Y&R Headwriter Switch Made Official: Sally Sussman Returns to CBS Soap

On the heels of celebrating its 11,000th broadcast, CBS’ The Young and the Restless has completed a headwriter change, tapping soap vet Sally Sussman to succeed Chuck Pratt, Jr.

In her first Y&R stint, Sussman served as story consultant and associate headwriter, helping the daytime drama’s writing staff collect three Emmy noms. During her more recent visit to Genoa City, she won both an Emmy and her second Writers’ Guild of America Award, serving as story consultant and co-headwriter.

Sussman’s credits also include creating NBC’s Generations, serving as headwriter at Days of Our Lives (winning the show’s first ever WGA Award) and headwriting MTV’s Spyder Games.

“Sally was part of the team that first brought Y&R to its long-standing position as America’s No. 1 daytime drama and brings with her years of experience writing serialized storylines,” Sony Pictures Television EVP Steve Kent said in a statement. “Her long-standing familiarity with the citizens of Genoa City and her great storytelling make her a perfect choice to take the reins at Y&R.”

“We are thrilled to have Sally return to The Young and The Restless, both as an award-winning writer and someone who is passionate about honoring the legacy of the series with character driven story,” added Angelica McDaniel, EVP of Daytime Programs for CBS Entertainment. “The powerhouse partnership of Sally and Mal Young, our talented new executive producer, sets an even brighter course for daytime’s No. 1 drama.”

Exited Y&R headwriter Pratt was recently named showrunner of Fox’s Lee Daniels-helmed Star, where he replaced producer-writer Charles Murray.