The May 2 episode of The Young and the Restless (recapped here) marked the end of the line for Allison Lanier — at least in Genoa City, at least for now. As Summer learned that both Sally and Chelsea were bailing on Marchetti to take job offers from their boyfriends (insert eye roll), Phyllis and Nick’s daughter took off for overseas to find the design firm’s next creative director.
Michelle Stafford couldn’t let the departure of her castmate pass without acknowledging what a tremendous job she had done. “This girl!” the Emmy winner exclaimed of Lanier. “What can I say about you? You walked into this role and immediately made it your own.
“The only unfortunate thing,” she added, “is most of the time and in particular during the first year and a half our characters were at odds. Lots of fighting on screen… ”
Nevertheless, Stafford was blown away by the gifted performer that Young & Restless found to succeed Hunter King as Summer. “Man, you jumped in and killed every single day. You are an extraordinary actress. What a pleasure for me to work with you. Truly a pleasure.
“You are a consummate professional,” she continued. “I have no doubt we will be seeing you on the screen sooner than later. I completely believe in you.”
With that, Stafford expressed her gratitude to Lanier for making it so very easy to play her mom. “Thank you for inhabiting the character so thoroughly. I truly felt like I had a real daughter in you,” she said. “Go out there and soar, you gorgeous girl. I absolutely 100% know you will.”
