The Bold and the Beautiful


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The Bold and the Beautiful

Current B&B intertitle, used since July 2, 2004
Genre Soap opera
Creator(s) William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell
Senior cast member(s) Susan Flannery
Katherine Kelly Lang
John McCook
Ronn Moss
Country of origin  United States
No. of episodes 5,441 (as of November 14, 2008)
Production
Executive producer(s) Bradley Bell
Head writer(s) Bradley Bell
Kay Alden
Distributor Bell-Philip Television
Running time 30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel CBS
Original airdate March 23, 1987- present
Links
The Bold and the Beautiful Official Website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

The Bold and the Beautiful (often abbreviated to B&B) is an American television soap opera. Set in Los Angeles, California, the show centers around the Forrester family and their fashion house business Forrester Creations. The program features an ensemble cast, headed by its longest-serving actors Susan Flannery as Stephanie Forrester, John McCook as Eric Forrester, Katherine Kelly Lang as Brooke Logan and Ronn Moss as Ridge Forrester. The soap was created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell as a sister show to their other soap opera The Young and the Restless.

B&B is currently the only American soap opera with a running time of 30 minutes, and the only one to simulcast in Spanish utilizing SAP technology for Hispanic viewers in the United States. Since its premiere on CBS Daytime on March 23, 1987, the show has become the most-watched soap in the world with an audience of an estimated 26.2 million viewers in more than 110 countries worldwide.[1] With the cancellation of Passions on August 7, 2008, B&B retakes its place as the youngest American daytime soap opera still on television, a title it has not held since 1989.

Contents

Plot and history

Background of the Forrester family

The Forrester family (l-r): Kristen (Tracy Melchior), Thorne (Winsor Harmon), Felicia (Lesli Kay), Eric (John McCook), Stephanie (Susan Flannery) and Ridge (Ronn Moss).

Stephanie Douglas, a strong-willed woman, daughter to a rich family, met her husband-to-be Eric Forrester, who aspired to become a fashion designer, while they both studied at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. The young lovers hurried to get married after Stephanie became pregnant. They moved to Los Angeles, California, where they established Forrester Creations, designing and producing upscale women's fashion, based on Eric's designing talent and Stephanie's financial funding. While winning international recognition, fame, and wealth with their work, the couple managed to raise four children in a happy and caring environment, including elder son Ridge, brother Thorne and younger sisters Kristen and Felicia. It was discovered years later, when the children were all adults, that Stephanie's elder son, Ridge, was actually the biological child of Massimo Marone. Eric also has two grown children--Rick and Bridget--from his marriage to Brooke Logan.

Eric and Stephanie's marriage has been on-and-off throughout the series. They recently divorced for the third time.

Start and development of the series

The pilot episodes of the show focused on the preparations of the wedding of the Forrester's eldest son, Ridge, to Caroline Spencer, the daughter of the media mogul Bill Spencer. At this time Ridge has already become a fashion designer and vice president of Forrester Creations. Many media outlets throughout the world, from the big television networks to the most honorable newspapers, to the last gossip newspapers publicize their wedding, declaring it as "the wedding of the year in the fashion world." Thousands of women see the pictures of Ridge in the newspapers and speculate on the identity of the woman who has won the heart of the man who has, until recently, been a playboy, and who has refused to settle for one woman.

One of these women is a chemistry student named Brooke Logan, who comes from a working class family and who lives with her single mother Beth, her siblings Storm, Donna and Katie at a typical American home at the San Fernando Valley next to Los Angeles. Brooke's life soon became a key element in the series. Originally from a middle-class background, her love affair with Ridge set up much of the storyline beginning in the first season. Every so often, Ridge and Brooke reunite only to break up due to circumstances, and Ridge invariably finds comfort (in most cases, this would lead to marriage) with another love of his life Dr. Taylor Hayes. In addition, the rivalry between Ridge's mother Stephanie and Brooke has played a key role in the drama since its inception. Following one of her breakups with Ridge, Brooke married his father Eric, after first divorcing from Stephanie. Brooke eventually gave birth to two of Eric's children, before they divorced and Eric eventually reconciled with Stephanie. Likewise, Brooke and Ridge resumed their pattern of an on-again-off-again relationship, in-between Brooke's relationships with other men and Forrester family members, and Ridge's multiple reunions with Taylor.

