Original Cast and Network History
The original cast of Young and the Restless debuted on March 26, 1973, created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show was initially produced by Bell-Phillip Television Productions, later Bell-Phillip Television Productions Inc., and is currently distributed by Sony Pictures Television. The series became the highest-rated daytime drama in the United States, frequently ranking first in the Nielsen daytime ratings, with a current estimated household reach of roughly 3.5 million viewers per episode as of the latest publicly available data. For more on the show's broadcast history, see the official CBS Daytime page CBS Young and the Restless.
The original core characters included Jill Foster Abbott, played by Brenda Dickson, and Katherine Chancellor, originated by Jeanne Cooper. Other original cast members included Stuart Damon as Alan Spaulding, who later moved to General Hospital, and actors such as David Hasselhoff and Nathan Fillion in early roles. The Bell family controlled the production company until 2000, when Sony Pictures Television acquired a majority stake. The show remains one of the longest-running scripted television series in U.S. history.
Key Original Actors and Current Status
Jeanne Cooper, who played Katherine Chancellor, appeared from 1973 until her death in 2013 and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. Eric Braeden, who joined in 1980 as Victor Newman, remains on the cast and is one of the highest-paid daytime actors, with reported annual earnings exceeding $1 million. Christel Khalil, who originated the role of Lily Winters, returned to the show in 2002 after a brief absence and continues to appear as of the latest public casting updates.
Original cast members who left the show include Brenda Dickson, who played Jill until 1987 and later won a lawsuit against the production company over royalty disputes. Melody Thomas Scott, who has played Nikki Newman since 1979, is one of the longest-serving actors in the series. Peter Bergman, who joined as Jack Abbott in 1989, has remained a central figure, with his contract renewals frequently reported in trade publications such as The Hollywood Reporter.
Production, Ownership, and Public Records
Young and the Restless is produced at CBS Studio Center in Studio City, California, and is classified as a soap opera under the daytime drama format. The show's production company, Bell-Phillip Television Productions, is listed in public records as a California limited partnership. According to SEC filings and entertainment trade data, Sony Pictures Television holds the distribution and production rights, with CBS Media Ventures handling domestic syndication.
The series has won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series in 2024, the most recent win as of the latest public data. The show's official streaming is available on Paramount+ and Pluto TV, both owned by Paramount Global. For detailed cast and crew credits, the Internet Movie Database lists the full original cast and ongoing updates IMDb Young and the Restless. Public financial data on the show's advertising revenue is not disclosed, but daytime dramas typically generate revenue through a combination of network licensing and national advertising spots.