I love Y&R. I've been watching it for years and I've seen some great moments on this show but I continue to run into the same problems with it. First, the show is predictable and they recycle story lines repeatedly. Billy and Victoria are eventually going to get back together. Nicki and Victor are eventually going to get back together so let them be together and let's move on to something else. Their roller-coaster relationships are no longer interesting. Second, BRING ADAM BACK. Bring Adam Newman back to the show and stop killing him off. Adam is a likable character that also stirs the pot in Genoa City. Him coming back will turn the Newman family upside down. His brother who is unknowingly raising his son is in a committed relationship with his wife. If Adam comes back Nick's whole world will fall apart and I would love to see that happen. Nick is self-righteous and annoying. Chelsea belongs with Adam. Theirs is a love story that I'm actually invested in. Finally, I have to address Cane and how his life has crumbled around him. He deserved it. It was his fault he lost his job and his family. Lily was right to leave him and I wish her the best but Jordan is not a good replacement. Jordan looks like he's about to fall in love with every woman he speaks to. Lily needs to focus on herself and her kids for five minutes before she runs into the arms of another selfish man. The conflict with Mattie and Reed dating is ridiculous. They're like sixteen years old. Plenty of sixteen year old's date and naturally break up without their parents needing to get involved. Cane and Juliet were not at all interested in one another for months. They were friendly colleagues even after sleeping with one another. She needs to stop walking around holding her belly and speaking for two when she's fifteen minutes pregnant. I've had enough of her, I hate her voice and I would be satisfied if they revealed that Cane is not the father before killing the baby or both the baby and Juliet off of the show.
99 Reviews
Slag along soap opera.
mark.waltz15 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I started watching this show at the tail end of the original set-up where the Brooks and Foster families dominated the story. One upper middle class, the other working class, yet interconnected and all basically decent people. Along comes "the mustache", a 35 year plus villain who doesn't mellow, just gets more rotten. Victor Newman's story did overlap the original families by 2 years, and for a while, he was engaged to the show's original bitch goddess heroine, Laurie Brooks. Today, only Jill Foster Abbott remains from the first episode, having been played by many actresses, with Jess Walton now in the part for almost 30 years. After the death of long-time matriarch Katharine Chancellor, Paul Williams (Doug Davidson, now with 38 years on the show) became the longest running character, and for a while, had a family of his own who supplanted the Fosters as the lower working class family. Original Foster matriarch Elizabeth Foster (Brooks, thanks to a brief marriage to patriarch Stuart) was on and off the show for 37 years, a regular presence for the show's first 12 years, but neglected even though daughter Jill was still on after she was written off. The show's writers can't seem to make up their mind of how they want to history, destroying Jill's being a Foster by making her Liz and Bill Foster's adopted daughter.
This wasn't the first show to capitalize on youthful characters, but with "Y&R", it pretty much declared war on focusing on more mature characters. Certainly, Jennifer and Stuart, supposedly widowed Liz and the complex Katharine Chancellor had their own battles: Jennifer with breast cancer, Liz finding her husband Bill was alive then pulling the plug on his life support, and Katharine's alcoholism. I've seen old episodes of each of these major stories, and certainly, Julianna McCarthy should have been nominated for an Emmy for her heartbreaking performance as Liz. When they killed Liz off for good in 2010, I was heartbroken, almost feeling like I had lost my grandmother. Jennifer did die of breast cancer during the early years of the show, and Katharine just passed away, but these three women showed that during the early years, young didn't mean youth; It meant young in spirit, and the ability to deal with heartbreak, loss and depression.
The two early major stars were Jaime Lyn Bauer as the sultry Laurie and future prime-time TV star David Hasselhoff as Jill's brother, Snapper. But their departures from the show in 1982 pulled the story towards the growing Abbott family and Eric Braeden's ruthless Victor. I liked him around this time, but his character hasn't seemed to pick up any serious life lessons, only getting worse. In short, he's the Donald Trump of soaps. The 1984 wedding to former stripper Nikki Reed was a wonderful reunion of many of the show's veterans, with a great subplot of Victor's psychotic ex-lover Eve Howard in disguise trying to kill the bride. I was addicted to the show during the story-line the previous year when Eve (the beautiful Margaret Mason) tried to kill Victor through slow acting poison and her slide into insanity as Victor pretended to be dead to trap her.
Such beautiful older women as Marla Adams (Dina Abbott) and Susan Seaforth Hayes (Joanna Manning) kept me intrigued as young women like Ashley, Tracy and Patty held my interest as well. Jack Abbott and Paul Williams were fascinating young male characters, with wise John Abbott showing that powerful businessmen could be decent, even with someone like Victor Newman breathing down their neck. By the end of the 1980's, I began to loose interest in "Y&R", but have gone back on several occasions, first when Margaret Mason returned to introduced Victor to their son, Cole, and later when Judith Chapman took over the role of John Abbott's gold-digging wife, Gloria. I also would make brief re-visits every time Dina or Joanna would pop into town, as well as one of Liz Foster's longer stays in 2003 when she had to tell Jill that she was adopted.
Now, the show is a shell of itself, having diminished the importance of Jill and writing off the bulk of the characters that I liked. They turned Nikki Newman into a shrew, wasted the character of Ashley Abbott, and made Victor Newman so unrealistically evil that I wished I could go back as head writer and have Eve Howard's poison taken affect. Like Sonny on "GH", Victor has a loyal group of fans and disgruntled viewers who would love them to be killed off for good. "Y&R" has never had the best writing (no matter what the Emmy Awards may think) as it is often inconsistent, angry and pandering. Yet, they must be doing something right, because of the four soaps left, it has the highest ratings. Or perhaps I'm no longer young and restless either, or just above the cell phone style of Ebonics that come out of the writer's pens.