Subplotting

For many years Spectra Fashions was Forrester's main rival, headed by Sally Spectra. Sally, a larger-than-life character with outrageous clothes and a sizable red coiffure, helmed both comedic and dramatic storylines, with the help of ditzy receptionist Darla Einstein and fashion designer Clarke Garrison. Though at first Sally and Stephanie Forrester were bitter enemies, in later years they developed a friendship; Sally even went to work at Forrester Creations after she finally made the decision to shut down her own company.

Sally's daughter Macy Alexander, a singer, underwent many traumas, most notably alcoholism. Having an on-again-off-again marriage to Thorne Forrester, whom she eventually lost to Brooke, Macy went abroad into hiding with her father Adam. After being discovered in Italy, Macy relocated back to Los Angeles where she reunited with Thorne Forrester just to found interest in fellow recovering alcoholic, Deacon Sharpe, whom she married. Weeks later, Macy was gravely injured at a nightclub where she was headlining as a singer. She went into a coma and it was implied that her family pulled the plug off-camera.

In recent years, the Spectra family and friends have been supplanted by the introduction of Massimo Marone and his entourage. Marone, a billionaire shipping magnate who was a childhood friend of Stephanie dated her in college. They slept together once just before Stephanie first slept with Eric Forrester, and after forty-something years, a medical crisis revealed Massimo was Ridge's biological father. Shortly thereafter, Jacqueline Payne, a former lover of Massimo, arrived on scene and announced that her son, Dominick "Nick" Payne, a captain at Marone Industries, was also fathered by Massimo. Unlike Ridge, Nick wasn't a businessman and also changed his name to Marone.

Theme song and title sequence

The theme song of B&B, "High Upon This Love," was written by Jack Allocco and David Kurtz. A saxophone is played by well known saxophonist Eric Marienthal. From November 1998 to July 1999 in the United States, a vocal version of the theme song performed by Dionne Warwick was played during the end credits.

The title sequence for the first seventeen years featured still photos of the show's current cast members interspersed with photos from fashion shoots. The sequence ends with a spool of pink fabric unrolling while the title "THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL" in black 1920's style Huxley Vertical font zooms out the white area revealed by the roll (with the letters being from in a disarranged to a rearranged order). The theme tune was tweaked slightly through the years, and the cast photos were replaced occasionally.

On July 2, 2004, the theme was revamped to go along with a completely revamped title sequence, featuring a "B&B" monogram logo above the show's title and video headshots of the current contract players (accompanied by the character name and since 2005, the actor's name). Recurring actors are rarely added to the opening. Most of the cast members are dressed in either black or gray in these opening shots. Four versions are used, the full open with the cast video headshots, a shortened open with the cast video headshots, and two without the cast video headshots. Three out of the four title sequences open with a mock magazine cover which morphs into a photo shoot. The fourth open was added in December 2005 and is the shortest opener currently on B&B.

On July 3, 2008, a new updated version of the current theme aired. The new version had the cast reordered in their appearance in the sequence and even updated some of the physical appearances on some actors too. Hunter Tylo had her physical appearance refilmed, with the cast of William deVry, Daniel McVicar and Eileen Davidson removed from the credits. Newcomers Robin Riker (Beth), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy), Texas Battle (Marcus), and Brandon Beemer (Owen) were added to the credits.

Ratings history

When it debuted, The Bold and the Beautiful replaced Capitol in the CBS Daytime lineup and also took its eighth place in the final year ratings (oddly enough, .4 ratings points ahead of Capitol, which it had replaced). However, B&B aired at 1:30 p.m. ET following The Young and the Restless, while Capitol had aired an hour later at 2:30 pm ET. Initially CBS' lowest-rated soap, its numbers were still respectable (reflecting the strength and consistency of the CBS daytime lineup) and began to climb. By 1993, after a successful crossover involving villain Sheila Carter from Y&R, it had climbed to third. By the mid-to-late 1990s, following yet another crossover (this time involving Sheila's nemesis Lauren Fenmore) it moved up to second and since has consistently remained there.

Some CBS affiliates such as KFMB-TV in San Diego, WINK-TV in Fort Myers, Florida, and KOTV in Tulsa, Oklahoma have moved the show to the morning in order to expand their local midday newscasts to an hour.

