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Y&R's Former Head Writer Kay Alden Returns As Series Story Consultant!
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
Y&R fans, it looks like the powers-that-be have heard many of your voices, and your prayers may have been answered, particularly, if you have been jonesing for a return to the stories you love to love featuring the characters you love, or love to hate, with deep history in the show. Well, news today out of Daytime Confidential had delivered a one-two welcome punch to the writing department at the CBS Daytime drama series.
Kay Alden, (pictured on the right, next to Y&R co-creator Lee Phillip Bell) the former head writer of Y&R, who worked for years under the legendary Bill Bell (Y&R co-creator and head writer), is back with the show as he series story consultant. That means she will once again work in her soap career work with newly-appointed head writer, Sally Sussman. And as you would expect, Sussman is overjoyed with Alden back in the fold stating, “I am so thrilled to be working with Kay again. I can’t ever imagine doing Y&R without her.”
Angelica McDaniel, CBS Daytime and CBS Entertainment Executive Vice-President added: “Welcoming Kay back to The Young and the Restless, joining Sally Sussman and Mal Young (executive producer), continues our commitment to telling the most powerful stories while honoring the legacy of daytime’s No. 1 drama,”
Fans of Y&R know that Alden began working at Y&R six months after it debuted in 1973 and became a script writer and continue on for decades in different writing posts. She became the show’s head writer back in 1998 until 2006.
So, what do you think of the news of Kay Alden returning to Y&R as story consultant? What do you think of the team now being put in place to generate stories led by Sally Sussman? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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Best news ever. Feel like I’m dreaming! I never thought I’d see the day where Kay is able to return to YR. very much looking forward to the new direction and I just hope CBS promotes these hires outside the soap world and maybe entice the droves of alienated viewers who have ditched the show over the past decade.
my gawd!
are there no young writers, young anything, when it comes to soaps, sigh ..
RC, at the least was young.. hmm he must be 40 now ..
I want new new new young ideas not dug up scripts from the 80’s ..
but, I will never get it, not even close 🙁
ohh well, Y&R has been very good, so ………………….
You’re not happy?? Sussman and Alden are experienced Y&R writers. They had significant roles in building the solid history of the show. Alden trained under creator Bill Bell and was working on Y&R practically from the first day until roughly 2005. Sussman came on in the early 80s. She also trained under Bell (Bell named B&B’s Sally Spectra after her) and is reported to have developed the Abbott family, having a key hand in the introduction of John, Ashley and Tracy.
Neither woman may be young but they darn sure “know” Y&R. They are exactly what is needed to return this show to the quality it had for decades. It might be a good idea for both of them to take a few promising, young writers under their “wings” and teach them the ropes. However, these are the perfect people to write for this show now.
Hi, su0000!
Ryan Quan, Co-headwriter of DAYS, just turned 39 on September 9th. There’s already a new energy to the show, including the three prison escapees whom bring suspense and humor.
The end of today’s episode had the bad men inside Kayla’s home watching her sleep! More thrills ahead!
Hey, 4Ever Days. I am happy to learn DAYS has gotten a new lease on life and the co headwriter is doing bang up job. But he will probably be one hell of a writer in twenty or thirty years from now. Age is relative, it’s about the individual.
Ron is 47 Su…three years from 50… And you loved his writing. Soaps have a formula…they’re a genre, an entity unto themselves. They’re not the next “hip” show…they’re the last remaining soaps from a time gone by. And that’s why remaining fans still watch. There are so many shows to watch on network and cable that run the gamut…daytime soaps are part nostalgia and a lot of continuity. I personally wouldn’t want a new or 20-something writer coming in and writing for Monica, Tracy, Scott, Laura, etc. I don’t want a new, “young” vibe on a show that’s historical…
Thank you Rebecca and Dylan.
Damn, that was as irritating as nails down a chalkboard to me.
Good soap writing also needs to be character based to make the plot move along.
Character based writing usually presents us with internal conflict which triggers external conflict thereby presenting viewers with an interesting, compelling plot.
Agreed Harry…can’t wait to start yelling at the TV screen and characters for all the RIGHT reasons again. ..haven’t done that since. .well. .since the 80’s at least lol. ..
Dave–Billy is infuriating me accusing his brother of pushing Phyllis down the stairs. Doesn’t he know his brother would never lay a hand on a woman?
Besides, we all know that AJ pushed Phyllis down the stairs.