This wasn't the first show to capitalize on youthful characters, but with "Y&R", it pretty much declared war on focusing on more mature characters. Certainly, Jennifer and Stuart, supposedly widowed Liz and the complex Katharine Chancellor had their own battles: Jennifer with breast cancer, Liz finding her husband Bill was alive then pulling the plug on his life support, and Katharine's alcoholism. I've seen old episodes of each of these major stories, and certainly, Julianna McCarthy should have been nominated for an Emmy for her heartbreaking performance as Liz. When they killed Liz off for good in 2010, I was heartbroken, almost feeling like I had lost my grandmother. Jennifer did die of breast cancer during the early years of the show, and Katharine just passed away, but these three women showed that during the early years, young didn't mean youth; It meant young in spirit, and the ability to deal with heartbreak, loss and depression.
The two early major stars were Jaime Lyn Bauer as the sultry Laurie and future prime-time TV star David Hasselhoff as Jill's brother, Snapper. But their departures from the show in 1982 pulled the story towards the growing Abbott family and Eric Braeden's ruthless Victor. I liked him around this time, but his character hasn't seemed to pick up any serious life lessons, only getting worse. In short, he's the Donald Trump of soaps. The 1984 wedding to former stripper Nikki Reed was a wonderful reunion of many of the show's veterans, with a great subplot of Victor's psychotic ex-lover Eve Howard in disguise trying to kill the bride. I was addicted to the show during the story-line the previous year when Eve (the beautiful Margaret Mason) tried to kill Victor through slow acting poison and her slide into insanity as Victor pretended to be dead to trap her.
Such beautiful older women as Marla Adams (Dina Abbott) and Susan Seaforth Hayes (Joanna Manning) kept me intrigued as young women like Ashley, Tracy and Patty held my interest as well. Jack Abbott and Paul Williams were fascinating young male characters, with wise John Abbott showing that powerful businessmen could be decent, even with someone like Victor Newman breathing down their neck. By the end of the 1980's, I began to loose interest in "Y&R", but have gone back on several occasions, first when Margaret Mason returned to introduced Victor to their son, Cole, and later when Judith Chapman took over the role of John Abbott's gold-digging wife, Gloria. I also would make brief re-visits every time Dina or Joanna would pop into town, as well as one of Liz Foster's longer stays in 2003 when she had to tell Jill that she was adopted.
Now, the show is a shell of itself, having diminished the importance of Jill and writing off the bulk of the characters that I liked. They turned Nikki Newman into a shrew, wasted the character of Ashley Abbott, and made Victor Newman so unrealistically evil that I wished I could go back as head writer and have Eve Howard's poison taken affect. Like Sonny on "GH", Victor has a loyal group of fans and disgruntled viewers who would love them to be killed off for good. "Y&R" has never had the best writing (no matter what the Emmy Awards may think) as it is often inconsistent, angry and pandering. Yet, they must be doing something right, because of the four soaps left, it has the highest ratings. Or perhaps I'm no longer young and restless either, or just above the cell phone style of Ebonics that come out of the writer's pens.
NO MORE!
chelleshop20 July 2021
Please for goodness sake, NO MORE SHARON AND ADAM! It's tired , it's old, it's boring. You try to make out like her connection with him was so deep, but her relationship with Nick was SO MUCH MORE!
END THIS BEFORE IT BEGINS........AGAIN!!!!
END THIS BEFORE IT BEGINS........AGAIN!!!!
I have been Young and Restless ever since 1973
lambiepie-216 May 2003
Yep, I was there on the first day from day one for "The Young and the Restless". Let me set the stage for all the younger viewers so they know where I'm coming from...
Back in the late 60's early 70's there wasn't much fare for young pre-teen children like me for Soap Opreas. They were all "adult" and handled "adult" themes, that were, honestly, way over our heads to keep us viewed day in and day out. We were of the "Dark Shadows" generation. To look at a soap, we wanted one that was exciting, different and on our level. Along came "The Young and the Restless" in 1973.
I knew it was for me and my pre-adolescent girl-pals, our parents didn't like it much. Our parents were watching "Somerset", "The Secret Storm", "Edge of Night", "Another World" and before "General Hospital" got hip, these soaps were dry and people didn't speak about much on network TV. Everyone had the same disease, everyone sat on the bed by themselves and yuck! that organ music!
It was exciting back then to see a daytime soap storyline wrap around themes that young ladies and young gentlemen were dealing with of those times, and it spoke to us on OUR level. Even the "older" more adult cast were speaking on our level, so it caught on quickly for us.
It's now 2003, 30 years later and "The Young and the Restless" is still a soap I will watch. Like all soaps, it has its moments...it goes up and down. But the "Young and the Restless" was NOT afraid to tackle the social, moral and racial issues of our day... STD's, AIDS, Cults, Alcoholism, Older women going after younger men (it was always the other way around!), Gigilos, Strippers, Rock Musicians, Models, oh my goodness!!! Now, yes, its more common place and these themes aren't much but "The Young and the Restless" was one of the first to tackle these head on and not subtly either!
The writing was crisp, young, on-target, just the right thing for us. Some of the best characters in my soap lifetime of watching the "Young and the Restless" that were dear to me were:
The Brooks Sisters -- Yes, the one who played the piano was the one I centered on because at the time, I could understand her problems. And "Pumpkin" poor, "Pumpkin", her story line really made me cry.
