That Day When Taylor and Rick Spoke Truth to Power

So bizarre, right?

Well, first of all, there were some actually bizarre lines (or line readings) on yesterday's episode. I had to rewind Taylor's line about how Steffy's old college friends could "start a whore on a small island" about five times before I realized she was saying "war," not "whore." Because really, I was wondering what exactly "starting a whore" would entail. She also said of Liam, "If he wants a life of uncertainty, he can have that with Hope all he wants. But if he's going to rely on you, then he's going to have to do the same." The same what? He's going to have to want a life of uncertainty? Couldn't tell you. And then there was Steffy's headscratcher about how she wasn't going to "abandon herself from a life of dissipation," which I assume meant that she wasn't about to ditch her life to go live out some hedonistic fantasy on an island somewhere, but what peculiar phrasing. Abandon herself from? Maybe I heard that one wrong, too.

Since I was clearly having hearing troubles while watching the episode, perhaps I also misheard the most excellent words from the most unlikely sources, but can we just take a moment to bask in them nonetheless?

Taylor's truth-telling was pretty simple, but it never hurts to be succint around there.

Taylor: I'm sorry, I don't trust Liam. I like him, but he can't make a decision and then stick with it.

Truth! And sure, Ridge responded with some nonsensical comment about how Taylor used to say the same of him, which is how he knows this time is going to be different. (Huh? Ridge was still waffling just over a year ago! Shouldn't this mean he knows they have decades of Liam changing his mind ahead of them?!) But it still needed to be said. I'm so sick of both mothers of the women in this heinous triangle rooting for their daughters to "land" this loser who's also in love with another woman.

Rick, on the other hand, is not rooting for his little sister to stay with Liam. While he may have taken a while to get to the point, his point was an undeniable one.

Rick: Now we men have you women accustomed to -- well, let's just call it the toreador psychology. Now the toreador knows that if he waves that red flag at the bull, he better be able to run or he's gonna be in trouble, just as a woman knows that she should never, never wave a red bra at a man or stand too close to him, for that matter, because she knows that he's not gonna be able to control himself. He's gonna become all hands. He's gonna pounce. He's gonna make a fool out of himself or worse. [...] Now that may be the way the game is played, but it's just not real. Now, I'm as capable as you of upholding my values and reflecting on my choices and what matters to me and to live my life accordingly. I don't turn into some hormone case when I get 10 feet from a woman, and neither does Liam. Now if he was fumbling around in Steffy's bed an hour before pledging his undying love to you, he did it for one reason and one reason only. Because he damn well wanted to.

Oh, Rick. Your words are so pretty and so true! 

Which of course Steffy is banking on -- no matter how many times she insisted it was no biggie and Hope should get over it, she's still pretty damn confident if she makes a major play, Liam will go ahead and re-commit to her. So naturally, she showed up at his house with luggage and announced she was moving back in if he'd have her.

And Liam made that same dumb blank expression he always makes, since of course he was just waiting for someone to explain to him what he should do. Steffy went back to her old manipulative approach, which was to present herself as the low-maintenance option. I mean really, Liam should go for it. Steffy's basically made it clear that any good, truly-devoted woman would totally let her man cheat on her and immediately forgive him for it. So if Liam chooses Steffy, he can still hook up with Hope or any other gal he has a hankering for, and ole Steffy will still be waiting back at the cliff house for him with a Bob Hope video cued up and ready for a little "cha cha cha!" Win/win!

Oh the humanity.

Oh yeah, and they had this super-steamy montage of Marcus and Dayzee celebrating his return from jail by feeding each other ranch-dipped crudite and cuddling fully-clothed on the couch.

I mean was your screen as ON FIYAH as mine? Snooze-a-rama.

Great balance, Afternoon Television Program. Your priorities are finally back in order. On some planet.

Comments

[C]

Nice screencap of Jacob Young. He's looking much less pudgy than he was at the end of AMC.

[LadyBug]

I stopped watching B&B once it became clear that Brooke was the biological mother of Taylor and Nick's son.

I used to love Brooke and Taylor equally years ago, but it's so hard to tell the women apart.

You could always count on Brooke using her sexuality to bed Ridge, Eric, Thorne, Nick, Deacon, Hope's teenage boyfriend, etc... but Taylor has become just as sleazy (Thorne, Nick, Rick) etc...Blech.

