Photo Credit: Glenn Harris
The outspoken Michael Muhney (Adam Newman) of The Young and the Restless spoke recently with Dose.ca of Canada for a very thought-provoking interview. In it, Michael discusses the cast-cutting measures that have recently sent daytime favorites, Maura West, Stacy Haiduk, and Eden Riegel off the Genoa City Canvas.
But, Muhney also reveals that fans can look for more core characters getting plenty of airtime towards the holiday season. Here are a few interesting excerpts!
Muhney on seeing West, Haiduk and Riegel leave Y&R: ” I will say that it’s been quite an educational experience working with Stacy Haiduk (ex-Patty/Emily), Maura West (ex-Diane) and now Eden Riegel, where all three, upon being told they were being dismissed had a final six weeks to shoot, and in their final six weeks, they happen to be in a storyline with me. I’m acting with talented actresses that have been given really sad news and they have to soldier through it. It’s been such a eye opening experience to see three very professional women handle themselves and come into work and just nail it and still find a way to enjoy what they’re doing knowing they’re one their way out.
Maura West on our final week of work, she started breaking down and said “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to get this emotional” and ran off. She was trying to thank me and said, “Thank you for being the only person who didn’t treat me like a dead man walking.” And that really hit me. I come to play and at some point in time, I’m leaving the show. Three to five years, or ten to fifteen years and upon my leaving, there’s going to be that time where I know I’m gone and even if it’s on my own terms, I’ll want people being there and bringing it with me, everyday, until the very end. I’m still working with Eden and it’s been interesting. She’s another classy actress who is doing a very fine job.”
Muhney on industry-wide cast-cutting talks to help soaps and Y&R’s longevity and to help ratings: “There’s been talk by journalists, my fellow actors, by fans and by the network that we have a rather large cast. What if we streamline the cast and knock off, and this is just an arbitrary number, 10 folks and we really cut the fat off? I think that’s happening. I want to tell people that I think there’s going to be a stronger focus on core characters. I think it’s going to take some time, after Thanksgiving, but before Christmas. It’s already happening. I can sense that the show is telling stories about more core folks and getting rid of other characters.Yeah, it’s losing viewers. It’s hemorrhaging viewers at times, and you have to wonder, how do you plug that leak?”
Jared says: 
Lew 
kay killgore 
Brian Greene 
Scott 
Barbara 
jamie conrad 
Steve /Sharon Madaras