News
Y&R's Melody Thomas Scott On Long Time Co-Star Eric Braeden: "I Know How To Handle Him!"

Photo Credit: Steven Bergman
The Young and the Restless Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman) spoke to TV Guide Magazine’s Michael Logan in a great interview with some hilarious and brilliant quotes about being married again on-screen one mo’ time, as part of the 40th anniversary celebration of the CBS Daytime soap opera.
Our favorite part of this was actually in the intro of the piece where Logan related back Nikki’s full name which included all of her former hubby’s to date … Nikki Reed Foster Bancroft DiSalvo Newman Abbott Landers Newman Newman Chow Sharpe Abbott Newman!
Melody was asked how she has managed to stay on long time co-star Eric Braeden’s (Victor Newman) good side after all of these years working alongside him creating the star-crossed beloved story of Nikki and Victor’s romance.
Thomas Scott responded by saying, “I ‘m not going to lie and say that being his costar is easy, because it ain’t. But it’s so worth it. And, hey, I can be pretty ornery, too. After working with the guy for 34 years, I know how to handle him. (Laughs) And, the best part is, he doesn’t even know he’s being handled!
So soapers, what do you think of the magic of Nikki and Victor? Are they still the ultimate Y&R couple to root for against all odds?
Nikki/Victor and Sharon/Nick. BEST Y&R COUPLES EVER!
Sharon and Adam are the next big long term super power couple 🙂
Sharon and Adam now are the new and improved Nikki and Victor without the toxic
I loved Victor with Ashley and loved him with Sabrina. Nikki has always been a bore to me.But dud however loved her married to Deacon minus the drunken part
YUP Sharon and Adam sure are the shows super couple. They need this to be true that Dylan is Sharons brother also. bring back her bff Drucilla would rocket this show into daytime record ratings 🙂
They kinda still are…but now Adam and Sharon are right up there with them!
I am loving Sharon and Adam together now. They need a romantic huge wedding. Now maybe since Adam took the bullet the Newmans will be nice to Sharon and Adam
WOW!!
”Nikki’s full name which included all of her former hubby’s to date … Nikki Reed Foster Bancroft DiSalvo Newman Abbott Landers Newman Newman Chow Sharpe Abbott Newman!”
It’s ridiculousness to have a woman go through the ‘tragedies’ of 13 marriages.. lol
Y&R is always in the business of tragic marriages and it rarely has new characters so they marry one character off 13 times, now that is poor poor poor intimation for writers It seem that soap is far from being anything ”young and restless’ it’s stale tragic marriages LOL .
But, I watch it anyways 🙂
Actually, Reed is her maiden name, so that makes it only twelve marriages- if that helps.
A true acting team
It was and still is one of the best love stories on the soaps. I just hope this time they will leave the couple alone- like they did with Tom and Alice Horton on Days. It is possible to be happily married and interesting at the same time- so fingers cross this will be the last marriage for both of them-
Marriages never ever last on a soap.. It must be a rule or something to have no marriages last..
However; now, in ‘this’ Niki and Victor marriage, because of their age, it will be their last..
Mike and Nancy had a happy long marriage on Edge of Night. He married her 2 years after the death of his first wife Sara and she had a good relationship with her stepdaughter Lauri Anne. They were married in the early 1960s and stayed together til the show was canceled until the early 1980s. So there a few marriage that did last but it would be a rarity to happen anymore!
I agree, let them stay married now, people think if they stay married it becomes boring, but they can have drama in their lives without having to get divorced..
Adam shouldnt have anything to do with the Newmans no matter what. It shouldnt always take a tragedy to make someone accept you.
Jim, about your Edge of Night comment above- when I was watching that show I was a preteen, so my memory may be fuzzy here, but didn’t the actress who played Nancy leave the show once, and the character died in some kind of boating accident? Then a year or so later when Mike was starting to fall in love with someone else she came back. She was on some kind of island, had lost her memory, something like that. I remember I was watching with my mother when it was revealed Nancy was still alive, it was quite the vivid recollection- and bombshell because back them it was as common plot device as today. Just wondering if I am remembering it right?
Never mind- talked to my mother and she says it was some lady named Nicole and not Nancy – she’s 90 and she’s got a better memory than me.
I was never a Victor/Nikki fan. I always rooted for Victor when he was single or married to someone else..anyone other than Nikki who I thought sucked the life out of him. Imo, Hope and Ashley were his best pairings. Both women made him more gentle and human. Nikki just always acted like needy clingy jealous wife. Nothing I found attractive in a woman.
As for Nikki my favorite was when she was married to Jack the first time struggling with her addiction after falling off the horse.
I am liking Nikki and Victor more recently. I would like to see her keep her addiction at bay and have Victor become kinder and gentler in helping Nikki with her illness and overseeing his family. I think Nikki and Victor are better when they concentrate on others together. At this point in their lives I would hope the huge horrible problems would settle down. I would like to see more of Victor and Adam and the eventual breakdown in their war and a better appreciation for the child most like himself. It woould be great to see all the Newmans work together against a corporate foe!
I agree with Mary above ..It was and still is one of the best love stories on the soaps. I just hope this time they will leave the couple alone, Mel and Eris’s chemistry is amazing! Love them together especially now that they have this big family to take care of….
I don’t like Adam and Sharon together…she cheated on him with a Vet for no reason. Adam’s character does not have the personality trait to forgive that type of betrayal..
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m more in love with Victor and Niiki then I am with Tad and Dixie, I’m a 32 year fan of AMC and just a year and a half with Y&R.. You can tell they care about each other in real life and it shows on screen, they have amazing chemistry, I can never get enough of them..
Well, Eric Braeden is my favorite star on Y&R, Period! And for years I loved the Victor Nikki love story. However one of my very favorite storylines was the Victor and Sabrina love affair. In my opinion that was cut way too soon. They were so elegant and glamorous together, a truly Beautiful couple. There was so much chemistry between them, and I was very sad when that beautiful storyline came to a sudden end. I like Melody Thomas Scott very much, but wish that Ashligh and Victor would have gone back together. It does not matter, EB is why I watch the show! Great actor!
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Cynthia Watros Honors Former ‘Titus’ Co-Star Stacy Keach Following His Passing

