Ledger Pop Journal - Celebrity News & Sports

Will Eric Braeden, the actor that plays Victor on 'The Young And The Restless' leave the show? And what about all of the soap opera actors that are being asked to move or take big reductions in pay?

Answer: Let's get rid of the obvious. No one likes to take a pay cut. For some, it is pay cut or no job. Everyone in today's job market knows that reality. Having to take a pay cut in public can be a bit harder than only having to complain to your family and friends about your economic downturn. Some actors love to get the story out to the public. "One Life to Live's" Robin Strasser (Dorian) is an example. With over a year to go on her contract, Strasser went public when asked to take a pay cut. Strasser has always been very open about her life. Over the years, she has had a hot line on which she has talked about dealing with menopause to her unhappiness with a story line. In the end, she accepted the pay cut and thanked her fans for their support.

In the past year, the "Young and Restless" set has been rife with actors unhappy when asked for givebacks. Jess Walton (Jill), Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki) and now Eric Braeden (Victor) are three of the show's major stars asked to renegotiate. These performers did not make their salary issues public. The salary fights were made public because people on the "Y&R" set leaked the happenings. Walton was out the door and the role was going to be recast, but she decided to take the cut. After the situation was settled, she made a gracious statement. Thomas Scott was asked to take a pay cut or become recurring. The actress balked at both. After long negations, the actress and the show came to an agreement, which was not made public.

Braeden has also been publicly quiet about the process. It was reported that he has said goodbye to cast and crew. In the story line, Victor and Nikki will take a trip. It may be one of those trips that never end or be a short sojourn.

Braeden is aware of the need for pay cuts.'"Y&R" has had to slash its budget. His real upset appears to be that he is being asked to take the cut in the middle of his current contract. Contracts between actors and soaps are not equal. If an actor signs a three-year contract, he is bound by that. No matter how long a contract is for, they are built in 13-week cycles. In any 13-week cycle, the show can fire the actor. The actor cannot quit or get more money until the end of his contract. A recent victim of the 13-week cycle is "All My Children's" Aiden Turner (Aidan). He was ready to head to Los Angeles when the show moves later this year. Two weeks ago, he was told that his last day on the show would be Nov. 6.

Braeden is upset not just about the pay cut; he feels that being asked to take that cut in the middle of his contract is unfair. Unfair, maybe; legal, yes. Of course, the saga is not over. Despite "Y&R" asking for pay cuts, it is still a wonderful set on which to work. The dressing rooms are so great that an actor having to trim his budget could literally live in one. There was a time when the show was infamous for coddling its talent. I was on the set years ago when an actor threatened to not show up for work the next day if the carpeting in his dressing room was not the shade of blue he requested. The producer sat morosely in a corner, cursed the actor and made sure the carpet change was made by the end of the day.