14 DAY TRIAL // Great news for fans of the legendary soap opera “The Young and the Restless,” possibly: after months of boycotts and taking their outrage online for the way actor Michael Muhney was fired from the show in December, he’s been spotted back on set.
Muhney, who played Adam Newman for years to the fans’ delight, was let go at the end of last year for reasons that were never made public officially. Still, unconfirmed reports claimed that he had been axed for allegedly groping and harassing co-star Hunter King, who, though she never filed a police report, went to the brass to ask for him to be booted or else she’d go public.
What fans at home do know for certain is that Muhney took part of the responsibility in being fired when he announced that his last episode would air in January, though he never revealed the reason behind the decision: he said he had it coming because he could be “too outspoken” and would often carry around with him “a large pack of hubris.”
Co-star Eric Braeden (aka Victor Newman) told the media that Muhney needed to learn to keep his big mouth shut and not to try to be the young lion taking the place of the old lion in the future. This could support the theory that Muhney was fired because he acted on set as if he was much of a bigger deal than he actually was.
Well, whatever it was, it could be that it’s all water under the bridge now. One week after a report saying that producer Jill Farren Phelps had understood that the only way in which she could improve ailing ratings was to get Muhney back, he’s been spotted on set.
Brace yourself!
Celebrity Dirty Laundry cites the June 9 print edition of Soap Opera Digest as saying that Muhney has been asked back.
“The search for an actor to play Adam has intensified in the last few weeks, and insiders report that Michael Muhney could be back in the mix to reprise the role. The actor, whose controversial exit last December sent shock waves throughout the community, was reportedly spotted at the Y&R studios,” the publication writes.
So, after Phelps approached Muhney and begged him to come back because she’s found that her own job is in danger because her casting decisions have cost the show many fans, and he initially turned her down, chances are he’s had a change of heart.
And here’s where things get even more promising. This is Muhney’s official Twitter:
RT @JBrooklyn44: @michaelmuhney Are you really BACK? <I'VE ALWAYS BEEN RIGHT HERE. :)
— Michael Muhney (@michaelmuhney) May 30, 2014
If that’s not a major teaser, we really don’t know what is. And let’s be real here: if Muhney does return, “The Young and the Restless” would get back all those fans who left in anger last January, saying they would only tune in again if their favorite actor was re-hired. There’s really no better way to improve ratings, and Phelps probably woke up and finally smelled the coffee.
As for the groping allegations, because there was no police report filed, we might never know what really went down on that set. From what we’ve seen in our coverage of the controversial decision to fire Muhney, few fans believe him capable of such a thing.
Are you among them? Would you tune in to see Muhney back as Adam? Let us know in the comments section below.