The Young and the Restless Spoilers: On Her 45th Anniversary, Melody Thomas Scott Shares Her Thoughts on Daytime
The Young and the Restless (Y&R) spoilers reveal that Melody Thomas Scott has thrilled audiences as Nikki Newman since 1979.
She is embroiled in the story of a lifetime right now and we would be surprised if she didn’t win a well-deserved Emmy for her work as a tormented drunk under assault by her worst enemy.
In honor of her 45th anniversary on daytime’s number one rated drama, Scott shared her thoughts about the genre in an article published in Deadline. Here’s what to know.
The Young and the Restless spoilers: Melody Thomas Scott Plays Nikki Newman
Scott began by breaking down the daytime changes that have occurred over the last 45 years: “When I started playing Nikki in 1979, there were 13 daytime dramas on the air.
Y&R was No. 3 in the ratings and would claim the top spot in December of 1988. There was a certain excitement for someone watching their soap live long before VCRS, DVRs, streaming and the ability to go online to read a recap of the episode.”
“Fan mail was delivered by the truckload to the studio with cards and notes filled with commentary. Many of the actors required the help of an assistant to keep up with the volume of incoming mail; now viewers have the ability to post about the show’s storylines in real time using hashtags and handles to get an actor’s attention.”
At this time there are three soaps left on network TV: CBS’s Y&R and its sister soap The Bold and the Beautiful, and ABC’s General Hospital.
Fans of Days of our Lives now must pay to stream it on Peacock.
Y&R spoilers: Melody Thomas Scott Is a Daytime Legend
She noted how cable television, DVRs, and streaming have changed viewing habits and recognized Y&R’s “loyal and dedicated fan base” as the “sole reason for the show’s longevity.”
Scott touched on the fact that fans look forward to inviting their favorite characters into their homes each week but this tradition was disrupted in 1995 when networks preempted soaps to televise the OJ Simpson murder trial.
Many experts see that singular event as severely impacting the health of daytime and Scott wrote “Unfortunately, all of the soaps lost a significant amount of their audiences when viewing habits were broken. However, the experience reminded the genre of the importance of being at the top of their game in both production and promotion.”
She added “I’m proud that Nikki is among the handful of characters created by William J. Bell who are still on the Y&R landscape today. There is no other medium that would have given me the opportunity and good fortune to have the same scene partner, the extraordinary Eric Braeden, for four decades!”
The Young and the Restless spoilers: Melody Thomas Scott Praises Daytime Actors
She then graciously referenced some of daytime’s most beloved actors “who have captivated audiences for decades such as Days’ Deidre Hall, James Reynolds and Suzanne Rogers, General Hospital’s Genie Francis and Maurice Bernard and Bold & the Beautiful’s Katherine Kelly Lang and John McCook.”
Scott ended her piece on a positive note writing that “The relationship that a viewer forms with the characters of a daytime drama is unparalleled to any other medium.
This bond between the audience and the show lends to Y&R being able to entertain and educate its audience while exploring relevant social issues such as substance abuse and mental health. The trust and stability a viewer shares with a daytime drama is the reason they will not only survive but thrive for years to come.”
Her article is particularly germane as last week CBS announced that it is developing a brand new soap opera to compete in the daytime realm, a much needed addition to a genre that today survives with a fraction of the shows it once had.
Be sure to catch up on everything happening with Y&R right now. Come back here often for The Young and the Restless spoilers, news, and updates.