News
B&B's Brad Bell Interview: How he sustains the soap after 25 years, a preview & loving tributes to his dad and wife!
Photo Credit: CBS
Today is the silver anniversary of the hit CBS soap, The Bold and the Beautiful. And to mark the occasion, we spoke with the series head honcho, the executive producer and head writer of the three-time Daytime Emmy Award winning Outstanding Drama Series, Brad Bell.
From a loving tribute to his father, Bill Bell Sr, to beautiful thoughts about his wife, Colleen, to the difficulties in writing a show while facing challenging decisions in letting cast members go, and the importance of infusing the show with new life, all were integral aspects of our chat. Brad also previews more on Hope’s pill-popping storyline, and gives us a preview for spring. So raise your glass to B&B today, 25 years on television is no small feat, my friends, and certainly not in the climate we live in!
Brad, you have to pinch yourself! It’s now officially 25 years of B&B! Big question, is it as exciting as having President Obama and the First Lady at your house a few weeks ago for the incredible fundraiser that you and your wife, Colleen, put together?
BRAD: It’s beyond my wildest dreams for B&B to around this long. The fundraiser was amazing and it was so cool. The adrenaline was pumping, and the Foo Fighters were playing, and President Obama was so cordial, charismatic, intelligent and interesting. It was a special night. But I have to say, this is equally as special, because I put my heart and soul into this for 25 years. It does feel like I finished a marathon.
Your dad, the legendary Bill Bell Sr. started B&B, along with your mother, Lee Phillip Bell. You must think of him often, and perhaps send a special prayer out to him, especially at this 25 year milestone?
Courtesy/CBS
BRAD: Yeah, I know. I have moments with him now and then. When I am writing the show I think of what he might do, given the next twist and turn. The longer he has been gone, the more I feel I am losing touch with what he would have done, but I still know. My dad was so interesting and unpredictable. Above all, he had zero tolerance for boring shows. I think you can be anything, but don’t be boring!
Now on B&B, you are tackling Hope’s (Kim Matula) pill-popping, and the telling of this tale about how prescription drugs runs rampant in our society these days, and how it can destroy people lives. What inspired the decision to tell this story and have the vehicle be Hope?
BRAD: I think it was two things. First, it’s very topical right now because of Whitney Houston’s sudden death, and just so many kids are having issues with drugs. And as my kids get older, it’s interesting to hear the stories of their friends, and hear what everyone is going through. It gives me a fabulous inner spark that you need as a writer. It’s topical and a fresh story that is appropriate for young people, and yes, I know what Kim Matula is capable of. She has been our sweet and conservative, preppy princess for awhile. Now, I want her to be my pill-popping princess, who is going to be able to show us her range as an actress. And, I can tell you, Kim has great range.
© Gilles Toucas
The good and bad of having a half hour show is that you have to clear the deck to make way for new characters and story, when there is not as much airtime. So did that play into your decision to take Jack Wagner (Nick), Lesley-Anne Down (Jackie) and Brandon Beemer (Owen) off-contract?
BRAD: We have 19 minutes of airtime, and with Lesley-Anne and Jack and Brandon, they are three great actors. I was very well aware that I was not giving them the quality of material that they need and deserve. So it is much out of respect to them that I leave them open to other options, better options, than being around and being the background at The Bold and the Beautiful. This is a great place to be working at, but it’s frustrating for talented actors to just chime in a couple times a month. I am so glad that Jack is doing Dancing with the Stars! I actually think it’s very cool!
You must at times think with your four original core characters … Ridge, Brooke, Stephanie and Eric, “What can I do now with them after all the drama of the last 25 years?” Does that cross your mind?
BRAD: Daily! It’s daily! (Laughs) It’s amazing. It’s a blessing and a curse of writing for people and characters for so long. At times, you feel like you have told every story under the sun with these people, and yet as we bring in new actors, new characters, and their roles change. It’s also necessary to bring new characters to re-infuse the people that have been here a long time, that may have grown stale, and they need that infusion of someone new to the canvas.
