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Adrienne Frantz's return to B&B, "Brad Bell and I had been talking about this for a year!"

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

Adrienne Frantz first day back on the set of The Bold and the Beautiful was this past Tuesday.  Her character, Amber Moore, will first reappear on the series on July 1st.  On-Air On-Soaps spoke to Adrienne today, to talk about “crossing over” back to her original home at B&B, and to fill us in on what went on behind-the-scenes.  Here are some excerpts:

Frantz on her return to B&B and that it was a well-planned out career move: “Brad Bell (exec prod, and head writer, B&B) and I have actually been talking about this for a year.  And it was all in talks, and I knew everything that was happening.  I knew I was going over to B&B right away, but I could not say anything to anyone.  It was hush-hush.  And, it was hard not to tell anybody, because I wanted to share my excitement with everyone.  I read somewhere the other day, that I had announced I was coming to B&B months ago on my Twitter account, but I don’t have a Twitter account.  So, I was like, “That is funny? I don’t twitter!”

Frantz clarifying it was her decision to head back to B&B:  “I wanted to go back to B&B.  And there were no hard feelings on Y&R, or anywhere. They didn’t have much for my character at Y&R, and Brad has a thing for Amber, and he knows exactly what he is doing with her, and how to write for her.  He knows the crazy Amber that she is, because he created her.  Amber needs to be spiced up a little, and that is what Brad intends on doing. ”

Frantz that there is one more episode with Amber coming, and Little D! “There will be another episode coming up on Y&R soon that will explain the transitional period of coming over to B&B.  So it explains it all.  You will see that.   Regarding Little D – I can’t give that away quite yet as to what happens there. You will just have to watch!”

Frantz on her big Y&R break-up scenes with Daniel:  “I liked the scenes.  I thought it was great.  Everyone felt like super emotional.  Michael Graziadei (Daniel) is one of my really good friends.  You know it’s funny. I went to work the other day and saw all the Y&R people and they said, “No one had to say goodbye to you because you are right here.”  My dressing room is next to Jess Walton. (Jill, Y&R)

Frantz on if she is at all concerned that once on the half hour soap, that even though others have come on like gangbusters,  it usually reverts back (most of the time) to the drama with the four main characters. “I am not concerned.  She is Amber and she will find her niche.  It may take awhile to meld into the storylines, but right off the bat from the first day you can see where she is going with it all.  I can say this much – Whip offers her a job at Jackie M.   She will be back in the fashion world.  And, this will be about Amber coming here and trying to start her life all over again. And she is really excited about doing that, and she is her happy self again.  Yes, she is going to miss Daniel, but she is interested in starting her life again.”

Frantz on starting her first tape day back at B&B on the same day the soap was being recognized by Guinness Book of World Records for Most Popular TV Soap. “My first day, and the show gets into the Guinness Book of World Records. It’s almost as important (Laughs).”

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Frantz still comes forth as how obnoxious she was when she first joined B&B. She was such an egomaniac in her past interviews. It was her decision to leave Y&R and go to B&B? Yeah, because an employer has no say in who he hires. Even her little “joke” comparing her return to the Guiness announcement is typical of Frantz. Years ago she claimed that it was her decision to quit SuBe yet TPTB at SuBe told tvguide magazine that she was fired. The apex of her rudeness in her first run as Scamber was when she proclaimed that she should have won the Emmy because Amber had a baby while Camryn Grimes (who rightfully beat her as Y&R’s and Daytime’s only decent child actress at the time: Cassie) is a baby. Such class from Frantz! No one is deserving of an Emmy because your character gave birth. And Emmys are not a reflection of good acting since, hello Frantz has 1. What’s even funnier is Jennifer Finnigan joined the younger set, and held the perfect, unbeatable record of 3 wins, 0 loses for B&B. Finnigan beat Frantz and the very hyped, groundbreaking and talented Eden Reigel, who portrayed AMC’s and daytime’s first lesbian Bianca! The saddest part of Frantz’s first run on B&B is when she wasn’t part of the Portofino remote. Amber had just been kidnapped by Mary/Erica and Sheila, and the Portofino storyline didn’t need her since it focused on other characters. The Portofino remote was abt Bridget/Ridge/Brooke, Massimo revealing Ridge’s paternity (w/c was an afterthought at that pt. and meant to push Ridge to Bridget), Forresters vs. Spectra fashion show and the return of Macy (a return that was actually welcomed by many B&B fans). It was reported that Brad bell gave Frantz flowers and a note for not including her in the Portofino remote. The employer appeases the employee for not bringing her to Italy?! LOL! Before that, Frantz also claimed that Brad bell hired Sarah Buxton because of her. If those instances are true, as reported in the soap press, then what kind of control does Brad bell have on his storylines and casting decisions?

