Melody Thomas Scott Gets Written Out Of ‘The Young & The Restless’
OK, so I realize that news about Soap Operas isn’t the usual kind of fare that we get around here (unless we’re talking about the Daytime Emmys) but this bit of info is too interesting to me to let pass by. Melody Thomas Scott, who stars as Nikki Newman on the long-running daytime drama The Young and the Restless, is reportedly being written off the show because she refused to take a pay cut due to the failing economy. Melody’s character was introduced on the show back in 1978 and is the main female character on the show … but, apparently, due to her unwillingness to come to terms with production, she is now apparently getting axed from the show she’s starred on for more than 30 years:
Once again, Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki) proves she’s her own worst enemy. As we exclusively reported a few weeks ago in Nelson Ratings, Scott refused to take a pay cut, or drop to recurring status, which is what the soap was offering. While Maria Arena Bell and Paul Rauch hoped that the former hair model would re-sign with the sudser, insiders inform The Suds Report the two parties have hit a stalemate in contract negotiations. In fact, the soap has written out the character already because the show is writing story past her contract expiration date. However, at press time, Y&R has decided not to recast the role in case Scott comes to her senses. Ironically, MTS celebrated her 30th anniversary with the No. 1 sudser this year. A former co-star tells The Suds Report that, “Mel thought she ran that show for years because her hubby, Ed [Scott], was the producer. Well, times have changed, and actors do not run that show anymore. She’s nuts if she thinks another soap can afford her. Mel is so tied to Nikki that she won’t get another soap gig, especially in these tough economic times.” This isn’t the first time MTS has left the series over a contract dispute. The Emmy-nominated star bolted a few years back, but predictably returned a few months later. “I’m not sure if Mel and Ed can afford not to be working right now,” says a friend close to MTS. “She really thought she was exempt from these pay cuts.” As an aside, I don’t want to be the person who has to tell Eric Braeden (Victor), whose contract is up at the end of the year, he has to take a pay cut. Good luck with that, Y&R!
I think it is wholly unwise for anyone with a contract in Daytime Television to be walking away from the money being offered to them … this economy ain’t really providing better options than what Soap Operas offer. The Young and the Restless is the #1 Daytime TV drama in the US and has been for the past decade or so … it seems totally foolish to turn down a pay cut and lose your job just to save face. I understand that even with her pay cut, MTS would still be among the highest paid actresses in Daytime TV. Dumb. I love Nikki on Y&R and I’d hate to see her recast. Sorry to all y’all who have no interest in stuff like this but, well, we all have our guilty pleasures and Y&R is mine.
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Tags: 'The Young and the Restless', Melody Thomas Scott, Nikki Newman
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June 7th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I have been watching Nikki Reed since I was a small girl with my Mom!! That’s really wild just goes to show how bad things are!!!
June 7th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
This would be HORRIBLE!!!!!!! I really hope she does come to her senses!!!! You just can’t recast Nikki
June 7th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
this blows. i grew up watching YR and nikki was one of my favorite characters. it’s going to be strange watching the show without her in it. but i guess that’s what you get for having a big ego and thinking you’re above everyone else. this is a business and it doesn’t matter HOW long you’ve been on the show, you don’t get special treatment. hopefully she comes to her senses quickly.
June 7th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Y&R is my guilty pleasure too. I think Michelle Stafford will become the queen bee on the show if MTS leaves.
June 7th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
You could never recast Nikki and make it work. Her character is involved in so many stories, I am not sure what they would do. That said, she needs to come to her senses and realize in this economy (and at her age) she cannot soap hop. She needs to not let her ego cost her a really well paying job.
June 7th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
:::sigh::: I used to watch Y & R in the late 70’s all the way thru the 90’s…….but then got busy with life and wasn’t able to keep up with the stories. I can’t see anyone else playing Nikki, however, MTS should really consider that it is good business sense to KEEP her job in this economy, even at a pay cut…….ugh
June 7th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
hehe… she’s my friend’s mom. its so funny for me to see her here.
June 7th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
@Dana — please tell her to stay on the show, thanks ;)
June 7th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Days of Our Lives is my guilty pleasure!
June 7th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
I LOVE Y&R and I would hate for them to lose MTS! She’s so talented and her and EB have such great chemistry together…I can’t picture anyone else playing Nikki!!
June 7th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I USED to watch daytime soaps a LONG time ago when there was nothing else going on. I had so many video tapes so I could save the best episodes to watch whenever I wanted. After flipping channels between 2 or 3 that were appearing in that hour’s block (the networks competing against each other for ratings)… I settled on General Hospital.
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I’d get hooked on character & set my VCR to tape daily, then watch when I got home. It lasted until “Decker” was killed off… Then I started once again to check other shows & got hooked on Another World & “Jake McKinnon” – WOW! LOVED HIM! Years later, with the cancellation of AW, I followed to As the World Turns.
