Soap head writers are like sports managers. They are hired to be fired. Mal Evans, who executive produced and head wrote "Young and Restless" for two years has left the show. Talking to a reporter in England, he said he decided to leave the show. He did not want to feel stale and wanted to spend more time with his family who lives across the pond. Behind the scenes, it has been said that the show, CBS and Sony decided to end his contract. During his tenure, Eileen Davidson (Ashley on "Young and Restless") left the show after almost 30 years. Core actors such as Doug Davidson (Paul) and Christian LeBlanc (Michael) were MIA. In the beginning, he wanted to try a different soap tactic. Every air day was a new day. Fans were not happy, because too many things happened off-screen.

One of the magic things about soaps is there is time to tell a story and show everyone's viewpoints. It is almost like a novel. Charles Dickens may be the father of the modern soap. Every Sunday, he would send a new installment to the London tabloids. Paid by the word, the master writer told his intricate tales and wove magical plots. If you have not read Dickens, sit down with "Oliver Twist" or any of his other classics.

Josh Griffith is taking over as head writer. A daytime Emmy winner, Griffith has had a 30-year career filled with hiring and firings. This is his third go-around at "Young and Restless." He has also penned plots for "Santa Barbara," "Sunset Beach" "One Life to Live."

Anthony Morina, who has produced the show since 2008, takes over the executive producer post. During his time at "Young and Restless," lots of characters were axed and many new ones were created. Most of the time, when a writer takes over a soap, they try not to make too many changes. Things might be different at "Young and Restless." Doing a major soap overhaul is not easy.

There are two classic examples of major story shifts. Years ago, a radio soap scribe got sick of the characters. Macdonald Carey, who starred on the show, recalled that on a Friday the soap's entire town boarded a bus to go on a picnic. The bus drove off a bridge and all the passengers were killed. Come Monday, the show took place in the new city. Since it was radio, they used all the same actors."

Douglas Marland, one of daytime's best scribes, took over many a soap. He always felt it was a mistake to make too many changes too fast. When he went over to "General Hospital," the show was about to be canceled. He decided the only way to save it was by doing a complete overhaul. The dreaded tropical "dreaming death" broke out in Port Charles. Half the cast was killed; survivors and medicos were introduced. It worked. The show hit No. 1 and is one of the four remaining soaps.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: at Pixabay