TVSquad

One of the reasons for The Young and the Restless' ongoing success -- and when I say ongoing, I mean long-term, sustained and unprecedented -- is the acting ensemble that has remained intact for well over 20 years. Fans are happy to see their favorite characters, and the actors playing them, year in and year out. Leading that Y&R troupe is Eric Braeden, the dominating, dynamic and demanding Victor Newman. His character is a scion, a tycoon, a romantic and still terrifying figure in the tapestry of the show that Bill Bell created 35 years ago. Victor Newman has ruled for 28 of those years, and Eric Braeden has always played him, and played him very well. The former primetime performer -- Rat Patrol, 1966-68, when he went by the name Hans Gudegast, his real name -- and lots of episodic work -- has been one of the soap world's leading stars.

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.