With the Chancellor living room as a fitting backdrop, Y&R celebrated its 9,000th episode (airing October 14) with different flavor cakes shaped into appropriate numerals (inset).

Jeanne Cooper (Katherine) and Jess Walton (Jill) made the first cut. "In the 35 years I've been here, I think I've eaten one-and-a-half tons of cake," laughs Cooper. "It's been quite a trip and still going strong. This is an exciting time."

"This is an amazing milestone," proclaims Head Writer Maria Arena Bell, with Greg Rikaart (Kevin). "It's an incredible thing to be here. I think the presence of [late Co-Creator] Bill Bell is what we all feel when we walk in this building every morning." Adds Rikaart, "I was here for the 8,000th show and this is even more exciting."

"I'm very proud to be working on this show," says Executive Producer Paul Rauch, with Walton. "This is a very exciting opportunity for me because I have always felt that this is the best cast and crew that I've ever worked with. I'm very happy about the prospects for all of us."

"I'm so honored to be in the 9,000th episode, let alone be a member of this cast," enthuses Daniel Goddard (Cane), with Thad Luckinbill (J.T.). "It's a wonderful occasion."

"Any time there's food involved in any scene, you can guarantee that Christel Khalil [Lily] will eat it all," tattles Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe, second from r.) with (from l.): Michelle Stafford (Phyllis), Khalil and Tracey E. Bregman (Lauren). "And when a cake comes out, she runs for it. I call her Miss Piggy."

"I got sun poisoning, so I don't feel like having any cake, but the occasion is sure awesome," admits Adrienne Frantz (Amber), who shared a smile with Cooper. "I always eat cake, so I'm bummed."

"Wow, 9,000 episodes is very cool," grins Tammin Sursok (Colleen), with TV dad Don Diamont (Brad).

"I didn't contribute to this at all, but I'm certainly excited for everyone!" enthuses Michael Gross (River), with Frantz.

"I have had my share of cakes here, but we've never had different flavors at once, so that I'm very impressed with," chuckles Peter Bergman (Jack), with Bregman and Cooper. "I would've laid money that only one of those numbers was the real cake, and I thought Jeanne and Jess just cut into the right one." Says Bregman, "Each time there's a cake, I only have one bite. So in 25 years, I think that's amounted to one slice of cake."