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The Young and the Restless Celebrates 52nd Anniversary; In its 1973 Premiere it Was Listed as, “The New Morality Will Be A Frequent Issue in This Serial About Upper-Middle Class Adults”

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: CBS

Today, March 26th marks the 52nd anniversary of CBS daytime’s The Young and the Restless. The series premiered on this date back in 1973 and was the brainchild of William J. Bell and his wife, Lee Phillip Bell who were co-creators of the show, with Bill Bell being its head writer.

When it premiered, TV Guide listed in their description for the newest daytime drama to hit the airwaves; “The new morality will be a frequent issue in this serial about upper-middle Class adults – and the impact they made on their lives by the appearance of a mysterious stranger. Robert Clary guest stars. Written by William J. Bell (Days of our Lives).

The cast included: Robert Colbert (Stuart Brooks), Dorothy Green (Jennifer Brooks), Janice Lynde (Leslie Brooks), Jaime Lyn Bauer (Lorie Brooks), Trish Stewart (Chris Brooks), Pam Peters (Peggy Brooks), Juliana McCarthy (Liz Foster), William Grey Espy (Snapper Foster)
James Houghton (Greg Foster), Brenda Dickson (Jill Foster), Tom Hallick (Brad Eliot), Lee Crawford) Sally McGuire, and Robert Clary (Pierre Roulland). It should be noted that Donnelly Rhodes (Phillip Chancellor), Jennifer Leak (Gwen Sherman) joined the show in 1974, and Jaime Lyn Bauer later in 1973.

Courtesy/CBS

When Y&R premiered it was a half-hour soap, and eventually was expanded to one hour in 1980, which saw major families phased out and the Abbotts, Williams and the Newman families eventually brought in to bolster and change the landscape of the show.

Throughout its run, Y&R has won over 165 Daytime Emmy Awards, In the newest Nielsen ratings for the week of March 10-14 2025, the soap holds steady as the number #1 daytime drama, Current ratings show Y&R up slightly in key demo ratings 18-49 and 25-54 vs 2024 at this time. Check out the ratings data at SON here.

The Young and the Restless current cast is led by the iconic Eric Braeden (Victor Newman), Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman), Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott), Sharon Case (Sharon Collins), Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers), Joshua Morrow (Nick Newman), Beth Maitland (Traci Abbott), Mark Grossman (Adam Newman), Melissa Claire Egan (Chelsea Lawson), Bryton James (Devon Hamilton), Christel Khalil (Lily Winters), Tracey Bregman (Lauren Fenmore), Christian LeBlanc (Michael Baldwin)and more.

Taking to their account on X, Y&R offered this message to its fans, “Happy 52nd Anniversary #YR! Thank you fans – appreciate you! Keep watching.”

Check out the evolution of Y&R’s opening credit sequences for 50 of its 52 years below.

Let us know, did you watch The Young and the Restless from its beginning? If not, when did you first start checking out the stories and the characters of Genoa City? Does the soap remain one of your all-time favorites? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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Happy 52 years to The Young and the Restless. What an accomplishment.

But how the writing was top notch back in the years Bill Bell was captain of the ship. His stories were all intriguing and while they moved at a snail’s pace, the payoff always packed a punch you were never going to forget. As much as I still love watching Y&R, the show is a very different flavor now.

It isnt the same but it does have some moments. I still miss Katherine and her nails pulling back the curtains in her living room. LOL

As much as I’ve enjoyed certain Newman family stories of the years, I think when Victor became invincible and always won, the show went downhill from there.
Much like the Sonny/Carly/Jason show ruined GH for me….

Does anyone know who everyone in 1973 pic is? I recognize some but not all.

The only 2 characters I don’t recognize are the man and woman on the floor to the right of Peggy Brooks. I recognize the man from another soap I used to watch (Search for Tomorrow or General Hospital perhaps?) The woman to his right I can’t place at all. All the rest of the cast, I can name the characters and most of their portrayers.

