Why The Young and the Restless needs to bring back Barbara Crampton as Leanna Love now

The Young and the Restless rebroadcast Danny and Cricket's 1990 wedding on Thanksgiving Day, and, in the process, reminded viewers of one of the show's most entertaining characters that ever came to Genoa City -- Leanna Love! The character was originally conceived as a short-term villainess, but Crampton's performance helped change that direction.

The Young and the Restless, paging Leanna Love

Now is the perfect time to bring journalist Leanna Love back to town. After all, there's a media war going on in Genoa City between Newman Media and the soon-to-be-launched-this-time-it's-truly-going-to-happen-we-hope Abbott Communications.

While we often see Adam (Mark Grossman), Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan), Billy (Jason Thompson), or Sally (Courtney Hope) talking about work or sending texts to employees, we never see just who these companies employ, or, in the case of Abbott Communications, will employ.

What other reporter should Newman Media and Abbott Communications fight over than Leanna Love, the gossip reporter extraordinaire, who knows how to dig into the dish more than anyone?

Leanna is steeped in Y&R history. She first made the scene as a former patient of psychiatrist Dr. Steven Lassiter (the late Rod Arrants), the man who married Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson). Leanna attempted (but failed) to kill Ashley with a poisoned lei on her and Steven's honeymoon.

A big Love fest

The show shifted Leanna away from the role of short-term psychotic villain to journalistic instigator. She penned two (not one, but two!) biographies of Victor Newman (Eric Braeden). The first was under her name -- Leanna Randolph, but the other was panned by Nora Randall, and it was titled Ruthless, which painted a dark, accurate picture of Victor, and it included Ashley aborting Victor's child.

In an effort to turn media attention away from Ashley, Victor made the miscalculated decision to get married to someone else -- Leanna, not knowing that she had penned Ruthless.

After Victor found out the truth and ceremoniously dumped her, Leanna became pals with Rex Sterling (the late Quinn Redeker), which brought her to Danny (Michael Damian) and Cricket's (Lauralee Bell) wedding. During her stay in Genoa City, Crampton also conspired with Jack (Peter Bergman) at one point.

There's a good deal of story to mine should Leanna come back to town. For starters, Ashley could learn of Leanna's evil origins and her connection to her late husband. Newman Media and Abbott Communications could compete with each other to obtain Leanna's employment.

Trending

Crampton brings vitality to every scene she's in. Leanna has so much history with so many folks, we could see her fitting into a variety of stories. The actress and her alter ego's return to Y&R would be met with open arms!

Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus.

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