Rachel VasoneTV CultureApril 26, 2014Series Project: 1970s DramaThe Young and the Restless debuted in March 1973 as an American soap opera focusing primarily on the personal and professional lives of two families in the town of Genoa, Wisconsin: the rich Brooks and the poor Fosters. The show initially revolved around the drama between the Brooks and the Fosters and then shifted to the eternal rivalry between Liz Foster's daughter Jill and Katherine Kay Chancellor. It all started when Jill started working as Kay's manicurist and assistant to help her pay the bills. Kay was a rich, drunken socialite trapped in a loveless marriage to billionaire Phillip Chancellor. Meanwhile, Jill and Phillip fall in love, until Kay picks him up at the airport and attempts to kill herself and Phillip by falling off a cliff. Before he dies, Phillip marries Jill and gives his fortune to Jill and their unborn child. In response Kay convinces a judge to rule that Jill and Phillips' marriage was illegal as Kay was drunk when he signed the divorce papers. For their part, the two women began an intense rivalry, blaming each other for Phillip's death. The main reason I decided to pick Young and the Restless was because it sounded quite familiar to me and contained some of the longest running rivalries of any American. soap opera. I was also surprised that it actually debuted in the 70s as it is still a popular series. The Young and the Restless also caught my attention due to the broad and interesting plot and twists present in the drama. I initially had no intention of choosing a 1970s drama series, but instead wanted to choose a 1990s or 2000s drama series. Although after further research and investigation r...... half of the document...... which ran for more than 30 years, influenced the development of other soap operas and paved the way for a new type of drama. Even though I specifically only watched the 1970s Y&R television series, I immediately recognized the contribution it made to the world of soap operas. As a dramatic TV show that has continued for a good 30 years, it's pretty obvious why I chose the hit series. Having won 7 Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series and 56 Daytime Emmy Awards overall, it is currently the highest-rated daytime drama on American television. Y&R has changed significantly over the years since its debut in 1973, but has always remained a popular American television drama. It revolves around rivalries, love stories, hopes and fears of fictional young adults and leaves the audience waiting for more secrets to be revealed and solutions to be found..