It's so hard to tell what is what with Ms. Dickson...yet I always feel sorry for her. I wonder if before she became a bombshell she struggled in life as a person with low esteem and insecurities over her dyslexia or if she always got away with murder having her beauty queen looks, I don't know. I want to believe her...but some of these recounts are so dramatic when she gives them.

Hunterforrester/Nelson, Thanks for the great interview!

Wow! Brenda D. has gone through a serious rough patch with her horrible divorce. What a sad story.

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What a great read! Thanks, Nelson! La Dickson seems a bit deluded but I love her anyway! She will always be Jill to me!

Wow, talk about a blast from the past! Don't know if I believe it, but hey, whatever floats your boat Brenda!

She's just a publicity whore. At one time, she was talented and was great for Y & R, but she needs some sort of mental health support now.

They need to bring back Brenda as Katherine's real daughter and have her go against Jess Walton.

Talk about a cat fight!

Jill wouldn't know what hit her.

Brenda Rocks!!!!!

The one and only Jill..Yes she brought in the ratings..Jess Walton did not!!! Take That Y&R!!!!

I added an editor's note to the piece: Y&R dropped to no. 3 not no. 6.

But her exit did affect ratings. Only she, Rowell, and Moore had that power.

...and I never thought there could be a way to remake Sunset Boulevard....

Honestly, she seems like a really sad person.

Soap_Stud,

Did you read Nelson's article? Brenda D. went through a brutal divorce that left her penniless. She's living in the condo her mom left her because it was either that or a park bench.

This woman has moxie!

The woman is 60-years-old and is facing an uncertain financial future. She's not mentally ill, she's trying to sell herself because she NEEDS to find work.

If you were she, wouldn't you take every opportunity presented to you to boost your marketability? She's no different than millions of other Americans living with uncertainty and trying to figure out a way secure their financial security.

I feel both admiration and sadness for her.

Hunterforrester/Nelson,

Thanks again for the update. Given the power of Rowell and Moore to attract viewers, it's mind boggling that the TPTB haven't tried a way to bring those two back in some way.

Moore is on hiatus from "Criminal Minds." Couldn't the show have come up with a story for Moore's Malcolm to visit Genoa City? Olivia could use some loving.

Why not have Brenda visit B&B as Sally's sister? That show NEEDS the injection of camp and sass she could bring. Sic her on Eric and watch Donna's head spin. Make her Owen's mother.

GREAT interview, Nelson. Thank you so much for doing it. I howled with laughter while reading it (twice!) and it kept a HUGE smile on my face.

Brenda Dickson is not conceited, she is just convinced. Brenda is, undoubtedly, like no other. And that is why I adore her!

What's with her eyes?

Brenda Dickson is just not my cup of tea, I'm sorry. I've watched her scenes on Youtube and she doesn't do it for me. Yeah, she's campy and her a certain va-va-voom, but nobody does the character of Jill Abbott the way Jess Walton does. I know I'm in the minority, but Brenda Dickson is HIGHLY overrated.

Brenda Dickson is just not my cup of tea, I'm sorry. I've watched her scenes on Youtube and she doesn't do it for me. Yeah, she's campy and her a certain va-va-voom, but nobody does the character of Jill Abbott the way Jess Walton does. I know I'm in the minority, but Brenda Dickson is HIGHLY overrated.
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Brenda D. is good for ratings. Jess is nothing more than a supporting player.

As for Moore and Rowell...That would be too much like right. Instead they chose to populate the show with more Caucasian actors and have regulated the Winters to a side show. Does Y&R know who its dominate fan base is? It's time for totally soap integration once and for all. And that goes for all the soaps.

Gay characters get more storyline than African Americans. And i'm all for inclusion of same sex couples in daytime. But African American women are the main audience and they get the shaft.

Jess Walton rocked during the 90's, but I guess we'll agree to disagree. Yes, everything else you said is true, the soap opera world is dying and the best way to save it is diversifying across the board. Imagine if Neil Winters was allowed to date white women, steal companies, and virtually be fleshed out the way other characters are. Instead, he plays second fiddle to his Caucasian counterparts. Shame on you, MAB! Also, why don't we have a black villianess? Not necessarily on Y&R, but one of the shows could give us a bitch with no boundaries who happens to be played by an African-American actress. Certainly Bob Guza or Dena Higley or any of the hacks could give us (meaning black folks) someone we can relate to onscreen. Hell, even Tyler Perry does a better job of bringing the drama then most soaps nowadays.