The first time Frantz joined B&B, Brad bell committed the most massive bloodbath in B&B’s history. He fired excellent actors Barbara Crampton, Kimberlin Brown, Ian Buchanan, Paul Williams and Tracey Bregman to focus on Frantz/Amber. Mediocre actors Paul Satterfield and the actor that portrayed Grant were also fired. He killed off Marissa Tate’s Becky to “redeem” Amber. He sacrificed popular and campy Andrea Evans’s Tawney to be Amber’s “scapegoat” in the baby switch. LOL, if this is the kind of attitude Brad bell still has w/ Frantz, then the B&B actors better be shaking in their boots at this pt. Will history repeat itself and will Brad bell fire actors left and right all for more storylines for Frantz/Amber, considering how B&B’s cast is very bloated?

This is typical B&B. It’s 1 step forward w/ Pam’s storyline since Alley Mills is a great, campy actress that can do the comedy and the psychotic material. But it’s 2 steps back w/ Frantz’s return. Amber is hated and there are enough women and far too many neglected characters on B&B!

SID is reporting that Harmon, Spears and Hearst will be axed for cast cuts. I called it. The minute Frantz’s return was official, Brad bell would get rid of some actors to make way for her return. Awful! Brad bell is repeating history again by axing actors that should be on B&B instead of airtime hoarder Frantz and hated Amber.

They have not used Thorne for years now, and he’s only there to reunite Eric/Steph. They could have recasted Thorne w/ an actor w/o a texan accent. Thorne should have married Tay, and then Alexandra could have been this demon child trying to drive Tay crazy for killing Darla. Instead, Tay/Whip are in a boring pairing. Nick should have gone after Brooke to bring the character back to who the audience likes. Whip could have been paired w/ Bridget, w/c would have brought up her feelings abt Whip lying abt Hope’s paternity and creating conflict based on the show’s history. Instead, Brad bell stuck Hearst in dumb storylines while he never used Harmon. Yet Thorne and Whip are far better characters than Amber ever will be!

Spears actually has potential and can act a lot better than many cast members, despite what little they give him. But Bell can’t write for racial minority characters. Not a single racial minority character has lasted on B&B ever. Justin could have challenged Eric for Donna, and he could have pressured Donna to leave Eric, w/c would have reached a boiling pt when Beth died. But brad bell did not utilize him at all.

Leave it to Brad bell to actually remove 3 men, when the cast has too many women! Brad bell fires Spears, who can act, but keeps Frantz, Matula, Conroy, Jones, Beemer, Wagner, Downe, Moss, Tyler Bell, Lowder, Diamont and Gareis in the cast.

the above caption should “bottom feeder” instead of bottom chef, some people have nothing better to do than condemn others instead of taking care of their own faults.

The show is virtually unwatchable as it is. They need to expand to an hour if they want to accomadate all these bad actors and even worse storylines.

Well, I hope the character will fare better on B&B then she did on Y&R. I never cared about her and could never picture her with Daniel. So. I wish her well and hope not to see her whining again….

I am elated that Amber is coming back. I hope she is around forever!! She makes any soap shine!!!

I am happy Amber is coming back where she belongs. I love this character and
actress.

Having watched B&B since it original air date but losing intrest after the last Sheila storyline although I love Susan Flannery as actress. Since then I followed the show only on paper and internet and sometimes in a lost moment watching a single episode. Unfortunately the show was getting worse with each passing year and is just becoming one long drag of stories and characters with no development at all. At the moment is just unbearable to see how a 23 minutes show has so many characters with no storylines at all. And what I hate the most about the show now is the fact that Bradley Bell is not capable of writing a storyline with a beginning , middle and satisfying end. Most of his storylines end in fizzle or end not at all. Having Frantz return with her character is just the last thing that is ailing show needs. After having endured her on the Y&R for three years I am glad to not see her again and I hope that she stays on the B&B for a long period of time so her face does not show up on any other show. Working as an actor/actress in Hollywood today is a very hard job and I now that being on a soap is for many a necessity to survive as actor/actress but I pity them having to perform with her and the bad storylines that are going to filmed with a sobbing Amber!

