'Restless' wins for 1,000th week

After 35 years, CBS soap still 'Young' and hot

By RICK KISSELL

CBS' 'The Young and the Restless'has hit another ratings milestone, posting its 1000th straight week as daytime's top drama.

There aren't many ratings streaks in the biz like that of "The Young and the Restless," the CBS daytime drama that has been on top since the final weeks of the Reagan administration.

The soaps genre as a whole has been hit by declining ratings over the years, but "Y&R" remains its bellwether program. Sony sudser, which celebrates its 35th year on the air later this month, just achieved a major milestone by winning the ratings race in households for an amazing 1,000th consecutive week.

Nielsen data for the week of Feb. 25-29 shows that "Young and the Restless" averaged a 4.2 household rating/18 share, translating to 5.79 million viewers -- a bigger aud in the frame than primetime shows including "According to Jim" and "Lipstick Jungle."

And for the season, the show's average aud of 5.78 million towers over the daytime drama pack. Its CBS skedmate "Bold and the Beautiful" runs second (3.98 million), followed by the Eye's "As the World Turns" (3.18 million) and ABC's "General Hospital" (3.16 million).

"Y&R" also leads all daytime dramas in the key demos of women 18-49 (1.9/12) and women 25-54 (2.6/15).

Set in the Midwestern town of Genoa City, Wis., "The Young and the Restless" preemed as a half-hour skein in 1973, but was extended to an hour in 1980. Show first hit No. 1 in the ratings in December 1988.

The late William J. Bell and his wife, Lee Phillip Bell, co-created the series. Josh Griffith is the current exec producer and head writer, and Steve Kent oversees production for Sony Pictures Television.

"Reaching the milestones of 1,000 weeks at No. 1 and 35 years on the air simultaneously is unheard of in this industry," Barbara Bloom, senior VP of daytime programs, CBS, said in a statement. "Our congratulations go out to the Bell family, to Sony and to the entire cast and crew on these remarkable achievements."

"Y&R" will celebrate its 35th anniversary on the air March 26. Michael Damian, who played Danny Romalotti from 1981-1990, 1993-1998 and 2002-04, returns for several episodes, and Eileen Davidson, whose character of Ashley Abbott moved from "Y&R" to "Bold and the Beautiful," will also be back.