What can we look forward to with the upcoming 25th anniversary episode?
Photo Credit: Kathie Hutchins
BRAD: Stephanie and Eric are remarried and they are celebrating their anniversary. And at the end of the show, we will be able to say, “Happy Anniversary!” Yes, we are saying it to Stephanie and Eric, but we are also saying it to the fans, to us, and everyone in the know. March 23rd is our official anniversary, but because we were pre-empted one day when the President was speaking, the show will now air on Monday, the 26th! He bumped the show, and we had a fundraiser for him! (Laughs) I’m completely kidding, but it is a great episode that any fan of B&B will thoroughly enjoy. It is a fabulous, fabulous episode. And this is always a lesson to me. When I throw plot away and just get our core actors to speak fondly and lovingly of each other, it’s touching and beautiful and those are very often are most wonderful episodes … when there is no plot. They are all just being themselves and loving each other.
What can you preview for spring on B&B?
BRAD: We know that Steffy is working to hold to her marriage, and in six months in the state of California the divorce is final, and then Liam is willing and able to move on. So early this summer, this will elapse and Liam will have to have a path with one of these two women. We know we have Taylor in favor of her daughter, Brooke in favor of her daughter, Ridge caught in the middle, and Stephanie rooting for her namesake. The story just gets better and better and encompasses the whole cast. I can tell you it’s all going to come to a great peak this summer in Italy!
You made a beautiful speech at the cake-cutting ceremony at CBS in honor of B&B’s 25 years on the network. And the one thing, that I thought was so endearing, was how you spoke of your wife, Colleen, and how without her love and support and encouragement, you would not be here today.
Photo Credit: Kathie Hutchins
BRAD: Colleen is a very special woman. I met her when she was 14 years old. We both went our own separate ways, and now we are back together for 20 years of marriage and four children. I think it’s important to acknowledge because this job is so consuming and what we do here. It does not affect the person who is writing it or a person working on it, but it’s the families, the kids, the husbands, the wives, the partners, they deserve a big shout out!
Colleen is also your Director of Special Projects for the show and has tweaked the fashion elements of the series, and stepped it up a notch, or three!
BRAD: She has brought such ‘street cred’ to us in the world of fashion, and we are going to be in Vanity Fair in Italy. We have been using Monique Lhuillier gowns, and where we were in the past was we were designing our gowns, and at times, not sure what we were doing. People in Italy were saying, “Are we supposed to take these fashions seriously?” Now they do take them seriously. Colleen is doing a tremendous job.
Finally, what did you think when you read the reports that ABC is producing a primetime soap opera pilot called, Americana, centered around the fashion industry? All I can say is, “hmmm.”
BRAD: Well, I think its sounds very familiar. I wish them well and I wish all of these new soap operas platforms well. But in essence, they are all us. And, we will continue doing what we do. I have not read that much about Americana. They probably want to sell it s a brand new soap, but let me tell you, imitation is the best form of flattery.
So soapers, how do you feel about Brad’s thoughts? How about we show the soap some love, and put some congrats on the posts today? Just a suggestion.
News
‘General Hospital’ and Y&R Alum, Kelly Sullivan Joins ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ as Dylan’s Mom
The Bold and the Beautiful is continuing to expand the on-screen family of Melissa Dylan played by Sydney Bullock. Now comes casting news that none other than two-time Daytime Emmy nominee Kelly Sullivan has been tapped to play Dylan’s mother, Darcy Dylan.
According to TV Insider, viewers can look for Sullivan’s B&B debut on the August 27 episode of the CBS daytime drama series. Sullivan has made quite the impression on soap opera fans in the past, so it will be intriguing to see just what Darcy Dylan is all about and how it has affected her daughter, who does not always seem on the up and up as she has set her sights on Will Spencer (Crew Morrow).
