How The Young and the Restless Can Solve Its ‘Young’ Problem

Michael Mealor has announced his exit from The Young and the Restless. So, the CBS soap opera will either have to recast the part of Jack Abbott and the late Diane’s son or give the character a rest. As Kyle’s true love Summer Newman, played by Hunter King, has taken a job abroad, it’s possible he’ll join her there. However, Mealor’s exit stands to leave more than a gaping hole in Tara’s cold, blackmailing heart!

The Young and the Restless Young Set: It’s Time For A New Regime

Since its debut in 1973, Y&R has specialized in featuring young characters, hence the show’s title. Kyle is one of Y&R’s young leading male characters. In fact, he’s one of the only characters in that age range (the 20s). In recent months, the characters of Theo (Tyler Johnson) and Chance have been written off the canvas. Also, Sasha Calle’s Lola (the actress is set to star as Supergirl on the big screen) has also left Genoa City.

Soap Hub recently pointed out that Y&R will be missing the “Young,” so the show is going to need to add some ‘new’ characters to the mix if Kyle (and possibly Summer) won’t be around.

The show has the beginnings of a new teen set with Moses Winters (Jacob Aaron Gaines) and Faith Newman (Reylynn Caster) but it needs some characters in their 20s to help make Y&R multi-generational — and to have romantic adult stories. There are many characters who aren’t currently on the canvas and either they or their children could help fill the void left by the mentioned departures.

Y&R’s Next Generation: The Young Ones

Occasionally, Jack’s son Keemo (Phillip Moon) is referred to but the character has never been brought back since he left years ago. However, it’s possible Keemo has had his own family and fathered children. One or more of those offspring could come back to town looking to rightfully establish themselves as heirs to the Abbott fortune.

Soaps have told stories that have revealed that children, believed to have died at birth, were, in reality, kidnapped and/or switched with another child only to have that original character pop up. (As the World Turns’ Sabrina, played by Julianne Moore, and General Hospital’s Laura, played by Genie Francis, are two such examples.)

Y&R has refrained from this particular soap storytelling device. If it were to go down this road, Victoria Newman (Amelia Heinle), Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) as well as Jack (Peter Bergman), and Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott) are candidates with whom this story could be explored.

A smarter choice might be to bring back existing characters with whom the audience already has a connection. How about Fenmore Baldwin (Zack Tinker), Noah Newman (Robert Adamson), and Reed Helstrom (Tristan Lake Leabu)? Also, Lily’s children Mattie Ashby (Lexie Stevenson) and Charlie Ashby (Noah Alexander Gerry) could return to Genoa City and give Y&R a shot in the arm in the youth category.

Y&R: Time to SORAS

Soaps also age newborns and toddlers overnight via a process known as SORAS (Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome). Which characters are candidates for this? There’s Sam, Cane Ashby’s (Daniel Goddard) son with the late Juliet (Laur Allen). Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) has a granddaughter named Lucy, whose father is Daniel Romalotti (Michael Graziadei). Imagine how busy Phyllis would be managing a hellion who takes after her grandmother father’s mother?

Another young character who could be aged is Adam’s (Mark Grossman) son, Christian, with the late Sage (Kelly Sullivan). Though Christian is too young to be aged up into his 20s, he could be aged to a teenager someday and help flesh out the show’s current teen group.

Y&R also has the option of recasting Kyle. Three other actors played the part as a young man, however, Michael Mealor played him the longest and had more storyline than the other Kyles did combined. How will Y&R make sure that it lives up to its title? Stay tuned to find out!

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.