[Michaela]

I am still deeply disturbed...confused...mostly disturbed by Hunter Tylo's face. Why don't these actresses just leave well enough alone?? She had the bone structure to age magnificently.

[LadyBug]

Hunter Tylo was simply gorgeous and for some reason decided to make a few changes that now make me shake my head.

[stlbf]

Who in their right mind would actually WANT their daughter to choose a weak, wishy-washy, cheating jackass like Liam? The guy has dumped both women for the other woman multiple times. Honestly, how low are these girls' self esteem to willingly go through this over and over. Has one adult gone to Liam and raked his ass over the coals and not backtrack 2 minutes later? Why the hell hasn't Rick(who actually seems to have the house brain right now) gone over and punched Liam's stupid face for how rottenly the ass has treated his baby sister and even Steffy? Or just as welcome, someone(Brooke? Stephanie? Anyone?) give Liam a good kick to the male brain that seems to be in primary control of Liam's body, so that the brain in his skull can properly function for awhile.

Really. Who the hell would ever want an asshole like Liam to marry a loved relative? The ass made out with his bride's longtime sister(his freaking ex wife) on their wedding day! I don't care if he did think Hope had cold feet. It wouldn't give him permission to make out with her sister.

Poor Hunter Tylo's face? I think that disaster happened after her son's tragic death and the end of her marriage.

[slappie jones]

I agree with all the above posters, who the hell would want their daughter /sister with an ass who can't or won't make a definate decision. My 8 year old daughter watches with me once in a while and actually said the other day "mom, why are you watching the same one again?" I told her it was that days episode and she said "oh...it looks the same." A third grader gets its the same old crap...why don't the writers? And for God's sake, enough with the bob hope crap! I'm in my 40's and don't like or know anything about him. They could have done the three stooges, or jazz music or anything else....so damn random and stupid!

[Anne]

It's particularly sad, because Scott Clifton is a good, charismatic actor, and B&B is putting him front and center and wasting him. He could play a guy that two women would believably compete over, assuming we need another long-term male-centric triangle on B&B, which I don't think we do, but hey, Brad Bell clearly likes the blonde and the brunette battling for the wishy washy guy ... but why can't the guy be charming, and funny? Why is it so hard to set up a more dynamic triangle, where he makes an effort to commit to one woman for more than five minutes before succumbing to the other?

And why, for the love of all that's holy, did Hunter Tylo do that to her previously perfect face? That woman would have aged magnificently. Every time I see her onscreen or in a picture, I just...wince.

[LogopolisMike]

Yeah, I feel really bad for Hunter Tylo and what it says about what the standard of beauty does to women in Hollywood.

But on the other hand, I'd really like to never have to see a picture of her new face again.

[slappie jones]

I also agree with the sad state of Hunter Tylo's face. It looks like it takes major effort for her to move her lips to speak! Isn't her real (non stage) name Deborah Moreheart or something?

[Pinky]

Did anyone really believe Steffy? Steffy and selflessness can be close to each other only in a sentence.

Lame is Rapist 2.0. It doesnt get worse.

Oh Taylor the manipulative cow... She disgusts me. Always did, always will. Steffy is the mini Taylor. Only she doesnt hide behind someone else like mommy did. Because she also has Satanie's and Rapist's blood in her. The combination is "the crotch rocket". Well done!

So Taylor wants to talk about trust? Although she is right about Lame, how about her words to Rapist: "She couldn't give her heart to another man---because so much of it belongs to him." Mind you she is shagging Rapist's brother! Yeah that Brooke is really a slut...

Taylor doesnt trust Lame? How about her own daughter? She is a stalker! Hypocrisy much?

Steffy is a big part of this game as Lame is. How PATHETIC for her to try to move in with Lame? The only victim here is Hope.

The sad fact is Liam and Hope were just fine. They had their troubles but they loved each other. But Bratley had to inject Steffy right in the middle cause she had nowhere to go if she doesnt try to one up a Logan.

Brooke... What the hell are you doing???

As for Hunter Tylo. Her name was Deborah Moreheart, surname of her first husband. Her "beauty" was a product of plastic surgery. Now its too much plastic surgery, she looks a like a freak.

OTOH Jacob is H-O-T!

[Ziyal]

Oh yeah, and they had this super-steamy montage of Marcus and Dayzee celebrating his return from jail by feeding each other ranch-dipped crudite and cuddling fully-clothed on the couch.

