Young & Restless’ Abby Is About to Get Bad News… Which Is Extremely *Good* News for Viewers — Here’s Why
Tuesday, October 19th, 2021

At first, we predict you’ll be upset. You’ll be miffed. You’ll be ticked, even. Ah, but then…
Forever, it seems, The Young and the Restless’ Abby has done her best to wait patiently for husband Chance to return from the mission that made him miss the entirety of Mariah’s pregnancy (and, for that matter, her abduction by his predecessor, Stitch). So Dominic’s mom is stoked, Soap Opera Digest reports, when Christine wants to come over with an update about her better half.
As if good news is ever delivered in person!
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Soon enough, Abby is told something that portrayer Melissa Ordway says is “not what [she] wanted to hear at all.” Our guess: that Chance was killed in the line of duty and won’t be coming home soon or at all.
“How the heck is that good news?” you ask? Because we don’t buy for a second that Chance will be dead-dead. No, he’s sure to be just being held captive somewhere a la General Hospital prisoner Drew — for however long it takes his “widow” to develop feelings for Dominic’s biodad Devon and come between him and Amanda.
That’s one promising storyline right there. But wait, there’s more!
Once that plot has come to a boil and begun to simmer down again, boom! In comes Chance to blow up the happy family that Abby will have formed with Devon and Dominic. You’ll have her torn between two men that she genuinely loves, and whatever the outcome, an explosive custody battle. (Think about it: If Abby chooses Devon, Chance would fight for the son he and his then-missus intended to raise together. If Abby chooses Chance, Devon would fight for the son that he’s come to love like… well, the son that he is!)
That’s another promising storyline.
The only question is, who will be playing Chance when he “rises from the grave”? Funny you should ask, because we have a few ideas along those lines. Check out the below photo gallery to peruse our picks to take on the role.
<p>The real-life husband of Melissa Ordway has already filled in for Donny Boaz on <em>The Young and the Restless</em> — and at a most pivotal moment, too: the occasion of their characters’ wedding. And no one would have to wonder whether the marrieds would have on-screen chemistry.</p>
<p>Is there a Hallmark card that says, “Please come back to daytime”? If there isn’t, <em>Young & Restless</em> might want to have its prop department work one up to invite the fan favorite who played Nathan on <em>General Hospital</em> to put his TV-movie career on hold and return to soaps.</p>
<p>If you aren’t aware that the Daytime Emmy winner has the chops to play someone worldly-wise enough to be cynical but stout of heart enough to remain positive, you never caught his work as Rick on <em>The Bold and the Beautiful.</em></p>
<p>We always felt like there was unfinished business between Boaz’s predecessor and the role of Chance. Maybe the <em>Guiding Light</em> vet could be enticed to bring the character home to Genoa City — and Abby’s (and Nina’s and Jill’s) open arms.</p>
<p>In a since-deleted Instagram post, the alum of <em>Days of Our Lives</em> (as Stefan) and <em>General Hospital</em> (as Nikolas) said that he was ready to get back to work. And <em>Young & Restless</em> could use the shot of adrenaline that the beloved Emmy winner’s hiring would provide.</p>
<p>It still bewilders us why the <em>One Life to Live</em> heartthrob (who played Ford) isn’t front and center on another soap already. But it could be lucky for <em>Young & Restless</em>: It means that the talented hottie is available to play Chance. </p>
<p><em>General Hospital</em> fans’ loss could be <em>Young & Restless</em> fans’ gain if the CBS soap were to tap the hunk who played ill-fated Hot Dustin to pick up where Boaz left off. But would we have to change the character’s name to Hot Chance? (Fun fact: On <em>General Hospital</em>, Lawson’s leading lady was Emme Rylan… who was Abby before Ordway.)</p>
<p>If you’re an Insta-follower of the soap-hopper (previously Brady and Rex on <em>Days of Our Lives</em> and Rick on <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em>), you’re already well aware that he’s plenty rugged enough to embody the role — and soul — of adventurous Chance.</p>
<p>They look unimpressed by this suggestion, but maybe you won’t be when we remind you of how good he was as Dylan on <em>General Hospital</em>. Not for nothing, but he also has a way with Abbys, having struck supercouple gold with one of Ordway’s <em>Young & Restless</em> predecessors, Hayley Erin (when she was Kiki to his Dylan on <em>General Hospital</em>).</p>
<p>Never mind how baby-faced the <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> alum looks here. Oliver’s former portrayer is years older now than when this picture was taken — <em>and</em> blessed with the versatility and sensitivity to do justice to the legacy character of Chance.</p>
<p>What is Chance, really, but the kind of hero that <em>As the World Turns</em>’ Jon Hensley would have played once upon a time? Since he’s too old now to play Abby’s latest husband, how about instead casting the younger model, the actor who was Holden’s son Aaron on the much-missed CBS soap? Sure, Kaba looks too young here, but this photo’s more than a dozen years old.</p>
<p>With OWN’s <em>The Haves and the Have Nots </em>having wrapped its epic eight-season run, the scene-stealer who played stalkeriffic Justin is now free to take on a new gig. Casting him as Chance could in an instant make him <em>Young & Restless</em> fans’ new obsession</p>
<p>We know, we know — <em>One Life to Live</em>’s former Joey was already on <em>Young & Restless</em> as the surprisingly villainous Detective Harding. But we <em>also</em> know that (a) that was a long time ago now, and (b) he had amazing chemistry with Ordway. See also…</p>
<p>OK, we have no idea what kind of sparks he might throw on screen with Ordway. But despite the fact that he previously played <em>Young & Restless</em>’ ill-fated Ricky, we’d still consider him a viable Chance candidate, if only because he was so good on <em>Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem</em>. At things <em>besides</em> answering the door shirtless, we might add.</p>
<p>The soap vet may be done with <em>Days of Our Lives</em> (where he played Eric for nearly a decade), but that doesn’t mean he’s necessarily done with daytime. And after nearly 20 years away from <em>The Young and the Restless</em>, no one would ask, “Diego, is that you?” were he to show up in Genoa City calling himself Chance.</p>

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