I will come back to watch this episode because of MTS. But I won't stick around because of the Bloody Countess Bell and her henchmen...having said that because of MTS herself will be just a pleasure to watch and see some of Bill's flashbacks of the our beloved character HE created and seeing Nikki again IN character! I had just listened to the podcast and the analysis of Y&R is pitch perfect in wrong direction. AMC had Erica Kane, DOOL had Marlena, but Y&R's diva deliciousness will always be Nikki Reed to Y&R's fans

For the past two years, Y&R actors have gotten Emmys for these "special episodes (Christian LeBlanc in 2009 and Billy Miller in 2010!). If Melody Thomas Scott doesn't get some Emmy recognition next year for her standout performances, I will be totally convinced that the Emmys mean absolutely nothing!

It's good that Y&R seems to be FINALLY realizing what a gem that they have in Melody and giving her story that is worthy of her talents. Yes, some of it seems like a rehash of past storyline, but at least it keeps her off the backburner and in the thick of major story, where she should be.

Looking forward to it!!!!

I have no interest in watching the MTS lovefest going on at Y&R. I'll take a pass.

What are TPTB doing REWARDING her for her bad behavior? It tells the other cast mates that it pays to pull stunts during your contract negotiations.

I am so pumped for this episode!!! My Nikki is finally getting her due! She is the star of this show..at least one of them and she deserves this episode especially after what we went through with the long drawn out contract mess!

I am praying I get off early on Friday to watch it live!

Oh and don't forget to watch Melody Thomas Scott on The Talk on Wednesday!!!

I believe they are killing Casey Reed And Nikki has a car crash...might be okay if it's character driven and not a mess of MAB and her hacks!

I'm looking forward to this. Love her or hate her, Nikki Reed something something Newman Abbott Landers Newman Newman Sharpe is a lead role on Y&R and a soap icon. MAB&Co like to avoid any episodes before their reign like the plague, but I would totally love a "Wonderful Life/Scrooge" very special episode featuring Nikki. Cannot wait!

I'm totally watching. I won't get to watch live, though, but it will be the first full episode of YR that I'm going to sit through in a longgggg, longgggg time!

Coffeejunkie--

I am not trying to argue with you because I actually find you to be pretty humorous 95% of the time, but Melody is not the first, nor will she be the last, Y&R actor to haggle and raise holy hell over how much money their supposed to get paid. In the past, it has happened countless times. If I were an actor with over 30 years of tenure, I must admit that I wouldn't be totally willing to simply "take whatever they are offering me........." Melody's worked hard over the years, and she doesn't deserve the same kind of paycheck that someone with the tenure of Julie Pace Mitchell or that American Idol reject girl is getting. She deserves the big bucks. If I had worked my way up the ranks for 32 years, I would want the big bucks too, just like execs at big companies demand.

I realize that you might not be a MTS fan, and I would never try to change your mind, but that's my two cents!!

^^^People like Peter Bergman, Jess Walton, and Christian LeBlanc are also worth "big bucks" but none of them created a massive stink causing upheaval to the whole show that required them being written out for six months. They also didn't open Twitter accounts to bitch and complain to the fans and act like they "couldn't understand" why they weren't being utilized. They were professionals and took the required pay cut because they know what's at stake to keep this genre going.

MTS is a DIVA to the core. I have no use for performers like that. They aren't team players.

Diva or no diva....MTS is an important part of Y&R, especially now...and I cannot WAIT for this episode. She's been hitting out the park since she's been back, and I know this episode will be great. I love my Nikki, regardless of how MTS may or may NOT be...it doesn't matter to me. It won't keep me from watching her character on the SHOW....

Coffee,

Stop berating Melody for something that she is not! She did no such thing in pulling any stunts during her contract negotiations AND furthermore, I'm sick and tired of people labeling her as a horrendous diva, which is something that she is NOT! She is one of the sweetest and kindest people I've had the pleasure of meeting! As my Mother would say, "If you don't have anything nice to say about someone, don't say anything at all." It's Christmas for crying out loud. Get off of your bitterness throne and enjoy what I believe will be a wonderful episode to watch!

'Nuff said!

@everyone: There is a certain other woman whom is important to this show. *cough* Victoria *cough* Rowell. The highest poll rated equally to Eric Braden. But I'm just saying...

Now on to Coffee_Junkie: I prefer Tea (and not the "party") Yet Jesse Walton created a big stinker when she was asked to take a pay-cut 2 years ago. She even went to SOD to air her grievances. So she has Diva ways too.

Peter Bergman will go to the press and talk about the show and fellow cast members at will. He is one great big diva or as a male he is a Divo.

Christian J. Lablanc is not in the payscale of the top and longest running performers but he has been known to be a Diva behind the scenes. He just doesn't have the clout or has not been put in a position yet for him to go public.

The fact is the whole cast of Y&R is full of Diva's and Divo's. I've often said if I were to act on a soap I'd rather pass on Y&R (even in the good times) because I'd end up knocking a muthafucka out and pimp slapping a bitch if they tried that mess with me.

David46208--

I have never loved you as much as I do right now. You uncovered EVERY stone......

I wholeheartedly agree........

I'm kinda looking forward to it myself...

