One reason that The Young and the Restless remains at the top of the ratings is that the CBS soap opera showcases its veterans. One, however, hasn’t been seen enough in the forefront of the action. We’re talking about Melody Thomas Scott’s character Nikki Newman.
The Young and the Restless – Where Is Nikki?
Recently, viewers have seen Nikki lend support to daughter Victoria as she embarks on a relationship with Ashland (Richard Burgi) and offer a sympathetic ear to Victor (Eric Braeden) as he plots his next move. But Nikki should be driving the action not merely reacting to it. One thing viewers love about Nikki is her impulsiveness and the love she has for her family and friends. These qualities lend themselves to Nikki being more proactive in storylines.
Jack (Peter Bergman) is one of Nikki’s dearest pals. He’s likely never going to listen to Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) about who he’s seeing given Phyllis’s visceral reaction to Sally (Courtney Hope). But if Nikki threw her two cents in, he might give it more weight.
Viewers, however, won’t be satisfied until Nikki has her own story. It’s not enough to see the fan-favorite supporting other players. Stitch (Sean Carrigan) mentioned Nikki’s multiple sclerosis (MS) during his recent visit to Genoa City but that appears to be in remission.
Recently, Nikki mentioned going to Italy this summer to see pianist Leslie Brooks (Janice Lynde) perform in a concert. Is The Young and the Restless planning on using that trip as a jumping-off point for a new Nikki-centric story? While Nikki has a top position at Newman Enterprises, has the business world ever been her domain? Working alongside Victoria makes spending time together organic, but the mother and daughter don’t need a special reason to talk.
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Nikki’s got such a rich history – she’s battled alcoholism and fought off stalkers; she’s had numerous marriages and love affairs; discovered she has a long-lost son, but it’s not likely that Dylan will be popping up in Genoa City anytime soon as his portrayer, Steve Burton, is back playing Jason on General Hospital. The writers could always look into Nikki’s past to come up with a current storyline or create a new path for her to take.
A logical place to insert Nikki would be as a third in the Ashland/Victoria story. What if Victoria were to go out of town on a business trip and Nikki consoles Ashland in her daughter’s place? Nikki can relate to the media mogul as Nikki herself once dealt with a terminal illness (thank goodness she got better). The two are closer in age and this wouldn’t be the first mother/daughter triangle that involved both Nikki and Victoria.
Victor and Nikki have been married and divorced numerous times both legally and illegally. Splitting these two up may not be the answer, however, one thing is for sure – Nikki needs some conflict in her life. She’s one of Y&R’s most beloved characters.
Viewers have faithfully followed Nikki through all kinds of challenges. They’ve seen Nikki at her best and her worst. They’ve celebrated her successes and stood by her as she fights for her family and loved ones. All Y&R has to do is hand Melody Thomas Scott the material and the actress will deliver the goods.
The Young and the Restless (YR) airs weekdays on CBS. Check your local listings for airtimes. For more about what’s coming up in Genoa City, check out all the latest that’s been posted on Y&R spoilers.
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