You have to wonder what's going on with 'The Young and the Restless' when new stars are added to the cast -- like Eric Roberts and Jeff Branson -- while shoulda-been Emmy nominee Stacy Haiduk is getting axed? Is that how you reward an actress whose performance as both mentally-deranged Patty Williams and her therapist, Dr. Emily Petersen, was award-worthy?

According to the actress's website, CBS has chosen not to renew Haiduk's contract (the network never confirms these types of exits). In the case of Haiduk, it's likely that she has been caught in a writing snafu.

Since one of her characters, Patty, is committed to a mental institution, she is essentially off the canvas. As for Dr. Emily Petersen, it would seem that her settling down and reuniting with Jack (Peter Bergman) didn't excite the fans.

Jack has been desperate to become a homebody. In fact, it was his rushing into a marriage to Emily that caused all his troubles. See, Patty had taken Emily's place and poor, foolish Jack couldn't tell the difference between the two women. Not until a couple of months passed, and by the time Emily was rescued and Patty's villainy revealed, Dr. Petersen's feelings about Jack had changed. He's been trying to win her back ever since.

In recent weeks, other conflicts have arisen for Emily -- including losing her psychologist's license and being tracked down by the DEA for illegal prescriptions (it wasn't her fault!) -- but none of the storylines have been particularly gripping.

Here's what could be happening, and it wouldn't be the first time for the show: Jack may be drawn back into Phyllis's sphere. With Nick and Sharon drifting back together because of the Adam situation and Phyllis fearing that she's losing Nick, she'll gravitate back to Jack.

Finally, as for the new hires, according to sources, Roberts and Branson may be short-term players. CBS has reportedly asked that the cast be trimmed, so Haiduk's departure may be the beginning of a purge that could see other characters -- those with not much story -- getting pink-slipped.

What do you think about the cast changes on 'Young and the Restless'?