News
Melody Thomas Scott signs new contract with Y&R!

Photo Credit: Steven Bergman
Well here is a bit of good news! With all the house cleaning speculation this week over at Y&R, now comes the news via TV Guide, that one of the shows most valuable assets and fan favorites, Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman) has finally signed a new contract with the number one sudser, and will be back on-air in November starting around the Thanksgiving holiday!
As many know, Melody was last seen on the set of Y&R back in April and all of a sudden stopped getting scripts leading her and many to believe, perhaps we had seen the last of Nikki, especially since on-air she was sent off to rehab for her battle with booze!
In her feature with TVG, Melody clears the air a bit and teases what is to come when Nikki hits Genoa City again. Here are a few excerpts!
Melody on why she suddenly vanished from the soap and if it was all about financial restraints and budgetary problems at the soap: “ Yes, I do but it was not handled very well. I’ve been in this business since I was three and I know how this works. If a show is having problems with money or budget they call the actor very respectfully and say, “We have a little financial crunch here. Let’s try to work something out, okay?” That’s what should have happened. The problem was that such a phone call was never made to me and I was left in the lurch. Had they picked up the phone back in March or April and just said two or three sentences to me, none of this would have happened. But nobody said anything, and that started to get a little odd after a couple of weeks of not working. I would call in for my shooting schedule as I usually do and be told, “You have another week off.” And this kept happening week after week after week. Then the fans started paying attention to all this and were asking me, “Are you leaving the show?” I had no idea what to say or why I wasn’t working. Then all hell seemed to break lose. People were saying I had asked for a leave of absence. False. They were saying, “Oh, Melody, wants to spend time with her new grandbaby twins.” False. [Laughs] Well, of course I do want to spend time with them but I would never quit my job over it!”
Melody on what brings Nikki back to the canvas! “Well, apparently Nikki has been missing for a while. The rehab thing only lasted so long and now she’s disappeared and has been doing other things, which is what I can’t tell you about at this point. But when she finally comes home there are some very big issues going on with a lot of people and it will create big problems.”
So are you thrilled that Melody will be back on-air where she belongs on Y&R? Let us know!
Beyond the Gates
TONIGHT: Daytime Emmy Nominations Special 2026 Live: Nominated Guest Line-Up

Now that this year’s 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Nominations have been announced, several of the acting nominees will share their reactions and more to learning they are going for gold when the ceremony rolls around on October 30.
However, tonight on Tuesday July 14 beginning at 8pm ET/5pm PT, Michael Fairman once again host his 12th annual Daytime Emmy Nominations special live on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel.
Scheduled to appear thus far are: Beyond the Gates stars, Lead Actress nominee: Karla Mosley (Dani), Supporting Actress nominee: Trisha Mann-Grant (Leslie), and Supporting Actor nominees: Mike Manning (Smitty) and Timon Kyle Durrett (Bill).
From The Young and the Restless: Lead Actress nominee Michelle Stafford (Phyllis), Lead Actor nominee Christian LeBlanc (Michael), Supporting Actress nominee Camryn Grimes (Mariah) and Supporting Actor nominee Sean Dominic (Nate).
In addition look for General Hospital’s Supporting Actress nominee Amanda Setton (Brook Lynn), from Days of Our Lives, Outstanding Guest Performer nominee, Christopher Sean (Paul) and from The Bold and the Beautiful Lead Actor nominee Scott Clifton (Liam) and Supporting Actor nominee Lawrence Saint-Victor (Carter) plus more featured guests.
So, what did you think of this year’s Emmy nominations for Beyond the Gates, General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless?
Be with us in the live chat with your questions and comments on this year’s nominations and for our special guests.
For upcoming celebrity features, livestreams, special event coverage and more, make sure to “subscribe” to the Michael Fairman Channel.
So, looking forward to tonight’s special show with the nominees? Let us know via the comment section below and if you can’t be with us live, if you have any questions you want posed to our special guests and we just might ask during the broadcast.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Steve Burton Shares Reaction to His Lead Actor Daytime Emmy Nomination, ‘It Was to Honor Leslie Charleson’

The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Award nominations kicked-off on Monday with the announcements of four major categories including, Outstanding Lead Performer in a Daytime Drama Series — Actor, and among the nominees is General Hospital’s Steve Burton (Jason Morgan).
Burton is already a two-time Daytime Emmy winner in the Supporting Actor category for his roles as GH’s Jason and his turn as Dylan McAvoy on Y&R. However, Steve is yet to win in the Lead Actor category and he has received 11 nominations along the way in his daytime career.
Following the reveal that he is a 2026 Daytime Emmy nominee, he and his GH co-star, podcast co-host and comedy show partner, Bradford Anderson (Spinelli) taped a special edition of their That’s Awesome podcast just featuring Burton’s reaction to the news.

