TVSquad

For one thousand weeks -- that's 19 years -- CBS's daytime drama The Young & the Restless has been number in the Nielsens, the highest-rated soap on the air. Back in December 1988, when this streak started, the number one show in prime time was The Cosby Show. The number one song was "Faith" by George Michael (do you hear that, Eli Stone?). And Ronald Reagan was winding up his second term as President. In other words, it was a looooong time ago.

Of course, this being a soap, not much has changed on Y&R in nearly 20 years. Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) is still the ruthless scion involved in an on-again, off-again marriage/love story with Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott). Jill (Jess Walton) is still a social-climbing vixen. Brad Carlton (Don Diamont) has graduated from hot pool boy to hot corporate executive. Jeanne Cooper is still playing grande dame Katherine Chancellor. And Genoa City, Wisconsin (yes, really, Wisconsin!) is the center of the universe for these characters.

In addition to being numero uno for 1000 weeks, on March 26, 2008, the show will celebrate its 35th year on the air. To make the anniversary a little more special, Michael Damian, who played Danny Romalotti in three different stints between 1981 and 2004, is coming back for a visit, as will Eileen Davidson (Ashley Abbott) and Lesli Kay (Felicia Forrester) from The Bold & the Beautiful (Y&R's sister show).

There's a reason why Y&R has been so successful. Created by Bill and Lee Phillip Bell in 1973, the show is rooted in strong character-driven storytelling. Good stories never go out of style. The production quality is first rate -- and always has been -- and CBS has allowed the show to thrive as the anchor of their daytime line-up. It's been awarded the Emmy for Outstanding Daytime Drama seven times, including last year (when Y&R tied with Guiding Light).

By the by, here are some famous alumni from Y&R: David Hasselhoff, Tom Selleck, Eva Longoria, Shemar Moore, Wings Hauser, John O'Hurley, Victoria Rowell, Vivica A. Fox, and Steven Ford (President Ford's son).