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Brad Bell Gives The Scoop on B&B's Same-Sex Romance featuring Joanna Johnson & Crystal Chappell!

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins

The head honcho of The Bold and the Beautiful, Brad Bell chatted with TV Guide to give some of his thought process and a preview of what is to come,  when he embarks on the show’s first lesbian romance which will feature Joanna Johnson as Karen and Crystal Chappell as Danielle.   From the looks of it, Brad intends on showing a well-rounded relationship between the two women, who raised a daughter together, Caroline .   So, who or what will be a sticking point in their relationship once the truth comes out to others on the canvas?  Looks like Karen’s bro, Bill Spencer Jr. (Don Diamont), may not do well with this info!   Look for Johnson’s  return to B&B on May 16th and Chappell follows and debuts on May 17th!

Here are a few excerpts from the piece with Bell below!

Photo Credit: Lesley Bohm

Brad on not making the same mistakes Guiding Light did with Olivia (Chappell) and Natalia, where the gals pinky and forehead touched, but never were allowed to kiss! “Karen and Danielle are a modern married couple, so why wouldn’t they kiss? We plan to discuss the real issues, present some prejudices, and try to get people to move forward in their thinking, instead of backward. I want to do this story because I listen to all the political debates on the subject of same-sex marriage and can’t believe I share the same country with people who think so differently about human rights. I want to put my hat in the ring and, hopefully, help change some thoughts and opinions on the issue.”

Brad on his decision to have Karen have a secret that she is a lesbian after all these years:  “Once we decided to bring Karen’s daughter, Caroline, onto the show, the question naturally arose, “Who is the father? Why doesn’t she seem to have one?” I started thinking about all the story possibilities and decided, “Why not give her two mothers?” Everyone on the show has a mother and father and that’s getting a little dull. So I talked to Joanna Johnson and asked if she’d be okay with this story and she was very excited. When it came to casting Karen’s partner, I thought immediately of Crystal Chappell. She was at the top of my list. I called her, she was interested, so here we are. She’s a great actress and such a good kisser.”

Brad on why it is a secret to Karen’s family, if she has been living openly gay and it’s 2012:  “This sort of thing is a big issue for the Spencer men, and Karen just didn’t want any negativity from her brother. We’ll find out that she got enough of that from her [late] father, Bill Spencer Sr., who knew about her lifestyle and was very against her saying anything about it. He forbade her to bring it into her business life at Spencer Publications, the company that bore his fine name. But Karen will handle her brother in her own way. The reveal will be fun and it will be serious. Karen’s [sexuality] is obvious to everyone but Bill. He’s never been particularly close to his sister or had much interest in her. [Laughs] He just doesn’t understand why she can’t seem to get a man.”

So after reading Brad’s comments, are you excited or trepidatious about the storyline? How do you feel about a Joanna Johnson and Crystal Chappell pairing?  Let us know

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I am excited for this storyline to play out. Can’t wait til it starts!

This does not appeal to me at all. I hope he does not make this front & center for months & months like he has done with Hope-seems like she’s been in every episode since the day they grew her up.

I guess CC is the go to actress when a soap needs an older lesbian character.

I feel that way too. And sadly, I don’t think her character will have much of a shelf life. Once all the obligatory PSA stuff is through, they won’t have much use left for her character.

i am very excited about the storyline. crystal chappell is a great actress. she is so pretty and exotic looking. i love her natural lips. no botox or facelifts for crystal chappel. hunter tylo looks like the joker. to much botox and enhancments. why did she ruin her beauty. she used to me so pretty. thats hollywood for you.

C*O*N*G*R*A*T*S to Brad, B&B and to Crystal & Joanna, i welcome their 1st lesbian storyline and know that Brad will explore this as it pertains to their lives today. Brilliant actresses will bring this story to life… same sex couples raising children has been part of our society for decades, we’ve survived many a fight and we’re still standing! Thank you again for telling our story…is it May 16th yet? ☮♡☺xo▽♀♀✩ツ♫

Should be good but then anything would be better than Steffy chasing Liam and Hope, Bill interering, and Taylor whining!

I wholeheartedly agree!

Crystal Chappell is an amazing actress and a wonderful person. I will watch any character she plays, but I am particularly excited about this storyline!