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I haven’t watched a soap since the day they made the HUGE mistake of killing him off, having his “body” cremated, & his wife, “Molly” sprinkle his *ashes* (glitter) over the balcony railing. I mean, really. Couldn’t producers have used… I don’t know, wood/cigarette ash instead?
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I’ve got a lot of videos from those 2 shows featuring him… I watch them sometimes when I need a fix. Otherwise, soaps are a waste of time, money & seem to be slowly dying – With the ratings proof that veiwership is slipping.
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Trent, question: Do you watch “Corrie” (aka. Coronation Street)? It’s pretty damn good.
June 7th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
ITA. I guess she can live off the salary of her rich husband. Apparently the economy does not matter in her world like us common folks. I think Eric Braeden contract is up this year. Scary.
June 7th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Well – there goes all the hope and dreams and story plots of Nikki and Victor getting back together!
June 7th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Live off her husband? She’s been on that soap since before I was born! She must be rolling in $$$$ … I don’t know why good actors waste their whole acting lives on a soap. Maybe she can be on Melrose or 90210?
June 7th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Is that what she looks like NOW? I don’t watch the show, so I have no idea, but she looks amazing.
June 7th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Noooooo it won’t be the same without her!!! Even though NZ is sooooooo crazily insanely behind, it’ll be horrible!!!
June 8th, 2009 at 12:33 am
I have been watching YNR since I was about 13, I am 40 now, gosh. I really have been enjoying the show of recent, I love the romance, and passion story lines of Nick, Sharon, Phyliss, Jack, just amazing hot stuff!! OKay but this is about Melody Thomas, Yes so sad to see her leave :( No one can replace her.
YNR is the best daytime show out there, the rest are boring, stupid, and some are so unrealistic!!!
June 8th, 2009 at 1:57 am
I am a huge Y&R fan of Nikki
But I think she can walk away and be okay.
You also cannot replace “The Moustache”
.. but his run will end eventually.
LOVE Eric Braden.
Nikki.. you go on girl.
Michelle Stafford can keep us all enthralled.
BTW I miss the original Victoria Newman
and her brother as an Abbott.
He was like Jack Nicholson and Christian Slater combined.
Cannot figure out where he landed.
Why did not they last?
I keep up with them via the internets.
June 8th, 2009 at 2:00 am
Damn. YES Nikki WILL.BE.MISSED
There is no replacing.
June 8th, 2009 at 5:58 am
Funny I should read this while watching the movie Piranha, which she was in. She doesn’t get eaten by piranhas, but her friend does! B&B is my guilty pleasure.
June 8th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Oh Nikki, you’ll be back and found living in the same cave with the same doctor that Nick was in after his plane crash, that Drucilla will be found in after her ‘drowning’ accident, that Victor was in in the desert years ago. Y&R peeps never die.
p.s. when is Sheila coming back? I miss her.
June 8th, 2009 at 10:27 am
This is terrible! MTS needs to stay. She’s the heart and soul of the show.
June 8th, 2009 at 10:41 am
I agree this is terrible…but remember folks she was not the original Nikki. She’s not going anywhere..they will settle their differences and she’ll be back.
June 10th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
YES. Live off her husband. I’m sure she has alot of money, but she wont have to go begging in the streets (or do without like some other supposedly rich soap stars who shall remain nameless) have to do. They have his salary to fall back on….which was my point. Even the rich are getting poorer in this economy.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:53 am
We shall see what happens… back on 01 or 02 or something like that, the same thing happened and she was off the show for a few months. All due to a contract dispute. Hopefully this is the same thing happening all over again and she’ll be back eventually.
Around that same time, it also happened with Sharon Case who ditched for a few months and then came back, too.
Although nowadays the economy is worse so who knows?!
It’s funny, they can’t afford to keep her or lose her!
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Hey Trent, wasn’t she also married to Brad in the 90’s? If so, we might need to see a “Carlton” in her LONG list of surnames above ;-)
June 11th, 2009 at 11:03 am
@Kent — I don’t remember about Brad but I’d not be surprised. Poor Paul! I was looking forward to their wedding :(
July 25th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
All this talk about the actor having to take a pay cut because of the recession. Are the producers taking a pay cut? I haven’t heard that Maria Arena Bell and Paul Rauch are taking a 40% pay cut, and they aren’t responsible for the show being # 1 in the ratings all these years. Melody Thomas Scott, Eric Braeden, Jeanne Cooper and the older cast members are! Let’s give credit where credit is due! There wouldn’t be a show without them. What are they going to do, keep the viewers glued to the set with no-talents like Clementine Ford?