Why Soaps Endure: Y&R Icon Melody Thomas Scott Breaks It Down

Melody Thomas Scott has once again taken pen to paper — or keyboard to the web — to express her feelings on the state of soap operas. She’s already penned her memoir Always Young and Restless, but now, she’s sharing more thoughts as she celebrates 45 years of playing Nikki Reed Newman on The Young and the Restless.

Melody Thomas Scott: Unique Insights

To give Thomas Scott’s tenure as Nikki some perspective, she began playing the part when Jimmy Carter was President of the United States in 1979. In her essay for Deadline, which can be read in full here, Thomas Scott recalled the days in which soap opera fans watched the show live before VCRs, DVRs, and streaming. Fans voiced their opinions through snail mail that was delivered to the show’s studio in Hollywood. “[N]ow viewers have the ability to post about the show’s storylines in real time using hashtags and handles to get an actor’s attention,” Thomas Scott wrote.

The Daytime Emmy nominee acknowledges that viewing patterns have changed over the years due to technology. Also, there are more choices than ever courtesy of streaming platforms. “[T]he fact that Y&R continues to maintain and cultivate a loyal and dedicated fan base is something that is never taken for granted as it’s the sole reason for the show’s longevity,” Thomas Scott says.

“Anytime the genre has tried to adopt characteristics of other forms of programming (such as extreme pacing), it has learned a painful lesson not to veer too far from the recipe of success for the daytime drama: compelling storytelling with captivating characters who viewers want to invite into their homes five days a week,” the actress says.

No article analyzing daytime would be complete without acknowledging how the trial of O.J. Simpson, which was televised, often pre-empted soap operas. Coverage of the real-life drama made an impact not only on viewing patterns but also on the headlines, which were so dramatic they seemed to overshadow some fictional stories.

“Unfortunately, all of the soaps lost a significant amount of their audiences when viewing habits were broken,” the Y&R veteran star writes. “However, the experience reminded the genre of the importance of being at the top of their game in both production and promotion.”

Thomas Scott praised late Y&R and The Bold and the Beautiful co-creators William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for their unparalleled contributions to soaps. (Bill Bell also saved Days of our Lives from cancellation after he became the show’s head writer in the mid-1960s.) “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,” Thomas Scott adds. “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 actress acknowledged other long-running players in soaps including General Hospital stars Genie Francis (Laura) and Maurice Benard (Sonny), B&B’s John McCook (Eric) and Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke), and DAYS’ Suzanne Rogers (Maggie) and James Reynolds (Abe).

“The relationship that a viewer forms with the characters of a daytime drama is unparalleled to any other medium,” Scott concludes. “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.” Y&R was recently renewed for an additional four years.