Photo: JPI
FOR LESLIE CHARLESON
Steve expressed, “I know it’s such a cliche to say, ‘I’m just so honored to be nominated.’ But truly, I’m so grateful to be nominated, so grateful to just be on the show off and on for 30 plus years and to be nominated with the guys in my category. Just to get the opportunity. Frank (Valentini, executive producer, GH) texted me right away. I was just like, ‘Thank you for the opportunity to get to do what I do.'”
Taking in the moment, Burton thanked those who helped him select the material for his nominated reel. “Unless you win, you don’t get to say things. So. I’m going just say a few things: Elizabeth Korte (co-head writer, GH) helped me a lot with the material, (as did) Michelle Henry, who’s a producer on the show, Laura Wright (Carly, GH), and then my wife Michelle (Lundstrom). I believe it was Jill Phelps who told me that when A Martinez felt like he had a great show or great scenes, he would mark it down. So, when Emmy time comes, you have all the show numbers written down, and you don’t have to think about it, because that’s half the battle (finding the material).
Burton explained how meaningful this nomination is for him, because of playing the scenes of Jason losing Monica, and his closeness with the late, great Leslie Charleson.
“The nomination’s an amazing thing, and it’s beautiful, but really it’s to honor Leslie Charleson. A lot of my material was because of her, and how I started on the show as a Quartermaine, it just means a ton,” shared Burton. “Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH) has obviously has been instrumental, and I’ve said it from day one and I’ll shout it from the rooftops. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here, and to be working with the people that we work with is incredible.”

Photo: JPI
SHOULD JOHN OLIVER BE NAMED HOST OF THE DAYTIME EMMYS?
During the end of his conversation with Anderson, Steve suggested that the host of the Daytime Emmy should be Last Week Tonight’s John Oliver, who recently guest starred as the head of the WSB named Z on General Hospital, and is soon to show up on Days of Our Lives in a mystery role in August.
Thus far, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has not revealed their host for the upcoming ceremony to be held on October 30 in a venue to be named in Hollywood, California.
You can watch Steve sharing his reaction to receiving his 2026 Lead Actor Daytime Emmy nomination below on a special segment on the That’s Awesome podcast.
Now let us know, are you glad that Steve chose scenes surrounding Jason mourning the loss of the woman that raised him, Monica Quartermaine for his Emmy reel? What do you think of John Oliver as a suggestion to host the Daytime Emmys? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
Beyond the Gates
53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations: Outstanding Lead Actress Drama Series

Monday on Entertainment Tonight, the second set of nominations for the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards were announced which included the highly-coveted Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series – Actress and Outstanding Daytime Talk Series.
ET followed suit after Extra announced the nominees, as previously reported, in the Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series – Actor and Outstanding Daytime Talk Host.
Now, five leading ladies of the soaps are vying for the gold for Lead Actress and the category marked the first-ever nominations for CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates when two actresses made the final cut. Only General Hospital is not represented among the actresses this year after Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) took home the trophy last year.

Photo: NATAS
THE FIVE LEADING LADIES OF THE SOAPS ARE …
The 2026 Lead Actress nominees are: Stacy Haiduk (Kristen DiMera), Days of Our Lives, Karla Mosley (Dani Dupree), Beyond the Gates, Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers), The Young and the Restless, Heather Tom (Katie Logan), The Bold and the Beautiful, and Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree), Beyond the Gates.
This marks the first Daytime Emmy nominations for Karla Mosley and Tamara Tunie. In addition, this marks the first-time in her career that Stacy Haiduk had received a Lead Actress nod after two Supporting Actress nominations.
Meanwhile, Michelle Stafford had previously won 3 Emmys – 2 for Lead Actress and 1 for Supporting, but this recognition makes it her 11th overall nomination.
Heather Tom currently is tied for the most all-time Daytime Emmy wins with One Life to Live alum and General Hospital guest star, Erika Slezak. The B&B star has 19 nominations throughout her career.