Nikki Reed -- Nikki and her family were tough. Nikki was a stripper. Nikki got money. Nikki got...around. Boy, we loved Nikki!
Katherine Chancellor -- This is the Y&R grand dame. Katherine and her younger men, Katherine and her money, Katherine and her alcoholism, Katherine and her face-lifts! Cosmetic plastic surgery was not mentioned on SOAPS! This character brought it on! I really wish they would show this soap in repeats, Katherine Chancellor kicked royal butt!
Victor Newman -- At first I thought this character wasn't going anywhere but wow, he developed nicely and I cannot see the program without him. Rich, powerful, handsome, -- flawed. What else could you ask for? The Newman Clan -- Victoria and Nicolas growing up quite nice and spoiled and unsure as we would expect.
The Abbott Clan -- In the 80's, Ashley Abbott and I were on the same career track. except I didn't do it through family, I made it up the corporate ladder the hard way, but boy was I glad to see Ashley Abbott go through the turmoil, the backbiting: her brother Jack who crushed HER at every corner and had his own problems, the father and head of a HUGE fragrance corporation John, the dear Tracey Abbott who was going through almost EVERY teenage girls' nightmare, being pretty, smart and second banana to her svelte sister, the mother Deena who had an affair and...well..lets just say not all Abbotts are Abbotts and when that eventually comes out (it's 2003 now and not EVERYBODY knows) what a thrill.
There are so many more such as...Neil Winters who really worked his way up through the ranks; streetwise, Drucilla Barber and her over-achieving sister Olivia, Paul Williams and his detective firm, what a thrill they were in the 80's (and not to mention that little STD Paul had when coming to Genoa City, and not to mention the Cult!!) Cricket Christine Blair who was the summer entry we all looked forward to in Jr. Jabot, the scheming Diane, the unsuspecting Andy, and so on and so on and so on!!!
The "Young and the Restless" has kept true to its title always bringing in young and restless story lines as well as keeping older viewers like me interested as well. That's a tough thing to do day after day, year after year, decade after decade. Some story lines and characters won't jell with everyone -- and that's okay, that's a soap. This is one that will be bold, go out on a limb and come right into your face with current and past material, young, middle aged and older story lines that no matter how old you are you could get involved with, (maybe not!) but the Young and the Restless is still, to me, one of the best daytime soaps out there for it is young..and very restless.
Back in the late 60's early 70's there wasn't much fare for young pre-teen children like me for Soap Opreas. They were all "adult" and handled "adult" themes, that were, honestly, way over our heads to keep us viewed day in and day out. We were of the "Dark Shadows" generation. To look at a soap, we wanted one that was exciting, different and on our level. Along came "The Young and the Restless" in 1973.
I knew it was for me and my pre-adolescent girl-pals, our parents didn't like it much. Our parents were watching "Somerset", "The Secret Storm", "Edge of Night", "Another World" and before "General Hospital" got hip, these soaps were dry and people didn't speak about much on network TV. Everyone had the same disease, everyone sat on the bed by themselves and yuck! that organ music!
It was exciting back then to see a daytime soap storyline wrap around themes that young ladies and young gentlemen were dealing with of those times, and it spoke to us on OUR level. Even the "older" more adult cast were speaking on our level, so it caught on quickly for us.
It's now 2003, 30 years later and "The Young and the Restless" is still a soap I will watch. Like all soaps, it has its moments...it goes up and down. But the "Young and the Restless" was NOT afraid to tackle the social, moral and racial issues of our day... STD's, AIDS, Cults, Alcoholism, Older women going after younger men (it was always the other way around!), Gigilos, Strippers, Rock Musicians, Models, oh my goodness!!! Now, yes, its more common place and these themes aren't much but "The Young and the Restless" was one of the first to tackle these head on and not subtly either!
The writing was crisp, young, on-target, just the right thing for us. Some of the best characters in my soap lifetime of watching the "Young and the Restless" that were dear to me were:
The Brooks Sisters -- Yes, the one who played the piano was the one I centered on because at the time, I could understand her problems. And "Pumpkin" poor, "Pumpkin", her story line really made me cry.
Nikki Reed -- Nikki and her family were tough. Nikki was a stripper. Nikki got money. Nikki got...around. Boy, we loved Nikki!
Katherine Chancellor -- This is the Y&R grand dame. Katherine and her younger men, Katherine and her money, Katherine and her alcoholism, Katherine and her face-lifts! Cosmetic plastic surgery was not mentioned on SOAPS! This character brought it on! I really wish they would show this soap in repeats, Katherine Chancellor kicked royal butt!
Victor Newman -- At first I thought this character wasn't going anywhere but wow, he developed nicely and I cannot see the program without him. Rich, powerful, handsome, -- flawed. What else could you ask for? The Newman Clan -- Victoria and Nicolas growing up quite nice and spoiled and unsure as we would expect.
The Abbott Clan -- In the 80's, Ashley Abbott and I were on the same career track. except I didn't do it through family, I made it up the corporate ladder the hard way, but boy was I glad to see Ashley Abbott go through the turmoil, the backbiting: her brother Jack who crushed HER at every corner and had his own problems, the father and head of a HUGE fragrance corporation John, the dear Tracey Abbott who was going through almost EVERY teenage girls' nightmare, being pretty, smart and second banana to her svelte sister, the mother Deena who had an affair and...well..lets just say not all Abbotts are Abbotts and when that eventually comes out (it's 2003 now and not EVERYBODY knows) what a thrill.
