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!!
It looks like the current run of Lucas Adams (Noah) and Tamara Braun (Sienna) on The Young and the Restless is coming to an end, after the Monday, August 3 edition of the CBS daytime drama revealed that Noah and Sienna are leaving Genoa City and heading back to Los Angeles.
In the storyline, Noah informed his mother, Sharon (Sharon Case) and half-sister Mariah (Camryn Grimes) that he and Sienna made the decision to move back to the West Coast to put distance between themselves and Matt Clark (Roger Howarth). Although Noah did not say it was a permanent move, he did assure his mom that once Matt is hopefully gone from Genoa City they could return.
However, as previewed already on the video teaser for this week’s episodes of Y&R (see below), it appears Noah left Genoa City’s The Shadow Room to be run by a returning Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian). So with that, coupled with today’s episode, it would appear the move could wind up being more permanent.
Photo: JPI
COMINGS AND GOINGS
Adams made his Y&R debut on November 4, 2025 as the successor to Rory Gibson who last played Noah on-screen in April of 2023. Earlier in 2025, Gibson took over the role of Michael Corinthos on Genera Hospital replacing Chad Duell, who stepped away from the part after 15 years.
Braun who played Adam’s mother on Days of Our Lives when she was Ava Vitali and he was Tripp Dalton, first appeared on Y&R back on October 14, 2025, where we soon learned she had become Noah’s lover as the new character, Sienna Bacall. It should be noted, Adams was on contract with the number #1 soap, while Braun has been on recurring status.
With Josh Griffith now exited as head writer of The Young and the Restless, and the newly announced co-head writing team of Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor having taken his place and starting their new tenure this week, it will be interesting to see how the duo resets the show, and if a Noah and Sienna return is in the cards for the future or not.
So, what do you think about the seeming departures of Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun from The Young and the Restless? Weigh-in via the comment section. But first, check out our recent live chat with Tamara and Lucas on the Michael Fairman Channel.
Rosie O’Donnell revealed that she plans to head back to a seat at the table of ABC’s morning talk show The View.
The announcement came during Monday’s episode of The Tangle Podcast where she shared she will participate in “in whatever way they want” her or “just as a guest” for its upcoming 30th season.
The View’s season 30 will kick-off this fall in September. O’Donnell explained, “They’re bringing back all the hosts, I think. And, you know, I’m pretty proud of that show, what it’s become and how it really speaks to the people and to politics.”
Photo: ABC
ROSIE ON HER PREVIOUS GO-ROUNDS ON THE VIEW
As fans of The View know, O’Donnell famously had two different one-year stints on the talk show in 2007 and again in 2014- 2015. She often feuded with then co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck.
However, during her discussion with host, Kyle Ridley on The Tangle Podcast, O’Donnell also noted she often had tense moments with longtime moderator and anchor, Whoopi Goldberg.
O’Donnell also expressed, “Many, many people got the short end of the stick there. It was, you know, it was a factory where people were being churned in and out and their tenuous security, nobody got to be calm. It also was a show at the time that was run by a man. A show created by a woman, for women, about women, and the man was deciding what we should talk about. And that didn’t sit right with me, you know.”
Back in 2023, Brooke Shields had asked Rosie on her podcast, Now What? with Brooke Shields, about how she felt on her two stints at The View and all the controversy that surrounded it. Rosie at that time, stated, “I know this, it’s not the best use of my talent to get in a show where I have to argue and defend basic principles of humanity and kindness. It was not something I’d ever do again.”
You can check out the clip with Rosie and Kyle Ridley discussing her return to The View in some form for its upcoming 30th season below.
Then weigh-in: Would you be excited to see Rosie, even for a one-day or a week guest stint on the upcoming celebratory season of The View, or not so much? Let us know via the comment section.
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General Hospital Fan Club Weekend brought out many of your favorites to the four day event; with the main cast gathering on Saturday, August 1. Fans near and far attended the weekend held this year at the Burbank Marriott Hotel. Whether it be the main cast event or the smaller more intimate events featuring two or three cast members a great time was had by all.
Some of the cast participating in the main cast event included: Cyrus Hobbi (Yuri), Gary James Fuller (James), Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), Viron Weaver (Wiley), Paige Herschell (Jacinda), Chris McKenna (Brennan), Josh Kelly (Cody), Kayden Brenna Tokarsi (Scout), Cassandra James (Terry), Laura Wright (Carly), Dominic Zamprogna (Dante), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane), Rick Hearst (Ric), Adrian Anchondo (ex-Marco), and Chloe Lanier (ex-Nelle).
In addition to, Van Hansis (Lucas), Cameron Mathison (Drew), Ryan Paevey (ex-Cassius), Easton Rocket Sweda (Leo), Maurice Benard (Sonny), Kristen Vaganos (Molly), Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis), Kate Mansi (ex-Kristina), Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth), Cynthia Watros (Nina), Kristina Wagner (Felicia) and more.
Take a look at some of the snaps from the main event arrivals below:
Photo: HutchinsPhoroi
GH’s Rick Hearst with on-screen daughter, Kristen Vaganos, plus Nancy Lee Grahn, and Kate Mansi.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
GH’s Maurice Benard on-hand to meet the fans.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto.com
Jack Brennan in the house … Chris McKenna.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Adrian Anchondo, Van Hansis and Anchondo’s boyfriend, Days of Our Lives, Colton Little.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
GH’s Josh Kelly and his gal, the former Nelle Benson of Port Charles, Chloe Lanier.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Who is James’ father? Not Cassius or Spinelli, actually. Actors Gary James Fuller, Ryan Paevey and Bradford Anderson!
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
One of General Hospital’s newest cast members, Kayden Brenna Tokarski attends her first GHFCW event.
Check out some more arrival images featuring: Laura Wright (Carly), Cassandra James (Terry), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) and more in the gallery below.
Michael Fairman TV will be adding more images to this post in the day ahead.
So, were you glad to see so many of your GH favorites attending this year’s General Hospital Fan Club Weekend? Let us know via the comment section.
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