I mean was your screen as ON FIYAH as mine?

--> This made me laugh SO HARD, Louise!!

Hunter Tylo's face is all kinds of disturbing, but I will always give her props for successfully suing Spelling Inc. and winning the right for actresses to continue working while pregnant.

[MelP]

I'm trying to remember this, but didn't Hunter Tylo also object to the s/l that Spelling & Co gave her & demanded/suggested changes to the s/l before she was fired?

[Ziyal]

I looked up the court case and this is what I found (http://law.justia.com/cases/california/caapp4th/55/1379.html)

In February 1996, petitioner was a successful actress who regularly appeared in the daytime television show The Bold and the Beautiful. On February 16, 1996, petitioner entered into a contract with real parties in interest, Spelling Entertainment Group and Spelling Television, Inc. (real parties), to perform on the popular television series Melrose Place. The contract provided that petitioner would render "exclusive services in a recurring role for the 1996/97 series for a total of eight ... episodes." The contract also gave real parties the option to require petitioner to render exclusive services for another three years after the 1996/1997 series. Petitioner was informed that no specific character for her role had yet been written. The contract gave real parties the right of termination "if [petitioner] suffers any material change in [petitioner's] appearance...." Production was to begin in late June or early July 1996 for the 1996/1997 season.

Relying on her new contract, petitioner announced her departure from The Bold and the Beautiful and her character was phased out of the show. Petitioner also turned down an opportunity for a test option role in the pilot for the Disney series Daytona Beach and turned down auditions for other pilots for the fall 1996/1997 season. In anticipation of her role on Melrose Place she received offers of several commercials and was negotiating possible roles in movies of the week.

In mid-March 1996, petitioner learned that she was pregnant and requested that her business manager inform real parties "so that the writers of [55 Cal. App. 4th 1383] 'Melrose Place' would have every opportunity to account for her pregnancy in developing her character, which had not yet been created." On April 10, 1996, real parties informed petitioner that her contract was terminated "because this character is by necessity not pregnant...."

On May 13, 1996, petitioner filed a complaint against real parties alleging five separate causes of action. The first cause of action alleges employment discrimination on the basis she was terminated solely because of her pregnancy, citing Government Code section 12940 et seq. The second cause of action alleges wrongful termination in violation of public policy, discrimination based on sex. The third cause of action alleges breach of the employment contract asserting she could only be terminated for cause. The fourth cause of action alleges breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. She contends real parties acted in bad faith "by not informing [petitioner] that not being pregnant was a condition of employment; by not informing her that if she became pregnant after signing the agreement that she would be terminated; by not discussing the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy with her; by not determining whether, if because of her pregnancy, she would require any accommodation, and by unilaterally terminating [petitioner's] employment with the series 'Melrose Place' because of her pregnancy, without good cause and in bad faith." The fifth cause of action is for negligent misrepresentation. The alleged negligent misrepresentation was twofold: that real parties did not inform petitioner "that they would not employ an actress who was pregnant or who later became pregnant to work on 'Melrose Place' "; and that petitioner "would be employed for a minimum of eight ... episodes on the series of 'Melrose Place' for the 1996/97 series, with the option to require [petitioner] to render exclusive services in the recurring role for an additional three ... years, for an aggregate term of four ... years." Petitioner seeks damages for loss of earnings and employment benefits, loss of other employment opportunities, mental and emotional anxiety and distress, medical expenses, punitive damages, and attorney fees.

[Ziyal]

As I see it, Hunter Tylo had actively been trying to get pregnant for two years (apparently they had issues getting pregnant), while she was negotiating Melrose Place. However, her role had not yet been defined, and she had no no-pregnancy clause in her contract.

The Court (i assume) decided that pregnancy does not fall under "suffering material change in appearance...." especially since Hunter Tylo had not been informed that being pregnant would mean termination of her contract.

Which was probably why now, most actresses have to sign no-pregnancy clauses when they do movies, and probably many TV shows as well.

Interesting coincidence: Lisa Rinna, who took over the role of Taylor McBride after Hunter Tylo was fired, actually got pregnant the year that her contract was expiring. The producers wrote her pregancy into the script, and then a heavily pregnant Taylor committed suicide, lol. Apparently, it was Rinna's choice to leave to have time to be a mom:
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/4616/sou0818b.html

[Pinky]

Hunter Tylo has serious issues.