Brad bell really needs to step down as headwriter. I would not be surprised if the show does not even mention how Justin is writter off the show, or if Thorne leaves town or is there but not part of the storylines since Brad bell has done the same for so many characters. The show will be even worse w/ Amber set to hog all the storylines.

Good ridiance……pile all crap over to B&B …. It should win prize as the Jerry Springer of soaps. Take Malcolm with you. The original Malcolm was great and went on to bigger things.. this guy is a thug!

go AMBER!!!! she will definately turn up the heat on that show.

The Dish hosted by danielle Fisher recently dissed Amber/Daniel on Y&R. Anyone watch it? The dish host was hilarious and Frantz was awful, unrealistic and OTT as usual in her clip.

Why isn’t Michael fairman on air on soaps reporting that Harmon is now officially recurring? The blood bath on B&B has officially begun now that Frantz has been hired back to further drag B&B down. Thorne is a legacy character that has been on since day 1, and the audience would rather have Thorne in storylines than Amber! It’s easy to keep B&B focusing on the Forresters, so putting Thorne on recurring is a bad move while people like Rick, Ridge, Hope, Steffy are on contract and Amber is returning and this new guy Liam is joining. Harmon is a bad actor, but the thorne chaarcter is useful, so they should have recasted him.

B&B used to be such a great show….not anymore……Steffy is a cartoon,Taylor/Whip are boring, the Bridget/Nick/Jackie/Owen/Aggie saga is dreadful,Hope and Oliver (who?) are just stupid and now they bring that bitch Amber back??? Days of our Lives here I come!

Where is Amber on B&B ?

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Christel Khalil Reveals She Almost Quit Acting After ‘That’s So Raven’ Audition, But Then Came ‘The Young and the Restless’

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The Young and the Restless fan favorite, Christel Khalil (Lily Winters) is the special guest on this week’s edition of Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart which dropped today on Tuesday, June 23rd.

During the interview with Rebecca and Greg, Khalil who had played Lily Winters on-screen since August of 2002, nearly 24 years with the CBS soap, shared how early on her teenage acting career, she was ready to call it quits in show business, after a heartbreaking audition for the lead of a new Disney Channel sitcom, which later turned out to be the hit seres, That’s So Raven, starring Raven-Symoné which ran for four seasons from 2003-2007.

Christel recalled what happened. “I was 14 and I had always auditioned for all these Disney projects. So I auditioned for That’s So Raven, it was between me and Raven-Symoné and it was called at the time Absolutely Psychic,” explained Khalil. “The character was this girl who had psychic ability, but then when Raven got the role, they named the title of the show after her.”

Photo: CBS

HOW A BROTHERLY TALK CHANGED THE COURSE OF CHRISTEL’S CAREER

Reliving the disappointment to Greg and Rebecca, Christel explained, “I lost that part and I was just so devastated, because for the network call there were 20 people in the room watching me, and I just have always had such performance anxiety. I just completely bombed the audition and it was terrible. So, I was just devastated. I was actually going to quit acting and then I got the final call for The Young and The Restless and I wasn’t going to go.”

It was Khalil’s brother, who actually got her to reconsider, and if he hadn’t, we would not have our Lily Winters in Genoa City! Christel recounted, “I was like, ‘You know what? I’m done. I don’t want to do this anymore. I’m just going to hang out with my friends.’ I was just devastated. My brother, who is seven years older than me, and he had quit acting at the same age that I was at that time. He said to me, ‘I promise you, I actually really regret quitting. Just go on this audition and if you don’t get it, you can quit.'”

Christel’s screen-test for the role of Lily was actually with the late, great, Kristoff St. John who would play her father Neil (Later it was revealed to Lily, that Neil’s brother, Malcolm Winters was her bio-dad).

Photo: CBS

ACTING WAS EASY WITH THE LATE KRISTOFF ST. JOHN

“So, I went (to test for Lily) and I remember the screen-test was with Kristoff St. John. It was just so easy to act with him because he’s just so there. I remember just being on set, and that was my first time there for a screen-test where you were actually on set. I had never experienced that before. It was my first time being with an actor and  having makeup done, which just helps you really be able to do your best work.”

Recalling the screen-test with the St. John, Khalil, “It was where I had to be emotional ( in the scene) and I always had issues being emotional at auditions. But I was there with him, it just came, and it happened. It was natural and I felt so good and it was amazing. It stands out in my mind a lot.”