The series reached a record low of 3,048,000 viewers on Friday, August 3, 2007. (Nielsen Media Research)

Criticisms

The show has enjoyed success by focusing on telling stories involving the core Forrester family, in particular sticking to a core group of characters: Eric, Stephanie, Ridge, Taylor, Brooke, Thorne, and Macy. However, the show has been criticized at times for not having a well-developed "B" storyline and for, at times, overexposing the core characters. Unlike other US soaps currently on the air, it is not uncommon for B&B to devote entire shows or even a week's worth of shows to a single storyline.

Storylines

The show has also been criticized for the sometimes breakneck speed in which it changes storylines, in particular with changes in romantic pairings. It is important to note that although the show is sometimes criticized for rapid changes, several leading soap critics, including Carolyn Hinsey, have lauded the show for knowing when a story isn't working, and changing or ending the story as a result (such as the 2005 romantic story involving Bridget and Ridge). It is, however, disconcerting that storylines are sometimes dropped without any kind of resolution.

Recasting

Recasting is also a controversial, yet ongoing, fixture on the show. In the show's 20 year history, many characters have been played by two or more actors, often leading to a viewer backlash. One such instance was the 2004 recast of Bridget Forrester from Emmy-winner Jennifer Finnigan to relative newcomer Emily Harrison. Viewers did not adjust well to the new Bridget and Harrison was soon downgraded to recurring status. The mistake was rectified later that year when former The Young and the Restless star Ashley Jones stepped into the role. Jones has consistently remained with the show since. B&B has also had many other successful recasts, such as Winsor Harmon's Thorne Forrester, Lesli Kay's Felicia Forrester and Patrick Duffy's Stephen Logan. The recast of Rick Forrester from Emmy-winning Justin Torkildsen to ex-Days of our Lives star Kyle Lowder in 2007 met a mixed reaction from fans. It was announced in July 2007 that Nancy Sloan was being replaced by three-time Emmy winner Heather Tom; Tom is famous for portraying Victoria Newman on Y&R from 1991 - 2003. Tom is now on B&B as Katie Logan, the younger sister of Brooke and Donna Logan. Tom first aired on August 30, 2007. In December 2007, Tom, who had only signed a three-month deal initially, renewed her contract through 2011.

Incest

Finally, the relatively small cast has led to many romantic pairings and love triangles involving family members and in-laws. Some of the most controversial ones have been the romantic attraction shared between Ridge and his former half-sister/stepdaughter Bridget, as well as the recent attraction shared by Rick and his much younger step-niece Phoebe. Though the characters were not biologically related, this had not been established on the show until the 2002 reveal of Massimo being Ridge's biological father. Additionally, many of the show's storylines have featured siblings or a parent/child in love with and/or competing for the affections of the same character. The character of Brooke has been famously married to several members of the same family: Besides once being married to Nick, she has also had a long-running romance with Nick's half-brother Ridge, which has led to several marriages and a child. She was also previously married to Ridge's half-brother Thorne and Thorne's father Eric, with whom she also has two children. Finally, she had an affair with her daughter Bridget's first husband Deacon, which resulted in daughter Hope. Brooke is the biological mother of a son, Jack, with Bridget's second husband Nick. Nick recently married Bridget.

Cast

For a full list of cast members, past and present, see List of cast members of The Bold and the Beautiful.
For a list of characters, see List of The Bold and the Beautiful characters.

Current cast members

Further information: Current characters of The Bold and the Beautiful
Actor Character Duration
Texas Battle Marcus Walton 2008-
Brandon Beemer Owen Knight 2008-
Lesley-Anne Down Jacqueline Payne Marone 2003-
Susan Flannery Stephanie Forrester 1987-
Jennifer Gareis Donna Logan Forrester (#2) 2006-
Winsor Harmon Thorne Forrester (#3) 1996-
Ashley Jones Dr. Bridget Forrester Marone (#4) 2004-
Lesli Kay Felicia Forrester (#2) 2005-
Katherine Kelly Lang Brooke Logan 1987-
Kyle Lowder Rick Forrester (#3) 2007-
John McCook Eric Forrester 1987-
Ronn Moss Ridge Forrester 1987-
Robin Riker Beth Logan (#4) 2008-
Heather Tom Katie Logan (#2) 2007-
Hunter Tylo Dr. Taylor Hayes 1990-2002, 2004, 2005-
Jack Wagner Dominick Marone 2003-
Jacqueline MacInnes Wood Steffy Forrester (#2) 2008-

