Ledger Pop Journal - Celebrity News & Sports

After cliff hanging, tune in tomorrow. Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki) has signed a new contract with "Young and Restless." "Y&R" offered Scott, who has been with the show since 1979 -- two choices: take a salary cut or become recurring at her present rate of pay per appearance. The actress said no to both. Her contract ran out.

After cliff hanging, tune in tomorrow.

The actress did agree to work a few more days. The writers were stuck with how to write off Nikki. According to set-side sources, she is being written off in an amazing plotline. Scott will return, but there is no set date.


With one daytime diva agreeing to stay with her show, we are on to the next. Robin Strasser (Dorian, "One Life to Live") is in contact talks. On her website, the always honest and never at a loss for words Strasser reported a few years ago that when her contract came at the time, she was asked to take a more than 50 percent salary cut. Which she did. Now Strasser reports she has been asked to take a further pay cut. Strasser, who created the iconic soap role of Rachel on "Another World" and the otherworldly Hecuba on "Passions," is reviewing the contract situation.

Strasser had said that as of July 10, she would not know if she was going to go or stay. A few Internet sites said "she has quit." Strasser wants it to be known she has not quit. An unhappy Strasser was asked to wait until Brian Frons, president of ABC Daytime, came back from his vacation. Strasser feels frustrated at the thought but has not given ABC her final answer. One of her sticking points is that she has been asked to take a bigger pay cut than many of her fellow "OLTL" actors. Strasser has said she may be taking a time-out while she and the network mull over options.

It appears Strasser's "OLTL" co-star Erika Slezak will continue to play Viki. Slezak has not been happy with her backburner story line. The actress has been told she is going to get a story line beyond playing the clucking mother hen to her problematic children.


A few weeks back, there were reports that the "Guiding Light" writing team had signed a new contract. It made it appear as if "GL" might be reborn after it exits CBS in September. "GL" head writer David Kreizman did sign a contract, but it was with "As the World Turns." Kreizman joins the show's current head writer, Jean Passanante.

"I am thrilled that Dave and Jean will make up the new head writing team for As The World Turns," said Executive Producer Christopher Goutman in a statement. "Both writers have an incredible respect for the show's rich history and I am confident this partnership will generate the exciting, character-based stories for which As The World Turns is known."