Kelly first appeared on the daytime scene as a recast for fashion editor, Kate Howard on General Hospital in 2011, after replacing Megan Ward in the role. However, she suffered from dissociative identity disorder and battled with her alter-ego, Connie Falconeri. Eventually in 2014, she was shot and killed by Ava Jerome (Maura West).
Photo: JPI
Next, Sullivan moved over to The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner from 2014-2016. In story, Sage was involved with both Adam and Nick Newman, then played by Justin Hartley and current long-running cast member, Joshua Morrow, respectively.
Sage was the biological mother to Adam’s son, Christian, and gave birth to him before she died, as part of an umbrella story involving Sharon (Sharon Case) and Dylan (Steve Burton) believing Christian was their child named “Sully” and the entire Adam/Nick saga of who is the real bio-dad to the child.
Photo: JPI
HOW WILL THE ARRIVAL OF DARCY DYLAN IMPACT MELISSA DYLAN?
The casting of Sullivan comes after it was revealed back in May that Remy Pryce was returning to the canvas, and Christian Weissman was on contract with the soap opera. In recent months, it was revealed that Remy is a cousin of Dylan’s.
Taking to her Instagram after the casting news broke on Thursday, Kelly shared her enthusiasm at her new soap gig and gave a shout out to her new boss, the executive producer and head writer of B&B, Brad Bell.
Kelly wrote, “I’m very excited to join the The Bold and the Beautiful family and bring this force of nature to life. Thank you Brad Bell, for this amazing character. I can’t wait to step into Darcy’s boots.”
When not acting, Sullivan has become an accomplished acting teacher. Kelly’s other previous credits include: The Morning Show, Never Have I Ever, The Winchesters, Chicago P.D. and many more. Kelly is also featured in the upcoming film Ethan Almighty: Ethan’s Law, with a cast that includes: Kelsey Grammer, Brandon Routh (ex-Seth Anderson, One Life to Live) and Trevor Donovan (ex-Jeremy Horton, Days of our Lives).
Sullivan was previously nominated for a Daytime Emmy for her role on General Hospital in 2014 and The Young and the Restless in 2016.
So, what do you think of Kelly Sullivan being cast as Dylan’s mom? Do you think she will be a fine upstanding person or a bad girl? Will Darcy arrive with intentions to land one of the wealthy Forrester or Spencer men for herself? What do you think will happen? Weigh-in via the comment section.
As ABC’s General Hospital continues to make casting additions in front of the camera; a new report indicates that Chris McKenna is the next contract player to be written out of the show as his storyline as Port Charles WSB bureau chief, Jack Brennan, is coming to end this fall.
According to sources close to the situation, who informed Soap Opera Network, McKenna will exit the long-running soap opera when Jack is killed-off the canvas. The outlet shares, Brennan’s death will come about as the soap, “leans heavily into storylines surrounding the World Security Bureau (WSB).”
McKenna, who previously appeared on the soaps when he was 12 as a young Joey Buchanan on One Life to Live from 1990-1993, then as an adult as Mark Harding on The Young and the Restless from 2014-2015, and next on The Bold and the Beautiful in the short term role of Dr. Hayden, began his run as GH’s Brennan back in February of 2025, replacing Charles Mesure in the role.
Photo: ABC
JACK’S ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE
In fact, McKenna won the part over Daniel Goddard and Daniel Cosgrove, who eventually were cast in other roles on General Hospital, that of Henry Dalton and Ezra Boyle, respectively. Chris informed his fans via X, back in August of 2025, that he was put on contract at the daytime drama and thanked them for helping make it happen.
Chris told Michael Fairman TV how it was to step into the role previously played by Charles Mesure, “I knew the challenge it was going to be and I had a like 0nly five days to get my head around it, so I was ready for it. Sure, it was challenging, but I was up for it. I was a recast before on The Young and the Restless.”
