On Tuesday, December 1, “The Young and the Restless” is scheduled to air its 12,000th episode, making it the fifth American soap opera in TV history to reach that milestone.
To celebrate the happy occasion, the series will air a regular episode intermixed with flashbacks and classic clips. Additionally, as noted in the promo below, viewers can expect a weeklong celebration leading up to and following the 12,000th episode’s airing.
In the latest issue of TV Guide magazine, on newsstands now, writer Jim Halterman highlights the most romantic moments and life lessons for some of the show’s most successful pairings, including Nikki and Victor Newman (Melody Thomas Scott and Eric Braeden), Nicholas and Sharon Newman (Joshua Morrow and Sharon Case) and Drucilla and Neil Winters (Victoria Rowell and the late Kristoff St. John).
For those wondering, the promo features the song “Goodness” by Sonny Cleveland.
EPISODE FACTS
“Guiding Light” currently holds the record for the most episodes aired for an American TV series having broadcast 15,762 episodes overall between its TV debut in June 1952 to its final airing on September 18, 2009. “General Hospital” is expected to hit the 15,000 episode milestone by 2022. The ABC soap currently ranks second among all American TV soap operas in episode count. “Days of our Lives” will hit the 14,000 episode mark by mid-December 2020, ranking third. “As The World Turns,” which concluded on September 17, 2010, aired 13,858 episodes over its 54-year run. “Y&R” ranks fifth. Among all American TV shows, however, “Y&R’s” episode count would currently rank it sixth overall just slightly behind “The Tonight Show” which has been on the air since 1954.