The Young and the Restless Is Missing Its Strong Summer Youth Story

While Summer Newman may have a storyline going on on The Young and the Restless, it’s not what soap fans think of when they think of a traditional “summer” storyline. Y&R has excelled in summer storylines featuring a slew of younger characters over the years. And this year, there simply isn’t one.

The Young and the Restless – Not The Usual Summer Fare

Sure, relative youngsters Summer (Hunter King) and Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) are playing out a story in which their love has been thwarted by Tara Locke (Elizabeth Leiner) and Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope). But how long can this last when Mealor has announced his upcoming exit as Kyle?

However, soap fans are used to seeing entire teen and young adult sets play out tales, especially in the summer months when younger viewers are out of school. How many life-long soap fans got hooked by checking out a daytime serial during the summer?

That Y&R Summer Storyline When Lauren Was A Mean Girl

In the early to mid-1980s, Y&R featured the characters of Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian), Lauren Fenmore (Tracey Bregman), and Traci Abbott (Beth Maitland) as the two women vied for the rock star’s affections. Lauren’s “mean girl” antics towards Traci were deplorable (she threw a bikini party hoping to embarrass Traci). The Abbott heiress got even with Lauren by dumping a sundae on her head!

A few years later, the younger set included Phillip Chancellor III (Thom Bierdz), Christine “Cricket” Blair (Lauralee Bell), and Nina Webster (Tricia Cast). Cricket tried to help Nina get her son (years later revealed to be Ronan) back from black market baby broker Rose DeVille (the late, great Darlene Conley). She also tried to aid Phillip, who had developed a drinking problem. Chris also had a romance with Danny, which led to marriage a few years later.

When Nick Newman and Sharon Collins Fell In Love

In the mid-1990s, Y&R introduced another young set — Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow), Sharon Collins (Sharon Case), Matt Clark (Eddie Cibrian), and Amy Wilson (Julianne Morris). In the late 1990s, Y&R brought on yet another young set, AKA the Glo by Jabot kids — Billy Abbott (then, David Tom; now, Jason Thompson), Mackenzie Browning, J.T. Hellstrom (Thad Luckinbill), Raul Guittierez (David Lago), and Brittany Hodges (Lauren Woodland).

Other teens have come onto the show over the years, but this summer there really isn’t a teen set with a summer storyline. We’ve been introduced to Moses Winters (Jacob Aaron Gaines), a high schooler who already appears to be focused on his future as a doctor. There’s also Faith Newman (Reylynn Caster), recovering from a kidney transplant, and recently took on the task of making coffee and other drinks for patrons at Crimson Lights.

The Young and the Restless: The Summer Storyline That Never Was

In recent years, however, Y&R hasn’t always showcased its teen characters the same way it used to. A while back, Reed Helstrom (Tristan Lake Leabu), Mattie Ashby (Lexi Stevenson), and her twin brother Charley Ashby (Noah Alexander Gerry) were all living in Genoa City but the trio didn’t take on stories that matched those of their fellow teen predecessors.

Y&R appears to be repeating this pattern again with its current younger set. To start, what Moses and Faith need are some friends — maybe Stitch’s (Sean Carrigan) son Max could make a turn for the better medically and join his dad back in Genoa City?

Perhaps Sam, the son of Cane Ashby (Daniel Goddard) and the late Juliet (Laur Allen) could be aged? (Where is Sam, by the way?) The show could use another teen female character to be Faith’s pal (or adversary) and the show could get some stories going on with its younger set if not in time for summer, then maybe this fall?

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, and for an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.