Recurring cast members

Actor Character
Drew Tyler Bell Thomas Forrester
Shannon Bradley Catherine
Ivar Brogger Dr. Patrick
Cameron and McKenzie Carr Jack Marone
Andrew Collins Jarrett Maxwell
Patrick Duffy Stephen Logan
Harley Graham Alexandria Forrester
Mykel Shannon Jenkins Detective Charlie Baker
Dan Martin Lt. Bradley Baker
Todd McKee Jake Maclaine
Daniel McVicar Clarke Garrison
Amanda and Rachel Pace Hope Logan
Ridge Perkett R.J. Forrester
Eric and Jacob Steinberger Dominick "Dino" Damiano
Stephanie Wang Madison

Upcoming cast members

Actor Character Status
MacKenzie Mauzy Phoebe Forrester Temp. returns November 2008
Alley Mills Pamela Douglas Returns December 2008

Deceased cast members

Actor Character Date of death
Michael Fox Saul Feinberg June 1, 1996
Lesley Woods Helen Logan August 2, 2003
Tim Choate Tommy Bayland September 24, 2004
James Doohan Damon Warwick July 20, 2005
Darlene Conley Sally Spectra January 14, 2007

Notable former cast members

Actor Character Duration
Agnes Bruckner Bridget Forrester (#1) 1997-1999
Jennifer Finnigan Bridget Forrester (#2) 2000-2004
Lindsay Price Michael Lai 1995-1997
Antonio Sabàto, Jr. Dante Damiano 2005-2006
Lark Voorhies Jasmine Malone 1995-1996
Maitland Ward Jessica Forrester 1994-1996
Chris Warren Jr. Jimmy Ramírez 2004-2005

Notable celebrities who have appeared

Crossovers

There have been several crossovers between The Bold and the Beautiful and its brother show, The Young and the Restless

Writing and producing team

Executive producer(s)
Head writers
  • March 23, 1987–1994: William J. Bell
  • 1994–2002: Bradley Bell
  • 2002–2004: Bradley Bell (head), John F. Smith (co-head)
  • 2004–January 21, 2008: B. Bell
  • January 22, 2008–February 4, 2008: Rhonda Friedman [1](due to WGA strike)
  • February 5, 2008–April 15, 2008: Kay Alden
  • April 16, 2008–present: Bradley Bell
Current writing team
Current producing/directing team