You can check out the full Soapy conversation with Christel Khalil where she also discusses juggling motherhood, marital life, and the demands of soap operas.

Fan can listen to weekly episodes of Soapy on Audacy or wherever podcasts are available, and can watch full video episodes weekly on the CBS =Brand YouTube Channel. Whether a lifelong fan or discovering the genre for the first time, SOAPY offers a fresh, fun behind-the-scenes look at the stories – and storytellers – that define daytime drama.

Now let us know, over the years what had been your favorite Lily Winters story on Y&R as played by Christel Khalil? What did you think of of Christell’s recollection where she was up for the lead of “That’s So Raven” as a teenager, before it was even titled that? Let us know via the comment section.

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‘WWE: Unreal’ Season 3 Premiere Date, Cast of Superstars, Announced by Netflix

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This summer beginning on July 21, Netflix streams the return of WWE: Unreal for its third season. The behind the scenes docudrama series gives fans a glimpse of life in WWE and inside the writers room, as injuries, last-minute pivots, and career-defining decisions reshape WWE’s biggest event of the year, WrestleMania 42.

WWE Unreal is taking fans deeper than ever inside World Wrestling Entertainment’s creative process, The hit docuseries will once again pull back the curtain on some of the biggest moments, boldest decisions, and unforgettable storytelling with some of the WWE’s greatest legends who’ve shaped the industry and new stars who are emerging as prominent parts of the future.

In the new season of ‘Unreal’ which consists of 5 episodes at 50 minutes each: John Cena says goodbye, a fan favorite returns, and the next generation of Superstars rise to the occasion.

Photo: WWE

The cast and WWE superstars featured include: the aforementioned Cena, plus Cody Rhodes, Liv Morgan, CM Punk, AJ Lee, Trick Williams, Lash Legend, Stephanie Vaquer, Oba Femi, Bron Breakker, Chelsea Green, Matt Cardona, Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.

As previously reported AJ Lee revealed on General Hospital star Maurice Benard’s (Sonny Corinthos) mental health series, State of Mind, that she was part of the cast of WWE: Unreal.

WWE: Unreal production credits include: Directors/Showrunners: Chris Weaver and Erik Powers Executive Producers: Peyton Manning, Jamie Horowitz, Ross Ketover, Keith Cossrow, Ken Rodgers, Jessica Boddy, Lee Fitting, Ben Houser, Marc Pomarico Sr. Producers: Harley Glantz, Brian Decker, Michael Flynn Producers: John Galiani, Dan Gati, Jeremy Lundblad Production Companies: Omaha Productions, NFL Films, Skydance Sports, WWE.

So, what do you think of the loglines for the new season of WWE: Unreal? Who are you most excited to see featured in the behind the scenes drama from the list of WWE superstars and the twists and turns leading into this past April’s WrestleMania 42? Let us know via the comment section below.

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Days Of Our Lives

Deidre Hall Marks 50 Years as ‘Days of Our Lives’ Dr. Marlena Evans

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If you have ever tuned-in to the soap opera genre over the last 50 years, and witnessed some of the greatest romances, drama, classic and outlandish storylines of all-time, you would have seen Deidre Hall smack dab in the middle of it as longtime Salem heroine, Dr. Marlena Evans.

It was 50 years on this date, June 21, 1976 that Hall first appeared on DAYS on NBC which was its home for 57 years before it moved to its current streaming platform on Peacock in September of 2022.

In Hall’s first episode she was introduced as a psychiatrist treating Mickey Horton (John Clarke) at Bayview Sanitarium after he suffered a complete mental breakdown. Mickey learned that his brother Bill Horton (Edward Mallory) was the biological son of Mike Horton (Wesley Eure) with his wife Laura (Susan Flannery) and that he had been lied to for years and years. From that moment on, the rest is television and soap opera history. Days of Our Lives put Hall front and center.

Photo: NBC

There were so many heartbreaking and shocking story twists involving the beloved Marlena. One of the first was the historic crib death of baby DJ (Don Jr.) in 1980, Marlena’s infant son with Don Craig (Jed Allan). The story had never been told on daytime television and Hall’s performances received accolades from TV critics to fans when Deidre received thousands of letters from grieving mothers who had gone through the same thing in their own lives.

