



Photo: Howard Wise/JPI/CBS





Should Beth Maitland be put on contract? Is water wet? Are grits groceries? Should Beth Maitland be put on contract? Have you watched her performances this week? Should Beth Maitland be put on contract? A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y!





It's always been a head scratcher why Beth wasn't put back on contract at Young and The Restless a long time ago. But now even more so, it's a no-brainer. Let's not forget she's a Daytime Emmy Award-winning actress having won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1985.





Ashley Abbott (Eileen Davidson) is taking the precious family jewels (Jabot's patents) and leaving Genoa City. Poor Dina Abbott (Marla Adams) her condition is deteriorating more and more every day. Traci Abbott is now the matriarch of the Abbott family. It's time, past time, Traci takes her rightful place permanently in Genoa City.





Let's set it up.





Traci's a seasoned woman who for decades has lived in the shadows of her brother Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) and her sister Ashley. After seeing how things have transpired during the last couple of weeks in the family, she comes to the realization, she can't allow herself to be sidelined anymore. She has just as much as of a right to all things Abbott's as anyone else. But she knows her family won't just give it to her. They never have before. She has to take it.





She must take her rightful place as the strong female Abbott voice in the family and Jabot. This would be such a timely, relevant and realistic storyline especially in the times we are now; with the surge of woman empowerment. What could be a better arc than a beloved veteran character who has been slighted and looked over for far too long, realizing, seizing and wielding her inner strength and power and emerging from the shadows?





God Bless Abby (Melissa Ordway) but there is no way she can handle Uncle "Jackie" and cousin Kyle (Michael Mealor) on her own. They will run rickshaw over her. We love Jack but we know he needs to be reeled in from time to time. And Kyle is warming up to take over.





Traci has been the heart of the Abbott family and we love her for it. However, we need Traci to get a lil more backbone. And put everyone on notice she won't be pushed around or overlooked or taken for granted. Not for another nanosecond. It will be Jack/Kyle vs Traci/Abby. Let Billy (Jason Thompson) be the new Traci. He can try to keep the peace.





Traci Ann Abbott needs to waltz into Jabot and remind Phyllis (Gina Tognoni) and Lauren (Tracey E. Bregman) that this is her family's company and not theirs. Lauren and Traci already have history so play that up also.





Let Traci call her own board meeting and let them all know she will not be a placeholder at Jabot anymore.





Get Traci a hot love interest (i.e. Brad Carltonish). Is Traci still married? If so, it's an easy fix. Divorce her quick lol.





Please don't send Traci back to New York. Give Beth Maitland a contract stat!!!