I think the man by Peggy may have been her boyfriend, character’s name Steve? Dark haired woman may have been Gwen, a hooker who fell in love with Greg Foster and later became a num. Actress named Jennifer Leak.

The guy is Lori Brooks’ love interest, who turned out to be her half-brother (from Jennifer Brookes’ affair, but his name escapes me.) The girl is Sally– who becomes pregnant by Snapper (thus complicating his romance with Chris Brookes.)

Ahh– those were the days!

General Hospital

Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

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Maura West and Kelly Sullivan

It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.

The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.

Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.

Photo: JPI

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST

Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”

Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”

Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”

Photo: JPI

KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL

Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”

You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.

So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!

 

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General Hospital

Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

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Steve Burton

The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.

TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.

That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.

Steve Burton

Photo: ABC

STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES

GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.

Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).

Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.

GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS

Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.

Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.

Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.

So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.

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Jess Walton Memoir ‘The Young and the Rest of Us’ Set for Release in 2027

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Jess Walton

The Young and the Restless enduring favorite and two-time Daytime Emmy-winning actress, Jess Walton (Jill Foster Abbott) is set to release her memoir!

Kensington Publishing has revealed on their website that Walton’s book The Young and the Rest of Us is now available for pre-order while listing an April 27, 2027 release date. In addition, in June of 2027, Walton will mark her 40th anniversary with The Young and the Restless and her debut as Jill.

The official log lines for the memoir share, “Emmy Award-winning actress Jess Walton, known to millions as the iconic Jill Abbott on the #1 soap opera The Young and the Restless, shares her extraordinary journey to stardom, sobriety, true love, and self-discovery in this startingly candid, intimate, and star-studded memoir.”

Jess Walton

Photo; Kensington Books

CAKE FIGHTS AND CORPORATE INTRIGUE

The book description for The Young and the Rest of Us adds,  “In June 1987, Jess Walton walked through the artists’ entrance at CBS for her first day on The Young and the Restless,where she had just been hired to play the recast role of Jill AbbottTwo Emmy awards, four decades, and countless onscreen affairs, marriages, corporate takeovers, and cake fights later, she’s a beloved icon with an astonishing tale to tell.”

“In her refreshingly candid style, Jess shares her journey as a young actress from Toronto theaters to Los Angeles, where she found herself at the center of a Laurel Canyon circle that included the likes of Neil Young, David Geffen, Laura Nyro, and Joni Mitchell. Landing a Universal contract and a steady stream of guest starring roles, Jess embraced everything 1970s L.A. had to offer—including Hollywood parties fueled by limitless booze and drugs, and trysts with stars. She recounts with candor and gratitude the surprising path that eventually led her to sobriety, true love—and ultimately, to fictional Genoa City, Wisconsin, and the role of a lifetime.”

“Brimming with behind-the-scenes drama and celebrity cameos to delight fans, The Young and the Rest of Us is also rich in personal, relatable truths about marriage, motherhood, empty-nesting, self-discovery, and finding the courage to start over—as often as it takes. In a voice as fearless and frank as Jill’s, but with, humor and grace all her own, Jess Walton looks back on a life as unpredictable, and adventure filled as anything she has portrayed on screen.”

WHO ELSE PLAYED JILL FOSER ABBOTT?

Fans of The Young and the Restless know that Walton became the fourth actress to take on the role of Katherine Chancellor’s original nemesis Jill Foster back in 1987. The OG Jill was played by Brenda Dickson, also Deborah Adair, Bond Gideon and Melinda O. Fee played the part.

This year, Days of our Lives star Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts) filled-in for several episodes for Walton who was unavailable to travel from her home in Oregon to Los Angeles where Y&R was taped. Walton is still with the long-running soap opera as Jill.

So, excited to learn of Jess Walton’s upcoming memoir, ‘The Young and the Rest of Us?’ Will it be it a must-read for you? Drop a comment below.

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