DAYS also brought Deidre’s twin sister, Andrea Hall Lovell to the show as her on-screen sister Samantha, who had a grudge and even locked Marlena up in a sanitarium and took her place! Fast-forward and in 1982, DAYS launched the Salem Strangler story where everyone believed Marlena was his next victim, only it turned out to be Samatha. Jake Kositchek (played by Jack Coleman) was revealed to be the actual serial killer.

Later, Deidre would assume the role of Marlena’s look-alike, Hattie Adams in 2004, once played by her sister, Andrea. Over the years, Hattie has come back to Salem and caused trouble giving Hall a chance to play a different type of character, then the always upstanding Marlena.

Photo: JPI

THE LOVES OF MARLENA

Deidre Hall struck gold with all her leading men: from the late Jed Allan, to Wayne Northrop as Roman Brady, and of course, her enduring love story with the late John Black played by the iconic Drake Hogestyn. In fact, Marlena’s 1986 wedding to John (who was believed to be Roman at the time) remains a favorite of fans to this day.

TOP MARLENA STORYLINES OF ALL-TIME

While the list is long, here are several that were some of the memorable during Deidre’s five decades in Salem!

The Possession (1994- 1995)
Considered one of the most ambiguous, outlandish and unforgettable story arcs in soap opera history, then Days of Our Lives head writer, James Reilly went there! Marlena was possessed by the devil! That included; the demonic eyes, hissing at father John (Black) the priest, morphing into creatures, and the classic levitating in her bed! It became a cultural phenomenon and cemented Deidre Hall’s status as a daytime television legend. Just ask Ryan Gosling!

Photo:JPI

The Affair with John Black (1993)
John and Marlena’s forbidden love could not be denied and they had passionate affair, while she was still married to the real Roman. Problem was her daughter, Sami (Alison Sweeney) caught her mother having sex with John on a desk that changed Sami forever.

The Salem Stalker Mystery (2003-2004)
In a shocker, Marlena was revealed to be a serial killer who bumped off several Salem favorites residents who were all alive on the island of Melaswen (spelled “New Salem” backward). Turns out, she was manipulated and gaslighted by Andre DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) to do the “killings” and had no memory of her actions.

The Pier Scene (1991)
This remains Michael Fairman TV’s all-time favorite Deidre Hall moment, which featured some of the best acting in the storied careers of both Hall and Drake Hogestyn.

In the story, a presumed-dead Marlena returns after four years. One foggy night on the pier, John is alone, and Marlena steps out of the fog to reveal herself, and is reunited with the love of her life. You can watch it any year, any decade, and in any moment, and it will have you reaching for the hankies again and again. (best music score fo a soap scene of all-time too!)

Photo: NBC

Kristen’s Secret Room Reveal (1997)
Marlena was caught in Kristen Blake’s (Eileen Davidson) elaborate web of lies, when she was held hostage in a secret wine cellar/room until John managed to track her down, leading to an iconic on-screen reunion. The classic catfight between Hall and Eileen Davidson was one for the ages.

It should be noted that Maison Blanche, Queen of the Night, Possession, Aremid and Lady in a Cage were all a part of classic DAYS storyline and all featured Hall at the epicenter of it from 1993-1996.

THE RECENT YEARS OF MARLENA

In recent years, DAYS brought back the possession 2.0 storyline under then head writer Ron Carlivati in 2021 where the devil leapt back in Marlena after taking advantage of a frail Doug Williams (the late Bill Hayes)

In 2025, viewers watched the end of the love story of John and Marlena, as John succumbed to injuries sustained in an explosion saving a vial of medication needed to bring Bo (Peter Reckell) back to life. Marlena has been a widow on-screen since June of 2025 as Hall as portrayed the good doctor struggling with her grief and to move on with her life since his death.

Photo: JPI

One story that never goes away is Stefano DiMera’s (the late Joe Mascolo) obsession with Marlena, his “Queen of the Night.” Even in death, Stefano is toying with her from the great beyond with the mysterious chess set and the missing “pawn,” that he had gifted John and Marlena in his will. The mystery is currently unfolding on all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives.

Tune-in to Days of our Lives on the Monday, June 22 episode as Marlena looks back at her 50 years in Salem.

Share your congratulations to Deidre Hall for this incredible 50-year milestone as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives in the comment section. Then let us know, what is your all-time favorite storyline or moment in the life of Marlena over the past 5 decades? And, just for kicks, and to celebrate this amazing milestone, here is Marlena levitating below circa Christmas Eve 1994.

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