Broadcasts outside the United States

  • Flag of Australia In Australia, B&B airs at 4.30pm weekdays on Network Ten and is the most popular daytime soap. It is also timeshifted on the network's High Definition channel at 5pm. Episodes are 3 months behind those being shown in the U.S.
Main article: Screening of daytime soap operas in Australia
  • Flag of Austria In Austria, B&B does not air any longer, neither on ORF nor on ATV. Austrians are able to watch "B&B" on ZDF.
  • Flag of Belgium In Belgium, B&B airs in on weekdays at 6.00pm on VijfTV. It is also available through Video On Demand, a world premiere, because of the popularity of the show in Flanders.
  • Flag of Botswana In Botswana, B&B airs an episode from 10.20pm to 10.50pm weekdays on BTV.
  • Flag of Bulgaria In Bulgaria, B&B airs in double episodes from 10.00 am to 10.45 am weekdays on BNT 1.The episodes are 4 years behind the USA.
  • Flag of Canada In Canada, B&B airs from 1:30pm to 2:00pm ET weekdays on CTV, simultaneously with CBS. It also airs in double episodes from 4.00pm to 5.00pm ET on weekdays in French on TVA, with the title Top modèles. The French episodes are 3-4 years behind the US.
  • Flag of Egypt In Egypt, B&B airs on Dream 1 at 21:00, 3 years behind USA
  • Flag of Estonia In Estonia, B&B airs from 18.25 pm to 18.55 pm weekdays on TV3.
  • Flag of Finland In Finland, B&B airs an episode from 5.00pm to 5.30pm weekdays on MTV3.
  • Flag of France In France, B&B airs an episode from 9.30am to 10.00am weekdays on France 2.
  • Flag of Germany In Germany, B&B airs in double episodes from 11.15am to 12.00am weekdays on ZDF. Episodes are 5 months behind the US.
  • Flag of Greece In Greece, B&B airs in double episodes from 2.30pm to 3.30pm weekdays on ERT3. Episodes are 2 years behind the US.
  • Flag of Iceland In Iceland, B&B airs everyday at 09:00 and 17:28hrs and on Saturdays 12:30 to 13:50hrs on Stöð 2
  • Flag of India In India, B&B airs an episode from 3.00 pm to 3.30 pm weekdays on Star World. (NOTE: STAR WORLD has taken the Show off the air till then end of October at least and people are complaining like hell. Very strange but India doesn't have the B'B show aired on ANY channel at the moment)
  • Flag of Israel In Israel, B&B airs at 6.10pm Sunday to on Yes Stars 3. Due to a change in the broadcasting network, episodes are currently 5 months behind the US.
  • Flag of Italy In Italy, B&B airs from 1.40pm to 2.10pm weekdays on Canale 5. Episodes are 8 months behind the US. The title for the Italian edition is simply "Beautiful".
  • Flag of Kenya In Kenya, B&B airs an episode from 10.20pm to 10.50pm weekdays on KBC.
  • Flag of Latvia In Latvia, B&B airs from 6.30pm to 7.00pm weekdays on LTV1.
  • Flag of Luxembourg In Luxembourg, B&B airs from 6.05pm to 6.30pm weekdays on RTL9.
  • Flag of Malaysia In Malaysia, B&B airs an episode from 3.00 pm to 3.30 pm weekdays on Star World. Repeats on Sundays from 7.00am to 9.00am
  • Flag of Poland In Poland, B&B currently airs in double episodes from 4.00pm to 4.55pm from Monday to Saturday on TVP1.
  • Flag of Romania In Romania, B&B airs from 2:30pm to 3:00pm ET weekdays on Prima TV as "Dragoste si Putere" ("Love & Power"). Episodes are 2 years and 8 months behind the US>
  • Flag of Serbia In Serbia, B&B airs in double episodes from 6pm to 7pm weekdays on FOX.
  • Flag of South Africa In South Africa, B&B airs an episode from 6pm to 6.30pm weekdays on SABC1. Episodes are about 1 year behind that of the USA.
  • Flag of Sweden In Sweden, B&B airs in double episodes from 5.35 pm to 6.35 pm weekdays on TV4 Plus.
  • Flag of the United Kingdom In the United Kingdom, B&B airs on Diva TV with double episodes airing at 11.00am to 12.00pm and repeated at 14.00-15.00 and also 23.00 to 00.00. There is also a weekend omnibus on Sundays from 09.30am to 13.30. Episodes are roughly 3 years behind the USA.

B&B in other languages

  • Flag of Egypt Arabic الجرئ و الجميلات
  • Flag of the Netherlands Dutch The Bold and the Beautiful (Netherlands) / Mooi en Meedogenloos (Beautiful and Relentless) (Belgium)
  • Flag of the United Kingdom English The Bold and the Beautiful (In the USA, Australia, Canada, the UK and New Zealand)
  • Flag of France French Amour, Gloire et Beauté (France) / Top Models (Belgium, Luxembourg & Switzerland) / Top Modèles (Quebec)
  • Flag of Germany German Reich und Schön (Rich and Beautiful)
  • Flag of Greece Greek Τόλμη και Γοητεία (Boldness and Charm)
  • Flag of Israel Hebrew היפים והאמיצים
  • Flag of Latvia Latvian Hameleonu rotaļas (Chameleons' games)
  • Flag of Poland Polish Moda na sukces (Success is Trendy / Fashion for Success)
  • Flag of Russia Russian Дерзкие и красивые / Audacious and Beautiful
  • Flag of Serbia Serbian Одважни и лепи
  • Flag of Sweden Swedish Glamour (Sweden), De vackra och de djärva (Finland)

Awards

Emmy Awards

TV Soap Golden Boomerang Awards

See also

References

  1. ^ ""The World's Number One Show: CSI"". The Huffington Post. Retrieved on 2008-06-17.

External links

v • d • e
The Bold and the Beautiful
Official website
Current characters
Current cast
Recurring characters
Notable previous characters
Crew
Executive Producer : Bradley Bell, Head Writers : Bradley Bell and Kay Alden
Created by : William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell
Related articles
v • d • e
U.S. daytime soap operas currently on the air






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