The Young and the Restless

 March 26, 1973, The Young and the Restless premiered on CBS.

Created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell, the series centered on the lives, loves, and rivalries of families in the fictional Genoa City, Wisconsin. It was originally built around two core families, the Brooks and the Fosters, before shifting focus in later years to the wealthy Abbott and Newman dynasties.

The show quickly distinguished itself with a younger cast, more contemporary storytelling, and a higher production style than many daytime dramas of the era. It expanded from 30 minutes to an hour in 1980 and has since become one of the highest rated soap operas in television history, dominating daytime ratings for decades.

Over the years, it has launched or featured the careers of stars such as Jeanne Cooper, Eric Braeden, Melody Thomas Scott, and Peter Bergman. The series has won numerous Daytime Emmy Awards, including multiple wins for Outstanding Drama Series, and remains one of the longest running scripted programs in television history.