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If you’re not one of the millions already watching the No. 1 daytime drama, then we’re here to introduce you to the world of The Young and the Restless. The American soap opera, which premiered on March 23, 1973, airs five days a week on CBS at 12:30 pm EST. As an added bonus, the show can also be streamed on Paramount Plus.
What Is Young & Restless About?
Set in Genoa City, Wis., which is named after the real locale, The Young and the Restless follows the lives of some of the richest families around, as well as some of those who make less than millions — or billions. There are the Newmans, the Abbotts and of course, the extended family that resides in the Chancellor mansion. And while the heavy hitters spend their days making business acquisitions, as well as battling it out with a foe or two, others spend their downtime at places like Crimson Lights, Society and the Genoa City Athletic Club.
While Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) usually has his hands full trying to control any number of his grown children, his longtime frenemy Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) works to keep his family together — and that in and of itself is often difficult, given that his sister Ashley (Eileen Davidson) suffered from multiple personalities (and endured even more exes), his brother Billy (Jason Thompson) has a gambling addiction, and did we mention that Jack himself is a former addict?
What Are the Stories Like?
When you’re taken into the world of Genoa City, you can expect to be swept away by business deals — some legit, others not so much — and when Victor Newman and/or Jack Abbott aren’t busy making underhanded moves, they’re surely available to commit a crime or two. And there’s no shortage of love in the afternoon between the show’s longtime couples, hot affairs and past connections. Rivalries are always in full swing; sometimes they are even passed on from generation to generation. And like other soaps, real-life trials and tribulations are intertwined into the storylines.
Who Is in Young & Restless?
Even if you’ve never watched Young & Restless, when most hear the name Eric Braeden, they know he’s a big part of daytime, the great and powerful Victor Newman, as is Melody Thomas Scott, who plays his longtime love, Nikki. And did you know that Justin Hartley played one of Victor’s sons, Adam, before becoming a primetime star? Then there’s Lauralee Bell, the daughter of the soap’s creators, the late William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell. Plus, when we think of Bell’s Christine, we can’t forget music superstar Michael Damian as Danny Romalotti.
Shemar Moore also got his start on the CBS soap before headlining some very popular primetime shows. David Hasselhoff is another name that comes to mind… Before he became a Baywatch hottie, he played Genoa City’s Dr. William “Snapper” Foster, who has been mentioned from time to time over the years. And the late Paul Walker, known for his Fast & Furious films, appeared on the show in the early 1990s.
What If I Miss an Episode?
Back in the day, if you missed an episode of your favorite show, it felt as though the world had ended. But now, have no fear. If you miss any, the episodes are right at your fingertips. Sure, most of us have a DVR, which we put to good use each day, but Young & Restless can also be streamed on Paramount Plus. If you’re up for a good read, Soaps.com posts in-depth, drama-filled recaps each afternoon after the show airs. And if you find yourself ranting and raving about this character or that one, join us each Friday as we do the same in our weekly Soapbox column.
Now, get acquainted with some of the movers and shakers who have kept Young & Restless front and center in daytime over the years by viewing our photo gallery below.