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
‘The Bachelor’ Names NFL Quarterback Sam Hartman as Lead for Season 30

ABC has named their ‘Bachelor’ for the upcoming 30th season of the reality series. Sam Hartman, a 27-year-old NFL quarterback who plays playing for the Washington Commanders, will be handing out the roses as he searches for love.
The upcoming season of The Bachelor will premiere in 2027 on Sunday, March 21 at 8 p.m ET. on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S.
The announcement was made, and Hartman’s first interview was on the Friday, November 13 edition of Good Morning America, where he shared with cohosts Sam Champion and Rebecca Jarvis: “I’m excited but also very nervous, I have a tough time holding conversation with one girl. 30 is going to be pretty tough.”

Photo: NFL
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS QB WRESTLED WITH THE NOTION OF BECOMING THE BACHELOR
Hartman also revealed his initial thoughts on appearing on The Bachelor: “Honestly, at first, I was like ‘no way. The connotation of it − I don’t know.” Ultimately the QB was swayed to take on the reality franchise lead for its upcoming season.
A Charlotte, North Carolina, native, Hartman played for Wake Forest and Notre Dame in the college ranks. It was there he set ACC records, including most career touchdown passes and 300-yard passing games. Sam was also featured in the documentary series QB1: Beyond the Lights. Currently, on the NFL’s Washington Commanders, he serves as a quarterback on their practice squad.
FORMER ATHLETES THAT ALSO GAVE OUT THE FINAL ROSE
The pick of Sam Hartman aligns with pro athletes who have appeared on the show in the past including: now ‘Bachelor’ host, NFL quarterback Jesse Palmer, former soccer player Juan Pablo Galavi, ace car driver Arie Luyendyk Jr. and former NFL practice squad player Colton Underwood.
The Bachelor is executive produced by Scott Teti, Jason Ehrlich and Andy Frank serve as executive producers.
You can check out Sam Hartman talking about being cast as the series lead for the upcoming season 30 of The Bachelor with GMA below.
Now let us know, will you be checking out the 2027 season of The Bachelor featuring Sam looking for love? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Cynthia Watros Honors Former ‘Titus’ Co-Star Stacy Keach Following His Passing

General Hospital star Cynthia Watros, who can currently be seen in on the ABC soap opera in the role of Nina Reeves, has had a enduring career in television. That included her time on the 2000-2002 Fox sitcom, Titus.
In Titus, Watros starred along with Stacy Keach as Erin Fitzpatrick and Ken Titus, respectively. After the November 10th news that Keach had passed away at 85 while living in Poland, Cynthia took to her Instagram on Thursday, November 12 to pay tribute to the great actor.
Watros expressed, “My first prime time show was along side Stacy. I loved him instantly. What an amazing talent and man.❤️”

Photo: ABC
In Titus, Stacy played stand up comedian Christopher Titus’ heavy-drinking, chain-smoking, five-times-divorced father who frequently pulled cruel pranks and tried to toughen his kids up. Cynthia played by Christopher’s level-headed, big-hearted girlfriend trying to build a normal life with him. In fact, Cynthia’s role on the sitcom was first series regular role after her Daytime Emmy run of Annie Dutton on Guiding Light which ran from 1994-1998.
STACY KEACH’S WIFE ON HIS PASSING
Keach’s wife, Malgosia shared the news of the actor’s death publicly in a statement with PEOPLE. Malgosia expressed, that Stacy had, “a long and difficult battle with a serious heart condition and heart failure.”
She added, “Stacy peacefully departed this world. He fought for so long, with extraordinary courage, determination and strength. He was a true warrior, facing his illness with the same remarkable spirit and resilience that defined his life.”
Małgosia continued, “Stacy was not only a legendary actor, admired and loved by audiences the world over, but also my beloved husband, my companion and the heart of our family. His passing leaves an immeasurable emptiness in our lives. But his extraordinary spirit, his unforgettable voice and the love he gave so generously will remain with us forever.”
Now, let us know do you remember when Cynthia made her sitcom debut in Titus? Share your thoughts via the comment section on Cynthia’s many TV roles and the passing of Stacy Keach in the comment section. But first, check out the very first episode of Titus with Cynthia Watros below!
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Emmy Winner Ambyr Michelle Wants to Compete on ‘Dancing with the Stars’: ‘Pick Me’ (Exclusive)

Soap opera fans are always clamoring for when Dancing with the Stars reveals their cast each season, that they would include a familiar face from daytime drama, but it rarely happens, if ever, anymore.
Over the last several years, the series has leaned heavily into casting celebrities with massive TikTok or Instagram followers, which in turn, have helped this season and last have their best ratings numbers in years.
But, how about for next season’s cast of Dancing with the Stars, that it could include newly-awarded Daytime Emmy winner, Ambyr Michelle (Eva Thomas) of Beyond the Gates?

Photo: CBS
LOVE OF DANCE TO LOVE OF ACTING
Michael Fairman TV spoke to Michelle about her dance background and if she would love a shot at lifting the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy during Wednesday’s November 11, livestream chat on the Michael Fairman Channel.
Ambyr explained to fans (who joined in on the live chat), how she began her show business career. “I started off as a dancer, first and foremost. Acting wasn’t really something I wanted to go after. I did plays when I was younger, but it was just something we did in school, but I really wanted to be a dancer. I moved out to LA to dance, and I fell out of love with dance, which was so weird.”
This year’s Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series winner, added, “I was like, ‘What is going on?’ I moved all the way out here for dance. I found I was forcing myself to go to dance class, and I just didn’t have the passion for it. I was working at this restaurant at the time, and one of my coworker was like, ‘What about taking an acting class out here?'”
Next, Ambyr took the coworker up on the idea. “So, I took an acting class and I fell in love with it that day,” shared Michelle. “I was like, ‘I want to do this for the rest of my life.’ I thought, I would love to book a role, of course, as a dancer, but I think acting has a little bit more longevity.”

Photo: ABC
A SHOT AT THE LEN GOODMAN MIRRORBALL TROPHY
When the talked turned to if Ambyr would consider or be interested in appearing on the ballroom dance competition series, she piped up with, “I would love to do Dancing with the Stars! Pick me!”
As those in the live chat rallied around this idea, it made us think, Ambyr could be the first contestant from Beyond the Gates, and someone representing the soaps. It checks off so many boxes! To which Ambyr replied, “That would be beautiful.”
You can check out the full conversation with Ambyr below.
So, what do you think soap fans? Can we make sure Ambyr’s name gets in front of the producers and casting director for next season’s Dancing with the Stars? Would you like to see her in the competition? If so, who would be your dream pro professional dance partner for her? Let us know in the comment section.
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