There are so many more such as...Neil Winters who really worked his way up through the ranks; streetwise, Drucilla Barber and her over-achieving sister Olivia, Paul Williams and his detective firm, what a thrill they were in the 80's (and not to mention that little STD Paul had when coming to Genoa City, and not to mention the Cult!!) Cricket Christine Blair who was the summer entry we all looked forward to in Jr. Jabot, the scheming Diane, the unsuspecting Andy, and so on and so on and so on!!!
The "Young and the Restless" has kept true to its title always bringing in young and restless story lines as well as keeping older viewers like me interested as well. That's a tough thing to do day after day, year after year, decade after decade. Some story lines and characters won't jell with everyone -- and that's okay, that's a soap. This is one that will be bold, go out on a limb and come right into your face with current and past material, young, middle aged and older story lines that no matter how old you are you could get involved with, (maybe not!) but the Young and the Restless is still, to me, one of the best daytime soaps out there for it is young..and very restless.
Y&R is a Ruined Show
parickards17 October 2015
I wish I was allowed to give zero star! Young and Restless is now a very pathetic show. Bill Bell Sr. must be twirling in his grave. Since Chuck Pratt took over as the head writer the show has deteriorated 100,000,00% It's beyond ridiculous.
Victor Newman is a vile hateful character and needs to go. And no one is indispensable. The Brooks are gone, The Fosters are gone, The Chancellors are gone... Victor Newman needs to go. The show would go on.
Chuck Pratt and Jill Farren Phelps needs to go along with all the talentless Friends of Jill that she hired.
18 -49 is the target audience when it mostly people over 55 who watch the show keeping it as top soap. We are the ones at home all day watching soaps.
Victor Newman is a vile hateful character and needs to go. And no one is indispensable. The Brooks are gone, The Fosters are gone, The Chancellors are gone... Victor Newman needs to go. The show would go on.
Chuck Pratt and Jill Farren Phelps needs to go along with all the talentless Friends of Jill that she hired.
18 -49 is the target audience when it mostly people over 55 who watch the show keeping it as top soap. We are the ones at home all day watching soaps.
Long time viewer disgusted!
wefive-71-45570712 May 2015
I have watched Y&R since the beginning through its good and questionable story lines, but now they are really getting ridiculous.
Twice in the last year or so, Victor has found 'look a likes' for Cassie and now Jack! The whole ridiculous storyline of Kelly, the nut, kidnapping Jack is really going far too far and is now verging on the just plain stupid! Please stop. I don't know how much more I can endure before I give up and switch off.
Still love Victor, but wish you would get rid of Genoa City's resident whore and nut job, Sharon. Sharon Case is boring and her storyline is constantly repetitive and now also BORING!
Twice in the last year or so, Victor has found 'look a likes' for Cassie and now Jack! The whole ridiculous storyline of Kelly, the nut, kidnapping Jack is really going far too far and is now verging on the just plain stupid! Please stop. I don't know how much more I can endure before I give up and switch off.
Still love Victor, but wish you would get rid of Genoa City's resident whore and nut job, Sharon. Sharon Case is boring and her storyline is constantly repetitive and now also BORING!
Y&R #1 for 900+ weeks!!
romeoforever9521 June 2006
I have been a longtime viewer of Y&R. Since 1991, i was about 11yrs old, and i was immediately hooked. Watching "Victor" drive his car off the cliff, and everyone thought he was dead, meanwhile living with a new love and center of his life "Hope Adams". He then went on to having a child with this blind woman. Y&R over the years, has become something, that everyone can relate to i believe. After the passing of the well respected and beloved "Bill Bell", Y&R still kept their heads high, and delivered the finest in daytime television. Y&R, now recently claiming the title of "America's #1 Daytime Drama", has for the last couple years for me, been the best well poised and presented Soap on the networks. Hence the #1 title. Most fans of the show can visit the official Y&R site www.theyoungandtherestless.com This is one show, that over the years, have proved themselves time and time again, to be the best, and the most respected. The combination of lust, mixed with life expectancies, and life collaboration, has made this show unlike no other. I am a Y&R FAN4LIFE. Would luv to claim the #1 fan title, but there as u know, are many many fans who would claim to be the #1 fan of the show. But they are my on screen family, of 14yrs, i have watched them grow, and change into something, that i am oh so proud of now. I would love the honor of meeting the cast and crew someday, but for now, just watch the show....and experience the uniqueness for yourself!!!
What a waste of time - day after day
duraflex15 December 2006
I have watched Y&R for more than 25 years and I can say with absolute certainty that Y & R has lost its way. Whatever it once offered in the way of life lessons and good storytelling is gone. In recent years, story lines are dragged out f-o-r-e-v-e-r and clearly the only motivating factor working here is to keep the addicted viewers coming back day after day. Despite a larger population, its ratings have been slowly slipping for years.
Once upon a time, Y & R was a fairly entertaining piece that included decent drama, a touch of humor and glamor and tried to make some points about what was happening in the world - dangers that young people could be exposed to, the consequences of making bad decisions that forever impact your life and so on.
It hardly does that at all anymore and these days virtually every character is so flawed that there are few to relate to or even like - if only a little. Ruthless ol' Victor is so evil and corrupt that he should have disappeared years ago. Good guy John Abbott Sr. was dumbed down and then eliminated only to show up as stupid, clueless ghost criticizing his only son ad nauseum. The females are all messed up.