CC always a great actor.. excited about something different on B&B sure to add more diverse viewership.

This interview made the story sound very exciting – The family is moving to LA so it doesn’t sound short term. I suppose it will depend on audience reaction but I like all three of the actresses who make up this family. I have been enjoying Caroline so far – I like her romance with Thomas and I’m looking forward to how she explains her unusual family to her new boyfriend and her uncle. If well written this could be a very good story!

Olivia and Natalia were one of the only good things that Ellen Wheeler did for Guiding Light! But it was stupid to not have them make love or to even really kiss! Even Natalia slept with Frank and that’s not the love making the audience wanted to see! But I’m assuming it was CBS that was behind that.

Personally, I think it was Ellen Wheeler who decided that the audience did not need to see any kissing or even imply a sexual relationship between Olivia and Natalia. Other sites have reported that the then head of CBS daytime had no problem with same sex couples kissing. Luke and Noah kissed and so did Luke and Reid on ATWT. I think the Otalia fans keep blaming CBS and for whatever reason give Ellen Wheeler a pass which she does not deserve in my opinion.

Oh okay, my memory is a little hazy then lol. That makes sense since like you said CBS let Nuke kiss quite often and now they are letting B&B do more it seems.

Trust me, I am trying not to give Ellen Wheeler any more credit than I need to. I hate what she turned GL into and it makes me sick.

please give her good lines to work with because i don’t care what she play cc is a very good actress and when the writing is good she shines good luck cc

I love Crystal Chappell! I cant wait to see the storyline play out. She is awesome as an actress and as person. She is also a very hard
working dedicated woman. Im so excited for her!

Congrats to Crystal and I look forward to watching this storyline play out. It sounds interesting and I will be there on May 17 for her first appearance.

I look forward to Don Diamont’s scenes, but don’t know that I’m loving this storyline. Don’t know why it’s necessary to bring Caroline’s parents into the mix. There are other characters already on canvas who need a story (Thorne, Felicia, Pam, Donna, Justin, Oliver). Maybe Bill could set Karen up with Justin. Or try to. I don’t know.

Bradley Bell let’s rewrite history Karen Spencer romanced Thorne & Connor Davis years ago. Lost a baby with Connor Davis oh well she also never had a brother named Bill Spencer Jr. So if you are going to now make her a lesbian let us at least have a scene with Thorne I will love to see his reaction.

i am so excited for this storyline,crystal chappell is a beautiful very talented actress,i have always been a big fan of hers,i hated how they treated her over at dool,everyone loves kristian alfonso but crystal wins over her anyday for me.im so sick of steffy and liam looking at her the way he does,but claiming his undying love for hope,i really hope CRYSTAL CHAPPELL new storyline will have more storyline then seeing them every day.i love crystal,she’a amazing.

I’m so excited about B&B Gay storyline and even more excited Brad Bell chose Crystal Chappell to portray one of the lesbian characters. I will be watching B&B!!

Breaking News

Kim Kardashian, Emma Roberts and Marlene King Land ‘Calabasas’, a Soap in the Vein of the ‘O.C’ and ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, at Netflix

There has been lot of soapy projects coming to life and in the works of late, and now comes word that Kim Kardashian is executive producing a new series in development for Netflix called Calabasas.

After a bidding war last week, it looks like Netflix cemented the development deal from Kim, and her producing partners American Horror Story co-star Emma Roberts (pictured below) and Pretty Little Liars creators Marlene King and Alexandra Milchan.

The concept of Calabasas is based on the book If You Lived Here You’d Be Famous By Now by Via Bleidner.  King set to write the adaptation and will serve as the series showrunner.

Photo: JPI

According to Deadline, Calabasas is said to be in the vein of primetime young teen and young adult soaps the O.C. and Beverly Hills 90210. The story follows “Via, a 16-year-old sheltered Midwestern Catholic school girl whose world is turned upside down when her family moves and she’s forced to transfer to the fast world of Calabasas High where nothing is as it appears and where everyone is trying to be someone else. It’s a place where dreams come true … but not without complications and sometimes unforeseen consequences.”

Photo: Hulu

As fans of the Kardashians know, Kim and her family made the town of Calabasas a household and worldwide name. Kim being attached to this project helped make its sale. This marks her fourth project to sell since the writers and actors strikes concluded at the end of last summer.

