Braeden? Are women getting the upper hand on their men in daytime dramas?  Do many of the male characters come off like idiots? What do you think of how Victor and Nikki’s relationship is portrayed?  Weigh-in!

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I get what Eric Braeden is saying but he needs to watch B&B, where Ridge’s past is never brought back and thrown in his face the way Brooke’s is. I sat through weeks of B&B having Ridge and Katie tell Brooke that she’s the one who’s been wrong, trampy, egotistic, needy, amoral, etc. All that may be true but it doesn’t change the fact that over the years, Ridge has done some pretty awful things, too, and a new actor with a different face doesn’t change history. If B&B called Ridge out on his past and his mistakes as often as they do Brooke, I’d enjoy the show more. I guess I agree with Mr. Braeden and wish for more equality on B&B, but from the woman’s POV.

Eric Braeden ”I resent the hell out of that and it ain’t gonna happen with me and my character!”

LOL poor man..
He believes he is Y&R and it his way or no way, is the way I see it..
I totally understand how EB and MM would be at ”fisticuffs” lol

JPF and higher-ups will bow to EB, as always..

Anyways– Eric Braeden is an actor hired to act out what is written for him to portray not be king of Y&R and strong arm people..
Guess he feels he needs to be #1 in all dealings..

Braeden should keep his mouth shut. His comments are a constant reminder of his huge ego and arrogance. He acts like Victor Newman and obviously treats people the same. His foul-mouthed comments show just the kind of person he really is.

Can you imagine having to work with this guy all of the time? UGH.

RIGHT ON, Sammie…AGREED!!!!! That insufferable Eric Braeden reminds me of the typical bully (from a playground) who NEVER GREW UP!!!!! Beyond sad.

I couldn’t agree more. When that Bully comes on it’s either Mute button, bathroom brake, or making of a cup of tea.

DAYS E.M. is jumping up and down screaming his head off!!! “Yes”!!!

Very smart man!! You go Eric!!

Oh, I’m sorry. For once Victor Newman isn’t the puppet master of a situation and Nikki is finally having the last word in confrontations instead of being verbally abused- you’re right, Eric Braeden, what a travesty!

Give me a break! MEN, especially on Young and the Restless, are portrayed as “schmucks”? Victoria was just cheated on, Chloe lost her child so she automatically went crazy, Chelsea has lost any backbone she once had, Jill is being played like a fiddle, Summer has no sense of survival or growth, and, finally, we come to Sharon Newman, who the writers have completely destroyed, while using a serious, mental disorder like bipolar as the non-creative solution.

Oh and Victor isn’t being informed of every action? I’m sorry, when did he mention to Nikki that he hired a look-a-like of their DEAD GRANDCHILD to torment the mother of his grandchildren?

Eric Braeden really should consider what he says before he speaks otherwise the only man being shown as a “doofus” is himself.

Great post! Eric Braedon really is Victor Newman. He seems to be pouting over TGVN getting set up (hopefully) for a long overdue fall. And he doesn’t follow the story? How does an actor not follow a show he you know, acts in? Unbelievably arrogant.

Right On!

I think characters in general are lacking intelligence because the writers aren’t are good as they were in soaps heyday. Its often the case characters whom we are expected to believe are highly educated and affluent are going along with asinine scenarios that paint them as idiots. I don’t see that trend going away soon.

I watch Y&R regularly and its full of eye rolling WTF’s. But to go on social media and voice concern seems futile as head honchos seem to chalk off criticism as complaining. I think HW, EP’s and head of networks would be thrilled if every fan turned a blind eye to the discrepancies in storytelling and blow as much hot air as they do about how “good” they think these shows are. I complain because too many stories and scenarios have holes in them you could drive a mack truck through. Also at the warped speed at which stories are now told logic and common sense often take a back seat to moving plot along. If Eric is worried Victor is being made to look a fool he should know he’s not alone. Dylan McAvoy is great example of a dumb character they are selling as the ultimate nice guy hoping most fans will overlook that he’s a dip shit.