New characters come into the story and often disappear without explanation because they do not attract a following. Sometimes, they don't disappear fast enough.
The stories are stretched out to the max. A single day can actually be played out over 2 weeks! The bad guys rarely get punished and the writers keep bringing back psycho-Sheila every time they need a villain and can't come up with a new one.
Over and over, this show has repeatedly tried very hard to promote interracial relationships even though they are statistically rare (about 3%) yet oddly enough - they never address the racial component of a relationship.
After many years, especially the last few, I have concluded that this show is a waste of time. The next time you may be tempted to watch Y&R, ask yourself, "Is this the best way to spend the next hour of my life?" You'll never get that hour back again.
Once upon a time, Y & R was a fairly entertaining piece that included decent drama, a touch of humor and glamor and tried to make some points about what was happening in the world - dangers that young people could be exposed to, the consequences of making bad decisions that forever impact your life and so on.
It hardly does that at all anymore and these days virtually every character is so flawed that there are few to relate to or even like - if only a little. Ruthless ol' Victor is so evil and corrupt that he should have disappeared years ago. Good guy John Abbott Sr. was dumbed down and then eliminated only to show up as stupid, clueless ghost criticizing his only son ad nauseum. The females are all messed up.
New characters come into the story and often disappear without explanation because they do not attract a following. Sometimes, they don't disappear fast enough.
The stories are stretched out to the max. A single day can actually be played out over 2 weeks! The bad guys rarely get punished and the writers keep bringing back psycho-Sheila every time they need a villain and can't come up with a new one.
Over and over, this show has repeatedly tried very hard to promote interracial relationships even though they are statistically rare (about 3%) yet oddly enough - they never address the racial component of a relationship.
After many years, especially the last few, I have concluded that this show is a waste of time. The next time you may be tempted to watch Y&R, ask yourself, "Is this the best way to spend the next hour of my life?" You'll never get that hour back again.
BLOG 20 YOUNG & RESTLESS
shallotpeel-877-148918 April 2019
THE YOUNG AND RESTLESS LIFE OF WILLIAM J. BELL Creator of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful by Michael Maloney with Lee Phillip Bell (2012) Sourcebooks Foreword by David Hasselhoff
As most of us were, Bill was introduced to soap operas by his mother. He listened with her to serial dramas including Our Gal Sunday, The Romance of Helen Trent and Life Can Be Beautiful, on the radio. "Mom would have soup and a sandwich and be waiting for me," he was quoted as saying in WORLDS WITHOUT END: THE ART AND HISTORY OF THE SOAP OPERA. Before long Bill was hooked. He was particularly taken with "The Guiding Light, created by Irna Phillips." Bill brought greater characterization and depth, for example, to Y&R's Victor Newman because the viewers learned that he had been left in an orphanage as a little boy. He created a financial empire so he could never be hurt again, becoming literally a "new man" in the process.
Bill's son Bradley, head writer and executive producer of B&B, followed in his father's footsteps by shedding light on the controlling Stephanie Forrester. Viewers understood the domineering matriarch more after learning that Steph had been physically abused by her father, while her mother Ann, looked the other way. "Bill himself would be poor material for a daytime character," entertainment writer Clifford Terry wrote in the Chicago Tribune in 1973. "After all, how tormented can someone be whose favorite word is 'nifty'"? Terry made this assessment about Bill noting that he didn't hold traditional positions like on-screen characters such as attorney Mickey Horton on Days or newspaper publisher Stuart Brooks on Y&R. "There's a little of me in most of the male characters I've created," Bill told veteran soap-opera journalist Dorothy Vine. "There's some of me in John Abbott, Jack Abbott, Eric Forrester and even in Victor Newman. I create characters to tell a story and when you do that you have to start with some of yourself so you can understand and motivate them." Bill's younger self can be found in two family-oriented and ambitious brothers whom he created for Y&R, Snapper and Greg Foster.
Bill Bell would have fit in perfectly on the TV series MAD MEN. He didn't have that dark edge that Don Draper has, but he always had that smile. -Thomas Phillips, Irna Phillips's son Bill Bell worked in the world of advertising before he became a soap-opera writer. Jerry Birn became Bill's lifelong friend but at first Jerry doubted that. They were at McCann Erickson, one of Chicago's top ad firms. Bill had something of a hot-shot reputation for writing comedy sketches and the ad copy he had written at WBBM-TV. Jerry didn't want to be "walking the plank to make room for Golden Boy Bill. And, believe me, there was always a Golden Boy "for a time". The boss had taken Jill had breakfast and in Venice get my parents seeing him fall. Bill revealed that he'd lied about his age to enlist in the Navy during WW2. Later, the conversation hit a bump in the road when they talked about salaries: Bill was making more. Jerry was too impressed. As impressed he flagged down. Jerry knew Bill was getting an episode. When Bill summoned and Margaret, delivered. Wild children. He had some of the occasions of the murdered. Writers' rooms he was diagnosing , their honey moon episodes.
Jill & Lee portrayed noble causes that they fought for. Standard Oil execs had suggestions that were sophomoric, amateurish and hopeless but Jerry thought they should go with them anyway. Bill did not agree. He told the Standard Oil folk that they could fire him but he wouldn't put their name on his work. Then he walked out. Bill would take a similar stance with NBC execs who tried to tamper with his storylines. Bill waited for CBS to fire him over the Standard Oil issues. Never happened. The head of the office got a letter from the ad director at Standard Oil applauding Bill and wanting him kept on the account. They were on for the kind of honesty and integrity that they go from Bill Bell. Bill was floored but he had one question, "Could he have a raise"?
