When Nikki Newman went off to rehab (again) in April, fans of “The Young and the Restless” had no idea that we were in for an extended period during which our favorite soap diva would be missing in action. Having witnessed Nikki’s continued struggles with alcoholism and Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) over the years, we figured it was just a matter of time before Nikki was back in the saddle in Genoa City, trying to navigate her complicated world. As it turns out, Melody Thomas Scott, who portrays Nikki, was no more in-the-know than her fans, and she thought for a long while that Nikki might never return. As TV Guide reports in a recent interview with the soap star, Scott has signed a new contract with CBS and will revive Nikki, with filming in October leading to a Thanksgiving return.
In that gab session, Scott reports that she was given a brief hiatus in April, which subsequently turned into several successive weeks of being told that she need not report for filming. As the weather warmed and the stories likewise heated up on “The Young and the Restless,” Scott became convinced that she had been written out of the show’s plans, and she Tweeted about her situation. The resulting outrage among her fan base led to a grassroots campaign to bring Nikki back, an effort that Scott believes led directly to her new contract. That may or may not be accurate, but the fact remains that CBS’s daytime ratings have hit a decidedly rough patch since we last saw Scott on-screen.
Asked about the ultimate motivation for her extended absence, Scott tows the company line and mentions that parent firm Sony has been struggling with finances over the last few months, and they simply couldn’t afford to pay her. It’s interesting to note that this period corresponds with the hiring of several new high-profile stars brought in ostensibly to boost ratings. Not only did these folks (Genie Francis and Debbi Morgan, for example) bring with them recognizable faces, but you can bet they also draw huge paychecks. Asked to comment on this situation, Thomas declined to stir the pot.
Regardless of the reasons for her departure and her precarious dance with unemployment, Scott seems happy to be back on board and is looking forward to some “exciting” developments for Nikki. No matter what kind of trouble she finds herself in, most fans will be thrilled to see Nikki, and Scott, take her rightful place as lead diva on “The Young and the Restless.”
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