Imagine if Neil Winters was allowed to date white women, steal companies, and virtually be fleshed out the way other characters are. Instead, he plays second fiddle to his Caucasian counterparts. Shame on you, MAB! Also, why don't we have a black villianess? Not necessarily on Y&R, but one of the shows could give us a bitch with no boundaries who happens to be played by an African-American actress. Certainly Bob Guza or Dena Higley or any of the hacks could give us (meaning black folks) someone we can relate to onscreen. Hell, even Tyler Perry does a better job of bringing the drama then most soaps nowadays.
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I can't stand Tyler Perry movies but i must agree with you on that one. He does play out villains even if they are over-the-top.

AMC once had Taylor and Grace. And previously in the 80's they had Lez Baxter Angie's father. ATWT once had Marshall. Y&R kind had one in Dru and Olivia's Mother. Guiding Light missed the chance to turn Vivian Grant. And these shows never allowed the African American bitches and bastards to evolve into powerful players. They were either written off or killed off.

The only soaps that get some real credit are Generations for Doreen the total black bitch. Sunset Beach for Virgina, Days when Lexie went bad. And then finally Passions for Liz Sabourne The best black female villain ever--and let me not forget about Vincent.

But overall these characters were limited in power and ability to grow with the soaps like their white counterparts.

Now Neil has the job with no office. You rarely ever see the inside of Chancellor Industry. And he should be over there mixing it up with Jack and Billy, serving them their heads on the platter. But nope he is regulated to being a talk to from Victor and 2 time a month day player.

I say black actors do what what black models did in Brazil when they sued for racial discrimination and a 10% quota was enforced.

Every soap should be required to have at least 6 African Americans on cast. We are the majority audience and still we gets no love.

Amen to that!!! Let African American characters thrive and mix it up. Back in the day when I was hooked on Y&R, I always wanted Dru and Brad to have a fling. I don't know why, those two just had a spark to me. Bring Lynn Whitfield in as a business rival for Victor and see how that works. I bet that would be a ratings boost!!! I'm just all about new ideas and thinking outside the box. Everyone may not like what I have to say, but I ask that you respect my opinions. By the way, the quota thing is a great idea. Black cast members would surely revitalize ATWT and GH, even though I don't watch those shows. I'm addicted to death, taxes, and the Young and the Restless, baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amen to that!!! Let African American characters thrive and mix it up. Back in the day when I was hooked on Y&R, I always wanted Dru and Brad to have a fling. I don't know why, those two just had a spark to me. Bring Lynn Whitfield in as a business rival for Victor and see how that works. I bet that would be a ratings boost!!! I'm just all about new ideas and thinking outside the box. Everyone may not like what I have to say, but I ask that you respect my opinions. By the way, the quota thing is a great idea. Black cast members would surely revitalize ATWT and GH, even though I don't watch those shows. I'm addicted to death, taxes, and the Young and the Restless, baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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These soaps are fool for not doing everything possible to save themselves from hellfire and damnation.

Now if they need black writers I can come to Y&R as i know the history and bring the Winter's back.

First order of business Rehire Victoria Rowell and fire Eva and her little singing child. Next I would cast Little Nate as grown up man with business degree and send him to work at Jabot via Neil. He could become a rival for Billy. Also I Nate would have a man complex lure Roxanne away from Devon. That would cause some family drama. He would always remind Devon that he was not BLOOD related.

Dru on the other hand would come back to town after being found in Chicago roaming around homeless without her memory and Kamar De Los Reyes (of OLTL) would play her homeless lover from Chicago how would follow her to Genoa City when she returned. It would take several months for Dru to remember things, but once she did she would head over to Phyllis's place for a fight to remember. Phyllis and Dru would fight and Phyllis would end up hitting Dru in the head a smalls statue to get her off of her. When it appeared Dru was knocked out cold Phyllis would try to get up but Dru would jump up and chock Phyllis saying "Bitch you think you got the best of me!"

I'm just ranting on....

