WILL "THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS" SAY GOODBYE TO VICTOR NEWMAN?

Released by Allison Waldman/TV Squad

Is it even possible to imagine The Young and the Restless without Eric Braeden as hero/villain Victor Newman? You would think not, but then Days of Our Lives moved on without Deidre Hall as Dr. Marlena Evans, didn't it? Still, Braeden and his alter ego Victor is still a front and center presence on the show, an integral part of the storytelling. Therefore, the news that The Young and the Restless is contemplating killing off Victor if they cannot resolve the contract dispute with Braeden is a shocker.

Braeden is working now under a contract that lasts till 2010, and his reps have said that he would take a pay cut once the term is up. However, producers are asking him to take a pay cut now. That, my friends, is the rub. Braeden wants to help the show stay on the air, but he's not ready to take an economic hit until he has to. That's understandable.

Of course, the show has the power to simply write him out or recast. The latter would be very difficult because the Victor Newman character is larger than life, and Braeden's been the only actor to ever play the role. He's been on the soap since 1980. Currently, the character has been shot three times and is going to need a heart transplant to survive. He will get the heart and go on vacation with Nikki (Scott's character). She could return with a new actor in the role, or he could die off screen.

Hmm ... if you were thinking like a producer looking to cut your losses, this would be the perfect opportunity to kill off the character. He even has an evil son, Adam, who might be able to grow into the role of the next villain you love to hate. Also, Y&R has put out a casting notice for a character named Tucker who sounds very much like Victor. Was Tucker just a covert way to conduct a recast?

My guess is that a compromise will be reached and Braeden will remain on the show. It's a cold, cruel world out there and Eric's too smart to give up a good gig on the number one rated daytime drama. Of course, I thought Deidre would remain with Days, too, so go figure!