I’d love to sit down with Angelica McDaniel and discuss why most fans aren’t jumping of board with current Y&R but I think she drinks the kool-aid just like the people she oversees.

Well said.

I often felt that the two daytime shows with the most masculine perspectives were GH and Y & R. In a market created with women in mind, it is interesting that these shows are two of the last still standing. Sonny Corinthos and Victor Newman are the alpha males characters that define their perspective shows.

Erica Kane, Dorian & Victoria Lord, Rachael Cory, Lucinda Walsh…… Nearly every other long-lasting serial had a woman’s soul defining it.

Please read the entire interview I feel so sorry for people who have to work with this man. I read the interview to my husband and his quote was utter arrogance for a guy who has mumbled for 30 plus years.

So true. I can’t fathom having to put up with his ego day-in and day-out. He’s beyond belief. What kind of horror must he be like to work with? Awful.

I see it a lot on Days. Brady Black is a prime example. Don’t get me started on EJ’s current storyline. Another baby story? Just no. By now he has to know where babies come from.

“But for Victor to stand there like a schmuck and let Nikki have the last word? I don’t like that. There is this underlying presumption in some of the scripts that the women have the upper hand. No! I resent that!”

Makes me wonder if Mr. Braeden is acting or just being himself on the show.

EB shouldn’t take it personally, there is a general dumbing down of both sexes on television – if he thinks women are getting a better deal tell him to watch any of the Real Life of Housewives reality shows, or any reality show on TLC for that matter.

As for commercials the day when I don’t have to watch a woman having an organism over her shampoo, or crying because her dishes aren’t sparkling clean or see a beer commercial without at least one half naked lady in it, then I might have sympathy for the odd ad that has a man acting like doofus.

As for Victor he is a fictional character who is anything the writers write him to be including a smuck and EB gets paid handsomely to bring that smuck to life. He can go home at the end of day and be whatever he wants to be in his real life, but on the show he is paid to portray what they give him.

So well said…i always love reading your comments…current tv, especially the reality shows like you mention have dumb down America and made both sexes doofuses…i pray for the next generation!!!

Whoops, don’t know what a smuck is or maybe my spell check missed it, but I meant schmuck.

What an arrogant man!!!!!! Has he stopped to really comprehend the disgusting, criminal, and downright sociopathic things his character has done recently?? Damn right someone else NEEDS to have the last word with Victor Newman!!!!! Man or woman. Preferably it will involve a baseball bat, a rolled up persian rug and an anchor!! This is a disgusting perverted character who has been married 15 times. He has tamperes with a mentally ill woman’s meds. He blackmailed his own son witth the knowledge that he killed a child for his own personal gain. He has hired a lookalike of a deceased child to torment her mother who is still grieving. It sounds like Mr. Braeden actually believes that these actions are somehow justifiable and honourable. His character should be broken, isolated, and ostracized by all of Genoa City for his most recent reign of terror. This is not the first time he has used mentally ill women to accomplish his cruel goals. Women like Sharon are victimized and turned into punching bags and pariahs, while men like Victor and Sonny Corinthos get away with all of their crimes, and even find a way to make themselves look like victims. Mr. Braeden’s righteous indignation is almost as scary as Victor’s….and possibly moreao because he is real and Victor isnt!

God only knows what he sees when he looks in the mirror, because it doesn’t in any way reflect reality.

I hope some woman in his life – or on the show – tapes his mouth shut, for all our benefit.

Mr. Mumbles really should just not be allowed out without an attendant.

The part of what he said that I completely agree with is in regards to commercials – men are portrayed like idiots in most commercials, and the women as the all-knowing, long suffering heroes of the family. I get what he is saying and if I were a man, I would be insulted by most of the commercials I see too.

lol… he sounds just like his character!

Perhaps he is !!
MM always had big problems with EB when he would ad-lib or off-script , constantly ..
That is the main reason the two did not get along,, EB did it his way.. ad-lib or off-script his lines and that messed up MM acting his lines….
So Victor and Eric Braeden might be entwined..

