News
It's a Milestone Week For Y&R and CBS Daytime! Soap At Number One For 24 Years!
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
This week has been an unprecedented week for CBS Daytime and in particular for The Young and the Restless! For 1,248 consecutive weeks, or 24 years, Y&R has been the number one daytime drama, according to the Nielsen live plus same day ratings. Y&R began its stay in the top slot way back on December 26th, 1988!
In addition, The Young and the Restless has also been #1 in women 25-54 key demo for 302 of the past 303 weeks and first in women 18-49 for 297 weeks out of the last 298!
Now as for the entire CBS Daytime lineup, it has also now been the #1 network for daytime programming for over 26 consecutive years beginning with the 1986-1987 season.
So, what do you think of Y&R’s staying power at number one? Do you think it will ever be eclipsed? Is CBS Daytime with Y&R. B&B, The Talk, The Price Is Right and Let’s Make A Deal your daily destination? Let us know!
I’ve stopped watching and I doubt I’m the only one. MAB was an unmitigated disaster and Jill Farren Phelps is even worse, something I didn’t think possible.
It’s the last years of All My Children all over again.
Y&R can only stay number one under this current regime if the tv is turned on to the show in prisons and waiting rooms across the country, without giving people the option of turning it off.
Replacing MAB was imperative. Replacing her with Phelps was a disaster.
Congrats Y&R!
Congrats to Y&R. I have been watching since the beginning, warts and all. I am liking the new sets, new music, and other changes that are happening. Can’t go a day without watching. I am still addicted after all these years and I am 55! Keep up the wonderful work!
I am with you luart- I like this soap and I don’t understand why some people think it is so bad, but I guess we all have our different tastes. I thought the recent Newman party at the Penthouse was a hoot. I didn’t even mind some of MAB stuff- like when Billy bought a baby for Vicky and it was Lucy- what I didn’t like was they revealed it too soon. Lucy should have been a teenager before the secret came out- which on this show would have only been a year or two wait for us viewers. Has the show seen better days, probably, but truth be told I forgotten more I remember- for me it is about now and right now I like what I’m seeing.
Y&R is the only thing I watch (via DVR) of CBS’s daytime line-up. And there are days that I either skip watching or fast forward through the show. Sharon needs to be sent off to the countryside for a rest, the character is just weary. Cain and Lily have to be two of the most snooze-worthy characters ever created. Don’t even start about Victor. Arrogant, insufferable, holier-than-thou, pig-headed can only begin to describe him. We know where Jack’s story is going….pill heaven. Trucker is useless.
It would be interesting to see Kevin & Chloe actually be reduced to living in Billy’s trailer and together making their way back. Or are we going to have yet another Kevin as criminal plots?
I doubt Jess Walton is back for the long haul…..do something with her character while you have the chance!
Michelle Stafford is such a powerhouse. But she needs a break too from the man-go-round. Leave her relationship with Jack platonic.
Michael Muhney is another goldmine. Just pull Adam out of Sharon’s soul sucking orbit.
To answer THIS question: “Is CBS Daytime with Y&R. B&B, The Talk, The Price Is Right and Let’s Make A Deal your daily destination?”
I am a soap girl – that’s it. I don’t watch TPIR (though I used to) and I never watch THE TALK or anything that comes on after that. I have two little ones and, in one of the BEST decisions ever, we got rid of Directv last January. We rely on an HD antenna. When the wind is right for the livingroom , I get CBS to come in and I can watch live otherwise my day consists of Netflix streaming for the boys and whatever PBS channels come in. I have to Tivo my shows on the bedroom TV and watch when the kids go to bed. I watch all the soaps except DAYS.
I don’t know what Y&Rs chances are for remaining number one. It would be nice to have a crystal ball to see into the futures of ALL the soaps to see whether they will even be here in five years, but I do not have that luxury. So I don’t think ratings matter at all as long as the networks continue to do what they want without a care for the fans of these shows. 🙁
Y&R is as exciting as watching paint dry these days. It’s a shell of what it once was in the first half of its 39 years and its audience is a fraction of what it was 24 years ago. In 1988, the lowest rated daytime soap probably had at least as many viewers as Y&R does now.