When they weren't working, Bill & Jerry hung out at a local watering hole, the Bowl and the Bottle. Jerry got Bill started on martinis. They came up with the slogan, "The olive with the taillight," because they had pimentos in them. The agency passed. They pitched a food account to a female exec. When they finished she had one question, "How much experience did they have with food?" They got a laugh but not the account when they replied, "We eat." Television changed the ad world. Clients were able to promote their products in a whole new way. Standard Oil began running TV ads during Chicago Bears game broadcasts.
Bill was a traditionalist. He rejected the computer age, preferring to stick with his trusted typewriter. But, he did try to move from using traditional advertising storyboards to employing live models for presentations. Jack Tinker, a top-ranking writer at McCann Erickson, shot the idea down. Jerry and Bill were the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid of the ad world. That changed when Bill met his own Etta Place, TV personality Lee Phillip. Bill was knocking on Irna Phillips's door with one hand and with Lee's door with the other. Bill got down on one knee and asked Lee to marry him. Soon Jerry was his best man & planning was underway. The Christmas card Jerry got said, "The Bells Are Ringing!" Bill and Lee wed on October 23, 1954. Three hundred family and friends gathered to celebrate the wedding of William Joseph Bell and Loreley (Lee) June Phillip. Lee was the celebrity in the family long before Bill became an icon in the soap opera world.
As most of us were, Bill was introduced to soap operas by his mother. He listened with her to serial dramas including Our Gal Sunday, The Romance of Helen Trent and Life Can Be Beautiful, on the radio. "Mom would have soup and a sandwich and be waiting for me," he was quoted as saying in WORLDS WITHOUT END: THE ART AND HISTORY OF THE SOAP OPERA. Before long Bill was hooked. He was particularly taken with "The Guiding Light, created by Irna Phillips." Bill brought greater characterization and depth, for example, to Y&R's Victor Newman because the viewers learned that he had been left in an orphanage as a little boy. He created a financial empire so he could never be hurt again, becoming literally a "new man" in the process.
Bill's son Bradley, head writer and executive producer of B&B, followed in his father's footsteps by shedding light on the controlling Stephanie Forrester. Viewers understood the domineering matriarch more after learning that Steph had been physically abused by her father, while her mother Ann, looked the other way. "Bill himself would be poor material for a daytime character," entertainment writer Clifford Terry wrote in the Chicago Tribune in 1973. "After all, how tormented can someone be whose favorite word is 'nifty'"? Terry made this assessment about Bill noting that he didn't hold traditional positions like on-screen characters such as attorney Mickey Horton on Days or newspaper publisher Stuart Brooks on Y&R. "There's a little of me in most of the male characters I've created," Bill told veteran soap-opera journalist Dorothy Vine. "There's some of me in John Abbott, Jack Abbott, Eric Forrester and even in Victor Newman. I create characters to tell a story and when you do that you have to start with some of yourself so you can understand and motivate them." Bill's younger self can be found in two family-oriented and ambitious brothers whom he created for Y&R, Snapper and Greg Foster.
Bill Bell would have fit in perfectly on the TV series MAD MEN. He didn't have that dark edge that Don Draper has, but he always had that smile. -Thomas Phillips, Irna Phillips's son Bill Bell worked in the world of advertising before he became a soap-opera writer. Jerry Birn became Bill's lifelong friend but at first Jerry doubted that. They were at McCann Erickson, one of Chicago's top ad firms. Bill had something of a hot-shot reputation for writing comedy sketches and the ad copy he had written at WBBM-TV. Jerry didn't want to be "walking the plank to make room for Golden Boy Bill. And, believe me, there was always a Golden Boy "for a time". The boss had taken Jill had breakfast and in Venice get my parents seeing him fall. Bill revealed that he'd lied about his age to enlist in the Navy during WW2. Later, the conversation hit a bump in the road when they talked about salaries: Bill was making more. Jerry was too impressed. As impressed he flagged down. Jerry knew Bill was getting an episode. When Bill summoned and Margaret, delivered. Wild children. He had some of the occasions of the murdered. Writers' rooms he was diagnosing , their honey moon episodes.
Jill & Lee portrayed noble causes that they fought for. Standard Oil execs had suggestions that were sophomoric, amateurish and hopeless but Jerry thought they should go with them anyway. Bill did not agree. He told the Standard Oil folk that they could fire him but he wouldn't put their name on his work. Then he walked out. Bill would take a similar stance with NBC execs who tried to tamper with his storylines. Bill waited for CBS to fire him over the Standard Oil issues. Never happened. The head of the office got a letter from the ad director at Standard Oil applauding Bill and wanting him kept on the account. They were on for the kind of honesty and integrity that they go from Bill Bell. Bill was floored but he had one question, "Could he have a raise"?
When they weren't working, Bill & Jerry hung out at a local watering hole, the Bowl and the Bottle. Jerry got Bill started on martinis. They came up with the slogan, "The olive with the taillight," because they had pimentos in them. The agency passed. They pitched a food account to a female exec. When they finished she had one question, "How much experience did they have with food?" They got a laugh but not the account when they replied, "We eat." Television changed the ad world. Clients were able to promote their products in a whole new way. Standard Oil began running TV ads during Chicago Bears game broadcasts.