General Hospital star Cynthia Watros, who can currently be seen in on the ABC soap opera in the role of Nina Reeves, has had a enduring career in television. That included her time on the 2000-2002 Fox sitcom, Titus.
In Titus, Watros starred along with Stacy Keach as Erin Fitzpatrick and Ken Titus, respectively. After the November 10th news that Keach had passed away at 85 while living in Poland, Cynthia took to her Instagram on Thursday, November 12 to pay tribute to the great actor.
Watros expressed, “My first prime time show was along side Stacy. I loved him instantly. What an amazing talent and man.❤️”

Photo: ABC
In Titus, Stacy played stand up comedian Christopher Titus’ heavy-drinking, chain-smoking, five-times-divorced father who frequently pulled cruel pranks and tried to toughen his kids up. Cynthia played by Christopher’s level-headed, big-hearted girlfriend trying to build a normal life with him. In fact, Cynthia’s role on the sitcom was first series regular role after her Daytime Emmy run of Annie Dutton on Guiding Light which ran from 1994-1998.
STACY KEACH’S WIFE ON HIS PASSING
Keach’s wife, Malgosia shared the news of the actor’s death publicly in a statement with PEOPLE. Malgosia expressed, that Stacy had, “a long and difficult battle with a serious heart condition and heart failure.”
She added, “Stacy peacefully departed this world. He fought for so long, with extraordinary courage, determination and strength. He was a true warrior, facing his illness with the same remarkable spirit and resilience that defined his life.”
Małgosia continued, “Stacy was not only a legendary actor, admired and loved by audiences the world over, but also my beloved husband, my companion and the heart of our family. His passing leaves an immeasurable emptiness in our lives. But his extraordinary spirit, his unforgettable voice and the love he gave so generously will remain with us forever.”
Now, let us know do you remember when Cynthia made her sitcom debut in Titus? Share your thoughts via the comment section on Cynthia’s many TV roles and the passing of Stacy Keach in the comment section. But first, check out the very first episode of Titus with Cynthia Watros below!
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Emmy Winner Ambyr Michelle Wants to Compete on ‘Dancing with the Stars’: ‘Pick Me’ (Exclusive)

Soap opera fans are always clamoring for when Dancing with the Stars reveals their cast each season, that they would include a familiar face from daytime drama, but it rarely happens, if ever, anymore.
Over the last several years, the series has leaned heavily into casting celebrities with massive TikTok or Instagram followers, which in turn, have helped this season and last have their best ratings numbers in years.
But, how about for next season’s cast of Dancing with the Stars, that it could include newly-awarded Daytime Emmy winner, Ambyr Michelle (Eva Thomas) of Beyond the Gates?