Considering that there are only 3 other soaps on now to compete with, it’s not that big of an accomplishment anymore. This “milestone” is now akin to being the only large tree remaining in a barren forest. To be #1 in the 1960s and 1970s (ATWT was #1 for 20 straight years) when there were around 15-20 soaps on – now THAT’S an accomplishment.
The Y&R will always remain on top no matter how terrible/boring it can be..
It is shown in 32 countries as is B&B, also ..
They are the only soaps shown internationally ..
OLTL and GH both have been better and are better than Y&R n BB, but they are not shown internationally..
It is impossible for a soap to remain #1 for 24 yrs without something being different and that is- they are shown internationally ..
I don’t see how being shown internationally affects the ratings in the States? I thought you guys have something called Nielson ratings, where about 5000 people have black boxes and these 5000 household determine ratings. I live in Canada and we had all the soaps here AMC, OLTL, GH, ATWT, GL, etc. and shows that are popular here and had great ratings aren’t always the same as the States, but I never known an American network saying ” lets keep this show on the air because it is big in Canada”. So I don’t think international appeal has anything to do with how successful a show is in your own country. You guys are the ones who have all the power. If soaps are cancelled in your country, there will be cancelled in ours as well.
a show being successful internationally might give you bragging rights but considering it would put you in the company of Baywatch, i wouldn’t do much bragging.
I wonder- in the next couple of years, when there likely will be only 2 or 3 soaps left, will they still keep congratulating Y&R for being #1? LOL.
Spin is spin- it is like pictures that win an Oscar for best make up promote the film as an Academy Award winning film- they aren’t lying, but they aren’t exactly telling the whole truth either. Even if this was the last soap on the air they would promote is as the “one and only daytime drama to watch”. Sometimes advertising is hoot.
This article, and accomanying national exposure, prove what I’ve always said about the remarkable reign of Y&R at the top of the soap heap; it is the template for all others. The soaps that aren’t on CBS should really take a close look.
Love Y&R. It is the reason their is still a soapopera genre left.
I can only talk about Y&R by comparing it to is sister soap B&B. First, I find that CBS soaps focus too much on weddings and breaking up couples; we know B&B loves triangles. Y&R has better writers and when the characters are not bed hopping, at least we get murder mysteries, business takeovers, romance, lust, and medical issues, etc. The twists in storylines make you take notice and on occasion, you get surprises. Y&R does focus on the Newman family, but you get fresh faces introduced to the family and it keeps the soap growing. No such thing on B&B. B&B focuses on one family the Logans, and you get nothing but sleaze. I am so glad they bought Abby back. A good soap needs the veterans, their adult children and aging grandchildren to survive the different generations of fans. Storylines have to be independent. Summer time used to be the time for the young romances and once fall hit, it was back to the veterans. But at some point you have to develop the next generation, as the veterans will someday retire or worse. What do you do? After Victor, Nikki, Catherine, and Jack, etc. Y&R has Nick, Sharon, Phyllis, Vicki and Billy, etc., to take them thru the next set of viewers. What do we have on B&B? We got sleasy Rick and a new man for Brooke. C’mon!
I truly believe that CBS should fold B&B into Y&R. Tucker McCall can buy Forrester Creations and run it from Genoa city. Victor was lost in LA for a while, he could take over FC. Might be a little awkward having $Bill back on Y&R as another character, but we’ll get used to it. Just take the better actors and call it a day. B&B is no Y&R and we don’t understand why. And as we speak, the triangle is warming up again!
I agree that they have to get the younger generation established in order to be the vets of tomorrow. Victoria, Nicholas, Sharon, Lauren, Billy, all these characters and more started in a teen story line. My objection was they aged Summer and Fen too quickly and too much- I think their story line of cyberbullying would have worked in the 11-13 age range. There are many talented young actors- but instead they hired people in their twenties to play 16 because they don’t have to provided a teacher and school on set. I wouldn’t want to merge B&B and Y&R together- character cross overs are okay, but as you pointed out they are two very different soaps with different styles. If one or the other got cancelled I’m sure they would find a way to incorporate some the characters of one into the other like ABC did, but merging together- I don’t think it will happen.
Mary!! A fellow Canuck!! Where do you live??
