The Young And The Restless follows the lives of the wealthy jet-set of Genoa City. Despite their wealth and prestige, the men and women of Genoa City cannot buy happiness. Their world is characterised by backstabbing, affairs and corruption.
Victor Newman is undisputed master of the city. Head of powerful corporation Newman Enterprises, he has dedicated his entire life to pursuing power - and keeping it. His iron fisted supremacy has earned him the resentment of his business-minded children, Nicholas and Victoria. His megalomania is unparalleled.
Victor's merciless and sometimes illegal business tactics have earned him many enemies, especially the leaders of rival company, Jabot. Once run by John Abbott, the company is being run by his rakish son, Jack. The way Jack runs the company draws many critics, among them his emotionally cold sister Ashley.
The other powerful corporation in the city is Chancellor Industries, led by dramatic old bat, Kay Chancellor. A recovering alcoholic, Kay spends most of her time trying to get along with her stubborn daughter, Jill - often unsuccessfully.
There are bound to be illegalities and shady dealings taking place on such a corporate battlefield, and this is where top lawyer, Michael Baldwin, steps in. Michael must contend not just with the hatred of many of the townspeople, but with a dysfunctional family. His mother, Gloria, is a conniving opportunist and his brother, Kevin, carries emotional and mental scars from years of abuse.
The Young And The Restless eschews overly radical plotlines for the most part, preferring to tell more stories grounded in the real world. Produced by the same people who are responsible for The Bold And The Beautiful, both shows are similar in tone and appearance and tend to focus on long-running veteran characters over younger and inexperienced newcomers. This makes the title somewhat ironic.