Young and the Restless (YR) News: Thirty Years At Number One In Daytime – Y&R Fan’s Passion Fuels Iconic Soap

‘The Young and the Restless’ reaches a deeply impressive milestone by crossing the thirty year mark this month. Daytime’s iconic soap opera has now ranked as the number one soap opera ever year since 1989. That consistency streak is fueled by its passionate fans, whose loyalty is unprecedented.

Y&R averages more than four million live viewers in the United States and more than one million daily viewers in Canada.

According to the ‘Hollywood Reporter’, there is no other daytime show, scripted, or unscripted, or late-night show, that reaches that amount of viewers. Y&R also sports more daily viewers than approximately one-third of all nighttime broadcast network shows.

Soap operas have long faced strong takes from both fans and critics. Such is the nature of this genre, which mixes topical storylines with extreme escapism. To have ranked first for such a long period of time, wire to wire since 1989, is impressive. This streak also bodes well for the future.

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Currently renewed through 2020, Y&R continues to make the case for further life thereafter. Viewer stability equals ratings. Ratings are used to set advertising rates. In the current age of so-called ‘Peak TV’, where hundreds of shows exist on broadcast, cable, satellite, and streaming services, well-heeled brands are most likely to survive.

All seasoned soap supporters recall the days of three-plus afternoon daytime hours being held by many daytime dramas. Those days are gone and likely to never return. However, Y&R, along with its spin-off show and number 2 ranked ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’, along with ‘General Hospital’ and ‘Days of our Lives’, satisfy ongoing television consumer needs.

Entertainment fans are able to be choosy in the modern world. To know that the overwhelming majority of soap fans have consistently chosen Y&R speaks highly of all involved with this steamer during the past three decades. The milestone this soap has achieved also reflects well on modern, engaged fans. They stand with the most savvy and committed television viewers.

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As always, more detailed spoilers and a full collection of pictures for the week in question will appear here on Soap Opera Spy, where there will be more clues and hints over exactly what’s going on.

Soap Opera Spy is a leading source for everything linked to ‘The Young and the Restless’.

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