Good for him, because he’s right and it is sickening. Look at the men on B&B… Liam in particular. He was dumped by Hope for his brother, and he’s still chasing her. Why? Bill was dumped by Brooke for Ridge, and he begs her to take him back every day. Why? A major secret floated around FC for weeks without CEO Eric knowing, and when he did find out he fired no one, and allowed a thief to keep his job as well. Why, because it would hurt Hope’s feelings? Brooke, Hope, Katie and now Quinn currently call all the shots on that series.

EVEN THO I DON’T LIKE NIKKI ,IT IS TIME SHE HAD THE UPPER HAND WITH THIS SOCIOPATH ,AND ITS TIME EB RETIRED,

Hat eot even say this but it seems the women are the doofuses. If I were Nikki or Brooke or Hope (or any Logan!) some of the others on screen (who these days seem to don a white dress and walk down the aisle as soon as man calls her name!), I would not keep running back to these very flawed men. Heck, girls, kick off those heels and RUN! I would love to see a storyline when the women says to the man it will not work again, so do not even try. She can say, “It’s my turn! And it will be my way!”

I agree with Mr. Braeden’s comments. Commercial TV portrays men as fools.

If the shoe fit’s !!! It’s about time men found out what it is like to play the dummy.

Eric Braeden is right, women ALWAYS get to call the shots in these divorces and then the guy ends up penniless! Look at that winch Heather Mills, she took Paul McCartney to the bank in their divorce. For what, how many Beatles songs did she ever write? She was a gold digger! I guess its okay because Paul has millions? What about the blue collar guy who gets taken to the cleaners because his wife wakes up one day and says their marriage is over. Eric is right, its damn time the guys get a chance and be treated as equals!

Just once I want to see E.B. go to jail for his games & the next time he calls Billy Billy Boy I would like to see Billy call him Bully Boy!

He is so right about the way men are portrayed on sitcoms.
Everybody Loves Raymond, The King Of Queens, etc.
Just two that came to mind. Debra and Carrie ruled the roosts
bigtime, and the men too often were “in trouble” with their
wives for one reason or another. Ugh.

General Hospital

Tristan Riggs is General Hospital’s New Aiden

Looks like there is another new actor in the younger set on General Hospital. Tristan Riggs is taking over the role of Elizabeth Webber’s (Rebecca Herbst) son, Aiden.

Previously, Enzo De Angelis played the part of Liz and Lucky’s (formerly Jonathan Jackson) son since 2021. Soap Opera Digest confirmed that Riggs is now firmly in the part.

The switch happened on today’s Thursday May 2nd episode in scenes. Recently, Aiden came out as gay to him mom after admitting his interest in one of his classmates.

Photo: ABC

As Riggs begins in the part, it looks like Aiden is being bullied at school. Elizabeth is trying to get to the bottom of things and made an appointment with school counselors to find out what’s going on, after seeing his book bag had pink paint on it.

Riggs has been acting since he was 7-year-0ld and has appeared on the TV series Walker, True Lies and Best Foot Forward to name a few.

So, what do you think of Tristan Riggs as the new Aiden? Do you hope Aiden’s story becomes more front and center? Comment below.

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Interviews

(WATCH) B&B’s Katherine Kelly Lang and Annika Noelle Talk Lead Actress Emmy Nominations and Brooke and Hope’s Mother/Daughter Relationship

Two of The Bold and the Beautiful’s leading ladies, Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke) and Annika Noelle (Hope), are in the running for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series at the upcoming 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards.

Original series star Lang, along with Noelle, play mother and daughter on the series, which makes for an interesting dynamic on-screen and off. For Katherine, this marks her fourth Daytime Emmy Acting nomination. She previously won a producer Emmy for Venice the Series, and for Annika, this is her first Lead Actress nomination after previously scoring a nod in the Supporting Actress category.