Yes, I read the article. I stand by my view point.

David,

I like some of your ideas. Kamar D. and Victoria R. would be a hot couple. I would cast GL's Remy, Lawrence St. Victor as Nate.

You mentioned Marshall from ATWT. The character was DOOMED as soon as he raped Jessica. White male characters might be redeemed every other day on soaps (Luke Spencer, EJ Dimera, and Jack Deveraux, for example).

Kristof St. John may have longevity on Y&R but he must be the lowest paid contract player on that show given the infrequency of his work. It's just nuts.

OLTL seems to be increasing its African-American actors. It's done well with Latino actors, although now the Vega family is greatly diminished.

Days' Lexie made a sympathetic villainess but she's back to being good.

GH, of course, has a long history of ignoring non-white actors in lead roles. Maurice Benard may be Latin but Sonny is mostly portrayed as white.

I disagree with your statement about there being more gays on TV. It's only starting that shows are introducing gay characters. Luke and Noah are the most established.

The soaps don't care about most black women viewers because they don't consider them as valuable.

I disagree with your statement about there being more gays on TV. It's only starting that shows are introducing gay characters. Luke and Noah are the most established.
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Bianca (AMC), Luke & Noah (ATWT), Otalia (GL). It is not about the numbers as much as it is about the access to frontbruner storylines.

African American characters become an afterthought.

GL: should be all up on Ebony, Jet, Essence, Upscale etc...promoting their black characters. So should All My Children, & One Life To Live.

There is a whole black media out there that would willingly promote soaps in their magazines and actors would too, if asked, would do so. But you got to give them something worth doing it for.

The old Y&R quartet was promoting that show. Back in the day on CBS they use to do all the commercials with the black guy's voice and the saxophone and every show accept B&B and sometimes ATWT had something going on. But then I digress...

The point is you can actually debate over Luke and Noah, Bianca and whomever she might be with. You can't even do that with black characters accept on AMC. That has got to change.

David,

I don't disagree that black are under represented on the soaps. Of the gay couples you've mentioned, two are front-burner and one is gone, leaving its soaps without any gay characters and no plans to add any.

Unfortunately, the networks, advertisers, and soap producers just don't care about their black audiences that much because they perceive them to be less affluent. Also, since the black audience is consistent, they figure, I assume, that there is no need to cater to to it.

Y&R, with its 95% white cast, is very popular with African-Americans. The producers don't see the need to fix things. They can skate by with showing Neil and company 2 days a month.

OLTL's Evangeline was probably its most successful black character in 30 years. I read about OLTL revolutionary introduction of a black characters 40 years ago. They had the first interracial love story when they featured a light-skinned black woman every one assumed was white.

Desdemona Delirious former stare of Wanton Dreams: When I was on Wanton Dreams in the triple role of oil heiress Kitty La Rue, her evil twin sister Catty La Mange and their hump backed grandmother Jerlene, Wanton Dreams was the number one soap opera EVER! In fact, it was so big they had to invent the SUPER Nielsens just to measure it!

Jamey: Um, Desi... you do know Wanton Dreams didn't actually go to Number One until the year after you left in 1988 and has been there since.

Desdemona Delirious: SILENCE! You are just like those voices in my head, always spreading misinformation! The show was Number Kabillion and One when I was on and I won't let you say otherwise. Do you know I had to use voodoo to turn my Barbie Doll clothes into real clothes? Those other bitches were SO jealous when I came on set in my Bob Mackie gowns. Where did she get them from, they asked. They thought I'd spent thousands. Little did they know they came in a four pack from the Wal-Mart!

Jamey your too much LOL

I couldn't finish reading because - i don't know it felt soooo pathetic and wrong.

Ellen Holly is the actress you are talking about who was on OLTL. She is often credited as the first African American to have fronburner storyline. I read her auto biography. She had some interesting things to say about Erika Slezak and Paul Rauch in related to racism on the show. But yes she was good from what I have been able to see.

Paul is the one and MAB from keeping the AA on screen interesting.

I watched Y&R during BD's years and JW's years and I like JW's interpretation more. I always thought JW was more believeable in the boardroom stuff. BD always seem way too over-the-top for me, but I'm sure I'm in the minority on that.