So, would you be interested to see a teen soap called ‘Calabasas’ on Netflix from Kim and company? Comment below.

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General Hospital

Ellen Travolta Makes Another Return to General Hospital

If General Hospital’s Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) nuptials are on, you didn’t think Grandma Gloria Cerullo would miss out on the festivities, now did you?

Casting news from Soap Opera Digest reveals that Ellen Travolta is back taping scenes that will air the week of May 13th on the ABC daytime drama series.  When viewers learned that Carmine Cerullo, was also on his way back to Port Charles, now in the face and body of actor George Russo, it only made sense that Grandma Gloria would join Grandpa Cerullo. Look for them both mid-May.

As most people know, Ellen is the older sister to John Travolta. She first make appearances as Gloria back on GH in the mid-90s. Most recently, she returned to the Quartermaine mansion to meet up with daughter, Lois (Rena Sofer) and granddaughter Brook Lynn for Thanksgiving in Port Charles in 2023.  Michael Fairman TV interviewed Rena Sofer and Amanda Setton late last year where they shared what it had been liking working with Ellen, who remains very close to Sofer in real-life.

Photo: JPI

Amanda shared: “We fell in love immediately. What’s crazy is my maternal grandmother was Grandma Gloria. I had her till I was 30 and we were so close. She was really like a second mom to me. So, when I got this script and I’m reading “Grandma Gloria”, it was so bizarre. And then in meeting Ellen, she looks like my grandma – same haircut, same high cheekbones. It really did feel like I had a few days with my grandma. It was very, very special for me. Ellen is sweet, prepared, professional, talented and funny to boot. So, it was one of the best weeks I’ve had at work. I hope she comes back. My fingers are crossed.”

Photo: ABC

Now, we can’t imagine Brook Lynn and Chase’s wedding day to be smooth sailing, in fact, expect just the opposite, but could it be Grandma Gloria who is ultimately the hero or the calming voice of reason for any pre-wedding jitters? Stay tuned.

So, glad to know that Ellen Travolta will be back for Brook Lynn and Chase’s big day? Comment below.

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Days Of Our Lives

Kristian Alfonso Returns to Days of our Lives for Tribute to The Late Bill Hayes

After a few weeks of Days of our Lives fans being upset that Kristian Alfonso (Hope Williams) was not on the first list of initial returns for Doug Williams’ funeral and episodes honoring his portrayer, the late Bill Hayes, comes word that the popular star is back and taping scenes.

Kristian reported to work on the Peacock streaming soap opera on Monday, April 22nd. She shared how important it is for her to be back for this particular return to the show that made her a household name.

“My return is very bittersweet,” Alfonso told TV Insider,  “because it is the end of an era with Bill gone. So to return to Days is very sad. I am appreciative that they came to me to include me in their series of shows honoring Doug and I’m very happy to see everyone, but I’m entering the studio with a heavy heart.”

Photo: JPI

It was back in 1983 that Kristian first debuted as Doug’s daughter, and now 41 years later looking back at it, and her time with Bill Hayes is very emotional for her.

“I remember my first scenes with him/ He was very loving, very welcoming. That he was very talented and an incredible actor and an icon, that all goes without saying, but my personal relationship and my working relationship with Bill, it was home,” expressed Alfonso. “Doing the scenes with Bill, I felt like I was with my dad because there was so much warmth and reality.”

Photo: JPI

Alfonso did express some deep regret, in that she had wanted to work with Bill Hayes during her last appearance on the soap back in 2023, but according to the iconic actress, there was something in the works but it never materialized.  “I’m sad that I did not get the opportunity to do the storyline that Ron (Carlivati, head writer) had planned/ It was great; we returned to Salem to reunite with our families and I would have had father/daughter scenes with Billy. What Ron had written was beautiful and emotional and it was a fantastic story. I was 100 percent for it and the fans would have loved it.”

Photo: JPI

As for if Bo (Peter Reckell) and Hope will be back on-screen together anytime soon, Kristian would only say, “What I will say is don’t give up hope.” Doug’s passing and memorial episodes will stream later this year come late November into December.

So, are you happy to learn that Kristian Alfonso is back taping episodes surrounding Doug’s memorial episodes? Comment below.

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