On B&B, Brooke and Hope have had a rocky road this past year, with Brooke disapproving of Hope giving into her feelings and desires for Thomas (Matthew Atkinson), and the dissolution of her marriage to Liam (Scott Clifton). Meanwhile, Hope watched Brooke have marital troubles with Ridge (Thorsten Kaye), in part to Taylor (Krista Allen), only for her to win him back.

Photo: HutchinsPhoto

The two actresses chatted with Michael Fairman for an exclusive livestream interview this week on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel where they shared their thoughts, reactions and scenes from their nominated reels, how they see the current climate between Brooke and Hope, and much more. Below are some excerpts from the conversation.

Katherine, what are your thoughts on getting a Lead Actress nomination as this point in your career?

KATHERINE: I think it’s great. I was so happy to be nominated. It was unexpected, but I was really happy about it.  Of course, I think everybody wants to be nominated, or get an Emmy at some point in their life, especially if they’ve been on a show for a very long time and you put a lot of work in. You do many, many scenes and hopefully, good enough scenes to be able to be nominated, and get in into the running. But yes, it’s hard to me. It’s hard every time when it comes around. I get anxiety whenever Emmy-time comes around.

Photo: JPI

What scenes were on both of your nominated reels?

KATHERINE: I just submitted the two back to back shows that I had between Brooke and Taylor (Krista Allen). It was when their relationship came to an end because they became friends, which was really nice. They swore off Ridge, which was great, and they had a nice relationship for a little while. But then, Brooke finally realized Taylor still had her sights on Ridge and this wasn’t going to work. So, she ended the relationship with Taylor. At that point, she really had it with Taylor, because she really trusted her and she really liked their friendship. She was shocked to find out what Taylor was still doing and how she still wanted Ridge in the end. And so for Brooke, there was no going back after that.

Photo: JPI

ANNIKA: My reel launched into Hope’s denial of “I’m nothing like you, mom. I have a solid marriage.” Cut to Liam confronting her about what happened in Rome and the choices that were made there. And then Brooke walking in on her and Thomas together and mother/daughter going toe to toe, and then finally kind of wrapping it up with Hope just coming into her own and just not being so swayed by other people’s choices.

Is it difficult for you to chose to enter into the Daytime Emmy race?

KATHERINE: I don’t want to do a competition, because we do this for a living, because we love it. I think if you don’t love it, you won’t be here for very long. So, it just feels weird in a way that it has to be a judging where everybody’s judged against each other.  I don’t like that feeling because I like it all to be about family, which it is. Sometimes in a competition it can get kind of of strange. So to me, the prize is just coming to work every single day, getting to work with wonderful people like Annika, everybody in the office, the producers, the writers, the directors, the crew, and just working with everybody. It’s wonderful how we all work so well together and just being able to do something that I love to do every single day and play this character of Brooke on a TV show on CBS.

ANNIKA: I would have never thought in a million years you would get anxious from it. For me, it’s very obvious that I get very anxious.

Photo: JPI

Katherine, what do you recall about Annika when you first met her and then shared scenes with her, after having Kim Matula as her predecessor in the part?

KATHERINE: Honestly, it was super easy to work with Annika. She just fell right into the character. I loved her immediately and her energy. Actually, I got to read with her. I loved her, even then in the reading. I was kind of mesmerized with her, like her eyes. She’s very innocent, open face, and you can feel her. I loved Kim Matula, too, who played Hope before Annika, and there was a little time between them. It was nice that they didn’t recast somebody right away, because that’s always kind of shocking. You want to give it a little time, and for the audience to accept it and to find somebody new and bring them on. People come and go andyou have to kind of go with the flow.

Annika, what was your first impression upon meeting Katherine?

ANNIKA: Oh, I understood that this was the legend who had been on the show since the beginning. I think you were my second callback. I think the first one I read with Scott Clifton (Liam). When they called me back again and they had me read with you, I remember I just opened the doors and she was just  standing there. I was like, “Oh, Gosh. Okay. I’m reading with Katherine Kelly Lang.” She was very professional, knew her lines like back and forth, and she was saying the lines as if she was really the character. It wasn’t even like acting. That’s how good she is.