While I understand you are frustrated Suzy….(that time of the month? Lol)….and as much as I would like to see young writers hired for soaps…..it doesnt seem to happen. But youtube some Generations circa 1990. Sussman is a good writer. And she is not as old as you think. Kay Alden is older….but at least she knows the history of the show. And Ron C was just mean mean mean.
Suooo–good writing, good storytelling, IS AGELESS!!! What an odd and somewhat ignorant comment. Age has nothing to do with it.
In fact, the older writers are better because they’re wiser and somehat world weary. They are well versed in the themes of life because they’ve lived it.
Honestly, your shrill ageism seems to be an involuntary reflex against your own aging process. You can’t fight it—make friends with time and you will be more graceful and possibly less cantankerous.
Don’t know what to think of your comment there but Sally & Kay are Y&R legends and they know the ropes!
This is FANTASTIC news. Only one thing bothered about this article, the quote from Angelica McDaniel:
Welcoming Kay back to The Young and the Restless, joining Sally Sussman and Mal Young (executive producer), continues our commitment to telling the most powerful stories while honoring the legacy of daytime’s No. 1 drama,”
A BLIND person could have seen that, for the past decade, the show has struggled to find its direction and the viewers have been BEGGING for folks like Sussman and Alden to return to the show. Rather than simply hire these women half a decade ago, we’ve had to endure years of banal writing from people who clearly had NO idea as to the basic elements upon which Y&R was built and succeeded.
I’m thankful that Sony and CBS FINALLY have realized what needed to done. However, the underlying question is if McDaniel and company were so “committed” to Y&R, why the heck did they make such dumb hiring decisions over the past decade??
I know nothing about McDaniel’s professional background and, if I met her, she might be the nicest person I’ve encountered. However, the stupidity of the decisions on which writers and producers to hire over the past 5 years combined with her constant, positive spinning “corporate comments” such as this one have left me very unimpressed with her.
Sorry for the negative rant. I guess the important thing is that some VERY GOOD hiring decisions appear to have been made in the past month and, for the first time in almost a decade, I’m looking forward to what we may be seeing on the air. One can only hope that Sony and CBS give these women the time (and the creative “space”) to make the much needed repairs to the show after the damage that has been done by a revolving door of clueless writers and producers over the past decade.
I’m thinking maybe it was new exec producer Mal Young’s suggestion to bring both ladies back after some input from long time cast members. Regardless, Christmas definitely came early for this long time Y&R fan!
she certainly has a long history with Y&R
The Young and the Restless
Scriptwriter: May 13, 1974–80
Breakdown writer: 1980–87
Script editor: 1983–85, 1986–87
Associate head writer: 1987–97
Co-head writer: 1997–98, February 16 – December 22, 2006
Head writer: 1998 – February 15, 2006
Hi Patrick..
Kay Alden was writing in 1974-
If one was born in 74 one would be 41 today.
she was soap writing when RC was a Newborn.
( that is a helluva a career. good for her.
Looking forward to seeing what she can bring to Y&R.
She won’t be writing she’ll be the ”series story consultant”
that is good, she will know all the back history..
Y-A-Y!!!!! BEST NEWS EVER!!!!!
It is good news, indeed. Y&R already has been right on track providing good compelling stories and now it’s going to get even better,
I am excited over the direction the show is taking. I am hoping that they focus more on the established cast and less on the young cast. Basically less of Summers and Lucas and all the teen crap. Quite frankly I want to see Mariah get put front and center in a story worth her talent. She is an amazing actress with great skill at drama and comedy. She delivers her lines like second nature. Now let’s hope that all this hoopla is worth something and not all smoke and mirrors.
Totally agree, Mateo. I love Mariah and that actress may be one of the most talented players from Y&R. We need to see her front and center.
Wonderful news. Christmas did come early Mr X. You are so right
Well, no need to report ratings anymore, we know how it will go! THIS is a big reason why GH will NEVER compete with Y&R. CBS listens to its fans OR at least has the brains to fix something that is wrong even though they are already at the top because it is broke! Yes, it took them a while but we dont know how negotiations went down and how long it took to get these two legends back where they belong! I hope they write off the useless characters and bring back people the fans want. I will not say who should go or return, we debate that all the time. However, besides getting back to writing good stories I do hope to see the Chancelors revived. Tucker, Mac, Philip, Nina, ect.
