The Young and the Restless (Y&R) spoilers documents all things Adam (as played by Michael Muhney and Justin Hartley). Hartley’s voluntary departure from Y&R’s cast last year reintroduced the theory that Michael Muhney could return to the show. However, humility remains missing from many claimed Muhney supporter’s social media threats. This gaggle refuses to admit that someone other than Muhney could play Adam well and that their own vitriolic vibe hampers his chance to ever return to the show.
Fan is short for fanatic. Passion fuels most soap fans, allowing time investments in their shows and voluntary social media interactions about the topic. Well-intentioned individuals continue to represent the overwhelmingly positive parts of the audience. This group also supports more than one actor in an ensemble show like The Young and the Restless.
Then there was another group. This contingent behaved like spoiled children when they proclaimed that Muhney had to be rehired in 2014, or that they would never watch the show again (supposedly). But me-first individuals act like this regularly, not just when they’re talking about soaps.
Remember the bratty child in elementary school who threatened to take his ball and go home if things didn’t go his way during recess? Was this scribe that boy before he evolved? Recall the little child who threw a temper tantrum when her mommy didn’t buy her a specific toy at the mall? Yes, this scribe knew children like that ages ago. Sadly, some people never make emotional progress as they age.
Michael Muhney is a fantastic actor. His version of Adam was iconic, in this scribe’s opinion. The reason for his termination was clouded and not explained at the time it happened, or thereafter. That situation, combined with Internet access then enabled unhinged minds to attack him, various members of the cast, Y&R’s former executive producer, Jill Farren Phelps, fellow fans, scribes and others.
Those self-claimed The Young and the Restless fans purposely co-opted the Muhney matter. Political actors armed themselves with electronic devices, or can it be said that they collectively hid behind those weapons? But that mob’s shrill voice was stifled by Justin Hartley’s hire and subsequent success.
Hartley demonstrated that a talented performer can crush it when he (she) has good scripts, positive on-screen and off-screen colleagues to work with and is given a fair chance by devoted audience members. His departure, like Muhney’s, was lamented by seasoned fans. But no rational minds took that decision as renewed call for war.
By now it’s very obvious that certain sorry souls have failed to realize that their actions made it harder, if not impossible for Muhney to be rehired. Y&R distanced itself from negative buzz by hiring Hartley. Now, the same pattern could be followed again when the Adam role is recast.
True Soap opera fans don’t want to denigrate Y&R, or the other three remaining broadcast network daytime dramas because one actor is let go, or leaves the cast. Soap opera supporters value all who work within the genre and other reasonable fans. Of course Michael Muhney was a fantastic Adam Newman and his return would spark The Young and the Restless to new and greater heights.
But the right way to show support for Michael is not through negativity and threats, rather it is by remaining positive and supporting Y&R. CDL is a leading source for everything linked to The Young and the Restless. Check back regularly for Y&R spoilers and news!