On-screen, Jack became romantically involved with Carly Spencer (Laura Wright), but that went bust when Carly learned Jack was not up front with her and had secretly enlisted her daughter, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) to join the WSB. Over months, Carly plotted to get revenge on Jack, and suddenly, Valentin Casssadine (James Patrick Stuart), Jack’s mortal enemy, came into the picture and he had fallen for Carly and she for him.
Now, Jack has started up a relationship with Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) and has found himself in situations stooping to lows to help Nina and her criminal daughter, Willow Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) out of jams, especially where Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) is concerned.
Photo: ABC
REUNITING WITH ERIKA SLEZAK
Last fall, Chris got a thrill of a lifetime when his OG on-screen mother from One Life to Live, the iconic Erika Slezak (ex-Viki) took on a guest role on General Hospital as Ronnie Bard, the secret sister of Monica Quartermaine (the late Leslie Charleson). While the two did not have a storyline together, Chris did share some tender moments reconnecting with Erika on the set,
McKenna has a laundry list of primetime credits including: State of Affairs, Good Trouble, Lucifer and Castle, where in an ironic twist he appeared alongside another Joey Buchanan none other than Nathan Fillion.
So, how do you feel if the report holds true and GH is killing off Brennan and Chris McKenna would exit the show? How do you think Brennan will die on GH? Will he be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and someone will take him out? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
All My Children
‘All My Children’ Movie Writers for Lifetime Revealed: Ron Carlivati, Jamey Giddens and Leo Richardson
This week began and as reported with a spotlight article on Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos and how their production entity, Milojo, has been teeing up the All My Children reboot with Lifetime.
The L.A. Times featured the married couple, co-hosts of Live with Kelly and Mark, and former All My Children cast members (where they met and fell in love) about their plans to bring two All My Children movies to Lifetime and how they are working with the Agnes Nixon estate to make it come to fruition,
On Wednesday, it was revealed by Daytime Confidential, that All My Children reboot producer, Andrew Stearn handpicked none other than Ron Carlivati (ex-head writer, One Life to Live, General Hospital and Days of our Lives) and Jamey Giddens (who is the new co-head writer of The Young and the Restless, following his tenures on the writing teams of Beyond the Gates and Days of Our Lives), as the two scribes who will bring the first of two of Kelly and Mark’s All My Children movies to the page.
Photo: IMDb
RON CARLIVATI AND JAMEY GIDDENS CONFIRM THEIR BOARDING THE ALL MY CHILDREN MOVIE PROJECT
The second installment is said to be written by primetime writer Leo Richardson whose credits include: Star, Katy Keene and more recently the Penn Badgley (ex-Phillip Chancellor IV, The Young and the Restless) starring series, You.
Richardson also wrote for three years on the U.K.’s long-running soap, EastEnders. All My Children revival fans will recall Richardson’s name was attached as the writer for the first incarnation of the All My Children movies, entitled, Pine Valley.
Ron Carlivati took to X and confirmed he is indeed boarding the All My Children movie project. Carlivati shared, “So excited to share this news! Thanks to Andrew Stearn, Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos, Albert Bianchini and the Agnes Nixon estate for entrusting Jamey Giddens and me with the first of two planned All My Children movies for Lifetime! Stay tuned!”
Photo: Jeremy Smith/imageSPACE
Jamey Giddens confirmed DC’s announcement by taking to his account on X and expressing, “I’ve been booked and busy in 2026. Thanks to Andrew Stearn, the Agnes Nixon estate, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos for entrusting Ron Carlivati, and me with the first of two planned All My Children movies for Lifetime!”
Some fans seemed to question how Giddens could be writing for the first All My Children movie at Lifetime, when he is the new co-head writer at The Young and the Restless with Dan O’Connor. Jamey answered that head on via X and explained, “We turned in our All My Children script months ago. My sole focus as of this past Monday, is Genoa City, Wisconsin! #YR”
ERICA KANE, MARIA SANTOS AND HAYLEY AND MATEO SANTOS TO APPEAR IN THE ALL MY CHILDREN MOVIE REVIVAL?
