On the Industry
Gold Standard, Heartbroken Leading Men
By Tommy Garrett
Aug 9, 2009 - 11:47:56 PM

HOLLYWOOD—This week many daytime performances were amazing. However, the task of choosing the most outstanding for the week is always a difficult decision to make. This week we choose Eric Braeden, Victor Newman on “The Young and the Restless” and Doug Davidson, Paul Williams, on the same show. These two performers were faced with utter heartbreak and despair after they each lost the love of their lives, Nikki Reed Newman. Eric Braeden’s amazing strength physically and emotionally gave way to rage and heartbreak, while Doug Davidson’s portrayal as the in love groom to be and later jilted lover Paul was performed with complexity and raw emotion.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have personally known Doug Davidson for nearly three decades. I however had to put on my professional hat and make the decision if his work was as outstanding as our Gold Standard demands. It was.

Eric Braeden’s Victor started the week outraged at his brother in law Billy Abbott, who confronted Victor not only in front of his pregnant and emotionally fragile wife Ashley, but in front of the full Newman Board of Directors and the media. Victor is not used to being tackled and he doesn’t handle it well. Usually it’s Billy and Ashley’s brother Jack who offends the billionaire tycoon, but this time little Billy made the unwise decision of crossing a man who has fed rats to his enemies, literally.

Mr. Braeden who stars in “The Man Who Came Back,” a film I called the best film of 2008, is a solid performer who delivers his lines with a menacing low voice that only can mean trouble for his enemies and a measure of compassion for his loved ones. Braeden who has won an Emmy for his performance in the past had the opportunity to play every emotion this week when Victor’s rage at Billy soon turned to concern and compassion for his beloved beauty Ashley, played brilliantly by Eileen Davidson. Victor’s measure of restraint at his rage toward her brother when Ashley confronted him for what he’d done in the recent past to get what he wanted and to help protect her was heartfelt.

Viewers and fans of the hit show “Y&R” can always count on Braeden to deliver a performance that is solid, dependable and organic. Soon his compassion for Ashley turned to despair when the psycho Mary Jane Benson killed Victor’s beloved dog, Zapato. This beautiful and loyal companion was Victor’s steadfast friend through his most recent divorce, estrangement from his own children, his grief from the loss of wife Sabrina in a tragic car accident and also through Victor’s epilepsy episodes. Victor could always depend on Zapato being by his side. When Braeden played Victor’s feelings of grief for his dog we cried right along with the Newman family who felt they had all lost a family member. Though when Victor realized that it was in fact Mary Jane Benson who had caused the death of his beloved canine, Braeden’s venomous rage came out with aplomb.

By week’s end, Eric Braeden was playing a Victor who had to release and let go of his first wife Nikki, played by Melody Thomas Scott. It was heartbreaking to watch and exciting at the same time.

Doug Davidson has never won an Emmy, though not because he doesn’t deserve one. The super handsome and talented actor showcased a range of emotions this week which prove that Davidson has become a seasoned veteran on the number one daytime series. Davidson plays Paul Williams as a man who we all want to be friends with, though poor Paul can’t seem to have any luck with the ladies. Davidson has been happily married to the beautiful Cindy Fisher since 1984, but his alter ego Paul has not been lucky at keeping a wife. From Diane Jenkins to Christine Blair on to Isabella. Paul’s love life has not been too lucky.

When he fell in love with his teenage love Nikki recently, fans hoped that the star crossed lovers would finally find happiness together. “Y&R” showcased a beautiful moment between the characters this week that showed a young Paul giving Nikki an ice cream cone by the pool. Though that was decades ago, when Paul gave Nikki a gold trinket of an ice cream cone, his eyes lit up with tears. Paul was telling Nikki that they were lifelong loves and belonged together.

When Nikki reacted with hesitation and then tears, Paul seemed both heartbroken and shocked but Davidson’s performance was groundbreaking. He maintained composure and his character’s dignity. Paul agreed to put their marriage plans aside. When Paul figured out that Nikki was still in love with Victor, Davidson reined in his emotions while playing it very much with chivalry. Davidson’s performance this week only improved with each scene and every episode. Here’s hoping for more melodrama and high drama for the talented thespian.

Doug Davidson and Eric Braeden show every man who watches “Y&R” what real men are. And has every female viewer feeling they need one of these handsome men in their own life. Braeden’s intensity with restraint is both chilling and ingenious. Davidson’s simply one of daytime television’s most solid performers. Here’s to the top leading men this week and every week on daytime television.

Sharing in this week’s gold standard is the Executive Producer of “Y&R” Maria Arena Bell. Bell has brought a level of professionalism back to the show that her late father in law, Bill Bell co created with his beautiful wife Lee Phillip Bell. Maria Arena Bell joins the list of daytime’s most talented producers alongside her brother in law Bradley P. Bell of “The Bold and the Beautiful” and Christopher Goutman of “As The World Turns.” “Y&R” was a speeding locomotive this week. Without its chief engineers Maria Bell, Doug Davidson and Eric Braeden, it would have stalled on the tracks.