Bill was a traditionalist. He rejected the computer age, preferring to stick with his trusted typewriter. But, he did try to move from using traditional advertising storyboards to employing live models for presentations. Jack Tinker, a top-ranking writer at McCann Erickson, shot the idea down. Jerry and Bill were the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid of the ad world. That changed when Bill met his own Etta Place, TV personality Lee Phillip. Bill was knocking on Irna Phillips's door with one hand and with Lee's door with the other. Bill got down on one knee and asked Lee to marry him. Soon Jerry was his best man & planning was underway. The Christmas card Jerry got said, "The Bells Are Ringing!" Bill and Lee wed on October 23, 1954. Three hundred family and friends gathered to celebrate the wedding of William Joseph Bell and Loreley (Lee) June Phillip. Lee was the celebrity in the family long before Bill became an icon in the soap opera world.
Great with the exception of last names..
dorissauder23 January 2016
Above all the soaps, which I've watched this one keeps you in the zone of interest. People are written on so many levels from love as well as work to even health related story lines. They confront alcoholism as the characters struggle in all areas of life. The only thing keeping it from 10 stars, is when the women marry they always take their husbands name and emphasize this within the story.This is not the given in real life. In fact when women are expected to bear/raise and sacrifice endlessly for children and loose their and their children's lineage to someone who doesn't go thru the same pain it is deeply disturbing to me as a viewer, who believes that love should be a real partnership based on wanting what is just. This show needs an update on this point, this is archaic and doesn't emphasize a partnership mentality but rather one of ownership. Despite this I would recommend it otherwise because it does keep your interest and the writers come up with some amazing situations that make you in want of more.
WHY?! Why do people keep watching this?
jonsefcik20 August 2018
Every weekday growing up, my mom would record this and The Bold And The Beautiful. The entire time, I kept wondering: Why? Why do people watch these shows? They're so terrible. They're so bland, boring, and devoid of personality. I can't pay attention for more than six seconds without immediately realizing that the dialogue is some of the worst stilted mush ever put on television. Who the hell talks like that? The acting in these shows ranges from passable to pretty worthless. I'd imagine it's because they're not trying since these actors are handed such rubbish scripts rushed out daily. The plots are so convoluted and melodramatic, you can tell they're making it up as they go along. All the sets look cheap. The direction, cinematography, and music are all flat and uninteresting. No aspect of the production is remotely competent, let alone good.
My mom still watches it because she's been following it since 1972, but I see nothing to entice new viewers. These soap operas are nothing more than background noise and something to fill daytime slots on Channel 3. Don't watch this. Almost anything else on TV right now is better than this.
My mom still watches it because she's been following it since 1972, but I see nothing to entice new viewers. These soap operas are nothing more than background noise and something to fill daytime slots on Channel 3. Don't watch this. Almost anything else on TV right now is better than this.
The Most Classic of All Soaps!
Sylviastel2 May 2006
As a lifetime soap opera fan, I have watched a lot of soaps and most can't compare to the best soap on television. Screw the Emmys for not naming it the Best Daytime Drama of the year. Since it's debut in 1973, The Young and the Restless revolutionized daytime by the master, William J. Bell and his wife Lee Phillip Bell. Together they created the Young and the Restless and Bold and the Beautiful, both the most watched soaps on daytime today. What's their secret? They don't kill characters and return them back from the dead, rather they don't kill many characters. They stick to the old fashioned way of storytelling. They don't do things quickly which is why is may not be for everybody. What is their strength is the excellent cast of actors and crew members who don't just stay 3 years and leave. THey stay a lot longer and there are exceptions. I think they stay because the work is good and in Los ANgeles, you can do other things like film and television and even theater. Yes, the cast includes Jeanne Cooper, Eric Braeden, Peter Bergman, Melody Thomas Scott, Kate Linder, and so many others who have come and gone. It's not for everybody, it might be too slow for some people but the stories are good and somewhat crazy sometimes but worth watching. At least, they make an effort to focus on the older characters like Katherine and Jill, archenemies, friends, and rivals and even related. The show gets stronger in time. With head writer, Kay Alden in charge, things have not changed so much since the Beloved William J. Bell passed away a year ago. he was a legendary creative person entirely. He and Lee treat the cast and crew like their family which is why so many have stayed so long. Bill and Lee were a dynamic team together on screen and off-screen as well. I wished the Kennedy Center Honors would have honored him for his contributions to daytime television which are just incredible. He helped create daytime. He is still very much missed today.
Les Feux de L'Amour - or rather Les Yeux de La Mort
nicholas.rhodes2 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I am no fan of this series but would like to point out that it must be the most addictive USA TV series on the French Television. Watched by millions of people every day ( mainly old ladies, and the unemployed - as its air time is 1.50 pm Monday to Friday ), the addicts of this series are glued to their TV sets at this hour every day of the working week ! I have had the occasion to watch it at times but unless you are following it on a daily basis, it's not worth it as you quickly lose touch with events. Compare it to something in the UK like East Enders or Coronation Street. Known as "Les Feux de l'Amour" for some strange reason, most of the population here has heard of this even if they don't all watch it as to be sure there'll be at least one family member who's a fan. I find the persistance of close up shots and the lack of exteriors rather stifling after a few episodes, indeed it can become dull and tedious hence my play on words in the summary !
