Adam Newman finally returned to The Young & the Restless canvas last week by way of Justin Hartley's portrayal. While the character is not fully back in the Genoa City mix, Hartley has had enough interactive scenes to give viewers a feel for what is to come. The actor took over the role, which was recast after Michael Muhney was fired late last year amid a storm of controversy, knowing that he may have a bit of an uphill battle when it comes to winning over fans.
Muhney's performance on Y&R kept longtime fans glued to their televisions, and after his last scenes finally aired this past January the show's ratings plummeted. Muhney's fans were vocal about how they were not going to support the show once he left it, and then they appeared to back up those words with action. Part of the issue was that Muhney was fired due to allegations of sexual harassment, and then not only were charges not filed, but Y&R actually considered rehiring him this past summer, leading many to believe he should never have been cut in the first place.
When Muhney announced that his return to Y&R did not work out because he will instead be working on several different films, a recast was inevitable. Unfortunately for Hartley, he is replacing a popular actor who left because of rumors and innuendo, and that is not going to be easy. After his first week on camera, the consensus seems to be that Hartley's portrayal is in the ballpark of what the character should feel like, which is great. Given a bit of time there is probably a pretty good chance he will make Adam Newman his own and develop a big following.
But what about the Muhney fans out there who still wish he was with Y&R? Do you think those who have opted to turn off their TVs in solidarity will eventually tune back in to even compare Hartley to Muhney? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
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