YR - Where is Nikki Newman?

Last fall I was in an uproar over the possible departure of Melody Thomas Scott from the role of Nikki Newman.  For those of you on the messages boards I am sure you read my anger with MAB and Co. over the situation.  I was outraged that they were going to get rid of MTS.  I never can imagine Y&R without her.  I remember growing up and seeing her long blonde hair as she played the piano at the Newman Ranch.  I hoped I never had to imagine Y&R without her.  Well finally all that contract nonsense was solved and she resigned.  I was so excited for her return for Christmas.  I was like a kid in the candy store, but that excitement soon ended when I found out she would only be on for two days.  I knew Victor was returning soon so I expected her to be coming back along with him.  Well much to my delight she reappeared on our screens January 18th!  I thought yes she's back.  Well we saw her most of that week and then we have seen her once or maybe twice since then.  That lead me to ask where is Nikki Newman?

I really began to think about this after reading Nelson Branco's Soapgiest...he has Melody Thomas Scott as one of the biggest wastes of talents.  I thinking why isn't NIkki involved in a storyline?  She needs to have her own storyline.  I'm tired of only seeing her with family gatherings or being the talk to for Katherine or her children.  Melody Thomas Scott's NIkki Newman is probably the most popular female character on the canvas.  (I know many will disagree, but the proof is in the pudding!)  It's a shame that her return to the canvas has been pretty much lackluster compared with Eric Braeden's Victor.  Victor has been on the screen almost everyday since his return save for a day or two.  Why isn't MTS's Nikki being used the same way.  I can think of a couple different things she could be doing.

Let's just say Jack was looking for another investor to help him buy Jabot.  He goes to Nikki and asks her to be a secret investor. (I know it's sort of been done before)  Could you imagine Jack had won Jabot and they have a stockholder's meeting and Ashley and Billy's mouths hit the floor when they find out that Nikki helped them get control of Jabot!  Also the conflict it would create with Victor.  He could try and warn Nikki that she is going to get caught in the cross fire between him and Jack.  She insists that Victor needs to check his  vendetta against Jack.  Nikki tells Katherine that she bought into Jabot to help her get Chancellor Industries back.  As Nikki is working long hours at Jabot trying to help Jack turn the company around her and Jack share a couple kisses.  Ashley happens to catch Jack/Nikki kissing and confronts Nikki.  Nikki of course tells Ashley to mind her business.  Ashley threatens to go to Victor with the information.  Nikki agrees to back off things with Jack and to keep things professional.  Nikki and Victor have a fight about her working at Jabot and Nikki leaves and goes to the Abbott mansion.  Her and Jack have drinks and end up sleeping together.....

I could go on and on but I stop there.  Nikki Newman needs to be front and center.  I don't know what is going on in those writers rooms but they better get my girl back on the frontburner where she belongs!  It's a sin and a shame for her to missing from the canvas like this.  Makes me very angry and I am really have about had it with this regime!