Wednesday’s entire episode of the CBS daytime drama “The Young and the Restless” will be devoted to Nikki Newman to mark the 40th anniversary of Melody Thomas Scott playing the character.
The episode airing at 11:30 a.m. finds Newman in jail and facing an uncertain future, writing a letter to her grandchildren sharing with them the pivotal and emotional moments in her life, including her epic love story with Victor Newman (Eric Braeden).
The episode will include flashbacks from episodes that haven’t been seen since their original broadcast.
Scott’s character was introduced in the Feb. 20, 1979, episode and has matured from the girl from the wrong side of the tracks to the luminous and resourceful heroine of television’s most-watched daytime drama for the past 30 years.
“I would never have guessed when I first accepted the role of Nikki Newman in 1979 that I would be fortunate enough to be playing her 40 years later,” Scott said. “I treasure the gifts and memories it has given me immensely. I feel most fortunate to have enjoyed every minute of these 40 years.”
Scott received a Daytime Emmy nomination for outstanding lead actress in a drama series in 1999, the year Susan Lucci of ABC’s “All My Children” won after being nominated 18 previous times without winning.
Scott began her career when she was 3 years old, initially performing in USO shows, in the theater and in commercials.
Scott’s first movie appearance was in the 1964 Alfred Hitchock-directed thriller “Marnie,” playing the younger version of the title character portrayed by Tippi Hedren.
Scott’s early television credits include “Wagon Train” and “Ironside.” She left a recurring role on the CBS Depression-era prime-time drama “The Waltons” to join “The Young and the Restless.”