In the planned stories, Susan Lucci’s Erica Kane and Eva LaRue’s Maria Santos will be two characters whose lives we will get to see for the first time since the series was canceled by ABC back in 2011 after 41 years on the air. As well, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos confirmed they will make brief appearances on-screen; one could assume as Hayley and Mateo Santos.
“It’d be wonderful to give the fans something that they’ve been yearning for so many years,” shared Mark Consuelos to the LA Times. “All My Children gave me my family. I met my wife there. It gave me my start in the business. It gave us so much. It would be a dream to be able to give back.”
So, what do you think of Ron Carlivati and Jamey Giddens getting nod to write the All My Children movie #1 script and Leo Richardson #2? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
‘General Hospital’ and Y&R Alum, Kelly Sullivan Joins ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ as Dylan’s Mom
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Nikki and Victor Renew Their Wedding Wows
Chris McKenna Reportedly Out as ‘General Hospital’s’ Jack Brennan
‘All My Children’ Movie Writers for Lifetime Revealed: Ron Carlivati, Jamey Giddens and Leo Richardson
Ryan Paevey Open to Return to ‘General Hospital’ to ‘Stir the Pot if Cassius Could be a Good Agent of Chaos’
GH Alum Nicholas Alexander Chavez Lands Role in Paramount’s Remake of ‘Possession’
Chris McKenna Reportedly Out as ‘General Hospital’s’ Jack Brennan
Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun Written Out of The Young and the Restless
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ethan Lovett Hightails Out of the Country, Christian Howard Wraps His Stint
‘All My Children’ Movie Writers for Lifetime Revealed: Ron Carlivati, Jamey Giddens and Leo Richardson
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Nikki and Victor Renew Their Wedding Wows
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Walks Away From The Mob After 30 Years; Steve Burton and Maurice Benard Deliver Emotional Moments
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Congrats to B&B!!! Even though I do not watch it much anymore I still want the remaining soaps to stay on!
I miss Jackie and Owen and Jack and Felicia and Thorne and Bridget. I get there is only 19 mins of airtime a day, but does it all 95 minutes have to revolve around Hope and Liam and Steffy? Even when they’re not actually on-screen, the other characters are rehashing the story and their probs. Even the secretaries at Forester knew about Hope and Liam’s ‘special’ night!!!!! Enough already! Give us balance and good story and good, interesting characters with drama and humor. I’d like to see Amber and Rick get back together. This Rick romancing Steffy just doesn’t work. It’s laughable.
I have been an avid fan of the show for many years, but not until the story about Bill and Steffy have I been excited to watch. It was a wonderful love match…passionate, exciting, dramatic. Disappointingly, this storyline has been put on the back-burner, and I can’t understand why? There are a multitude of STILL fans who support this show, and we are waiting for something to happen between Bill and Steffy again. The current storyline does not make sense… please reunite STILL and bring back the excitement and drama that they bring to the show. You will make a LOT of fans happy!
Congratulations to Brad Bell, Lee Phillip Bell, Colleen Bell and the entire Bell family, the B&B cast and crew. I love B&B!!!
The Liam/Hope drama is just too long, please end this senseless drama with them and go back to the basics of a haute couture designer firm and show us some wow designs and the drama it takes to produce these designs. I love JMW and I believe she is the draw for your soap right now. The Bridge/Tridge is just too passe.
Get ready the twentysomethings is going to be all he writes for / Liam/Seffy/Hope and the new three Thomas/Caroline/Rick. Taylor and Thorne will be seen two days this week and are engaged and that is the last you will see of them for a long while he has decided to put all his eggs in one basket. Google Lynda Hirsch she is out of Cleveland,Ohio and been commenting on the soaps for years/and read her take on B&B. How good it use to be and how she feels it has really gone down hill.