@alstonboy4315: Well for Spit-take, I just call up my in-and-out of jail cousin Big Lisa to come handle that at the "stress test" table.

If Y&R took a look at their behind the scene drama instead of the raw chitlins they got on the stove now, this soap would be on FIRE!!!!!

@david46208

You aint never lied! Y&R is full of divas and divos behind the scenes. I'll bet all soap sets have BTS drama, but the backstage drama on Y&R's set is legendary. MTS aint the only diva.

But honestly, I don't even really care about all of that. I just want to see the characters I have grown to know and love on Y&R since I started watching around 1987. Nikki Newman is one of them. My mother-in-law, who doesn't read soap mags or blogs (she doesn't even have the internet) doesn't give a damn why MTS wasn't on the show, all she knew is that a Nikki was ghost and it didn't make her happy as a viewer. Especially when every other week there's some new character she's like "Who's that?" about. All I know is that MTS has been on Y&R for over 30 years - I think the only actors with seniority are Jeanne Cooper, and maybe Doug Davidson. People forget she's been on the show longer than Eric Braeden. But anyways, I don't expect the actor or the character she plays to be treated the same as more recent characters from the 90s or later. Yes, soaps are ensembles, but the team is not a team of equals.

LOL you all are funny. If someone doesn't like MTS because she is a diva then you probably wouldn't like much of the cast of Y&R because we have all heard for years about the backstage shenanigans, but whether you agree or disagree the proof is in the pudding!

Anyone who thinks these stars should just take these paycuts without a fight are crazy! Y&R hires new person after new person (many who aren't necessary for the show) and expects all the vets to take a cut in pay! That doesn't make sense! It's bad business! That's like my boss coming to me and asking me to take a pay cut and then hires three more people for a lower salary to help with my job. It doesn't make sense! It's simple economics. You can't expect Jess Walton, Melody Thomas Scott, and Eric Braeden to take these paycuts but we look up and you have Jessica Collins, Julia Pace Mitchell, and Stephen Nichols as new hires on this show. It doesn't make sense especially when these new characters are just glorified day players. It's bad business!

Cannot wait for this! Especially for the flashbacks!

Saying that MTS is the only cast member to cause a "stink" about anything is laughable. Eric Braeden goes on a media tour every time he isn't happy about something, Peter Bergman and Jeanne Cooper have gone to the magazine's several times to bitch about storylines, and the there are always rumors going around about the backstage antics on that show.

ALL of the vets on Y&R have taken paycuts over the years, including Mel. Personally, if I were working for a company over 30 years and I was told that times are tough and I need to "take one for the team" by taking a paycut, then my boss goes and hires 10 people, I would be pretty hacked off! I agree with Smitty, the vets at Y&R shouldn't be expected to just roll over and accept the paycuts when MAB and CO is still hiring rejects from Celeb Rehab and other soap stars from canceled shows! The vets have all contributed to the success of Y&R and they should be treated with a little more respect.

^^^^I never said her highness was the "only one to cause a stink." What I SAID was she was the ONLY cast member that created SUCH a stink and stonewalled on the pay cut issue for SO long that Nikki was AWOL for SIX MONTHS. Duh! Of course I know Eric Braeden created a stink. The old goat went all over the media about it. But they didn't have to have him disappear for half a year to resolve things.

And re: the issue of all the newbies being hired. They don't make anywhere NEAR the salary that an EB or MTS makes. Braeden was making a million a year until they reportedly cut his salary to $500,000. Do you honestly think Julie Pace Mitchell or the American Idol HO are pulling in that kind of money? PLEASE.

And if MTS or EB have a problem with the newbies cutting in on money THEY could be getting they could always QUIT and go to another soap. Oh wait--their options are dwindling. HA!

Well, we all know how Victor's Christmas Fantasy changed him ...

(Also ... Nikki Newman Sharpe? Nikki Reed is not currently a Newman!)

Sooo then the father that abused a young Nicki was none other than....Rex Sterling? I missed him! As Kay's husband, not Nicki's dad.

I really honestly hate to see a day wasted on a Y and R tribute to a so so actress. What a shame. Not sure if I can handle watching and know I would not except for a couple spoilers for this week that have not happened
and might be on todays show.

I enjoyed it...probably because the show has been so crappy lately.

I thoroughly enjoyed today's episode with Nikki as the focal point. Sure there were parts that were a bit "contrived" but it's Christmas. And it's okay to believe in scenes that you know aren't totally "real". That's one reason I tune in as a general rule. When it's someone like MTS who knows her way around a storyline, it's a satisfying experience. Today was no exception. She is a jewel who enhances just about any "setting" she's inserted into. Here's hoping it continues on into the new year...

Coffeejunkie, you have clearly overloaded on caffiene! MTS deserves whatever she gets paid. That woman has been on that show for 32 yrs. Do you think that any rookie should make the same as a veteran actor with that kind of experience and with the history that soap fans follow their shows for in the first place. Melody played a young Marnie for Alford Hitchcock! I don't know what your beef is with her, but believe me, you have her all wrong. I bet you hate athletes that make big bucks & let their agents work out deals for them before they go back to work too! Jealous much????

BTW, Totally loved this Cristmas special today! Best one in years!