Photo: CBS
LOVE OF DANCE TO LOVE OF ACTING
Michael Fairman TV spoke to Michelle about her dance background and if she would love a shot at lifting the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy during Wednesday’s November 11, livestream chat on the Michael Fairman Channel.
Ambyr explained to fans (who joined in on the live chat), how she began her show business career. “I started off as a dancer, first and foremost. Acting wasn’t really something I wanted to go after. I did plays when I was younger, but it was just something we did in school, but I really wanted to be a dancer. I moved out to LA to dance, and I fell out of love with dance, which was so weird.”
This year’s Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series winner, added, “I was like, ‘What is going on?’ I moved all the way out here for dance. I found I was forcing myself to go to dance class, and I just didn’t have the passion for it. I was working at this restaurant at the time, and one of my coworker was like, ‘What about taking an acting class out here?'”
Next, Ambyr took the coworker up on the idea. “So, I took an acting class and I fell in love with it that day,” shared Michelle. “I was like, ‘I want to do this for the rest of my life.’ I thought, I would love to book a role, of course, as a dancer, but I think acting has a little bit more longevity.”

Photo: ABC
A SHOT AT THE LEN GOODMAN MIRRORBALL TROPHY
When the talked turned to if Ambyr would consider or be interested in appearing on the ballroom dance competition series, she piped up with, “I would love to do Dancing with the Stars! Pick me!”
As those in the live chat rallied around this idea, it made us think, Ambyr could be the first contestant from Beyond the Gates, and someone representing the soaps. It checks off so many boxes! To which Ambyr replied, “That would be beautiful.”
You can check out the full conversation with Ambyr below.
So, what do you think soap fans? Can we make sure Ambyr’s name gets in front of the producers and casting director for next season’s Dancing with the Stars? Would you like to see her in the competition? If so, who would be your dream pro professional dance partner for her? Let us know in the comment section.
Beyond the Gates
RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Inches Closer to ‘General Hospital’ in Total Viewers

The latest ratings are out for the week of October 26-30, 2026 and the big takeaways include: that CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates was separated by only 23,000 viewers behind third place (of the soaps) General Hospital! For the last several weeks, Beyond the Gates has been closing the gap on this year’s winner for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series, and continuing to best GH in the key demos.
According to the latest Nielsen ratings breakdown from Soap Opera Network, the final week of October brought Beyond the Gates 1.790 million on average tuning-in and the show set a season high in total viewers. Meanwhile, General Hospital hit a new season low! The long-running ABC soap had 1.813 million for the week, and once again the series did not go over the 2 million mark.
Meanwhile, in the key Women 18-49 demo, Beyond the Gates was firmly ahead of GH with a rating share of 0.21, while General Hospital had 0.17 rating share.Then, in the key Women 25-54 demo, Beyond the Gates was once again ahead of the ABC soap with a ratings share for that demo at 0.30 while GH came in with 0.26.

Photo: CBS
MORE BY THE NUMBERS
In addition and comparatively, Beyond the Gates +22,000 viewers week-to-week, and had the largest gains in viewership year-to-year in daytime TV with +267,000 from this in 2025.. However, General Hospital seems to be going in reverse. The show was down -56,000 viewers week-over-week and down -22,000 year-over-year .
BEYOND THE GATES
Let’s take a look at some of the storylines that had people tuning-in to Beyond the Gates during the ratings week:
Hayley (Marquita Goings) attempted a massive shocker regarding her pregnancy and tried to use it to extract money from Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). Although, Bill saw right through her game, he demanded a paternity test, and made it clear he has no intention of raising the child—planning instead to pay her off to take the baby and leave. Meanwhile, Hayley confided her plan to her cousin Randy (Maurice P. Kerry).
Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges) and Naomi Hamilton (Arielle Prepetit) clashed over Jacob’s ongoing investigation into The Impaler, causing significant strain in their marriage. At the same time, Smitty (Mike Manning) considered taking matters into his own hands—including potentially heading to Mexico for evidence—while Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) worried about what comes next.

Photo: ABC
GENERAL HOSPITAL
Over at General Hospital for the ratings period, the story served up included:
Carly (Laura Wright) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) teamed up to investigate what really happened to Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna). Later, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) leads them to Jack’s dead body.
Jude (Wil Traval) dropped a bombshell claim to Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn); that he is Phoebe’s father, while Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard) signed their divorce papers.
Then, Danny caught Rocco (Finn Carr) and Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarski) sharing a kiss, plus the shocking return of Heather Webber (Alley Mills) capped the week.
Now the questions become; without having much promotional synergy in the ABC day-part to draw more eyeballs it is not helping but hurting General Hospital. It seems Beyond the Gates is also a benefactor of a one-two-three punch of CBS soaps (Y&R, B&B and BTG) and promotion.
However, that still doesn’t take away the fact that Beyond the Gates is close to besting GH in all ratings category as they go head-to-head in some markets across the country.
So, are you excited to see Beyond the Gates climb in the ratings? Are you concerned for General Hospital? Do you think they can stave off Beyond the Gates in total viewers or will the upstart soap overtake them in the next ratings report? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
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