The Young and the Restless has always been smart about dipping into its rich, nearly 48-year history to bring back fan-favorite characters from its past to help tell the current story. Soap Hub is playing armchair head writer to suggest Leanna Love make her way back to Genoa City!
The Young and the Restless Return Needed
Barbara Crampton originated the role of the unpredictable Leanna. A popular star in the horror genre, the actress can be seen later this year in Creepshow, available on streaming service Shudder. We’re hoping she could fit in a return to Genoa City and help energize the series once more. Here are five reasons why it’d be great to have Crampton back on YR as Leanna.
1. Take a ChancComm on Leanna Love
Billy (Jason Thompson) and Lily (Christel Khalil) are running a huge media company and while today’s budgets don’t allow for busy newsroom sets with extras milling about and typing away at laptops, we need to see more than the two of them in Nick’s (Joshua Morrow) old Dark Horse offices looking at their phones to make us believe they’re media players.
It’s great that they’ve recruited Nate (Sean Dominic) to be the face of a medical app, but consumers love gossip! Bringing Leanna on would help drive traffic to ChancComm sites. Also, if Billy ramps up his rivalry with Victor (Eric Braeden), who better to have on his team than the woman who wrote the book (“Ruthless”) on the mustached mogul?
2. Big Little Lies
Leanna made her debut in 1988 as the unbalanced former patient of Steven Lassiter (Rod Arrants), Ashley’s (Eileen Davidson) new husband. Originally set for a short-term run, head writer, executive producer William J. Bell was so taken by Crampton’s performances, he made Leanna’s antics less-lethal so he could have her stick around.
Leanna knows the secrets of numerous characters, who are still on the canvas. Her very presence would likely give long-term characters like Ashley and Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) cause for concern.
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3. Gimme The (GC) Buzz
At times, GC Buzz covered gossip on a national level and, at other times, it seemed more concerned only with the lives of Genoa City residents. Who better to revive the tabloid website than Leanna, who has vast media experience and knowledge of both worlds? It would give her license to stick her nose into people’s business and show up everywhere.
4. Media Matters
Whether it’s radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, or the Internet, media’s always played a role on the YR landscape. When the show began, viewers were introduced to Stuart Brooks (Robert Colbert), who published the Genoa City Chronicle — Theo’s grandfather.
In addition to the previously mentioned GC Buzz, there’s also been Restless (get it?) Style, the magazine run by Nick, Sharon (Sharon Case), Phyllis (Michelle Stafford), and Jack (Peter Bergman). Soaps need reporters and interviewers almost as much as they need doctors and lawyers.
5. Jack Attack
Speaking of Jack, Leanna’s return could help fill the Abbott patriarch’s dance card. The two were thick as thieves at one point with Jack confiding his schemes in the conniving author. Leanna is one of many women who have been involved with both Jack and his rival Victor. (She was, in fact, briefly wed to the Dark Knight.)
So, her return could only enrich Jack’s life. Traci (Beth Maitland) has chronicled the Abbott family history, but maybe it’s time for a tome that’s devoted to just Smilin’ Jack?
Would you like to see Leanna back on YR? Sound off in the comments below! The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS. Check local listings for airtimes.
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