Ashlee- I live in Southwestern Ontario-
All My Children
Mark Consuelos Celebrates Kelly Ripa’s 56th Birthday on ‘Live,’ But Remember When Wendy Williams Outed the Couple as Married Before Anyone at ‘All My Children’ Knew?
On the Friday, October 2 episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, the morning talk show marked the 56th birthday of Kelly Ripa (ex-Hayley Vaughan Santos, All My Children).
During the opening segment, Mark Consuelos (ex-Mateo Santos, All My Children) humorously comparing his wife to both Gandhi and Groucho Marx, reflecting on both her comedic ability and peaceful ways.
Later, they went on to discuss the origins of her name and the most popular picks to name babies back in the year she was born, 1970. They were Kimberly, Lisa, and Jennifer for girls and Michael, David, and James for the boys.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Ripa recalled that she learned she was almost named Kim. However, their neighbors at the time had two daughters Kelly and Kim, which is what her parents wanted to call them, but they settled on Kelly and and her younger sister, Linda.
At the conclusion of the episode, Mark rolled out a huge cake for his wife. It was, “Happy birthday from all of us here at Live and at home.” Next, he cut the cake, and Ripa grabbed his face and gave him a “thank you” kiss.
Photo: JPI
KELLY AND MARK TRIED TO KEEP THEIR VEGAS WEDDING ON THE DOWN LOW
All of this brings back memories of how Kelly and Mark’s Las Vegas wedding ceremony went public in 1996 while the two were still on All My Children playing Mateo Santos and Hayley Vaughan. In essence, they were outed by then radio host Wendy Williams! They discussed it on the talk show back in 2024.
In fact, the duo hid their marriage from their All My Children castmates for months, until they found out Williams got wind of the nuptials and spread the intel on the airwaves.
The two recalled their secret wedding on a 2024 episode of Live! “We’d eloped. It’d been a few months at that point. We’d been married for three months, nobody at All My Children knew we were even dating, much less married to each other. We’re brushing our teeth and we’ve got Wendy Williams’ radio show on. We’re listening, and she’s like, ‘I’ve got celebrity dish!”
EYEWITNESS
Next Ripa continued, “The celebrities,’ I guess they had a broad use of the term back then, was the fact that ‘two soap stars from All My Children, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos eloped in Las Vegas.’ There was this eyewitness that worked in the Clark County courthouse that said we eloped, and the news broke, and we had to tell everybody we were married.”
Live With Kelly and Mark airs weekdays in syndication. Check your local listings for times in your area.
Share your birthday wishes for Kelly in the comment section, and let us know your thoughts on how Wendy Williams broadcast the news, unbeknownst to the All My Children newlyweds, that they tied the knot in Vegas? Check out Mark and the ‘Live’ studio audience singing ‘happy birthday’ to Kelly in the post below.
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Beyond the Gates
TUNE-IN: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Banneker Homecoming Episodes, EP Sheila Ducksworth Speaks on Impact HBCUs Have in Real Life
As previously reported, kicking off today, is a two-part Beyond the Gates, when The Duprees gather to celebrate Banneker University’s homecoming weekend.
The producers and writers are taking an opportunity to spotlight the rich traditions of the long-held tradition of attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through its fictional university.
The episodes are today on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on Friday, October 2 and next week on Monday, October 5, where in true Beyond the Gates fashion, there will be some surprising drama that ensues when someone shows up!
Photo: CBS
BANNEKER REFLECTS THE IMPORTANCE OF HBCUS
Sheila Duckworth, (executive producer, Beyond the Gates) spoke to Soaps.com to give some insight on the decision for the series to illustrate the ties that bind with HBCUs.
“It was important that we have this school as almost a character on our canvas, right from the beginning. Beyond even education, HBCUs have been pivotal when it comes to everything from economic progression and fostering a sense of community to the development of leadership skills,” explained Ducksworth. “From the beginning, we wanted to illustrate that what the Duprees are able to do in the world was a direct reflection of the impact HBCU’s have in real life.”
EVERYTHING HAS ITS PURPOSE
The EP talked about how purposeful the elements that integrate Banneker into the overall story of Beyond the Gates are including: the Dupree family door knocker that is a lion, the mascot for the fictional university, plus, the upcoming fight song that the cast will sing together on the Monday, October 5 episode, and the painting the hangs at Fairmont Crest.
