The popular American soap opera The Young and the Restless, currently the reigning Emmy Award-winner for best daytime drama, celebrated 35 years on the air Wednesday. 
The 35th anniversary also comes after the series, known colloquially as Y&R, marked its 1,000th straight week as the highest-rated soap opera in a daytime slot. In addition to keeping the #1 spot every week since December 1988, Y&R has also been the top-rated soap in the African-American demographic since 1991. 
A trend-setter since the beginning, Y&R relied on character-driven storytelling, accentuated with understated sexuality from its cast, which at that time was mostly young, in order to bring in teenage and twentysomething viewers who were ignored by soap producers and networks up to that time. These traits immediately set Y&R apart from other soap operas, and other soaps have since mimicked Y&R's formulaic approach to offering something for everyone, especially younger viewers. 
Since premiering on March 26, 1973, Y&R has become a worldwide cultural institution in its own right, racking up an impressive 100 Emmy Awards between the writers, producers, cast and crew since 1974. The show has aired in over 100 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, and Turkey, and reaches a worldwide audience of ten million daily. So far-reaching was Y&R's appeal that Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci chose the serial's theme song as accompanying music to her floor exercises at the 1976 Summer Olympics. In Australia, where Y&R has aired since 1974, the show was canceled by the original network that aired it in 2007, prompting a widespread fan backlash in that country. It was quickly moved to a pay channel.
Over the past 35 years, countless characters, marriages, divorces, births, deaths, and every joy and trauma in between have visited the residents of Genoa City, where Y&R is set. To commemorate the milestone, Mike Halterman from Wikinews interviewed three actresses who have played long-running characters on Y&R, and asked them to share their memories. All three responded to questions about what being on Y&R means to them, what their favorite storylines were, what they perhaps would have wanted to do all over again, and what they'd love to tell their fans directly.
Below are portions of all three interviews. 
Throughout March, Mike Halterman spoke to three Y&R actresses: Melody Thomas Scott, who has portrayed Nikki Newman since 1979; Michelle Stafford, who has portrayed Phyllis Summers Newman since 1994; and Tricia Cast, who portrayed Nina Webster from 1986 to 2001.
Mike Halterman: How do you feel about the way the show has evolved from the day you started the show, to what it is now?
Mike Halterman: What does being associated with Y&R mean to you? What's the one thing you feel has impacted your life for the better from your association with the show?
Mike Halterman: In terms of writing and depth of character, do you think your character is stronger now than she was, say, a decade ago?
Mike Halterman: Out of all the storylines you've been involved in, which one was your favorite?
Mike Halterman: ...which one was your least favorite?
Mike Halterman: If you had the power to bring one past character back to the show, who would you bring back and why?
Mike Halterman: How do you feel about the rise of unscripted shows which indirectly breed dramatic situations, like Big Brother and Starting Over? Do you think the rise of reality programming is "bad for business" as far as the daytime dramas go?
Mike Halterman: What do you feel is the one major reason for the show staying at the top of the ratings for 19 years? Do you feel you contributed to the show's ratings strength in some fashion?
Mike Halterman: Do you feel Y&R, through its longevity and popularity, has influenced other shows? 
Mike Halterman: Twenty-nine years in any job is a long time. What made you stick with it as long as you have?
Mike Halterman: You remarked in Soap Opera Digest last year that you get disappointed when your character doesn't get featured regularly in her own story. With that said, did you ever want to just end your involvement with Y&R and do other things?
Mike Halterman: Nikki and Victor have spent many happy years together, but 2008 has seen the couple divorce for a fourth time. Why so much volatility? 
Mike Halterman: Do you feel there should be a happy ending for Nikki and Victor?
Mike Halterman: Your character went from stripper to socialite. How do you feel this change deepened the facets of your character's personality?
Mike Halterman: How do you feel about being recognized not only in the U.S., but abroad as well?
Mike Halterman: Some of your fans are new to the show, and others have watched since you first appeared in 1979. What would you like to say as an end note to all of your fans?
Mike Halterman: You've been working at Y&R eleven years across two separate stints. That kind of tenure in any job is a long time. What made you stick with it as long as you have?
Mike Halterman: Do you think Phyllis and Nicholas have a fighting chance, or will Phyllis be doomed to losing the men she loves, like with Danny and Jack?
Mike Halterman: Phyllis had a lot of foils and enemies in the series, like Christine, Drucilla, and Diane. Which one of those women do you think is Phyllis's epic foil? 
Mike Halterman: You've won two Emmy Awards, both from separate and distinct parts in your story. Out of the work which got you both Emmy Awards, which do you feel was your strongest body of work, the one you received on your first stint, or the one you got for your current stint?
Mike Halterman: Do you think Y&R should make more use of umbrella storylines, like the recent "Out of the Ashes" event?
Mike Halterman: Some of your fans are new to the show, and others have watched since you first appeared in 1994, and others have watched since the show first started. What would you like to say as an end note to all of your fans?
Mike Halterman: In terms of writing and depth of character, where do you think Nina was at her strongest throughout her time in Genoa City? And what was her weakest point?
Mike Halterman: Nina's best friend on the show was Christine, and in many respects, Christine's personality served as a contrast to Nina's. Why do you think those two kept a strong friendship as long as they did?
Mike Halterman: Over the last couple of years, history was rewritten so that Philip, Nina's first husband, wasn't really Jill's son at all. What does that say to you as far as Nina ever coming back to the show? Do you find it disheartening that the show's history was rewritten to that degree?
Mike Halterman: You won one Emmy Award, for the bulk of your storyline involving David Kimble. What were some pros and cons in acting that emotional story?
Mike Halterman: Many fans would deem the character of Nina as the "beleaguered heroine." Do you think that assessment is on the mark, or were there other facets to her character that you feel were integral to your portrayal of her that deserve note?
Mike Halterman: For a time while you were on the show, you (and Nina) gained some weight. In the storyline, Ryan had left Nina for Tricia [Dennison, played by Sabryn Genet], and she became convinced she was unattractive and unloved. Was that a difficult storyline to act out? Also, what kind of fan reaction did you receive while playing that sort of storyline, as it related to female viewers and their own self-image concerns?
Mike Halterman: With the advent of the Internet, soap fans have mobilized and fought to make their voices heard like never before. Do you feel fans may be more rigid to change and evolution in their soap operas more so network and company heads, who are sometimes accused of being out of touch?
Mike Halterman: Out of all of your former colleagues, who do you still keep in touch with?
Mike Halterman: If you were asked tomorrow to reprise your role on Y&R, would you do it? 
Mike Halterman: Now that you're no longer with Y&R, many of your fans don't know what you've been up to. Can you bring us up to speed as to what you've been doing since leaving the show?
Mike Halterman: Is there any special message you'd like to say as an end note to all of your fans?

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Popular soap opera 'The Young and the Restless' celebrates 35 years on the air