Photo: ABC
DAYTIME TALK SERIES
In the Outstanding Daytime Talk Series category, the nominees are: 3rd Hour of Today, The Drew Barrymore Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Live with Kelly and Mark, Today with Jenna and Friends and The View.
“We’re proud to honor the extraordinary talent and creative teams whose work continues to define and elevate daytime television,” NATAS president and CEO Adam Sharp said in a statement on the nominations. “As the Daytime landscape evolves and new forms of storytelling emerge, we remain committed to recognizing the innovation happening across the industry.”
The rest of the nominations will be revealed tomorrow on Tuesday July 14 starting on The View and then the full list of nominees in both the main and creative arts will be released by NATAS. The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards are slated for October 30th in Hollywood, California.
So, what do you think about the women who are vying for the Lead Actress Daytime Emmy? Happy with who got in? Who do you feel got snubbed? What do you think of the nominees for Daytime Talk Series? Weigh-in via the comment section.
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Praise God. Put this woman on the front burner for about a year so fans can actually see her again-and without Meggie or Deacon, please.
Michael,
Melody last worked at Y&R in April and made her last on-air appearance on June 3. Just want that clarified!
FINALLY!!!
Y&R finally made a good casting call. Hopefully Nikki comes back and is the one who murdered Diane. I love MTS!! Finally Nikki can come home!!
great news!!! Eventhough i m not the biggest fan of her, I admit that she is a key player for the show!
melody is a very valuable asset to y&r and i knew she would eventually be back!!
i can’t wait to see what niki has been up to!
Finally!!! Now, I can go back to watching Y&R again….
Yeah!!! This is the same silliness they pulled on Eric Braeden, totally disrespectful!! You know Sony MAB all these actors want is a little respect they deserved to know what is going on! Glad you are back Melody!!
Yes. I am not entirely happy with how she has handled all this (not that the show’s decision making and handling of this is any better) and I find that “They have come around and suddenly appreciate me again” quote to be particular graceless but Nikki and MLS belong on the canvas and I am thrilled she will be back.
The news from Y&R from the past couple of days have been pretty good. Seems they realized the show was a mess right now.
Thank God! Now plaease Powers That Be… treat Miss Scott and Nikki right!
I knew that MTS would be back, and that it was just a matter of time. As MAB put it once, “Melody is one of the hearts and souls of Young and the Restless.” That is very true, and I don’t care what happened, as long as she comes back…. with a vengeance! 🙂 Can’t wait!
I think you will realize actors are always a little full of themselves and you just have to ignore it. And to me it does not make sense to write how many new characters in that no one cares about and ignore the veterans. Doug Davidson deserves a meaty storyline he has been on for 33 years. Christian LeBlanc does nothing more then carry a briefcase around. And I am sorry but they could get rid of Tucker and no one would care. They are going to have to get back to the basics or this show will be canceled.
Thank Heaven’s Melody will be back…..but can we please NOT have her paired with Victor again….it’s old and tired !!
It can ‘t come soon enough!!!! I have missed MTS and Nikki so much. She is SUCH AN AMAZING actress and such a HUGE staple on Y&R! We need her back ASAP!!!
I am very happy to hear that Nikki will be back soon. She is a very important character on the show and has been truly missed!
So very pleased–my prayers have been answered. Nikki is my favorite character on the Y & R – and I have been watching the show since its first air date. Cannot imagine the show without her–and frankly the show has really been lacking in believability since she left. Nikki, Victor, Kay, Jill, Jack are my favorite characters. Would also love to see more of ESTHER. Melody Scott Thomas is wonderful–hope she remains on the show forever! LOVE HER!
Glad Nikki’s back. Now we need Dru back to make Sofia step!
I have been watching y&r since the late 70s im use to seeing nicki on the show with victor miss alot of other people that use to be on to