That portrait of Vernon Dupree’s (Clifton Davis) father, George Cheeks Dupree, that hangs prominently at the country club, was named after CBS executive George Cheeks (now Chairman of TV and Media, Paramount), and as Ducksworth says of the legacy of Vernon’s father, “He was the architect of Fairmont Crest.”
So, are you looking forward to these episodes honoring HBCU traditions with the Dupree and the Richardson clans? What surprises do you think might be in store come next week? Let us know via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘General Hospital’ Alum Tajh Bellow Fills In for ‘Days of our Lives’ Tyler Joseph Andrews in the Role of Theo Carver
After an earlier post on Thursday, October 1 about General Hospital alumni Tajh Bellow’s (ex-TJ Ashford) upcoming project from Issa Rae’s HOOPAE Digital, comes word that Bellow is temporarily stepping into the role of Days of our Lives Theo Carver to fill in for Tyler Joseph Andrews on the Peacock streaming soap opera.
According to TV Insider, Bellow will be making a one-day appearance next week on the October 6 episode of DAYS as Andrews was unable to make the tape date that was shot 10 months ago on a day last December. Andrews (pictured below) took over the role of Theo in September of 2025.
In Bellow’s upcoming episode as Theo, he will share scenes with Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez). A DAYS spokesperson tells the outlet that Bellow “stepped seamlessly into the role, and the cast and crew were grateful for his professionalism and commitment, albeit for only one episode.”
Photo: JPI
TAJH WILL BE SEEN IN MULTIPLE PROJECTS IN OCTOBER
As General Hospital fans know, Tajh played the role of TJ Ashford from 2018 to his last appearance in December of 2024. Along the way, he received two Daytime Emmy nominations for his performances as TJ, the last being in 2025 in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
In addition, bellow along with Y&R alum Loren Lott will be seen starting on October 14 in the new Love Island spoof series, The Compatibility Experiment. The show will drop exclusively on TikTok and the PineDrama platform.
The Compatibility Experiment gives a satirical look at reality dating shows, think Love Island! The story centers around Kelvin (Bellow) and Camila (Lott), whose relationship is put to the test when they join a reality show to try to win a the million dollar prize.
So, what do you think of Tajh stepping in for Tyler Joseph Andrews as Theo on DAYS? Perhaps, the soap opera liked his work that he might be considered for another role in the future bringing Bellow back to the soaps? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
Mark Consuelos Celebrates Kelly Ripa’s 56th Birthday on ‘Live,’ But Remember When Wendy Williams Outed the Couple as Married Before Anyone at ‘All My Children’ Knew?
DAYS OF OUR LIVES Preview: Kristen Locates an Alive Sophia, How Much Does Rita Know About the Birth of Dominic Marino?
TUNE-IN: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Banneker Homecoming Episodes, EP Sheila Ducksworth Speaks on Impact HBCUs Have in Real Life
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Dante, “I Don’t Want a Son Like You,” While Michael Tells Brook Lynn to Bide Her Time Till Chase and Willow Have an Affair
‘General Hospital’ Alum Tajh Bellow Fills In for ‘Days of our Lives’ Tyler Joseph Andrews in the Role of Theo Carver
REPORT: ‘Days of our Lives’ Puts Four Actors On Contract
‘Beyond the Gates’ Honors HBCU Tradition with Banneker University Homecoming Episodes
Alley Mills Returns to ‘General Hospital’ as Heather Webber
Judith Light Joins Cast of ‘Shrinking’ Season 4 in Recurring Role
‘Beyond the Gates’ Marquita Goings Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
Mark Consuelos Celebrates Kelly Ripa’s 56th Birthday on ‘Live,’ But Remember When Wendy Williams Outed the Couple as Married Before Anyone at ‘All My Children’ Knew?
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sonny Tells Dante, “I Don’t Want a Son Like You,” While Michael Tells Brook Lynn to Bide Her Time Till Chase and Willow Have an Affair
GH Alum Tajh Bellow and Y&R Alum Loren Lott Star in New Tiktok and Microdrama ‘Love Island’ Spoof
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ava and Drew Revealed to be Behind Framing Sonny for Sidwell’s Prison Beatdown
DANCING WITH THE STARS: Britt Stewart Visibly Upset After Shocking Elimination with Taylor Hanson
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