The Young and the Restless’ highly anticipated special Nikki Newman Sharpe (Melody Thomas Scott) episode aired today and we want to know what you thought of it. All I have to say is flashbacks, lots of wonderful flashbacks.
What grade do you give Y&R’s special Nikki episode?
The Young and the Restless’ Melody Thomas Scott will be appearing on the CBS chat show The Talk on December 21. The actress revealed the news on Twitter:
TV Guide Magazine: So what did happen? Why did the leading lady on the No. 1 soap suddenly vanish?Thomas Scott: That's a tough question. I can't pretend to know for sure, being the victim here. Sony would have to tell you, which they won't.
TV Guide Magazine: You're not getting off that easy! Do you believe this was financial?
Thomas Scott: Yes, I do but it was not handled very well. I've been in this business since I was three and I know how this works. If a show is having problems with money or budget they call the actor very respectfully and say, "We have a little financial crunch here. Let's try to work something out, okay?" That's what should have happened. The problem was that such a phone call was never made to me and I was left in the lurch. Had they picked up the phone back in March or April and just said two or three sentences to me, none of this would have happened. But nobody said anything, and that started to get a little odd after a couple of weeks of not working. I would call in for my shooting schedule as I usually do and be told, "You have another week off." And this kept happening week after week after week. Then the fans started paying attention to all this and were asking me, "Are you leaving the show?" I had no idea what to say or why I wasn't working. Then all hell seemed to break lose. People were saying I had asked for a leave of absence. False. They were saying, "Oh, Melody, wants to spend time with her new grandbaby twins." False. [Laughs] Well, of course I do want to spend time with them but I would never quit my job over it! Then, when Twitter got hold of this, it became a huge international situation. I owe my return to the fans. Without Twitter, I don't know that I would be coming back. I really attribute it to that. It's pretty amazing. Social networking, baby!
That sound you hear is Sony executives wailing and gnashing their teeth as CBS Daytime's The Young and the Restless hit record lows the week of Aug. 22-26 (Source: Soap Opera Network). Granted, the ratings for this period were effected slightly by preemptions on Tuesday, due to the earthquake, and Friday, because of Hurricane Irene, however daytime's No. 1 soap was the only sudser to hit new lows in total viewers, women viewers 18-49 and women 18-34. In the latter demo, Y&R was in fifth place! Y&R also tied its record low among women 18-49 for the third week in a row. Sorry, Maria. No natural disaster to blame that last one on.
I can't comment on what happened in Y&R storywise for the week in question because I was boycotting the show. I feel the exact same way about Y&R right now as I did during Chuck Pratt's show-destroying stint at All My Children. If Maria Arena Bell isn't either reigned in or relieved of her duties, this show could soon be irrevocably broken. Oh yeah, and where is Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott)?
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The Young and the Restless leading lady Melody Thomas Scott has been utilizing social media to set the record straight about her employment status with daytime's No. 1 soap opera. When I spoke with Thomas Scott on the Daytime Emmy red carpet on June 19, I asked her to weigh in on all the rumors that have been spread about her status at Y&R.
"I don't really even recall what was said," Thomas Scott stated about published reports about her contract issues with the series. "I've recently joined Twitter because I can tell the truth in my own words. So nobody can mess with that. So all I can do is tell the truth and keep fans abreast of what is really going on. Unfortunately there is no change. Still working it out. I think I've said enough on it. Until someone says to me, 'We want to work on this' things remain the same."
Thomas Scott also voiced how touched she is that her legion of fans have rallied to her defense and have been campaigning to get her back on the show.
"I think it's really moving and I'm deeply touched. Bless their hearts." READ MORE
