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

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
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!!
News
Susan Flannery and Ian Buchanan Visit the Set of ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’; Daytime Emmy Winners Reflect on Show Then and Now

The one and only Susan Flannery (ex-Stephanie Forrester) dropped in to see her former co-stars on The Bold and the Beautiful at their Sunset Las Palmas Studio in Hollywood, along with her good friend and another B&B co-star Ian Buchanan (ex-James Warwick) on Tuesday October 20.
It was the first time in a very long time that The four-time Daytime Emmy winning actress was reunited with Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke), Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy), executive producer and head writer, Brad Bell, Jennifer Gareis and even her TV sister, Alley Mills (Pam, B&B now Heather, GH) showed up for the day too!
Flannery played the Forrester matriarch from 1987 until 2012. It was then that after playing the part of Stephanie for 25 years that Susan made the decision to retire from acting and in one of the most heartbreaking sendoffs, passes away from lung cancer in Brooke’s arms in November of 2012. During her B&B tenure, Flannery won 3 of her 4 Daytime Emmys, the other being for her first soap role as Laura Horton on Days of our Lives back in 1975.

Photo: Bell-Phillip TV
As for Ian Buchanan, he played Dr. Warwick, psychiatrist, from 1993 to 1999. He returned for other runs in 2014 and 2017. Buchanan took home his Daytime Emmy in 1997 for his work as James. Soap fans also remember, Ian as mobster Duke Lavery on General Hospital, and Dr. Greg Madden on All My Children,
Both Susan and Ian shared their thoughts on coming back to The Bold and the Beautiful, for Susan 14 years later since he exited and for Ian close to 9 years since his last appearance below.
Susan said, “It’s definitely like coming home in a way, even though it’s not the same studio. It’s really lovely to see old faces and old faces with new faces. It takes you back mentally. You start remembering what it was like back then, even things like how much your feet would ache at the end of the day from wearing six-inch heels. It was just lovely to be back and see everybody.”

Photo: Bell-Phillip TV
Ian expressed, “It’s a mind trip, you know. When I was sitting looking at the big Forrester set, it was like stepping back in time, almost. It takes you back mentally, and you start remembering what it was like when you were here before.”
“It’s lovely to see all these people again, even if you don’t know everybody,” explained soap vet Buchanan. “There’s something really special about coming back and seeing the show and the people who have been part of it for so long.”
So, happy to see Susan and Ian with some of their former castmates? Do you think Stephanie and Brooke is one of the greatest frenemy stories in daytime history? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Beyond the Gates
Tabitha Brown and Kandi Burruss Guest Star on ‘Beyond the Gates’ for Dani’s ‘Welcome to Your Life’ TV Special; What Could Go Wrong?

As previously announced, Beyond the Gates is bringing chef, author and actress Tabitha Brown and Grammy Award-winning songwriter, singer and actress Kandi Burruss to Fairmont Crest in a special episode of the CBS daytime drama airing Thursday, October 22.
In the episode, Dani’s (Karla Mosley) best friend Pamela Curtis (Cady McClain), arranges a “Welcome to Your Life” television special for her. As it turns out, Brown will play the show’s host, Tia Allen, while Burruss takes on the role of Dani’s first modeling agent, Kalista Kilroy, who turns the celebration of her life into a bad trip down memory lane.
Dani’s parents Anita and Vernon (Tamara Tunie, Clifton Davis), sister Nicole (Daphnee Duplaix), and daughters Chelsea (RhonniRose Mantilla) and Naomi (Arielle Prepetit) all join the show to celebrate and support her but also witness how things so south. Also appearing in the episode are Molly Figueroa as Tatum Stewart and fan-favorite Anita Williams (Tunie) impersonator Jackie Tyree!

PhotoL JPI
THE 411 ON TIA AND KALISTA
Speaking with TV Insider, about their soapy experience in Fairmont Crest, Tabitha Brown previewed about her host with the most, “Tia is very professional, but she’s a girl’s girl. She is a protector of women and wants to tell their stories in a beautiful way, but she also wants to make sure they’re seen in a very good light.”
However, Burruss previews that Kalista arrives with a score to settle. “She’s spicy,” shared the recording artist. “I always love playing somebody that has come to start trouble. It’s always fun to play a villain of sorts, but Kalista feels like she’s been done wrong and she’s hurt by what she feels has been done to her. So Kalista is stirring up trouble, but she feels justified putting Dani on blast. Kalista is ready for some payback.”
Beyond the Gates is produced by CBS Studios, as part of the CBS Studios/NAACP Venture, in partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble. Created by head writer Michele Val Jean, executive producers include Val Jean, Sheila Ducksworth, Julie Carruthers, Tracey Thomson, Leon W. Russell, Derrick Johnson, Anna Saalfeld and Lela Coffey.
Beyond the Gates is broadcast weekdays on CBS (2:00-3:00 PM, ET/1:00-2:00 PM, PT) and is available to stream on Paramount+**.
So, looking forward to this special episode of Beyond the Gates when Dani is put on a blast during a blast from her past and Welcome to Your Life TV special? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of our Lives’ Reveals Kyle Pryor Cast as Dominic Marino

For months now, Days of our Lives has teased the character of Dominic Marino. In recent weeks, viewers learned that Marino is on the down low working with Sami Brady’s (Alison Sweeney) apparent fiancé ‘Dante Vitali (Franco LoPresti), and that he is the never-before-heard-of child of Stefano DiMera (the late Joseph Mascolo) and Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall)!
Up until now, the Peacock streaming soap opera has never revealed his face, but that all seemed to change on the Tuesday, October 2o episode of DAYS. In story, Dante met Sami’s parents for the first time, Roman (Josh Taylor) and Marlena.
He shows them a photo of Dominic, which he happened to have on his own phone and even commented he kind of looked like he could be Marlena’s son. The photo, which has quickly made it around Soap Twitter/X, revealed that British-born actor Kyle Pryor is the man in the photo and eagle-eyed viewers actually located said photo on Pryor’s Instagram.

Photo: Peacock
Deadline revealed Pryor started taping at the end of 2025 and will first be seen in the role, on air Monday, November 2. In addition, Days will celebrate its 61st Anniversary with two special episodes featuring Dominic’s arrival, as well the returns of Tony and Anna DiMera, played respectively by Thaao Penghlis and Leann Hunley, on Friday, November 6 and Monday, November 9.
Those in the know, are are that Pryor previously held series regular roles on Australia’s Home and Away, and the UK’s Hollyoaks and guest starred on Emmerdale. In an ironic twist, Pryor appeared in the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand which is the same action series his apparent TV brother, Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera), once appeared in before coming to DAYS.
So excited to see Kyle Pryor take on the role of Dominic Marino as Days of our Lives sets its anniversary story to kick-off with is arrival in Salem? Share your thoughts in the comment section. And in case you missed our latest conversation with Conner Floyd (Chad DiMera) he weighs-in on how Dominic’s appearance will shake things up in Salem. You can check that out below.
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