[Ziyal]

If my son died in our family pool, I think I would also have serious issues.

[Ziyal]

Is anyone else following the crazy goings-on on Twitter between the B&B stars lately? From what I gather, Ronn leaving is only the tip of the iceberg.

[Louise]

I haven't seen much except one or two people tweeting to Ron Moss that they'll miss him. What else is going on? I don't follow very many of them.

[Ziyal]

I usually just log in when something *major* happens.

Highlights:

Q: just heard about #RonMoss leaving BB, how do you feel about his leaving?
KKL: can't comment on that now, there is too much going on,more than u could even imagine

Then someone stirred up trouble by telling KKL that HT doesn't respect and doesn't defend KKL when HT fans bash KKL.

HT refuted that with a number of tweets, incl:
@KatherineKellyL What boldluvr said: not true. Don't get caught up in chaos: we have enuff 2 deal with right? We are all on the same team :)

Also: http://daytimeconfidential.zap2it.com/2012/08/11/katherine-kelly-lang-on-ronn-moss-exiting-bold-and-beautiful-im-crying-too-i-hate-this?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Ronn said this: http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=422479544456017&id=113460942024547
which is even LESS info than we got when Chyler Leigh finally spoke out about "why" she left Grey's.

[Ziyal]

Other comments that do not inspire confidence:

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8r44ske6Z1qcgd50o1_1280.png
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8r4ncwWe11qcgd50o1_1280.png
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8r4qio1Bm1qcgd50o1_500.png
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8r4w7byrU1qcgd50o1_500.png

[Ziyal]

Why can't I make these links clickable?

Anyway, I went on to cap the other tweets that I saw that sounded a bit odd:

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8r5ebwisG1qcgd50o1_500.png
Using the word "devastated" and earlier KKL said she was "crying over it." It seems like there's much more going on than just Ronn Moss leaving coz he wouldn't take a paycut.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8r5cj8nV01qcgd50o1_500.png

Thoughts?

[Pinky]

She was always a headcase. Her sons death didnt change anything.

[Pinky]

Mr. Mess is seriously leaving? Its not a game about the alleged paycut? Is he really gone? Can i start partying?

[Pinky]

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Bradley-Bell-Ronn-Moss-1051945.aspx

Bratley is up to something. All i know is i dont trust that creep.

[Ziyal]

"There was a point in the negotiations where I was not hearing back from him, so just in case I went ahead and wrote a wedding for Ridge and Brooke — a real retrospective sort of wedding that honors the characters' 25-year relationship — and then I have them take off on a honeymoon."

---> 25 years of flashbacks!! My eyes are popping out. PLEASE PLEASE let this happen!!!

Ridge will not be dead or presumed dead. He will just not be in the picture. I don't want to do a presumed death because I don't want the story that follows to be all about Ridge. This will be a Brooke story. Ridge is a pivotal part of the show and he will be back in a matter of time...and probably not all that much time. I will continue writing for the character. I'm looking at this in two phases, really. There will be a period of time without Ridge, which is where some new, interesting avenues for Brooke will come into play. But at some point it will be necessary for Ridge to return to the show. Who will be playing the role at that point remains to be seen.

---> Hmmm. I'm not sure if this is good or bad. I mean, it'll be great for KKL's screentime, but KKL seems *really* unhappy with Ronn leaving.

At least TVGUuide had the guts to say what we've all been saying:
TV Guide Magazine: Let's backtrack to those negotiations. Was this purely financial? Ronn, like pretty much everyone else on B&B, has taken a back seat to the Liam-Steffy-Hope triangle. It's been your only plot all summer and every character, including Ridge, has been bizarrely, unheathily obsessed with those three kids. Was Ronn's nose out of joint about it? If so, can we blame him?

[Ziyal]

Did y'all know that Lane Davies filled in as Ridge Forrester temporarily in 1992, while Ronn Moss was on leave?!????? I had NO idea, lol.

[Pinky]

I know. Lane Davies is an awesome actor and he was great even as the creep Rapist.

I still cant believe Rapist is leaving. Trying hard not get my hopes up. Although the character will be recast according to Bratley... Who knows... A couple of days ago getting rid of Rapist was unthinkable... Maybe he will be gone. FOREVER!