I would also like to see more of Michael and Lauren. They have such wonderful chemistry together. Let sisters Lauren and Jill work together, and try to incorporate something between Brash and Sassy and Fenmores. It’s time Lauren was front and ceter more. And doing something other than be chased by Shelia Carter and her crazy kids. She has wonderful on screen presence, not to mention the terrific chemistry she has with Michael. I woud love to see more of them together. Also a surprise visit from mama Gloria would be a welcome treat.We can only hope for the best!!!
I just have a good feeling that these new writers will bring back Jeff and Gloria. These ladies respect the history of the show and rubbed shoulders with Bill Bell.
And Soapqueenforever, thank you so much for the explanation of “This is Us.” YOU know how to watch TV! I didnt pick up on any of that twist! I cannot wait to see the second episode now. However, IF they switch back in time, move forward and tell present day stories, I’m out! I watched LOST when it first came on and was a fan. THEN it got to be too much with jumping around in history and after an hour of watching the show I needed an aspirin!
Another reason to start tuning in again on a more regular basis once their material starts airing!!
Somebody who knows “Y & R” – let’s get back to basics, clean house of the deadweight characters, and bring on character-driven drama!
Although this is good news– a part of me is wondering why now? I hope they are not bringing them back (and they are agreeing to come back) because CBS is planning on cancelling the show in a few years and they are assembling the best team to wrap the show up—-
—- when it comes to soaps I never trust any network, so I am hoping what they are saying is true– they are really committed this show– but CBS has undergo some changes and it might again– but I will take what I can get for as long as I can get it.
I be one happy Y&R fan if the characters behave like who they really are and someone wrote words those characters would actually say— but I swear I will pull my hair out, if in a few months these threads are filled with people complaining the stories are too dull, not enough action or taking too long— because it was complaints like that which got us ten years of the plot driven stories that over time pretty much destroyed every character on the show—
I’m thrilled Mary but I understand your concerns I think they are trying to keep their viewers they have lost some myself is one I have not watched regularly in forever . I think the cast was concerned they are all thrilled they are back they have to keep a front up I understand that but I feel they are all genuinely glad JFP and Pratt are gone. Her destruction of the sets bringing on pets and throwing them in our face daily but I blame CBS and Sony and yes AM for letting Phelps in the door everybody knows her track record. I think it will take them several months to get this soap back on track. Keep your fingers crossed how the heck they are going to write Sharon out of this terrible storyline I do not know but if anyone can it will be them.
I am so HAPPY with this news, Kay and Sally working together, what a wonderful dream that is turning into reality. Yes, they have listen to us fans. I ask for one more thing, Mal Young, if you check out this website and read these post…I tuned in to Y&R this past week, the feel of the show is so different then it use to be, I ask that you PLEASE consult with Sally and Kay and look at past episodes of when Bill Bell, Kay and Sally were at the helm…how wonderful it was done back in those days with editing, direction and CLASSIC BACKGROUND MUSIC…Oh how I miss those days…Someone made the comment why not new young writers, just what other’s told you, Kay and Sally know Y&R and will be the ones to get this show back on track.
The Y&R has been broken since they let Kay Alden go which I believe was 2006 and it didn’t need to be fix at that time but it sure does now and Sally and Kay is the answer.
This is indeed very good news!! Hopefully we can get back to the old Y&R we all love!!!
Alleluia! This news excites me. I am so looking forward to the refreshment and elevation of Genoa City and its people very soon. how wonderful for these esteemed talents to be reintroduced to Y&R. Their staffs have opportunities to learn a lot. Smart, smart moves, CBS!
This is fantastic news and I am sure that true Y&R fans are totally ecstatic! Mal Young seems to be making all the right moves.
Wondered if Kay would come back. Don’t have to wonder anymore! Great news!!!
If there is one thing Kay can do it is honoring the history of the core families AND creating storylines that will keep the “young” in its title appropriately so. Like many others, this is a wish come true!
I’m thrilled to have the team back……I’ve been following Y&R since I got married in 1974. I was about to delete the show from my dvr…….the writing and portraying of the characters had become so poor. Welcome back!
Bringing back a writer but no one is hearing our cries to bring back the character Druvilla played by Victoria Rowell
Karen, I agree that Dru is really needed. Neil hasn’t found a decent companion since Dru feel off that cliff.
Is she still hanging on? That was a literal cliff hanger.