My wife loves this show.
mm-399 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The Young and the Restless well, my wife loves this show. I seen Cricket, Danny, Victor etc and well found the show redundant and formulated, but has many romance novels themes. Two men after one women. Wanting for a forbidden lover. Having a secret affair and the true love finds out. Of course finally finding the true love and a evil friend, sister of whatever wants to break the relationship up. Powerful, attractive men being desired, while sexy women claw and compete for power, jobs and each others men. Of course there is the Jerry Springer who's the father episodes. Psychos who attack people and mysterious pasts of character add to spice up old stories. Done on the usual cheap sets, and directed cheap and fast like all day time soaps. I find the Young and the Restless another soap opera, which is about as predictable as professional Wrestling. 3 stars, but maybe as a guy I am more of a Wrestling fan. LOL.
endless
Kirpianuscus31 July 2017
more than a classic soap opera. maybe, a cultural phenomenon. or an ocean. because, for me, except Jeanne Cooper and Eric Braeden, the series is a huge Rubick cube, full of new presences, confuse conflicts, frozen time and old fights, relative friendships. a series with a life of 44 years is out of any definition. first, because it is the series of its fans. second, because, like each illusion/fairy tale, it is a source of alternative life events, different by generation who discovers it. short, endless series. maybe, the most seductive soap opera if you do not ignore its impressive longevity.
Sucks
thesolepurposemadefor27 May 2020
I like this show but.
robp-6343423 December 2019
Watched since 1973
sca_redhawk8 August 2006
I started watching Y&R in 1973. I have been a faithful viewer since and record the series if I am gone for the day. I love this soap. Y&R is my favorite of the 3 that I watch. I like the characters and the show keeps me interested in what is/will happen next. I'd like to see some of the original cast return even just once in awhile. I often wonder what their characters are doing. I'd like to see Lori and her family return and La Bo (don't remember his real name or the one from the show). It would be rather cool to see what he thinks of his restaurant and and how it has changed over the years. Y&R started feeling like family years ago. Pam fan of 33 years and counting
I used to like it, but not anymore
zi116 February 2018
This show lost its entertaining/fulfilling feel. In the past they managed to build every single episode like whole entity: something exiting, something intriguing and at the end of the episode revealing. It gave the sense of accomplishment. I liked the characters, which mostly were having good intentions and only the situation made them flowed. I liked the positive feeling about people and about the world after watching each episode. The hints at the end about what to expect the next time probably were also contributing to the satisfaction of something accomplished this time.
Now instead the show starts with hints about what I am supposed to know before the story. But then there is not much story, only a lot of gossiping, condescending talk and "bad guy" reaction. It became very unpleasant to watch. And this dull "This is us" kind of music contributes to the boredom completely.
From "made me feel good and optimistic" show, it became "made me feel unpleasant and nervous, that I lost my time" show.
A classic soap opera!
Catherine_Grace_Zeh16 July 2006
Ah, yes. I can remember when I was in high school. The first thing I would do my junior and senior year when I was home from school was watch this classic soap opera. From that moment on, I was hooked on it. In addition, I also enjoyed the days when Victoria (Heather Tom) was on the show. Ever since Malcolm (Shemar Moore) left the show in 2001, I haven't been watching it as much. If you ask me, she was absolutely diabolical. You'd have to have seen the show between 1994 and 2001 if you want to know why. However, this is still a good soap opera. In conclusion, I highly recommend this classic soap opera to all you die-hard CBS fans.
Victoria and Ashland
chelleshop3 August 2021
Amazing.
jaimesilva27 February 2021
Best show I've ever seen. Seen all 12000 episodes like three times. Beats out Breaking Bad, Game Of Thrones, The Wire, Mad Men, Stranger Things. The acting and music is perfect. The writers of the show perfectly encapsulate the true nature of humans, and this show speaks to the soul. The writers write detailed, complex characters with the whole spectrum of emotions. I promise, watch all 12000 before judging it. It may be slow for the first 11999 episodes, but once you watch the 12000th episode, you realize just why they wanted you to wait that long. Best show I've ever seen. Hands down.
If you like good writing, good acting, good cinematography and an all-star cast, you'll love this show.
If you like good writing, good acting, good cinematography and an all-star cast, you'll love this show.
Classic Daytime TV at its finest
TWUGrl056 May 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Like most Y&R fans, I started watching with my mom and Grams. It was and still is a family tradition (one that's actually fun!). It's the most realistic (well as realistic as a soap opera can be) soap on television. It's dramatic and entertaining. The Abbott v. Newman conflict is a tradition within the show that never fails to disappoint and is a good constant. The writers are careful not to fall into traps that other soaps do by having plots be too outlandish. The writing and the acting are superb. Eric Braeden and Peter Bergman as Victor Newman and Jack Abbott, respectively, are classic enemies. My favorite characters Phyllis Summers-Newman and Michael Baldwin (portrayed by the utterly fabulous Michelle Stafford and Christian LeBlanc) are deliciously villainous and incredible to watch. All in all, Y&R is a bright spot in the increasingly ridiculous world of daytime TV (I used to watch Passions, B&B and ATWT and they all pale in comparison).
Give it a go and you won't regret it.
Give it a go and you won't regret it.
What garbage
mikerichardson-6303414 March 2015
They won't let me give this garbage a zero so I guess it's a one. How this show manages to stay on the air for 40 plus years is beyond me. It must be cheap to produce or something is my best guess. Like every other daytime drama its totally lacking in any sort of realism. It's a comic book look at life for housewives and the unemployed. All the characters are rich and beautiful but nobody works. I think this probably appeals to their two target demographics I listed earlier. Frankly animated shows like the Simpsons do a much better job of portraying reality. Hopefully the new generation will finally put an axe to drivel like this on TV.
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