Watching The Young and the Restless asks us to suspend a lot. People come back from the dead with no explanation. Sure, lawyers are getting involved now with the Artificial Intelligence storyline, but the legal eagles should have been all over this since last summer! But what we really can’t buy is Nikki fast-tracking granddaughter Claire up the corporate ladder by suggesting that she run Chancellor Industries.
A resume of lies and deceit
Claire’s been in Genoa City less than three years, and she’s performed some assistant duties, thanks to her relatives hiring her. Granted, Nikki did not know Claire was her granddaughter when she hired her. After it came out that she was a Newman, Claire was not only welcomed into the family but also into the family business.
When Claire wanted to go to Los Angeles last year with Holden (Nathan Owens), she asked Nikki for some time off, and it was granted even though she hadn’t been in her position for very long.
Now, Nikki is suggesting that Claire run Chancellor Industries. Chancellor Industries!!! The company that was once owned by her late pal, Katherine Chancellor (the late, great Jeanne Cooper).
Don’t take our word that Claire has no business running a company the size of Chancellor. Take hers! “Me? Run Chancellor? Come on,” Claire responded to Nikki’s suggestion. “I don’t have enough experience.”
Nikki countered that Claire was the most innovative assistant she’d ever had. She also complimented her granddaughter on her work as a junior executive at Newman Publishing, noting her work was excellent.
The “C” in C-Suite stands for crazy decisions
Nikki admitted it would be a lot, but that it would also be an organic move. Nikki said she’d be close by to give her support if she needed it. Well, let’s open that can of worms, shall we? We’re not that keen on seeing Nikki in the business world.
She’s had a lot of lines of work — dancing at the Bayou, and she’s been thrown into the business world here and there. Nikki being in charge of Chancellor Industries seemed more like a sentimental nod to her pal Katherine.
What background in business does Nikki have? What background does Claire have? Maybe Nikki was complimenting Claire on her ability to survive in the cutthroat world of business because, well, Claire can be pretty cutthroat.
In fairness, Claire got stuff done when she was Nikki’s assistant. She kidnapped her grandmother and fed her an IV of vodka, kicking Nikki’s alcoholism into high gear! She knows how to surround herself with cutthroat people, too, like her Aunt Jordan (Colleen Zenk)!
Families that own businesses on soap operas hand out titles and salaries like they are candy at Halloween. We seldom see anyone on Y&R actually doing any work. But Nikki putting Claire in charge of a major conglomerate like Chancellor Industries just doesn’t add up!
Claire herself put it best when she said, “This is too much!”
Catch all-new episodes of The Young and the Restless weekdays on CBS and Paramount Plus.
Edited by Michael Maloney