Photo: JPI

Where do you think Brooke and Hope’s relationship is at now?

ANNIKA: Brooke and Hope have maybe ironed out some misunderstandings. I think there’s still that little bit of Hope’s baggage or just unresolved trauma, or she needs to go see a psychiatrist about not wanting to become like her mother. I think she acted out in a lot of ways within the Thomas storyline.

KATHERINE: Brooke wasn’t happy with Hope and Thomas. She didn’t approve. Brooke’s a little bit more relieved and doesn’t have to deal with that pressure and can get back to the relationship with her daughter. I think they’re really good friends and I think they have a good understanding of each other and their positions within this relationship. I think it’s only going to get stronger and better, when they realize that they are two powerhouses together.

Photo: JPI

Remember when Brooke and Thomas had their psychedelic berry trip and we didn’t know if they slept together?

ANNIKA: I try not to think about it. (Laughs)

KATHERINE: Well, I loved it! I almost have to say that was my favorite fun story. In it, our plane crashed in the ocean and this was a huge production. They had made a pool inside a hangar, and then the pool was full with broken plane pieces, and we are sputtering up out of the water. It was dark and misty, they had the smoke, everything. It looked like a movie. So, we got to do that which was so much fun. When we were stranded on the island, we actually shot those scenes in Malibu. But, they also made a huge deserted island on set. It was humongous. It almost took up the whole stage, and that’s when Brooke and Thomas were high on berries, and the flowers would come out of the the cave. There were a lot of CGI effects. It was crazy and incredible. Adam Gregory was playing Thomas then, and we had a lot of fun. We never knew if Thomas and Brooke actually did it or not, but then it turned out they didn’t, because they realized it was like something in a dream.

ANNIKA: We like to keep things vague.

Photo: JPI

The show, at times, likes to pull out the classic line, “Slut from the Valley.” How do you feel about your character being called that when it was originated by Stephanie Forrester, who used to dig at Brooke?

KATHERINE: Do I mind, “Slut from the Valley?” I didn’t mind it when Stephanie (Susan Flannery) would say it, but I kind of mind it when other people say it.  I thought that was Stephanie’s line, and that should just come from her.

Photo: JPI

Annika, one of the hottest topics on B&B’s fans mind in our live chat, is when Thomas returns from Paris, will he and Hope rekindle their relationship or is it truly over?

ANNIKA: I’m just as in the dark as everyone else about what is to come with that. So, I’m kind of waiting on pins and needles to see if we revisit it, or if Thomas has moved on. I’m just so curious to see what is to come. I think we’re going to find out very soon.

Check out the full video interview with Katherine and Annika below. Now let us know, do you enjoy the mother/daughter scenes between Brooke and Hope as played by Katherine and Annika? Are you rooting for one of them to win the Daytime Emmy for Lead Actress? What do you think will happen in the future for Brooke and for Hope? Weigh-in below.

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General Hospital

Juliet Donenfeld is the Temporary Recast as General Hospital’s Georgie

Those who saw the GH preview for today’s May 2nd episode were a bit confused when they saw a young actress sitting with Lois (Rena Sofer) and Violet (Jophielle Love). As it turns out, that young girl is a recast Georgie.

Juliet Donenfeld is stepping into the role temporarily replacing Lily Fisher. As viewers know, Georgie is the young daughter of Maxie (Kirsten Storms) and Spinelli (Bradford Anderson) named after Maxie’s sister, Georgie who passed away.

According to Soap Opera News, Fisher will be back soon in the part.

As for Donenfeld’s credits, she has appeared as JJ in the Netflix’s WWE series The Big Show Show,  Better Call Saul, Good Girls, Station 19, and Sydney to the Max to name but a few.

In addition, Juliet became the youngest nominee for an Annie Award, gaining recognition for voicing the character of Sally Squirrel in the Animated TV/Broadcast Production of Pete the Cat.

Watch today’s GH teaser below, and let us know your thoughts about Juliet as a recast Georgie via the comment section below.

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Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

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