'Young & the Restless' Cast Celebrates 30 Years as Daytime's Top-Rated Drama (PHOTOS)
“It’s an incredible honor to be a part of this show that’s been No. 1 for 30 years,” says Joshua Morrow (Nicholas), who says fans appear split 50/50 on the subject of who Nick should be with romantically. “It’s either ‘Phick’ or ‘Shick,’” he says, referring to Nick being paired with leading ladies Gina Tognoni (Phyllis) or Sharon Case (Sharon). Hey, as long as there’s an “ick” in there, right? “Yes,” chuckles Morrow. “Then, we’re all good.”
A Y&R publicity event isn’t the same without Christian Jules LeBlanc (Michael) and his trusty selfie stick! “I’ve actually gone through five of them,” shares LeBlanc shown here snapping a photo with Amelia Heinle (Victoria). “The first one I had broke immediately, and then, I went through another one. Then, CBS gave me on which lasted forever until it dissolved in my hand. Next, I got one that I hated — it was too short! And, then, I got the one I have now!”
“I am so excited to be here,” said Bradley Bell, executive producer/head writer of The Bold and the Beautiful and the son of Y&R and B&B creators William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell, here with Y&R stars Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki) and Eric Braeden (Victor). “Dad had us all out here for the launch of the show back in 1973. To be here, today, to celebrate 30 years as No. 1 is an incredible accomplishment. Here’s to many more and being forever ‘young and restless.’”
“My grandmother lives in a retirement home in Australia, and the show is only a week behind there,” shares Alice Hunter (Kerry), shown here with three-time Emmy-winner Peter Bergman (Jack). “People knock on her door asking, ‘What’s going on with that syringe [of Alice’s]?’ It’s really fun to have people comment on my social media as they try to guess and no one that I’ve seen has yet to be correct!”
“I have this picture of Bill [Bell, Y&R’s creator] and me on the 10th anniversary of us being number one,” says Kate Linder (Esther), seen here in the Newman living room set. “And, now, here we are at the 30th!”
“What other show can say they’ve been No. 1 for 30 years?” Melissa Ordway (Abby), shown with on-screen leading man Jason Canela (Arturo), rhetorically asked. “I don’t think any other one!”
“Time has gone by so fast,” says Amelia Heinle (Victoria), who joined the show in 2005. “I’m so proud of everyone here!”
Kelly Kruger, who recurs as Mac, shown here with Noemi Gonzalez (who plays the dynamic Mia), says she’s asked by fans on a regular basis about when she’ll be back at Y&R more since she plays the granddaughter of the late, great Katherine Chancellor (the late Jeanne Cooper). “I get it all the time in tweets, direct messages,” Kruger shares. “I’m very honored. Katherine is legendary and fans want to see that bloodline survive.”
“It takes a village to do this show and to do it well,” says Jason Thompson (Billy). “Our fans deserve all the praise. A lot of things are built well that have never gotten the eyeballs they need to in order to survive. We all love what we do here.”
“We’re incredibly grateful,” says Lexie Stevenson (Mattie). “It’s amazing to be part of a show that’s been No. 1 30 years! Everyone works so hard, especially the crew!”
“Thirty years is a long time,” says Noah Alexander Gerry (Charlie). “All that history is incredible!”
A catered lunch was put out in the Crimson Lights set for everyone attending the press event celebrating this great milestone to enjoy. “I joked that I was catering it because it was held in my character’s coffee house,” quipped Sharon Case (Sharon), second from left in this group shot.
A lone piece of cake appears to be missing? Hmm… “I can’t not say that I did eat it, but I can’t say that I did,” jokes Michael Mealor (Kyle).
The Rosales clan includes Jason Canela (Arturo), Noemi Gonzalez (Mia), Sasha Calle (Lola), and Jordi Vilasuso (Rey).
“Working on Y&R is a dream come true! And being able to celebrate the anniversary with a cast and crew that has already made me feel like part of the Y&R family — that’s icing on the cake!” says Jordi Vilasuso (Rey).
CBS is giving Y&R fans a chance to weigh in on the show by filling out a survey about Y&R so the network can “gauge the temperature of the show and see what fans are loving, responding to, struggling with,” Angelica McDaniel, Executive Vice President, CBS, Daytime, says. “We use it to make adjustments, if necessary, or just to do a temperature check.”
Many soaps have tried, but ultimately, they have all failed to topple CBS sudser The Young and the Restless as the No. 1 rated daytime drama!
When the show debuted on March 26, 1973, it was all about the Foster and Brooks families. Over time, new characters came to inhabit the Genoa City landscape, and today, viewers tune in daily to see the exploits of the Newmans, Abbotts, Baldwin, Winters, and Rosales clans.
The soap recently held an onset soiree to honor the milestone of being 30 years as No. 1. TV Insider was on the scene to capture reactions and grab some fun photos during the event!
The Young and the Restless, Weekdays, CBS
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