But I am afraid VR is known for allegedly acting like a spoiled diva on the set so it might not happen.
Not every Y&R fan is crying for that!!!
This show presently has enough issues without adding Rowell to them.
that’s good news ! lifted my spirits up concerning the future of the show . I wanted someone from the early days of the show who worked closely with bill bell . Kay alden was the person needed indeed . A ticket made of Sally sussman , maria arena bell and kay alden would have made this show a certified winner in my book . Really wished the powers that be would have more faith in Maria Bell .
I will watch again to see how it goes. One last chance..
I’m excited about Y&R for the first time in a decade — now if only ABC would realize they need to bring Ron Carlivati back to GH…
Ron nearly destroyed GENERAL HOSPITAL under his regime; even the actors were beginning to become fed up.
Ron saved GH from cancellation. Unfortunately with his exit it looks like the show is headed in that direction again.
Scott, I agree with you…GH seemed to cartoon like to me when Ron was writing it…I know a lot of people don’t like GH now but I actually prefer it now then before. Yes, I agree there are so many character’s not used and they need to rectify this situation…
I don’t feel Ron saved GH from cancellation. He just happened to be the writer at the helm when OLTL and AMC were canceled.
I didn’t care for his campy, over-the-top plot driven writing and I feel like GH has been in damage control ever since. I don’t really care for the current writing regime either. GH needs a huge over haul and I think it should start with the executive producer. The buck stops with Frank.
Harry, Ron was the headwriter of OLTL up until its cancellation and then moved over to GH with Frank Valentini. Ron wasn’t responsible for the over the top GH, he was just recreating what was its signature tone for the majority of the last three decades. Ever since the Ice Princess storyline (which the network and every other soap saw as a success because of its over the top aspects instead of the simple fact it was a love story at its core), GH was an over the top mess serving up the Sword of Malkuth, the Asian Quarter, the Aztec treasure, the two Grant Putnams, that endless Laurelton story, the DVX/WSB, Caesar Faison, the Metro Court hostage situation, etc.
Yes, I would’ve preferred GH to have been more ONE LIFE TO LIVE than MISSION IMPOSSIBLE but Ron had to serve up something to bring back lapsed viewers and he did that (which thankfully meant backburnering the mob stories and the endless 24/7 focus on Sonny, Carly, and Jason). Either way, I’ll take Ron’s ability to tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end with generous doses of humor and plot twists any day over Jean and Shelly’s rambling “stories” that go nowhere and are centered exclusively around the Corinthos family, JaSam, and Princess Hayden Barnes.
This is tremendous news coupled with everything else with the BTS on the show!!
SURE WE HABE TO WAIT MONTHS BUT ITS SOOOO WORTH THE WAIT!
I hope the first thing they do is bring Billy back to being a good guy who is complicated. Jack back to a CAD and maybe see Victor fall. Maybe Nikki will get a brain and Ashley a love.
FINALLY!!!!! 😉
Great news…………..Kay has history with Y&R and glad McDaniels has brought her back! This could also be brought upon Mal Young too 🙂 🙂
I’ll see if these writers remember Phyllis’ history since everyone has forgotten her history of evil.
I don’t have the history with Y&R that most of you have, but I am looking forward to someone who knows the legacy and characters of the show to be back, even as a consultant. I wonder what being a consultant means she will actually do?
Also since Mal Young comes from Britain soaps, do you think he carries some of the Coronation Street and Downton Abbey sentiments for storytelling with him? Maybe this also helps explains bringing Kay back.
GH should follow some of this example. Just don’t know who they could bring back as a consultant.
This is wonderful news to any Y&R viewer. Kay, has always been a favorite, and she worked with Bill Bell for 30+ years. I’m happy that her and Sally are back. Sally, help create The Abbotts, and the stuff 30 years ago with Jack/Jill affair was Sally doing. That better than what on YR today.
I’m stoked about both ladies coming back home. So long JFP, Chuck, LML, I bet Maria Bell, calling for a job at YR as music director. We need YR old music back on this show.
This is great news. I for one have been enjoying the show lately. When we lost Justin Hartley (Adam) I took a bit of a break as well thinking we lost the best couple on the show Chadam but I just love Trevor & Victoria. What chemistry these two have. I hope they don’t break them up for Billy. Maybe now with Kay back we’ll get to see Lauren & Michael and please bring back Tracy Abbott. A lot less Summer and a lot more Mariah would be nice.
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