The past year-plus has to be the worst writing of this show! It seems actually to have begun to change4-5yrs. ago. Story lines are awful. I.e., worst is this book being 'written' by the chubby blonde actress. No one is waiting for more of the scenes displayed i black and white. The relationship between Kyle and his supposed recent-virgin fiancee. Her kissing in her 'acting' from first ever has been disgusting. Abby just laughs during and to end every scene - boring. Nick has no storyline, too bad. Nor does his mother ['same old same old' with Victor] and Nick's sister, always an interesting character, is also going downhill thanks to her storyline taking over her dad's position. Boring. Phyllis is awful; just a total dislike as is Sharon's daughter and her lesbian friend. Jack is one of the two main characters, along with Victor Newman, and the storyline of Victor is an insult to him as always having been the head character. Neil is missed. His son's story seems to be floundering all the more; all about music & those new 'family' characters. . .