Melody Thomas Scott to return to work on Y&R

Melody Thomas Scott will be returning to The Young and the Restless just in time for the big November Sweeps period. The actress, who has been off-screen since June, has signed a new contract with the CBS soap.

For the past three months, fans of The Young and the Restless have been questioning why Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman) simply disappeared from their television screens. Though there still isn't an official explanation, Thomas' absence is about to come to an end.

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In an interview with TVGuide's Michael Logan, Scott revealed that she'll be back at the Y&R studio beginning in October. Those scenes are slated to air just before Thanksgiving.

Earlier this year, Scott announced on Twitter that she had taped her "last scene" on the CBS soap in late-April. The actress went on to say that none of the show's executives had told her at the time that she'd be exiting -- or how long she'd be off-screen.

On June 19, while discussing her Outstanding Writing Team win with the press at the Daytime Emmys, Y&R head writer/executive producer, Maria Bell, brushed off claims that Scott had been fired.

"Melody is phenomenal. We love Melody. She's one of the hearts and souls of Young and the Restless. Don't be worried. She will be back," Bell said backstage at this year's Daytime Emmys, where she won her first Emmy for Outstanding Writing Team. "[Nikki] is in a storyline where she left town but she will be back."

Scott made sure to put some ugly rumors to rest. "This is nothing against Maria Bell, and I want to make that very clear," she said. "A lot of people have been misled and think that all this has been Maria's fault and that is absolutely not the case. I have never had any ill will toward her through this entire thing. She has been great and extremely supportive."

Though no official explanation for Scott's off-screen time was given, there had been speculation that the show was having money issues. One source hinted that Scott was "over her contract limit," meaning that she'd appeared in as many episodes as her contract had guaranteed.

Fans questioned how a show that was having financial difficulties could hire big-name stars like Genie Francis (Genevieve Atkinson) and All My Children vet Debbi Morgan (ex-Angie Hubbard).

"That's a tough question," Scott told TVGuide when asked the same question. "I can't pretend to know for sure, being the victim here. Sony would have to tell you, which they won't."

Scott went on to clarify that her return to Y&R happened because she signed a new contract with the show. The terms of that contract were not revealed.

This isn't the first time that Scott has been off-screen on The Young and the Restless. The actress has had three high-profile contract stalemates in the past ten years. In 2001, sources reported that Scott had been let go from The Young and the Restless. After several weeks of uncertainty, CBS announced that Scott was staying put. Just two years ago, a contract impasse between Scott and Y&R executives resulted in Nikki Newman being written out of the show.

Scott joined The Young and the Restless in February 1979. Though it may surprise fans, the actress has received just one Daytime Emmy nomination -- an Outstanding Lead Actress nod in 1999.

Scott will reappear on-screen on November 23.

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